cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A bilevel model formulation for solving a post-hurricane damaged timber management problem

Abstract Among other factors, the softwood industry is disrupted by a large number of hurricanes that landfall in the southern U.S. Lack of efficient tools to manage the wood market interactions in the post-hurricane situation increases timber salvage loss drastically. In this study, we propose a bi-level mixed-integer linear programming model that captures important features such as the hurricane’s degree, quality of damaged timbers, price-related issues, optimizes different critical decisions (e.g., purchasing, storage, and transportation decisions) of a post-hurricane damaged timber management problem. The overall goal is to provide an efficient decision-making tool for planning and recovering damaged timber to maximize its monetary value and mitigate its negative ecological impacts. Due to the complexity associated with solving the proposed model, we developed two exact solution methods, namely, the enhanced Benders decomposition and the Benders-based branch-and-cut algorithms, to efficiently solve the model in a reasonable timeframe. We use 15 coastal counties in southeast Mississippi to visualize and validate the algorithms’ performance. Key managerial insights are drawn on the sensitivity of a number of critical parameters, such as selling/purchasing prices offered by the landowners/mills, quality-level, and deterioration rate of the damaged timbers on their economic recovery following a natural catastrophe.
UNDERSTANDING MEDIA EFFECT: A STUDY OF HOW STUDIES IN PERCEPTION NAILED THE COFFIN ON MAGIC BULLET THEORY

The paper focuses on the magic bullet theory with particular emphasis on the discourse on how studies in perception nailed the coffin on the theory. The powerful effects theory emphasizes on persuasion as the main effect of the mass communication situation. One predominant theory under the all-powerful effect studies is the magic bullet theory which hinges on the assumption that the media are all-powerful that explains that the flow of information from the mass media is always direct and immediate thereby making individuals cognitively passive and helpless in the face of a strong communication. This paper, therefore argues that contrary to the all-powerful hypothesis, media audiences are really active and filter media messages they receive from different media sources. This paper equally identifies relevant theories that contradict the all-powerful such as the individual difference theory, perception studies, social categories theory, two-step flow hypothesis and consonance/dissonance theory. The findings of the discourse are that actually media audiences are indeed, active and react differently to media message. The media only provide subjects for discussion while the audience interprets differently based on demographics.
International Water Disputes: A New Breed of Claims, Claimants, and Settlement Institutions

The challenges facing water resources world-wide stem from a multitude of factors, including the steady increase in population, urbanization, environmental degradation, and industrialization. Those challenges are compounding water shortages, and in turn, resulting in steadily increasing international disputes over water. Such disputes are getting more complex and novel, involving not only states, but also legal entities, corporations, and individuals against other states. The claims now go beyond the traditional water quantity issues, and involve water quality, border lines across boundary rivers, and water rights issues. The settlement institutions have expanded considerably and now include varied international and national tribunals, as well as third and fourth parties. This article reviews and discusses those novel claims, claimants and dispute settlement institutions, and analyzes emerging trends in this area.
Common Law Ideology, Continental Regulatory Principles, and Precautionary Environmental Tools: Lessons from Victorian Britain

Current US-European divisions over the precautionary principle parallel historical gaps between the common law and civil law over the burden of proof needed for state intervention into markets. Yet research into cross-national variation in environmental policy has mostly neglected legal traditions, due partly to the difficulty of reconciling this thesis with evident regulatory variation across common law countries. This paper responds to this challenge by analyzing continental influences on mid-19th-century British public health and environmental reforms, and the significance of common law principles in the claims of their opponents. In particular the paper focuses on the regulatory regime established under the Alkali Acts of 1863, and 1876. The Act, which required technology-based reductions in specified “noxious vapours” from chemical works irrespective of proven harm to health, has correctly been recognized as the harbinger of precautionary regulation in Britain. Historical explanations of this development have focused entirely on domestic factors, entrenching in the process an understanding of the Alkali Act - and Britain more generally - as the origin of centralized precautionary environmental regulation. By contrast, this paper relies on overlooked primary documents to argue that the Alkali Act was directly inspired by French and other continental regulatory models and that the regime it ultimately created constituted a hybrid of continental and common law regulatory principles. Once we understand the Alkali Act regime as partially transplanted from the continent, it becomes easier to reconcile an understanding of precautionary regulation as a civil law instrument with the evident presence of that instrument in Victorian Britain. This in turn, should facilitate greater attention to the influence of legal traditions in studies of national legal styles and comparative environmental politics more generally.
Language Acquisition and Language Assessment

