cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Participation of excitatory amino acid receptors in the slow excitatory synaptic transmission in the rat spinal dorsal horn in vitro.

Abstract The participation of excitatory amino acid (EAA) receptors in the responses of deep dorsal horn neurons to repetitive stimulation of dorsal roots was investigated using a spinal slice preparation and current-clamp and voltage-clamp techniques. Using EAA receptor and substance P (SP) receptor antagonists and current-clamp, slow excitatory synaptic response evoked by 10–20 Hz stimulation consisted of two depolarizing components: an initial component lasting 1–5s and a late-one of 1–3 min duration. The initial and late components of the slow excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) can also be distinguished on the basis of their voltage-dependence and sensitivity to Mg2+ ions, d -2-amino-5-phosphonovalerate ( d -APV) and 6-cyano-2,3-dihydroxy-7-nitroquinoxaline (CNQX). In the presence of Mg2+, the initial component of the slow EPSC increased with membrane hyperpolarization, whereas the late component decreased. In a zero-Mg2+ medium, the initial component was potentiated, but the late component was reduced, or unchanged. CNQX reduced the initial component. In a zero-Mg2+ solution, or at membrane potentials positive to − 55 mV in 1 mM Mg2+, d -APV reduced or even abolished the initial component, whereas the late component was not modified by d -APV. We propose that slow excitatory synaptic response evoked in deep dorsal horn neurons by repetitive stimulation of primary afferents has two components, an initial transient component that requires activation of N- methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) and non-NMDA receptors, and a late longer-lasting peptidergic component that has been already described (Brain Res., 290 (1984) 336–341.
Optimum shape synthesis of maximum gain omnidirectional antennas

Using characteristic mode shape synthesis, some antenna surfaces and their current distributions are found which produce maximum realizable gain for rotationally symmetric omnidirectional antennas. The same shape synthesis method fails to produce antennas which have maximum endfire gain.
COD of off-centred cracks in pipes under bending load : a geometrical solution

Leak before break analyses require the knowledge of the crack shape and the effect of the acting load. In this paper a very simple but effective model to determine the crack opening displacement (COD) profiles for a circumferential through-wall crack in a pipe under off-centred bending load is proposed. The analytical solution presented allows for calculation of the leakage area, for a given crack length and off-centre angle, on the base of geometrical considerations. The solution proposed can be easily extended to the coupled case of bending and internal pressure loads. The general validity of the proposed model has been verified with an extensive finite element simulation.
Putting ‘family’ back in family planning

Family planning visits are designed to help women build families in a manner most compatible with their life goals. Womens knowledge regarding age-related fertility is suboptimal and first wanted pregnancies are now occurring at older ages. Here we review the issue of diminishing chances of a pregnancy occurring in women over 30 years of age. A debate arises over whether to perform a standard fertility assessment at an age when for example oocyte freezing is still practical and feasible knowing that the proven predictors in subfertile couples may be less informative or even inappropriate in women without complaints about fertility. Studies have demonstrated that if women knew that their fertility was diminishing they might alter life plans including having children sooner or considering oocyte preservation. Therefore we argue that physicians need to make an effort to evaluate a womans childbearing priorities though not necessarily their fertility during the initial family planning visit. (c) The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.
The internal market/external market framework and service quality: Toward theory in services marketing

The services marketing literature has developed primarily in response to managerial need. Yet, to date, it has not produced a significant body of theory that can be used to interconnect its major concepts. This article addresses that need by linking the notion of service quality (as modelled in SERVQUAL) with customer decision‐making via an adaptation of the internal market/external market (IM/EM) framework. The framework helps explore why service quality is important to customers.
Inhibition of protein synthesis and induction of helical polysomes in rat liver by N-hydroxy-2-fluorenylacetamide.

Abstract After a single intraperitoneal injection of the hepatocarcinogen N-hydroxy-2-fluorenylacetamide (OH-FAA), numerous helical polysomes were found in the hepatocytic cytoplasm at 2 and 6 but not 24 h after treatment. Electron microscopy also demonstrated nucleolar segregation, disarray of endoplasmic reticuium (ER), and disaggregation of polyribosomes at the times when helical polysomes were present. Polyribosome disaggregation was confirmed and quantified by determining size distribution of polyribosomes at 2 h after OH-FAA treatment. Protein synthesis was inhibited at the time of helical polysome induction but the degree of inhibition did not noticeably alter the number of helical polysomes found electron microscopically.
Experimental Induction of Calcium Oxalate Nephrolithiasis in Mice

