cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A case of local anesthetic toxicity that wasn't: lipid rescue from self-administered benzodiazepine overdose in labor

Abstract A 32-year-old G2P1 woman presented for induction of labor at term. Her past medical history included polysubstance use disorder and methadone maintenance, scant prenatal care, morbid obesity, and intimate partner violence. Her induction was progressing smoothly until the acute onset of altered mental status near to the time of delivery, several minutes after a clinician-administered epidural local anesthetic bolus for significant pain. Given concern about local anesthetic systemic toxicity, lipid emulsion was administered and resulted in an immediate and drastic clinical response. The epidural infusion bag and pump system were evaluated and found to be correct and there was no clinical suspicion of an intravascular epidural catheter. The woman remained stable and was transferred to the postpartum unit, where she experienced a similar episode of altered mental status approximately 12 h postpartum. This episode self-resolved and she was managed conservatively. Shortly after this event, it was discovered that the patient had been self-administering benzodiazepines throughout the course of her labor, in addition to her hospital staff-administered medications. Presumably, her intrapartum altered mental status was a result of self-administered benzodiazepine that was then “rescued” with lipid emulsion. This case illustrates the potential for lipid emulsion as a reversal agent for medications other than local anesthetics.
BCEWMA: A New and Effective Biosurveillance System for Disease Outbreak Detection

Disease outbreaks need to be detected in a timely manner for effective disease control. For disease surveillance, conventional statistical process control charts are often included in public health surveillance systems, without taking into account the complicated structure of the disease incidence data and/or additional covariate information. This chapter presents a novel prospective disease surveillance system, named BCEWMA (Biosurveillance via Covariate-Assisted Exponentially Weighted Moving Average Control Chart), which can accommodate seasonality and arbitrary distribution of disease incidence data. Methodologically, BCEWMA is based on the widely used exponentially weighted moving average control chart, incorporating useful information in covariates. This new surveillance system is applied to two real disease incidence datasets: one regarding the hand, foot and mouth disease in Sichuan province of China and the other about the influenza-like-illness in Florida. These real-data examples show the reliability and effectiveness of BCEWMA in disease outbreak detection.
Towards high efficiency PVDF nano-fiber based energy harvester: the influence of the contact and the coating (Conference Presentation)

This study aimed at fabricating the PVDF-based piezoelectric energy harvester with high flexibility and efficiency. PVDF Nano-fiber was synthesized by using the electrospinning process. This study utilized the ink-jet printer to make the silver contact for the PVDF energy harvester. Later, the energy harvester was coated with Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) with different thickness. The result shown that the PVDF energy harvester tend to harvest the vibration at the frequency lower than 100 Hz. Moreover, the coating layer can decrease the energy harvesting efficiency due to its vibration absorption. This result was further validated by the Comsol Multiphysics simulation.
Control of viral infection by natural killer cell inhibitory receptors

Major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I)-restricted immune responses are largely attributed to cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). However, natural killer (NK) cells, as predicted by the missing-self hypothesis, have opposing requirements for MHC-I, suggesting that they may also demonstrate MHC-I-restricted effects. In mice, the Ly49 inhibitory receptors prevent NK cell killing of missing-self targets in effector responses, and they have a proposed second function in licensing or educating NK cells via self-MHC-I in vivo. Here we show MHC-I-restricted control of murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV) infection in vivo that is NK cell dependent. Using mice lacking specific Ly49 receptors, we show that control of MCMV requires inhibitory Ly49 receptors and an inhibitory signaling motif and the capacity for MCMV to downregulate MHC-I. Taken together, these data provide definitive evidence that the inhibitory receptors are required for missing-self rejection and are relevant to MHC-I-restricted NK cell control of a viral infection in vivo.
Simultaneous confidence intervals of estimable functions based on quasi-likelihood in generalized linear models for over-dispersed data

Two major problems besetting count data analysis in multiple comparisons are over-dispersion and violation of distributional assumptions of real data. In this article, we describe the simultaneous ...
Cross-sectional and longitudinal performance of creatinine- and cystatin C-based estimating equations relative to exogenously measured glomerular filtration rate in HIV-positive and HIV-negative persons.

Background Reliable estimates of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) are important in the clinical management of HIV-positive patients. Data on the performance of widely used estimating equations (eGFR) relative to exogenously measured GFR are sparse in this population. Methods We evaluated cross-sectional and longitudinal accuracy and bias of eGFR, based on creatinine and cystatin C, relative to disappearance of infused iohexol from plasma (iGFR) in a cohort of participants followed annually for up to 7 years. Results 222 HIV-positive and 139 HIV-negative participants contributed 1,240 visits with valid iGFR and eGFR measures. Estimated GFR based on both creatinine and cystatin C performed the best. Estimated GFR based on creatinine alone overestimated iGFR by 9 mL/min/1.73m2 on average and was significantly less accurate in HIV-positive than HIV-negative individuals. The performance of equations based on either creatinine alone or cystatin C alone were significantly affected by participant factors (e.g., non-suppressed HIV RNA, nadir CD4 count, hepatitis C virus coinfection). The average iGFR slope was -4% per year in HIV-positive participants. In both HIV-positive and HIV-negative participants, eGFR slope measures were generally unbiased but inaccurate, with only 60% to 74% of observations falling within ± 5 percentage points of iGFR slope. Conclusion Both creatinine and cystatin C have limitations as GFR indices in HIV-positive individuals. Estimated GFR based on both creatinine and cystatin C performed best in our study and may be preferred in HIV-positive persons with kidney disease or comorbidities that place them at high risk for kidney disease.
Statistical Significance and Leadership: Measure of Value or Misleading Number?