This chapter gives an overview of methods of assessing language acquisition, both first and second. Since language acquisition, as a mental process, cannot be directly measured, researchers use various methodologies to infer acquisition. This chapter covers assessments used with natural production and elicited language samples although many language samples fall in between these categories. When learners have relatively more freedom (e.g., responding to a prompt), assessments often include measures of accuracy, complexity, and fluency as quantitative scores (e.g., 85% accuracy) or as more qualitative holistic scores (e.g., “high-intermediate”). Since some linguistic phenomena are rare in natural production data or can be avoided (consciously or unconsciously) by learners, researchers often try to elicit target language samples. When language samples are gained from such structured elicitation methods, assessments can be based on comprehension data, judgment task data, production data, or introspective data. Comprehension measures may be used to test if the learner understands the presented linguistic stimuli, typically by forced choice of an answer. For very young language learners, comprehension measures often take the form of sensitivity or habituation paradigms. The most common judgment-based measure is when participants (typically second language learners) are asked if a given sentence is grammatical in the target language. Production-based measures may use a prompt which tries to elicit a specific linguistic target. Researchers can also ask learners about their thinking to include introspective data as evidence of language acquisition. Some of the main challenges of assessing language acquisition, including the arbitrariness of acquisition thresholds, the difficulties of operationalizing constructs, and the theoretical issues of knowledge representation, are also discussed. The chapter ends with suggestions about how language acquisition researchers will continue to address these concerns, such as multiple measures, especially with new methodologies available, such as large corpora, computer modeling, and neuroimaging techniques. Keywords: Assessment methods; First language acquisition; Research methods; Second language acquisition
The Lexical Approach: The State of ELT and a Way Forward

1. Background 2. Developing Ideas 3. The Wider Context 4. The Nature of Meaning 5. The Nature of Lexis 6. Lexis in the Syllabus 7. Lexis in Language Teaching 8. Grammar Content in the Lexical Approach 9. Explanation and Practice in the Lexical Approach 10. The Nature of Error 11. Responding to Error 12. The Role for Materials 13. Teaching, Teacher Training and Methodological Implications
REIONIZATION REVISITED: SECONDARY COSMIC MICROWAVE BACKGROUND ANISOTROPIES AND POLARIZATION

Secondary cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies and polarization provide a laboratory for studying structure formation in the reionized epoch. We consider the kinetic Sunyaev-Zeldovich eUect from mildly nonlinear large-scale structure and show that it is a natural extension of the perturbative Vishniac eUect. If the gas traces the dark matter to overdensities of order 10, as expected from simula- tions, this eUect is at least comparable to the Vishniac eUect at arcminute scales. On smaller scales, it can be used to study the thermal historydependent clustering of the gas. Polarization is generated through Thomson scattering of primordial quadrupole anisotropies, kinetic (second-order Doppler) quadrupole anisotropies, and intrinsic-scattering quadrupole anisotropies. Small-scale polarization results from the density and ionization modulation of these sources. These eUects generically produce comparable E- and B-parity polarization, but of negligible amplitude (10~3¨10~2 kK) in adiabatic cold dark matter (CDM) models. However, the primordial and kinetic quadrupoles are observationally comparable at present, so that a null detection of B-polarization would set constraints on the evolution and coherence of the veloc- ity —eld. Conversely, the detection of a cosmological B-polarization even at large angles does not neces- sarily imply the presence of gravity waves or vorticity. For these calculations, we develop an all-sky generalization of the Limber equation that allows for an arbitrary local angular dependence of the source for both scalar and symmetric trace-free tensor —elds on the sky. Subject headings: cosmic microwave backgroundcosmology: theory
Receptor-promoted exocytosis of airway epithelial mucin granules containing a spectrum of adenine nucleotides.

Purinergic regulation of airway innate defence activities is in part achieved by the release of nucleotides from epithelial cells. However, the mechanisms of airway epithelial nucleotide release are poorly understood. We have previously demonstrated that ATP is released from ionomycin-stimulated airway epithelial goblet cells coordinately with mucin exocytosis, suggesting that ATP is released as a co-cargo molecule from mucin-containing granules. We now demonstrate that protease-activated-receptor (PAR) agonists also stimulate the simultaneous release of mucins and ATP from airway epithelial cells. PAR-mediated mucin and ATP release were dependent on intracellular Ca2+ and actin cytoskeleton reorganization since BAPTA AM, cytochalasin D, and inhibitors of Rho and myosin light chain kinases blocked both responses. To test the hypothesis that ATP is co-released with mucin from mucin granules, we measured the nucleotide composition of isolated mucin granules purified based on their MUC5AC and VAMP-8 content by density gradients. Mucin granules contained ATP, but the levels of ADP and AMP within granules exceeded by nearly 10-fold that of ATP. Consistent with this finding, apical secretions from PAR-stimulated cells contained relatively high levels of ADP/AMP, which could not be accounted for solely based on ATP release and hydrolysis. Thus, mucin granules contribute to ATP release and also are a source of extracellular ADP and AMP. Direct release of ADP/AMP from mucin granules is likely to provide a major source of airway surface adenosine to signal in a paracrine faction ciliated cell A2b receptors to activate ion/water secretion and appropriately hydrate goblet cell-released mucins.
Modeling Linkage Disequilibrium and Identifying Recombination Hotspots Using Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism Data

