cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cognitive Advantages and Disadvantages in Early and Late Bilinguals.

Previous research has documented advantages and disadvantages of early bilinguals, defined as learning a 2nd language by school age and using both languages since that time. Relative to monolinguals, early bilinguals manifest deficits in lexical access but benefits in executive function. We investigated whether becoming bilingual after childhood (late bilinguals) can produce the cognitive advantages and disadvantages typical of early bilinguals. Participants were 30 monolingual English speakers, 30 late English-Spanish bilinguals, and 30 early Spanish-English bilinguals who completed a picture naming task (lexical access) and an attentional network task (executive function). Late and early bilinguals manifested equivalent cognitive effects in both tasks, demonstrating lexical access deficits and executive function benefits. These findings provide support for the hypothesis that cognitive effects associated with bilingualism arise as the result of proficient, habitual use of 2 languages and not of developmental changes associated with becoming bilingual during childhood.
The study of variation in the human genome.

Abstract Regions of the genome showing high evolutionary stability are often conserved as a result of functional constraints. Conversely, more variable regions are likely to represent DNA with no functional or structural importance. However, as in the case of immunologically important regions, sequence divergence does not always indicate lack of functional importance. There is thus a wealth of information from both a functional and an evolutionary point of view that comes from studies of DNA sequence variation, a neglected aspect of the genome endeavor. Naturally, one cannot sequence hundreds of individuals in full, but a useful compromise is to use less expensive methods and to limit the more expensive types of analysis to an appropriately chosen sample of loci. The sample could be determined after careful consideration of categories of DNA segments with respect to individual variation. The study of such categories of DNA variation patterns can help in the understanding of the role of each gene and vice versa. One other important application requiring a study of DNA variation in different human populations is forensic DNA typing. This study requires a knowledge of allele frequencies in different human populations. Evidence of a match between two DNA samples is meaningless if the approximate population frequency of the DNA pattern is not known. It has been suggested (E. Lander) that one use the highest frequency for the most common allele as a baseline frequency estimate. Obviously, systems in which this is employed require an extensive analysis of population-specific allele frequencies. In general, the best way of studying interindividual variation when detecting or describing new polymorphisms is to include interethnic variation. This increases the amount of diversity available and generates information of enormous importance for understanding human evolution. The majority of aboriginal populations of interest from this point of view are rapidly disappearing, suppressing forever the possibility of learning about our past. The two endeavors, the study of the human genome and the study of human variation, could profit greatly by being linked.
Comments on “Surrogate Gradient Algorithm for Lagrangian Relaxation”

This note presents not only a surrogate subgradient method, but also a framework of surrogate subgradient methods. Furthermore, the framework can be used not only for separable problems, but also for coupled subproblems. The note delineates such a framework and shows that the algorithm can converges for a larger stepsize.
Orthovoltage radiation therapy treatment planning using Monte Carlo simulation: treatment of neuroendocrine carcinoma of the maxillary sinus

Dose distributions that result from treating a patient with orthovoltage beams are best determined with a treatment planning system that uses the Monte Carlo method, and such systems are not readily available. In the present work, the Monte Carlo method was used to develop a computer code for determining absorbed dose distributions in orthovoltage radiation therapy. The code was used in planning treatment of a patient with a neuroendocrine carcinoma of the maxillary sinus. Two lateral high-energy photon beams supplemented by an anterior orthovoltage photon beam were utilized in the treatment plan. For the clinical case and radiation beams considered, a reasonably uniform dose distribution is achieved within the target volume, while the dose to the lens of each eye is 4 - 8% of the prescribed dose. Therefore, an orthovoltage photon beam, when properly filtered and optimally combined with megavoltage beams, can be effective in the treatment of cancers below the skin, providing that accurate treatment planning is carried out to establish with accuracy and precision the doses to critical structures.
Robust optimization of contaminant sensor placement for community water systems

We present a series of related robust optimization models for placing sensors in municipal water networks to detect contaminants that are maliciously or accidentally injected. We formulate sensor placement problems as mixed-integer programs, for which the objective coefficients are not known with certainty. We consider a restricted absolute robustness criteria that is motivated by natural restrictions on the uncertain data, and we define three robust optimization models that differ in how the coefficients in the objective vary. Under one set of assumptions there exists a sensor placement that is optimal for all admissible realizations of the coefficients. Under other assumptions, we can apply sorting to solve each worst-case realization efficiently, or we can apply duality to integrate the worst-case outcome and have one integer program. The most difficult case is where the objective parameters are bilinear, and we prove its complexity is NP-hard even under simplifying assumptions. We consider a relaxation that provides an approximation, giving an overall guarantee of near-optimality when used with branch-and-bound search. We present preliminary computational experiments that illustrate the computational complexity of solving these robust formulations on sensor placement applications.
Self-consistent effective-medium theory of random internal waves