How is leadership considered and measured in today’s complex and rapidly changing environment? Whether leadership is examined through traditional models or modern theories incorporating distributed or collaborative concepts, imposing measures of statistical significance, a common standard measure of value in research, neglects the dynamic nature of interactions between leaders, organizations, and environmental contingencies. Considering complexity leadership theory and transformational leadership models, this discussion of leadership and influence in organizations addresses the gap between statistical significance and a more holistic assessment of modern leadership.
Substrate Specificity of Plant Lipases

In plants, lipases (EC 3.1.1.3) are active in lipid-storing tissues in seeds during germination. These lipases catalyze the hydrolysis of storage triacylglycerols to fatty acids, which are converted to sugars to support the growth of the embryo. Seed lipases have not been studied intensively, and our knowledge of them lags behind that of the mammalian and microbial enzymes (1, 2, 3). A unique feature of seed lipases may be that the enzyme from a certain plant species is relatively specific on the characteristic storage triacylglycerols of the same species. Our experimental results show that this specificity is indeed species-dependent, and is not due solely to the physical characteristics of the specific triacylglycerol in the substrate micelles.
Maxillary expansion in grafted alveolar arches in patients with cleft lip and palate: A literature review

Abstract Objective the aim of the present review was to assess maxillary expansion (ME) in grafted alveolar arches in patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP). Material and methods the addressed focused question was: “What are the clinical and radiographic outcomes of ME after alveolar bone grafting (ABG) in patients with CLP?” An electronic search of indexed databases was performed without language and time restrictions, up to and including March 2021, to identify studies that addressed the focused question. Study selection and data extraction were performed independently by 2 authors; and the risk of bias for the clinical studies was assessed using the Downs and Black tool. Any disagreements were resolved through consensus discussion. Results five studies [2 clinical studies (1 prospective and 1 retrospective) and 3 case reports] were included and processed for data extraction. The outcomes of ME were assessed using cone-beam computed tomography and two-dimensional radiographic imaging 12-months after ABG in 1 clinical study, and 6-months after ME in the other clinical study. In the case reports, the outcomes of ABG after ME were assessed 3–6 months after ME. No significant bone loss of the ABG after ME was reported, and adequate bone volume and bone density were observed at the follow up periods in all studies. Maxillary expansion was achieved after the ABG in all of the studies. Conclusion the relationship between ABG and ME remains debatable. Further power-adjusted, well-designed, randomized controlled clinical trials are needed to study the outcomes of ME after ABG in patient with CLP.
A Decision-Making Framework for Load Rating Planning of Aging Bridges Using Deep Reinforcement Learning

AbstractLoad rating is gaining popularity as a method for inspecting the structural performance of aging bridges and determining maintenance actions. Cost-effective condition-based strategies have ...
Metrology system for space interferometry mission system testbed 3

A 3-baseline interferometer fourteen metrology gauges are used to monitor changes in the two baselines; calculate the length of the third. Simulation for estimating the third baseline indicates measurement capability better than 1 nm error.
Feedback Processes [in Massive Star Formation]: A Theoretical Perspective

I review the evidence for the importance of feedback from massive stars at small and large scales. The feedback mechanisms include accretion luminosity, ionizing radiation, collimated outflows, and stellar winds. The good news is that feedback doesn't entirely prevent the formation of massive stars, while the bad news is that we don't know what does limit their masses. Feedback from massive stars also influences their surroundings. I argue that this does not produce a triggering efficiency above unity, nor does it prevent lots of prompt star formation in GMCs, though it may preserve massive remnants of the clouds for many dynamical times.
Stellarator Configuration Improvement Using High Temperature Superconducting Monoliths

AbstractSubstantial advances have been made in the design of stellarator configurations to satisfy physics properties and fabrication feasibility requirements for experimental devices. However, reactors will require further advances in configuration design, in particular with regard to maintenance and operational characteristics, in order to have high availability. The diamagnetic properties of bulk high temperature superconductor (HTS) material can be used to provide simple mechanisms for magnetic field-shaping by arranging them appropriately in an ambient field produced by relatively simple coils.A stellarator configuration has been developed based on this concept. A small number of toroidal field coils carrying appropriate current would be sufficient to create a background toroidal field. Discrete HTS monoliths (“pucks” or “tiles”) are placed on a shaped structure that can be split in the poloidal direction at arbitrary locations. This allows modular stellarators to be designed with large openings that...
Studies on the mechanism of fatty acid synthesis. XVII. Preparation and general properties of acetyl coenzyme A and malonyl coenzyme A-acyl carrier protein transacylases.