We introduce a new statistical model for patterns of linkage disequilibrium (LD) among multiple SNPs in a population sample. The model overcomes limitations of existing approaches to understanding, summarizing, and interpreting LD by (i) relating patterns of LD directly to the underlying recombination process; (ii) considering all loci simultaneously, rather than pairwise; (iii) avoiding the assumption that LD necessarily has a "block-like" structure; and (iv) being computationally tractable for huge genomic regions (up to complete chromosomes). We examine in detail one natural application of the model: estimation of underlying recombination rates from population data. Using simulation, we show that in the case where recombination is assumed constant across the region of interest, recombination rate estimates based on our model are competitive with the very best of current available methods. More importantly, we demonstrate, on real and simulated data, the potential of the model to help identify and quantify fine-scale variation in recombination rate from population data. We also outline how the model could be useful in other contexts, such as in the development of more efficient haplotype-based methods for LD mapping.
Liquid State Theory of Thermally Driven Segregation of Conformationally Asymmetric Diblock Copolymer Melts

Thermally induced packing correlations and apparent microphase spinodal boundaries are studied for conformationally asymmetric diblock copolymer melts using the “polymer reference interaction site model” (PRISM) theory. Microphase instabilities are deduced from predictions of the collective scattering intensities and are correlated with the degree of conformational mismatch. For diblocks interacting through attractive van der Waals forces, but where the Flory mean field χ-parameter is identically zero, the predictions reveal rich dependencies of the apparent microphase spinodal boundaries on the degree of structural asymmetry between blocks which are consistent with recent polyolefin diblock melt experiments. This demonstrates the importance of the coupling between local packing correlations and attractive interactions, and the fundamental inseparability of enthalpic and entropic contributions to the effective χ-parameter governing miscibility. Length-scale-dependent “effective compositions” above and nea...
Thomas C. Bruneau, Patriots for Profit: Contractors and the Military in US National Security

Thomas Bruneau has written an illuminating book on a topic of critical importance for US national security. Although the 2012 US presidential campaign entered its final stage with scarcely any atte...
The effect of shear thinning and differential viscoelasticity on mixing in a model 2D mixer as determined using FEM with particle tracking

Abstract In order to determine the mechanism of mixing and evaluate its effectiveness in a model mixer, FEM flow profiles generated for a series of purely viscous, shear thinning inelastic and viscoelastic fluids using the techniques previously described in Connelly and Kokini (2003) [31] were used to find trajectories for material points with random initial positions. The mixing mode was shown to be primarily laminar shear using the Manas-Zloczower mixing index [10] . The mixing was analyzed statistically using the segregation scale [5] and cluster distribution index [41] , demonstrating its cyclic nature in the model mixer with the type of rheology studied effecting the period of the cycles. Length of stretch and efficiency of mixing was evaluated using the method of Ottino (1989) [18] . They showed some stretching near the walls but overall the efficiency decayed as t −1 , with the effect of the rheology evident in the speed of the decay and the negative values in the viscoelastic model results.
Structural constraints on learning in the neural network.

Recent research suggests the brain can learn almost any brain-computer interface (BCI) configuration; however, contrasting behavioral evidence from structural learning theory argues that previous e...
The Enzymatic defluorination of fluoroacetate in mouse liver cytosol: The separation of defluorination activity from several glutathione S-transferases of mouse liver

Abstract The liberation of free fluoride ion from fluoroacetate (FAc) proceeds as an enzymecatalyzed dehalogenation reaction in the soluble fractions of several organs of the CFW Swiss mouse. Liver contained the highest FAc defluorinating activity. The enzyme activity in other organs decreased in the order kidney > lung > heart > testes. No activity was detected in the brain. Experiments were designed to characterize and identify the enzyme species responsible for FAc metabolism in liver. Enzyme activity was dependent on the concentration of glutathione (GSH) in the assay mixture, with maximal activity occurring above 5 m m . The dehalogenation of FAc had an apparent K m of 7.0 m m when measured in the presence of a saturating concentration of GSH. An increase in the pH of the assay mixture enhanced fluoride release in both phosphate and borate buffer. The defluorination activity was reduced to negligible levels when stored for 24 h at 4 °C. The addition of either GSH, dithiothreitol, or 2-mercaptoethanol increased stability, with the latter providing protection for greater than 150 h at a concentration of 15 m m . DEAE anion-exchange chromatography separated the defluorinating activity from 90% of the soluble GSH S -transferase activity measured with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. FAc defluorination activity did not bind to a GSH affinity column which selectively separates it from a group of anionic GSH S -transferases. The GSH-dependent enzyme which dehalogenates FAc has unique properties and can be separated from the liver GSH S -transferases previously described in the literature.
A convenient method for the preparation of asialo-GM1