In the first part of this paper we introduce a path-integral formalism for the internal-wave field of the ocean. The intent is to show that this type of formalism may be useful in suggesting improvements to current calculations, as it provides a framework for applying a wide variety of approximations that have been and are currently being developed in other areas of physics. We demonstrate the method by deriving equations for a self-consistent field approach (also known as the direct-interaction approximation). The experience in other areas of physics is that the self-consistent field approximation is more reliable than lowest-order perturbation theory. The end result of the DIA is the determination of an effective linear model for the description of internal waves in the deep-ocean environment. In the second part of the paper we obtain Hasselmann's source function by a prescribed limiting process and are able to indicate possible improvements in related calculations by comparing the limiting assumptions with numerically computed values.
Identifying Perspectives of Health in Adults With Intellectual Disability Through Engagement in Participatory Research

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to present the contributions adults with intellectual disability can make to health-related research in an effort to encourage the inclusion of this population in research. Photovoice was used to develop collaboration between the researcher and a group of adults with intellectual disability. In addition to individual interviews and observations, the participants completed a photograph assignment aimed at identifying things that are good or bad for health. Four themes emerged from this study: defining health, feeling connected, having something to do, and being part of the community. Additionally, insight was gleaned on promoting health in this population. Health promotion curricula need to include skill development and support building along with this population's strengths, interests, and context.
The diffusion of carbon during precipitation in α-iron

Abstract The activation energy for precipitation of carbon from α-iron was measured to be 17.1 ± 0.5 kcal/mole by starting the precipitation at one temperature and finishing it at another. The activation energy was the same within experimental error for aging temperatures from 0° to 170°C, for samples strained up to 4 per cent, and for samples of different concentration. This energy is appreciably smaller than that of 20.1 kcal/mole for carbon diffusion in a-iron measured from elastic relaxation methods. Possible reasons for this difference are discussed, but no satisfactory explanation for it is found.
Suprarenal Inferior Vena Cava Filters: A 20-Year Single-Center Experience

Purpose To assess the clinical safety and efficacy of suprarenal inferior vena cava (IVC) filters during long-term follow-up. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, the authors collected the following data about patients who underwent suprarenal IVC filter placement at their institution between 1988 and 2007: demographics, clinical presentation, indications for filter placement, reasons for placing the filter in the suprarenal IVC, type of filter, frequency of pulmonary embolism (PE) after filter placement, and filter-related problems during follow-up. Results Seventy patients (32 male and 38 female patients; mean age, 60 years) had suprarenal IVC filters. Sixty-two patients presented with symptoms of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and eight had incidental asymptomatic VTE at imaging. Indications for filter placement were as follows: contraindication to anticoagulation ( n = 48), complications and/or failure of anticoagulation ( n = 12), added protection ( n = 8), and prophylaxis ( n = 2). Suprarenal placement was chosen due to IVC thrombus ( n = 41), intrinsic and/or extrinsic narrowing of the infrarenal IVC ( n = 9), renal and/or gonadal vein thrombus ( n = 3), congenital IVC anomalies ( n = 6), pelvic mass ( n = 5), pregnancy ( n = 3), and other reasons ( n = 3). The following filters were used: Greenfield ( n = 29), Simon Nitinol ( n = 5), Vena-Tech ( n = 3), TrapEase ( n = 22), OptEase ( n = 3), Tulip ( n = 6), Bird's Nest ( n = 1), and Recovery ( n = 1). During follow-up (mean, 573 days ± 953), postfilter PE was suspected in 10 patients; eight patients underwent computed tomography (CT), one of whom had PE at CT. None developed new symptoms of caval thrombosis. Abdominal CT (performed in 30 patients at a mean of 543 days ± 768) showed thrombus in the filter in three patients, fracture in one patient, and penetration of the IVC wall in two patients. Conclusions Suprarenal filters are safe and effective in preventing PE. The placement of IVC filters above the renal veins does not carry an added risk of complications.
Media richness and information acquisition in internet recruitment

Purpose – Rich, interactive media are becoming extremely common in internet recruitment systems. The paper investigates the role of media richness in applicants’ ability to learn information relevant to making an application decision. The authors examine these relationships in the context of two competing theories, namely media richness theory and cognitive load theory, which predict opposite relationships with information acquisition. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Participants (n=471) either viewed a traditional web site or visited an interactive virtual world that contained information about an organization's culture, benefits, location, and job openings. Culture information was manipulated to either portray a highly teams-oriented culture or a highly individual-oriented culture. Findings – Participants who viewed the low-richness site recalled more factual information about the organization; this effect was mediated by subjective mental workload. Richness was not...
Optimum Control in Nonlinear Ecological Dynamics of Metropolitan Areas

After an ecological-type formulation of single-city aggregate urban dynamics, the optimum time trajectory of such a system is analyzed. A set of models are discussed which use different objective functions, and it is shown that erratic on-off switches of the urban controls are the optimum strategies under any type of objective function. Solutions for the optimum timing of bang-bang-type application of any specific urban policy instrument would need to be determined numerically.
Treating gastro-oesophageal reflux disease during pregnancy and lactation: what are the safest therapy options?

