cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Technique for Building Representation in Oblique View Maps of Modern Urban Areas

AbstractThis paper presents a technique for creating oblique view maps of urban areas. We identify and apply cartographic and cognitive principles to develop a solution in the context of state-of-art geographic information systems. The gap in the ability of these systems to render three-dimensional buildings into maps is addressed. At the core of our solution is a building facade modelling approach that supports varying degrees of abstraction. This is achieved by introducing a concept of 'facade waveforms' and representing building facades as combinations of these waveforms. A Fourier series approximation of the waveforms is used during the rendering processes resulting in an elegant solution to anti-aliasing. The formulation retains the semantic information in the representation that enables meaningful extensions like night time facade generation. The solution is implemented as a pixel shader and therefore leads to a large reduction in texture memory requirement compared with existing building rendering ...
Excitability of auditory brainstem neurons, in vivo, is increased by cyclic-AMP

Physiological control of auditory neural responses is critical for accurate representation of acoustic information, such as sound source localization and speech perception. Central auditory neural responses are almost certainly regulated by a range of mechanisms, including second messenger systems, such as the cAMP pathway. An increase in spontaneous neural discharge is known to accompany cochlear insults. Here we report that an increase in spontaneous as well as tone-evoked discharge can also be induced by pressure application of forskolin, a pharmacological agent that elevates intracellular cAMP level by activating adenyl cyclase. The forskolin induced increase in superior olivary complex (SOC) brainstem neurons is specific, dose-dependent, and reversible, whereas application of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF, the vehicle) does not alter activity. Forskolin-application also has a relatively greater effect on spontaneous activity compared to tone evoked responses. Blockade of the hyperpolarization-activated current, Ih, by ZD7288, consistently reversed the effects of forskolin. Based on these findings, we propose that the second messenger, cAMP, can significantly modulate neural excitability and spontaneous discharge in SOC neurons, principally by shifting the activation of Ih channels.
Feasibility of a surplus wood energy industry for the state of Michigan

Kwong, J.A. and Rycus, M.J., 1983. Feasibility of a surplus wood energy industry for the state of Michigan. Energy Agric., 2: 245--256. Among the various forms of renewable energy, the utilization of surplus wood poses a possible alternative energy supplement for the state of Michigan. Surplus wood is available from unutilized industrial wood wastes, logging residues, underutilized species, and cull trees. It has been conservatively estimated that during the next 30 years, 450 million t of surplus wood fiber in the state will be available for energy usage, capable of supplying approximately 1300 MW of installed electric generating capacity or around 4000 million 1]year of methanol. This paper examines the potential of producing liquid fuels and fuel wood for electric generation from surplus wood. The need to carefully remove surplus wood from forests has long been recognized by forest management experts. Proper removal of these materials will make the forests healthier, more productive and will simultaneously add to Michigan's energy supply. Until now, the lack of a market for this wood and the high cost of harvesting it, has resulted in over-exploitation of high quality trees, followed by a lack of forest management to regenerate high productivity stands. The growing and future opportunities of wood for energy can open markets which will allow for the intensive forest management practices that have been relatively ignored in the past. This paper discusses the expanding wood market and how it will directly and indirectly influence other economic markets. The paper concludes that the use of wood by-products from all wood related industries, and the utilization of more trees with improved forest management, can not only supplement the present energy sources, but can actually improve the state's forest productivity, thereby contributing to the overall economic viability of the concept.
Differential requirements of two recA mutants for constitutive SOS expression in Escherichia coli K-12.

Background Repairing DNA damage begins with its detection and is often followed by elicitation of a cellular response. In E. coli, RecA polymerizes on ssDNA produced after DNA damage and induces the SOS Response. The RecA-DNA filament is an allosteric effector of LexA auto-proteolysis. LexA is the repressor of the SOS Response. Not all RecA-DNA filaments, however, lead to an SOS Response. Certain recA mutants express the SOS Response (recAC) in the absence of external DNA damage in log phase cells.
Computational and Experimental Characterization of Single Bubble Dynamics in Isothermal Liquid Pools

The process of bubble growth is of great influence on the bubble volume and bubble rise velocity. The overall behavior of bubbles at fluid interfaces depends strongly on bubble growth and the closely linked process of bubble detachment. In the present study, the dynamics of a single gas bubble emanating from an orifice submerged in isothermal liquid pools is investigated computationally and experimentally. The parametric effects of liquid properties, capillary diameters and air flow rates on the bubble shape, equivalent diameter, and growth times on the dynamic behavior (incipience, growth and necking) of air bubbles, in fluids of varying surface tension and viscosity, as it grows from a tip of a sub-millimeter-scale capillary orifice have been studied. Computational solutions have been obtained by solving the complete set of governing equations using Volume of Fluid (VOF) interface tracking method. The CFD model has been verified experimentally using optical high speed micro-scale flow visualization techniques. The results were analyzed in a theoretical stand point considering the various forces acting on the bubble such as forces due to buoyancy, viscosity, surface tension, liquid inertia, and gas momentum transport, and the consequent motion of the gas-liquid interface. The results obtained ascertain the role of liquid-gas interfacial forces as well as the fluid properties on the bubble growth dynamics.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
ROLE OF A LATERALIZED PARIETAL-BASAL GANGLIA CIRCUIT IN HIERARCHICAL PATTERN PERCEPTION: EVIDENCE FROM PARKINSON’S DISEASE