A convenient and efficient procedure has been devised for the large-scale preparation of asialo-GM1 from bovine brain gangliosides. The procedure relies on the complete desialylation of brain ganglio-sides, consisting primarily of GM1, GD1a, GD1b and GT1b, by mild formic acid hydrolysis (0.1 N, 100 C; 2 hr). Following the hydrolysis step, asialo-GM1 can be isolated and purified by Folch partitioning and Iatrobeads column chromatography, with an overall yield of more than 50%.
The Education and Re-Education of Foreign Language Teachers

THOUSANDS of foreign language teachers, some just graduating from college, have been applying at NDEA institutes where they can be retrained. The federal government spends seven and a quarter million dollars each year to do this. It has occurred to more than one of us that if the teachers were prepared properly in the first place, this remedial work would not be necessary. Directors of NDEA institutes are often shocked by the low level of proficiency of applicants, particularly in speaking and listening comprehension. Transcripts showing superior grades in undergraduate and graduate work reveal nothing about the candidates' ability to speak or even understand the spoken language. Indeed, some of the applicants who receive A in phonetics courses prove to be proficient only in writing phonetic transcriptions and reciting rules; not much importance is given to their actual performance in the language. The phonetics course is traditionally offered late in the students' program so that it becomes a course in remedial pronunciation. One of the juniors in my course in professional preparation said that she had just discovered that there were two pronunciations of the Spanish d. Yet all her grades in the beginning and intermediate language courses were high. She had apparently been graded primarily on her ability to read and write the language, even in her courses in conversation! Often the modern language departments attack schools of education on the grounds that not enough hours of language are required for certification. Yet when educators ask specifically which courses should be added to the teacher education program, the recommendation is more courses in 18th century French or Spanish poetry which consist of lectures in English. These courses are valuable for a romance language teacher's background, but they do not solve the immediate problem of producing FLES and secondary school teachers who can serve as models in classes where near-native pronunciation is demanded. In large universities the administrative problems of coordinating from ten to twenty elementary sections can be very difficult. Graduate assistants, many of whom have never taught before, cannot receive the supervision they need. Some of the senior faculty members whose chief interest is in literary research, often consider the assignment of a beginning language class an onerous task. We are fortunate that several members of our
Climate–Streamflow Linkages in the North-Central Rocky Mountains: Implications for a Changing Climate

Water, already a scarce resource in the semiarid Western United States, has become increasingly threatened due to population growth pressures, natural climate variability, and the prospect of futur...
Is Culture Independent of National Security?: How America's National Security Concerns Shaped `Political Culture' Research

The dominant, positivist, approach to the study of culture and national security specifies `culture' as an independent variable. It assumes that culture, and the study of culture, are uncontaminated by the politics of national security. This formulation contrasts with the dominant understanding of `culture' in the humanities, where culture and power are viewed as constituting a `nexus', and where politics is claimed to shape cultural knowledge, including knowledge about culture, as much as the other way around. I demonstrate the utility of the `nexus' approach by exploring the origins of Gabriel Almond's `political culture' research. I show that Almond built on ideas that originated in national security work, that he enjoyed an intimate relationship with national security agencies, that his scholarship tracked US foreign policy concerns, and that it was part of a broader Cold War cultural formation. `Political culture', thus, was not pure of the politics of national security. I conclude by raising some qu...
Jigsaw phase III: a miniaturized airborne 3-D imaging laser radar with photon-counting sensitivity for foliage penetration

Jigsaw three-dimensional (3D) imaging laser radar is a compact, light-weight system for imaging highly obscured targets through dense foliage semi-autonomously from an unmanned aircraft. The Jigsaw system uses a gimbaled sensor operating in a spot light mode to laser illuminate a cued target, and autonomously capture and produce the 3D image of hidden targets under trees at high 3D voxel resolution. With our MIT Lincoln Laboratory team members, the sensor system has been integrated into a geo-referenced 12-inch gimbal, and used in airborne data collections from a UH-1 manned helicopter, which served as a surrogate platform for the purpose of data collection and system validation. In this paper, we discuss the results from the ground integration and testing of the system, and the results from UH-1 flight data collections. We also discuss the performance results of the system obtained using ladar calibration targets.
Multisensory integration for odor tracking by flying Drosophila: behavior, circuits and speculation

Many see fruit flies as an annoyance, invading our homes with a nagging persistence and efficiency. Yet from a scientific perspective, these tiny animals are a wonder of multisensory integration, capable of tracking fragmented odor plumes amidst turbulent winds and constantly varying visual conditions. The peripheral olfactory, mechanosensory, and visual systems of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, have been studied in great detail;1-4 however, the mechanisms by which fly brains integrate information from multiple sensory modalities to facilitate robust odor tracking remain elusive. Our studies on olfactory orientation by flying flies reveal that these animals do not simply follow their "nose"; rather, fruit flies require mechanosensory and visual input to track odors in flight.5,6 Collectively, these results shed light on the neural circuits involved in odor localization by fruit flies in the wild and illuminate the elegant complexity underlying a behavior to which the annoyed and amazed are familiar.
Immunochemical studies of the interaction between myelin basic protein and S-100 protein.