Acetyl coenzyme A-acyl carrier protein transacylase (acetyl transacylase) and malonyl coenzyme A-acyl carrier protein transacylase (malonyl transacylase) have been purified 90- and 255-fold, respectively, from Escherichia coli extracts and exhibited the following properties. Acetyl transacylase is heat-labile whereas malonyl transacylase is comparatively heat-stable, 80% of its activity surviving for 20 min at 80°. Both enzymes have pH optima in the region of 6.5. The reactions are readily reversible, and equilibrium constants are 2.09 for acetyl transacylase and 2.33 for malonyl transacylase. Inhibition of the enzymes by N-ethylmaleimide and iodoacetamide demonstrates that both are sulfhydryl enzymes. Acetyl transacylase is relatively specific for acetyl-CoA but can transacylate coenzyme A esters of propionic, butyric, and hexanoic acids at a rate of 23.4, 9.8, and 4.5% that of acetyl-CoA, respectively. Evidence is presented in support of a mechanism of action of acetyl transacylase involving the intermediary formation of an acetyl—S—enzyme which can then transfer the acetyl group to acyl carrier protein or coenzyme A.
ICT Use and Labor: Firm-Level Evidence from Turkey

This study analyzes the adoption and use of information communication technologies (ICTs) by firms and their effects on employment and wages. I use a confidential data set from Turkey that includes detailed surveys focused on how ICTs and the Internet are used by firms. By using the rich survey data, I create an ICT index summarizing ICT adoption and use, along with the skills of the firms, where each category takes into account many applications. The firms with different levels of ICTs differ in many characteristics. I use the generalized propensity score matching method in order to compare firms that are similar in many dimensions such as industry, location, investments, profits, trade balance, and output. I find positive effects of ICTs on employment and wages that are diminishing after a certain level of ICTs. These significant effects are due to an increase in ICT-generated jobs and not due to an increase in non-ICT jobs in the short-run. The effects on non-ICT employment become significant a couple years after investments in ICTs. This implies a change in the skill composition of the firms with higher intensity of ICT use, especially in the short run.
Visual Voices: A Participatory Method for Engaging Adolescents in Research and Knowledge Transfer

Integrating the expertise and perspectives of adolescents in the process of generating and translating research knowledge into practice is often missed, yet is essential for designing and implementing programs to promote adolescent health. This paper describes the use of the arts-based participatory Visual Voices method in translational research. Visual Voices involves systematic creative writing, drawing, and painting activities to yield culturally relevant information which is generated by and examined with adolescents. Qualitative data products include the created artistic products and transcripts from group discussions of the content developed and presented. Data are analyzed and compared across traditional (e.g., transcripts) and nontraditional (e.g., drawings and paintings) media. Findings are reviewed and interpreted with participants and shared publicly to stimulate community discussions and local policy and practice changes. Visual Voices is a novel method for involving adolescents in translational research though Integrated Knowledge Transfer (IKT), a process for bringing researchers and stakeholders together from the stage of idea generation to implementing evidence-based initiatives. Clin Trans Sci 2013; Volume 6: 72–77
Integration of RoF with WDM-PON for lightwave centralized access networks

This paper illustrates the architectures of lightwave centralized access networks integration of RoF. It includes simultaneously provide triple-play service by single modulator, 100Gb/s and above baseband with 60-GHz mm-wave, and bidirectional OFDM-m-QAM RoF/ WDM-OFDM-PON networks.
The Reactive Accompanist: Adaptation and Behavior Decomposition in a Music System

This paper describes a reactive, behavior-based system that mimics a human musical skill — chord accompaniment of unfamiliar melodies. The system was constructed under the subsumption architecture methodology. This paper discusses the design task of behavior decomposition for such a system, and recommends a strategy of modularizing the minimal adaptive requirements for the desired competence
The Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative informatics core: A decade in review.

Abstract The Informatics Core of the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative has coordinated data integration and dissemination for a continually growing and complex data set in which both data contributors and recipients span institutions, scientific disciplines, and geographic boundaries. This article provides an update on the accomplishments and future plans.
A Strong Relationship Between Oviposition Preference and Larval Performance in a Shoot-Galling Sawfly

