cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions: Lessons from state climate action plans

We examine how state-level factors affect greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction policy preference across the United States by analyzing climate action plans (CAPs) developed in 11 states and surveying the CAP advisory group members. This research offers insights into how states approach the problem of choosing emissions-abatement options that maximize benefits and minimize costs, given their unique circumstances and the constellation of interest groups with power to influence state policy. The state CAPs recommended ten popular GHG reduction strategies to accomplish approximately 90% of emissions reductions, but they recommended these popular strategies in different proportions: a strategy that is heavily relied on in one state’s overall portfolio may play a negligible role in another state. This suggests that any national policy to limit GHG emissions should encompass these key strategies, but with flexibility to allow states to balance their implementation for the state’s unique geographic, economic, and political circumstances. Survey results strongly support the conclusion that decisions regarding GHG reductions are influenced by the mix of actors at the table. Risk perception is associated with job type for all strategies, and physical and/or geographic factors may underlie the varying reliance on certain GHG reduction strategies across states.
Value of portal venous system radiological indices in predicting esophageal varices.

Introduction Portal hypertension results from increased resistance to portal blood flow and has the potential complications of variceal bleeding and ascites. The splenoportal veins increase in caliber with worsening portal hypertension, and partially decompress by opening a shunt with systemic circulation, ie, a varix. In the event of portosystemic shunting, there is a differential decompression across the portal vein and splenic vein (portal vein > splenic vein), with a resultant decrease in the ratio of portal vein diameter to that of splenic vein. Portal vein to splenic vein diameter ratio and gradient could be valuable tools in predicting the presence of portosystemic shunting.
Early Childhood Physical Education: Providing the Foundation

(1994). Early Childhood Physical Education: Providing the Foundation. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 65, No. 6, pp. 28-30.
Molecular probe of pairing in the BEC-BCS crossover.

We have used optical molecular spectroscopy to probe the many-body state of paired $^{6}\mathrm{L}\mathrm{i}$ atoms near a broad Feshbach resonance. The optical probe projects pairs of atoms onto a vibrational level of an excited molecule. The rate of excitation enables a precise measurement of the closed-channel contribution to the paired state. This contribution is found to be quite small, supporting the concept of universality for the description of broad Feshbach resonances. The dynamics of the excitation provide clear evidence for pairing across the BEC-BCS crossover and into the weakly interacting BCS regime.
Cystic fibrosis in the pancreas: Recent advances provide new insights

Idiopathic chronic pancreatitis accounts for up to one third of chronic pancreatitis cases. The most common inherited disease of the exocrine pancreas is cystic fibrosis, which is caused by mutations of a gene encoding an ion transport protein. It was discovered during the past year that many patients with idiopathic chronic pancreatitis have mutations of the gene that causes cystic fibrosis. This article reviews the evidence associating mutations of this gene with chronic pancreatitis and discusses the implications of this association for the evaluation, pathogenesis, classification, and possible prevention of pancreatitis.
From Proteinoid Microsphere to Contemporary Cell: Formation of Internucleotide and Peptide Bonds by Proteinoid Particles

Proteinoid microspheres of appropriate sorts promote the conversion of ATP to adenine dinucleotide and adenine trinucleotide. Other microparticles composed of basic proteinoid and enzymically synthesized poly A cause the conversion of ATP and phenylalanine to various peptides of phenylalanine. When viewed in a context with the origin and properties of proteinoid microspheres, these results model the origin from a protocell of a more contemporary type of cell able to synthesize its own polyamino acids and polynucleotides. Related earlier experiments explain in part the origin of the genetic code and mechanism.
On physical layer secrecy of collaborative compressive detection

This paper considers the problem of collaborative compressive detection under a physical layer secrecy constraint. More specifically, we consider the problem where the network operates in the presence of an eavesdropper who wants to discover the state of the nature being monitored by the system. We show that the security performance of the system can be improved by using cooperating trustworthy nodes that assist the Fusion Center (FC) by providing falsified data to the eavesdroppers. We also consider the problem of determining optimal system parameters which maximize the detection performance at the FC, while ensuring perfect secrecy at the eavesdropper.
Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging in the study of vocal tract configuration

Summary Studies of vocal tract configuration using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques have relied on static images. These images fail to identify transient movements and are subject to distortion from motion artifact limiting research application to stable motor events. This paper describes a dynamic MRI technique that permits study of transient movements within the vocal tract during speech and nonspeech tasks. Following description of the technique, results of two preliminary studies are presented. The initial study evaluated issues of measurement error and reliability. Results indicated that distance and area measurements obtained from this technique are accurate in reference to a calibration referent and reliable both within and among judges. The second study compared two aspects of vocal tract configuration in patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia before and following treatment with Botox injection. Changes in vocal tract configuration are discussed in reference to prior observations of patients with spasmodic dysphonia. These preliminary investigations suggest that dynamic MRI has promise as a useful technique in the study of vocal tract configuration.
Levorphanol: revisiting an underutilized analgesic.

