cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tele-presence and virtual reality in computer-assisted neurological surgery: basic theory and a prototype

The idea that neurosurgeons can do neurosurgery without being physically present in the operating room is no longer science fiction. With the development of computer—assisted neurological surgery techniques and computer networking capabilities, especially with the upcoming information highway system, tele—presence neurosurgery becomes increasingly realistic. By tele—presence we mean surgeons can remotely monitor, guide, or even do operations while far away from the operating room and the patient (Fig. 1) . Remote monitoring, instrument guiding, and operating are based on a virtual environment (virtual reality) , the environment present in the operating room. Therefore it is also necessary to construct a "virtual patient" for the surgeons at the remote workstation to monitor during surgical procedures. With a passive tele—presence system, neurosurgeons remotely monitor and guide surgery but cannot control the surgical instrument actively. The surgery is done by an assistant surgeon inside the operating room. With an active tele— presence system, a neurosurgeon at a remote site can actively control the movement of surgical instruments. Current medical imaging technology together with correlation strategies, are the foundation of building the virtual patient. Biornedical image visualization as well as surgery planning system offer great surgeon—machine interfaces. Tele—presence can be both passive and active. Tele—presence in neurological surgery has important applications also in education and training. And with the improvement of national information highway system, tele—presence neurosurgery definitely will play an very important role in the medical information highway system. The first part of this paper discusses in detail the fundamental theory involved in a tele—presence surgery system. The discussion centers around the issue of system architecture (software module, hardware setup) , and detailed functionalities for each module are also discussed. The second part of the paper discusses a prototype system in development at Wayne State Universtty Medical Center. The experimental results are also given in this part.
Kinetic mechanisms for premixed, laminar, steady state hydrogen/nitrous oxide flames

A model has been developed for premixed, laminar, one-dimensional hydrogen/nitrous oxide flames. Results have been compared with a range of experimental data. The present model roughly reproduces the data, but inaccuracies still exist. Sensitivity and screening analyses have been used to indicate the additional experimental data needed to improve the model.
Exact result in the intraband 2-D magnetospectroscopy of semiconductors

We establish a new result in the magnetospectroscopy of quantum wells with a strong population inversion. It is valid when: i) the electron-hole interaction is charge symmetrical and, ii) a fractional population exists only on a single Landau level, which has the same quantum number N in a conduction band and in a valence band. Under these conditions the position of the high frequency edge of the emission spectrum, N-N-exciton transitions, does not depend on fractional parts of electron and hole filling factors.
Manganese catalyzed auto-oxidation of dopamine to 6-Hydroxydopamine in vitro

Abstract Manganese (Mn) is an essential trace element which, upon excessive exposure, produces a neurological syndrome similar to chronic Parkinson's disease in animals and humans. Previous work demonstated that Mn was more potent than other transition metals in stimulating dopamine (DA) auto-oxidation. In these experiments, DA was incubated under physiological conditions in the presence and absence of Mn for up to 60 min. 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) was produced in the presence of Mn, while the incubation mixture without Mn showed no DA oxidation. 6-Hydroxydopamine is a neurotoxicant which exerts its effects by destroying DA nerve terminals in the CNS. Therefore, this work suggests that the Mn catalyzed increase in DA auto-oxidation could be linked mechanistically to the appearance of Mn-induced neurotoxic effects.
Copolymers of Butadiene with Halogenated Styrenes

Abstract Butadiene has been copolymerized in a typical emulsion polymerization recipe with each of the monochloro-, monobromo-, monofluoro-, and dichlorostyrenes, with the mixed mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-, and pentachlorostyrenes, and with p-cyanostyrene and several of its derivatives. While 2,5- and 3,4-dichlorostyrene copolymerized with butadiene more rapidly than does styrene itself, 2,6-dichlorostyrene and the mixed tri-, tetra-, and pentachlorostyrenes copolymerized at a slower rate than did the control. 2,5-Dichlorostyrene entered the copolymer much more rapidly, and 2,6-dichlorostyrene and pentachlorostyrene much more slowly, then does styrene itself. The mono- and dihalogenated styrenes in general gave copolymers whose quality indexes were about equal to that of GR-S; o-chlorostyrene, 2,5- and 3,4-dichlorostyrenes, and p-cyanostyrene all gave copolymers with quality indexes higher than that of GR-S. The mixed tri- and tetrachlorostyrenes gave copolymers of inferior quality.
Density Functional Theory Calculations of the Structures, Binding Energies, and Infrared Spectra of Methanol Clusters

Density functional theory (DFT) calculations of the structures, binding energies, vibrational frequencies and infrared intensities of methanol clusters containing two to five molecules have been carried out using the Becke3LYP functional. Thirteen representative H-bonded structures have been studied including cyclic, chain, branched-cyclic and branched-chain hydrogen bond structures. In the methanol trimer, tetramer, and pentamer, the cyclic structure is more stable by 3.5, 8.3, and 3.6 kcal/mol over the next most strongly bound minimum. In the tetramer and pentamer, the second-most stable minimum corresponds to a branched cycle. Chain structures are destabilized from the cyclic minimum by the loss of a hydrogen bond and from a smaller cooperative strengthening of the H-bonds that remain. In all branched structures studied, the formation of the branch H-bond strengthens the “branch-point” methanol's H-bond donation to its neighbor, but weakens its two acceptor H-bonds, leading to largely compensating effe...
Relative selectivity of some conformationally constrained tryptamine analogs at 5-HT1, 5-HT1A and 5-HT2 recognition sites.