Purpose: The availability of various transgenic and knockout mice provides an excellent opportunity to better understand the pathophysiology of calcium oxalate stone disease. However, attempts to produce calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis in mice have not been successful. We hypothesized that calcium oxalate nephrolithiasis in mice requires increasing urine calcium and oxalate excretion, and experimentally induced hyperoxaluria alone is not sufficient. To provide evidence we induced hyperoxaluria by administering hyperoxaluria inducing agents in normocalciuric and hypercalciuric mice, and investigating various aspects of nephrolithiasis.Materials and Methods: We administered ethylene glycol, glyoxylate or hydroxyl proline via diet in male and female normocalciuric B6 mice, and in hypercalciuric sodium phosphate co-transporter type 2 a −/− mice for 4 weeks. We collected 24-hour urine samples on days 0, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28, and analyzed them for pH, creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase calcium and oxalate. Kidney...
Post-approval fate of pharmaceutical companies

For a fortunate subset of pharmaceutical companies, a regulatory approval is the culmination of massive investment in time, work and money. What happens next? Some companies proceed to build a pipeline and obtain additional approvals. Others do not. In this present report, post-approval fate is evaluated and it was found that most companies are ultimately acquired. A subset achieved a second approval six-to-eight years after the first approval, whereas a shrinking subset, designated as ‘singlets’, remains active in drug discovery with only a single approval. The likelihood that a company will remain a singlet or be acquired relates to therapeutic indication, with oncology associated with increased acquisition potential and infectious-disease-based companies being less commonly acquired.
Iridium oxide-coated defibrillation electrode : Reduced shock polarization and improved defibrillation efficacy

Background Transvenous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) leads are designed to deliver electric shocks to the heart for termination of ventricular dysrhythmias. However, the efficiency of different lead materials has not been well studied. This study compares an ICD lead coated with iridium oxide (IROX), a material that reduces shock-induced polarization, with an otherwise identical, uncoated lead. Methods and Results The defibrillation threshold (DFT) was determined in 13 swine with both IROX-coated and uncoated ICD leads paired with an uncoated “can” electrode. The leads were exchanged through a Teflon sheath to reproduce the intracardiac position. The delivered energy DFT of the IROX-coated lead was 15.9±5.4 J and was significantly lower than the delivered energy DFT of the uncoated lead (19.1±5.1 J; P<.006). The initial lead impedance was equivalent in both leads (IROX, 41.7±5.8 Ω; uncoated, 41.3±4.7 Ω; P=NS) at DFT. However, the impedance rose by 7.3±2.0 Ω during the first phase and by 3.7...
On joint realization of (0, 1) matrices

Abstract Let R=(r1,r2,…,rm), S=(s1,s2,…,sn), R′=(r′1,r′2,… ,r′m), and S′= (s′1,s′2,s′n be nonnegative integral vectors. Denote by A (R,S) the class of (0,1) matrices with row sum vector R and column sum vector S. The three classes A (R,S), A (R′,S′) , and A (R+R′,S+S′) are called jointly realizable if there exist a matrix A in A (R,S) and a matrix B in A (R′,S′) such that A+Bϵ A (R+R′,S+S′) . In this paper, we prove that if A (R,S), A (R′,S′) , and A (R+R′,S+S′) are nonempty but not jointly realizable, then in the first two classes there must exist a matrix having one of the following unavoidable configurations: , . A similar theorem is proved about unavoidable configurations in A (R+R′,S+S′) . We also give a slight generalization of a theorem of Anstee, regarding joint realization of matrices where one of the classes has row sums differing by at most 1, along with a very short proof.
Modules for Introducing Organometallic Reactions: A Bridge between Organic and Inorganic Chemistry

Transition metal organometallic reactions have become increasingly important in the synthesis of organic molecules. A new approach has been developed to introduce organometallic chemistry, along with organic and inorganic chemistry, at the foundational level. This change highlights applications of organometallic chemistry that have dramatically evolved in recent decades. With this development, a larger number of students have been reached than would typically be exposed to organometallic reactions. Modules are described that introduce transition metal organometallic compounds and reactions by analogy with thematically similar topics in general chemistry and organic chemistry. These topics are periodically reinforced by incorporation into organic synthesis problems.
Exact Quantum Simulations of Ionization and Coulomb Explosion of Small Rare-Gas Clusters with Time Dependent Diffusion Monte Carlo Method

We show the exact quantum simulations of the ionization and Coulomb explosion of small rare-gas clusters using the Time Dependent Quantum Diffusion Monte Carlo method. We calculate the ion charge distribution and the cluster size.
Drift wave based modelling of poloidal spin-up precursor and stepwise expansion of transport barriers

The rich phenomenology of internal transport barriers (ITBs) observed in tokamaks includes a poloidal spin-up precursor for balanced injection neutral beam heating and stepwise expansion of the barrier for unbalanced injection. Examples of numerical simulations of these phenomena are presented. Two drift wave based predictive transport models (GLF23 and multimode) are used. Both models include the suppression of ion temperature gradient modes as the E × B shear approaches the computed maximum linear growth rate. Modelling of discharges with ITBs from the DIII-D, JET and TFTR tokamaks are compared.
The 100 Per Cent Reserve Plan

