cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Rate of interictal events and spontaneous seizures in epileptic rats after electrical stimulation of hippocampus and its afferents.

Summary: Purpose: Deep brain stimulation has been used by several investigators to prevent the occurrence of spontaneous seizures in patients with intractable epilepsy. With the kainic acid rat model of spontaneous recurrent seizures, we examined the consequences of subthreshold electrical stimulation of commissural pathways and perforant path on the synaptic plasticity, rate of interictal epileptiform events (IIEs), and spontaneous seizures in kainic acid (KA)-treated rats epileptic rats. Methods: Recording microelectrodes were implanted bilaterally in the dentate gyrus and entorhinal cortex. Stimulating electrodes were implanted into the rostral part of the right hippocampus and right perforant path. Stimulation was performed daily with 200 Hz/0.5-s duration trains, 10-min duration 1-Hz train, or 2-h, 1-Hz train and 2-h duration, 50-Hz trains. Integrated amplitude of evoked potentials, rate of IIE, and spontaneous seizures was analyzed before and after stimulation. Results: High-frequency tetani evoked long-term potentiation in 50% of epileptic rats compared with 100% of control rats. No long-term depression was observed after 1-Hz train. Decrease rate of IIE was found during 1-Hz and 50-Hz stimulation and returned to the basal level within 30–60 min. No significant change of the spontaneous seizure rate was found. Conclusions: Epileptic brain is less prone to plastic changes compared with the normal brain. Daily 2-h electrical stimulation with either low or high frequency does not have a long-term effect on the rate of interictal events and spontaneous seizures.
Development and Use of an Administrative Claims Measure for Profiling Hospital-wide Performance on 30-Day Unplanned Readmission

Background: Existing publicly reported readmission measures are condition-specific, representing less than 20% of adult hospitalizations. An all-condition measure may better measure quality and pro...
The Family Life Cycle and Critical Transitions: Utilizing Cinematherapy to Facilitate Understanding and Increase Communication

Transitioning successfully from one stage of development to the next in the family life cycle requires the accomplishment of certain developmental tasks. Couples and families who fail to accomplish these tasks often become “stuck” and unable to move forward. This impasse frequently leads to heightened stress reactions and crippled channels of communication. Counselors working with these couples and families are challenged to help them begin to engage in meaningful conversations about the obstacles faced in achieving developmental tasks and transitioning to the next stage of family development. This article discusses the benefits of utilizing cinematherapy, or the use of motion picture films, when counseling these families. A case example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of cinematherapy.
Perceptions of the Functions of Reprimand

Summary Male and female child-care workers (N = 51) judged and then reported attributions to varied reprimand techniques. Retributive, restitutive, and explanatory reprimands were represented in separate videotaped sequences. After viewing a filmed scenario which showed one of the reprimand techniques, each participant recorded judgments regarding characteristics of that method of reprimand. Judgments were registered by marking a seven-point scale associated with each of 14 questions inquiring into such matters as the extent of the reprimand's leniency-severity, effectiveness-ineffectiveness, and commonality of use. Peer judgments about worker effectiveness yielded a measure which served as a second independent variable. A multivariate analysis of variance was used to evaluate the variations in judgment that were associated with varied reprimand techniques and varied worker effectiveness. Workers discriminated the three reprimand conditions along one dimension that delineates the leniency and commonality ...
Culture of differentiated and undifferentiated type II cells from fetal rat lung.