Abstract In an attempt to define pharmacophoric differences between 5-HT 1 , 5-HT 1A and 5-HT 2 recognition sites, a number of rigid analogs were studied and compared to analogous free chain tryptamines. Racemic partial ergolines RU 27849 and RU 28306 showed reduced potency at all 5-HT 1 sites, but were at least equipotent to analogous tryptamines at the 5-HT 2 site. A non-ergoline-like constrained analog of tryptamine was similar in potency to RU 27849 at all 5-HT 1 sites, but showed a 4-fold enhancement in potency over RU 27849 and tryptamine at the 5-HT 2 site. At all 3 sites, 3-(tetrahydropyridyl) indoles (unless substituted at the indole 2-position) were the most potent rigid analogs studied and represent the most promising class for the development of selective compounds.
Preparation and Chemical Composition of Orange Oil Concentrates

Flavor and color concentrates were prepared by a vacuum distillation process from cold pressed Valencia and midseason orange oils and were analyzed quantitatively by gas chromatography. Twenty-five major and minor constituents were identified by mass spectrometry. The influence of the concentration process on oxygenated flavor compounds, primarily aldehydes and alcohols, was evaluated. Aldehydes and color values were determined by chemical and spectrophotometric methods. When compared with midseason orange oils, 25–35% higher concentration of oxygenated flavor compounds and of total aldehydes were found in Valencia orange oils. Midseason oils had 20–30% higher color values when compared with Valencia oils. Cold pressed oils concentrated to 25-fold had an increase in color value of 20-fold, while the concentration of oxygenated flavor compounds increased about 10 times.
Glucosylceramides Stimulate Mitogenesisin Aged Murine Epidermis

Glucosylceamides (GlcCer) and ceramides (Cer) appear to have opposite effects on epidermal growth and differentiation. Whereas Cer inhibit mitosis and induce terminal differentiation and apoptosis in cultured keratinocytes, GlcCer is mitogenic in young murine epidermis. Using a recently described murine model of chronologic senescence we explored whether GlcCer is mitogenic in aged epidermis. Epidermal GlcCer content increases following topical applications of either conduritol-B epoxide (CBE), an inhibitor of GlcCer hydrolysis, or exogenous GlcCer in a penetration-enhancing vehicle. During chronologic aging in the hairless mouse, baseline epidermal DNA synthesis rates remain normal until 18 mo, but decline significantly at 24 mo. Topical CBE stimulates a 1.5- to 1.9-fold increase in epidermal DNA synthesis in all age groups (i.e., 1–2, 18, and 24 mo). Although the CBE induced increase in [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation in 24 mo old animals is significant (p 0.01), it is not sufficient to reach the absolute levels reached in similarly treated, younger mouse epidermis. Moreover, topical GlcCer induced mitogenesis is both dose dependent and hexose specific in young (1–2 mo old) animals, and remains effective in aged (≤24 mo old) animals. Furthermore, the CBE induced increase in DNA synthesis in aged epidermis is sufficient to produce epidermal hyperplasia. Finally, although an increased GlcCer:Cer ratio can alter stratum corneum barrier function and membrane structure, neither stratum corneum function nor extracellular membrane structure change under these experimental conditions, and therefore the mitogenic effects of increased epidermal GlcCer cannot be attributed to effects on the stratum corneum. These results show that: (i) elevations in endogenous GlcCer are mitogenic for aged as well as young murine epidermis; (ii) topical GlcCer is also mitogenic when delivered in an enhancing vehicle; and (iii) despite the putative importance of epidermal DNA synthesis for barrier homeostasis, these mitogenic alterations do not alter stratum corneum function.
Quasifree processes in the 2H + 3He interaction

Abstract Quasifree scattering and quasifree reaction processes have been examined in the 3 He+ 2 H → p+d+d, 3 He + 2 H → n+p+ 3 He and 3 He+ 2 H → p+p+t reactions. Beam energies of E d = 22.3 and 35 MeV and of E 3He = 30, 33.5, and 52.5 MeV were used. The experimental results are compared with PWIA calculations and Fourier transforms of the wave functions are extracted. The quasifree processes are described qualitatively by the PWIA, but some features cannot be described by either PWIA or DWIA.
Variations of purity in abelian group theory