The role of corticostriatal circuits in hierarchical pattern perception was examined in Parkinson’s disease. The hypothesis was tested that patients with right-side onset of motor symptoms (RPD, left hemisphere dysfunction) would be impaired at local level processing because the left posterior temporoparietal junction (TP) emphasizes processing of local information. By contrast, left-side onset patients (LPD; right hemisphere dysfunction) would show impaired global processing because right TP emphasizes global processing. Participants identified targets at local or global levels without and with attention biased toward those levels. Despite normal attentional control between levels, LPD patients showed a single dissociation, demonstrating abnormal global level processing under all conditions, whereas RPD patients showed abnormal local level processing mainly when attention was biased toward the local level. These findings link side of motor symptom onset to visuospatial cognitive abilities that depend upon the contralateral TP, highlighting that side of onset can predict visuospatial impairments, and provide evidence that an inferior parietal - basal ganglia pathway involving the caudate head and the hemispherically asymmetrical TP region is necessary for hierarchical pattern perception.
View of K+ secretion through the apical K channel of cortical collecting duct

An extracellular K + concentration in a narrow range is critical for the normal function of the heart, nerves and skeleton muscles. Changes in the concentration of K + in hyperkalemia or hypokalemia can be life-threatening. Two regulatory mechanisms control the extracellular K + concentration. First, the extracellular K + concentration can be regulated by redistribution of K + between intracellular and extracellular fluids. Several hormones, for example insulin and β-adrenergic agonists, enhance uptake of K + by cell and thus shift K + from the extracellular space to the intracellular space [1]. The second set of mechanisms involved in controlling the extracellular concentration of K + are renal and colonic K + secretion [2]. The kidney plays a key role in regulating the extracellular K + content, since an amount equivalent to 90% of ingested K + is secreted by renal tubules.
Effects of diltiazem on conduction of premature impulses during acute myocardial ischemia and reperfusion.

Abstract The effect of diltiazem on conduction of cardiac impulses was studied using premature impulses. Conduction times were measured in the epicardium and endocardium in both anterograde and retrograde directions during ischemia and reperfusion of the left ventricular anterior wall. In 16 dogs (8 control and 8 treated with diltiazem), the left anterior descending artery was occluded initially below the second diagonal branch and 30 minutes later below the first diagonal branch. Infusion of diltiazem (0.02 mg/kg per min) was begun at the time of the first ligation in the treated dogs. Conduction delay in normal, ischemic and reperfused myocardium and at the border of ischemia or reperfusion was compared in the two groups. In addition, treated and nontreated ischemic zones were analyzed in the diltiazem-treated group. Results showed significantly less ischemia-induced conduction delay in the diltiazem-treated group in both ischemic myocardium and at the border of ischemia. This beneficial effect was seen in the ischemic segment in the treated dogs whether or not the medication was given before or after coronary ligation. Further, the effect of the drug on epicardial and endocardial conduction did not differ significantly. These data suggest that diltiazem may have potential value in the treatment of ventricular reentrant arrhythmias associated with acute ischemia over and above the well recognized hemodynamic and metabolic effects of calcium channel blocking agents.
Levels of gene flow among populations of a wolf spider in a recently fragmented habitat: current versus historical rates

Gene flow among populations is important for countering the deleterious effects of random genetic drift and inbreeding, as well as spreading beneficial mutations. Wind-driven aerial dispersal is known to occur in numerous plants and invertebrates. Its evolution suggests that historically, suitable habitat patches were dense enough to make such undirected dispersal evolutionarily advantageous. Using microsatellite markers we assessed the population genetic structure of seven populations of a wolf spider (Rabidosa rabida) capable of ballooning. Historically, each spider population received a mean of 1.5 migrants per generation from the other six populations. Over the past several generations the number of migrants reaching a population is only 0.2. This statistically significant reduction in gene flow coincides with high levels of habitat fragmentation and suggests that undirected aerial dispersal is ineffective in this fragmented landscape. Further, individuals within populations showed signficantly elevated levels of homozygosity relative to Hardy–Weinberg expectations, suggesting that cursorial dispersal may be very limited and genetic structure within populations exists. Inbreeding coefficients averaged 0.18 over all seven populations with very little variation among populations (s = 0.02). Fitness was lower in smaller populations relative to larger ones. Altered landscapes pose evolutionary dilemmas for many metapopulations and species that depend on undirected movement for dispersal may be particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation.
Choline Phosphotransferase and Phosphatidyl Ethanolamine Methyltransferase Activities in Spleen Microsomes of Mice Infected with Friend Virus

