cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Brain Wiring by Presorting Axons

Neurobiologist and Nobel Laureate R. W. Sperry proposed an influential chemo affinity theory half a century ago ( 1 ) to explain the precision of neuronal wiring in the brain: “The cells and fibers of the brain must carry some kind of individual identification tags, presumably cytochemical in nature, by which they are distinguished one from another almost, in many regions, to the level of the single neurons” ( 1 ). He suggested that gradients of such identification tags on retinal neurons and on the target cells in the brain coordinately guide the orderly projection of millions of developing retinal axons. This idea was supported by the identification and genetic analysis of axon guidance molecules, including those that direct development of the vertebrate visual system ( 2 ). But axons not only perceive molecular cues on their targets; they also recognize those on fellow axons. On page 585 of this issue, Imai et al. provide a striking example of how axon-axon interactions organize olfactory axons before they reach their target in the brain ( 3 ).
Functions and consequences of play behaviour in juvenile Belding's ground squirrels

We evaluated hypotheses suggesting that play behaviour in free-living juvenile Belding's ground squirrels, Spermophilus beldingi, helps to regulate energy balance and promotes development of motor skills. We also examined the possibility that play behaviour and motor development influence important early life events in S. beldingi. We regularly measured body fat of juveniles using nondestructive methods, observed their behaviour, conducted motor skills tests, monitored dispersal status of males, and evaluated weaning success of females during their first effort to reproduce as yearlings. Rates of feeding were greater among juveniles who engaged in both social and nonsocial play behaviour at low compared to high rates, suggesting that play does not help young animals expend excess energy that they consume. By contrast, body fat was greater among juveniles who engaged in social play at high compared to low rates, supporting the idea that energetic variables such as body fat limit the expression of play behaviour. Motor skills of juvenile S. beldingi improved throughout the period in which juveniles engaged in play behaviour. Improvement in motor skills was greater in juveniles who engaged in social play at high compared to low rates, suggesting a link between social play and motor development. Motor skill levels at the end of the play period were greater among males who dispersed by the end of the juvenile summer than among males still residing in their natal areas. Rates of social play and improvement in motor skills over the course of the play period were greater in females who successfully weaned a litter as yearling than in females who did not. These last two results raise the possibility that play behaviour and motor development during the play period influence important events in the early lives of S. beldingi, which may ultimately influence long-term reproductive success.
Lag time in microbe growth as an age-dependent branching process with two phase types

Abstract We study a two-type, age-dependent branching process in which the branching probabilities of one of the types may vary with time. Specifically this modification of the Bellman-Harris process starts with a Type I particle which may either die or change to a Type II particle depending upon a time varying probability. A Type II particle may either die or reproduce with fixed probabilities but may not return to a particle of Type I. In this way the process models the lag phenomenon observed in microbe growth subsequent to transfer to a new culture medium while the organism is adapting to its new environment. We show that if the mean reproduction rate of Type II particles exceeds 1, then the population size grows exponentially. Further the extinction probability for this process is related to that of the Bellman-Harris process. Finally the governing equations are solved for several choices of the growth parameters and the solutions are graphically displayed showing that a wide variety of behavior can be modeled by this process.
Confirmation of ETI: initial organizational response

Abstract Perhaps the most crucial responses to the confirmation of extraterrestrial intelligence will come from organizations, rather than from individual people. Among the key organizations that will help shape humanity's response are political institutions such as the US Congress, administrative bodies such as the US Department of State, security agencies, the military, professional societies, and the media. Although popular culture and individual beliefs will affect organizational performance, organizational reactions will depend also on organizational cultures and traditions, administrative structures, communication patterns, decision-making processes, and the actions of other organizations. Prompt and effective responses may be blocked by sociopolitical constraints, jurisdictional disputes, cumbersome structures and procedures, stresses that frequently slow and distort information processing, and potentially counterproductive efforts to maintain positive organizational images. Efforts undertaken by governmental agencies will be hampered by public perceptions of low credibility. Foresight and advance preparation are among the steps that organizations may take to prepare for contact, but conservative values, skepticism towards SETI, and competing organizational priorities make serious preparation unlikely.
Accuracy of the EASI 12-lead electrocardiogram compared to the standard 12-lead electrocardiogram for diagnosing multiple cardiac abnormalities