In a collection of classical papers, R. Nunke studied radicals R on the category of abelian groups constructed using extensions of the integers. In particular, the sequences in RExtAG were called R-pure. In this paper several types of purity related to R-purity are discussed. Projective and injective resolutions of an arbitrary group are constructed, providing interesting examples of dual classes of groups. One particular variation, that of R∗-purity, is shown to have many of the advantages of R-purity, while suffering from fewer of its drawbacks, e.g., every group has an R∗-injective hull and the class of R∗-projectives is closed under arbitrary subgroups. The most important example is R=pα, where α is an ordinal. When α is a limit, pα-purity and its generalizations are closely related to the completion of groups in the α-topology. Although these are the motivating examples, many of the results are stated in a substantially more general context.
Divergent Roles for Maize PAN1 and PAN2 Receptor-Like Proteins in Cytokinesis and Cell Morphogenesis

Pangloss1 (PAN1) and PAN2 are leucine-rich repeat receptor-like proteins that function cooperatively to polarize the divisions of subsidiary mother cells (SMCs) during stomatal development in maize (Zea mays). PANs colocalize in SMCs, and both PAN1 and PAN2 promote polarization of the actin cytoskeleton and nuclei in these cells. Here, we show that PAN1 and PAN2 have additional functions that are unequal or divergent. PAN1, but not PAN2, is localized to cell plates in all classes of dividing cells examined. pan1 mutants exhibited no defects in cell plate formation or in the recruitment or removal of a variety of cell plate components; thus, they did not demonstrate a function for PAN1 in cytokinesis. PAN2, in turn, plays a greater role than PAN1 in directing patterns of postmitotic cell expansion that determine the shapes of mature stomatal subsidiary cells and interstomatal cells. Localization studies indicate that PAN2 impacts subsidiary cell shape indirectly by stimulating localized cortical actin accumulation and polarized growth in interstomatal cells. Localization of PAN1, Rho of Plants2, and PIN1a suggests that PAN2-dependent cell shape changes do not involve any of these proteins, indicating that PAN2 function is linked to actin polymerization by a different mechanism in interstomatal cells compared with SMCs. Together, these results demonstrate that PAN1 and PAN2 are not dedicated to SMC polarization but instead play broader roles in plant development. We speculate that PANs may function in all contexts to regulate polarized membrane trafficking either directly or indirectly via their influence on actin polymerization.
Landing Biomechanics in Participants With Different Static Lower Extremity Alignment Profiles

Context: Whereas static lower extremity alignment (LEA) has been identified as a risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament injury, little is known about its influence on joint motion and moments c...
A comparison of non-hydrolytic methods for extracting amino acids and proteins from coastal marine sediments

Abstract Advances in analytical techniques now allow for the potential analysis of intact peptides and proteins isolated from marine sediments. However, there is no established technique for the extraction of macromolecular materials from marine sediments. Six different methods for extracting the amino acid component from coastal marine sediments were compared to the standard hot acid hydrolysis technique for their percent recovery and amino acid composition. The standard hot acid hydrolysis on dried, whole sediments released the greatest concentration of total amino acids (PS-THAA; 3.52 mg gdwt− 1 ± 10% (SMD)), yet this only accounted for 22% of the total nitrogen in Puget Sound sediments (Washington, USA). Repeated hydrolysis of the same samples did not improve the recovery of nitrogen by more than an additional 10%. Base extraction (0.5 N NaOH) was the second best method for recovering amino acid nitrogen, releasing 60% of the Puget Sound total hydrolyzable amino acids (PS-THAA) (corresponding to 13% of the total sedimentary nitrogen), and has the advantage that it does not rely on peptide hydrolysis to free the nitrogenous component from the sediment matrix. The amino acid distribution of the 0.5 N NaOH extract was not significantly different than the initial THAA. Other non-hydrolyzing methods released lower yields of amino acids (Triton X-100 ≥ hot water > 50 mM NH4HCO3 > HF), but might prove to be of use to investigators interested in specific fractions of sedimentary organic nitrogen because these four methods had distinctly different amino acid compositions (enrichments in basic amino acids and depletions in acidic amino acids). Treatments with HF both before and after traditional hydrolysis and/or extractions with base did not release any more of the sedimentary nitrogen. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that a large fraction of the sedimentary nitrogen (TN) is protected within an organic matrix.
Community influence on precocious transitions to adulthood: Racial differences and mental health consequences

The “rush to adulthood” is defined by precocious events that place excessive demands on youth who are not adequately prepared for the responsibilities of adulthood. This study investigates the influence of community disadvantage, family, and race on adolescent precocious life events and depressive symptoms in the transition to adulthood. The findings generally support the hypothesized additive and multiplicative association of these factors with adolescent outcomes. Community and family disadvantages uniquely enhance the risk of precocious transitions to adulthood. These transitions in turn are associated with depressive symptoms, especially in highly disadvantaged communities. Findings also suggest that the influence of community disadvantage on precocious life events is less pronounced for minority adolescents when compared to whites. Community disadvantage and family influences on precocious life events and depressive symptoms emphasize the need for intervention programs at the grassroots level to support disadvantaged youth and their families. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comm Psychol 33: 639–653, 2005.
Views of United States physicians and members of the American Medical Association House of Delegates on physician-assisted suicide.