SummaryCholine phosphotransferase and phosphatidyl ethanolamine methyltrans-ferase enzymatic activities (nmoles phosphatidyl choline/min/mg protein) have been determined in spleen microsomes of Friend virus infected BALB/c male mice at 5, 10, 14 and 21 days following inoculation of the virus. There is marked stimulation of the choline phosphotransferase activity in the virus infected spleens. There is less stimulation of the phosphatidyl ethanola-mine methyltransferase.The incorporation of 1,2-14C-choline and 1,2-14C-ethanolamine into the total phos-pholipid-P, total lecithin-P, and the phosphatidyl choline-P fractions of spleen microsomes at 1, 2 and 3 hrs after intraperi-toneal injection of the isotopic compounds in 14 day old viral infected mice was studied. There was a greater incorporation of 1,2-14C-choline into the total phospho-lipid-P, total lecithin-P and phosphatidyl choline fractions in the microsomes of the viral infected spleens than in control mice. Friend virus greatly stimulates the choli...
The probability of alpha-mode containment failure

Abstract Since the original quantification of the likelihood of α failure in NUREG/CR-5030, major experimental and analytical developments have taken place. By taking advantage of these developments, we believe it is possible to reduce the substantial conservatisms in the original quantification, and to thus conclude that even vessel failure by steam explosions may be regarded as physically unreasonable. We have illustrated how this can be done within the original framework, as well as in a complementary framework that takes advantage of current integral analysis capabilities. On this basis, the α-failure issue is now ripe for final resolution; what is needed is a complete set of calculations supporting a revised quantification of CR1 and CR3 and a final review step in the ROAAM process.
Molecular cloning of a rho family gene of Entamoeba histolytica.

An Entamoeba histolytica gene (Eh rhol) was cloned that encodes a putative low-molecular-mass GTP-binding protein, most similar to the ras homologue rho. The Eh rhol open reading frame was 208 amino acids long and encoded a 23-kDa protein similar to Saccharomyces cerevisiae RHO1-RH04 and CDC42 and human rhoA, racl. and G25K, gene products. This similarity was greatest at the NH2 terminus of Eh rhol where two GTP-binding sites and a possible effector site were conserved. A cysteine residue at the COOH terminus of Eh rhol was followed by eight hydrophobic amino acids rather than the three hydrophobic amino acids present in other ras family proteins.
Pointed Hopf algebras are free over Hopf subalgebras

Abstract It is well known that a commutative or cocommutative Hopf algebra is faithfully flat over any Hopf subalgebra. Examples of commutative cocommutative cosemisimple Hopf algebras have been found which are not free as modules over certain Hopf subalgebras. In this paper various sufficient conditions are given for a Hopf algebra to be free over a Hopf subalgebra. It is shown that a pointed Hopf algebra is free over any Hopf subalgebra (as a left or right module).
Surgical management of giant aneurysms

The proper management and treatment of giant intracranial aneurysms require meticulous preoperative and intraoperative planning. The dismal natural history of these lesions necessitates intervention; however, anatomic complexity and the technical difficulty associated with treatment make giant intracranial aneurysms one of the more challenging lesions a neurosurgeon can address. The basic tenants of aneurysm surgery apply to these lesions. Vascular control is crucial and may include measures as drastic as hypothermic circulatory arrest. Wide access with minimal retraction is highly desirable, and selection of the appropriate skull base approach is necessary to achieve this goal. Because the risk of aneurysm rupture is only truly eliminated if the lesion is fully excluded from the circulation, all intraoperative techniques must achieve this goal. If direct clipping of the aneurysm and reconstruction of the vessel lumen are impossible, other techniques, including parent-vessel ligation, aneurysm trapping, and bypass procedures, are important adjuvants in the neurosurgeon's arsenal. This article focuses on the skull base approaches and operative techniques that are essential to giant intracranial aneurysm surgery.
Syndecan-1-mediated cell spreading requires signaling by αvβ3 integrins in human breast carcinoma cells

Abstract Syndecans are cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans with regulatory roles in cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation [Annu. Rev. Biochem. 68 (1999) 729]. While the syndecan heparan sulfate chains are essential for matrix binding, less is known about the signaling role of their core proteins. To mimic syndecan-specific adhesion, MDA-MB-231 mammary carcinoma cells were plated on antibodies against syndecan-4 or syndecan-1. While cells adherent via syndecan-4 spread, cells adherent via syndecan-1 do not. However, cells adherent via syndecan-1 can be induced to spread by Mn2+, suggesting that activation of a β1 or β3 integrin partner is required. Surprisingly, pretreatment of cells with a function-activating β1 antibody does not induce spreading, whereas function-blocking β1 integrin antibodies do, suggesting involvement of a β1-to-β3 integrin cross-talk. Indeed, blockade of β1 integrin activation induces αvβ3 integrin activation detectable by soluble fibrinogen binding. Spreading in response to syndecan-1 is independent of integrin-ligand binding. Furthermore, competition with soluble murine syndecan-1 ectodomain, which does not disrupt cell adhesion, nonetheless blocks the spreading mechanism. These data suggest that the ectodomain of the syndecan-1 core protein directly participates in the formation of a signaling complex that signals in cooperation with αvβ3 integrins; signaling via this complex is negatively regulated by β1 integrins.
NOTES ON DOPPLER-SHIFT LIFETIME MEASUREMENTS

