cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantification of hysteresis and nonlinear effects on the frequency response of ferroelectric and ferromagnetic materials

Ferroelectric (e.g., PZT and PMN) and ferromagnetic (e.g., Terfenol-D) materials exhibit high energy densities, broadband drive capabilities, and the capacity for both actuating and sensing. This makes them attractive as compact transducers for a wide range of applications. However, the materials also exhibit hysteresis and constitutive nonlinearities, at all drive levels, that must be quantified and accommodated to achieve stringent tracking requirements. Whereas considerable effort has been made on model development and understanding these materials in the parameter space and time domain, comprehensive quantification of these effects in the frequency domain is currently lacking. In this paper, we employ the homogenized energy model, in combination with thin beam theory, to quantify the frequency domain behavior of ferroelectric and ferromagnetic materials. This model combines energy analysis at the lattice level with stochastic homogenization techniques to provide a framework that effectively quantifies the effect of hysteresis, constitutive nonlinearities, bias fields and AC drive levels on the material dynamics in both the time and frequency domains. Aspects of the model are illustrated and validated through numerical and experimental examples.
Conformation, length, and speed measurements of electrodynamically stretched DNA in nanochannels.

A method is presented to rapidly and precisely measure the conformation, length, speed, and fluorescence intensity of single DNA molecules constrained by a nanochannel. DNA molecules were driven electrophoretically from a nanoslit into a nanochannel to confine and dynamically elongate them beyond their equilibrium length for repeated detection via laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy. A single-molecule analysis algorithm was developed to analytically model bursts of fluorescence and determine the folding conformation of each stretched molecule. This technique achieved a molecular length resolution of 114 nm and an analysis time of around 20 ms per molecule, which enabled the sensitive investigation of several aspects of the physical behavior of DNA in a nanochannel. λ-bacteriophage DNA was used to study the dependence of stretching on the applied device bias, the effect of conformation on speed, and the amount of DNA fragmentation in the device. A mixture of λ-bacteriophage with the fragments of its own HindIII digest, a standard DNA ladder, was sized by length as well as by fluorescence intensity, which also allowed the characterization of DNA speed in a nanochannel as a function of length over two and a half orders of magnitude.
Role of uptake of [14C]valine into protein in the development of tolerance to diisopropylphosphorofluoridate (DFP) toxicity

In a subchronic toxicity study male Sprague-Dawley rats were daily treated with diisopropylphosphorofluoridate (DFP) (0.5 mg/kg, sc) for 14 days. Maximum signs of anticholinesterase toxicity were observed during Days 4 and 5 comparable to those seen 10–15 min following a single sublethal dosage (1.5 mg DFP/kg, sc). Signs disappeared after Days 6–7 of exposure and rats became apparently normal during the remainder of the treatment period. Significant hypothermia was seen following the second to fifth doses with maximum effect after the fifth injection. Subsequent injections of DFP did not cause any reduction in temperature. Incorporation of [14C]valine was measured 24 hr after the 5th and 14th injections of DFP, at a time when body temperature had recovered co control values. The rate of in vivo incorporation of [14C]valine was measured 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 hr after a subcutaneous injection of l-[1-14C]valine at a dose of 5 μCi/mmol/100 g body wt. After five injections the rate of l-[1-14C]valine uptake into the free amino acid pool and the incorporation into the protein bound pool was significantly (p 0.01) to the values of nontreated control animals. In brain, liver, and kidney, however, no recovery was seen during this period. The recovery of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle may be one of the mechanisms that lead to tolerance development during prolonged administration of subacute concentrations of DFP.
Persistent short stature, other potential outcomes, and the effect of growth hormone treatment in children who are born small for gestational age.

Normal embryonic and fetal growth proceeds at a predictable rate throughout pregnancy. The predictability of normal intrauterine growth across similar populations at comparable altitudes has permitted the development of standardized reference curves that can be used to compare certain physical characteristics of the newborn according to estimated gestational age. These curves are then used to determine whether the newborn is small for gestational age (SGA), appropriate for gestational age (AGA), or large for gestational age. Reduced ambient oxygen at high altitude slows gestational growth, so standards are different from those at sea level. In 1966, Lubchenco et al1 published intrauterine growth curves of white infants, predominantly from the middle and upper socioeconomic classes, who were born in Denver at 5000 feet above sea level. Data included birth weight, head circumference, and crown-heel length of newborns from 26 to 42 weeks’ gestational age, as estimated by the day of onset of the last menstrual period (LMP). From this information, fetal growth curves were drawn for the 10th, 25th, 50th, 75th, and 90th percentiles. In 1969, Usher and McLean2 published intrauterine growth curves for a sample of white infants who were from widely varying socioeconomic backgrounds and born in Montreal at an altitude of 100 feet above sea level. Birth weight, birth crown-heel length, head circumference, and 5 additional variables of newborns from 25 to 44 weeks’ gestational age were collected. From the data, these researchers drew fetal growth curves that presented mean values ± 2 standard deviations (SD), which correspond approximately to the 97th and the 3rd percentiles for birth weight, length, and other measures against gestational age. Because of the difference in birth size for those born at higher altitudes, the Usher and McLean data are applicable to a greater portion of the population in North America than … Reprint requests to (P.A.L.) Penn State College of Medicine, Box 850, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033-0850. E-mail: plee{at}psu.edu
Natural language mediators in paired associate learning