This study was performed to compare a derived 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) using a simple 5-electrode lead configuration (EASI 12-lead) with the standard ECG for multiple cardiac diagnoses. Accurate diagnosis of arrhythmias and ischemia often require analysis of multiple (ideally, 12) ECG leads; however, continuous 12-lead monitoring is impractical in hospital settings. EASI and standard ECGs were compared in 540 patients, 426 of whom also had continuous 12-lead ST segment monitoring with both lead methods. Independent standards relative to a correct diagnosis were used whenever possible, for example, echocardiographic data for chamber enlargement-hypertrophy, and troponin levels for acute infarction. Percent agreement between the 2 methods were: cardiac rhythm, 100%; chamber enlargement-hypertrophy, 84%-99%; right and left bundle branch block, 95% and 97%, respectively; left anterior and posterior fascicular block, 97% and 99%, respectively; prior anterior and inferior infarction, 95% and 92%, respectively. There was very little variation between the 2 lead methods in cardiac interval measurements; however, there was more variation in P, QRS, and T-wave axes. Of the 426 patients with ST monitoring, 138 patients had a total of 238 ST events (26, acute infarction; 62, angioplasty-induced ischemia; 150, spontaneous transient ischemia). There was 100% agreement between the 2 methods for acute infarction, 95% agreement for angioplasty-induced ischemia, and 89% agreement for transient ischemia. EASI and standard 12-lead ECGs are comparable for multiple cardiac diagnoses; however, serial ECG changes (eg, T-wave changes) should be assessed using one consistent 12-lead method.
Learning from experience: Novice and serial immigrant entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley

Despite theoretical arguments for distinguishing between novice and serial entrepreneurs, empirical evidence on their differences remains inconclusive. This paper extends existing research, using a unique dataset of primarily immigrant Silicon Valley entrepreneurs. It finds that serial entrepreneurs displayed higher aspirations, embedded and diverse social networks, reliance on collaborators, access to external finance, and better performance, compared with novice entrepreneurs. Novices performed better with greater access to social capital and when collaborating with co-founders and advisors. Serial entrepreneurs reported higher performance when working alone. These findings contribute toward advancing our understanding of the value of experience on entrepreneurship, with theoretical and practical implications.
Bounding box techniques to initializeoptimization of primitive geometry fitting

Abstract Developments in manufacturing techniques have beenheavily dependent on the ability to characterize the process through measuring and analyzing the produced part. This is especially important for new manufacturing processes that are still in the early stages of development, such as MEMS fabrication. Metrology techniques (that is, tomography, interferometry) are used on these parts to gather 3-D point cloud data. The data are then analyzed and compared with the original design. Many engineered components can be analyzed by fitting primitives to the point cloud using nonlinear least-squares minimization. The minimizer requires a starting-point (initial guess) that does not lead to a local minimum (an incorrect solution). This paper will present numerical methods that use bounding box strategies for obtaining initial estimates for the iterative least-squares fitting of analytic primitives (plane, torus, and the specific quadrics of sphere, right circular cone, and right circular cylinder) to point cloud data.
Fertility effects of abortion and birth control pill access for minors.

This article empirically assesses whether age-restricted access to abortion and the birth control pill influence minors’ fertility in the United States. There is not a strong consensus in previous literature regarding the relationship between laws restricting minors’ access to abortion and minors’ birthrates. This is the first study to recognize that state laws in place prior to the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision enabled minors to legally consent to surgical treatment—including abortion—in some states but not in others, and to construct abortion access variables reflecting this. In this article, age-specific policy variables measure either a minor’s legal ability to obtain an abortion or to obtain the birth control pill without parental involvement. I find fairly strong evidence that young women’s birthrates dropped as a result of abortion access as well as evidence that birth control pill access led to a drop in birthrates among whites.
Targeted Anticytokine Therapy and the Failing Heart

Recent studies have identified the importance of proinflammatory mediators in the development and progression of chronic heart failure (CHF). The growing appreciation of the pathophysiologic consequences of sustained expression of proinflammatory mediators in preclinical and clinical CHF models culminated in a series of multicenter clinical trials that used targeted approaches to neutralize tumor necrosis factor in patients with moderate-to-advanced CHF. However, these targeted approaches have resulted in worsening CHF, thereby raising a number of important questions about what role, if any, proinflammatory cytokines play in the pathogenesis of CHF. This review summarizes what has been learned from the negative clinical trials, as well as the potential direction of future research in this area.
Trends in snow level elevation in the mountains of central Arizona

Trends in daily mountain snow levels over two key watersheds in central Arizona were established for the last 70 years. Snowfall levels were approximated using two methods: (1) an empirical method based on daily snowfall and precipitation data from an array of National Weather Service Cooperative (COOP) Network stations at a range of elevations, and (2) a theoretical method based on the calculation of the wet-bulb zero (WBZ) height using nearby rawindsonde atmospheric profile data. A trend towards a higher WBZ height since water year 1960 is evident, as is a highly significant trend in the percentage of days in which the snow level was above stations with elevations between 1095 and 2166 m since water year 1934. The two snow level variables are significantly positively related to air temperature. This could be problematic in a region where the population is dependent upon the efficiency of snow in generating runoff for replenishing ground and surface water supplies. Copyright © 2009 Royal Meteorological Society
AN ABELIAN MODEL OF GRAVITY AND CANONICAL QUANTIZATION BY MEANS OF PATH INTEGRALS