Abstract By use of the universal scattering cross section derived by Lindhard et al., the velocity of an ion in a scattering medium is calculated as a function of time. The effect of both electronic and atomic collisions is included. In addition, the average scattering angle (in the lab system) resulting from multiple atomic collisions is derived. It is shown that in most cases the attenuation of the Doppler shift as a result of the changed direction of the scattered nucleus is more important than the effect of slowing down due to atomic collisions. In fact, at low velocities and for heavy scatterers the change in the direction of motion is the dominating factor. The results are given in a form amenable to numerical analysis. In the limiting cases of (i) very short lifetimes and (ii) predominantly electronic scattering, the average Doppler shifts are given in an analytical form.
Further discrete variable results for a panel flutter optimization problem

Numerical solutions are presented for the problem of minimum weight design of a thin one-dimensional, simply supported, solid panel in compression, with one side exposed to a parallel high supersonic air flow. The flutter speed is held fixed and a minimum thickness constraint is imposed.
Ultraviolet observations of small bodies in the solar system by OAO-2

Abstract Broadband filter photometry from 2100 to 4300 A has been obtained by OAO-2 for the following objects: The Galilean satellites; Titan; the rings of Saturn; and three asteroids. Agreement with independent ground-based photometry in the region of overlap is good. The previously known decrease in reflectivity from visual to ground-based ultraviolet wavelengths continues to 2590 A for all these objects. Europa's reflectivity continues to decline towards 2110 A, and the rings' reflectivity levels off from 2590 to 2110 A. Other targets were too faint at 2110 A to be measured reliably by OAO-2. The low ultraviolet albedo of Titan has important implications for that planet's atmospheric structure ( Caldwell, Larach, and Danielson, 1973 ; Danielson, Caldwell, and Larach, 1973 ; Caldwell, 1974b ). The ultraviolet reflectivity of Saturn's rings is suggestive of a two-component system, one being pure H 2 O particles. The ultraviolet albedos of the Galilean satellites are consistent with existing upper limits for atmospheric abundances, but require either that former estimates of the fractional coverage of H 2 O frost are too high, an unlikely circumstance, or that the frost has been darkened by some external agent in the space environment.
Challenges in the accurate numerical simulation of practical thermal processes and systems

Purpose – The numerical simulation of practical thermal processes is generally complicated because of multiple transport mechanisms and complex phenomena that commonly arise. In addition, the materials encountered are often not easily characterized and typically involve large property changes over the ranges of interest. The boundary conditions may not be properly defined and or may be unknown. However, it is important to obtain accurate and dependable numerical results from the simulation in order to study, design, and optimize most practical thermal processes of current and future interest. The purpose of this paper is to focus on the main challenges that are encountered in obtaining accurate numerical simulation results on practical thermal processes and systems.Design/methodology/approach – A wide range of thermal systems is considered and the challenges faced in the numerical simulation are outlined. The methods that may be used to meet these challenges are presented in terms of grid, solution strate...
Nonemployment of Black Men in Major Metropolitan Areas

The author examines the extent of nonemployment among black males across 64 MSAs in 1980, testing Szymanski's (1976) thesis of functional substitutability of women and black workers in the post-World War II period. Evidence is presented to show that black male nonemployment is partially the result of increased white female employment. The paper concludes with the suggestion that in the United States labor displacement in the post-World War II economy has worked cross-genderly when race is taken into account.
Reply: New results justify open discussion of alternative models

A millennium ago, Jewish sages wrote that “the rivalry of scholars increases wisdom.” In contrast, Schweig et al. (Eos, this issue) demand that “great caution” be exercised in discussing alternatives to their model of high seismic hazard in the New Madrid seismic zone (NMSZ). We find this view surprising; we have no objection to their and their coworkers' extensive efforts promoting their model in a wide variety of public media, but see no reason not to explore a lower-hazard alternative based on both new data and reanalysis of data previously used to justify their model. In our view, the very purpose of collecting new data and reassessing existing data is to promote spirited testing and improvement of existing hypotheses. For New Madrid, such open reexamination seems scientifically appropriate, given the challenge of understanding intraplate earthquakes, and socially desirable because of the public policy implications.
Parental goals regarding peer relationships and management of peers in a multiethnic sample.