Ss learned paired CVCs using a modified study-test method. After presentation of pairs, two tests were given, where the second questioned about any natural language mediators (NLMs) Ss used to learn pairs. NLMs played an important role in learning correct responses. In addition, after the first correct recall items learned using NLMs were more often correct on later trials than those without NLMs.
Liver contains heparin-binding growth factors as the major growth factor for cultured fibroblasts.

The presence of heparin-binding growth factors in liver was investigated by measuring the DNA synthesis stimulatory activity of liver extracts using quiescent fibroblasts as target cells. It was found that cytosolic fractions of mouse, rat and human liver, as well as isolated rat hepatocytes, contain a large amount of growth stimulatory activity. Most liver cytosolic activity is due to heparin-binding growth factors, because > 90% of the activity bound to a heparin affinity column in the presence of 0.8 mol/L NaCl, and was quantitatively eluted with 2 mol/L NaCl. Purification of these factors from both mouse and rat liver indicated the presence of both heparin-binding growth factor-1 and 2 in liver extracts. The level of the heparin-binding growth factors, as estimated from the biological activity, is approximately 1 μg/gm mouse liver and 0.1 μg/gm rat and human liver. Heparin-binding growth factor-1–like factors were 10 times as abundant as heparin-binding growth factor-2–like factors. These data indicate that the cytosolic fractions of mouse, rat and human liver contain heparin-binding growth factors as the primary growth factor for fibroblasts, and heparin binding growth factor-1–like molecules account for most of the cytosolic activity in both mouse and rat liver. (HEPATOLOGY 1991;13:6–14).
The preservation of multivariate comparative statics in nonexpected utility theory

This article investigates the preservation of multivariate expected utility comparative statics for “smooth” nonexpected utility representations. Specifically, we answer the following question: if an expected utility comparative statics property depends only on preferences over sure prospects, then when will a nonexpected utility maximizer with identical sure preferences also satisfy that property? We demonstrate that the effects of increased risk aversion are preserved under the “Almost Degenerate Independence” axiom, but that those of distribution changes of exogenous risks are not preserved under stringent assumptions. Hence, nonexpected utility comparative statics may diverge from expected utility, even for “first-order” properties—those whose effect is determinable from restrictions on “local” utility functions.
Swine manure fermentation for hydrogen production.

Biohydrogen fermentation using liquid swine manure as substrate supplemented with glucose was investigated in this project. Experiments were conducted using a semi-continuously-fed fermenter (8 L in total volume and 4 L in working volume) with varying pHs from 4.7 through 5.9 under controlled temperature (35 ± 1 °C). The hydraulic retention time (HRT) tested include 16, 20, and 24 h; however, in two pH conditions (5.0 and 5.3), an additional HRT of 12 h was also tried. The experimental design combining HRT and pH provided insight on the fermenter performance in terms of hydrogen generation. The results indicated that both HRT and pH had profound influences on fermentative hydrogen productivity. A rising HRT would lead to greater variation in hydrogen concentration in the offgas and the best HRT was found to be 16 h for the fermenter in this study. The best pH value in correspondence to the highest hydrogen generation was revealed to be 5.0 among all the pHs studied. There was no obvious inhibition on hydrogen production by methanogenesis when methane content in the offgas was lower than 2%. Otherwise, an inverse linear relationship between hydrogen and methane content was observed with a correlation coefficient of 0.9699. Therefore, to increase hydrogen content in the offgas, methane production has to be limited to below 2%.
Scholarly journals in the electronic world

Abstract Above all, the electronic information environment is interlinked. Links can knit together the scholarly references, citations and data sources for the user as never before, bringing the whole web of distributed information resources right to the reader's desktop. A certain amount of infrastructure and degree of cooperation is needed to make this happen effectively. The field of astronomy now benefits from such an infrastructure, which has been named Urania. Links and other electronic resources comprise much of the value of an electronic journal, but make the job of maintaining an electronic archive more difficult. Users of the electronic scholarly journals in astronomy have developed new expectations for speed of production, ease of use, and ability to update links and features, and a demonstrated degree of permanence in electronic journals. These expectations are fundamentally changing the way publishers must look at the journals they produce.
The Epidemiology of Traumatic Hemothorax in a Level I Trauma Center: Case for Early Video-assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery.