Physician-assisted suicide has been a topic of active debate for more than a decade. Advocates achieved a breakthrough in Oregon, where the practice is now legal and eligible patients receive open assistance from physicians in ending their lives. Opponents have scored key victories of their own, winning a decision by the Supreme Court that the terminally ill have no constitutional right to physician-assisted suicide and defeating initiatives in Washington, California, and Michigan. The leadership of the American Medical Association (AMA) has been outspoken and influential on this topic. The AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs has stated that participation in physician-assisted suicide is “fundamentally incompatible with the physician's role as healer.”1 The Council's opinion is vigorously supported by the AMA's trustees and House of Delegates and has been cited by the Supreme Court.2 The AMA's strong position might suggest that it speaks for a united profession, but there has never been a nationwide study of the opinions of physicians of all specialties toward physician-assisted suicide. Three excellent state-specific surveys3–5 showed a majority of physicians in those states favored the legalization of physician-assisted suicide under some circumstances, but it is not known if these states are representative of the country as a whole. In contrast, a survey of oncologists found that a majority do not find physician-assisted suicide acceptable, even for patients with unremitting pain.6 We conducted a nationwide survey of attitudes toward the legalization of physician-assisted suicide among physicians in the United States. We included physicians of all specialties to ensure an inclusive sample and because almost all physicians help patients and their families make medical decisions of lasting importance. We also surveyed all members of the AMA House of Delegates. Our objectives were to measure the attitudes of physician in the United States toward physician-assisted suicide, to compare their views with the views of members of the AMA House of Delegates, and to evaluate the relationship between personal characteristics and attitudes toward physician-assisted suicide.
Orphan nuclear receptors in T lymphocyte development

Lymphocyte development is initiated from hematopoietic stem cells and can be divided into multiple phenotypically distinct stages. Transcription factors play important roles in programming the developmental process of lymphocytes. Recent studies have identified key roles of several orphan nuclear receptors in T lymphocyte development. The orphan nuclear receptor RORgamma has been shown to promote thymocyte survival by activating the expression of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-x(L). RORgamma is also required for the development of lymph nodes and Peyer's patches. The orphan receptors Nur77 and Nor1 are involved in TCR-mediated cell death and thymocyte-negative selection. These studies provide novel insights into the molecular mechanisms of T lymphocyte development.
Surveillance for Bacterial Meningitis by Means of Polymerase Chain Reaction

The implementation of PCR technology to study the incidence age distribution and etiology of bacterial meningitis in Burkina Faso a country that is representative of the “meningitis belt” of sub-Saharan Africa unearthed several important aspects of this disease. The study was conducted during an unusual epidemic of meningococcal meningitis in which serogroup W135 rather than serogroup A was the predominant pathogen. Population-based surveillance with PCR technology as well as with culture and capsular polysaccharide antigen detection permitted greater test sensitivity for the identification of pathogens. Whereas attention has been almost entirely focused on epidemic group A meningococcal meningitis endemic bacterial meningitis is a common disease that is caused by the same pathogens that cause bacterial meningitis in developing countries (i.e. pneumococci and Haemophilus influenzae type b as well as meningococci). (excerpt)
Children with mental retardation/developmental disabilities: do physicians ever consider needed dental care?

In the late 1960s, there were more than a quarter of a million individuals with mental retardation/ developmental disabilities in state institutions. During the next 30 years, the number of residents decreased by more than 75% (Anderson, Lakin, Mangan, & Prouty, 1998). Changing social policies, favorable legislation for people with disabilities, and class-action legal decisions, which delineated the rights of individuals with mental retardation, have led to deinstitutionalization (i.e., mainstreaming, establishment of community-oriented group residences and enhanced personal family residential settings) and closure of many state-run large facilities. Many of the community residential facilities are too small in size to provide services within the residence. As a consequence, the monitoring of health care can be difficult when the delivery of service and health records are disseminated among multiple providers and locations. Thus, although most infants, children, and adolescents with mental retardation live with their natural or foster parents, pediatric and general practitioners may need to interact with a large and varied group of health providers. The success of community-based health programs, therefore, depends on: x The capacity to organize and maintain the services and health records of these ‘‘new’’ community residents and increasing numbers of youngsters with mental retardation/developmental disabilities in existing community families. x The ability of pediatric and general practitioners, who provide consultation and medical ‘‘gatekeeping’’ services for the population with mental retardation/developmental disabilities, to recognize and identify the wider range of needed health services—including preventive and restorative dental care. x The availability of private practitioners who are (a) convenient and accessible to the deinstitutionalized individuals and (b) are trained and willing to provide the needed care.
How do belowground organisms influence plant–pollinator interactions?