An Abelian model of gravity is introduced and its constraint structure is obtained. The main task is to show that the model with constraints can be canonically quantized by means of the canonical path integral formalism using the Faddeev–Popov approach. It is shown how the path integral can be simplified by carrying out the integrals over those variables for which the integrals can be computed.
Evaluation of the bioremediation of a contaminated soil with phytotoxicity tests

Abstract The fungal remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in contaminated soil from a hazardous waste site was evaluated in a pilot-scale treatability study. Higher plants were selected to evaluate the overall reduction in toxicity in the soil after fungal treatment because toxicity of a complex chemical mixture often is not easily measured by chemical analyses and disappearance of parent compounds may not indicate detoxification of the soil. Seed germination tests using soil samples and root elongation tests using soil eluates were conducted with three different species (lettuce, oat, and millet) before and after treatment. Phytotoxicity tests revealed significant detoxification of the soil after treatment with a good correlation with parent compound depletion. The seed germination test appeared to be more sensitive than the root elongation test, suggesting that the toxic compounds were not easily extracted from the soil to the aqueous solution. This study indicates that phytotoxicity tests have good potential to be used as an environmental tool to assess the efficacy of a remediation technology for site clean-up.
Enhancing Mental Health Service Delivery to Ethnically Diverse Populations: Introduction to the Special Series

The American Psychological Association's adoption of guidelines for providing psychological services to diverse populations and the enactment by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) of regulations that required the representation of women and ethnic minorities in NIH-funded research projects called attention to the need to improve mental health services for ethnically diverse populations. This special series illustrates the relevance of cultural and ethnic factors in addressing contemporary mental health needs and the role of these factors in the work of clinicians who serve ethnically diverse clinical populations. The articles comprising the series examine the mental health dimensions of five contemporary clinical practice issues: HIV/AIDS, eating disorders, hate crimes, folk healing, and youth at high risk for drug abuse.
RETHINKING THE INTERORGANIZATIONAL ENVIRONMENTS OF PUBLIC ORGANIZATIONS

The authors suggest that most existing attempts to classify interorganiza-tional environments are founded on inappropriate assumptions concerning human action, particularly when such frameworks are applied to public-sector settings. Proceeding from that contention, the authors apply the concepts of referent organizations and rule sets to develop an alternative typology of interorganizational environments. The resulting matrix suggests four distinct types of interorganizational environments: (1) the natural market, (2) the structured market, (3) the bureaucratic environment, and (4) the associative environment. An examination of these environments and their relevance for public-sector organizations suggests that rule-based conceptions of interorganizational action that take into account the role of referent organizations are more consistent with traditional democratic theory than are purely market-based conceptions of action. The alternative framework presented in this paper also has useful implications for both practical public administration, and especially for general concepts of public policy.
Simulation of Agricultural Management Alternatives for Watershed Protection

The Bosque River Watershed in Texas is facing a suite of water quality issues including excess sediment, nutrient, and bacteria. The sources of the pollutants are improperly managed cropland and grazing land, dairy manure application, and effluent discharge from wastewater treatment facilities. Several best management practices (BMPs) have been proposed for pollution reduction and watershed protection. The overall objectives of this study were to demonstrate a modeling approach using Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model to simulate various BMPs and assess their long-term impacts on sediment and nutrient loads at different spatial levels. The SWAT model was calibrated and validated for long-term annual and monthly flows at Valley Mills and for monthly sediment, total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) at Hico and Valley Mills monitoring locations. The BMPs including streambank stabilization, gully plugs, recharge structures, conservation tillage, terraces, contour farming, manure incorporation, filter strips, and PL-566 reservoirs were simulated in the watershed areas that met the respective practice’s specific criteria for implementation. These BMPs were represented in the pre- and post-conditions by modifying one or more channel parameters (channel cover, erodibility, Manning’s n), curve number (CN), support practice factor (P-factor), filter strip width, and tillage parameters (mixing efficiency, mixing depth). The BMPs were simulated individually and the resulting Hydrologic Response Units (HRUs), subwatershed, and watershed level impacts were quantified for each BMP. Sensitivity of model output values to input parameters used to represent the BMPs was also evaluated. Implementing individual BMPs reduced sediment loads from 3% to 37% and TN loads from 1% to 24% at the watershed outlet; however, the changes in TP loads ranged from 3% increase to 30% decrease. Higher reductions were simulated at the subwatershed and HRU levels. Among the parameters analyzed for sensitivity, P-factor and CN were most sensitive followed by Manning’s n. The TN and TP outputs were not sensitive to channel cover. This study showed that the SWAT modeling approach could be used to simulate and assess the effectiveness of agricultural best management practices.
Diabetes, pancreatic cancer, and metformin therapy

