cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Studies of the effects of α-difluoromethylornithine and ethanol on the pathogenesis of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice

Both dl-α-difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and ethanol have been reported to inhibit the growth of fibroblasts in cell culture. The objectives of the present study were to determine whether these compounds could be used to inhibit the growth of fibroblasts in vivo, with a bleomycin-induced mouse model of pulmonary fibrosis. DBA2J mice were given a single endotracheal injection of bleomycin, 10 nmol. In addition to bleomycin (BLM), groups of animals received 2% DFMO in drinking water for 4 days prior to BLM and 18 days after (BLM DFMO), 6% ethanol in drinking water for 7 days prior to BLM and 21 days after (BLM E7), 6% ethanol in drinking water for 21 days initiated on the day of BLM intubation (BLM E), or DFMO, E7, and BLM in combination (BLM DFMO E7). Animals died or were killed 21 days after bleomycin treatment and lungs were evaluated by histopathologic criteria. DFMO failed to alter the incidence or severity of fibrotic lesions, increased the severity of epithelial metaplasia (p < 0.05), and reduced the lung disease index (from 56.3 to 42.1%, p < 0.05) and mortality from 83.3 to 41.7% (p < 0.025). In contrast to the unsatisfactory response to DFMO, pretreatment with ethanol (BLM E7) reduced the incidence of interstitial fibrosis from 91.3 to 71.4% (p < 0.05) and confluent fibrosis from 73.9 to 20.0% (p < 0.005). The severity of lesions was also reduced by ethanol, resulting in an 18.5% decrease in interstitial fibrosis, a 25.9% decrease in epithelial metaplasia, and a 55.4% reduction in the lung disease index (all p < 0.01). However, when ethanol and DFMO were administered in combination, the beneficial effects of ethanol alone were not observed, and only the lung disease index was decreased.
Development and Initial Validation of the Effort Sense Rating Scale (ESRS): A Self-Perceived Index of Physical Fitness

Background. The Effort Sense Rating Scale is a non invasive, easy to administer, self-assessment device for deriving an index of physical fitness comprising only aerobic and anaerobic power components. The scale originates from the notion that people who have experienced varying degrees of effort doing "everyday" tasks can accurately estimate the exertion required in fairly common, physically demanding "situations" when provided with an appropriate perceptual frame-of-reference. Estimations elicited in this way can be scaled and used to categorize fitness level. This article reports an initial validity study. Further development of this technique is in progress. Sample. Forty volunteers from a university community, mainly students (17 women and 23 men), completed ESRS twice and then underwent submaximal aerobic (cycle ergometry: YMCA protocol) and anaerobic power (Wingate protocol) assessments. Results. Nonparametric correlation coefficients between the Effort Sense Rating Scale and the aerobic power were rs = 0.47 (P < 0.05) and anaerobic power rs = 0.62 (P < 0.05). Interpreted at the category level there was 77.5% agreement between ESRS indices and category levels for measured fitness components. Readministration of the Effort Sense Rating Scale after 14 days prior to physical assessments showed 100% consistency in choice of rating items with some changes in assigned values (rs = 0.86, P < 0.01). Conclusions. Modifications to the equivalence and selection of fitness elements and wording of the effort-demanding "scenarios," the discriminative level of the fitness categories, and broadening the size and composition of the validation sample are required to further enhance the veracity of the scale. Appropriately tuned, this perception-based approach to self-assessment of physical fitness can provide a low-cost, meaningful device for baseline setting and progress monitoring by people either entering or continuing with an exercise program for health-related fitness purposes.
Maternal Commitment, Lactation Practices, and Breastfeeding Duration

A longitudinal study of 44 breastfeeding mothers was conducted to determine how strongly prenatal intention influenced breastfeeding duration, and whether postpartum events and practices had any additional effects. The subjects were interviewed three times between the third trimester and one year after birth. The strongest predictor of duration was prenatal intent. However, formula supplementation had an independent negative effect and was inversely related to social support. The practice implications for breastfeeding promotion include early supportive intervention and educational programs.
Youth who physically assault their parents

The relationship between physical assault upon parents by their offspring and social and psychological variables is analyzed in this study of 445 California families, half of whom are Hispanic and half Anglo. Results indicate that the assaulting of parents reflects a generalized pattern of negative parent-child relationships and diminished sense of well-being by youngsters.
A semi-implicit method for internal boundary layers in compressible flows

Abstract A semi-implicit boundary-layer method is developed for application to spatially evolving internal boundary layers in compressible fluids. The method circumvents convergence difficulties that may arise with fully implicit marching schemes whenever the mean streamwise velocity profile is inflectional. The method is demonstrated for the special case of the compressible, laminar axisymmetric jet. However, the properties of the scheme make it well suited also to laminar or turbulent free shear layers, wakes and planar jets.
Size distribution of radon progeny aerosol in the working area of a dry former uranium mine