— The formation of a complex between myelin basic protein and S-100 protein was detected from the change in migration of S-100 protein on immunoelectrophoresis. A degree of specificity for the interaction was shown by two observations: (1) two other pure acidic proteins. III-III-2 and bovine serum albumin, did not show it and (2) complex formation was dependent on specific ions, either Ca2+ (10 mM) or Mn2+ (1 mM). Mg2+, Ba2+, and Li+ had no effect. Non-specific interactions between S-100 protein and other basic molecules (histones. polylysine) are not dependent on specific ions such as Ca2+ and Mn2+. The complex was stable at physiological salt concentrations and contained 3 mol of basic protein per mol of S-100 protein. Complex formation was also detected from the alteration of migration rate of S-100 protein in polyacrylamide gels. Serological activity (complement-fixation) of S-100 protein with anti-S-100 serum was reduced in the complex by 30%.
How to Systematically Review the Medical Literature

In contrast to traditional narrative reviews, systematic reviews are true hypothesis-driven research. Meta-analysis is a form of systematic review in which studies are selected and combined by use of a predefined protocol to reduce bias and subjectivity. A sensitivity analysis shows how results vary through the use of different assumptions, tests, and criteria. The most valid synthesis of information occurs when published and unpublished materials are subjected to the same rigorous evaluation and when results are calculated with and without unpublished sources of data. A good systematic review captures the reader's attention through a skillful blend of numbers and narrative and qualifies for publication as original research in a peer-reviewed journal. Otolaryngologists have published systematic reviews of varying quality since 1990. This article should help improve the quality and validity of future efforts.
Sexually Dimorphic Features of Vermis Morphology in Bipolar Disorder

Objectives The cerebellar vermis is increasingly implicated in bipolar disorder (BD). In this study, we investigated vermis morphology in BD using a quantitative volumetric analysis.
Legged robot locomotion and gymnastics

The learning and control space of real-world autonomous agents are often many-dimensional, growing, and unbounded in nature. Such agents exhibit adaptive, incremental, exploratory, and sometimes explosive learning behaviors. Learning in adaptive neurofuzzy control, however, is often referred to as global training with a large set of random examples and a very low learning rate. This type of controller is not reorganizable; it cannot explain exploratory learning behaviors as exhibited by human and animal species. A theory of coordinated computational intelligence (CCI) is proposed in this paper which leads to a reorganizable multiagent cerebellar architecture for intelligent control. The architecture is based on the hypotheses that (1) a cerebellar system consists of a school of relatively simple and cognitively identifiable semiautonomous neurofuzzy agents; (2) autonomous control is the result of cerebellar agent fine-tuning and coordination rather than complicate computation; and (3) learning is accomplished via individual cerebellar agent learning and coordinated discovery in a learning-tuning-brainstorming process. Agent oriented decomposition and coordination algorithms are introduced; necessary and sufficient conditions are established for cerebellar agent discovery and common sense cerebellar motion law discovery. Nesting, safety, layering, and autonomy-four principles are analytically formulated for the reorganization of neurofuzzy agents.
Noninvasive electrocardiographic imaging (ECGI): application of the generalized minimal residual (GMRes) method.

Electrocardiographic imaging (ECGI) is a developing imaging modality for cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias. It reconstructs epicardial potentials, electrograms, and isochrones from electrocardiographic body-surface potentials noninvasively. Current ECGI methodology employs Tikhonov regularization, which imposes constraints on the reconstructed potentials or their derivatives. This approach can sometimes reduce spatial resolution by smoothing the solution. Accuracy depends on a priori knowledge of solution characteristics and determination of an optimal regularization parameter. These properties led us to implement an independent, iterative approach for ECGI--the generalized minimal residual (GMRes) method--which does not apply constraints. GMRes was applied to experimental data during activation/repolarization of normal and infarcted hearts. GMRes reconstructions were compared to Tikhonov reconstructions and to measured "gold standards" in isolated hearts. Overall, the accuracy of GMRes solutions was similar to Tikhonov regularization. However, in certain cases GMRes recovered localized potential features (e.g., multiple potential minima), which were lost in the Tikhonov solution. Simultaneous use of these two complementary methods in clinical ECGI will ensure reliability and maximal extraction of diagnostic information in the absence of a priori information about a patient's condition.
The Performance of the Braunwald-Cutter Aortic Prosthetic Valve