Levorphanol (levo-3-hydroxy-N-methylmorphinan) is a step 3 opioid first developed in the 1940s as an alternative to morphine. Levorphanol belongs to the morphinan opioid series. Levorphanol has greater potency than morphine and is a potent N-methyl-D aspartate (NMDA) antagonist. Levorphanol interferes with the uptake of norepinephrine and serotonin, which makes it potentially useful for neuropathic pain. Glucuronidation changes Levorphanol to Levorphanol-3-glucuronide with excretion by the kidney. Levorphanol has a long half-life and may accumulate with repeated dosing. Levorphanol can be administered orally, intravenously, and subcutaneously. This article provides an update regarding the pharmacodynamics, pharmacology, and clinical efficacy of this often overlooked step 3 opioid.
THE EFFECT OF VALPROIC ACID ON FATTY ACID OXIDATION BEFORE AND AFTER L-CARNITINE SUPPLEMENTATION

Urinary metabolites and 13CO2-production from 13C-octanoic acid were studied in 12 patients (3-19 y.o.) with seizure disorders before and during valproic acid (VPA) therapy without and with L-carnitine supplementation. Only one patient had a decreased plasma level of free carnitine (FC) during VPA. Urinary FC concentrations were positively correlated with serum VPA levels (p<0.01) indicating a dose-related effect of VPA on the tubular reabsorption of FC. Urinary dicarboxylic acid concentrations relative to plasma β-OH-butyrate and urinary hexanoyl- and butyrylglycine concentrations (stable isotope dilution method) increased during VPA. Changes in cumulative excretion of 13CO2 in breath were inconsistent. L-carnitine administration had no significant effect. 11/12 patients excreted octanoylearnitine (OC) in excess of octenoylearnitine during VPA. Quantitation of OC by radioisotopic exchange/HPLC showed urinary concentrations of OC comparable to those found in asymptomatic patients with medium chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency (x 0.71; R 0.09-14.6 vs. × 0.38; R 0.10-4.21 mmoles/mole creatinine). Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analysis revealed that the predominant saturated 8-carbon acylcarnitine in urine was OC with valproylcarnitine being only a minor metabolite. Conclusion: VPA therapy results in an inhibition of β-oxidation partly at the level of MCAD. L-carnitine has no consistent effect.
An X-Ray Diffraction Analysis of Casein

Summary By x-ray diffraction analysis an attempt has been made to interpret changes that were produced by the action of acids, alkalis and formaldehyde on casein, as well as, attempting to distinguish differences in casein prepared by various methods. No marked differences were found in the casein samples prepared by various procedures. Only by vigorous boiling in the presence of NaOH were marked changes in structure observed due to chemical treatment. The two halos produced by casein upon x-ray diffraction analysis were typical of non-fibrous proteins. The halos were at spacings of approximately 4.6 a and 9.8 a which correspond respectively to the vertical distance between layers of polypeptide chains and the longitudinal distance of side chains from the main chain. These values agree well with other non-fibrous proteins that have been subjected to x-ray analysis.
Local anesthetics for the pediatric patient.

Local anesthetics (Table 1) are drugs that block the transmission of the action potential along the nerve axon. The mechanism of action is typically a blockade of the sodium channel, preventing depolarization of the nerve. A general rule is that larger-diameter fibers require a higher concentration of local anesthetic for block than do smaller-diameter fibers, so the smallest, nonmyelinated, C fibers are most easily blocked, whereas the thicker, myelinated nerves are more difficult to block. In myelinated nerves, the depolarization leaps between the nodes of Ranvier, however, speeding conduction. Interruption of the signal can be accomplished by completely blocking depolarization at three consecutive nodes or by partial block attenuating conduction at several adjacent nodes. The latter can be accomplished using a lower concentration and higher volume. Local anesthetics have a low affinity for the resting sodium channel and a hgh affinity for the open channel, so nerve fibers that are actively firing
Polyethylene/keratin fiber composites with varying polyethylene crystallinity

Short-fiber reinforced composites are made from keratin fibers obtained from poultry feathers and polyethylenes of varying crystallinity. The chemical nature of the polymer and fiber is kept constant and the molecular architecture of the polymer is varied. It is found that low crystallinity polyethylenes are reinforced by keratin fibers but high crystallinity polyethylenes are not. The keratin fibers inhibit crystallinity in low crystallinity polyethylenes but enhance crystallinity in high crystallinity polyethylenes. Microscopy shows increased adhesion between the fibers and the polymer for the more amorphous polyethylenes. A model is presented that describes composite properties as a function of fiber properties and matrix crystallinity.
Dietary supplementation of N-acetylcysteine enhances early inflammatory responses during cutaneous wound healing in protein malnourished mice