Gastro-oesophageal reflux and heartburn are reported by 45 to 85% of women during pregnancy. Typically, the heartburn of pregnancy is new onset and is precipitated by the hormonal effects of estrogen and progesterone on lower oesophageal sphincter function. In mild cases, the patient should be reassured that reflux is commonly encountered during a normal pregnancy: lifestyle and dietary modifications may be all that are required.
Effects of intraoperative irradiation and intraoperative hyperthermia on canine sciatic nerve: Neurologic and electrophysiologic study

Abstract Purpse: Late radiation injury to peripheral nerve may be the limiting factor in the clinical application of intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT). The combination of IORT with intraoperative hyperthermia (IOHT) raise specific concerns regarding the effects on certain normal tissues such as peripheral nerve, which might be included in the treatment field. The objective of this study was to compare the effect of IORT alone to the effect of IORT combined with IOHT on peripheral nerve in normal beagle dogs. Methods and Materials: Young adult beagle dogs were randomized into five groups of three to five dogs each to receive IORT doses of 16, 20, 24, 28, or 32 Gy to 5 cm of surgically exposed right sciatic nerve using 6 MeV electrons and six groups of four to five dogs each received IORT doses of 0, 12, 16, 20, 24, or 28 Gy simultaneously with 44°C of IOHT for 160 min. IOHT was performed using a water circulating hyperthermia device with a multichannel thermometry system on the surgically exposed exposed sciatic nerve. Neurologic and electrophysiologic examinations were done before and montly after treatment for 24 months. Electrophysiologic studies included electromyographic (EMG) exminations of motor function, as well as motor nerve conduction velocities studies. Results: Two years after treatment, the effective dose for 50% complication (ED 50 ) for limb paresis in dogs exposed to IORT only was 22 Gy. The ED 50 for paresis in dogs exposed to IORT combined with IOHT was 15 Gy. The thermal enhancement ratio (TER) was 1.5. Electrophysiologic studies showed more prominent changes such as EMG abnormalities, decrease in conduction velocity and amplitude of the action potential, and complete conduction block in dogs that received the combination of IORT and IOHT. The latency to development of peripheral neuropathies was shorter for dogs exposed to the combined treatment. Conclusion: The probability of developing peripheral neuropathies in a large animal model was higher for IORT combined with IOHT, than for IORT alone. The dose required to produce the same level of late radiation injury to the sciatic nerve was reduced by a factor of 1.5 (TER) if IORT was combined with 44°C of IOHT for 60 min.
The level of phosphorylation of nucleotides as related to the incorporation of [6-14C]orotic acid into ribonucleic acid by rat-liver homogenates☆

Abstract 1. 1. Evidence is presented to support the hypothesis that in rat-liver homogenates ATP inhibits the incorporation of radioactive uridine nucleotides into RNA. 2. 2. Increasing the concentration of MgCl 2 from 3 m M to 6 m M partially reverses inhibition by ATP. Higher concentrations of magnesium markedly inhibit incorporation regardless of the ATP concentration. 3. 3. Equilibrium between mono-, di-, and triphosphates is established at a level of 2.2-2.8 phosphates/adenosine by 20 min after the addition of ATP, ADP, or a mixture of AMP and ATP. It is only after rapid dephosphorylation of nucleotides has begun that significant incorporation of orotic acid into RNA is observed. 4. 4. When dephosphorylation of adenine nucleotides is almost complete, the specific activity of RNA reaches a maximum. Then the specific activity decreases, indicating that radioactive nucleotides are hydrolyzed from RNA faster than non-radioactive nucleotides.
Spectral cues which influence monaural localization in the horizontal plane

An extensive series of behavioral tests was carried out to determine what region, or regions, of the sound spectrum were critical for locating sounds monaurally in the horizontal plane. Seven subjects were requested to locate narrow bands of noise centered at different frequencies, combinations of these noise bands, low-pass, high-pass, and broadband noise. As observed in an earlier study, increasing bandwidth did not necessarily lead to improved localization performance until the band became broad, including, for example, all frequencies above 4.0 kHz. What seems to be happening is that listeners perceive narrow bands of noise originating from restricted places in the horizontal plane which may differ one from another depending on the frequency composition of the stimulus. In several instances, if two noise bands were presented simultaneously, the resulting stimulus was located with reasonable accuracy provided each component, when presented singly, was perceived as emanating from clearly separate azimuthal positions. If, however, two noise bands, which were perceived to originate from approximately the same azimuthal position when presented singly, were now presented simultaneously, the resulting stimulus still was perceived to originate from the same region of the horizontal plane. This, then, is a case where augmenting the spectral content of the stimulus does not bring about improved performance. We suggest that the expression of judgmental biases in the apparent location of a band of noise may prove useful for understanding why some stimuli of specified width and center frequency are localizable while others are not.
Pineal melatonin synthesis in Syrian hamsters: a summary.