Caregivers have a range of empathic, socialization, and ethnicity-based goals in regard to adolescents' peer relationships. There are similarities and differences in goals across African American, Latino, and white groups. Caregiver goals are related to the amount of peer management that they use with their early adolescents.
Epitaxial Growth and Orientational Dependence of Surface Photochemistry in Crystalline TiO2 Rutile Films Doped with Nitrogen

We have prepared and investigated the structural, compositional, morphological, and photochemical properties of N-doped TiO2(110), -(100), and -(001) epitaxial films grown by means of plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy. The N solid solubility is limited to ∼1−2 atom % of the total anions in the lattice in films where excellent long-range structural order is maintained throughout growth. The photochemical activity of the resulting surfaces was evaluated by using hole-mediated decomposition of adsorbed trimethyl acetate. Undoped surfaces of the three orientations exhibited comparable photochemical activities. However, the dependence of the photochemical activity on N concentration shows a marked crystallographic dependence. The results are rationalized in terms of the apparent crystallographic anisotropy of hole mobility as well as hole trapping and detrapping probabilities.
On the Nature and Extent of Intermolecular Interactions between Entrapped Complexes of Ru(bpy)32+ in Zeolite Y

A series of zeolite Y samples having different contents of entrapped Ru(bpy){sub 3}{sup 2+} (Z-Ru(bpy){sub 3}) has been prepared. In contrast to the case in homogeneous media, in Y-zeolite the entrapped molecules cannot diffuse and the range of possible intermolecular distances between the complexes is restricted to discrete values. Because of the specific arrangement of interacting species, simplified models can be used in the study of the intermolecular interactions. The results of the present study indicate that the intermolecular interactions between the entrapped complexes have a profound effect on the intensity of the electronic emission and kinetics of the excited-state depopulation. Analysis of excited-state lifetime results show that, although isolated Z-{sup *}Ru(bpy){sub 3} molecules decay to the ground state with rates comparable to that observed in aqueous solution, the decay of the excited molecules, which have another Ru(bpy){sub 3}{sup 2+} complex entrapped in an adjacent zeolite supercage, is much more rapid. In the case of excited-state--ground-state interaction, this effect has been attributed to the nonradiative decay enhancement, and in the case of the excited-state--excited-state interaction, it has been attributed to triplet-triplet annihilation via electron transfer.
Computer modeling informs study design: vaginal estrogen to prevent mesh erosion after different routes of prolapse surgery

Many clinicians use perioperative vaginal estrogen therapy (estradiol, E2) to diminish the risk of mesh erosion after prolapse surgery, though supporting evidence is limited. We assessed the feasibility of a factorial randomized trial comparing mesh erosion rates after vaginal mesh prolapse surgery (VM) versus minimally invasive sacral colpopexy (MISC), with or without adjunct vaginal estrogen therapy. A Markov state transition model simulated the probability of 2-year outcomes of visceral injury, mesh erosion, and reoperation after four possible prolapse therapies: VM or MISC, each with or without estrogen therapy (E2). We used pooled estimates from a systematic review to generate probability distributions for the following outcomes after each procedure: visceral injury, postoperative mesh erosion, and reoperation for either recurrent prolapse or mesh erosion. Assuming different assumptions for E2 efficacies (50 and 75 % reduction in erosion rates), Monte Carlo simulations estimated outcomes rates, which were then used to generate sample size estimates for a four-arm factorial trial. While E2 reduced the risk of mesh erosion for both VM and MISC, absolute reduction was small. Assuming 75 % efficacy, E2 decreased the risk of mesh erosion for VM from 7.8 to 2.0 % and for MISC from 2.0 to 0.5 %. Total sample sizes ranged from 448 to 1,620, depending on power and E2 efficacy. The required sample size for a trial to determine which therapy results in the lowest erosion rates would be prohibitively large. Because this remains an important clinical issue, further study design strategies could include composite outcomes, cost-effectiveness, or value of information analysis.
Modification of glass cell walls by rubidium vapor

It has long been known that the inner walls of freshly manufactured glass cells filled with a few droplets of alkali metal undergo a ``curing'' process, where the properties of the cell wall change over a period of days to weeks. We report quantitative studies of ``curing'' in Pyrex cells filled with rubidium metal. Our experiment shows that at $94\text{ }\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}\text{C}$, the surface of Pyrex glass adsorbs about $3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{15}$ rubidium atoms per ${\text{cm}}^{2}$, which is equivalent to 6--7 monolayers of liquid rubidium.
Comparison of procedural sedation for the reduction of dislocated total hip arthroplasty.