Abstract To provide improved particle size data for reconstructing the radiation dose incurred by Colorado plateau uranium miners, sampling exercises were made in 1988 and 1994 at Twilight Mine in western Colorado, a former uranium mine that is now used as a research and training facility. The strategy was to simulate or approximate some of the conditions to which the miners were exposed, then sample the aerosol with modern instrumentation. By combining data from an impactor with data from a diffusion-based sampler, it was possible to cover the particle size range from 0.5 to 5000 nm. The major new finding of these sampling exercises was that, with or without diesel operation, 5 to 30% of the potential alpha energy was bound to particles larger than 1000 nm. These particles formed a well-defined mode (the coarse-particle mode) in the particle size distribution. Current lung models show that tracheobronchial deposition increases with increasing particle size above 1000 nm. Consequently, the existence of coarse particles implies that the lung dose incurred by uranium miners was larger than previously thought. An approximate calculation based on the new data indicates a 40% increase in dose.
Saving portable computer battery power through remote process execution

We describe a new approach to power saving and battery life extension on an untethered laptop through wireless remote processing of power-costly tasks. We ran a series of experiments comparing the power consumption of processes run locally with that of the same processes run remotely. We examined the trade-off between communication power expenditures and the power cost of local processing. This paper describes our methodology and results of our experiments. We suggest ways to further improve this approach, and outline a software design to support remote process execution.
Are Foreign Visitors More Likely Victimized In Hotels? Policy Implications

Crimes against tourists have a significant, negative impact on tourist-related industries. Particularly, the hotel industry is extremely sensitive to criminal activities against either hotel visitors or the hotel itself. Nevertheless, researchers have rarely examined hotel crimes in terms of the nature and the pattern of criminal victimizations among the hotel visitors. By employing the offense-incident reports of the Miami-Dade Police Department, Florida, the present researchers examine the effects of the hotel visitors' characteristics (e.g., foreign visitor) and the circumstantial factors of the hotel on criminal victimizations among the hotel visitors. This study's results showed a distinctive pattern of criminal victimizations between foreign and American visitors. Specifically, foreign visitors were likely robbed, but American visitors were likely burglarized at the hotel settings. The study's results indicate that the hotel industry needs to enhance its preventive measures in order to protect hotel visitors, foreign visitors in particular.
Differential effects of polylysine on NADH‐linked electron transfer in corn root plasma membrane vesicles

Abstract The effects of polylysine on the electron transfer from NADH to cytochrome c and ferricyanide in corn root plasma membrane vesicles were investigated. The presence of polylysine decreased the reduction rate of cytochrome e but slightly stimulated the rate of ferricyanide reduction in a pH 7.5 medium of low ionic strength. An increase in ionic strength eliminated the effects of polylysine on ferricyanide reduction but not the inhibition of cytochrome c reduction. Kinetic analyses indicated that in high ionic strength medium, polylysine inhibition appeared to assume a competitive model suggesting its binding to cytochrome c reduction site. In low ionic strength medium, a complex inhibition was observed. A study on the inhibitory efficiency of different size polylysines suggested that the reduction site of cytochrome c may best fit a polylysine with molecular weight close to 25,000. The results support the notion that the electron transfer from NADH to these two acceptors may involve two separated e...
Antaeus and androgogy: negotiating paradigm exhaustion and pursuing professional growth in clinical practice.

(2003). Antaeus and Androgogy: Negotiating Paradigm Exhaustion and Pursuing Professional Growth in Clinical Practice. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis: Vol. 45, No. 4, pp. 323-331.
Collaborative writing tasks and peer interaction

Abstract This paper focuses on the nature of the task(s) involved and the roles and responsibilities (interactive structure) peers assume as they negotiate collaborative writing task(s) together. Five collaborative writing activities, representing different combinations of four tasks and four interactive structures, are examined with respect to their influence on patterns of peer interaction and learning outcomes.
Near Infrared Spectrometry for the Quantification of Human Dermal Absorption of Econazole Nitrate and Estradiol

Purpose The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the use of near-infrared (NIR) spectrometry for the in vitro quantification of econazole nitrate (EN) and estradiol (EST) in human skin.
Identifying relationships between high-risk sexual behaviors and screening positive for chlamydia and gonorrhea in school-wide screening events.

BACKGROUND: This article describes a school-wide sexually transmitted infection (STI) screening to identify adolescent high-risk sexual behaviors, STI history/incidence, and presence of chlamydia and gonorrhea, and examines relationships between high-risk behaviors and screening positive for chlamydia and gonorrhea in an alternative high school setting. METHODS: School-wide chlamydia and gonorrhea education and screening was provided to 869 adolescents; 226 males and 282 females 14-20 years (mean age = 17.07) consented to urine screening. Relationships were examined between screening positive, history of STIs, and high-risk sexual behaviors. RESULTS: A majority (69%) of the adolescents consented to screening: 17.76% (92) had a history of STI; 8.83% (46) tested positive at screening. More females than males tested positive (p = .001). Significant relationships existed between history of STIs and ≥ 4 sexual partners (p = .0022), no condom use (p = .06), and sexual intercourse in last 3 months (p = .03). CONCLUSIONS: School-Based Health Center (SBHC) screening was well accepted by students and staff. Sexually transmitted infection history was correlated with all identified high-risk sexual behaviors supporting the need for in-depth assessment, counseling, and testing of adolescents wherever they present for care. This study also provides an example of the role SBHCs can play in the national strategy to control chlamydia and gonorrhea in adolescents.
Involvement of the rostral anterior cingulate cortex in consolidation of inhibitory avoidance memory: interaction with the basolateral amygdala.