During the past decade there has been ample documentation of the proposition that the pineal gland mediates photoperiodic influences upon reproductive behavior of hamsters. It is commonly hypothesized that the pineal gland expresses its activity by transformation of photoperiodic information into an hormonal output, that hormone being melatonin. If this hypothesis is correct, there must be some essential diffrence in melatonin's output when hamsters are exposed to different photoperiodic environments. The experiments summarized in this communication analyze pineal melatonin contents in Syrian hamsters maintained in a variety of photoperiodic conditions during different physiological states. The results demonstrate that adult hamsters have a daily surge in pineal melatonin content throughout their lifetime when exposed to simulated annual photoperiodic cycles. There is some fluctuation in the amount of pineal melatonin produced during different physiological states and photoperiodic environments, but these fluctuations seem small when compared to those normally found for other regulatory hormones. When hamsters are exposed to different photoperiodic regimens, the daily melatonin surge maintains a relatively constant phase relationship with respect to the onset of daily activity. There is a concomitant change in its phase relationship with respect to light-dark transitions.
INFECTIONS OF GRANULOCYTIC EHRLICHIAE AND BORRELIA BURGDORFERI IN WHITE-TAILED DEER IN CONNECTICUT

Serum or whole blood samples, obtained from 141 white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Connecticut (USA) during 1980, 1991, and 1996, were analyzed to detect past or current infections of Ehrlichia phagocytophila genogroup organisms and Borrelia burgdorferi. When the BDS or NCH-1 strains of granulocytic ehrlichiae were used separately in indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) staining methods, antibody positivity rates varied from 25 to 64% in 1991 and 1996, respectively. All 50 sera tested from 1980 collections were negative. Although percentages of sera with B. burgdorferi antibodies, as detected by an enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay, also differed (23 to 53%), there were coexisting antibodies to both bacteria in 20 (49%) of 41 sera. In tests on specificity, 19 deer sera with ehrlichial antibodies also were tested by IFA staining procedures for Anaplasma marginale antibodies; one serum with a titer of 1: 5,120 to ehrlichial antigen reacted to A. marginale antigen at a serum dilution of 1:320. In ...
Dispersant Effectiveness and Toxicity—An Integrated Approach

ABSTRACT An integrated approach to study chemical dispersant effectiveness and dispersed oil toxicity is presented. Conventional lab scale effectiveness tests generally provide a measure of overall dispersant effectiveness. However, chemical dispersion can be viewed as two processes: (1) dispersant-oil slick mixing and (2) oil droplet transport into the water column. Inefficiencies in either process limit the overall dispersant effectiveness. This laboratory study centered on the latter process and was conducted to focus on the impacts of water column hydrodynamics on the resurfacing of dispersed oil droplets. Using a droplet coalescence model (Sterling et al., 2002), the droplet coalescence rates of dispersed crude oil was determined within a range of shear rates. A controlled shear batch reactor was created in which coalescence of dispersed oil droplets were monitored in-situ. Experimental dispersion efficiencies (C/C0) and droplet size distributions were compared to those predicted by Stokes resurfacin...
A critiquing model of flexible constraint evaluation for a scheduler's workbench

Scheduling complex tasks is a difficult and ill-structured problem. Totally automated solutions to certain scheduling problems have certainly been achieved; however, other types of scheduling tasks do not yield easily to traditional solution methods. The latter tasks often involve both quantitative and qualitative constraints as well as changing preferences and subjective judgement. Consequently, it is sometimes impossible to take the human element out of the loop. Faced with similar problems, research in medical artificial intelligence has yielded a model of advising, called critiquing, which can be made to be comprehensible to, and consistent with, the decisionmaker's methods. In this paper we describe a project which incorporates a version of the critiquing model within a hybrid artificial intelligence/analytical-based scheduler's workbench, called MRL.
In Space Nuclear Power as an Enabling Technology for Deep Space Exploration