Abstract Prolonged wound healing is a complication that contributes to the morbidity and mortality of protein malnutrition (PM). The molecular mechanisms that underlie impaired wound healing in PM may begin in the early inflammatory stage of the process. We hypothesized that the impaired wound healing observed in PM occurs as a consequence of excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production that impairs the wound healing process by depressing nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) activation and the subsequent synthesis and release of proinflammatory cytokines that are critical mediators of the inflammatory response. In this study, we showed that the time to wound closure was significantly prolonged in PM mice. During the early wound healing in PM, inhibitory kappa B alpha (IκBα), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression and neutrophil infiltration were significantly decreased in PM mice. The role of excess ROS in PM was demonstrated by using transgenic mice with overexpression of copper zinc superoxide dismutase and with dietary supplementation of N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Both interventions improved the extent of wound closure in PM mice. Moreover, NAC supplementation in PM mice restored the expression of IκBα, IL-1β and TNF-α and infiltration of neutrophils to levels observed in control animals. These findings support the notion that wound healing defects in PM may result from dysregulation of ROS-mediated and NFκB-regulated signaling pathways.
Lymph node but not intradermal injection site macrophages are critical for germinal center formation and antibody responses to rabies vaccination.

Replication-deficient rabies virus (RABV)-based vaccines induce rapid and potent antibody responses via T cell-independent and T cell-dependent mechanisms. To further investigate early events in vaccine-induced antibody responses against RABV infections, we studied the role of macrophages as mediators of RABV-based vaccine immunogenicity. In this report, we show that a recombinant matrix gene-deleted RABV-based vaccine (rRABV-ΔM) infects and activates primary murine macrophages in vitro. Immunization of mice with live RABV-based vaccines results in accumulation of macrophages at the site of immunization, which suggests that macrophages in tissues support the development of effective anti-RABV B cell responses. However, we show that draining lymph node macrophages, but not macrophages at the site of immunization, are essential for the generation of germinal center B cells, follicular T helper cells, and RABV-specific antibodies. Our findings have implications for the design of new RABV-based vaccines for which early immunological events are important for the protection against RABV in postexposure settings. IMPORTANCE More than two-thirds of the world's population live in regions where rabies is endemic. Postexposure prophylaxis is the primary means of treating humans. Identifying immunological principles that guide the development of rapid and potent antibody responses against rabies infections will greatly increase our ability to produce more-effective rabies vaccines. Here we report that macrophages in the draining lymph node, but not in the tissue at the site of immunization are important for vaccine-induced antibody responses to rabies. Information gleaned from this study may help guide the development of a single-dose vaccine against rabies infections.
Early use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin ii receptor blockers: Evidence from clinical trials

Following acute myocardial infarction, patients are at increased risk of developing heart failure, which is more prevalent in those with reduced ventricular systolic function. Activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, which occurs early after myocardial injury, plays a central role in the pathogenesis of subsequent cardiac structural and functional abnormalities. The early use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers has been tested in several large randomized clinical trials. The results of these trials show that this treatment strategy reduces the incidence of heart failure and mortality in the postmyocardial infarction patient. The magnitude of benefit is larger in patients with high-risk features, particularly those with large infarct size and the presence of heart failure or left ventricular systolic dysfunction at the time of myocardial injury. Careful use of these agents is essential in avoiding clinically significant hypotension in the critical period.
Vitamin B 6 and Skin Lesions in Rats

VITAMIN B61 has been defined2 as “that part of the vitamin B2 complex which is responsible for the cure of the specific dermatitis developed by young rats fed on a vitamin B-free diet supplemented with purified vitamin B1 and lactoflavin” (riboflavin). The specific skin lesions (‘rat acrodynia’) are characterized by symmetrical dermatitis with œdematous, scaly skin, mainly on the most peripheral parts of the body, such as the mouth, nose, paws, ears and tail.
Nonlinear localization of light in disordered optical fiber arrays

Light propagating through optical fiber arrays tends to localize in only a few center cores. The recent experiments in two-dimensional single-mode optical fiber arrays suggest that an interplay of deterministic and random linear and nonlinear effects might be responsible for this localization. We study this phenomenon, both analytically and numerically, in a hexagonal optical fiber array similar to that used in the experiments. Our analysis reveals that Anderson localization is evident in the linear and intermediate regimes, where a larger fraction of initial energy is returned to the center fiber due to the stochastic effects. For very high levels of input energy, the system is strongly nonlinear, with the randomness amplifying the Kerr localization.
A Multi-Space Distribution (MSD) and two-stream tone modeling approach to Mandarin speech recognition