Previous findings suggest that the rostral anterior cingulate cortex (rACC) is involved in memory for emotionally arousing training. There is also extensive evidence that the basolateral amygdala (BLA) modulates the consolidation of emotional arousing training experiences via interactions with other brain regions. The present experiments examined the effects of posttraining intra-rACC infusions of the cholinergic agonist oxotremorine (OXO) on inhibitory avoidance (IA) retention and investigated whether the BLA and rACC interact in enabling OXO effects on memory. In the first experiment, male Sprague–Dawley rats were implanted with bilateral cannulae above the rACC and given immediate posttraining OXO infusions. OXO (0.5 or 3 ng) induced significant enhancement of retention performance on a 48-h test. In the second experiment, unilateral posttraining OXO infusions (0.5, 3.0 or 10 ng) enhanced retention when infused into rACC, but not caudal ACC, consistent with previous evidence that ACC is composed of functionally distinct regions. A third experiment investigated the effects of posttraining intra-rACC OXO infusions (0.5 or 10 ng) in rats with bilateral sham or NMDA-induced lesions of the BLA. The BLA lesions did not impair IA retention, but blocked the enhancement induced by posttraining intra-rACC OXO infusions. Lastly, unilateral NMDA lesions of rACC blocked the enhancement of IA retention induced by posttraining ipsilateral OXO infusions into the BLA. These findings support the hypothesis that the rACC is involved in modulating the storage of emotional events and provide additional evidence that the BLA modulates memory consolidation through interactions with efferent brain regions, including the cortex.
Empirical evaluation of periodic retrospective assessment

We propose the periodic retrospective assessment (PRA) technique for reflection-based evaluation of interdisciplinary, team-oriented learning experiences. PRA is characterized by two forms: an assessment at the end of each production iteration, followed by a summative assessment after production has ended. An empirical evaluation of PRA was conducted within a fifteen-week immersive studio--a student-driven, faculty-mentored learning experience in which all learner activity is directed toward a single project, undertaken in collaboration with a community partner. This evaluation reveals that students maintain primary focus on pragmatic production issues during the studio duration, although with secondary yet consistent focus on learning and development. PRA surfaces how the immersive studio produced positive learning outcomes with respect to interdisciplinary collaboration and lifetime learning.
Sensitivity and specificity of time-domain versus spectral-domain optical coherence tomography in diagnosing early to moderate glaucoma.

Purpose To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of measurements of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in early to moderate glaucoma using Stratus time-domain and Cirrus spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT; Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA). Design Evaluation of diagnostic test or technology. Participants Fifty-four glaucoma subjects with early to moderate visual field defects and 50 age-matched normal subjects. Testing Three peripapillary RNFL scans of 1 eye of each subject using Stratus and Cirrus OCT. Main Outcome Measures Sensitivity and specificity of average, quadrant, and clock-hour RNFL thickness. Results The average age±standard deviation in the normal and glaucoma groups was 62.9±12.7 years (range, 40–84 years) and 67.6±11.4 (range, 42–85 years), respectively ( P = 0.05). The glaucoma group consisted of 34 early (average mean deviation, −3.20±1.22 dB) and 20 moderate (average mean deviation, −8.05±1.87 dB) glaucomas. Cirrus OCT sensitivity and specificity for average RNFL abnormal at the 5% level were 83% and 88%, respectively, and at the 1% level were 65% and 100%, respectively. Stratus OCT sensitivity and specificity for average RNFL abnormal at the 5% level were 80% and 94%, respectively, and at the 1% level were 61% and 100%, respectively. For 1 or more abnormal quadrants at the 5% level, the sensitivity and specificity for Cirrus OCT were 98% and 80%, respectively, and at the 1% level were 87% and 92%, respectively. For 1 or more quadrants abnormal at the 5% level, the sensitivity and specificity for Stratus OCT were 96% and 76%, respectively, and at the 1% level were 74% and 94%, respectively. Cirrus OCT sensitivity and specificity using a criterion of 1 or more abnormal clock hours at the 5% level were 100% and 72%, respectively, and at the 1% level were 85% and 94%, respectively. Stratus OCT sensitivity and specificity for 1 or more abnormal clock hours at the 5% level were 98% and 66%, respectively, and at the 1% level were 85% and 90%, respectively. Conclusions The sensitivity and specificity of various RNFL parameters using the Cirrus OCT for glaucoma with early to moderate visual field defects are excellent and are equivalent to Stratus OCT. Financial Disclosure(s) Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references.
Deep-submicrometer MOS device fabrication using a photoresist-ashing technique