Deep Space Exploration missions, both for scientific and Human Exploration and Development (HEDS), appear to be as weight limited today as they would have been 35 years ago. Right behind the weight constraints is the nearly equally important mission limitation of cost. Launch vehicles, upper stages and in-space propulsion systems also cost about the same today with the same efficiency as they have had for many years (excluding impact of inflation). Both these dual mission constraints combine to force either very expensive, mega systems missions or very light weight, but high risk/low margin planetary spacecraft designs, such as the recent unsuccessful attempts for an extremely low cost mission to Mars during the 1998-99 opportunity (i.e., Mars Climate Orbiter and the Mars Polar Lander). When one considers spacecraft missions to the outer heliopause or even the outer planets, the enormous weight and cost constraints will impose even more daunting concerns for mission cost, risk and the ability to establish adequate mission margins for success. This paper will discuss the benefits of using a safe in-space nuclear reactor as the basis for providing both sufficient electric power and high performance space propulsion that will greatly reduce mission risk and significantly increase weight (IMLEO) and cost margins. Weight and cost margins are increased by enabling much higher payload fractions and redundant design features for a given launch vehicle (higher payload fraction of IMLEO). The paper will also discuss and summarize the recent advances in nuclear reactor technology and safety of modern reactor designs and operating practice and experience, as well as advances in reactor coupled power generation and high performance nuclear thermal and electric propulsion technologies. It will be shown that these nuclear power and propulsion technologies are major enabling capabilities for higher reliability, higher margin and lower cost deep space missions design to reliably reach the outer planets for scientific exploration.
Waterflood performance evaluation in a chalk reservoir with an ensemble of tools

Abstract Good waterflood performance management requires an understanding of injector–producer connectivity. In this context, chalk reservoirs present unique challenges. Reservoir compaction, flow in long horizontal wells with transverse fractures, fracturing above the parting pressure, and water short-circuiting along the fault planes may not guarantee the expected fluid displacement. These reservoir attributes collectively contribute to flood management challenges. Real-time surveillance data form the basis of ongoing flood monitoring. This data interpretation improves the estimates for ultimate recovery by way of on-time well intervention. The data also helps to better define the future field development plan. Besides gathering real-time rate and bottomhole pressure (BHP) data, this study shows how time-lapse tracer, production logs, and 4D seismic data assists in gaining a credible history match with numerical-flow simulations. Before numerical modeling, this study used an array of analytical tools. These computationally inexpensive tools include both diagnosis and analysis. Amongst the diagnostic tools, the reciprocal-productivity index (RPI) provided crucial information on the degree of pressure support felt at a producer; the water–oil ratio (WOR) plot gave the clue on fluid displacement; and the modified-Hall plot helped understand matrix injection or the lack thereof. Combined rate/pressure data analysis with the capacitance–resistance model (CRM) provided quantitative measures of injector–producer connectivity. Where feasible, the rate-transient analysis (RTA) provided evolving reservoir pressure and the connected pore-volume information. The traditional decline-curve analysis (DCA) showed variability of the decline trend based upon the pressure-support and fluid-displacement scenarios. This study underscores the importance of both real-time and time-lapse measurements in managing a waterflood in a challenging reservoir environment. The proposed workflow emphasizes learning from data diagnosis and analysis with analytical tools before embarking on history matching with numerical-flow simulations in the South Arne field, located in the Danish North Sea.
Electromagnetic scattering from perfectly conducting rough surfaces in the resonance region

A rigorous integral formalism for the problem of scattering of electromagnetic radiation from a cylindrical, perfectly conducting rough surface of arbitrary shape is introduced. The computer code obtained from this theory enables us to show that the range over which the incident field affects the surface current density is of the order of the radiation wavelength. This phenomenon is explained using a new approximate theory, able to express the scattered field in the form of an integral whose integrand is known in closed form. Using the rigorous computer code, we show that the new approximate theory is better than the Kirchhoff approximation in the resonance region. Finally, it is shown that the phenomenon of short interaction range of the incident field permits the rigorous computation of the field scattered from a rough surface of arbitrary width.
The two faces of a steroid antagonist: When an antagonist isn't