I. The major defects of our present monetary and banking system, 1.— II. The 100 per cent reserve plan; Professor Fisher's formulation, 4.— III. Objectives of Fisher's plan over time: reflation and retail price stabilization, 16.— IV. Summary of main criticisms of the 100 per cent proposals, 26.— V. An alternative plan; methods and objectives, 29.
Petitio in the Strife of Systems

Professor Henry Johnstone’s reflections on philosophical logic are of the highest importance.1 In the present paper I propose to examine critically some of his leading contentions concerning the strife of systems and to develop some alternative conclusions, using his views as a point of departure.
Architectural yield optimization for WSI

A novel methodology for investigating wafer-scale integration (WSI) designs is proposed. This methodology combines the results of work on integrated circuit yield modeling with a study of the effects of system architecture in large-area integrated circuit yield. This work provides a hierarchical framework in which computing structures may be analyzed to determine functionality on a wafer scale and develops methods by which this functionality can be optimized. >
Gender-Specific Labor Market Performance of Mediterranean Immigrants in Germany and Hispanic Immigrants in the United States Compared

This article examines labor market mobility of Hispanic immigrants in the United States and immigrants from recruitment countries in Germany. The data comes from two similar longitudinal samples conducted in Germany and the United States. This allows for a comparison of labor mobility between immigrants and natives in both countries. The comparison reveals a higher degree of mobility on all levels among immigrants in the United States. Over time, Hispanic immigrants were able to reduce the income gap compared to natives while this gap increased in Germany. This higher degree of mobility can be traced back to two factors: A higher human capital among Hispanic immigrants and a more liberal labor market regime in the United States.
The Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome: evolving concepts of its pathogenesis.

Abstract There are some diseases which are more important for the physician to understand than their statistical incidence or their production of morbidity or mortality would suggest. This is because such diseases represent so many fundamental mechanisms, and the WPW syndrome is an excellent example. It is less important to know the exact cause of the WPW syndrome than to understand all the currently plausible possibilities, including the relative strengths and weaknesses of each. In this critique on the pathogenesis of the WPW syndrome the first part dealt with some historic aspects, the second part with the functional anatomy of the AV node and His bundle (and other structures related to the syndrome), the third part with electrophysiology based on current knowledge of anatomy, and the last part with certain therapeutic considerations. The many theories of the pathogenesis of the WPW syndrome may generally be divided into those utilizing functional abnormalities (with or without abnormal anatomy) either in the region of junction between atrial and ventricular septa, or in the region of the lateral AV rings. It is unlikely that all cases of the WPW syndrome are produced in the same way. Based on present knowledge it appears that most features of the WPW syndrome in most carefully studied cases can be best explained by abnormalities in structure and function of the AV node and His bundle, including their immediate environs in the septal AV junctional region.
Trends and predictors of aggressive therapy for clinical locally advanced prostate carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE To determine the patterns and predictors of aggressive local therapies for patients with clinically advanced (cT3) prostate carcinoma, as the USA National Cancer Institute considers external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) to be the most appropriate treatment for these patients, and currently there is less evidence supporting the use of radical prostatectomy (RP). PATIENTS AND METHODS We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) cancer registries to identify patients diagnosed with cT3 disease between 1995 and 2001. Sociodemographic and clinical data included patient age, race/ethnicity, marital status, SEER registry, year of diagnosis, tumour stage and grade, and treatment. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify significant predictors of receiving (i) RP vs EBRT, (ii) any aggressive local treatment (RP or EBRT) or no treatment. RESULTS Between 1995 and 2001, the proportion of men receiving aggressive local therapy for cT3 disease increased by 11% (58.4% to 69.4%), with a 20% increase in EBRT (40.3% to 60.2%) but a decline by half in RP (18.1% to 9.3%). Younger age was the strongest predictor of receiving RP rather than EBRT, and younger age with being married being a predictor of receiving aggressive local therapy (adjusted relative risk for marriage 1.33, 95% confidence interval 1.18–1.87). Black men were significantly less likely than non-Hispanic white men to receive aggressive therapy, with a relative risk of 0.56 (0.45–0.69). CONCLUSION By 2001, 70% of patients with cT3 disease were receiving aggressive local therapy, with EBRT 6.5 times more common than RP. Clinical trials are needed to rigorously assess the effects of different local treatment strategies on clinical outcomes in men with cT3 prostate carcinoma.
Sparse source-wise and pair-wise distance preservers

We introduce and study the notions of pair-wise and source-wise preservers.Given an undirected N-vertex graph G = (V, E) and a subset P of pairs of vertices, let G' = (V, H), H ⊆ E, be called a pair-wise preserver of G with respect to P if for every pair {u, w} ∈ P, distG' (u, w) = distG (u, w). For a set S ⊆ V of sources, a pair-wise preserver of G with respect to the set of all pairs P = (S/2) of sources is called a source-wise preserver of G with respect to S.We prove that for every undirected possibly weighted N-vertex graph G and every subset P of P = O(N1/2) pairs of vertices of G, there exists a linear-size pair-wise preserver of G with respect to P. Consequently, for every subset S ⊆ V of S = O(N1/4) sources, there exists a linear-size source-wise preserver of G with respect to S. On the negative side we show that neither of the two exponents (1/2 and 1/4) can be improved even when the attention is restricted to unweighted graphs.Our lower bounds involve constructions of dense convexly independent sets of vectors with small Euclidean norms. We believe that the link between the areas of Discrete Geometry and spanners that we establish is of independent interest, and might be useful in the study of other problems in the area of low-distortion embeddings.
Elements and innovations in the cultivation of red abalone Haliotis rufescens