Aims The majority of angiosperms are pollinated by animals, and this interaction is of enormous importance in both agricultural and natural systems. Pollinator behavior is influenced by plants’ floral traits, and these traits may be modified by interactions with other community members. In recent years, knowledge of ecological linkages between above- and belowground organisms has grown tremendously. Soil communities are extremely diverse, and when their interactions with plants influence floral characteristics, they have the potential to alter pollinator attraction and visitation, but plant‐pollinator interactions have been neglected in studies of the direct and indirect effects of soil organism‐root interactions. Here, we review these belowground interactions, focusing on the effects of nitrogen-fixing bacteria, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and root-feeding herbivores, and their effects on floral traits and pollinators. Further, we identify gaps in our knowledge of these indirect effects and recommend promising directions and topics that should be addressed by future research.
Global climate change and the effect of conservation practices in US agriculture.

Abstract The use of conservation practices by agriculture in the United States will enhance soil organic carbon and potentially increase carbon sequestration. This, in turn, will decrease the net emission of carbon dioxide. A number of studies exist that calibrate the contribution of various individual, site-specific conservation practices on changes in soil organic carbon. There is a general absence, however, of a comprehensive effort to measure objectively the contribution of these practices including conservation tillage, the Conservation Reserve Program, and conservation buffer strips to an change in soil organic carbon. This paper fills that void. After recounting the evolution of the use of the various conservation practices, it is estimated that organic carbon in the soil in 1998 in the United States attributable to these practices was about 12.2 million Mt. By 2008, there will be an increase of about 25%. Given that there is a significant potential for conservation practices to lead to an increase in carbon sequestration, there are a number of policy options that can be pursued. These include education and technical assistance, financial assistance, research and development, land retirement, and regulation and taxes.
Developmental malformation of the corpus callosum: a review of typical callosal development and examples of developmental disorders with callosal involvement

This review provides an overview of the involvement of the corpus callosum (CC) in a variety of developmental disorders that are currently defined exclusively by genetics, developmental insult, and/or behavior. I begin with a general review of CC development, connectivity, and function, followed by discussion of the research methods typically utilized to study the callosum. The bulk of the review concentrates on specific developmental disorders, beginning with agenesis of the corpus callosum (AgCC)—the only condition diagnosed exclusively by callosal anatomy. This is followed by a review of several genetic disorders that commonly result in social impairments and/or psychopathology similar to AgCC (neurofibromatosis-1, Turner syndrome, 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, Williams yndrome, and fragile X) and two forms of prenatal injury (premature birth, fetal alcohol syndrome) known to impact callosal development. Finally, I examine callosal involvement in several common developmental disorders defined exclusively by behavioral patterns (developmental language delay, dyslexia, attention-deficit hyperactive disorder, autism spectrum disorders, and Tourette syndrome).
Driveline Infections in a Large Cohort of Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) Recipients: The Impact of Pseudomonas on Deep Driveline Involvement

Purpose Driveline infections (DLI) commonly complicate LVAD therapy. We sought to describe the impact of DLI over time in a large cohort of continuous flow LVAD recipients. Methods and Materials All patients with first HeartMate II (HMII) LVAD from 7/2004 to 7/2011 at our institution were included. Electronic medical records were reviewed for infection details to supplement data available in our transplant databases. DLIs were defined according to Hannan, et al (2011). Results From 7/04 to 7/11, 181 LVADs were implanted and 44 DLIs occurred during 304 person-years of LVAD support. Hazard for DLI after LVAD was constant at 2.2%/mo but increased to 10%/mo from 6-9 months. [ figure 1 ] Pre-, peri-, post-operative variables did not correlate with risk for DLI. “Trauma” to drive line was described in 20/44 (45%) of DLI vs. 3/137 (2.1%) without DLI but this was not routinely documented. DLI doubled the risk for death before transplant (HR 2.16, CI95% 1.18, 3.96). Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) was the most common pathogen and often replaced initial pathogens over time. Superficial DLI progressed at a mean 173d (61-362d) to deep DLI in 9/39 (23%), 8/9 due to PA, 1/9 Staphylococcus aureus . Multidrug resistance emerged in 4 PA and 3 other gram negative DLIs. Other complications of antibiotics rarely occurred. Conclusions DLI prevalence accumulates over time in patients on LVAD support. Our data demonstrate a peak hazard of DLI from 6-9 months after implantation. DLI is an independent predictor of death before transplantation in our population. PA, more than other organisms, progressed to deep DLI and became more drug resistant over time on support.
Export of fine organic particles from headwater streams: Effects of season, extreme discharges, and invertebrate manipulation

Export of fine particulate organic matter (FPOM) was measured from streams draining Catchments 53, 54, and 55 (C53, C54, and C55) at the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory for 5 yr, encompassing the driest and wettest years of the past 55-yr record. Macroinvertebrate populations in C54 were reduced for 3 yr by seasonal treatments with insecticide. During pesticide treatment, FPOM concentrations decreased abruptly in C54, remained well below those of reference streams for the 3-yr treatment period, and then increased during the 1st yr of recovery. Macroinvertebrate reduction resulted in an estimated 170-200 kg loss in FPOM export during the 3 yr of treatment and 1st yr of recovery. Annual export of FPOM was strongly related to annual discharge, but the impact of biotic manipulation on FPOM export in C54 was at least as great as that produced by extreme high and low discharges. FPOM export during sampling intervals was directly related to maximum discharge during the intervals. Treatment of C54 significantly reduced FPOM export per unit maximum discharge. Seasonal relationships between FPOM export and maximum discharge indicated more export per unit maximum discharge in summer in reference streams and C54 in untreated years. In contrast, during treatment years of C54, export per unit maximum discharge was lowest in summer. FPOM concentrations measured during storms showed increasing concentrations with increasing discharge in all streams, however, much more FPOM was suspended in the reference streams than in C54. Thus, macroinvertebrate reduction altered the magnitude of FPOM export during storms, the seasonal pattern of export, and the annual export of FPOM.
A novel histogram transformation to improve the performance of thresholding methods in edge detection