Abstract Four hundred seventy-five patients underwent aortic valve replacement with the Braunwald-Cutter ball-valve prosthesis at two institutions. The early (30-day) hospital mortality was 4.7% for those with isolated aortic valve replacement and 6.9% for the entire group. For the former, 5-year actuarial survival of the hospital survivors was 72 ± 5.7%; for the latter group it was 71 ± 4.4%. Eleven patients (5 since the date of follow-up inquiry) have Suffered poppet escape, 9 of whom died. The actuarial incidence of known poppet escape is 4 ± 2.6% at 47 months; when the 5 patients suffering poppet escape since the date of follow-up inquiry are included, with certain assumptions, the incidence is 3.7 ± 1.14%. The projected probability of poppet escape using all 11 patients is 12.2% at 5 years; the 70% confidence bands of projected probability of poppet escape separate from those of the risk of rereplacement at 61 months. This and other analyses indicate that in general, patients with the Braunwald-Cutter aortic prosthesis should have it replaced 4 1/2 to 5 years after its insertion.
Differences among heat-treated, raw, and commercial peanut extracts by skin testing and immunoblotting

Background Peanut allergenicity has been reported to be influenced by heat treatment, yet the commonly available extracts for skin prick testing (SPT) are derived from raw extracts. Objective To assess the effect of heat treatment on the SPT reactivity and specific IgE binding to peanut. Methods Three commercial extracts and 3 laboratory-prepared extracts, including raw, roasted, and boiled, were used for SPT in 19 patients with suspected peanut allergy and in 4 individuals who eat peanut without any symptoms. Serum samples were obtained to measure total IgE in addition to specific IgE binding to the study extracts by immunoblotting. Peanut allergy was confirmed with challenge test unless the individual had a convincing history of a severe reaction. Results Eleven study participants were considered peanut allergic based on a strong history or positive challenge test result. SPT with the prepared and commercial reagents showed that the boiled extract had the highest specificity (67% vs 42%–63% for the other extracts). The prepared extracts showed similar SPT sensitivity (81%). Three patients with a history of severe reaction and elevated specific IgE levels to peanut to the 3 study extracts had variable SPT reactivity to 1 or more of the commercial extracts. IgE binding to Ara h 2 was found in nearly all patients, regardless of their clinical reactivity. Conclusions None of the extracts tested showed optimal diagnostic reliability regarding both sensitivity and specificity. Perhaps testing should be performed with multiple individual extracts prepared by different methods.
Tilting safety first and the Sharpe portfolio

Abstract Haley and Whiteman [2005. Manuscript. University of Iowa] demonstrate that the performance portfolio index from Stutzer [May/June 2000. Financial Analyst Journal, 52–61] and the decay-rate maximizing criterion from Stutzer [2003. Journal of Econometrics 116, 365–386] are closely related to their generalized safety first rule, and that all three methods sort portfolios using a mean-constrained Kullback–Leibler divergence. This paper extends their results by demonstrating that the safety first and Sharpe ratio rules sort portfolios using a mean-constrained sum-of-squared-deviations divergence. The end result is an ability to interpret all these seemingly disparate portfolio selection rules criteria through the single lens of underperformance minimization and minimum-disparity optimization.
A selective potentiation by naloxone of L-dopa but not atropine suppression of oxotremorine-induced tremor in mice

Oxotremorine-induced tremor activity in mice was suppressed by pretreatment with either L-dopa or atropine. Additional pretreatment with the opiate receptor blocker naloxone significantly potentiated the antitremor effect of L-dopa but not that of atropine. These findings indicate a selectivity of drug interaction between naloxone and L-dopa.
Nanofibrillar Networks in Poly(ethyl methacrylate) and Its Silica Nanocomposites

Recent advances in polymer materials design seek to incorporate functionality, enhance existing properties, and reduce weight without compromising mechanical properties or processability. While much attention has been drawn to the development of organic/inorganic hybrid nanocomposites modified with discrete siliceous nanoparticles (such as fumed/colloidal silica or organoclays), other opportunities exist for comparably enlightened materials design. Dibenzylidene sorbitol (DBS) is a sugar derivative that is capable of self-organizing into a 3D nanofibrillar network at relatively low concentrations in a wide variety of organic solvents and polymers. In this work, we explore the morphological characteristics and properties of DBS in poly(ethyl methacrylate) (PEMA) and PEMA nanocomposites with colloidal silica. Transmission electron microscopy and microtomography reveal that the DBS molecules form highly connected networks, with nanofibrils measuring ca. 10 nm in diameter and ranging up to several hundred nanometers in length. Dynamic mechanical property analysis reveals that, while DBS has little effect on glassy PEMA, it serves to increase the elastic modulus in molten PEMA.
A Familial Cutis Laxa Syndrome with Ultrastructural Abnormalities of Collagen and Elastin

A familial cutis laxa syndrome is reported in a mother and son. In addition, the son had Klippel-Trenaunay-Weber syndrome, which may be related to his underlying disorder. Ultrastructural examination of skin revealed previously recognized abnormalities of elastic tissue. In addition, abnormalities in collagen structure are demonstrated. The underlying defect in this disorder appears to result in abnormalities in both elastic tissue and collagen structure.
Characteristics ofP-andI-cellsof the cat's lateral geniculate body