Abstract We have developed a relatively simple and reproducible method for the isolation and culture of both differentiated and undifferentiated type II cells from fetal rat lung. The technique involves an initial period of explant culture in serum and hormone free medium, followed by enzymatic dissociation of the explants, differential adhesion to remove fibroblasts, incubation of the cell pellet to promote aggregation of the type II cells and monolayer culture of the type II cells. The type II cells form clusters which are surrounded by scattered fibroblasts. When the technique was performed with three differential adhesion steps, cultures contained 86.0 ± 1.4% type II cells. To obtain a higher degree of purity and greater yield, two differential adhesions followed by gentle trypsinization of the cultures which selectively removes the isolated fibroblasts was performed. This resulted in cultures with 89.4 ± 1.7% type II cells. The differentiated fetal type II cell cultures were prepared from 19-day fetal rat lungs which were initially maintained in explant culture for 48 h. These differentiated cells demonstrated the characteristic morphologic features of type II cells including lamellar bodies and microvilli. Undifferentiated fetal cells were prepared in a similar manner from 18-day fetal rat lung maintained in explant culture for 24 h. These cells did not contain intracellular osmiophilic granules; the appearance of these granules could, however, be induced by hormones. For this reason they are considered to be pre-type II cells. The viability of the cultured cells was 97%. Both the differentiated and undifferentiated fetal type II cells specifically bound the Maclura pomifera lectin, a type II cell surface marker. The phospholipid profile of the fetal cells was similar to that of adult rat type II cells; the differentiated fetal cells, however, synthesized less phosphatidylcholine than the adult cells did, but more than the undifferentiated fetal cells. The differentiated fetal cells secreted phosphatidylcholine at a basal rate of 0.6% ± 0.1% during a 90-min incubation. There was dose-dependent stimulation of phosphatidylcholine secretion after exposure to terbutaline. Maximum stimulation (76%) was observed at a concentration of 10 μM. This culture system provides a valuable model for studies of the maturation of the undifferentiated fetal type II cell and surfactant metabolism and secretion in the differentiated fetal type II cell.
Two cases of asymptomatic massive fetomaternal hemorrhage.

Evaluation of fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH) in the immediate postpartum period is critical for the timely administration of Rh immunoglobulin (RhIG) prophylaxis to minimize the risk of alloimmunization in D-negative mothers of D-positive newborns. We report a series of two clinically-unsuspected cases of massive FMHs identified at our university medical center. Retrospective records of two cases of massive FMH were investigated using the electronic medical record. After positive fetal bleed screens, flow cytometric analysis for hemoglobin F was performed to quantify the volume of the hemorrhages in both cases. Flow cytometric enumeration with anti-D was also performed in one case. The two patients had 209.5 and 75 mL of fetal blood in circulation, resulting in 8 and 4 doses of RhIG administered, respectively. For the former patient, flow cytometric analysis with anti-D ruled out hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin and supported the fetal origin of the red cells. Due to the clinically-silent nature of both hemorrhages, further evaluation of the newborns' blood was not performed. These cases highlight the importance of rapidly obtaining accurate measurements of fetal blood loss via flow cytometric analysis in cases of FMH, particularly in clinically-unsuspected cases, to ensure timely administration of adequate immunoprophylaxis to D-negative mothers.
High energy implantation masking with polyimide

Abstract A negative working polyimide resist has been studied as high energy implantation masking material (Ciba-Geigy RD86-710). To determine the blocking characteristics in the MeV ion energy range, a new method based on polyimide beveling was developed. Nonlinear blocking phenomena due to polyimide shrinkage were observed. Experimental blocking characteristics for the polyimide photoresist is presented for phosphorus ion energies in the MeV range.
527 TRENDS IN THE PREVALENCE OF CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENT OBESITY IN THE UNITED STATES

Trends in the prevalence of obesity in 6-11 year old children and 12-17 year old adolescents were examined using data collected during the National Health Examination Survey (NHES) Cycle II (1963-65), NHES Cycle III (1966-70), first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES I, 1971-74), and NHANES II (1976-80). All four surveys used a complex multistage probability sampling design to provide representative samples of the noninstitutionalized population of the United States. Obesity was defined as a triceps skinfold ≥ 85th percentile of 6-11 year old children studied in NHES Cycle II or 12-17 year old adolescents studied in NHES Cycle III. Superobesity was defined as a triceps skinfold ≥ 95th percentile. Over the 10-15 year period encompassed by these surveys, obesity and superobesity increased by 54% (p <.0001) and 98% (p <.0001) respectively in 6-11 year olds and by 39% (p < .0001) and 64% (p < .0001) respectively in 12-17 year olds. In both groups, the increases in prevalence were greater in blacks than whites. In 6-11 year olds, greater increases occurred in males, whereas in 12-17 year olds, greater increases occurred in females. Previously documented differentials in the prevalence of obesity by season and region of the country persisted independent of the changes in prevalence. These data indicate that obesity is epidemic in the pediatric population, and emphasize the need for more effective therapy and prevention.
A comparison of paired-associate learning models having different acquisition and retention axioms