Introduction: Various types of sedation can be used for the reduction of a dislocated total hip arthroplasty. Traditionally, an Opiate/Benzodiazepine combination has been employed. The use of other pharmacologic agents, such as Etomidate and Propofol, has more recently gained popularity. Currently no studies directly comparing these sedation agents have been carried out. The purpose of this study is to compare differences in reduction and sedation outcomes including recovery times of these three different sedation agents. Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed examining 198 patient’s charts who presented with dislocated total hip arthroplasty at two academic affiliated medical centers. The patients were organized into groups according to the type of sedation agent used during their reduction. The percentages of reduction and sedation complications were calculated along with overall recovery times. Reduction complications included fracture, skin or neurovascular injury, and failure of reduction requiring general anesthesia. Sedation complications included use of bag-valve mask and artificial airway, intubation, prolonged recovery, use of a reversal agent, and inability to achieve sedation. The data were then compared for each sedation agent. Results: The reduction complications rates found were 8.7% in the Propofol group, 24.68% in the Etomidate, and 28.85% in the Opiate/Benzodiazepine groups. The reduction complication rate in the Propofol group was significantly different than those of the other two agents (p≤0.01). Sedation complications were found to happen 7.25% of the time in the Propofol group, 11.69% in the Etomidate group, and 21.25% in the Opiate/ Benzodiazepine group with Propofol having complication rates significantly different than that of the Opiate/Benzodiazepine group (p=0.02). Average lengths of recovery were 25.17 minutes for Propofol, 30.83 minutes for Etomidate, and 44.35 minutes for Opiate/ Benzodiazepine with Propofol averaging a significantly less recovery time than the Opiate/Benzodiazepine group (p=0.05). Conclusions: For the purpose of reducing a dislocated total hip arthroplasty under conscious sedation, Propofol appears to have fewer complications and a trend of more rapid recovery than both Etomidate and Opiate/Benzodiazepine. Etomidate does appear to have some advantages over Opiate/Benzodiazepine regarding sedation complications and recovery time; however its rate of reduction complications was similar. This preliminary data supports the use of Propofol as the first line agent for procedural sedation of dislocated total hip arthroplasty as it may lead to few complications and shorter stays in the emergency department.
Computer model of clonazepam's effect in thalamic slice

In the thalamus, paradoxical changes in response to augmentation of inhibition can occur as a result of either cellular or network effects. Clonazepam, a GABA(A) agonist, produces a paradoxical reduction in evoked thalamocortical neuron inhibitory postsynaptic potential (IPSP) in thalamic slice. This has been hypothesized to be a result of augmentation in inhibitory to inhibitory connections. In a computer model, orthodromic simulation produced an increase in initial IPSP, a result contrary to that found experimentally. This failure was traced to the inability of orthodromic activation to produce fast enough recurrent inhibition to alter initial reticularis neuron firing. Simulated antidromic stimulation was able to reduce this initial spike train and reproduced the experimental finding.
Lysophosphatidic acid and endothelin-induced proliferation of ovarian cancer cell lines is mitigated by neutralization of granulin–epithelin precursor (GEP), a prosurvival factor for ovarian cancer

Granulin-epithelin precursor (GEP/progranulin) is an autocrine growth factor for ovarian cancer. We examined the production and function of GEP and report that: (1) GEP production is regulated by endothelin (ET-1), lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), and cAMP; (2) cAMP signals GEP production through exchange protein activated by cAMP (EPAC); (3) ET-1 and cAMP/EPAC induce GEP through ERK1/2; and (4) neutralization of GEP results in apoptosis. Exposure of HEY-A8 and OVCAR3 ovarian cancer cells to LPA and ET-1 yielded GEP production and secretion in a dose- and time-dependent fashion; neither stimulated significant concentrations of cAMP directly. Stimulation of cAMP production with pertussis and cholera toxin, or forskolin induced GEP in a PKA-independent fashion. EPAC, an intracellular cAMP receptor, is activated specifically by the cAMP analog, 8-CPT-2'-O-Me-cAMP (8-CPT); 8-CPT treatment stimulated GEP production and secretion. The MEK inhibitor, U0126, abrogated GEP production in response to ET-1 and 8-CPT, confirming involvement of MAPK. A partial inhibition of basal and stimulated GEP production was observed when cells were treated with a internal calcium chelator, BAPTA. Neutralizing anti-GEP antibody reversed basal as well as LPA, ET-1 and 8-CPT-induced ovarian cancer cell growth and induced apoptosis as demonstrated by caspase-3 and PARP cleavage, DNA fragmentation, and nuclear condensation. These results indicate that GEP is a growth and survival factor for ovarian cancer, induced by LPA and ET-1 and cAMP/EPAC through ERK1/2.
Cow Preference for Free Stall Surface Material

Abstract Comparative cow preference for rubber mats, carpeting, and layered mat was determined with 30 cows divided into three 10-cow divided into three 10-cow groups. In alternate 2 wk, cows were assigned to one of the surfaces and then given 2 wk to select a given stall material. A 24-h Observation was at the end of each 2 wk to determine stall lying and standing time. when cows were assigned to a stall surface, they spent more time occupying stalls when they were in carpeted and layered mat stalls than in rubber mat stalls. when cows were allowed to select stalls. layered stalls were used most frequently. In Trial 2, a fourth group of 10 stalls was covered with vulcanized rubber product, and an additional 10 cows were utilized. As in Trial 1, cows spent less time in stalls covered with rubber mat than in those with other surfaces. When Provided a choice, cows selected stalls covered with layered and vulcanized mats. This difference in preference may be from greater compressability of layered and vulcanized products. Cows produced the most milk during the time they were given a choice of stalls. This also corresponded to the period with the greatest time of stall utilization. However, more data are needed before strong inferences can be drawn.
Global expression profiles from C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mouse lungs to determine aging-related genes

This study identified gene expression profiles that provided evidence for genomic mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of aging lung. Aging lungs from C57BL/6 (B6) and DBA/2 (D2) mouse strains...
Further observations on the teratogenic action of the thyroid stimulating hormone.