Tone plays an important role in recognizing spoken tonal languages like Chinese. However, the discontinuity of F0 between voiced and unvoiced transition has traditionally been a hurdle in creating a succinct statistical tone model for automatic speech recognition and synthesis. Various heuristic approaches have been proposed before to get around the problem but with limited success. The Multi-Space Distribution (MSD) proposed by Tokuda et al. which models the two probability spaces, discrete for unvoiced region and continuous for voiced F0 contour, in a linearly weighted mixture, has been successfully applied to Hidden Markov Model (HMM)-based text-to-speech synthesis. We extend MSD to Chinese Mandarin tone modeling for speech recognition. The tone features and spectral features are further separated into two streams and corresponding stream-dependent models are trained. Finally two separated decision trees are constructed by clustering corresponding stream-dependent HMMs. The MSD and two-stream modeling approach is evaluated on large vocabulary, continuously read and spontaneous speech Mandarin databases and its robustness is further investigated in a noisy, continuous Mandarin digit database with eight types of noises at five different SNRs. Experimental results show that our MSD and two-stream based tone modeling approach can significantly improve the recognition performance over a toneless baseline system. The relative tonal syllable error rate (TSER) reductions are 21.0%, 8.4% and 17.4% for large vocabulary read and spontaneous and noisy digit speech recognition tasks, respectively. Comparing with the conventional system where F0 contours are interpolated in unvoiced segments, our approach improves the recognition performance by 9.8%, 7.4% and 13.3% in relative TSER reductions in the corresponding speech recognition tasks, respectively.
Consensus on cold fusion still elusive

Accounts of the cold-fusion experiments at the University of Utah and Brigham Young University were presented last week at a meeting at the Ettore Majorana Centre for Scientific Culture, but many questions remain unanswered.
Properties of InAs/(Ga,In)Sb strained layer superlattices grown on the {111} orientations

Following the proposal of the extreme type-II InAs/(Ga,In)Sb strained layer superlattice system by Mailhiot and Smith in 1987 for long wavelength infrared detection, a number of groups have experimentally investigated (100) oriented InAs/(Ga,In)Sb strained layer superlattices and demonstrated that these structures can possess energy gaps in the 8–12 μm range with absorption coefficients comparable to HgCdTe. However, a number of advantages are predicted if these structures are grown on the {111} orientations. In this paper, we present details of our investigation of the growth of InAs/GaSb heterostructures and InAs/(Ga,In)Sb strained layer superlattices on the (111)A and (111)B orientations by molecular beam epitaxy, compared to growth on the (100) orientation. Heterojunction growth and incorporation rates of Sb (As) into InAs (GaSb) on (111)A, (111)B, and (100) orientations have been assessed and implications for growth and optical properties of InAs/(Ga,In)SB strained layer superlattices are discussed. GaSb/InAs and InAs/GaSb interfaces on the (111)B orientation are investigated by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and the structural quality of InAs/(Ga,In)Sb strained layer superlattices are investigated by x-ray diffraction.
Delayed dental age in hepatorenal glycogen storage disease.

The newly developed methods for hepatorenal glycogen storage disease may help alleviate the dental and gingival abnormalities associated with the condition.
Locomotor effects of nitrous oxide in mice : requirement of newly-synthesized and main intraneuronal storage pools of dopamine

Nitrous oxide increases locomotor activity in mice. Other locomotor stimulants are thought to act via central dopaminergic mechanisms and can be divided into two groups as determined by their antagonism by tyrosine hydroxylase inhibitors or by reserpine pretreatment. The purpose of the present study was to determine if nitrous oxide fits one or the other of the groups. Mice were acclimatized for 1 h to exposure chambers (4 L filtration flasks), in air, delivered at 4 L min-1 and then exposed to N2O:O2 (50:50), also delivered at 4 L min-1. Locomotor activity was evaluated at 10 min intervals throughout the experiment. Racemic alpha-methyltyrosine methyl ester HCl (200 mg kg-1), administered at the beginning of acclimatization, almost totally eliminated the nitrous oxide effect but not that of methylphenidate HCl (20 mg kg-1). Reserpine pretreatment (5 mg kg-1, 18 h) totally eliminated the nitrous oxide effect but not that of amphetamine (5 mg kg-1). The results suggest that nitrous oxide requires both the newly synthesized and the main storage pools of dopamine and do not allow assignment of the agent, specifically, to either of the groups.
Ultrathin CdS/CdTe solar cells by sputtering

Abstract We have prepared thin-film CdS/CdTe cells with CdTe thickness from 0.25 μm to 2.1 μm on commercial SnO2:F-coated soda-lime glass with a high resistivity transparent SnO2 buffer layer. With careful optimization of the magnetron sputtering conditions, CdS and Cu thicknesses, CdCl2 activation, and back-contact diffusion processes, we obtain 8% efficiency with only 0.25 μm of CdTe and 11% efficiency with 0.5 μm. The results confirm the advantages of magnetron sputtering for ultra-thin CdTe and show some light trapping and excellent carrier collection even for the thinnest devices.
Recruiting low-income healthy women to research: an exploratory study.