Objective: Hemothorax is a common sequela of chest trauma. Complications after chest trauma include retained hemothorax and empyema requiring multiple interventions. We studied the epidemiology of hemothorax and its complications at a level I trauma center. Methods: The trauma registry was reviewed from Jan 1995 to May 2005. All patients ‡ 16 years of age who were admitted with hemothorax, an AIS chest score of ‡ 3, and did not receive an immediate thoracotomy were entered in the study cohort. The patient demographics, details of the injury event, treatments, hospital length of stay (LOS), complications and outcome were analyzed. Results: The study cohort of 522 patients with a hemothorax were treated with 685 chest thoracostomy tubes. Overall, the median ISS was 18 and 62% were penetrating injuries. 109 patients (21%) had a retained hemothorax and required placement of ‡ 2 chest tubes with a median LOS of 15 days longer than patients with no retained hemothorax (p < 0.0001). The overall complication rate was 5% (26/522). Of these, 20 patients had empyema (3.8%), 8 patients required decortication, and 6 patients received streptokinase treatment. Conclusions: More than 1 out of every 5 patients undergoing intervention for trauma-induced hemothorax develops a complication. The development of retained hemothorax is associated with empyema in 15.6% of cases and a 2-week median increase in length of stay. Future research into interventions such as Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) on the day of admission to completely evacuate hemothorax is warranted to reduce complication rates, length of stay and cost.
Minimizing Construction-Related Security Risks during Airport Expansion Projects

Airport expansion projects often require the presence of construction personnel, material, and equipment near airport secure areas/facilities, leading to an increase in the level of risk to airport security. Construction planners and airport operators need to carefully study this challenge and implement active measures in order to minimize construction-related security breaches and comply with all relevant Federal Aviation Administration guidelines. This paper presents the development of an advanced multiobjective optimization model for planning airport construction site layouts that is capable of minimizing construction-related security breaches while simultaneously minimizing site layout costs. The model incorporates newly developed criteria and performance metrics that enable evaluating and maximizing the construction-related security level in operating airports. The model is developed using a multiobjective genetic algorithm, and an application example is analyzed to demonstrate the use of the model and its unique capability of generating a wide spectrum of optimal trade-offs between construction-related airport security and site layout costs.
Optical antennas [AP-S turnstile]

For a long time, microwave engineers have freely borrowed concepts such as image theory and Babinet's Principle from the older discipline of optics to explain how various kinds of aperture antennas (horns, reflectors, etc.) do their job [C.A. Balanis, 2005]. The time has finally come to return the favor, as optical engineers harness the power of the humble dipole antenna to peek beyond the diffraction limit [S. Johnson, 2007; H. Jones-Bey, 2006; B.M. Deutsch and L. Novotny; 2006; K. Kempa et al., 2007].
Cyclic Gmp, Cyclic Amp, And The Yin Yang Hypothesis Of Biologic Regulation

The purpose of this presentation is twofold: (1) to describe a concept of biologic regulation in wh ich two cellular components, cyclic GMP and cycl ic AMP, are envisioned to provide the facilitory and suppressive ini1uences that conirol a varielY of biologic events; and (21 to iniroduce the concept that the intracellular availabil ity of specific cations may sele("\i\'el~' regulale cydic nucleotide participation in modulating cell ular e\·ents.
A cytological analysis of artificial parthenogenesis in the surf clam Spisula solidissima.

The eggs of Spisula were activated with seawater containing excess potassium ions. The germinal vesicle breaks down 4–6 minutes after activation, with a concomitant condensation of the chromatin and organization of the asters. The first meiotic division, which results in the extrusion of the first polar body, is preceded by a migration of the meiotic apparatus (asters, spindle, chromosomes) to the periphery of the egg, 22–30 minutes after activation. At 37–41 minutes post-activation a second polar body is emitted in a process similar to the first. Following the extrusion of the second polar body, the dispersed chromatin becomes encompassed by a perforated nuclear envelope, thus forming the female pronucleus. Breakdown of the pronuclear envelope is followed by a nuclear division, often resulting in two similar nuclei in the undivided egg. The binucleate activated “egg” did not undergo cytokinesis.
An Evaluation of Primary Enamel Pretreatments and Their Effects on Resin Retention

The effects of various enamel pretreatments on bond strengths between primary enamel and resin were investigated. Pretreatments included: removal of the outer enamel surface, varied exposure to phosphoric acid, and the use of an organic coupling agent. Results indicated highest bond strengths utilizing acid pretreatments and an organic coupling agent.
Facile Synthesis of Nanoporous Nickel Phosphates without Organic Templates under Microwave Irradiation

The syntheses of two nanoporous nickel phosphates, VSB-1 and VSB-5, have been investigated to elucidate the effect of various synthesis parameters such as pH, type of base, reaction time, and heating method. The pH is found to be the most important factor to direct the structure in the synthesis. These molecular sieves are easily synthesized in a suitable pH range even without organic template molecules. VSB-1 is crystallized only in acidic conditions (pH = 3.5−4.8), while VSB-5 is prepared in weakly basic conditions (pH = 7.5−9.2). The reaction yield of VSB-1 increases with increasing pH, while VSB-5 shows the opposite trend. Compared with conventional hydrothermal synthesis, the microwave irradiation method increases the reaction rates of the two nickel phosphates by about 60 times, and the synthesis of VSB-1 and VSB-5 can be completed within 1 min at 190 and 180 °C, respectively. It is demonstrated that the molecular sieves can be synthesized continuously under microwave irradiation due to these fast c...
Hereditary obesity: relation to serum lipoproteins and protein concentrations in swine.