To investigate the relationship between oviposition preference and offspring performance we tested three hypotheses about the oviposition behavior of Euura lasiolepis: (1) the preference hierarchy hypothesis that Euura had an oviposition preference based on shoot lengths; (2) the larval survival hypothesis that the preference hierarchy corresponded to the suitability of shoots for larval survival; and (3) the flexibility hypothesis that the preference hierarchy changed as resource availability changed. The oviposition preference hierarchy of Euura lasiolepis, a shoot—galling sawfly, for plant shoots of different lengths strongly corresponded with the rank of shoot lengths for larval survival. The oviposition preference hierarchy was related to shoot growth; the more rapidly a shoot was growing the higher the probability that an oviposition site on a shoot would be attacked. Larval survival was highest on long shoots on young ramets. The probability of shoot abscission was negatively related to shoot length, and Euura in galls on abscised shoots invariably died. Intraspecific interactions and willow clone identity, independent of shoot length and ramet age, had relatively small influences on larval survival. The oviposition hierarchy was flexible; if long shoots were not available shorter shoots were accepted for oviposition. Shoots were always attacked in order of length, so that a strong relationship between preference and performance was always maintained.
(Un)Healthy 1 Men, Masculinities, and the Geographies of Health

Being men and being healthy seem to be contradictory sociospatial states. Although research on the interrelationships between gender and health is strongly represented in geography, and masculinity...
Long-term outcomes of adults with pediatric-onset spinal cord injuries as a function of neurological impairment.

Objective: To identify outcomes of participation, life satisfaction, and medical complications as a function of impairment in adults with pediatric-onset spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: Study participants were adults who sustained SCI at age 18 years or younger and were interviewed at age 24 years or older (M = 26.9, SD = 3.5). The telephone interview included a questionnaire and several standardized measures: FIM® instrument (FIM®), Craig Handicap Assessment and Reporting Technique (CHART), SF-12® Health Survey, and Satisfaction with Life Scale. Using the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury and the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale (AIS), subjects were grouped into four impairment categories: C1–C4 ABC, C5–C8 ABC, T1–L4 ABC, and AIS D. Results: Of the 410 participants, 62% were male, 54% had tetraplegia, 70% had AIS A lesions, and average age at injury was 14 years (SD = 4.3). Of the 407 subjects who had complete neurological informati...
The origin of rotation in field-reversed configurations

The stable lifetimes of many field-reversed configuration (FRC) experiments have been observed to be limited by the onset of the m = 2 rotational instability. The origin of the rotation which drives this instability is investigated with the aid of hybrid simulation methods. The loss of particles with guiding centres on open field lines is found to lead to localized rotation near the separatrix and this effect is found to be enhanced by end-shorting of the radial electric field outside the separatrix. In simulations allowing azimuthal variation the velocity shear is eventually relaxed so that the bulk of the plasma begins to rotate. These simulations also show that the m = 2 instability does not appear as long as rotation is localized near the separatrix. It is found that by increasing the separatrix radius it is possible to significantly delay the transfer of rotation from the separatrix, hence delaying the onset of the m = 2 instability.
Finding optimal weighted bridges with applications

The computation of shortest paths, distances and feature relationships is a key problem in many applications. In finding shortest distances or paths one often must respect features of the domain. For example, in medical applications such as radiation therapy, the features may include tissue density, risk to radiation exposure, etc. In computing an optimal treatment plan, one can think of these features as weights that effect a cost per unit travel distance function. In this model, the cost of travelling through 2 cm of dense bone might be more than the cost of travelling through 5 cm of very soft tissue. One possible way to model such problems is as shortest path problems in weighted regions.A special case of shortest path problems in weighted regions is that of computing an optimal weighted bridge between two regions. In this version, we are given two disjoint convex polygons P and Q in a weighted subdivision R. A weighted bridge, Bw, is a path from a point p ∈ P to a point q ∈ Q that connects P and Q such that the sum of the weighted length of Bw and the maximum weighted distance from any point in P to p and from any point in Q to q is minimized. The goal is to compute an optimal weighted bridge between P and Q.In this paper, we describe 2-factor and (1 + ∈)-factor approximation schemes for finding optimal 1-link weighted bridges between a pair of convex polygons. We also describe how these techniques can be extended to k-link weighted bridges and weighted bridges where the number of links is not restricted.
Visual evoked potentials and selective attention to points in space

Visual evoked potentials (VEPs) were recorded to sequences of flashes delivered to the right and left visual fields while subjects responded promptly to designated stimuli in one field at a time (focused attention), in both fields at once (divided attention), or to neither field (passive). Three stimulus schedules were used: the first was a replication of a previous study (Eason, Harter, and White, 1969) where left- and right-field flashes were delivered quasi-independently, while in the other two the flashes were delivered to the two fields in random order (Bernoulli sequence). VEPs to attended-field stimuli were enhanced at both occipital (O2) and central (Cz) recording sites under all stimulus sequences, but different components were affected at the two scalp sites. It was suggested that the VEP at O2 may reflect modality-specific processing events, while the response at Cz, like its auditory homologue, may index more general aspects of selective attention.
d-Glucose infusions into the basal ventromedial hypothalamus and feeding