Abstract Seven elements are described for cultivation of the red abalone, Haliotis rufescens : broodstock management; spawning induction, fertilization, and early development; larval cultivation; forage culture; settlement and early-juvenile-stage cultivation; weaning; and grow-out: Cultivation methods and equipment are described. Spawnable abalones are maintained on a year-round basis. Larvae are cultured in a flow-through apparatus that yields over 90% to the settling stage. A diatom slurry method is used to provide forage to the early benthonic and juvenile stages. Cultivation problems are described. Included are those with bacteria, Vibrio spp., and the maintenance of suitable diatom substrates for juvenile stages.
Development of a Commercial Dish-Based HCPV System

We present work on our third generation HCPV system. This system will use paraboloidal dish mirrors with our patented optical system redesigned for commercial production to convert sunlight into electricity with 32% end-to-end system efficiency.
Basal Ganglia Volume Is Associated with Aerobic Fitness in Preadolescent Children

The present investigation is the first to explore the association between childhood aerobic fitness and basal ganglia structure and function. Rodent research has revealed that exercise influences the striatum by increasing dopamine signaling and angiogenesis. In children, higher aerobic fitness levels are associated with greater hippocampal volumes, superior performance on tasks of attentional and interference control, and elevated event-related brain potential indices of executive function. The present study used magnetic resonance imaging to investigate if higher-fit and lower-fit 9- and 10-year-old children exhibited differential volumes of other subcortical brain regions, specifically the basal ganglia involved in attentional control. The relationship between aerobic fitness, dorsal and ventral striatum volumes and performance on an attention and inhibition Eriksen flanker task was also examined. The results indicated that higher-fit children showed superior flanker task performance compared to lower-fit children. Higher-fit children also showed greater volumes of the dorsal striatum, and dorsal striatum volume was negatively associated with behavioral interference. The results support the claim that the dorsal striatum is involved in cognitive control and response resolution and that these cognitive processes vary as a function of aerobic fitness. No relationship was found between aerobic fitness, the volume of the ventral striatum and flanker performance. The findings suggest that increased childhood aerobic fitness is associated with greater dorsal striatal volumes and that this is related to enhanced cognitive control. Because children are becoming increasingly overweight, unhealthy and unfit, understanding the neurocognitive benefits of an active lifestyle during childhood has important public health and educational implications.
The Tzanck smear in the diagnosis of cutaneous herpes simplex.

We examined the effectiveness of the Tzanck preparation compared with viral isolation in 32 lesions of cutaneous herpes simplex infection in 30 consecutive patients. Seventy-eight percent had positive cultures, even though the clinical history and lesion morphological findings were typical in all situations. Other authors have also noted that viral isolation does not reach 100% even in the face of typical clinical history. Fifty-three percent of the Tzanck smears were positive. These preparations had a high correlation with positive viral cultures (94.1%). Vesicles were more likely to yield a positive culture than Tzanck smear (100% and 66.7%, respectively). Pustules yielded positive cultures in 72.8% and positive Tzanck smears in 54.5%, while crusted-ulcer lesions were usually not positive by either technique (34%, 16%). A positive Tzanck preparation is an accurate, rapid tool for the diagnosis of cutaneous herpes simplex. (JAMA1984;251:633-635)
Image Classification By The Foley-Sammon Transform

Application of the Foley-Sammon transform to image classification is discussed. The computing procedures of the transform are presented for the case in which the total number of training images (M) is smaller than the dimension of the images to be classified (N). A set of computer simulation results shows that the Foley-Sammon transform provides good classification performance and that a proper number of training images is essential to ensure a low error rate of classification.
AN1792 vaccination immunotherapy in Alzheimer’s disease: the case of a therapy before its time