Objective. The study goals were (1) to assess the feasibility of using an existing telephone health information and referral service for low-income, ethnically diverse women to recruit women for research participation; (2) to assess the feasibility of recruiting low-income, African American and Latino men into health research through the women callers to the telephone service; and (3) to describe the challenges women face and the strategies they use when talking to men about the men's health and research participation. Design. We recruited women for individual semi-structured qualitative interviews via the Every Woman Counts (EWC) telephone information and referral service, a California Department of Health Services Cancer Detection Program. This paper describes our eligibility and recruitment assessment, and our qualitative data from 23 interviews with low-income African American and Latino women who called EWC. Results. We found that it was feasible to recruit women, but not to recruit men through women...
Stratification of Patient Risk Based on Prostate-Specific Antigen Doubling Time After Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy

OBJECTIVES To assess the risk of local recurrence, systemic progression, and death from cancer among patients who experience biochemical relapse after radical retropubic prostatectomy and to stratify those patients by prostate-specific antigen (PSA) doubling time (DT). PATIENTS AND METHODS We identified patients who experienced biochemical recurrence (defined as a PSA level ≥0.4 ng/mL) after radical prostatectomy from January 1, 1990, to December 31, 1999, for prostate adenocarcinoma. The PSA-DT was calculated by log linear regression using all PSA values within 2 years of biochemical recurrence. Local recurrence- and systemic progression-free survival and cancer-specific survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and analyzed by the log-rank test and Cox models. RESULTS Biochemical recurrence was noted in 1521 (27%) of 5533 men during the follow-up period. Of the 1064 patients with a calculable PSA-DT, 322 (30%) had a PSA-DT of less than 1 year, 357 (34%) had a PSA-DT of 1 to 9.9 years, and 385 (36%) had a PSA-DT of 10 years or more. Patients with a PSA-DT of 10 years or more were less likely to have a higher preoperative PSA level, Gleason score, advanced pathologic stage, and seminal vesicle invasion. Patients with a PSA-DT of 10 years or more were at low risk of local recurrence (hazard ratio [HR], 0.09; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.06-0.14; compared with patients with a PSA-DT of CONCLUSIONS Prostate-specific antigen DT is an independent predictor of clinical disease recurrence and mortality after surgical biochemical failure. Risk stratification into high-, intermediate-, and low-risk categories based on the PSA-DT provides helpful clinical information and assists in the development of salvage therapy trials.
Molecular mechanisms underlying skeletal muscle weakness in human cancer: reduced myosin-actin cross-bridge formation and kinetics

Many patients with cancer experience physical disability following diagnosis, although little is known about the mechanisms underlying these functional deficits. To characterize skeletal muscle ada...
Frequency Selective Surfaces for Pulsed High-Power Microwave Applications

We examine the peak power handling capability of a class of miniaturized-element frequency selective surfaces composed entirely of non-resonant constituting elements. The effects of various design parameters on the peak power handling capability of these structures are investigated using electromagnetic simulations and methods for increasing their peak power handling capability are proposed. These methods are used to design a high-power microwave (HPM) frequency selective surface (FSS), which is expected to be capable of handling extremely high peak power levels. The power handling capabilities of these devices are also experimentally investigated using an HPM source with a frequency of 9.382 GHz, a peak power of 25 kW, and a pulse length of 1 μs. Unit cells of various FSSs under investigation are placed in a waveguide and excited with pulses with variable power levels. The time-domain reflection and transmission coefficients of each device is measured at various power levels and the power level at which the device breaks down is determined. The results of these experimental investigations follow the same trend observed in the simulations. Additionally, our experiments demonstrate that the HPM FSSs developed in this work are indeed capable of handling extremely high peak power levels.
Quantitative Assay of Pyrazofurin a New Antiviral, Antitumor Antibiotic

Abstract Pyrazofurin, a carbon-linked nucleoside, has been previously reported to possess antiviral and antitumor activity. The antagonistic effect of pyrazofurin against Neurospora crassa has been utilized to develop a quantitative assay for the compound.
Balloon-assisted endoscopic retroperitoneal gasless (BERG) technique for anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF).