Abstract Following symmetrical bilateral infusion of d -glucose into the basal ventromedial hypothalamus (BVMH), using Alzet minipumps (1 μl/h of 10% d -glucose for 6 days), average daily food intake was reduced by 27% for the period of treatment. Symmetrical bilateral infusions into the posterior medial hypothalamus had a transitory effect on feeding, as did asymmetrical and unilateral infusions. Infusion of l -glucose into the BVMH did not yield a chronic reduction in food intake. Included in the infused solutions were tracer amounts of [ 14 C]glucose, [ 14 C]proline or [ 14 C]leucine to permit radioautographic estimations of infusate dispersal in the brain and axonal transport patterns from the infusion sites. Infusions were generally well-restricted to 1–1.5 mm of the cannulae tips, and descending transport of amino acids was highest in substantia nigra and midline structures of the mesencephalon and pons including central gray, ventral tegmental area, raphe and ventral tegmental nuclei. These results provide evidence for an energy intake regulatory mechanism situated in the BVMH whose outputs may modulate activity in the substantia nigra and midline brain stem areas.
Modulation of VEGF Expression in Rat Bone Marrow Stromal Cells by GDF-5

Angiogenesis is essential for bone formation and several bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have been shown to induce angiogenesis through osteoblast-derived vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A. Growth differentiation factor-5 (GDF-5) is a member of the BMP family expressed in bone and known to induce angiogenesis in vivo. In this study, the effects of GDF-5 on osteogenic differentiation and expression of VEGF-related genes were determined using rat bone marrow stromal cells. GDF-5 stimulated osteogenic differentiation. It also upregulated the expression of VEGF-A after 3 hr, accompanied by a trend of decrease in its receptor VEGFR-2 at 6 and 24 hr. VEGF-D and its receptor VEGFR-3 showed peak expression at later time points. This regulation may be further controlled by neuropilin 2 that exhibited a parallel profile to VEGF-D. These observations indicate that GDF-5 stimulates osteogenic differentiation and has a potential to induce angiogenesis through osteoblast-derived VEGF-A in bone.
Partial peroneus longus tendon rupture at its distal insertion in a runner: a case presentation.

Partial or complete ruptures of the peroneus longus tendon are not common. When reported, they most commonly occur at the distal tip of the fibula, at the peroneal tubercle, or at the cuboid tunnel. Ruptures are most often acute and associated with ankle sprains or trauma. The literature on distal tendon ruptures is sparse. We describe a case of a nontraumatic partial peroneus longus tear at its distal attachment in a healthy female recreational runner.
Maximum Likelihood Methods for Linear Models Spatial Effect and Spatial Disturbance Terms

This article presents a model that is a natural generalization of both the spatial effects linear model and the linear model with spatial disturbances. Maximum likelihood methods are presented that provide estimates of the parameters of the model together with the asymptotic variance-covariance matrix of the estimates. Numerical illustrations of these methods are provided.
Terminal French Course for Colleges

A two-year-college-French program with a per se value which enables students to gain contact, in French, with the whole of French literature under the guidance of a teacher who adds interpretation necessary to the full appreciation of the masterpieces. The “learning to read” tool, itself not a terminal function, is thus utilized in gaining access to a great literature.)
Triphenyl phosphate-induced developmental toxicity in zebrafish: Potential role of the retinoic acid receptor

Using zebrafish as a model, we previously reported that developmental exposure to triphenyl phosphate (TPP) - a high-production volume organophosphate-based flame retardant - results in dioxin-like cardiac looping impairments that are independent of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Using a pharmacologic approach, the objective of this study was to investigate the potential role of retinoic acid receptor (RAR) - a nuclear receptor that regulates vertebrate heart morphogenesis - in mediating TPP-induced developmental toxicity in zebrafish. We first revealed that static exposure of zebrafish from 5-72h post-fertilization (hpf) to TPP in the presence of non-toxic concentrations of an RAR antagonist (BMS493) significantly enhanced TPP-induced toxicity (relative to TPP alone), even though identical non-toxic BMS493 concentrations mitigated retinoic acid (RA)-induced toxicity. BMS493-mediated enhancement of TPP toxicity was not a result of differential TPP uptake or metabolism, as internal embryonic doses of TPP and diphenyl phosphate (DPP) - a primary TPP metabolite - were not different in the presence or absence of BMS493. Using real-time PCR, we then quantified the relative change in expression of cytochrome P450 26a1 (cyp26a1) - a major target gene for RA-induced RAR activation in zebrafish - and found that RA and TPP exposure resulted in a ∼5-fold increase and decrease in cyp26a1 expression, respectively, relative to vehicle-exposed embryos. To address whether TPP may interact with human RARs, we then exposed Chinese hamster ovary cells stably transfected with chimeric human RARα-, RARβ-, or RARγ to TPP in the presence of RA, and found that TPP significantly inhibited RA-induced luciferase activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Overall, our findings suggest that zebrafish RARs may be involved in mediating TPP-induced developmental toxicity, a mechanism of action that may have relevance to humans.
Magnetic fields from transmission lines: comparison of calculations and measurements