Pancreatic cancer carries a poor prognosis as most patients present with advanced disease and preferred chemotherapy regimens offer only modest effects on survival. Risk factors include smoking, obesity, heavy alcohol, and chronic pancreatitis. Pancreatic cancer has a complex relationship with diabetes, as diabetes can be both a risk factor for pancreatic cancer and a result of pancreatic cancer. Insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and certain hormones play an important role in promoting neoplasia in diabetics. Metformin appears to reduce risk for pancreatic cancer and improve survival in diabetics with pancreatic cancer primarily by decreasing insulin/IGF signaling, disrupting mitochondrial respiration, and inhibiting the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. Other potential anti-tumorigenic effects of metformin include the ability to downregulate specificity protein transcription factors and associated genes, alter microRNAs, decrease cancer stem cell proliferation, and reduce DNA damage and inflammation. Here, we review the most recent knowledge on risk factors and treatment of pancreatic cancer and the relationship between diabetes, pancreatic cancer, and metformin as a potential therapy.
Efficient Jacobian inversion for the control of simple robot manipulators

Symbolic inversion of the Jacobian matrix for spherical wrist arms is investigated. It is shown that, taking advantage of the simple geometry of these arms, the closed-form solution of the system Q=J/sup -1/X, representing a transformation from task space to joint space, can be obtained very efficiently. The solutions for PUMA and Stanford arms and a six-revolute-joint coplanar arm, along with all singular points, are presented. The solution for each joint variable is found as an explicit function of the singular points which provided a better insight into the effect of different singular investigated points on the motion and force exertion of each individual joint. For the arms investigated, the computation cost of the solution is the same order as the cost of forward kinematic solution and it is significantly reduced if a forward kinematic solution is already obtained. A comparison with previous methods shows that this method is the most efficient to date. >
Modeling and performance evaluation of multiprocessor systems for real-time nonlinear robot control

The implementation of a nonlinear control algorithm in multiprocessor systems is addressed. A single bus structure and a multiport structure are proposed for real-time computation. The computing task is decomposed into a reasonable number of subtasks by considering both the execution and the communication time of subtasks. In order to deal with the real-time performance, the models of multiprocessor systems with single-bus and multiport-memory architectures are established using Markovian birth-death queuing models. The intercommunication time can thus be estimated using analytical formulas. On the basis of the estimated intercommunication time and task execution time, the necessary number of processors in the multiprocessor system for a specific real-time robot control algorithm can be estimated. >
Trail induces cell migration and invasion in apoptosis-resistant cholangiocarcinoma cells

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a promising agent for cancer therapy; however, many cholangiocarcinoma cells are resistant to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. Resistance...
An Anti-Sadducee Polemic in the Palestinian Targum Tradition

The literature of the rabbis in its many volumes stands before the student of the rabbinic period as a resource of enlightenment and a source of frustration. A vast treasure of haggadic materials which would be invaluable to the historian of the period is too often rendered inaccessible by difficulties in dating and localizing traditions. Even when traditions are associated with particular rabbis, multiple attributions and major variants engender extreme caution if not despair in the literary critic and historian. When traditions are unattributed in a literature which has developed over centuries as is the case with the Targums, the problems are magnified.
MAPGEN: mixed-initiative planning and scheduling for the Mars Exploration Rover mission

The Mars Exploration Rover mission is one of NASA's most ambitious science missions to date. Launched in the summer of 2003, each rover carries instruments for conducting remote and in site observations to elucidate the planet's past climate, water activity, and habitability. Science is MER's primary driver, so making best use of the scientific instruments, within the available resources, is a crucial aspect of the mission. To address this criticality, the MER project team selected MAPGEN (mixed initiative activity plan generator) as an activity-planning tool. MAPGEN combines two existing systems, each with a strong heritage: the APGEN activity-planning tool from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the Europa planning and scheduling system from NASA Ames Research Center. We discuss the issues arising from combining these tools in this mission's context. MAPGEN is the first AI-based system to control a space platform on another planet's surface.
Evaluation of lymphatic metastasis using calcium phosphate/cisplatin nanoconjugates

A new targeted therapy has been developed to deliver chemotherapy directly to the lymph nodes for treatment of lymphatic metastasis. Localization of the treatment was accomplished by using calcium phosphate (CaP) nanoparticles as the delivery vehicle. The CaP-nanoconjugates, with adsorbed chemotherapy on the particle exterior, were injected into mouse primary tumors known to metastasize to the draining lymph node. Systemically treated mice were used as controls (cisplatin given intraperioneally). Fourteen days after treatment, the draining lymph nodes were collected and analyzed for the presence of metastasis using a clonogenic assay. Results show that CaP-nanoconjugates are as effective as conventional systemic therapy while exhibiting less toxic side-effects.
Controlling for overdispersion in grouped conditional logit models: A computationally simple application of Dirichlet-multinomial regression

Summary In this article, we provide a random utility-based derivation of the Dirichlet multinomial regression and propose it as a convenient alternative for dealing with overdispersed multinomial data. We show that this model is a natural extension of McFadden's conditional logit for grouped data and discuss its relationship with count models. Finally, we use a data set on patient choice of hospitals to illustrate an application of the Dirichlet-multinomial regression.
Posterior cruciate ligamentreconstruction using autogenous central quadriceps tendon