The importance of heredity in determining the cholesterol, lipoprotein, and plasma protein levels has received insufficient attention. All of these have a greater concentration in the blood of short-fat (mesomorphic), castrate, male, miniature pigs than in long-lean (ectomorphic) animals. These differences seem to persist even when weight changes and growth are rapid. We believe that some of the wide variability of blood lipid levels in human beings is due to genetic factors in the heterogeneous human population on varied diets.
Selection in Nature: Experimental Manipulations of Natural Populations

Numerous studies have documented evolution by natural selection in natural populations, but few are genuine selection experiments that are designed and then executed in nature. We will focus on these few cases to illustrate what can be learned from field selection experiments alone or field and laboratory selection experiments together that cannot be learned from laboratory experiments alone. Both types of study allow us to evaluate cause and effect relationships because a planned experiment can be accompanied by a more direct evaluation of the factors that cause evolution. A unique benefit of field experiments is that they give us the opportunity to measure the rate and magnitude of selection in nature. We have found that this rate is far greater than one might imagine based on observations of the fossil record. A combination of field and laboratory selection experiments has revealed the importance of population size and structure in shaping the genetics of adaptation. For example, laboratory selection experiments on insecticide resistance tend to attain resistance though polygenic inheritance. The evolution of insecticide resistance in nature often eventually yields to single genes of large effect that are rare but, once they arise, represent a higher fitness solution to resistance and spread among populations. Finally, field studies enable us to test evolutionary theory in a context in which all of the tradeoffs associated with a trait are realized; in the laboratory, organisms may be shielded from the fitness tradeoffs associated with the evolution of a trait. For example, we have compared the patterns of senescence in guppies from high and low mortality rate environments in the laboratory and in the field. In the laboratory, guppies from high predation environments had delayed senescence relative to those from low predation environments. In the field the apparent relationship is the opposite. One hypothesis for this difference is that a tradeoff associated with the evolution of the high predation life history is a decrease in the investment in the immune system. Such a sacrifice would be evident in nature where there is exposure to disease and parasites but less so in the laboratory, which is relatively disease and parasite free.
Formal asymptotic solution of a singularly perturbed nonlinear optimal control problem

A system of equations that arises in a singularly perturbed optimal control problem is studied. We give conditions under which a formal asymptotic solution exists. This formal asymptotic solution consists of an outer expansion and left and right boundary-layer expansions. A feature of our procedure is that we do nota priori eliminate the control function from the problem. In particular, we construct a formal asymptotic expansion for the control directly. We apply our procedure to a Mayer-type problem. The paper concludes with a worked example.
Qualitative and quantitative morphological studies of the cells of the membrana granulosa, theca interna and corpus luteum of the bovine ovary

Ovaries from normal adult dairy cows were obtained at all days of the estrous cycle. The largest Graafian follicle and corpus luteum were excised, prepared for light microscopy, examined morphologically, and quantitations of nuclear sizes were made using a planimetric technique.
Magnetic resonance imaging features of extremity sarcomas of uncertain differentiation

The purpose of this review is to illustrate the pertinent clinical and imaging features of extremity sarcomas of uncertain differentiation, including synovial sarcoma, epithelioid sarcoma, clear-cell sarcoma, and alveolar soft part sarcoma. These tumours should be considered in the differential diagnosis when a soft-tissue mass is encountered in the extremity of an adolescent or young adult.
Plasmid retention and gene expression in suspended and biofilm cultures of recombinant Escherichia coli DH5alpha(pMJR1750).