An experiment has been performed to compare the calculated and measured magnetic fields produced by a double-circuit 400 kV power transmission line. The phase currents were measured in the substation at one end of the line, taking particular care to measure the zero-sequence currents accurately, and the earth-wire current was measured at the span where the experiment was conducted. These currents were used to calculate the magnetic fields, using a number of computer programs based on Ampere's law. The magnetic field was measured at 22 positions ranging from 100 m on one side of the line to 500 m on the other side. Measured and calculated fields generally agreed well. The largest errors were /spl plusmn/7%/spl plusmn/1 nT. These errors are attributed to a mixture of random errors in the calibration, resolution and synchronisation of the measuring instruments, and systematic errors stemming from the measurement of the zero-sequence currents.< >
Transcriptional activation of an intermediate filament protein gene in mice with retinal dystrophy.

ABSTRACT We are interested in understanding neuronal interactions, that regulate expression of specific genes in glial cells in the nervous system. In the normal mouse retina, the glial intermediat...
Biochemistry of monoamine oxidase inhibitors

Abstract The diverse biochemical and pharmacologie actions of the monoamine oxidase inhibitors have proved of great value in learning more of the importance of amines in the body. Investigations with these drugs have revealed the possible involvement of various amines in brain function and in the actions of these and other drugs on brain excitability and regulation of the cardiovascular system.
A Multi-Modal Unscented Kalman Filter for Inference of Aircraft Position and Taxi Mode from Surface Surveillance Data

We describe a multi-modal unscented Kalman filter developed for estimation of aircraft position, velocity and heading from noisy surface surveillance data. The raw data is composed of tracks generated by the Airport Surface Detection Equipment, Model-X at Boston Logan International Airport, and is obtained from the Runway Status Lights system. The multi-modal filter formulation facilitates estimation of aircraft taxi mode, described by different acceleration and turn rate values, in addition to aircraft states.
A pilot study of vitamin E versus vitamin E and pioglitazone for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.

Background & Aims: Insulin resistance and oxidative stress contribute to the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We conducted a pilot study for the following reasons: (1) to test the hypothesis that a combination of an antioxidant (vitamin E) and an insulin sensitizer (pioglitazone) would be superior to vitamin E alone for the treatment of NASH, and (2) to define the effects of these interventions on insulin-sensitive metabolic functions and correlate the effects with changes in liver histology. Methods: A randomized prospective trial was performed to compare the efficacy and safety of vitamin E alone (400 IU/day) vs. vitamin E (400 IU/day) and pioglitazone (30 mg/day) in nondiabetic, noncirrhotic subjects with NASH. Metabolic functions were assessed by a 2-step, hyperinsulinemic (10 and 40 mU/m 2 /min) euglycemic clamp. Results: A total of 10 patients were randomized to each arm. Two patients on combination therapy discontinued treatment; one because of pregnancy and the other because of hepatotoxicity. Treatment with vitamin E only produced a significant decrease in steatosis (mean grade, 2.2 vs. 1.4; P P P P P Conclusions: A combination of vitamin E and pioglitazone produces a greater improvement in NASH histology. The improvement in steatosis and cytologic ballooning are related to treatment-associated decreases in fasting FFA and insulin levels.
Reduction of substrate interference in Raman spectroscopy of submicron titania coatings

Recent interests in low-loss and low-scatter optical coatings have generated a need for structural characterization of submicron dielectric films on a substrate. Conventional x-ray diffraction works well only for thick films; its required long measurement time, typically hours, leaves much to be desired. Recently, using Raman spectroscopy in a 180/sup 0/ backscattering geometry, Pawlewicz et al. were able to characterize crystalline single-layer optical dielectric coatings with a measurement time a factor of 100 less than that required for the conventional method of x-ray diffraction. The authors concluded that the minimum thickness for single-layer Raman spectroscopy of TiO/sub 2/ anatase coatings on silica substrates is approx. 125 nm and that for thinner coatings, the more sensitive interference-enhanced Raman scattering technique, should be used. This latter technique requires that the coating under investigation be deposited as the top layer of a specially prepared trilayer structure with a reflecting substrate and thus would require a modification to the original coating. The single-layer technique is a direct method and is more desirable if its sensitivity can be improved.
Perceived risk, displacement and refuging in brown bears:positive impacts of ecotourism?

Abstract Ecotourism is a rapidly growing industry with unknown impacts on viewed wildlife that may require novel management action. We examined the impact of viewing activities on the behaviour of brown bears ( Ursus arctos ) in coastal British Columbia. Domination of the best feeding sites and human avoidance by large male bears has consistently been reported. We, however, saw displacement in time rather than space – during the viewing day large males were less active than at other times, while females with cubs tended to be more active. In each year, females with cubs spent similarly high proportions of their time fishing when people were present. In years with large male activity, less time was spent fishing when people were absent. When freed from the potential threat of large male bears, females with cubs showed no measurable impact of controlled human activity. Human presence at a feeding site impacts the behaviour of brown bears, but not as expected. Temporal avoidance of human activity by large males was observed; indications that they departed upon satiation, before the arrival of morning tours, however, suggests that there was little energetic impact. By displacing large males, viewing activities created a temporal refuge, enhancing feeding opportunities for subordinate age/sex classes. With the strong positive relationships between mean female mass and litter size, this may in turn increase population productivity.
S-acetyl phosphopantetheine: deacetyl citrate lyase S-acetyl transferase from Klebsiella aerogenes.