Abstract As with many other arthroscopic procedures, arthroscopically assisted reconstruction of the posterior cruciateligament (PCL) is a procedure in evolution. Many techniques require an incision over the medial femoral condyle for creation of an outside-in femoral tunnel. This dissection may cause injury to the vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) and slow the recovery of the quadriceps function. The ideal graft for this procedure causes minimal harvest morbidity, has strength equal to native PCL, allows aperture fixation at normal attachments sites, rapidly incorporates into the bone tunnels, is amenable to passage within the small confines of the knee joint, and reproduces normal kinematic loading within the knee joint. Our current graft of choice is an autogenous central third quadriceps tendon graft, which has a soft-tissue collagen component much larger than that of the patellar tendon. This graft has acceptable harvest morbidity and provides both a bony end and a tendinous end for easier passage within the knee joint. We present a technique for arthroscopically assisted PCL reconstruction in which the femoral tunnel is made with an inside-out technique. This minimizes injury to the VMO and also removes less bone from the medial femoral condyle, potentially reducing the risks of fracture and avascular necrosis risks. Additionally, aperture fixation of the graft allows for increased mechanical properties at time zero.
The Physiological Ecology of the Zebra Mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, in North America and Europe

Synopsis. The zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas), was intro? duced into North America in 1986. Initial North American (N.A.) studies suggested that physiological responses varied between N.A. and European populations. However, literature review indicates agreement on most as? pects of physiological adaptation including: respiratory responses; hypoxia/anoxia tolerance; salinity limits; emersion tolerance; freezing resis? tance; environmental pH limits; calcium limits; starvation responses; and bioenergetic partitioning. The main differences among N.A. and European mussels appear to be elevated upper thermal limits and temperatures for optimum growth among N.A. populations. N.A. zebra mussels probably originated from the northern shore of the Black Sea in the warmest por? tion of the mussel's European range. However, most European physio? logical data come from northern Europe where populations may be adapt? ed to colder temperatures. Alternatively, N.A. research suggests that mus? sels may have a capacity for seasonal temperature acclimatization such that responses recorded in warmer N.A. waters may be different from those recorded in northern Europe even after short-term laboratory accli? mation. Studies of genetic variation and physiological response among European and N.A. D. polymorpha populations are required to elucidate the basis for physiological differentiation. Recently evolved D. polymor? pha has poor resistance adaptations compared to unionacean and sphaeriid bivalves with longer freshwater fossil histories. Poor resistance adapta? tions make it less suited for stable habitats, instead, its high fecundities, early maturity, and rapid growth are adaptations to unstable habitats where extensive resistance adaptations are of little value.
Foot-in-Wallet Disease: Tripped Up by “Cost-Saving” Reductions?

In the U.S., podiatric medical services are considered to be optional under Medicaid statutes, with an underlying assumption that these services are elective and can be performed by other providers. It may have been easily anticipated, therefore, that podiatric services were often included in line-item cuts in a number of state budgets under the recent period of economic austerity. Given this, the current research report used Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) inpatient discharge records spanning 2006–2011 to assess changes in inpatient hospitalizations associated with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) among adult beneficiaries of Arizona Medicaid (Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System [AHCCCS]) following the October 2009 announcement of coverage cancellation to podiatric physicians intended to reduce costs (i.e., $351,000 saved from the $8.7 billion general fund, SB1003 and HB2003 within the …
Neonatal Hemophilus vaginalis (Corynebacterium vaginalis) Infection

Two cases of neonatal Hemophilus vagi nalis (Corynebacterium vaginalis) infection are presented. In addition, eight recent neonatal-maternal cases have been sum marized. The data obtained from these cases strongly suggest that the organism is a matemal, fetal and neonatal pathogen. Measures which promote successful isola tion and identification are outlined.
When Will College Truly Leave the Building: If MOOCs Are the Answer, What Is the Question?

The Internet has disrupted or threatened to disrupt the traditional business models in many different areas, including publishing, record companies, retail sales, motion pictures, and advertising. ...
Oscillatory motions of circular disks and nearly spherical particles in viscous flows

Oscillatory translational and rotational motions of small particles in viscous fluids are studied for two cases: (i) circular disks and (ii) nearly spherical particles. For circular disks, four motions are treated: broadside and edgewise oscillatory translations and out-of-plane and in-plane oscillatory rotations. In each case the unsteady Stokes equations are reduced to dual integral equations and solved exactly for all frequencies. Streamline portraits of the flow fields are used to understand the evolution of the velocity and pressure fields. The motions of nearly spherical particles are then studied using the reciprocal theorem. Asymptotic formulae for the hydrodynamic resistance tensors are derived and discussed.
Refracture of the Clavicle in an Infant: Case Report and Review of Clavicle Fractures in Children