A photoresist-ashing process has been developed which, when used in conjunction with conventional g-line optical lithography, permits the controlled definition of deep-submicrometer features. The ultrafine lines were obtained by calibrated ashing of the lithographically defined features in oxygen plasma. The technique has been successfully used to fabricate MOSFETs with effective channel length as small as 0.15 mu m that show excellent characteristics. An NMOS ring oscillator with 0.2- mu m devices has been fabricated with a room-temperature propagation delay of 22 ps/stage. Studies indicate that the thinning is both reproducible and uniform so that it should be usable in circuit as well as device fabrication. Since most polymer-based resist materials are etchable with an oxygen plasma, the basic technique could be extended to supplement other lithographic processes, including e-beam and X-ray processes, for fabricating both silicon and nonsilicon devices and circuits. >
Transforming growth factor β1 increase of hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase proteins is partly suppressed by red clover isoflavones in human primary prostate cancer-derived stromal cells

Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) increases dehydro-epiandrosterone (DHEA) metabolism to androgens and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in a prostate tissue model where stromal (6S) cells and epithelial (LAPC-4) cells are cocultured. Red clover (RC) isoflavones inhibits transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-induced androgenicity. Mechanisms controlling those activities were explored. Three hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (HSDs), 3β-HSD, HSD-17β1 and HSD-17β5 involved in metabolizing DHEA to testosterone (TESTO) were investigated. Individual depletion of HSDs in 6S cells significantly reduced TGF-β1/DHEA-induced PSA in LAPC-4 cells in cocultures. Monomer amounts of 3β-HSD were similar without or with TGF-β1 in both cell types but aggregates of 3β-HSD in 6S cells were much higher than those in LAPC-4 cells and were upregulated by TGFβ in 6S cells. Basal and TGF-β1-treated levels of HSD-17β1 and HSD-17β5 in LAPC-4 cells were significantly lower than in 6S cells, whereas levels of HSD-17β1 but not HSD-17β5 were TGFβ inducible. 6S cell HSD genes expression induced by TGFβ or androgen signaling was insignificant to contribute TGF-β1/DHEA-upregulated protein levels of HSDs. RC decreased TGF-β1- upregulation of aggregates of 3β-HSD but not HSD-17β1. Depletion of TGFβ receptors (TGFβ Rs) reduced TGF-β1/DHEA-upregulated HSDs and TESTO. Immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that TGF-β1 disrupted associations of TGFβ Rs/HSDs aggregates, whereas RC suppressed the dissociations of aggregates of 3β-HSD but not HSD-17β1 from the receptors. Given that TGFβ Rs are recycled with or without ligand, TGF-β1-induced disassociation of the HSDs from TGFβ Rs may increase stability and activity of the HSDs. These data suggest a pathway connecting overproduction of TGFβ with increased PSA in prostate cancer.
Impact assessment of automated meter reading systems on diary cows

This work presents the findings concerning the possible effects of power line carrier based automated meter reading (AMR) systems throughout an electric power distribution system with respect to transient stray voltages at animal contact areas. The findings suggest that power line carrier based AMR technologies do not create a transient voltage with enough amplitude to increase the level of concern at animal contact points as compared to the 50 or 60Hz background voltage at a given location. To determine the level of impact, the authors developed accurate power system models that allow for simulation and analysis of stray voltages and currents under just about any type of utility, farm, or grounding. Laboratory testing, and field measurement data, were used to verify the accuracy of the models, and animal testing was conducted to define the threshold of sensitivity of dairy cows to the power line carrier based AMR communication signals in the cow contact area. The unique computer models and dynamic simulations provided an efficient way to understand how different electrical parameters impacts the creation of stray currents and potentials at a point of interest during normal utility load conditions (steady-state) as well as under transient voltage levels.
Bandwidth Enhancement of Miniaturized Slot Antennas Using Folded, Complementary, and Self-Complementary Realizations

Folded and self-complementary structures are considered as two effective approaches to increase the bandwidth of miniaturized antennas. A folded realization of a previously reported miniaturized slot antenna is devised and shown to provide more than 100% increase in the bandwidth as compared with that of the miniaturized slot antenna with the same size and efficiency. The complementary pair of the miniaturized folded slot, namely, the folded printed wire is also discussed in this paper. It is shown that the folded slot has a much higher radiation efficiency when compared with its complementary folded wire antenna. Another approach for bandwidth improvement is the implementation of the self-complementary structure of the same miniaturized topology to moderate the frequency dependence of the antenna input impedance. To examine this approach, a folded self-complementary miniature antenna is studied, where further increase in bandwidth is observed. A miniaturized folded slot, its complementary miniaturized folded printed wire, as well as their self-complementary realization, were fabricated and tested. These antennas can fit into a very small rectangular area with dimensions as small as 0.065lambdao x 0.065lambdao. While the folded slot ranks the highest in the efficiency/gain, the self-complementary structure falls between the slot and printed wire since it consists of equal proportions of the both slots and strips. A self-complementary H-shape antenna is also introduced to demonstrate that by relaxing the miniaturization to a moderate value, a significant improvement in bandwidth can be accomplished. With yet small dimensions of 0.13lambdao x 0.24lambdao, a very wide bandwidth of (2.3:1) is obtained. For the case of no dielectric substrate, even wider bandwidth of (3:1) is achievable.
Cambodia's Trek Toward Reconciliation