Abstract Several alternative interpretations of all-or-none processes for paired-associate learning and concept formation are examined. These models, along with three linear models, are applied to data from eight paired-associate learning experiments. The principal analyses involve goodness-of-fit tests for observed response sequences and conditional probabilities. The results favor a three-process model that postulates a distinction between long-term and short-term retention and allows for forgetting between successive presentations of the same stimulus item.
Is zero underestimation feasible? Extended Vacuum-assisted breast biopsy in solid lesions – a blind study

Vacuum-Assisted Breast Biopsy (VABB) is effective for the preoperative diagnosis of non-palpable mammographic solid lesions. The main disadvantage is underestimation, which might render the management of atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) difficult. This study aims to develop and assess a modified way of performing VABB. A total of 107 women with non-palpable mammographic breast solid tumors BI-RADS 3 and 4 underwent VABB with 11G, on the stereotactic Fischer's table. 54 women were allocated to the recommended protocol and 24 cores were obtained according to the consensus meeting in Nordesterdt (1 offset-main target in the middle of the lesion and one offset inside). 53 women were randomly allocated to the extended protocol and 96 cores were excised (one offset-main target in the middle of the lesion and 7 peripheral offsets). A preoperative diagnosis was established. Women with a preoperative diagnosis of precursor/preinvasive/invasive lesion underwent open surgery. A second pathologist, blind to the preoperative results and to the protocol made the postoperative diagnosis. The percentage of the surface excised via VABB was retrospectively calculated on the mammogram. The discrepancy between preoperative and postoperative diagnoses along with the protocol adopted and the volume removed were evaluated by Fisher's exact test and Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon test, respectively. Irrespectively of the protocol adopted, 82.2% of the lesions were benign. 14.0% of the lesions were malignancies (5.1% of BI-RADS 3, 5.3% of BI-RADS 4A, 25% of BI-RADS 4B, and 83.3% of BI-RADS 4C lesions). 3.7% of the biopsies were precursor lesions. There was no evidence of underestimation in either protocols. In the standard protocol, the preoperative/postoperative diagnoses were identical. In the extended protocol, the postoperative diagnosis was less severe than the preoperative in 55.5% of cases (55.5% vs. 0%, p = 0.029), and preoperative ADH was totally removed. The phenomenon of discrepancy between diagnoses was associated with larger volume removed (8.20 ± 1.10 vs. 3.32 ± 3.50 cm3, p = 0.037) and higher removed percentage of the lesion (97.83 ± 4.86% vs. 74.34 ± 23.43%, p = 0.024) The extended protocol seems to totally excise precursor lesions, with minimal underestimation. This might possibly point to a modified management of ADH lesions.
Videotape technology in the identification and storage of intracerebral electrode locations.

Abstract Using standard videotape recording (VTR) equipment and a modified optical system, it is possible to identify and record the location of surgically implanted electrodes with picture and sound. No special chemicals or darkroom procedures are required.
Bernardo del Carpio en el Poema de Fernán González

The focus of the Poema de Fernan Gonzalez falls squarely on its protagonist, the tenth-century Castilian warrior lord known to us today as Count Fernan Gonzalez. Nevertheless, a third of the poem is devoted to the narration of events and prominent figures who preceded the Count. Most notable among these is Bernardo del Carpio, a fully fictitious epic hero who prefigures the Count in his willingness to fight for the independence of the Castilian nation. This analysis of the narration of Bernardo's heroic deeds against the invading army of Charlemagne is meant to clarify lingering doubts about the sources of the poem and their mode of transmission.
Some remarkable examples in eigenvalue perturbation theory

Abstract We discuss the ground state energy, E(g), of some anharmonic oscillators p2 + x2 − 1 + P(x, g), where P(x, g) is a polynomial in x and g. Included is an example with a convergent perturbation series converging to the wrong answer and counterexamples to Dyson's argument on instability implying the divergence of perturbation theory and to the assertion that terms lower order in x to the same order in g do not effect the asymptotics of the perturbation coefficients an as n → ∞.
Metamodeling development for vehicle frontal impact simulation