Pregnant Wistar Albino rats were injected intraperitoneally with the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), obtained from several different suppliers, and with the dye trypan blue. Twenty USP units of TSH were injected on days 7 to 10 of pregnancy, one quarter of the total dose each day. Trypan blue was injected as a single subteratogenic dose (0.6 mg/100 gm maternal body weight) on day 8. Autopsy was on day 20. Some TSH prepared as a pituitary extract possessed very weak teratogenic activity, possibly limited to the production of hydronephrosis and hydroureter. Other TSH samples similarly prepared had no embryotoxic or teratogenic effect. Thyrotropin prepared from bovine serum exhibited distinct teratogenic activity causing the production of various malformations in the offspring of treated mothers. A subteratogenic dose of trypan blue enhanced the teratogenic activity of the serum prepared TSH sample but had no effect on TSH prepared from pituitary glands. The results of this experiment suggest that there is something in the nature of preparation of TSH from bovine serum that causes it to possess teratogenic activity.
Hop-distance based addressing and routing for dense sensor networks without location information

One of the most challenging problems in wireless sensor networks is the design of scalable and efficient routing algorithms without location information. The use of specialized hardware and/or infrastructure support for localization is costly and in many deployment scenarios infeasible. In this study, the wave mapping coordinate (WMC) system to address the localization problem is introduced for dense sensor networks and a highly efficient routing algorithm applicable to WMC systems is proposed. The performance of the WMC system is evaluated through simulations and compared with the performance of geographic routing without location information (GWL). The WMC system is found to be highly scalable and efficient with a simple system set-up procedure. Simulation studies confirm the high routing performance of WMC systems which is comparable to the performance of greedy geographic routing with the availability of location information.
Stage IV endometrial cancer after failed conservative management: A case report

Abstract Background With younger women becoming increasingly overweight, endometrial cancer is becoming a concern in this group. These women are likely to desire fertility preservation. There are no randomized controlled data to guide conservative therapy. Case A 24-year-old female with endometrial adenocarcinoma diagnosed in December 2003 was treated conservatively with Megace and levonorgestrel intrauterine device. She was lost to follow-up and represented in March 2006. Endometrial biopsy revealed grade 1 endometrial adenocarcinoma. Definitive surgical therapy was recommended, however, the patient declined surgery in the interest of preserving fertility until November 2006. Final pathology revealed a stage IV, grade 1 endometrioid endometrial cancer. Conclusion Women with endometrial cancer who desire fertility preservation should be counseled regarding the possible risk of advanced disease if surgical therapy is delayed.
Hazard function estimators: a simulation study.

Kernel-based methods for the smooth, non-parametric estimation of the hazard function have received considerable attention in the statistical literature. Although the mathematical properties of the kernel-based hazard estimators have been carefully studied, their statistical properties have not. We reviewed various kernel-based methods for hazard function estimation from right-censored data and compared the statistical properties of these estimators through computer simulations. Our simulations covered seven distributions, three levels of random censoring, four types of bandwidth functions, two sample sizes and three types of boundary correction. We conducted a total of 504 simulation experiments with 500 independent samples each. Our results confirmed the advantages of two recent innovations in kernel estimation - boundary correction and locally optimal bandwidths. The median relative improvement (decrease) in mean square error over fixed-bandwidth estimators without boundary correction was 3 per cent for fixed-bandwidth estimators with left boundary correction, 52 per cent locally optimal bandwidths without boundary correction, and 66 per cent for locally optimal bandwidths with left boundary correction. The locally optimal bandwidth estimators with left boundary correction also outperformed three previously published and publicly available algorithms, with median relative improvements in mean square error of 31 per cent, 77 per cent and 80 per cent.
Chronic, Intermittent Exposure to Chlorpyrifos in Rats: Protracted Effects on Axonal Transport, Neurotrophin Receptors, Cholinergic Markers, and Information Processing