The gradient image is used to detect edge points, and the gradient histogram is a typical case of a unimodal histogram. It is well-documented that bi-modal thresholding methods (such as the Otsu method) detect edges poorly. Therefore, specific unimodal thresholding methods are used to detect edge points. However, unimodal thresholding methods (such as the Rosin method) sometimes obtain very noisy results. In this paper, we propose a histogram transformation to improve the performance of some thresholding methods. Using the Berkeley Segmentation Dataset, we present quantitative performance results in an edge detection task to show that our transformation improves the performance of the Otsu and Rosin methods. Our histogram transformation can be used by any histogram thresholding method, but the performance of the method, using the transformed histogram, will depend of the criterion used by this method.
Generalized Sequence Signatures through Symbolic Clustering

Traditionally sequence motifs and domains, also called signatures, are defined such that insertions, deletions and mismatched regions are small compared with matched regions. We introduce an algorithm for the identification of generalized sequence signatures that can be composed of windows distributed throughout the sequence. We use an approach that is based on clustering analysis of recurring subsequences, to which we refer as symbols, of a predefined length. Symbols are not required to be located in close proximity to each other. The clustering algorithm group sequences so as to maximize the number of shared symbols among sequences. We evaluate our signatures in comparison to those obtained from the InterPro database, and show that our approach has benefits for deriving sequence annotations compared with InterPro's signatures.
The Criminological Cultivation of African American Municipal Police Officers: Sambo or Sellout

African American municipal police officers have been historically underrepresented and often face a double marginalization, arguably due to fellow officer and public perceptions. This study represe...
Two species (one new) of Gnathostomulida (Bursovaginoidea: Conophoralia) from Barbados

Abstract Gnathostomulida, a minor phylum of microscopic marine worms, now contains about 100 described species of which many have circum-tropical distribution. Sterrer (1998) listed 50 species of Gnathostomulida from the (sub)tropical northwestern Atlantic, including Austrognathia hymanae Kirsteuer, 1970 which had been described on the basis of only one mature specimen. I here provide additional information about this species as well a description of Austrognatharia barbadensis, new species.
Role of Receptor and Protein Kinase C Activation in the Internalization of the Gastrin-Releasing Peptide Receptor

The mechanisms regulating receptor internalization are not well understood and vary among different G protein-coupled receptors. The bombesin (Bn)/gastrin-releasing peptide receptor GRP-R, which is coupled to phospholipase C via the Gq family of transducing proteins, is internalized rapidly after Bn binding. Agonist stimulation leads to rapid receptor phosphorylation, as does activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA). However, agonist- and PMA-induced phosphorylation occur at different receptor sites. Here, we examined the role of PKC in GRP-R internalization after agonist and antagonist binding. We synthesized [d-Tyr6]Bn(6–13)propylamide ([d-Tyr6]Bn(6–13)PA) and found that it potently inhibited Bn-stimulated insulin release and [125I-Tyr4]Bn binding ( K i = 4.72 nm) in the HIT-T15 pancreatic cell line. The radiolabeled antagonist peptide, [125I-d-Tyr6]Bn(6–13)PA, bound with high affinity ( K D = 0.29 nm at 4°) to a single class of receptor sites, and competition binding studies exhibited the analog specificity expected for the GRP-R subtype. Although the agonist [125I-Tyr4]Bn was internalized rapidly at 37° and subsequently degraded, [125I-d-Tyr6]Bn(6–13)PA was not internalized and was released into the medium mainly as intact peptide. The lysosomal inhibitor chloroquine (200 μm) increased the intracellular accumulation of [125I-Tyr4]Bn but had no effect on the subcellular distribution of [125I-d-Tyr6]Bn(6–13)PA. Consistent with these observations, the treatment of cells with 100 nm Bn at 37° reduced cell surface receptors within minutes, whereas [d-Tyr6]Bn(6–13)PA had no effect. The addition of PMA did not induce the internalization of antagonist-occupied receptors, but pharmacological inhibition of PKC decreased the rate of agonist-induced receptor internalization. These results therefore demonstrate that although PKC contributes to agonist-induced internalization of the GRP-R, it does not elicit receptor internalization of the antagonist-occupied receptor.
Deep Integration: Letting the Epigenome Out of the Bottle Without Losing Sight of the Structural Origins of Population Health