Abstract Activation of protein kinase A potentiates the transcriptional response mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor in responsive fibroblasts and in mammary carcinoma cells. This potentiation is ligand-dependent and occurs without detectable change in the phosphorylation of receptor. The transcriptional response to glucocorticoid or progestin agonists can be blocked by potent antagonists like RU 486. However, upon activation of protein kinase A, the antagonist action of RU 486 on both receptors is blunted. Indeed, RU 486 can itself activate transcription of a hormone-responsive promoter. The conditional agonist activity is observed with type II antagonists, those which recapitulate many of the early steps of ligand-dependent receptor activation, but not type I antagonists, which do not. These studies have now been extended to antimineralocorticoids. In COS-1 cells transfected with a mineralocorticoid receptor expression vector, treatment with 8-BromocAMP potentiates the response to the agonist aldosterone and elicits additional agonist activity in mineralocorticoid antagonists. A model is proposed wherein type II antagonist-receptor complexes occupy receptor binding sites on the genome. The antagonist, however, fails to promote a receptor conformation that can interact productively with a coactivator mediating the communication between receptor and the basal transcription apparatus. Activation of protein kinase A results in the recruitment or activation of a coactivator that permits recovery of receptor-mediated activation function. The recent documentation of conditional agonist activity in antagonists of several different classes of steroids could have significant implications for the use of steroid antagonists in the clinical setting, representing a previously unrecognized mechanism for the development of steroid resistance.
Changes in cerebral potassium during insulin hypoglycemia.

Conclusions1. A significant increase in cerebral potassium levels of dry brain was demonstrated in insulin-treated rats. 2. Hypoglycemia had no significant effect on water content of brains. 3. The importance of this finding as related to the present concept of cerebral glucose metabolism is discussed.
Information displays for future force warrior

The Future Force Warrior (FFW) equipped Small Combat Unit (SCU) is characterized as a platoon level organization that uses soldier borne system (SBS) components, supplemental SCU equipment, sensors, robotics, a distributed information database, and networked communications to execute collective War Fighter functions not achievable by any other SCU. These new functions introduce complex battlefield information management and display requirements. The thrust of FFW is to provide the ability to process and disseminate information, and determine how to display the information effectively to the soldier. The FFW SBS System development requires continuous integration of capabilities to increase functionality while reducing weight, cube/bulk, space, power consumption, and logistical footprint. This paper addresses these complex issues and explains the information available to the soldiers.
Magnesium-aluminum hydroxide suspension for the treatment of dermal capsaicin exposures.

Objectives To determine whether magnesium-aluminum-hydroxide-simethicone suspension (MgAl) is an effective treatment for dermal capsaicin exposures. Methods The authors performed a double-blind, randomized, controlled, pilot study comparing the effect of MgAl with that of saline in the treatment of dermal capsaicin exposures. Ten volunteers were sprayed with a commercial defensive spray containing 10% capsaicin on the flexor surface of both forearms. A dressing embedded with MgAl (Maalox) suspension was randomly applied to one arm and a saline-embedded dressing was applied to the other arm. Pain was assessed on a 10-cm visual analog scale at 0, 10, 20, 30, 60, 90, and 120 minutes. Results Mean pain scores were significantly lower in the MgAl group as compared with the saline (S) group at 10, 20, and 30 minutes. Differences in pain scores were not statistically significant at times 60, 90, and 120 minutes. Conclusions During the initial 30 minutes of treatment, there was a statistically significant decrease in pain scores with MgAl as compared with saline treatments. Although the difference in means may have questionable clinical significance, MgAl is cheap and readily available, and has minimal side effects. Thus, MgAl may be an appropriate treatment for dermal capsaicin exposure.
Making sense of hormone crosstalk during plant immune responses

In response to biotic stress, crosstalk between plant hormonal signaling pathways prioritizes defense over other cellular functions. Some plant pathogens take advantage of this regulatory system by mimicking hormones that interfere with host immune responses to promote virulence. Here we discuss the various roles that crosstalk may play in response to pathogens with different infection strategies.
Lectotypifications and a new combination in western North American Cleomaceae

Abstract Lectotypifications and a new combination in western North American Cleomaceae. Brittonia 56: 103–106. 2004.—Lectotypes are selected for two taxa in Cleomella, and a new combination is made in Cleomella (Cleomaceae). Also presented is a key to the Intermountain West species and varieties of Cleomella, a description for Cleomella hillmanii and a discussion of its varieties, and a brief discussion on the distribution of the taxa of Cleomella.
Determination of the Neurospora crassa CYS 3 sulfur regulatory protein consensus DNA-binding site: amino-acid substitutions in the CYS3 bZIP domain that alter DNA-binding specificity

CYS3 is the positive-acting global regulatory protein involved in the sulfur control circuit in Neurospora crassa and belongs to the family of bZIP DNA-binding proteins. Here we report a characterization of native DNA-binding sites recognized by CYS3. DNA footprinting experiments and systematic mutational analysis were used to define the consensus CYS3-binding sequence, 5'-ATGPuPyPuPyCAT, a 10-bp palindrome. The sequence 5'-ATGACGTCAT acts as a strong binding site, and all single nucleotide changes within this sequence resulted in a reduction, or even complete loss, of CYS3 DNA-binding. Site-directed mutagenesis was employed to study two uncharged residues, serine 113 and phenylalanine 116, in the basic region of the CYS3 protein bZip DNA-binding domain. Ser113 appears to be directly involved in a specific interaction with nucleotide 2 of the binding site, possibly by making a direct contact with this base, and Phe116 contributes significantly to DNA-binding affinity.
The prolonged effect of repeated maternal glucocorticoid exposure on the maternal and fetal leptin/insulin-like growth factor axis in Papio species