Differences in plasmid retention and expression are studied in both suspended and biofilm cultures of Escherichia coli DH5alpha(PMJR1750). An alternative mathematical model is proposed which allows the determination of plasmid loss probability in both suspended batch and continuously fed biofilm cultures. In our experiments, the average probability of plasmid loss of E. coli DH5alpha(pMJR1750) is 0.0022 in batch culture in the absence of antibiotic selection pressure and inducer. Under the induction of 0.17 MM IPTG, the maximum growth rate of plasmid-bearing cells in suspended batch culture dropped from 0.45 h(-1) to 0.35 h(-1) and the beta-galactosidase concentration reached an experimental maximum of 0.32. pg/cell 4 hours after the initiation of induction. At both 0.34 and 0.51 mM IPTG, growth rates in batch cultures decreased to 0.16 h(-1), about 36% of that without IPTG, and the beta-galactosidase concentration reached an experimental maximum of 0.47 pg/cell 3 hours after induction.In biofilm cultures, both plasmid-bearing and plasmid-free cells in increase with time reaching a plateau after 96 hours n the absence of both the inducer and any antibiotic selection pressure. Average probability of plasmid loss for biofilm-bound E. coli DH5beta(pMJR1750) population was 0.017 without antibiotic selection. Once the inducer IPTG was added, the concentration of plasmid-bearing cells in biofilm dropped dramatically while plasmid-free cell numbers maintained unaffected. The beta-galactosidase concentration reached a maximum in all biofilm experiments 24 hours after induction; they were 0.08, 0.1, and 0.12 pg/cel under 0.17, 0.34, and 0.51 mM IPTG, respectively.
Immunofluorescence identification of eosinophil granule major basic protein in the flame figures of Wells' syndrome

SUMMARY An indirect immunofluorescence assay using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded skin was performed on six biopsies from four patients with eosinophilic cellulitis (Wells' syndrome) to determine the extracellular localization of eosinophil granule major basic protein (MBP). Serial sections from each biopsy were treated with either affinity chromatography-purified antihuman- MBP or staphylococcal protein A purified rabbit IgG (control material). There was striking extracellular fluorescence localized to flame figures, and intracellular staining of eosinophils in all sections treated with anti-MBP as compared with controls. The pattern of MBP extracellular staining corresponded to the configuration of each flame figure (as verified by counterstain of the same section with haematoxylin and eosin). These findings show that MBP can be used as a marker for determining eosinophil degranulation and, because MBP is localized to flame figures, they suggest that MBP may play a pathogenic role in Wells' syndrome.
Clinical, epidemiologic, and morphologic comparison between adenocarcinomas arising in Barrett's esophageal mucosa and in the gastric cardia

Forty-nine cases of surgically resected adenocarcinomas of the gastric cardia and 23 cases of resected ad enocarcinomas arising in Barrett's columnar lined lower esophagus were compared histologically and clinically. Morphologically, the two groups were almost identical in terms of pattern of growth (expansile or infiltrative), degree of differentiation, and extent of spread at the time of operation. These similarities are not surprising, as the two carcinomas arise close to each other from almost identical mucosas. The major histologic difference was the finding of much more frequent dysplasia in the adjacent Barrett's mucosa than in the surrounding cardiac mucosa, probably a reflection of the larger surface area covered by Barrett's than by cardiac mucosa. The groups differed in certain epidemiologic parameters that possibly reflected independent carcinogenetic mechanisms. Thus, although the age ranges and median ages were the same, there was a higher male predisposition among the patients with cardiac carcinoma. In addition, patients with cardiac carcinoma had a significantly higher history of heavy smoking and history of alcohol intake, whereas those with Barrett's carcinoma were much more likely to have hiatal hernias.
The embodiment of the voyage of sir vivian fuchs to the South Island in the elmolo oral tradition

This article explores the incorporation of the memories of Sir Vivian Fuchs's voyage to the South Island and the deaths of two of his expedition members in I934 into the Elmolo's oral traditions. The incorporation of the memory of the voyage brought out a new meaning in the Elmolo oral traditions, transformed their identity, and epitomized their traditional memory. What made the memory of Fuchs's voyage flourish and enter into Elmolo oral tradition is the story of their great tragic heroine Sepenya. The myth of Sepenya has made it possible for Fuchs's voyage and the deaths of two of its expedition members to flourish and to become a part of the Elmolo's oral traditions, as an objectification of the phenomenon of Sepenya.
Millions of Small Battles: The Peronist Resistance in Argentina

This article studies the working-class clandestine political organisation known as the Peronist resistance. Created after Argentine President Juan Peron was overthrown in 1955, the resistance movement was much more than a reaction to the limitations imposed on the organisation of unions. It signalled the birth of a new paradigm of political and cultural resistance firmly anchored in the household and the neighbourhood. Looking into the cultural dimensions of violence, the study shows how violence functioned as a creative force, producing transformations in political agency and cultural practices that reached into the Peronist household and shaped mourning rituals and the politics of martyrdom.
The Endoscopic Endonasal Approach to the Hypoglossal Canal: The Role of the Eustachian Tube as a Landmark for Dissection