John Paul Lederach has famously described reconciliation as “a journey to a place where truth, justice, peace, and mercy meet.” That process involves managing profound paradoxes, such as trying to ...
Energy efficient real-time scheduling

Real-time scheduling on processors that support dynamic voltage and frequency scaling is analyzed. The Slacked Earliest Deadling First (SEDF) algorithm is proposed and it is shown that the algorithm is optimal in minimizing processor energy consumption and maximum lateness. An upper bound on the processor energy savings is also derived. Real-time scheduling of periodic tasks is also analyzed and optimal voltage and frequency allocation for a given task set is determined that guarantees schedulability and minimizes energy consumption.
Dynamics of entire functions near the essential singularity

We show that entire functions which are critically finite and which meet certain growth conditions admit ‘Cantor bouquets’ in their Julia sets. These are invariant subsets of the Julia set which are homeomorphic to the product of a Cantor set and the line [0, ∞). All of the curves in the bouquet tend to ∞ in the same direction, and the map behaves like the shift automorphism on the Cantor set. Hence the dynamics near ∞ for these types of maps may be analyzed completely. Among the entire maps to which our methods apply are exp (z), sin (z), and cos (z).
The Evaluation of Multiple Surrogate Endpoints

Surrogate endpoints are desirable because they typically result in smaller, faster efficacy studies compared with the ones using the clinical endpoints. Research on surrogate endpoints has received substantial attention lately, but most investigations have focused on the validity of using a single biomarker as a surrogate. Our paper studies whether the use of multiple markers can improve inferences about a treatment's effects on a clinical endpoint. We propose a joint model for a time to clinical event and for repeated measures over time on multiple biomarkers that are potential surrogates. This model extends the formulation of Xu and Zeger (2001, in press) and Fawcett and Thomas (1996, Statistics in Medicine 15, 1663-1685). We propose two complementary measures of the relative benefit of multiple surrogates as opposed to a single one. Markov chain Monte Carlo is implemented to estimate model parameters. The methodology is illustrated with an analysis of data from a schizophrenia clinical trial.
Towards a queer research methodology

This paper proposes that psychological researchers generally, and psychologists concerned with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) issues specifically, could benefit by including ‘queer theory’ insights into their research. It begins with an elaboration of this theory, with special attention given to Judith Butler's arguments in her book, Gender Trouble. These insights are used in a close reading of Evelyn Hooker's famous research from the 1950s on gay male adjustment, and more contemporary writing on homosexual adjustment done by James M. Cantor. It will be shown that while traditional psychological research methods aspire for the objectivity of science, this aspiration is often complicit in a regulatory regime which does less to liberate homosexual desire, than to account for it, limit it, and often convert it to something ‘normal’. The implications for research are discussed in the final section.
Model-based programming of intelligent embedded systems and robotic space explorers

Programming complex embedded systems involves reasoning through intricate system interactions along lengthy paths between sensors, actuators, and control processors. This is a challenging, time-consuming, and error-prone process requiring significant interaction between engineers and software programmers. Furthermore, the resulting code generally lacks modularity and robustness in the presence of failure. Model-based programming addresses these limitations, allowing engineers to program reactive systems by specifying high-level control strategies and by assembling commonsense models of the system hardware and software. In executing a control strategy, model-based executives reason about the models "on the fly," to track system state, diagnose faults, and perform reconfigurations. This paper develops the reactive model-based programming language (RMPL) and its executive, called Titan. RMPL provides the features of synchronous, reactive languages, with the added ability of reading and writing to state variables that are hidden within the physical plant being controlled. Titan executes an RMPL program using extensive component-based declarative models of the plant to track states, analyze anomalous situations, and generate novel control sequences. Within its reactive control loop, Titan employs propositional inference to deduce the system's current and desired states, and it employs model-based reactive planning to move the plant from the current to the desired state.
On the optimality of sequential test with multiple sensors

We study the problem of sequential detection for binary hypothesis testing using multiple sensors. We consider a randomized sensor selection strategy in which one sensor can be active at any given time step. We obtain an optimal sequential test using dynamic programming and show that it corresponds to the Sequential Probability Ratio Test (SPRT) when the sensor selection process is stationary. Further, we prove that Wald-Wolfowitz theorem holds true for sequential test with multiple sensors.
Post-injection spreading and trapping of CO2 in saline aquifers: impact of the plume shape at the end of injection