Abstract An enzyme has been partially purified from Klebsiella aerogenes which transfers an acetyl group from S-acetyl phosphopantetheine to deacetyl citrate lyase. This converts the deacetyl citrate lyase which has no enzyme activity, to citrate lyase, the active enzyme. A variety of other acetyl thioesters including acetyl CoA did not serve as acetyl donors.
Detection of the Human Erythrocyte Surface Antigen Gerbich by Flow Cytometry using Human Antibodies and Phycoerythrin for Extreme Immunofluorescence Sensitivity

We used indirect immunofluorescence and flow cytometry to detect the human erythrocyte surface antigen Gerbich. The procedure consisted of sequential erythrocyte-labeling with human antibody to Gerbich, biotinylated goat anti-human IgG and finally phycoerythrin-conjugated streptavidin. With maximal excitation of phycoerythrin at 546 nm, an increase in the fluorescence sensitivity was achieved. All erythrocytes from normal controls had detectable Gerbich antigen with little variation in antigen density between individuals. Six Gerbich-negative patients had no detectable antigen. By diluting the erythrocytes, as few as 0.1% antigen-positive cells in an antigen-negative population could be detected. These studies indicate that flow cytometry is a useful technique for the detection of erythrocyte surface antigens.
Motives for eating tasty foods associated with binge-eating. Results from a student and a weight-loss seeking population

Abstract The aim of this study was to use the Palatable Eating Motives Scale (PEMS) to determine if and what motives for eating tasty foods (e.g., junk food, fast food, and desserts) are associated with binge-eating in two diverse populations. BMI and scores on the PEMS, Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS), and Binge-eating Scale (BES) were obtained from 247 undergraduates at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and 249 weight-loss seeking patients at the UAB EatRight program. Regression analyses revealed that eating tasty foods to forget worries and problems and help alleviate negative feelings (i.e., the 4-item Coping motive) was associated with binge-eating independently of any variance in BES scores due to sex, age, ethnicity, BMI, other PEMS motives, and YFAS scores in both students (R2 = .57) and patients (R2 = .55). Coping also was associated with higher BMI in students (p
A conditional probability approach to M/G/1-like queues

Following up on a recently renewed interest in computational methods for M/G/1-type processes, this paper considers an M/G/1-like system in which the service time distribution is represented by a Coxian series of memoryless stages. We present a novel approach to the solution of such systems. Our method is based on conditional probabilities, and provides a simple, computationally efficient and stable approach to the evaluation of the steady-state queue length distribution. We provide a proof of the numerical stability of our method. Without explicit use of matrix-geometric techniques or stochastic complementation, we are able to handle systems with state-dependent service and arrival rates. The proposed approach can be used to compute the queue length distribution for both finite and infinite M/G/1-like queues. In the case of an infinite, state-independent queue, our method allows us to show using elementary tools that the queue length distribution is asymptotically geometric. The parameter of the asymptotic geometric can be expressed through a simple set of equations, easily solved using fixed point iteration. Our approach is very thrifty in terms of memory requirements, easy to implement, and generally fast. Numerical examples illustrate the performance of the proposed method.
The discrete logarithm problem from a local duality perspective

The discrete logarithm problem is analyzed from the perspective of Tate local duality. Local duality in the multiplicative case and the case of Jacobians of curves over p-adic local fields are considered. When the local field contains the necessary roots of unity, the case of curves over local fields is polynomial time reducible to the multiplicative case, and the multiplicative case is polynomial time equivalent to computing discrete logarithm in finite fields. When the local field does not contains the necessary roots of unity, similar results can be obtained at the cost of going to an extension that contains these roots of unity. There was evidence in the analysis that suggests that the minimal extension where the local duality can be rationally and algorithmically defined must contain the roots of unity. Therefore, the discrete logarithm problem appears to be well protected against an attack using local duality. These results are also of independent interest for algorithmic study of arithmetic duality as they explicitly relate local duality in the case of curves over local fields to the multiplicative case and Tate-Lichtenbaum pairing (over finite fields).
Dealing with structural constraints in self-optimizing control engineering

Abstract This paper deals with new design methods for self-optimizing control structures, i.e., the selection of controlled variables which guarantee almost optimal operation. Two types of structural solutions are considered. The first type has been previously addressed by other authors [1] , [2] , [3] , [4] and refers to structures where all controlled variables are linear combinations of the same process variable set. In the practically more relevant second type, each controlled variable consists of a linear combination of an individual process variable set. Design methods for both types are developed. They are compared with respect to optimality and computational performance by means of repeated random tests. For further illustration, the newly developed methods are applied to a previously considered practical example from the academic field [5] , [3] .
Quantum B-splines