Advances in stress physiology and molecular dynamics can illuminate population health inequality. The “weathering” hypothesis posits that socially structured, repeated stress process activation can accumulate and increase disease vulnerability across the life course in marginalized groups. The developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) hypothesis focuses on youthful programming for later life disease via epigenetic modifications to limiting uterine or early environments. Weathering and DOHaD are overlapping biopsychosocial models; yet, their emphases and implications vary. Evidence for the primacy of early development over experiences in young through middle adulthood for explaining population health inequality is lacking. By considering weathering and DOHaD together, we call for biomedical researchers to be more cautious in their claims about the social world and for a broader range of social researchers—including qualitative ones—to collaborate with them.
Polypharmacy and nutritional status in older adults: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Older adults have more chronic medical conditions, and the level of polypharmacy increases with advancing age. Malnutrition and drug nutrient interactions are of concern in this population. Objectives: The aims of this cross-sectional study were to examine nutritional status, the use of medications, and drug-nutrient interactions in older adults. Methods: Interviewer-administered surveys were conducted in 1100 community-dwelling older (age >65 years) adults. Information regarding demographics, nutritional status, medical history and medication usage was obtained. Self-reported data were verified by third parties when feasible. Informed consent and Human Subjects Committee approval were obtained. A pilot conducted prior to the onset of the study revealed high rates of inter-rater reliability. Data were recorded and entered into Excel spreadsheets for coding and cleaning and transferred to SPSS v. 17.0 for analyses. Results: The respondents’ mean age was 75.5 years. The top six most frequently used classes of medications were gastrointestinal agents, antihypertensives, diuretics, analgesics, β-adrenoceptor antagonists and antihyperlipidaemics. The prevalence of polypharmacy among the participants was 43.4%, with 51.1% of those participants using five or more medications. Most notable was the statistically significant inverse correlation between increasing number of medications and intake of fibre. Intake of cholesterol, glucose and sodium were positively associated with increasing medication use. A trend was also observed for increased phosphorus intake and increased number of medications used. Intake of fat-soluble vitamins, B vitamins, carotenoids and minerals was lower in those with increasing number of medications. Decrements in physical health were associated with decreasing intake of many fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins, major minerals, trace minerals and electrolytes. Excessive macronutriture, specifically relating to the intake of saturated fats, refined carbohydrates and cholesterol, along with decreased intake of fibre and bioavailable protein sources, was also associated with poor physical health. Conclusions: The number of medications used by older adults in this convenience sample was associated with poorer nutritional status. Decrements in physical health have a statistically significant effect on nutrient intake. Further research into these issues is required.
Interrupting Intergenerational Trauma: Children of Holocaust Survivors and the Third Reich

This qualitative study used descriptive phenomenology to examine experiences of healing and reconciliation, for children of Holocaust survivors, through dialogue with children of the Third Reich. Descriptive phenomenological interviews with 5 participants yielded several common essential elements. The findings indicated that participants experienced a sense of healing of intergenerational trauma, a reduction in prejudice, and increase in motivation for pro-social behaviors. The degree to which these findings may reflect a shift in sense of identity, as well as the implications of the findings for conflict resolution, intergroup conflict reduction and peace psychology are discussed.
LncRNA-HOTAIR promotes TNF-α production in cardiomyocytes of LPS-induced sepsis mice by activating NF-κB pathway.

Abstract Background Mounting studies have illustrated an important role of HOTAIR in cancer progress, but few studies have reported its function in cardiac disease, including cardiac-associated sepsis. This study aimed to investigate the function of HOTAIR in sepsis, involving its association with the level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), an important inducer of myocardial dysfunction during LPS-induced sepsis. Methods Sepsis mice model was established by LPS administration, and myocardial dysfunction was evaluated with hemodynamic parameters. HOTAIR expression in isolated cardiomyocytes and TNF-α production in the circulation were detected, as well as the protein levels of phosphorylated p65. HL-1 cells were subjected to LPS treatment in vitro for functional studies, including luciferase report assays for NF-κB activity. Results HOTAIR expression was significantly upregulated in cardiomyocytes from sepsis mice, in line with increased TNF-α production and p65 phosphorylation, while similar results were also observed in LPS treated HL-1 cells, which was then reversed by HOTAIR interference. Functional studies demonstrated that HOTAIR showed positive regulation on p65 phosphorylation and NF-κB activation, while HOTAIR-induced TNF-α production was repressed by NF-κB inhibitor. Further in vivo studies confirmed that HOTAIR silence can improve cardiac function of sepsis mice, and markedly decreased TNF-α production in the circulation. Conclusion HOTAIR upregulation in cardiomyocytes of LPS-induced sepsis mice promoted TNF-α production in the circulation by activating NF-κB, involving the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 subunit. Moreover, HOTAIR silence preserved cardiac function of sepsis mice during LPS-induced sepsis.
Determination of Amine Type Antidegradants by High-Temperature Gas Chromatography

Abstract High-temperature gas chromatography has been used successfully to quantitatively determine the amounts of high boiling amine antidegradants in vulcanized and unvulcanized rubber samples. The antidegradant content was determined by first extracting from the rubber sample the antidegradant and subsequently analyzing the extract by gas chromatography. The method is rendered quantitative by the use of an internal standard. Typical analyses of several rubber samples containing antidegradants are presented. The method is also applicable to the assay of commercial materials.
Maintenance dose of parenteral liver extract in treatment of pernicious anemia.