Response surface methods or metamodels are commonly used to approximate large computationally expensive engineering systems. Five response surface methods are studied: Stepwise Regression, Moving Least Square, Kriging, Multiquadric, and Adaptive and Interactive Modeling System. A real-world frontal impact design problem is used as an example, which is a complex, highly nonlinear, transient, dynamic, large deformation finite element model. To study the accuracy of the metamodel, the optimal Latin Hypercube Sampling method is used to distribute the sampling points uniformly over the entire design space. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) is used as the error indicator. Convergence rate, widely used in the arena of the finite element method for evaluating new element’s performance, was exploited in this vehicle impact example.
Toxicity of palladium

Abstract Pd 2+ is a potent enzyme inhibitor, inhibiting creatine kinase (CPK) (Ki app = 0.16 μ M); aldolase, (Ki app = 4.0 μ M), succinate dehydrogenase, (Ki app = 8.0 μ M); carbonic anhydrase, (Ki app = 1.0 μ M); alkaline phosphatase, (Ki app = 0.6 μ M) and prolyl hydroxylase (Ki app = 20.0 μ M). Our studies indicate potential sites of toxic action Pd 2+ .
Protease-Activated Receptor-2 (PAR-2) Expression in Human Fibroblasts is Regulated by Growth Factors and Extracellular Matrix

Many cell types express a membrane receptor, activated by trypsin-like proteases, termed protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2). Previous studies describing PAR-2 expression on fibroblasts have been conflicting. In this report, we investigated in vitro PAR-2 expression on several fibroblast cell lines using flow cytometry, immunohistology, and immunoblots of cell lysates. Consistent PAR-2 expression was detected in cultured fibroblasts, although we observed heterogeneity of cellular expression among the cell lines. Some fibroblast lines expressed PAR-2 predominantly as an intracellular protein with differing cytoplasmic staining patterns, whereas other fibroblast lines displayed PAR-2 primarily as a cell surface receptor. Immunoblots of cell lysates with polyclonal anti-PAR-2 demonstrated a 44 kDa band, the predicted molecular weight for the PAR-2 core protein. Furthermore, we noted that expression of PAR-2 was subject to regulation. Fibroblasts grown within a collagen matrix downregulated receptor expression whereas increased PAR-2 expression was observed by the addition of fibroblast growth factors PDGF-BB and TGF-β. This study may explain the previous inconsistencies in PAR-2 expression observed on tissue fibroblasts. Results indicate that the degree of fibroblast proliferation, attenuated by extracellular matrix and upregulated by growth factors, influences whether fibroblasts express PAR-2 and, thus, would be responsive to protease signaling.
Polar Ultraviolet Imager observation of auroral breakup

[1] The NASA's Polar satellite completed its mission in March 2008. During its 12 year operation, the Ultraviolet Imager (UVI) on-board Polar acquired a large number of auroral images in FUV bands with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolutions. The purpose of this brief report is to provide a list of auroral substorm onset identified with UVI to the community for full use. A total of 2003 auroral substorm onsets are identified in the Northern Hemisphere between 1996 and 2000 and 536 onsets in Southern Hemisphere in 2007. Distributions of the onset locations are near Gaussian, with a population mean of 65.9° (standard deviation σ = 2.2°) in magnetic latitude (MLat) and 22.6 (σ = 1.1) in magnetic local time (MLT) for the northern hemispheric events and 68.0° (σ = 2.3°) in MLat and 22.6 (σ = 1.1) in MLT for the southern hemispheric events. A comparison with previously published IMAGE onset results suggests that substorms occur more frequently and intensely in the descending than in the ascending phase of solar cycle. The list of onset events includes the onset times and locations, and is provided as a supplement.
Rate of Turnover and Attenuation of Crude Oil Added to a Louisiana Sagittaria lancifolia Freshwater Marsh Soil

Abstract The effects of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and plants on attenuation of applied South Louisiana Crude (SLC) to a Sagittaria lancifolia freshwater marsh were investigated under field conditions. Sixteen plots were established in the substrate and treatments were: (1) oil, no plants, no N and P; (2) oil, plants, no N and P; (3) oil, no plants, N and P and (4) oil, plants, N and P. SLC, N and P were applied, 2 l m −2 , 10 g m −2 and 4 g m −2 , respectively. Sediment cores were collected 2, 15 and 53 weeks after oil application and extracts were analyzed by GC/MS for target n -alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Results demonstrate N, P and S. lancifolia accelerated turnover or attenuation of SLC at 2 and 15 weeks. However only trace hydrocarbon concentrations were detected in the marsh soil after 1 year regardless of treatment, demonstrating relative rapid turnover at the oil rate used in this study.
Comparative studies of methotrexate and metoprine: metabolic toxicity and cell killing.