Quantum splines are piecewise polynomials whose quantum derivatives (i.e. certain discrete derivatives or equivalently certain divided differences) agree up to some order at the joins. Just like classical splines, quantum splines admit a canonical basis with compact support: the quantum B-splines. These quantum B-splines are the q-analogues of classical B-splines. Here quantum B-spline bases and quantum B-spline curves are investigated, using a new variant of the blossom: the q (quantum)-blossom. The q-blossom of a degree d polynomial is the unique symmetric, multiaffine function in d variables that reduces to the polynomial along the q-diagonal. By applying the q-blossom, algorithms and identities for quantum B-spline bases and quantum B-spline curves are developed, including quantum variants of the de Boor algorithms for recursive evaluation and quantum differentiation, knot insertion procedures for converting from quantum B-spline to piecewise quantum Bezier form, and a quantum variant of Marsden’s identity.
Multifunctional Ferroic Nanocomposites

As trends towards miniaturized components and systems continue in many fields, there has been a rapid development in similarly scaled-down composites. In the electronics industry, these nanocomposites (and especially active nanocomposites based on ferroic elements) form a basis for many of the recent advances in both information and charge storage. While the overall properties of some of these composites can be explained as straightforward extrapolations from the bulk properties, in other instances the small size of the ferroic phase has important consequences on the macroscopic behavior of the composite. This paper reviews some of the recent developments in small-scale ferroic nanocomposites and details the relation between component size and the resultant properties.
Particle structure control in nanoparticle synthesis from the vapor phase

Nanostructured materials have generally been synthesized by condensation from the vapor phase in an inert carrier gas, most often in a buoyant plume above a hot vapor source. Particles form by homogeneous nucleation as the gases cool and grow by Brownian coagulation. Previous studies have shown that the size of the smallest structures is reduced with decreasing pressure, so most nanoparticle synthesis is performed at low pressures. The crystallites produced by this method are subunits of larger agglomerate particles, often with substantial neck formation that interferes with consolidation. Examination of the theory of particle growth under such conditions reveals that, once agglomerate particles begin to form, particle growth rapidly accelerates. The crystallite size is, therefore, determined by the growth prior to the onset of agglomeration. From this analysis, it is seen that the rate of production of nanoparticles can be increased dramatically if the synthesis reactor is operated at higher pressure, with correspondingly shorter growth times. The growth time is determined by the effective cooling rate in the growth region of the reactor. Short growth times are achieved by rapid cooling. Neck formation in those agglomerate particles that do form is diminished by starting the growth process at a high initial temperature.
Polyamine metabolism and cell-cycle-dependent gene expression in IMR-90 human diploid fibroblasts during senescence in culture

Aging of IMR-90 human diploid fibroblasts in culture is accompanied by specific changes of polyamine metabolism including: (a) a fivefold decrease of serum-induced activity of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC1 EC 4.1.1.17); (b) a six to tenfold increase of polyamine catabolism; and (c) a reduction of putrescine uptake. These changes apparently led to a significant reduction of putrescine accumulation in senescent cells following serum stimulation. Since the induction of ODC is a mid-G1 event, the change of polyamine metabolism may be related to changes of expression of other cell-cycle-dependent genes during cellular aging. In addition to ODC gene, we have examined the expression of two early G1 genes, c-erbB and c-myc, and one late G1/S gene thymidine kinase, at mRNA levels, in both young and old IMR-90 cells. We have also compared the enzyme activities of two late G1/S genes, thymidine kinase and thymidylate synthetase, in young and old cells following serum stimulation. We did not observe significant changes of c-erbB, c-myc, and ODC mRNA levels during cellular senescence. However, we found that serum-induced mRNA level of thymidine kinase gene in old IMR-90 cells was significantly reduced compared to that in the young cells. Results also demonstrate that aging of IMR-90 cells was accompanied by significant decrease of both thymidine kinase and thymidylate synthetase activities. In view of the recognized importance of polyamines in growth regulation, it is possible that alteration of polyamine metabolism may contribute to the impairment of expression of some key G1/S genes and such impairment may contribute to the ultimate loss of dividing potential in senescent cells.
Prognostic factors in malignant mesodermal (Mullerian) mixed tumors of the uterus

Clinicopathologic studies of 16 homologous and 19 heterologous malignant mesodermal (Mullerian) mixed tumors of the corpora uteri showed that homologous tumors were more common in black women than in white women; in the former, tumors were diagnosed at a younger age and in more advanced stages than in the latter. Fifty-five percent of women with clinical stage I disease had a higher surgicopathologic stage. The most significant prognostic factors were pathologic extent of disease and vascular invasion in the myometrium. There was no difference in outcome between homologous and heterologous tumors. Initial surgery for staging is essential for the adequate evaluation and treatment of these patients.