Importance Improvements in endoscopic technology and reconstructive techniques have made the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) a viable option to approach ventromedial lesions in the region of the hypoglossal canal. Prior to contemplating this surgical corridor, a thorough understanding of anatomic relationships and landmarks is essential to safely approach this region of the posterior skull base through an EEA. Objective To describe the surgical technique and anatomic landmarks in the EEA to the hypoglossal canal through referencing nasopharyngeal and posterior skull base anatomy. Design, Setting, and Participants Study of latex-injected cadaveric heads at the North Carolina Eye Bank Multidisciplinary Surgical Skills Laboratory at the University of North Carolina. Interventions An EEA to the hypoglossal canal was carried out bilaterally in 5 embalmed, latex-injected cadaver heads. Main Outcomes and Measures Cadaveric measurements of anatomic landmarks and relationships in the approach were obtained using a 10-cm surgical ruler and were reported as mean distances. Additionally, high-quality endoscopic images demonstrating the operative technique and anatomic relationships were obtained. Results The distance between the lacerum segment of the internal carotid arteries, the superolateral boundary, was 23.6 mm (SD, 11.8 mm). The distance between the anterolateral edge of the occipital condyles, the inferolateral boundary, was 19 mm (SD, 0.80 mm). The supracondylar groove was identified in the same anteroposterior plane as the nasopharyngeal orifice of the eustachian tube, and the anterior-most edge of the occipital condyle was 14 mm (SD, 0.82 mm) from the posterosuperior edge of the salpingopharyngeal fold. Additionally, the transtubercular corridor was on the same plane as the superior edge of the torus tubarius in the anteroposterior axis. The distance to the hypoglossal canal from midline was 10 mm, which was found after completing drilling in the transcondylar and transtubercular corridors. Last, the hypoglossal nerve rootlets were identified entering the canal 6 mm inferiorly and 8 mm laterally from the vertebrobasilar junction. Conclusions and Relevance The eustachian tube and other elements of nasopharyngeal anatomy are fixed landmarks that provide important points of reference when approaching the hypoglossal canal through an EEA. A thorough understanding of these anatomic relationships is vital in safely navigating this direct, surgical corridor to the posterior fossa.
Plasma steroids associated with seasonal reproductive changes in a multiclutched freshwater turtle, Sternotherus odoratus.

The annual reproductive cycle of the stinkpot turtle, Sternotherus odoratus, is described and correlated with plasma changes of testosterone in males, and estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in females. Maximum plasma concentrations of testosterone in males were temporally associated with spermiogenesis and spermiation during fall. In winter, plasma testosterone levels declined and remained low until the renewal of spermiogenesis in summer. Females were observed to produce more than one clutch annually. After the oviposition of the last clutch of eggs, there was a brief period of ovarian inactivity, followed by vitellogenesis during fall. Females overwintered with preovulatory-size follicles, which were ovulated as the first clutch of eggs in spring. The three sex steroids underwent marked changes associated with the annual ovarian cycle. Testosterone concentrations increased during the periovulatory period of the first clutch, but during vitellogenesis, ovulation, and oviposition of the second and third clutches, plasma levels remained low. A small increase in testosterone level was associated with fall vitellogenesis. High estrogen titers were associated with the vitellogenic periods during fall and spring-early summer. Progesterone concentrations increased markedly during the periovulatory period and declined as shelling of the eggs progressed in the oviducts. A small increase in progesterone levels was observed during fall. These data are discussed with regard to the possible role of sex steroids in a multiclutched freshwater turtle.
Interleukin-12 Administered In Vivo Decreases Human NK Cell Cytotoxicity and Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity to Human Immunodeficiency Virus—Infected Cells

Persons infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have cellular cytotoxicity defects. Interleukin (IL)-12 is a potent stimulator of cytotoxicity. Fifteen HIV-infected patients were studied in a phase 1, single-dose escalation trial of human recombinant IL-12. One day after subjects received an IL-12 dose of 300 or 1000 ng/kg, they had a reduction in absolute lymphocyte count and peripheral blood mononuclear cell recovery. In evaluable patients 24 h after IL-12 administration, there was a 31% reduction overall in NK cell cytotoxicity (NKC) to HIV-infected cells at all doses and a 52% reduction in antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) at doses of 300 and 1000 ng/kg. In vitro incubation of patients' cells with IL-12 (before IL-12 administration) for 24 h increased NKC but had no effect on ADCC. The paradoxic acute reduction in cell number and cytotoxicity in vivo may be due to NK cell trafficking or regulatory cytokine mechanisms not apparent in vitro.
Endothelial dysfunction and circadian blood pressure rhythmicity in young heart transplant recipients.