Abstract These studies extend the utility of assays for antifolate activity based on UdR incorporation into DNA. Indirect assay of UdR incorporation was used for comparison with drug uptake kinetics and with the extent of metabolic effectiveness of MTX and DDMP on WIL-2 cells. The immediate inhibition of UdR incorporation by DDMP was contrasted with the slower onset of inhibition by MTX. Notably, DDMP established a steady state of inhibition of UdR incorporation into DNA within 5 sec of its addition to WIL-2 cell cultures. Similar experiments were conducted to examine the conditions required to establish and maintain the metabolic toxicity of MTX in WIL-2 cells and human leukemic cells. A rationale is suggested for maintenance of MTX utilizing low doses of MTX or the lipid-soluble antifolate, DDMP. This approach may increase the selectivity of MTX based protocols, and have special efficacy for treatment of tumors of the central nervous system.
ICPD both before and beyond 2014: The challenges of population and development in the twenty-first century

Twenty years since the historic consensus at the ICPD a global review of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) health in September of 1994 in Cairo Egypt a global review of the accomplishments and challenges of ICPD is currently being undertaken by the United Nations governments and civil society organizations. In anticipation of the culmination of this review process in September 2014 Global Public Health hopes to contribute to the ongoing debate on the reevaluation and reassessment of the legacy of Cairo and about the key challenges still facing the field of population and development by publishing a Special Issue of ICPD both before and beyond 2014. This Special Issue brings together articles by individuals working at the interface of research and advocacy including many people who were active participants in the 1994 ICPD process and who have continued to play significant roles in the post-ICPD period. The Special Issue opens with a number of articles that offer a broader assessment of the ICPD while contextualizing the legacy of the ICPD within current discussions on the post-2015 development agenda. [excerpt]
Cytokinesis in HeLa: post-telophase delay and microtubule-associated motility.

Phase-contrast microcinematography of cultured HeLa cells reveals that cell separation is considerably delayed after telophase. During this period of delay, the daughter cells lose their rounded morphology and become flattened against the substrate, as occurs in interphase. After two or more hours, the cells again become rounded while the thin intercellular bridge connecting them begins to elongate. This active elongation involves the migration of thickenings (“waves”) along the bridge from the midbody at its center toward either cell. Later, waves occur only on one side of the midbody as this half of the bridge alone continues to elongate. The arrival of waves at the cells is accompanied not only by discrete increases of length in that half of the bridge, but also by blebbing activity in that cell. Rupture of the bridge finally occurs just adjacent to the cell receiving these latter waves.
Three myths of computer science

In this paper I will discuss a basic concept of computer science-the concept of a computer program-and three related distinctions of computer science-software vs. hardware, digital vs. analogue, and model vs. theory. I believe all of these notions are important, and if properly understood, provide an important part of the conceptual framework of computer science. But, when these notions are misunderstood, certain myths tend to evolve. With regard to artificial intelligence work these myths perpetuate sloppy research, and with regard to philosophy these myths promote misconceptions related to the mind-body problem and scientific methodology.
Reduction of cancer mortality and incidence by selenium supplementation

□Patients and Method: In order to test the hypothesis that a dietary supplement of selenium (Se) may reduce cancer risk, 1312 patients with histories of basa/squamous cell carcinomas of the skin were assigned in random, double-blind fashion to daily oral supplements of either Se-enriched yeast (200 µg Se/day), or a low-Se yeast placebo. Patients were recruited in 1983 to 1990 and were followed with regular dermatologic examinations through, 1993 for a total of 8269 person-years of observation. Skin cancer diagnoses were confirmed histologically and plasma Se concentration was determined at 6 to 12 months intervals. All deaths and patient-reported illnesses were confirmed and documented by consultation with the patient medical care providers.
Effect of xanthan gum on enhancing the foaming properties of soy protein isolate