Abstract Lateral geniculate cells of the cat were characterized by their extracellular and intracellular responses to single pulse stimulation of optic tract and visual cortex. The characteristic responses of theP-cells was a chloride dependent IPSP following rapidly brief and variable excitation. The typicalI-cell response was a high frequency discharge and an EPSP which reversed during the application of depolarizing currents. Optic tract and the cortical areas 17, 18 and 19 were equally effective in producing these responses.
Longitudinal Differences in Vascular Control Mechanisms in Isolated Resistance Arteries of the Rat Cremaster Muscle

The purpose of this study was to determine if there are intrinsic differences in resting tone, vascular reactivity, myogenic responses, and neurogenic vasoconstriction between the large and small feeder arteries and first order arterioles (1A) of the rat cremaster muscle. The pudic-epigastric artery (PEA), external spermatic artery (ESA), and 1A were isolated and changes in vessel diameter were recorded in response to: (1) increases in intralumenal pressure, (2) inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), (3) norepinephrine (NE), (4) acetylcholine (ACh), and (5) perivascular nerve stimulation. Vessel responses to Ca(2+)-free physiological salt solution were measured to assess resting tone, which was significantly greater in the ESA and 1A compared to the PEA. NE caused a significant constriction of all vessels, with 1A exhibiting the greatest sensitivity. NOS inhibition did not alter vascular sensitivity to NE, but enhanced resting tone in ESA and 1A. ACh induced significant dilation in ESA and 1A, with minimal effect on PEA. The myogenic response was not different between ESA and 1A, but was minimal in PEA. Perivascular nerve stimulation induced a significant vasoconstriction in all vessels tested. These results suggest that the relative importance of different vascular control mechanisms varies substantially at different levels of the cremasteric arterial network and that the ESA and 1A may be the major site of active vascular regulation upstream from the cremaster muscle microcirculation.
Fluorescence Endoscopic Imaging of Human Colonic Adenomas

Abstract BACKGROUND & AIMS: Endoscopic screening for sporadic colorectal cancer relies in part on the detection of adenomatous polyps. Nonpolypoid adenomas or flat dysplasia may go unrecognized by conventional endoscopy. This study attempted to develop and test a novel endoscopic method for detecting polypoid and nonpolypoid colonic adenomas. METHODS: Colectomy specimens from 3 patients with familial adenomatous polyposis containing polypoid and nonpolypoid adenomas were illuminated with excitation light at 351 and 364 nm. Endoscopic images of the net tissue fluorescence emitted were collected over the spectral bandwidth from 400 to 700 nm. Each raw image was corrected for differences in distance and instrument light collection efficiency by normalizing to a spatially averaged image. Intensity thresholding was then used to identity regions of diseased mucosa. RESULTS: The average fluorescence intensity from normal mucosa was found to be greater than that from adenomas by a factor of 2.2 +/- 0.6. The sensitivity and specificity for detecting a region of dysplasia varied with the threshold value selected. At a threshold of 75% of the average normal intensity, a sensitivity of 90% and a specificity of 92% were achieved. CONCLUSIONS: Fluorescence images of colonic mucosa can be collected endoscopically, and dysplasia can be detected and localized with high sensitivity and specificity. These results show the potential of this technique to direct endoscopic biopsy. (Gastroenterology 1996 Nov;111(5):1182-91)
Mexican Immigrants’ Explanatory Model of Latent Tuberculosis Infection:

This article reveals how the multiple and disparate explanations of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) from the U.S. and Mexico professional health sectors and the popular sector are used to inform the explanatory model (EM) of LTBI for Mexican immigrants residing in the U.S.-Mexico border region. Fourteen immigrants, nine diagnosed with LTBI (n = 9) and their spouses (n = 5) participated in this critical ethnographic study. Because care seeking and treatment decisions are influenced by EMs, the results indicate that it is imperative that interventions for Mexican immigrants with LTBI are built on an understanding of their illness experience and are contextually meaningful.
Search for an Electric Dipole Moment in Thallium

The atomic-beam magnetic-resonance technique has been used to search for a linear Stark effect, which would violate parity and time-reversal invariance, in the $6^{2}P_{\frac{1}{2}}$ ground state of thallium. The motional magnetic field effect ($\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{v}}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\frac{\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\mathrm{E}}}{c}$) was accounted for by comparison experiments between Tl and Na and K. The electric dipole moment of the thallium atom is ${D}_{\mathrm{Tl}}=[(1.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2.4)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}21} \mathrm{cm}]e$, where the error is the standard deviation.
DESENSITIZATION TO ACETYLCHOLINE AT MOTOR END PLATES IN NORMAL HUMANS, PATIENTS WITH MYASTHENIA GRAVIS, AND EXPERIMENTAL MODELS OF MYASTHENIA GRAVIS