Background: The objective of this study was to determine the utility of balloon-assisted endoscopic retroperitoneal gasless (BERG) exposure for anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) with a variety of interbody fusion devices. Methods: Between January 1998 and February 2002, 46 individuals underwent (ALIF) with a variety of devices, including cylindrical cages, femoral ring allografts, and Synmesh (Synthes, Philadelphia, PA, USA) cages. There were 34 men and 12 women in the group. The average age was 40 years. The average hospital stay was 3 days. The operations were performed for severe back and leg pains in individuals who did not obtain relief of their pain with nonsurgical treatments for a period of ?1 one year. The surgical conditions for fusion were degenerative disc disease with back and leg pain, grade 1 spondylolisthesis, retrospondylolisthesis, and disc space infection with and without neurological deficit. Lumbar discs L5, L4, and L3 were approached 30, 21, and three times, respectively. The procedures were performed with the patients positioned supine on a radiolucent table. Access to the retroperitoneal space was gained in a manner similar to a totally extraperitoneal (TEP) hernia repair. The rest of the procedure was performed in a gasless fashion using standard orthopedic and laparoscopic instruments. A Harmonic Scalpel (Ethicon Endosurgery, USA) was used to coagulate and divide the ascending lumbar vein to mobilize the left common iliac vein for access to the L4 disc. The segmental arteries were dealt with in a similar fashion to permit retraction of the great vessels. Results: Complications included a left common iliac vein injury not requiring operative repair and a far lateral placement of a BAK (Bagby and Kuslich) cage at the L5 level that required removal 2 days later. One patient reported retrograde ejaculation after two-level ALIF at L3 and L5. Conclusion: BERG/ALIF is a viable alternative to the conventional open procedure and gas laparoscopy for ALIF. BERG permits the use of most open orthopedic instruments and any implant. The anterior approach preserves the musculo-skeletal spine anatomy. Postsurgical scarring in and around the spinal canal and nerve roots is avoided, and average blood loss is less than 223 cc.
A comparison of intraperitoneal and subcutaneous temperature in freely moving rhesus macaques.

Rationale The remote measurement of body temperature with radiotelemetry provides a minimally invasive and robust method for larger experimental animals such as Old World monkeys. Existing literature encompasses data using intraperitoneal (IP) and subcutaneous (SC) implantation locations which may affect inferences about body temperature.
Characteristics of Chicken Frankfurters Formulated with Varying Levels of Pork and Chicken Fats

Abstract Varying blends of pork and chicken fat (0:4, 1:3, 2:2, 3:1, 4:0 pork:chicken) were combined with lean (3% fat), hand-deboned chicken meat to determine the effects of substituting pork fat for chicken fat in low (22%) and high (27%) total fat level chicken frankfurter formulations. The addition of pork fat improved instrumental hardness, increased saturated fatty acid content, decreased monounsaturated fatty acid content, and did not significantly affect storage stability of the frankfurters.
Cardioprotective effects of platelets against ischaemia-reperfusion injury are related in part to platelet glutathione redox cycle

Objective: Washed platelets have been shown to protect isolated buffer perfused rat hearts from injury and dysfunction following ischaemia-reperfusion. This study was designed to investigate whether platelet glutathione redox cycle contributes to the protective effect of platelets. Methods: Isolated rat hearts were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit buffer alone, buffer containing platelets, or buffer containing platelets pretreated with inhibitors of glutathione redox cycle. All hearts were subjected to 40 min of global ischaemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion. Results: Following ischaemia and reperfusion, hearts perfused with buffer alone showed a marked reduction in force of cardiac contraction and heart rate, an increase in coronary perfusion pressure and diastolic tone, and a release of creatine kinase in the coronary effluent. Myocardial creatine kinase, superoxide dismutase activity, and glutathione content all fell. Perfusion of hearts with washed platelets provided significant protection from ischaemia-reperfusion related myocardial injury and dysfunction. The cardioprotective effects of platelets were attenuated when they were preincubated with the glutathione redox cycle inhibitors dehydroepiandros-terone, 1,3-bis (2-chloroethyl)-l-nitrosurea, or l-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. Pretreatment of platelets with glutathione redox cycle inhibitors did not affect the platelet mediated preservation of myocardial superoxide dismutase activity. Conclusions: Platelet glutathione redox cycle contributes in part to the cardioprotective effects of platelets against ischaemia-reperfusion injury and dysfunction in the isolated rat heart. Cardiovascular Research 1994; 28 :1586-1593
Metrology of high aspect ratio MEMS

Lack of metrology tools for inspecting high aspect ratio MEMS severely limits the degree to which tolerances of a given part can be examined. Tools such as SEMs, AFMs, vision-based systems, and profilometers are good at examining two-dimensional entities of a part or for calculating surface roughness characteristics. None of these tools, however, can extract full three-dimensional data sets of high aspect ratio MEMS for part inspection. The hardware is either limited by the steep sidewalls of the part or by the simple fact that the acquisition method only collects two-dimensional data. This research proposes a method for extracting three-dimensional information from a part using multiple two-dimensional pointclouds. A fiducial setup is proposed which would allow for the registration of multiple pointclouds. A computer-aided inspection (CAI) software platform has been developed to handle the multiple data sets. The software platform implements a least-squares localization routine to compute the best-fit deviations from the nominal CAD geometry, as well as algorithms to determine the correct alignment between two pointclouds. With this software platform, both form errors of a single pointcloud and geometric errors with respect to multiple pointclouds can be calculated.
Spatial and temporal variation of microstimulation thresholds for inhibiting the tail-flick reflex from the rat's rostral medial medulla.