Perinatal clavicle fractures typically heal without complication, and subsequent refracture of the same clavicle during infancy or toddlerhood has not been reported. This is a case report of a fracture of the clavicle in a 9-month-old child who had previously suffered a fracture of the same clavicle at birth. A review of the evaluation and management of neonatal and post-neonatal clavicle fractures is also presented.
Matching the Message to the Medium

This article reports the results of an experiment that varies whether respondents are informed that they will receive a reminder email if they fail to complete an Internet questionnaire. The findings show that informing respondents about impending reminder emails effectively increases Internet survey response rates. Moreover, this method increases the representativeness of the study without negatively affecting data quality.
Prenatal Development of the Visual System in Rhesus Monkey

Autoradiographic evidence from juvenile rhesus monkeys that had been exposed to a pulse of [3H]thymidine at different embryonic (E) and early postnatal (P) days indicates that all neurons which compose the visual system of this primate have been generated two months before birth. The first retinal ganglion cells (RGC) are generated around E30 preceding by a few days the onset of genesis of neurones destined for the dorsal lateral geniculate body (LGd) and superior colliculus (SC) both of which begin at E36. Production of neurons destined for the primary visual cortex (area 17) begins at approximately E43 and ends by E102. Neurons destined for layer IV, the major target of axons from the LGd, are generated between E70 and E85. The prenatal development of visual connections was studied by the autoradiographic method of anterograde axoplasmic transport in foetuses killed 14 days after unilateral eye injection of a mixture of [3H]proline and [3H]fucose. Initially, in the LGd and in the SC projections from both eyes overlap. Segregation of the axons and/or terminals from the two eyes occurs in the LGd and SC during the middle period of gestation. Transneuronal transport of tritium shows that although LGd axons form the optic radiation before E78, these fibres do not yet enter the developing cortical plate at this foetal age. During the second half of gestation, geniculocortical axons carrying input from each eye invade the cortex but are not yet segregated into ocular dominance columns. Rather, grains are distributed uniformly over the entire layer IV at E124. Three weeks before birth, at E144, segregation of afferents into sublayers IVA and IVC is apparent, and the first hint of ocular dominance columns is displayed by slight differences in grain counts in alternating areas of layer IV. These results show that all neurons in the primate visual system have been generated, reached their final positions and formed their basic connections subserving ocular dominance before birth, i.e. before visual experience. In the SC and LGD, monocular segregation is well established during the middle period of gestation, whereas in the cortex it has begun, but is not fully developed at birth.
Hodograph Variability within Analytically Modeled, Synoptic-Scale, Baroclinic Systems

Although the relationship between the behavior of convective storms and their environmental vertical wind shear has been examined using proximity soundings and idealized numerical modeling experiments, the manner in which the vertical shear profiles, as visualized by hodographs, is regulated by the larger-scale baroclinic wave structure has not been considered in detail. To examine this synoptic-scale dependence, a relatively simple, analytic model for baroclinic systems in midlatitudes having exact solutions for a frictionless, quasigeostrophic atmosphere is employed. The analytical model consists of a checkerboard of high and low pressure areas at 1000 mb, hydrostatically modulated above by a mean meridional temperature gradient and a checkerboard of warm and cold centers at 1000 mb. Aloft, the model atmosphere consists of a zonally oriented wave train. This approach allows a systematic examination of the dependence of hodographs on the following five synoptic-scale parameters included in the model: 1) mean meridional temperature gradient, 2) system wavelength, 3) phase lag between the height and temperature fields at 1000 mb, 4) magnitude of the temperature perturbation associated with the checkerboard of warm and cold centers at 1000 mb, and 5) magnitude of the 1000-mb height perturbation. It is seen that the phase lag between the height and temperature fields and the system wavelength have the greatest quantitative influence on the relative contribution of the ageostrophic wind component to the total wind. These two parameters are associated with significant clockwise curvature with height in the hodograph of the total wind, particularly if the deep-layer ageostrophic wind shear is oriented perpendicular and to the right of the geostrophic shear. Hodograph curvature, however, is not ubiquitous in the model, and despite the model’s simplicity, likely speaks to the importance of features departing from the model, mesoscale variability, and boundary layer friction in enhancing hodograph curvature.
Tongue electrical impedance in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis modeled using the finite element method

Abstract Objective Electrical impedance myography (EIM) of the tongue has demonstrated alterations in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) compared to normal subjects. Whether these differences are due to reduced tongue size or diseased-associated alterations in the electrical characteristics of intrinsic tongue muscles is uncertain. Methods We employed computer simulations using the finite element method, inputting data from healthy and ALS mouse muscle, to help answer that question, comparing our modeled results to human data. Results The models revealed that much of the electrical current flows superficially in the tongue and that tongue thickness only begins to have a major impact on the measured impedance when substantial atrophy is present. Modeled values paralleled the human tongue data. Conclusions These findings suggest that the observed changes in tongue impedance in ALS are mainly due to alterations in the electrical properties of the tongue and are not a mere consequence of tongue volume loss. Significance Further development of EIM for evaluation of bulbar dysfunction in ALS may provide useful information on drug efficacy and could serve as a biomarker in future clinical trials.
Device success and 30-day clinical outcome in patients undergoing preimplant valvuloplasty in transfemoral versus omitting valvuloplasty in transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement

Abstract Objectives The study objective was to evaluate the impact of preimplantation balloon valvuloplasty on procedural outcomes in high-risk or no-option patients with aortic stenosis undergoing Edwards Lifesciences (Irvine, Calif) Sapien valve placement. Paravalvular aortic regurgitation has been associated with long-term mortality after transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Whether omitting preimplant balloon valvuloplasty affects paravalvular aortic regurgitation after Edwards Sapien transcatheter aortic valve replacement is currently unknown. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical outcome of 121 consecutive patients undergoing transapical (N = 50) or transfemoral (N = 71) Edwards Sapien transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Routinely, no preimplant balloon valvuloplasty was performed in transapical procedure as opposed to uniform preimplant balloon valvuloplasty in transfemoral cases. The incidence and severity of total and paravalvular aortic regurgitation and 30-day clinical outcomes were compared between the 2 cohorts. Results The average patient's age was 84.4 years, with a higher prevalence of smoking history (68% vs 42%, P = .005) and peripheral vascular disease (38% vs 20%, P = .03) in the patients undergoing transapical replacement. The preprocedural transthoracic echocardiographic and computed tomography findings were similar between the 2 cohorts. After transcatheter aortic valve replacement, the incidence of mild to moderate total aortic regurgitation (42% transfemoral vs 38% transapical), paravalvular aortic regurgitation (39% transfemoral vs 30% transapical), device success (88.7% transfemoral vs 94.0% transapical), and 30-day composite end points (9.9% transfemoral vs 14.0% transapical) were comparable in both groups. Multivariate regression analysis revealed male gender (odds ratio, 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.18-6.35; P = .02) but not preimplant balloon valvuloplasty as an independent predictor for mild or greater total aortic regurgitation. Conclusions Compared with transapical transcatheter aortic valve replacement without preimplant balloon valvuloplasty, preimplant balloon valvuloplasty before transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement resulted in a similar degree of prosthesis-related regurgitation, device success, and 30-day composite safety outcomes.
A Mathematical Equation to Calculate Stock Price of Different Growth Model

This paper presents an equation mathematically derived by using discounted cash flow method. This equation has several advantages. It is easy to use. It can be used for all the three popular models. It can be programed into calculator or electronic spreadsheet. It is more versatile than the traditional methods even when a particular stage is lengthy.
Stable intracavity-frequency-doubled green laser

Intracavity-frequency-doubled diode-pumped lasers are attractive sources of visible light. Unfortunately, the coupled nonlinearities of spatial hole burning and nonlinear output coupling lead to amplitude instabilities in simple standing wave lasers.1 Unidirectional lasing in a ring resonator eliminates spatial hole burning and allows stable intracavity generation of frequency-doubled radiation.
Characterization of a Y1-preferring NPY/PYY receptor in HT-29 cells

Equilibrium binding studies showed that butyrate-treated HT-29 cells express a high-affinity 125I-labeled peptide YY (125I-PYY) binding site with a dissociation constant of 0.32 +/- 0.12 nM (mean +/- SE, n = 4). This site was Y1 preferring because neuropeptide Y (NPY) and the Y1-selective agonist [Leu31,Pro34]NPY were equipotent to PYY at displacing 125I-PYY; PYY-(13-36) and pancreatic polypeptide were > 1,000- and 10,000-fold less potent at displacing the radioligand. PYY and [Leu31,Pro34]NPY inhibited forskolin-stimulated adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate production 63% and 48%, respectively, with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration between 0.1 and 1.0 nM. PYY and [Leu31,Pro34]NPY had no effect on release of intracellular calcium alone or on the increase in intracellular calcium concentration caused by carbachol or neurotensin. Northern blot analysis of poly(A)+ RNA from HT-29 cells demonstrated a single transcript of 2.5 kb that hybridized to a human Y1-receptor cDNA probe. Sequence analysis of a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction product amplified with primers based on human Y1-receptor cDNA confirmed that these cells contained mRNA encoding the human Y1 receptor. These studies show that butyrate-treated HT-29 cells constitutively express the Y1-preferring NPY/PYY receptor and Y1 mRNA and provide a new model for studies of PYY-regulated epithelial cell function and tissue-specific expression of the human Y1-receptor gene.
A Novel Approach to Apply Gait Synchronized External Forces on the Pelvis Using A-TPAD to Reduce Walking Effort