The foaming properties of whey protein isolate (WPI) in the presence of xanthan gum (XG) were investigated. XG dispersion did not exhibit any foaming properties. The optimal foaming overrun (FO), or the amount of air incorporated into the dispersion, was obtained from the dispersion of 5% WPI and 0.05% XG at 949%. This WPI-XG dispersion had a significantly higher overrun than that of WPI (868%) or egg white (879%) (P<0.05). Optimal foam stability (FS) of 216 min was obtained at 5% WPI and 0.2% XG; however, the overrun was reduced slightly (844%). XG increased stability to 15 times that of WPI alone. The overrun of 5% WPI plus 0.05% XG was further increased to 1343% when 1 M NaCl was added (P<0.05). However, FS (51 min) was significantly reduced. A significant increase in the FO of 5% WPI plus 0.05% XG (1081%) was observed when pH was adjusted to 5.0 with no significant change in FS (56 min) (P<0.05). The FO (1457%) was significantly increased (P<0.05) when the WPI-XG was heat treated (55°C for 5 min). WPI-XG dispersions at acidic pH and temperatures below 85°C have a variety of potential applications in products such as protein beverages, angel food cake, and unique infant formulas.
Resilient command and control infrastructures for cyber operations

The concept of command and control (C2) is generally associated with the exercise of authority, direction and coordination of assets and capabilities. Traditionally, the concept has encompassed important operational functions such as the establishment of intent, allocation of roles and responsibilities, definition of rules and constraints, and the monitoring and estimation of system state, situation, and progress. More recently, the notion of C2 has been extended beyond military applications to include cyber operation environments and assets. Unfortunately this evolution has enjoyed faster progress and adoption on the offensive, rather than defensive side of cyber operations. One example is the adoption of advanced peer-to-peer C2 infrastructures for the control of malicious botnets and coordinated attacks, which have successfully yielded very effective and resilient control infrastructures in many instances. Defensive C2 is normally associated with a system's ability to monitor, interpret, reason, and respond to cyber events, often through advanced human-machine interfaces, or automated actions. For defensive operations, the concept is gradually evolving and gaining momentum. Recent research activities in this area are now showing great potential to enable truly resilient cyber defense infrastructures. In this talk I will introduce some of the motivations, requirements, and challenges associated with the design of distributed command and control infrastructures for cyber operations. The talk will primarily focus on the resilience aspects of distributed C2, and will cover a brief overview of the prior research in the field, as well as discussions on some of the current and future challenges in this important research domain.
How do implementation efforts relate to program adherence? examining the role of organizational, implementer, and program factors

Widespread replications of evidence-based prevention programs (EBPPs) prompt prevention scientists to examine program implementation adherence in real world settings. Based on Chen's model (1990), we identified five key factors of the implementation system and assessed which characteristics related to program adherence. The sample included 32 EBPPs and results indicate that target recipient responsivity, program material quality, implementer prioritization, community collaborative system support, and parental support significantly relate to program adherence. Several differences reached statistical significance, thereby highlighting the importance of these variables and the need for future studies with larger sample sizes to identify factors related to program adherence adequately. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Sorbent/Ash Reactivation for Enhanced SO2 Capture Using a Novel Carbonation Technique

A novel process has been developed for reactivation of partially utilized calcium-based sorbents for increased SO2 removal and sorbent utilization from coal-fired boilers/combustors. Spent sorbent ...
Contributions of the under-appreciated: gender bias in an open-source ecology

Female software developers account for only a small portion of the total developer community. This inequality is caused by subtle beliefs and sometimes interactions between different genders and society, referred to as implicit biases and explicit behavior, respectively. In this study, I mined user contribution acceptance from a popular software collaboration service. The contributions of female developers were accepted into open-source projects with roughly equivalent success to those of males, partially discounting recent findings that explicit behavior accompanies implicit gender bias, while bolstering the claim that implicit bias is cultural, rather than as a result of innate differences.
Dynamic grooming and RWA in translucent optical networks using a time-slotted ILP