Persistent behavioral abnormalities have been commonly associated with acute organophosphate (OP) pesticide poisoning; however, relatively little is known about the consequences of chronic OP exposures that are not associated with acute cholinergic symptoms. In this study, the behavioral and neurochemical effects of chronic, intermittent, and subthreshold exposures to the OP pesticide, chlorpyrifos (CPF), were investigated. Rats were injected with CPF s.c. (dose range, 2.5-18.0 mg/kg) every other day over the course of 30 days and then were given a 2-week CPF-free washout period. In behavioral experiments conducted during the washout period, dose-dependent decrements in a water-maze hidden platform task and a prepulse inhibition procedure were observed, without significant effects on open-field activity, Rotorod performance, grip strength, or a spontaneous novel object recognition task. After washout, levels of CPF and its metabolite 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol were minimal in plasma and brain; however, cholinesterase inhibition was still detectable. Furthermore, the 18.0 mg/kg dose of CPF was associated with (brain region-dependent) decreases in nerve growth factor receptors and cholinergic proteins including the vesicular acetylcholine transporter, the high-affinity choline transporter, and the alpha(7)-nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. These deficits were accompanied by decreases in anterograde and retrograde axonal transport measured in sciatic nerves ex vivo. Thus, low-level (intermittent) exposure to CPF has persistent effects on neurotrophin receptors and cholinergic proteins, possibly through inhibition of fast axonal transport. Such neurochemical changes may lead to deficits in information processing and cognitive function.
poly(4,4′‐oxybibenzoate): Polymerization, morphology, transitions, and crystal structures

4-Acetoxy 4'-carboxy biphenyl has been polymerized from solution, the bulk melt, and in constrained thin films, all below the melting point of the monomer as measured by DSC. An isothermal sublimation-recrystallization-melting (and chemical change) -polymerization-crystallization process is proposed. From solution and in the thin films, single crystals consisting of ca. 100 A thick lamellae are observed, with evidence for monomer addition-reaction on the end (top and bottom) surfaces. The bulk samples are fibrous, the «fibers» consisting of whisker-like single crystals
Constructive neural network learning algorithms

Constructive Algorithms offer an approach for incremental construction of potentially minimal neural network architectures for pattern classification tasks. These algorithms obviate the need for an ad-hoc a-priori choice of the network topology. The constructive algorithm design involves alternately augmenting the existing network topology by adding one or more threshold logic units and training the newly added threshold neuron(s) using a stable variant of the perception learning algorithm (e.g., pocket algorithm, thermal perception, and barycentric correction procedure). Several constructive algorithms including tower, pyramid, tiling, upstart, and perception cascade have been proposed for 2-category pattern classification. These algorithms differ in terms of their topological and connectivity constraints as well as the training strategies used for individual neurons.
Matching Versus Mismatching Attitude Functions: Implications for Scrutiny of Persuasive Messages

Two studies were conducted to examine the hypothesis that matching the content of a persuasive message to the functional basis of people's attitudes enhances message scrutiny. In Study 1, high and low self-monitors were exposed to a message that matched or mismatched the functional basis of their attitudes (i.e., image appealfor high self-monitors and quality appealfor low self-monitors) and that -contained either strong or weak arguments. Attitudes were more strongly affected by message strength when the message arguments matched rather than mismatched thefunctional basis of the attitude. In Study 2, this outcome was especially characteristic of individuals who typically do not enjoy thinking (those low in need for cognition). These studies show that matching arguments to the functional basis of an attitude is not invariably beneficialfor persuasion but can enhance or reduce attitude change (compared to mismatched arguments) depending on the cogency of the matched information.
Heterogeneity in Healthy Aging

For a surprisingly large segment of the older population, chronological age is not a relevant marker for understanding, measuring, or experiencing healthy aging. Using the 2003 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and the 2004 Health and Retirement Study to examine the proportion of Americans exhibiting five markers of health and the variation in health-related quality of life across each of eight age groups, we find that a significant proportion of older Americans is healthy within every age group beginning at age 51, including among those aged 85+. For example, 48% of those aged 51-54 and 28% of those aged 85+ have excellent or very good self-reported health status; similarly, 89% of those aged 51-54 and 56% of those aged 85+ report no health-based limitations in work or housework. Also, health-related quality of life ranges widely within every age group, yet there is only a comparatively small variation in median quality of life across age groups, suggesting that older Americans today may be experiencing substantially different age-health trajectories than their predecessors. Patterns are similar for medical expenditures. Several policy implications are explored.
Observations of Velocity Conditions near a Hydroelectric Turbine Draft Tube Exit using ADCP Measurements

Abstract Measurement of flow characteristics near hydraulic structures is an ongoing challenge because of the need to obtain rapid measurements of time-varying velocity over a relatively large spatial domain. This paper discusses use of an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) to measure the rapidly diverging flow exiting from an operating hydroelectric turbine draft tube exit. The resolved three-dimensional velocity vectors show a highly complex and helical flow pattern developed near to and downstream of the exit. Velocity vectors were integrated across the exit and we computed an uneven percentage of flow (67% /33%) passing through the two draft tube barrels at a mid-range turbine discharge, consistent with physical model results. In addition to the three-dimensional velocity vectors, the individual one-dimensional velocities measured by each of the four ADCP beams can be separately used as calibration and validation data sets for numerical and physical models. This technique is demonstrated by comparing along-beam ADCP velocity measurements to data collected in a scaled physical model.