In this letter, we develop an intervention to apply external gait synchronized forces on the pelvis to reduce the user’s effort during walking. A cable-driven robot was used to apply the external forces and an adaptive frequency oscillator scheme was developed to adapt the timing of force actuation to the gait frequency during walking. The external forces were directed in the sagittal plane to assist the trailing leg during the forward propulsion and vertical deceleration of the pelvis during the gait cycle. A pilot experiment with five healthy subjects was conducted. The results showed that the subjects applied lower ground reaction forces in the vertical and anterior–posterior directions during the late stance phase. In summary, the current work provides a novel approach to study the role of external pelvic forces in altering the walking effort. These studies can provide better understanding for designing exoskeletons and prosthetic devices to reduce the overall walking effort.
Contribution of chromospheric features to UV irradiance variability from spatially-resolved Ca II K spectroheliograms

We have digitized the Ca ii K spectroheliograms, observed at the National Solar Observatory at Sacramento Peak, for the period 1980 (maximum of solar cycle 21), 1985 (minimum of solar cycle 21), 1987 (beginning of the ascending phase of solar cycle 22), 1988 and 1989 (ascending phase and maximum of solar cycle 22), and 1992 (declining phase of solar cycle 22). A new method for analyzing the K spectroheliograms has been developed and applied to the K images for the time interval of 1992. Using histograms of intensity, we have segregated and measured the cumulative intensity and area of various chromospheric features like the plages, magnetic network and intranetwork elements. Also, the full width at half maximum (FWHM) derived from the histograms has been introduced as a new index for describing the chromospheric activity in the K-line. The full-disk intensity (spatial K index) has been derived from spatially-resolved K images and compared to the spectral K index derived from the line profiles for the full disk. Both the spatial K index and FWHM have been compared to the UV irradiance measured in the Mg ii h and k lines by the NOAA9 satellite and found that they are highly correlated with the Mg ii h and k c/w ratio.
Flexibility mechanisms in ideal zeolite frameworks

Zeolites are microporous crystalline aluminosilicate materials whose atomic structures can be usefully modelled in purely mechanical terms as stress-free periodic trusses constructed from rigid cor...
Suppression of Thyrotropin (H-TSH) in Serums of Patients with Myxedema of Varying Etiology Treated with Thyroid Hormones

Abstract Patients with myxedema and high thyrotropin (h-TSH) levels were given levothyroxine (l-T4) orally in doses increasing stepwise from 0.025 to 0.2 mg per day at 3-week intervals. The serum h-TSH response was similar regardless of etiology of the myxedema. In all but one patient, h-TSH levels were suppressed to normal at 0.2 mg per day, but at lower doses, many patients still had increased h-TSH levels when total and free T4 levels were normal. h-TSH was correlated with dose of T4 (r equals -0.99), total T4 (r equals -0.99), and free T4 (r equals -1.0). Five patients were given levo-tri-iodothyronine (l-T3) orally in doses increasing each week by 25 μg daily to 100 μg per day; serum h-TSH levels became normal in all patients with 100 μg per day but not with 75 μg per day. For T3 suppression tests, 75 μg per day is not sufficient for routine use. Serum h-TSH levels appear to offer the best means of diagnosing hypothyroidism and assessing adequacy of thyroid-hormone therapy.
Fatigue damage evolution in woven fabric composites

Fatigue testing of 5-harness satin woven laminates indicates damage in the form of matrix cracking in transverse bundles and internal delamination at the tip of these cracks. These damage entities ...
A molecular phylogenetic assessment of the genus Gyromitra in North America

Gyromitra is a widespread genus of macroscopic apothecial ascomycetes whose taxa may be mycorrhizal, saprophytic or parasitic. Nuclear ribosomal 28S large subunit sequence data from 35 specimens from North America, along with sequences available in GenBank, were used in maximum-parsimony, maximum-likelihood and Bayesian analyses to reconstruct a phylogeny of Gyromitra in North America. Gyromitra sensu lato forms a monophyletic group within the Discinaceae composed of five distinct subgenera and 11 well supported clades that include Discina, Hydnotrya and Pseudorhizina. A new subgenus is proposed to accommodate G. californica and G. sphaerospora.
Social Science–Environmental Health Collaborations An Exciting New Direction

The Social Science-Environmental Health Collaborations Conference in May 2016 was a unique gathering of scholars from the social sciences and environmental health sciences, government agency profes...
The Role of Genetics in the Development of Familial Nonmedullary Thyroid Cancer

The incidence of familial nonmedullary thyroid cancer (FNMTC) is increasing, especially in children. Genetic predisposition clearly plays a role in FNMTC development as evident from syndromes like Carney complex (CNC) or Cowden’s disease (CD) where it frequently develops. However, genes as PRKAR1A or PTEN that are responsible for CNC or CD, respectively, are not frequently mutated in sporadic FNMTC or at least not as frequently as RET mutations are found in medullary thyroid cancer. This chapter focuses on the genetics and management of FNMTC and familial syndromes associated with thyroid cancer and aims at assisting the clinician in recognizing the association of genetic syndromes with FNMTC, as well as stressing the implications of genetic involvement in treatment.