We use an analytical model for the post-injection spreading of a plume of CO2 in a saline aquifer under the action of buoyancy and capillary trapping to show that the spreading behavior is at all times strongly influenced by the shape of the plume at the end of the injection period. We solve the spreading equation numerically and confirm that, at late times, the volume of mobile CO2 is given by existing asymptotic analytical solutions. The key parameters governing plume spreading are the mobility ratio, M, and the capillary trapping number, Γ—the former sets the shape of the plume at the end of the injection period, and the latter sets the amount of trapping. As a quantitative measure of the dependence of the spreading behavior on the initial shape, we use a volume ratio. That is, we evolve the plume from a true end-of-injection initial shape and also from an idealized “step” initial shape, and we take the ratio of these mobile plume volumes in the asymptotic regime. We find that this volume ratio is a power-law in M, where the exponent is governed exclusively by Γ. For conditions that are representative of geologic CO2 sequestration, the ratio of mobile volumes between “true” and “step” initial plume shapes can be 50% or higher.
Testing homotopic routability under polygonal wiring rules

Ahomotopic routability problem asks whether a VLSI layout can be made legal by applying continuous deformations (homotopies) to its wires. This paper presents an optimally efficient algorithm for deciding homotopic routability under polygonal and grid-based wiring rules. The algorithm runs in timeO(N logN) and spaceO(N), whereN is the number of line segments composing the input.
Sympathetic paraganglioma presenting with Horner's syndrome in a child

Paragangliomas of the head and neck arise from collections of cells from the neural crest associated with cranial or sympathetic nerves. Such lesions are rare in children. The majority of paragangliomas in the paediatric age groups have been familial, occurring in association with an adrenal pheochromocytoma. Children typically present with a neck mass and systemic evidence of catecholamine hypersecretion. We present the case of a 12-year-old boy with a history of increasing headache, drowsiness and Horner's syndrome for 8 months. The patient underwent exploration of the neck mass under general anaesthesia. The lesion was found to be in continuity with the left sympathetic chain. It was highly vascular but was removed en mass and sent for histological analysis. The histology showed that the mass was a well-circumscribed encapsulated tumour and that complete excision was achieved. The post-operative period was uneventful and the patient recovered well after the operation. On review at 6 months following surgery, his scars were maturing satisfactorily but the Horner's syndrome was persistent. Sympathetic chain paragangliomas are very rare tumours in the head and neck but should be considered in the differential diagnosis when clinical and radiographic evidence suggest a paraganglioma. The presentation is typically of a slow-growing neck mass with the presence of an ipsilateral Horner's syndrome. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a sympathetic chain paraganglioma in a child.
Consolidation—Probabilistic Approach

In the present work one-dimensional consolidation is treated as a phenomenon of diffusion and the governing physical equation is derived using probabilistic considerations. The similarity between diffusion of solids in a field of water and that of a substance dispersed in a liquid is exploited to determine the analytical expression of the coefficient of diffusion. Differences between laboratory and field conditions are considered for the prediction of the expected rates of dissipation of pore-water pressure. Finally, a simple scaling procedure is presented, of time to space increments, to provide recurrence formulas.
Imaging the complexity of neuron behavior with fluorescent ion indicators

Individual neurons have an elaborate architecture. These cells receive electrical and chemical signals over their extensive dendritic fields and send action potentials along axons that often branch before reaching their targets. Electrical recordings usually reveal information about the response in only one location in the cell and indicate little about the complexity of intracellular molecular signaling. Imaging techniques have been developed that can reveal aspects of the spatial heterogeneity of the neuron’s behavior. Many of these techniques take advantage of fluorescent molecules that have been designed to change their emission intensity when the concentration of different ions or small molecules in their environment changes. Sensors for Ca2+ and Na+ are popular and indicators for Cl" and cAMP have been developed. These indicators can be injected into individual living neurons in the brain or in a piece of the brain. They spread throughout the cell and their fluorescence can be detected with sensitive cameras. High-speed movies of the fluorescence changes correspond to dynamical changes in ion concentration in different parts of the neuron. Typical imaging devices are cooled scientific grade CCD cameras and confocal microscopes.
Ontology of Information and its Lessons for Intellectual Property

What is "information"? It this question answerable? Why should intellectual property scholars bother conceptualizing information? We are told that we live in the technological age, in which information is a prime resource. In turn, intellectual property [IP] regulation directly relates to this resource. Most IP scholars would probably agree that their respective disciplines concern property-like entitlements with respect to "information." Information is the subject matter around which IP laws tailor exclusory regimes. In this light, the thinness of the theoretical discussion about IP subject matter as information is quite striking. In contrast to the prevailing tendency refraining from defining information, this paper asserts that defining information - in the specific context of IP law - is both feasible and beneficial. Pondering the concept of information (and the nature of IP subject matter as information) illuminates nonobvious aspects of both theoretical and practical issues. Borrowing insights from information and communication theories, the paper constructs a framework that conceives information as a meta-concept. Accordingly, information is a significantly unpredictable and ubiquitous dynamism, in which medial messages are being constantly created, delivered, processed, modified, changed and exchanged. Messages are the objectively detectable apparitions of that process. For analytical purposes, I propose that the information process can be broken down to atomic sequences of communication events. Each singular sequence involves a medial message passed from an originator to a recipient. The medial message, the essence of IP subject matter, fulfills two quasi-formal requirements: It must be both perceptible and comprehensible. After presenting the original model and its definitions, I turn to apply it to copyright law. By referring to U.S. and occasionally also to foreign law, the paper demonstrates how the model can describe and explain basic copyright concepts and principles. The paper further shows how information model perspectives can throw new light on legal analysis of concrete problems, for instance, the questions of authorship and originality. I argue further that the policy debate surrounding IP law can benefit from a robust theoretical conversation geared toward a more solid understanding of "information." The information model introduced in this paper hopes to furnish some initial insights in this direction.
Can a Catholic Lawyer Represent a Minor Seeking a Judicial Bypass for an Abortion