Blood pressure variability correlates with circadian rhythmicity in endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) production in adults. Young, hypertensive orthotopic heart transplant (OHT) patients have functional abnormalities in NO-dependent signaling pathways that lead to reduced NO bioavailability and endothelial dysfunction. Following acute intravenous infusion of L-arginine, the amino acid substrate for NO, OHT patients normalize blood pressure (BP) and endothelial function. However, the effects of chronic L-arginine infusion on circadian BP rhythmicity and endothelial function in OHT patients have not been described. Six OHT patients (9–29 years old), and seven healthy control subjects (19–28 years old) were admitted for 48 hours. Systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures (MBP) were recorded hourly. Urine samples were obtained to measure nitrates/nitrites (NOX). Brachial artery flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD; an index of endothelial function) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were measured 0, 23, and 48 hours after admission. Intravenous L-arginine HC1 was infused continuously beginning 24 hours after admission in all subjects. The incidence (50%) and degree (12.0 ± 9.2%) of nocturnal MBP dipping was significantly less in OHT patients than control subjects. Furthermore, FMD was significantly reduced in OHT patients compared to controls (3.2 ± 1.1 vs 7.2 ± 3.1%, p = 0.01). L-Arginine infusion had no significant effect on 24-hour MBP, LVEF, or nocturnal dipping status in any subject; however, L-arginine normalized FMD in OHT patients (7.4 ± 1.8%). Circadian BP variability and endothelial function are impaired in young cardiac transplant patients with medically controlled hypertension, and L-arginine administration reverses endothelial dysfunction.
Concomitant Traumatic Spinal Cord and Brachial Plexus Injuries in Adult Patients

Combined injuries to the spinal cord and brachial plexus have been previously thought to be relatively rare and can be a diagnostic challenge due to the combination of central and peripheral nerve injury. Accurate diagnosis of a brachial plexus injury or spinal cord injury is often delayed and obscured by the neurologic deficits caused by the other injury. In a patient who has sustained polytrauma that includes an overt spinal cord injury, the brachial plexus injury can be overlooked due to the attention mandated for the more acute, life-threatening associated injuries or because the brachial plexus injury is erroneously and presumptively attributed to the spinal cord lesion1-3. Conversely, a spinal cord injury that is associated with subtle neurologic deficits or upper motor neuron signs can go undetected in patients with an obvious brachial plexus lesion and can greatly alter or limit the reconstructive options for treating the brachial plexus injury. The frequency of brachial plexus injury in patients with spinal cord injury has been reported to be 0.6% to 1.8%1,3-5, but limited data are available on the prevalence of concomitant spinal cord injury in patients with a brachial plexus injury. Root avulsions have been reported to cause Brown-Sequard syndrome, with a prevalence of 2% to 5% in patients with brachial plexus injuries6-8. Direct injury to the spinal cord from the traumatic event or indirect injuries due to nerve root avulsions or intradural nerve root ruptures have been implicated as the cause of these combined injuries1,3,9-11. Operative treatment of a brachial plexus injury can be influenced and limited by neurologic deficits and dysfunctional upper motor neurons from a coexistent spinal cord injury. Accurate detection of an associated spinal cord injury in a patient with a brachial plexus injury may positively influence the ultimate surgical procedure to achieve successful outcomes. The purpose of this retrospective study was threefold: to describe the prevalence of concomitant spinal cord injury in patients with a known brachial plexus injury, to evaluate the characteristics of patients with combined spinal cord and brachial plexus injury, and to determine the factors associated with the presence of a combined spinal cord and brachial plexus injury.
Gender differences in psychiatric comorbidity and treatment-seeking among gamblers in treatment

Objectives: To assess the effects of gender on comorbid problems and treatment-seeking among gamblers in treatment and the effects of comorbid problems on participants' gambling Method: Participants completed a survey on comorbid problems and the effects of comorbid problems on their gambling Sample: Seventy-eight adults (40 males, 38 females) enrolled in state-supported outpatient programs or Gamblers Anonymous Results: The majority of participants (53%) had multiple comorbid problems and 38.5% said they had a comorbid problem related to their gambling. Eleven different types of comorbid problems were reported. Females had significantly more comorbid problems than males; females reported problem drinking and both genders reported that depression increased the severity of their gambling problems. Conclusion: Patterns of comorbid problems and treatment-seeking are consistent with well-known gender differences in health behaviors. Clinicians involved in gambling treatment may wish to assess for depressive syndromes and problem drinking and investigate their interaction with their patient's gambling.
A laboratory comparison of two variations of differential‐reinforcement‐of‐low‐rate procedures

We compared 2 variations of differential-reinforcement-of-low-rate (DRL) procedures: spaced-responding DRL, in which a reinforcer was delivered contingent on each response if a specified interval had passed since the last response, and full-session DRL, in which a reinforcer was presented at the end of an interval if the response rate was below criterion within the specified interval. We used a human-operant procedure and analyzed within-session responding to assess any similarities or differences between procedures. Data revealed a positive contingency between responding and reinforcement under the spaced-responding DRL schedule and a negative contingency under the full-session DRL schedule. Furthermore, 60% of the participants discontinued responding by the last full-session DRL session. Implications for the appropriate procedural and taxonomical usage of both DRL schedules are discussed.
Case Fatality Rate in Pulmonary Embolism According to Age and Stability