SummaryFour patients with pernicious anemia required extract derived from 100 gm. of liver at intervals of from 2 to 3 weeks to maintain a normal erythrocyte count.
Alternaria Alternantherae: A New Species Found on Alligatorweed

(1976). Alternaria Alternantherae: A New Species Found on Alligatorweed. Mycologia: Vol. 68, No. 5, pp. 1125-1129.
BENEFITS OF ICD THERAPY: CONNECTING TREATMENT DECISIONS TO INDIVIDUALIZED SCD RISK ESTIMATES WITHIN MADIT-II USING THE SEATTLE PROPORTIONAL RISK MODEL

Currently, there is no method to predict if a patient dies, the likelihood that the death will be a sudden death (potentially preventable with an ICD) vs. a non sudden death. We tested the concept that a patient a higher estimated proportion of sudden death, with a similar annual mortality, will
Ventral Abdominal Wall Defects

Omphalocele and gastroschisis are the two most common congenital abdominal wall defects requiring neonatal intensive care. Historically treated as a single entity, they represent two distinct pathologies with different clinical management algorithms and associated outcomes. With improvements in prenatal diagnosis, neonatal intensive care, and pediatric surgical practices, good long-term outcomes are possible in the absence of catastrophic bowel injury or debilitating associated anomalies.
Another Proof of the Fundamental Theorem of Galois Theory

(1968). Another Proof of the Fundamental Theorem of Galois Theory. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 75, No. 7, pp. 720-724.
Laparoscopy for gastric tumors.

This article reviews the current status of laparoscopic surgery for gastric tumors. Laparoscopy is used for diagnostic purposes and as a therapeutic and palliative tool. Indications for use of laparoscopy are discussed, and technical details of various procedures are described.
Group usability testing: evolution in usability techniques

Usability testing has a long history. In its early form, it was conducted with many individual participants much like traditional research experiments. With the advent of discount usability engineering techniques, fewer participants were required (5-7 versus 30-50) and protocols were simplified. The evolution from "many to few" in usability testing has become the standard in formative testing. What is the next tool in our toolbox? This paper uses a case study to introduce a formative method called "group usability testing." It involves several to many participants individually, but simultaneously, performing tasks, with one to several testers observing and interacting with participants. The idea for group usability testing arose as an answer to limited time resources and the availability of many users gathered together in one place. Data characteristics, benefits, and drawbacks of group usability testing are discussed. Additionally, this method is compared/contrasted with individual usability testing, co-discovery, task-based focus groups, and cooperative usability testing.
A framework for estimating residual stress profile in seam welded pipe and vessel components Part II: Outside of weld region

Abstract Part I of this study has identified two key parameters (r/t ratio and characteristic heat input Q ˆ ) that dominate important through-thickness residual stress distribution characteristics, with which a residual stress profile estimation scheme has been developed for weld region, i.e., at weld centerline and weld toe. In Part II, we present an analytical model for achieving residual stress profile estimation for through-thickness sections away from the weld region in seam welded pipe and vessel components. A curved beam bending theory based model is analytically constructed through an assembly of two parts: One is weld fusion zone region and the other is the rest of the component section along circumferential direction. The final assembly of the two parts leads to a closed form solution to both axial (longitudinal) and hoop (transverse) residual stress components as a function of circumferential angular position away from weld toe. The effectiveness of the full-field residual stress estimation scheme is demonstrated by comparing with finite element modeling results over a broad range of weld geometries and welding conditions. The present development should provide a consistent and effective means for estimating through-thickness residual stress profile as a continuous function of pipe geometry and welding heat input.
How objectivity undermines the study of personhood: Toward an intersubjective epistemology for psychological science

As a science, psychology embraces the value of objectivity. An objective observation is one that is (a) based upon publically observable phenomena (i.e., overt behavior); (b) unbiased, in the sense that it records only what was observed, without either adding or taking away from the observation, and (c) an accurate representation of the world as it truly is. To understand the person, however, it is necessary to come to grips with seemingly elusive concepts such as agency, symbolism, experience, meaning, inter-subjectivity, and morality. Such concepts make reference to phenomena that are not observable in way that one can observe objects in the physical world of space and time. In this paper, I examine how psychology's commitment to objectivity obscures our ability to understand persons. A remnant of the Cartesian distinction between a mind and body, the principle of objectivity forces psychologists to seek “objective” indicators of “subjective” processes. Following Wittgenstein and recent research on the mirror resonance system, I argue that psychological knowledge arises neither from within (subjectively) nor from without (objectively), but instead from between (intersubjectively). To understand what it means to be a person, we must abandon the false distinction between objectivity and subjectivity, and embrace an epistemology based on intersubjectivity.