Due to increasing incidents of cerebral inflammation, Elan Corporation and American Home Products Corporation have recently announced the decision to terminate the clinical trial of AN1792 vaccine for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Descriptive reports of the complications experienced in the Phase IIA trial of AN1792, following as little as one dose, have not been released. However, it has been reported that affected patients are recovering following anti-inflammatory drug treatment. Proponents of vaccination therapy attest that the unexpected events of the Phase IIA trial of AN1792 were part of the perceived risk in employing a novel therapeutic treatment. And in the case of treating a disorder as devastating as AD inevitably is, it may be that taking the “chance” with AN1792 was merited. This first open peer commentary to discuss vaccination therapy in AD reemphasizes the need for concerted efforts in approaching the design and initiation of AD therapeutics, and encouragingly, demonstrates the shared viewpoint that promise may lie in future therapeutic trials aimed at manipulating amyloid load in AD. However, there is evidence throughout the commentaries presented here (and in other forums), that there are many aspects of AD vaccination immunotherapy suggesting that we are not yet prepared to move forward with this therapeutic approach in humans. For example, it has been proposed that, although inflammation may be a component of AD vaccination immunotherapy, it is a short-lived phenomena and potentially integral to the eventual benefit of vaccination treatment. This theory is supported by experimental data [12], and human disease indicating, for example, that suppression of certain features of inflammation may unfavorably influence the progression of multiple sclerosis [1] (see Dr. Schenk’ commentary). This is very interesting, however, the role of inflammation associated with AD and with the vaccination-based clearance of amyloid from the
Quantitative imaging of cochlear soft tissues in wild-type and hearing-impaired transgenic mice by spectral domain optical coherence tomography

Human hearing loss often occurs as a result of damage or malformations to the functional soft tissues within the cochlea, but these changes are not appreciable with current medical imaging modalities. We sought to determine whether optical coherence tomography (OCT) could assess the soft tissue structures relevant to hearing using mouse models. We imaged excised cochleae with an altered tectorial membrane and during normal development. The soft tissue structures and expected anatomical variations were visible using OCT, and quantitative measurements confirmed the ability to detect critical changes relevant to hearing.
Role of the carotid bodies in ventilatory acclimation to chronic hypoxia by the awake cat

Abstract Steady-state breathing patterns during air and hypoxia ( P I O 2 = 84 Torr ) were measured in awake cats in the following conditions: (1) during 7 months of exposure to air following carotid body resection (CBR;N = 6); (2) during 7 months of hypobaric hypoxia ( P I O 2 = 84 Torr ; N = 5) following CBR; (3) during 5 months of exposure to hypobaric hypoxia (N = 4) while intact and then following CBR. Also, in groups (1) and (2) the aortic nerves were sectioned (ANX) at the end of the acclimation periods. The results show that the awake cat hypoventilates if the carotid bodies have been removed, and hypoxic sensitivity is reduced during long-term exposures to either hypoxia or normoxia. ANX caused a slight increase in respiratory frequency, indicating a minor role for the aortic bodies. CBR after acclimation to hypoxia resulted in decreased tidal volume but no change in respiratory frequency. The slight ventilatory acclimation to hypoxia in CBR cats was solely due to increased respiratory frequency. The phenomenon of ‘hypoxic tachypnea’ was modulated by acclimation, indicating that the effect of hypoxic acclimation upon respiratory frequency is due to central mechanisms.
Separation vector formulation for the synthesis of multicomponent separation sequences

A new separation system representation uses stream separation vectors in the separation space. The characteristics of a separation sequence are clarified by its separation base vectors that form the sequence basis and those of a separation system by the geometrical properties of separation vectors. The optimal flowsheet of each sequence under separation vector formulation can be obtained as the solution of a linearly-constrained optimization problem. A set of simple rules determines the minimum separation loads of any sharp separation sequence by inspection. A modified cost measure, which combines the separation cost with the savings due to stream bypass, can be used to select the optimal sequence without the overall cost analysis. The optimal separation sequence is obtained first by identifying the best sequence configuration according to modified cost measures and then by finding the actual costs of maximum-bypass and its neighboring sequence configurations. For the nonlinear objective function, the exact optimal flowsheet is determined by solving a linearly-constrained optimization problem. Since this procedure is a linearly-constrained optimization problem, the mathematical programming solution is not likely to lead to a local minimum.
Metrology in mask manufacturing

A major source of registration failure in microlithography was found to be due to variations in optical field sizes defined by the dies, caused by unsatisfactory focus control. Two methods for determinig variations in optical field sizes are described. Both allow measurements of selected registration errors with an uncertainty of ±0.01 µm (lσ) under manufacturing conditions using commercially available measuring microscopes. The long-term registration stability of stepped-mask exposure systems was also investigated. It is concluded that maintenance of registration over long periods of time can be improved through accurate focus control along the optical axis. Finally, it is suggested that no single set of measurements at one point in time can completely characterize a microlithographic system. Periodic monitoring of key measurable parameters during use is advisable.
Staining of cells of Zea mays root apices with the osmium-zinc iodide and osmium impregnation techniques.