Background Maternal obesity represents a risk factor for pregnancy-related complications. Glucocorticoids are known to promote obesity in adults.
MAP kinases in lung endothelial permeability induced by microtubule disassembly

Lung endothelial barrier function is regulated by multiple signaling pathways, including mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2 and p38. We have r...
Virtual Reality for Reverse Quality Management

Currently, quality management is carried out in a sequential feed forward manner. Inspections are carried out from process to process. As the requirements are getting diversified, the number of inspections increases rapidly. This approach is verification-based. But if we look at quality management from validation point of view, another quality management and inspection approach comes up. It is to look at quality management in the reverse direction from customers’ point of view. If we consider quality as satisfaction of our customers, then we can reduce the number of inspections and focus our efforts to carry out inspections to really satisfy our customers, not to satisfy design requirements. To achieve this goal, we have to characterize our customer’s quality requirements as patterns and use customer’s profiles of quality to manage quality in production. This is a feed back approach and we need feedback information about how our customers use our machines. Although this approach has great benefits of really satisfying our customers and of substantially reducing number of inspections, its disadvantage is that it cannot be applied to new products. But if we utilize VR technology, we can estimate how our customers will use such new products in their own environments and can obtain our customer’s profiles of quality requirements before they are really put to use. Such virtual feedback will enable application of reverse quality management to new products and would satisfy our customers greatly and would reduce the number of inspections greatly. Last but most important is that such feedback information will provide us with information how we should change our design models to really meet our customer’s expectations.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Motion planning for Mars Rover

This paper presents an global-optimal motion planner for Mars Rover. It accounts for traversability and dynamic stability due to vehicle dynamics and terrain topography. A given path is traversable if along it the vehicle is statically stable. The vehicle is dynamically stable if its velocity does not exceed the velocity limit, determined from tip-over, sliding, and contact constraints. The cost function for the optimization consists of the path distance divided by the lowest velocity limit along the path. It produces paths that are traversable (and are hence dynamically stable) at the widest speed range.
Light induces c-fos and per1 expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of arrhythmic hamsters

Locomotor activity rhythms in a significant proportion of Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus sungorus) become arrhythmic after the light-dark (LD) cycle is phase-delayed by 5 h. Arrhythmia is app...
Dynamics of dilative slope failure

Breaching is a style of retrogressive subaqueous slope failure controlled by dilation and consequent pore pressure drop; it has the potential to generate turbidity currents that build thick successions of turbidites. we present pore pressure measurements made during breaching failure, as well as a physical model that shows how the pore pressure field within the failing deposit is connected to the erosion rate associated with the failure surface. we show that breaching can occur in any dilative granular material. conditions for breaching could be common on the continental shelf, making it an important mechanism in transferring sediment into the deep ocean. a dynamic equilibrium exists between the slope failure and the pore pressure dissipation during breaching. this equilibrium leads to a way to estimate the rate of sediment release from breaching using a simple material property, the coefficient of consolidation. contrary to previous work, we find that the erosion rate is independent of the dilation of the deposit due to the coupling between erosion and pore pressure dissipation. the equilibrium between the erosion and pore pressure dissipation decouples the steady-state pore pressure field from the permeability of the deposit; this is the first time this behavior has been recognized in sediment failures.
Coulomb Few-body Systems in the Framework of a Set of Coupled Integral-Differential Equations: Application to e-e+e-

Abstract Three-charge-particle quantum systems with arbitrary masses are treated by a general formalism based on coordinate space integral-differential Faddeev-Hahn-type equations. To solve these equations we expand the wave function components in terms of bound states in initial and ﬁnal channels and project these equations on these bound states as in the close coupling method used in the Schrodinger equation. After a proper angular momentum projection, a set of coupled integral-differential equations for the unknown expansion coeffcients results, which is solved numerically by discretization for the calculation of both bound state and rearrangement scattering. In this work, the formalism is employed to study atomic 3-body systems like negative ion of positronium Ps − =(e + e - e - ). Details of the applied numerical schemes are presented.
Length of Confidence Intervals

Abstract The expected length of a confidence interval is shown to equal the integral over false values of the probability each false value is included. Thus two desiderata for choosing among confidence procedures lead to the same measure of desirability. Furthermore, by common definitions of “optimum,” a procedure is optimum as regards including false values if and only if it is optimum as regards expected length. However, the procedure with minimum expected length ordinarily depends on the true value of the parameter. The possibility is explored of minimizing the average expected length, averaging according to some weighting on the possible parameter values. (This is not the same as assuming a prior distribution and using Bayes' Theorem.) The ideas are applied to the mean and variance of a normal distribution and the probability of success in binomial trials.
A pulsed ion bombardment time-of-flight mass spectrometer with high sensitivity for the analysis of peptides