Desensitization to ionophoretically applied ACh at the motor end plates of normal humans and patients with MG was studied. The pattern of desensitization at the normal human motor end plate was completely consistent with that observed in muscles of various animals. At motor end plates of MG patients there was greater desensitization and slower recovery from desensitization than in normals. A similar pattern of desensitization was observed at normal end plates when they were exposed to serum globulins of MG patients, and at end plates of muscles from mice than were repeatedly injected with serum globulins of MG patients. Despite the reported reduction in the number of ACh receptors, our calculations show that there is a large pool of spare receptors forming a sizeable margin of safety at the end plates of MG patients. The number of receptors may not show additional progressive reduction in number during repetitive motor activity. Our results indicate that desensitization could play a significant role in the development of neuromuscular block following repetitive motor activity in MG patients. The mechanism by which desensitization is augmented in MG patients in not yet clear.
Circulation and dispersion in a cancellate coast: the rivers, bays and estuaries of central Maine.

The glacially carved central coast of Maine is incised by river systems with interconnecting channels, offshore-trending submarine ridges, and narrow passages between nearshore islands and headlands. The tidal range exceeds 3 m, leading to complex and vigorous circulation patterns with strong flows in narrow channels, near river mouths, and between islands. The spongiform coastal morphology allows enhanced exchange between offshore waters, estuaries and internecine bays, resulting in rapid dispersal of nutrients, larvae and contaminants throughout the region. A fine-grid numerical circulation model has been used to examine the influences of the tides, river flows and winds on the dispersion of lobster larvae and pollutants in the nearshore and riverine environment. This paper describes the model application, presents a few salient features of the circulation patterns, and examines some implications for the coastal environment. For example, under realistic tides and variable southwest summer winds, about 80% of neutral near-surface particles introduced near the offshore islands (a proxy for stage IV lobster larvae from offshore sources) remain within a few km of the islands over a two-week period. On the other hand, a persistent, periodic sea breeze can remove more than two-thirds of the particles from the domain over the same period. Tidal mixing disperses pollutants entering the upper Kennebec River to the offshore and through internecine passages in about one week.
Evaluation of the Tibia as a Source of Autogenous Cancellous Bone in the Horse

A 1 cm defect was created in the proximal medial cortex of 12 tibiae, cancellous bone was removed from the site, and the bones were fractured by loading in torsion. The fractures did not occur through the donor sites and the fracture patterns and loads to fracture were similar for the treated tibiae and their untreated mates. Cancellous bone was harvested from the proximal medial aspect of both tibiae in nine adult horses. The soft tissue wounds were monitored for more than 10 days in seven horses and healing of the osseous defects was evaluated radiographically at regular intervals to month 6 in two horses. The site provided convenient access with the horses in lateral or dorsal recumbency, the anatomic landmarks were reliable, and the surgical procedure was simple and short. Complications occurred in only three incisions.
TU-D-AUD B-03: MVCT-Guided Partial-Breast Irradiation in Prone Position: Daily Setup Uncertainty and Dose Verification

Purpose: We analyzed the daily setup uncertainty and dose verification for partial‐breast irradiation (PBI) in prone position using helical tomotherapy. Method and Materials: According to an in‐house protocol, early‐stage breast cancer patients received PBI treatments in the prone position on the TomoTherapy Hi‐Art system using megavoltage‐CT guidance (TomoTherapy, Inc., Madison, WI). For planning, kilovoltage‐CT scans were obtained with the involved breast suspended downward. Treatment plans were generated based on criteria from the NSABP B‐39/RTOG 0413 protocol; the PTV_eval was to receive 3.85 Gy per fraction over 10 fractions administered twice daily. Before each fraction, an MVCT scan was acquired and compared with the planning kVCT images to refine the patient position. Along each shift direction, a margin to estimate the setup uncertainty for treatments without MVCT guidance was calculated from the average and standard deviation among the daily shifts. The dose actually delivered in each fraction was reconstructed based on the daily MVCT, accounting for the daily shifts. Among all fractions, the average and standard deviation for specific DVH points were compiled for comparison with the plan DVH. Results: Among the MVCT‐guided shift data, the random setup uncertainty in general exceeds the systematic difference from the plan. The overall margin was as large as 24.5 mm among the cases analyzed. From the MVCT‐based recalculations, the reconstructed doses differed little from the planned doses for each breast, each lung, thyroid, and heart. Average reconstructed doses for PTV_eval were slightly lower than the planned dose, attributable to increased breast thickness for some fractions. Yet, at least 90% of PTV_eval received over 90% of the prescribed dose. Conclusion: The estimated margin to account for setup uncertainty motivates improvements for PBI positioning. With MVCT guidance for prone‐positioned PBI, the deviation of the delivered target and organ‐at‐risk doses from the planned dose is minimal.