In the three cell types designated as secreting, the OZI procedure stained only 1 to 3 cisternae at the proximal face of the Golgi apparatus, Neither secretory vesicles nor secreted materials showed staining. In other cells the Golgi apparatus was most commonly stained at both faces with unstained cisternae “sandwiched” between the stained ones. This latter pattern was also seen in dividing cells even though in these cells the apparatus produces materials to be “secreted” into the cell plate. Certain specialized internal membranes of the amyloplasts were also stained, as were, variably, the nuclear envelope, the endoplasmic reticulum, and some vacuoles. With osmium no staining of the Golgi apparatus was observed, the same internal plastid membranes were stained, and the nuclear envelope and endoplasmic reticulum showed variable staining. Neither procedure stained lipid droplets. The significance of these staining reactions for Golgi apparatus is discussed.
Wavelet-based interpolation method for nonuniformly sampled signals

Most digital signal processing methods have an underlying assumption of regularly-spaced data samples. However, many real-world data collection techniques generate data sets which are not sampled at evenly-spaced intervals, or which may have significant data dropout problems. Therefore, a method of interpolation is needed to model the signal on an even grid of arbitrary granularity. We propose the interpolation of nonuniformly sampled fields using a least- square fit of the data to a wavelet basis in a multiresolution setting.
Fritzsch-Stech model in SO(10)

The combined Fritzsch-Stech model for quarks is consistent with our present knowledge of quark masses and mixing angles. A possible way to extend it to leptons: by using an SO(10) framework: has been suggested by Bottino, Kim, Nishiura, and Sze. We investigate this model further and find some new features. It is first noted that the allowed quark masses are somewhat sensitive to the experimental uncertainties in the input parameters. This is carefully analyzed and we find that the original Stech Ansatz for the hadron sector is consistent. However, if the top-quark mass is greater than about 45 GeV, this Ansatz must be slightly modified. It is found that in a model of the present type the seesaw mechanism for neutrino masses may be drastically modified. This occurs because in SO(10) it is likely that the matrix of heavy ''right-handed'' neutrinos is close to a singular matrix. This feature is analyzed both analytically and numerically. Various patterns involving two extremely light neutrinos and one intermediate-mass (order of several MeV) neutrino which may arise are compared with experiment. More orthodox and perhaps more probable patterns for neutrino masses are also discussed. The lepton-mixing matrices are predicted and the results support recentmore » explanations of the solar-neutrino paradox.« less
Quasi-static time-series test feeder for PV integration analysis on distribution systems

This paper presents a quasi-static time-series test feeder based on the well-known 34 node test feeder [1]. This test feeder is useful for the evaluation and quantification the distribution system impacts of distributed PV integrations. The load profiles and solar resource profiles used are both publically available. The quasi-static time-series test feeder has been developed using data for the year 2010. The fixed time period between power flow solutions is 1 min making the presented quasi-static time-series test feeder appropriate for use in investigating voltage regulation device operations. A load allocation algorithm is also proposed for assigning spot and distributed loads in the 34 node test feeder to time varying load profiles based on rate class load profiles. A simple model for modeling the real AC power output of a PV system based on discrete global horizontal irradiance (GHI) is also presented. The results of analysis completed using the quasi-static time-series test feeder are shown for various single-site 1MW PV deployment scenarios and voltage regulator compensation settings.
Nitrogen mineralization and denitrification in Lake Michigan sediments

Organic nitrogen mineralization mechanisms, fluxes, and fates in Lake Michigan sediments were examined by measuring accumulation rates of inorganic nitrogen in laboratory microcosms. Neither ammonium nor nitrate increased substantially in flow-cell or slurry microcosms of offshore, silty sediments. In experiments with gastight chambers containing “intact” offshore, silty sediment cores (sampled at 45- and 100-m water depths), the total fluxes of nitrogen (NH, c, NO, -, and N,) across the sediment-water interface ranged from 14 to 51 pg-atoms N rnM2 h-l. Nitrogen gas accounted for 93-98% of the total inorganic nitrogen flux from the sediment to the water. Inputs of inorganic nitrogen via mineralization processes (mediated by microbial decomposition and invertebrate excretion) appeared to be the major factors controlling the rates of both nitrification and denitrification in these sediments. The overlying water did not serve as a significant net source of nitrate driving the denitrification reaction. These results thus indicate that denitrification is a dominant sink for mineralized nitrogen in these silty Lake Michigan sediments and that this process is closely coupled with the initial mineralization of organic nitrogen in the sediments.
Impact of FDG PET on defining the extent of disease and on the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of FDG PET on defining the extent of disease and on the treatment of patients with advanced breast cancer.MATERIALS AND METHODS. The medical records of 125 consecutive patients with recurrent or metastatic breast cancer referred for FDG PET from January 1998 through May 2002 were retrospectively reviewed. The rationale for FDG PET referral and the impact of FDG PET on subsequent treatment decisions for patients were determined by chart review. The impact of FDG PET on defining the extent of disease was determined by comparing the FDG PET interpretation at the time of the examination with findings from conventional imaging (CI) performed before FDG PET. FDG PET results were confirmed in nearly half (n = 61) of the patients by histopathology (n = 23) or follow-up imaging (n = 38; mean follow-up interval, 21.3 months).RESULTS. Patients were referred for FDG PET for the following reasons: evaluation of disease response or viability after therapy (n = 43 [35%]), lo...
Photoreduction of Ytterbium and Samarium