Translucent fiber-optic networks are carefully planned to achieve high capacity utilization efficiency as required by society's ever-increasing traffic demand. Existing research treats the problem of resource placement largely as a static design problem, which is solved with linear programming (LP) to find the optimal solution. The dynamic operational problem (grooming, regeneration, routing, and wavelength assignment) is approached using heuristic methods with the goal of improving the overall network performance given an existing network infrastructure. Our work combines these two approaches and solves a real-time dynamic traffic scenario with integer linear programming (ILP), seeking to maximize the overall network throughput. The traffic is served in a time-slotted fashion so that the network throughput is optimized at each time slot given the existing network state. The solution is compared with results from existing heuristic methods. We incorporate physical impairment limitations into our network model, and consider several grooming options.
The tear film and ocular mucins

Abstract The trilaminar tear film, composed of the lipid, aqueous and mucin layers, has many functions including defending the ocular surface. The aqueous layer has several soluble antimicrobial factors that protect the ocular surface. Ocular mucins have recently been studied with regard to their role in the defense of the eye as well as in dry eye syndromes. To date, 15 mucin genes have been identified, and six of these mucin genes are localized to or secreted by ocular glands or epithelia. Understanding the production, secretion and function of ocular mucins will aid in the treatment of dry eye syndromes and ocular surface microbial infections.
High‐Temperature Oxidation of Fe‐Cr Base Alloys with Particular Reference to Fe‐Cr‐Y Alloys

The oxidation kinetics of iron‐chromium alloys containing 25 and 37.5% chromium and small additions of yttrium and various other rare earth metals have been measured between 700° and 1200°C. Agreement with the parabolic rate law is generally observed for all alloys. Iron‐chromium binary alloys have good oxidation resistance, but lose their protective oxide film due to spalling above 1000°C. Alloys containing yttrium, lanthanum, dysprosium, gadolinium, and erbium exhibit both good oxidation resistance and scale retention. Enhanced scale retention for alloys containing yttrium and the rare earth metals is attributed to the formation of internal as well as external oxide.
TESTS FOR THE GOODNESS-OF-FIT OF THE LAPLACE DISTRIBUTION

ABSTRACT Tests based on EDF (the empirical distribution function) are given for the goodness-of-fit of the two-parameter Laplace distribution when one parameter or both parameters are unknown. Coefficients of polynomial functions for computing critical values of these tests are tabled. Power studies are reported to compare among these tests. The Anderson-Darling statistic A 2 gives the overall most powerful EDF tests followed by the Cramer-Von Mises statistic W 2.
Identification of a Residue Affecting Fatty Alcohol Selectivity in Wax Ester Synthase

The terminal enzyme in the bacterial wax ester biosynthetic pathway is the bifunctional wax ester synthase/acyl-coenzyme A:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (WS/DGAT), which utilizes a fatty alcohol and a fatty acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) to synthesize the corresponding wax ester. In this report, we identify a specific residue in WS/DGAT enzymes obtained from Marinobacter aquaeolei VT8 and Acinetobacter baylyi that alters fatty alcohol selectivity and kinetic parameters when modified to alternative residues.
Earlier Age of First Diagnosis in Schizophrenia Is Related to Impaired Motor Control

We examined the control of motor behavior in relation to age of first diagnosis (AFD; an approximation of age of onset) in schizophrenia. We hypothesized that earlier AFD reflects increased vulnerability to the disorder, vulnerability that may be indexed by elevated levels of motor abnormality. AFD, symptom and demographic features, motor performance on a line drawing task, and the presence and severity of dyskinesia and extrapyramidal side effects were evaluated in 65 chronic schizophrenia subjects. More severely impaired motor control was significantly related to an earlier age of diagnosis. Potential confounds, including age, gender, education, length of illness, current medication dosage, symptom status, and motor side effects, did not appear to influence this relationship, although greater chronicity appeared to be independently related to more severely impaired motor control. In summary, the data are consistent with the hypothesis that an earlier AFD is associated with more pronounced motor impairment.
Impact of Changes in the Health Care System on Emergency Room (ER) Use in Early Infancy by the Medicaid Population • 378

Impact of Changes in the Health Care System on Emergency Room (ER) Use in Early Infancy by the Medicaid Population • 378
Involvement of phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C in immune response to Salmonella lipopolysacharide in chicken macrophage cells (HD11)