In some states, a minor cannot obtain an abortion without first notifying and/or obtaining consent from one or both parents. The Supreme Court has required these states to provide a judicial bypass mechanism in which a minor who fears retribution or who is otherwise unable to satisfy the consent/notification statute, can seek permission from a court instead. The question I present is this: Can a Catholic lawyer represent a minor in such a proceeding? I analyze the problem under canon law, catholic theology, and legal ethics. On balance, I conclude that a Catholic lawyer should not undertake the representation of a minor in a judicial bypass proceeding.
Spanning the levels in cerebellar function

We ask what cerebellum and basal ganglia “do,” arguing that cerebellum tunes motor schemas and their coordination. We argue for a synthesis of models addressing the real-time role and error signaling roles of climbing fibers. “Synthetic PET” bridges between regional and neuro-physiological studies, while “synaptie eligibility” relates the neurochemis-try of learning to neural and behavioral levels. [CREPEL et al.; HOUK et al.; KANO; LINDEN; SIMPSON et al.; SMITH; THACH; VINCENT]
Retroviral vector-mediated expression of hirudin by human vascular endothelial cells: implications for the design of retroviral vectors expressing biologically active proteins.

We constructed a hirudin cDNA cassette, HV-1.1, that encodes mature hirudin variant-1 fused to the signal peptide of human tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA). The cassette was subcloned into retroviral vectors and used to transduce human vascular endothelial cells in vitro. Hirudin antigen and activity were measured by ELISA and thrombin inhibition assays, respectively. Transduced cells secreted up to 35 ± 2 ng/106 cells/24 h of biologically active hirudin; expression was stable for at least 7 weeks. Recombinant hirudin, expressed from the HV-1.1 cassette, had a specific activity of 7.1 ± 0.2 antithrombin units per microgram (ATU/μg), compared with specific activities of approximately 12 ATU/μg for both native leech hirudin and recombinant hirudin produced in yeast. Protein sequencing and mass spectroscopic analysis revealed the presence of an extra N-terminal serine residue, indicating aberrant cleavage of the t-PA signal peptide and likely accounting for the diminished activity. We therefore constructed a second cDNA cassette, HV-1.2, in which hirudin secretion was directed by the signal peptide of human growth hormone. Hirudin expressed from the HV-1.2 cassette had a specific activity of 13.5 ± 0.2 ATU/μg. Protein sequencing and mass spectroscopic analysis demonstrated proper cleavage of the growth hormone signal peptide. Thus, we achieved high level retrovirus-mediated secretion of biologically active hirudin from endothelial cells in vitro. Use of these vectors may permit sustained local antagonism of thrombin activity in vivo.
A Possible Cooperative Structural Transition of DNA in the 0.25−2.0 pN Range

The measured effective torsional rigidities of single twisted DNAs under various tensions conflict with theoretical predictions of Moroz and Nelson (MN) at low forces in the 0.25-2.0 pN range. However, MN theory was recently shown to agree well with effective torsional rigidities obtained from simulations, indicating that MN theory is valid down to 0.25 pN for a filament with a constant intrinsic torsional rigidity. Here MN theory is used with an assumed persistence length, 50 nm, to obtain the force-dependent intrinsic torsional rigidity of the filament at each force from its measured effective torsional rigidity. The resulting values rise ∼1.8-fold with increasing force from 0.25 to 2.0 pN. Unexpected behavior of the relative extensions of the untwisted DNAs of Mosconi et al. is noted, and ascribed to a small increase in contour length with force over the 0.18-2.0 pN range. The variations of both the intrinsic torsional rigidity and rise per base pair (bp) with force are suggested to arise from a force-induced shift of a cooperative equilibrium between two conformations with different rises per bp. A two-state nearest-neighbor model is formulated, and ranges of optimal parameters are determined by fitting the model to the experimental differences in rise per bp as a function of force. Optimal adjustment of the torsion elastic constants of the two states enables the same optimal model(s) with fixed parameters to provide reasonably good fits of the experimental torsion elastic constant data. The results reconcile single-molecule measurements on DNAs under tension with numerous results from fluorescence polarization anisotropy, topoisomer distributions, X-ray scattering of DNAs with attached gold colloids, and other kinds of measurements.
The microbiologic agents of infectious disease.