Abstract The design and performance of a pulsed ion bombardment time-of-flight mass spectrometer that has an optimum sensitivity in the low picomole range for peptides is described. High sensitivity is achieved by efficient utilization of the sample introduced into the mass spectrometer. The peptide sample is concentrated on a small surface area (composed of nitrocellulose) and bombarded with a sufficiently intense, tightly focussed (elliptical spot with major axis of 0.12 mm) primary beam of indium ions (30 keV energy produced by a liquid metal ion source) to utilize a large proportion of the sample. The resolution of the instrument was limited (about 1000 FWHM) by the requirement that the secondary ion energy be less than 3.5 keV. High quality mass spectra were obtained from picomole amounts of peptides with molecular masses ranging up to 6000 u, in times of 3–30 min.
The effect of stimulus meaningfulness and response meaningfulness in the absence of response learning

Summary The two-stage analysis of associative learning suggests that with the elimination of response learning, stimulus M and response M should have equivalent effects. This expectation was tested by comparing a low stimulus M and high response M list (L-H) with its reversed version (H-L) under three conditions. Condition A was anticipatory learning. Since this involved both response learning and association formation, a difference in favor of List L-H was expected. Conditions Re and Rd were recognition tests of two levels of difficulty. Under these conditions no response recall was necessary and the two lists were expected to be learned at comparable rates. The results showed that List L-H was superior under Condition A. The two lists required an identical number of trials to mastery under Condition Re. These findings supported the two-stage theory. However, the results for Rd were unexpected. For Rd, List H-L was learned in significantly fewer trials than List L-H. The findings were discussed, and an effort was made to explain the paradoxical results of Condition Rd.
Soft-tissue sarcoma metastases identified on abdomen and pelvis CT imaging.

The current standard of care for patients with extremity soft-tissue sarcomas is to obtain imaging of the chest for staging and surveillance. Our institutional standard of care has been to obtain CT scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis to evaluate for metastatic disease. Cost and radiation risk led us to question the utility of the additional scans. We presumed abdomen and pelvic CT scans would not benefit this patient population. We retrospectively reviewed our sarcoma databases from 2000 to 2008. We included 124 patients with 15 types of extremity soft tissue sarcomas evaluated with CT of the C/A/P. Primary outcomes were (1) location of metastatic disease in relation to (2) sarcoma type. Twenty patients (16%) presented with or developed abdomen/pelvis metastases and 10 of the 15 types of soft tissue sarcomas had abdominal or pelvic metastases. A larger number of patients demonstrated metastatic disease in the abdomen and pelvis than anticipated. We believe routine imaging of the abdomen and pelvic with CT for both staging and surveillance of all types of soft tissue sarcoma should be considered.
On the Seasonal and the Atmospheric Temperature Effect in Cosmic Radiation

By analysis of the observations of the cosmic-ray ionization on the Hafelekar (2300 meters above sea level, 48\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} North geomagnetic lat.) during five years the existence of a seasonal variation with an amplitude of \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.9 percent has been proved. Reduction of the monthly means to the annual mean temperature diminishes the amplitude of the 12-month wave to one-half without eliminating it. This agrees with Vallarta and Godart's interpretation of the seasonal effect. A very marked seasonal change in the temperature coefficient of the cosmic radiation has been found, recurring every year. In winter the coefficients are about -0.12, in summer -0.055 percent per degree centigrade. The correlation between temperature and ionization is in winter twice as great as in summer. Derivation of the temperature coefficient from hourly observations gives too low absolute values because of the diurnal changes involved. With unscreened ionization chambers and also with coincidence counter arrangements (triangle position), smaller temperature coefficients are found, which become positive in summer. It is thus not possible to explain the normal negative temperature effect of cosmic radiation completely on the basis of the mesotron disintegration hypothesis.
Effect of temperature on the red cell membrane protein and its antigenic reactivity

The red blood cell membrane protein pattern of erythrocytes exposed to 50 C for 10 to 15 minutes was found to be abnormal by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in sodium dodecyl sulfate. Membranes of heated red blood cells consistently had significant elevation of band 7 and 8. The total membrane protein content (mg/10(9) cells) of heated erythrocytes was increased, but the sialic acid content was normal. Heated erythrocytes showed a consistent decrease in the reactivity of Fya and Jka antigens. Other blood group antigens were variably affected by temperature elevation. These observations may explain the mechanism of antibody elution by heat.