Abstract Suppression of the tail-flick reflex by microstimulation of the rostral medial medulla in rats lightly anesthetized with barbiturates was studied with regard to spatial and temporal variations in electrical threshold. Trains of constant-current pulses with linearly descending amplitudes (called ‘ramps’) were passed through the extracellular brain microelectrode during noxious heating of the tail. The pulse amplitude at the time of the reflex, after allowance for conduction and reaction latencies, was taken as the threshold reading. This new method revealed a range of vertical electrode positions corresponding roughly to the nucleus raphe magnus, where the thresholds tended to be lowest (a mean of 4.1 μA for 0.4-ms pulses delivered at 50 Hz). In confirmation of the technique's validity neither the duration of the ramp nor its starting amplitude, within their useful range, significantly affected the measured threshold. Pronounced temporal fluctuation was seen in thresholds measured every 2 min. Spatial variability within the low-threshold region and differences between preparations were statistically much smaller sources of variation. The temporal fluctuation appeared to have a stationary mean for at least 20 min under constant conditions of anesthesia. In some experiments, action potentials from single neurons were recorded through the stimulating electrode, and classified into those inhibited during the tail-flick (off-cells), those excited (on-cells), and those unaffected (neutral cells). The thresholds where off-cells exhibited their maximum action potential were on average significantly lower than corresponding thresholds for on-cells. Short-range (
Dual Tunable Fabry-Perot: A New Concept For Spectrally Agile Filtering

AbstractHoneywell has developed a spectrally agile infrared filter based on the dual tunable Fabry -Perot (DTFP) concept. A DTFP transmits broad or narrow spectral bands which are tunable over a large spectral range.Harmonic spectral transmission can be eliminated by maintaining staggered cavity orders. Several DTFPfilters have been fabricated and tested. A closed -loop, capacitive control system is used to adjust platealignment and spacing. DTFP transmission greater than 0.8 and drive and stabilization times of less than4.0 milliseconds have been demonstrated. DTFP design considerations and experimental performance datawill be discussed.IntroductionAdvanced infrared optical sensors will utilize spectral filtering to perform various spectrometric andradiometric missions. Complete interrogation of radiation sources requires spectroradiometric measurementin imaging optical systems. Under widely varying source radiance conditions, filter spectral agilityis required to maintain desired spectral resolution and detector signal -to -noise ratios. Spectral agilityis defined as the ability to arbitrarily select any spectral band and vary its bandwidth throughout theentire spectral range. Spectrally agile filters are fundamentally categorized as either multiplexing orscanning, according to their spectral outputs as shown in Figure 1. Selection of the optimum filter typeis dependent on sensor mission requirements. A multiplexing filter, such as the Michelson Interferometer,is particularly well suited for simultaneous inspection of many spectral bands. A scanning filter, however,has several advantages when inspection of a limited number of spectral bands is desired. Scanning filtersare typically more compact, weigh less, and often require minimal signal processing to recover the desired
An in vitro translation, selection and amplification system for peptide nucleic acids

In vitro evolution of synthetic polymers has been limited by a lack of methods for translating genetic information into synthetic libraries and for amplifying selected molecules. An in vitro selection system for peptide nucleic acids (PNA) now brings the evolution of functional PNA polymers within reach.
Mechanical properties for durability predictions of FRP bonded joint

A discussion of current standard durability prediction methodology for bonded joints is given. The influence of time-dependent adhesive properties on lap shear stress distributions and interfacial stresses is presented. It is suggested that these effects may be important in durability considerations. Test geometries from which better durability information can be obtained are outlined and a general mechanics approach for durability prediction is suggested.
Large Eddy Simulations of Film Cooling Flow Fields From Cylindrical and Shaped Holes

Large Eddy Simulations (LES) of cylindrical, laterally diffused, and console holes are performed, and the resulting flow field data is presented. The motivation for performing LES is to enable more accurate simulations and to obtain a better understanding of the flow physics associated with complex hole shapes. The simulations include the coolant delivery tube and the feeding plenum chamber, and are performed for a specific mass flow rate of coolant per unit width of blade. A crossflow inlet is used on the plenum, and the resulting asymmetric flow characteristics are investigated. Coolant delivery tube flow fields are investigated in detail. Results show qualitative agreement with reported trends of improved film coverage with diffused and console holes.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Linear age-dependent population growth with harvesting

This paper studies the effect of harvesting a fraction of a population where the population growth is modelled by a linear age-dependent model, the Von Foerster equation. Two harvesting strategies are considered: the first is where a fraction of the population greater than agec is removed, and the second is where a fraction of the population of age greater thanc but less thanc+n is removed. In the case where the death rate and fertility rate are time independent, the effect of harvesting on the stable age distribution is examined.
Research productivity of the finance profession in the Asia-Pacific region