Infectious diseases are considered in terms of interactions between the human host and the microbiologic agents with which the host is living in symbiotic or parasitic relationship. Bacteria are seen to be cells in essentials as other cells. Possible interventions of the physician on behalf of the human host are defined.
Lymphadenectomy in renal adenocarcinoma.

AbstractFrom 1968 to 1978, 241 patients underwent radical nephrectomy for renal adenocarcinoma. The regional lymph nodes were resected in 102 patients with disease localized to the kidney, including 1) resection of all nodal tissue from the diaphragm to aortic bifurcation, 2) resection of ipsilateral nodes from the renal pedicle to the inferior mesenteric artery or 3) incidental lymph node resection. Of 9 patients with evidence of lymph node metastases only 1 remained free of disease 7 years postoperatively. This patient had only a single hilar lymph node as evidence of metastatic disease. A limited rather than an extended lymphadenectomy is a suggested addition to a radical nephrectomy in patients with locally resectable renal adenocarcinoma without evidence of distant lymph node or parenchymal metastases.
[155-POS]: Prediction of adverse outcomes with mid-pregnancy serum placental growth factor levels and uterine artery Dopplers in high risk pregnancies

Objectives We examined how mid-pregnancy placental growth factor (PlGF) levels and uterine artery Dopplers predict adverse outcomes in a cohort of high-risk pregnancies. Methods Forty-six patients with high risk pregnancies were recruited between June 2011 and August 2012 from the UCSD Placenta Clinic. Serum PlGF measurements (Alere Inc. Triage platform) were collected and uterine artery (UtA) pulsatility index (PI) and notching were assessed by velocimetry at approximately 24 weeks. Adverse outcomes included pre-eclampsia (PET), pre-term birth 34 weeks (PTB), and/or SGA newborn (birth weight 10%). Results The median gestational age at recruitment was 24.6 weeks. Delivery outcomes were collected from 43 (93.5%) patients. The median gestational age at delivery was 38.9 weeks (range 26.4–41.3 weeks) and 37.2% of patients had Cesarean sections. 32.6% had an adverse outcome (11.6% PET, 4.7% PTB, 25.6% SGA). 16.3% had abnormal UtA Dopplers (mean UtA PI > 1.6 and/or bilateral UtA notching), with no significantly increased risk for an adverse outcome (RR 2.625, 95% CI 0.80–8.6). PlGF measurements were collected from 38 (82.6%) patients. The median PlGF was 287 pg/mL, and 4 patients (10.5%) had a low PlGF ( 55 pg/mL). All patients with a low PlGF had an adverse outcome. The 10 patients (27.0%) with an abnormal PlGF and/or UtA Doppler had a significantly increased risk of an adverse outcome (RR 4.04, 95% CI 1.2–14.2). Adding PlGF measurements to UtA Doppler screening at mid-pregnancy increased the positive likelihood ratio of predicting an adverse outcome from 1.4 to 2.4, and yields a negative likelihood ratio of 0.14. Conclusions There is a significant association between low PlGF at mid-pregnancy and subsequent adverse outcomes. Adding PLGF measurements to UtA Doppler screening improves prediction of adverse outcomes by 71%, as these combined modalities test placental and maternal maladaptation respectively at mid-pregnancy. Disclosures K. Kjos: None. R. Ghashghaei: None. K. Klisser: None. D. Woelkers: None.
Two visual training paradigms associated with enhanced critical flicker fusion threshold

Critical flicker fusion thresholds (CFFTs) describe when quick amplitude modulations of a light source become undetectable as the frequency of the modulation increases and are thought to underlie a number of visual processing skills, including reading. Here, we compare the impact of two vision-training approaches, one involving contrast sensitivity training and the other directional dot-motion training, compared to an active control group trained on Sudoku. The three training paradigms were compared on their effectiveness for altering CFFT. Directional dot-motion and contrast sensitivity training resulted in significant improvement in CFFT, while the Sudoku group did not yield significant improvement. This finding indicates that dot-motion and contrast sensitivity training similarly transfer to effect changes in CFFT. The results, combined with prior research linking CFFT to high-order cognitive processes such as reading ability, and studies showing positive impact of both dot-motion and contrast sensitivity training in reading, provide a possible mechanistic link of how these different training approaches impact reading abilities.
CURRENT STATUS OF FOOD HANDLER EXAMINATIONS IN STATE AND LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS1

A national questionnaire survey concerning the rationale and efficiency of food handlers examinations was completed by the public health personnel in charge of communicable disease control or food protection programs from each of the 50 states, and from 180 local health units in metropolitan areas which serve a population of over 100,000. The majority of states do not have a food handler examination law or regulation requiring medical surveillance. The responsibility is left to the county or city health departments. The respondents agreed with the position taken by the U. S. Public Health Service that such tests are very costly, give limited information, and cannot substitute for inspection and surveillance of sanitation and food handling practices. The detection rate of actual disease conditions through medical surveillance is small. There is, however, an appreciable reluctance to give up the requirement. Many respondents felt that the education and training of food service personnel would have more bene...