Two lanthanides, ytterbium and samarium, have been photoreduced from their normal stable states of +3 to their unstable +2 states in neat methanol solution, using a pulsed KrF excimer laser at 248 nm. No photochemical reactions are observed when a continuous low-pressure mercury lamp at 254 nm is employed, implying that multi-photon processes are occurring when using the pulsed laser source. In the case of Sm, complexation with a macrocyclic ether (18-crown-6 or 2.2.2 cryptand) stabilizes the reduced state, and the apparent lifetime of Sm(II) is increased from seconds to hours.
Food Toxicants, Naturally Occurring

Food products are fundamentally mixtures of chemical compounds. That certain of these compounds may produce human toxicities has been known before recorded time. Because human diets are normally composed of large numbers of different foods, only minute quantities of any specific toxic materials are consumed. Thus, dilution exerts a significant protection effect against acute toxication. Toxicants are substances, which upon ingestion, produce changes in homeostasis that are threatening to the normal function of the organism. There are substantial differences in the toxicity thresholds of individuals to specific agents. Some of the naturally occurring food toxicants discussed are aflatoxin, caffeine, goitrin, oxalic acid, and solanine. Groups include toxic proteins, peptides, amides, amino acids, alkaloids, oligosaccharides, essential minerals and heavy trace elements, cyanogenic glycosides, phytoalexins, antinutrients, vitamins, mycotoxins, nitrates. There is little specific legislation that pertains to natural toxicants in food. Keywords: natural toxicants; alkaloids; food; seafood toxins; mycotoxins
Finding a Polytope from Its Graph in Polynomial Time

We show that one can compute a (simple) polytope from its graph in Polynomial time. This computation of a polytope from its graph was shown to be solvable by Blind and Mani and more recently Kalai provided a simple proof that leads to an exponential time algorithm. Our proof relies on a Primal-Dual characterization by Joswig, Kaibel and Korner. We describe an exponential Linear Programming which can be used to construct the solution and show that it can be solved in polynomial time.
Fuzzy robust and non-fragile minimax control of a trailer-truck model

This paper deals with a fuzzy robust and non-fragile minimax control problem of a trailer-truck model. By introducing parametric uncertainty terms into the T-S model for trailer-truck systems, the fuzzy model approaches to the original system more exactly. Existence conditions are derived for the robust and non-fragile minimax control in the sense of Lyapunov asymptotic stability and formulated in the form of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). The convex optimization algorithm is used to get the minimal upper bound of the performance cost and parameter of the optimal minimax controller. Then the closed-loop system will be asymptotically stable under the condition of the worst disturbance and uncertainty. Finally, an illustrative example is used to demonstrate the better robust and non-fragile performance of the controller design.
In vivo properties of potassium channels in cerebral blood vessels during diabetes mellitus.

Objective: While potassium (K+) channels are important in basal tone and dilatation of large and small cerebral vessels, the effect of diabetes mellitus on K+ channels remains unclear. The goal of this study was to identify the influence of diabetes on responses of cerebral vessels to inhibition/activation of K+ channels.Methods: The authors measured in vivo responses of pial arterioles and the basilar artery to inhibition/activation of K+ channels in nondiabetic and diabetic rats using intravital microscopy.Results: Pial arterioles from nondiabetic and diabetic rats constricted to barium chloride (BaCl2) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). However, the magnitude of vasoconstriction to BaCl2 was greater in nondiabetic than in diabetic rats. Tetraethylammonium (TEA) did not alter diameter of pial arterioles in nondiabetic or diabetic rats. In addition, dilatation of pial arterioles to KCl and NS-1619 was less in diabetic compared to nondiabetic rats. The basilar artery from nondiabetic and diabetic rats constricte...
Efficacy of the Dietary Supplement S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine

OBJECTIVE:To review existing published clinical evidence surrounding the dietary supplement SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine).DATA SOURCES:The majority of information was obtained from primary published literature identified through MEDLINE search (1966–February 2001). Information was also obtained through secondary and tertiary sources when available.STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION:All articles identified from data sources were evaluated and all relevant information included in this review.DATA SYNTHESIS:The majority of clinical trial evidence surrounds the application of SAMe for various depressive disorders, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia. Sample sizes of these trials and the dose employed have varied considerably. Several reviews and at least two meta-analyses have examined the available evidence surrounding SAMe in the therapy of depression for trials completed prior to 1994 and concluded that SAMe was superior to placebo in treating depressive disorders and approximately as effective as standard ...
SubSpace Projection: A unified framework for a class of partition-based dimension reduction techniques

Similarity search in high dimensional space is a nontrivial problem due to the so-called curse of dimensionality. Recent techniques such as Piecewise Aggregate Approximation (PAA), Segmented Means (SMEAN) and Mean-Standard deviation (MS) prove to be very effective in reducing data dimensionality by partitioning dimensions into subsets and extracting aggregate values from each dimension subset. These partition-based techniques have many advantages including very efficient multi-phased approximation while being simple to implement. They, however, are not adaptive to the different characteristics of data in diverse applications. We propose SubSpace Projection (SSP) as a unified framework for these partition-based techniques. SSP projects data onto subspaces and computes a fixed number of salient features with respect to a reference vector. A study of the relationships between query selectivity and the corresponding space partitioning schemes uncovers indicators that can be used to predict the performance of the partitioning configuration. Accordingly, we design a greedy algorithm to efficiently determine a good partitioning of the data dimensions. The results of our extensive experiments indicate that the proposed method consistently outperforms state-of-the-art techniques.
Effects of 4-aminopyridine on stretched mammalian spinal cord: the role of potassium channels in axonal conduction.