Abstract This study ranks the finance research productivity among the Asia-Pacific universities using a set of 17 finance journals during the decade of the 1990s. A total of 97 universities are ranked. The top five universities are Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, National University of Singapore, City University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, and the University of New South Wales, respectively. An interesting finding is that both school history and tradition seem irrelevant to the research productivity. Several prominent universities are not ranked in the top 20. The results suggest that motivations and the degree of research emphasis play an important role in research productivity but not the tradition and the history of a university. Moreover, when compared with other North American universities, the top 20 Asia-Pacific finance programs are comparable with leading state and private universities in the North America. The comparison is even more favorable to the Asia-Pacific universities during the second half of the 1990s. A majority of the top 20 Asia-Pacific universities have significantly improved their research productivity during the time period of 1995–1999.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Identifies Occult Hip Fractures Missed by 64-slice Computed Tomography

Abstract Background Citing the enhanced resolution of 64-slice computed tomography (CT), some clinicians now use CT instead of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect occult hip fracture. Objective Our objective was to determine the incidence of occult hip fractures missed by 64-slice CT but detected by MRI. Methods We reviewed the medical records and radiology reports of patients over age 60 years with a hip fracture (acetabular, intertrochanteric, trochanteric, femoral neck, and femoral head) during a 3-year period, January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2009. We also reviewed all hip CT and MRI scans ordered during that period. Occult fractures were those visualized on CT or MRI but with negative plain films. We compared CT and MRI findings, and calculated percentages and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Of 235 hip fractures, 211 were visible on initial plain films (90%, 95% CI 85–93%) and 24 (10%, 95% CI 6–15%) were occult. Eighteen occult fractures (7.6%, 95% CI 4.6–11.8%) were identified by CT (MRI not done), one (0.4%, 95% CI 0–2%) by MRI (CT not done), one (0.4%, 95% CI 0–2%) by both CT and MRI, and 4 patients (1.7%, 95% CI 0.5–4.3%) had a positive MRI but negative CT scan. Conclusion Although 64-slice CT detected the majority of occult fractures, it missed four (2%) significant fractures detected by MRI. CT scan is helpful in the diagnosis of occult hip fracture, but one should not completely exclude the diagnosis based on a negative 64-slice CT scan in a patient with persistent, localized hip pain who cannot bear weight.
Desorption of vibrationally excited adsorbates in competition with relaxation: A quantal picture

The competition between desorption and relaxation of vibrationally excited CO adsorbed on a series of model surfaces is examined theoretically using a quantum mechanical description of the dynamics. This study complements that reported in the preceding paper which studied the classical mechanics of these processes. Quantitative differences between the quantal and classical results are seen in the rate constants for the various energy transfer processes. Moreover, qualitative differences are seen in the trend in the dynamics as the Debye frequency of the model surface is increased. The differences in the various rate constants in the quantal and classical calculations lead to an unusual ‘‘quantum effect’’ in which the trend in the energy flow with increasing Debye frequency is in different directions. Relaxation of the excited adsorbate is the dominant trend in the classical mechanics; thermal desorption of the excited adsorbate is the dominant trend in the quantal calculations.
Song development in the indigo bunting

Abstract Five male indigo buntings, from 3 to 7 days of age, were hand-reared in isolation from adult indigo buntings. As soon as the young birds began to sing subsong, between 15 and 60 days of age, they were isolated from all other indigo buntings until their songs were fully developed. Early subsong was a variable warbling. During the first spring this ‘crystallized’ into a series of figures which eventually formed the entire song of the bird. In the fully developed song the figures have a regular shape and may be repeated. The songs of the isolated birds contained very few figures which were closely comparable to those of wild birds recorded in the area of the nests in which they hatched. Sibling nestlings developed completely different songs. This suggests that learning of the song does not take place before the young leave the nest. The songs of the isolates are longer than those of wild birds, have about the same number of figures per song, but fewer kinds of figures per song, and a longer interval between songs. The frequency envelope is narrower and lower. The general characteristics of figure shape, spacing and repetition of figures, frequency range, and even the interval between songs, however, are all close to those of free-living birds. The detailed characteristics of the wild indigo bunting song seem to be learned, but this learning seems to involve primarily a refinement of a basic pattern which the bird is able to produce without ever having heard an indigo bunting song. Birds which were ‘tutored’ by playing songs of wild birds added new figures to their songs up to 18 months of age, past the spring crystallization of their songs in isolation.
Differentiated cell types and the regulation of collagen synthesis

COLLAGEN synthesis, the principal differentiated function of the fibroblast, is carried out by homogeneous cell populations cultured under defined conditions1–5. Because hydroxy-proline is formed from proline in collagen, the rate of collagen synthesis can be determined with great sensitivity by measuring the incorporation of radioactive amino-acids3,6. This communication shows that different types of cell vary over a range of at least 104 in the rate at which they synthesize this protein. In cells of fibroblastic origin the property is, of course, most highly developed. In some non-fibroblastic cell types synthesis occurs at about 2–3 per cent of the rate characteristic of the fibroblast, while in others it is completely suppressed. The data indicate three possible levels at which the synthesis may be maintained in different cell types.