Data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, 1999 to 2008, were used to assess the effects of advancing age on in-hospital case fatality rate of patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) stratified according to stability. Among adults, all-cause case fatality was affected more by advancing age (1.8 deaths/10 years of age) than death attributable to PE (0.7 deaths/10 years of age). All-cause case fatality rate was affected more by advancing age in unstable adults than in stable adults (5.3 deaths/10 years of age vs 1.7 deaths/10 years of age). Case fatality rate attributable to PE was also affected more by advancing age in unstable adults than in stable adults (4.1 deaths/10 years of age vs 0.6 deaths/10 years of age). Limited data suggest that the case fatality rate of children was comparable to that of the elderly individuals. These results may influence the prognostic value of risk assessment tools for patients with PE.
Anuric renal failure after same-session bilateral atraumatic flexible ureteroscopy

We report the first known case of anuric renal failure after same-session bilateral atraumatic flexible ureteroscopy for renal calculi. Although, there is no consensus about stenting patients who undergo same-session bilateral ureteroscopy due to the lack of prospective randomized studies; strong consideration should be given to stenting the ureter at least one side to avoid this complication.
Organization and Differential Regulation of a Cluster of Lignin Peroxidase Genes of Phanerochaete chrysosporium

The lignin peroxidases of Phanerochaete chrysosporium are encoded by a minimum of 10 closely related genes. Physical and genetic mapping of a cluster of eight lip genes revealed six genes occurring in pairs and transcriptionally convergent, suggesting that portions of the lip family arose by gene duplication events. The completed sequence of lipG and lipJ, together with previously published sequences, allowed phylogenetic and intron/exon classifications, indicating two main branches within the lip family. Competitive reverse transcription-PCR was used to assess lip transcript levels in both carbon- and nitrogen-limited media. Transcript patterns showed differential regulation of lip genes in response to medium composition. No apparent correlation was observed between genomic organization and transcript levels. Both constitutive and upregulated transcripts, structurally unrelated to peroxidases, were identified within the lip cluster.
Winter habitat use and survival of female ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in southeastern North Dakota.

Abstract From 1992 to 1995 we used radiotelemetry to monitor winter habitat selection and survival of female ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in southeastern North Dakota. We captured 100 birds at nine sites in six study blocks centered on cattail-dominated (Typha spp.) semipermanent wetlands. Pheasants showed nonrandom habitat use at two hierarchical scales. At the second-order scale (23-km2 blocks) semipermanent wetlands were preferred during two winters in which habitat selection could be assessed (1992–1993 and 1994–1995). An additional second-order preference for grass-covered uplands was shown during the mild 1994–1995 winter. At the third-order scale (home-range) pheasants preferred the edges of wetlands in 1992–1993 and 1994–1995. The central portions of wetlands were preferred in 1992–1993 and used proportionately in 1994–1995. Seasonal wetlands were avoided at the third order scale during 1992–1993 and 1994–1995. The average winter survival rate was 0.41, with rates ranging from 0.04–...
The effectiveness of a technologically facilitated classroom-based early reading intervention.

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a classroom-teacher-delivered reading intervention for struggling readers called the Targeted Reading Intervention (TRI), designed particularly for kindergarten and first-grade teachers and their struggling students in rural, low-wealth communities. The TRI was delivered via an innovative Web-conferencing system using laptop computers and webcam technology. Seven schools from the southwestern United States were randomly assigned to experimental and control conditions in a cluster randomized design. All children in the study (n = 364) were administered a battery of standardized reading skill tests in the fall and spring of the school year. Intent-to-treat analyses were conducted to estimate mixed models of children’s 1-year growth in Word Attack, Letter/Word Identification, Passage Comprehension, and Spelling of Sounds. Results showed that struggling readers from experimental schools outperformed those from control schools on all spring read...
Nonlinear dynamics and pulse train uniformity of mode-locking optical fiber ring lasers

In a fiber ring laser where the polarization state is periodically rotated by a passive polarizer, stable mode-locking is established by alignment of the polarizer with the principle axes of the birefringent fiber.
Estimation of Dynamics of Space Objects from Visual Feedback during Proximity Operations

Autonomous proximity operations to explore small solar system bodies (asteroids and comets), servicing of aerospace vehicles, and active space debris removal, are likely to increase in the future with NASA’s Asteroid Redirect Mission and Grand Challenge, and planned activities in autonomous rendezvous/proximity operations (ARPO) and active debris removal. Autonomous navigation is essential for these applications. The concept proposed here is to have a single stable estimator for the naturally coupled translational and rotational motion of an observed object from only vision-based, infra-red or lidar measurements, without needing a dynamics model for this object, during proximity operations. This estimator can also be used to improve an existing dynamics model. This avoids the need for measurements from external sources, like GPS, which is anyway not available for proximity operations near asteroids or comets. It also avoids mishaps due to changes in sensors and estimation schemes used during close proximity operations between spacecraft, as witnessed during the DART and Orbital Express missions. Attitude and translational motion of spacecraft, asteroids and comets are dynamically coupled through natural effects like gravity as well as control forces and torques for spacecraft. This coupling can also be used to estimate the mass and gravity parameters of the asteroid/comet.