Axonal conduction deficit is a major contributor to various degrees of disability after spinal cord injury. 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), a potassium channel blocker, has been shown to restore some condu...
Determination of Carisoprodol and Meprobamate in Oral Fluid

The determination of carisoprodol and its metabolite meprobamate in oral fluid using solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectral detection (LC-MS-MS) and its application to authentic specimens is described. The method employs collection of oral fluid with the Quantisal device, extraction using cation exchange/hydrophobic solid-phase columns, and LC-MS-MS in positive ion electrospray mode. The method was fully validated using various parameters, including selectivity, linearity, accuracy, intra-day and inter-day imprecision, drug recovery from the collection pad, limit of quantitation and matrix effects. The method was applied to both routine research specimens and an authentic specimen taken from an individual prescribed a daily dose of 350 mg carisoprodol following surgery.
Comparing two 38-kHz scientific echosounders

The EK500 has been the state-of-the-art scientific echosounder for surveying marine fish stocks for over a decade; the EK60 is its successor. Ensuring comparability in performance is vital during the transition from the EK500 to the EK60. To quantify the respective performances, each echosounder was calibrated in tandem by the standard-target method using the same 38-kHz, 12° beam width, split-beam transducer, with alternating pinging by means of an external triggering-and-switching system. The principal measurements comprised split-beam-determined angle and target strength, on-axis sensitivity, and directionality in the plane normal to the acoustic axis, as measured with a 60-mm-diameter copper sphere. Ambient noise, including volumetric reverberation, was also measured. Principal comparisons included those of the time-series and histograms of split-beam-determined target strength; respective alongship and athwartship angles as determined by the split-beam system; and as expected, difference in the split-beam-determined and experimental target-strength values in the plane normal to the acoustic axis. The mean absolute difference in off-axis angle values was also compared. While the performance of the two echosounders is generally similar, systematic differences exist. For the particular calibration measurements, the time variability in measurements of on-axis target strength was of the order of 1 dB for the EK500 and 2 dB for the EK60. The target-strength distribution for measurements made with the EK500 was normal, with standard deviation 0.2-0.3 dB, whereas for the EK60, the target-strength distribution was distinctly skewed and the standard deviation varied over 0.3-0.5 dB. Differences were found between the split-beam and physical-angle measurements. They were noticeably larger in the case of the EK60. Differences in performance between the two echosounders suggest refinements to the new system that will help realize its full potential in scientific work.
Knowledge-based software testing agent using evolutionary learning with cultural algorithms

Software testing is extremely difficult in the context of large scale engineering applications. We suggest that the application of the white and black box testing methods within a cultural algorithm environment will present a successful approach to fault detection. In order to utilize both a functional approach and a structural approach, two cultural algorithms will be applied within this tool. The first cultural algorithm will utilize the black box testing by learning equivalence classes of faulty input/output pairs. These equivalence classes are then passed over to the second cultural algorithm that will apply program slicing techniques to determine program slices from the data. The goal will be to pinpoint specific faults within the program design. Through the searching of the program code, this approach can be considered as behavioral mining of a program.
What infants know about intentional action and how they might come to know it

Carpendale & Lewis (C&L) propose that social knowledge is constructed from triadic interactions. This account generates testable predictions concerning social knowledge in infancy. Current evidence is not entirely consistent with these predictions. Infants possess action knowledge before they engage in triadic interactions, and triadic use of an action does not always precede knowledge about the action.
A study of the impact of scheduling parameters in heterogeneous computing environments

This paper describes a tool for exploring system scheduler parameter settings in a heterogeneous computing environment. Through the coupling of simulation and optimization techniques, this work investigates optimal scheduling intervals, the impact of job arrival prediction on scheduling, as well as how to best apply fair use policies. The developed simulation framework is quick and modular, enabling decision makers to further explore decisions in real-time regarding scheduling policies or parameter changes.
Male and female in organizational behavior

The human division of male and female sexes has profound unacknowledged consequences for behavior in organizations. Sex is not simply an individual difference (like eye color), but is an essential part played in life with others. This essay finds sex to be the main organizing principle of human life. Bringing this fact to light, the essay shows how we can begin to understand many perplexing problems of reconciling men and women in organizations today. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.