The activation of phospholipases is one of the earliest key events in receptor-mediated cellular responses to a number of extracellular signaling molecules. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a principle component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and a prime target for recognition by the innate immune system. In the present study, we evaluated the role of specific phospholipase in the activation of a chicken macrophage cell line HD11 by LPS. Activation of HD11 cells by LPS results in induction of nitric oxide (NO). Using selective inhibitors, we have identified that phosphatidylinositol (PI)-phospholipase C (PI-PLC), but not phosphatidylcholine (PC)-phospholipase C (PC-PLC) nor PC-phospholipase D (PC-PLD), was required for LPS-induced NO production. Preincubation with PI-PLC selective inhibitors (U-73122 and ET-18-OCH3) abrogated LPS-induced NO production in HD11 cells, whereas PC-PLC inhibitor (D609), phosphatide phosphohydrolase inhibitor (propranolol), and PC-PLD inhibitor (n-butanol) had no inhibitory effects. We also showed that inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) by selective inhibitors Ro 31-8220 and calphostin C and chelating intracellular Ca2+ by BAPTA-AM significantly reduced NO production in LPS-stimulated HD11 cells. Our results demonstrate that PI-PLC plays a critical role, most likely through activation of PKC pathway, in TLR4 mediated immune responses of avian macrophage cells to LPS.
Inhibition of Na(+)-pump expression by impairment of protein glycosylation is independent of the reduced sodium entry into the cell.

Previous studies indicate that inhibition of protein N-glycosylation reduces Na+-pump activity. Since this effect is preceded by an inhibition of the entry of sodium into the cell, it is unclear whether the reduced Na+-pump is produced by the inactivation of protein glycosylation per se or by the lower intracellular sodium concentration. We compared the effects of tunicamycin, which inhibits protein glycosylation, and amiloride, which inhibits the entry of sodium into the cell, on the expression of the Na+-pump activity in A6 cells. The short-circuit current across A6 epithelia, which corresponds to sodium ions transported through the Na+ channel and the Na+-pump, was almost totally inhibited after 24-hr treatment with 1 μg/ml tunicamycin. The maximal Na+-pump activity, measured after permeabilizing the apical cell membrane with amphotericin B, was only 30% inhibited. This inhibition increased to 80% after 72-hr treatment with tunicamycin. Thus, tunicamycin inhibits the activities of both the apical Na+ channel and the basolateral Na+-pump. However, the reduced number of Na+-pump molecules, as well as the inhibition of the Na+-pump activity, were not observed when the Na+ channel was inhibited for 72-hr with amiloride. Thus, the reduced Na+-pump expression produced by inactivation of protein glycosylation is not secondary to reduced entry of sodium into the cell.
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans: what is the best surgical approach?

Dermato"brosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is an uncommon cutaneous sarcoma with a characteristically indolent clinical course. Although transformation to a high-grade sarcoma is a recognized complication of neglected or recurrent DFSP, by far the biggest clinical problem associated with DFSP is achieving adequate local control. Various strategies have been suggested, including radical excision with de"ned margins of excision (identical to melanoma surgery) and Mohs micrographic surgery. We review our experience with a series of consecutively treated cases all approached with the same philosophy: adequate wide excision with careful pathologic analysis of all excision margins and staged resections or reconstruction if necessary.
On a nonconvex separation theorem and the approximate extremal principle in Asplund spaces

In this paper we establish a revised version of the nonconvex separation theorem established in J.M. Borwein and A. Jofre (Math. Meth. Oper. Res. 48:169–179, 1996). Our new separation theorem is formulated in terms of Frechet normal cones in Asplund spaces while their result was formed with an abstract kind of generalized differentiation enjoying a good calculus. It is, indeed, shown to be equivalent to the known approximate extremal principle in B. Mordukhovich (Variational analysis and generalized differentiation, I: Basic theory, Grundlehren series 330, Springer, Berlin, 2006). In addition, we discuss several efficient conditions ensuring the extremality property of a system of nonconvex sets.
A systems approach to model natural variation in reactive properties of bacterial ribosomes.

Background: Natural variation in protein output from translation in bacteria and archaea may be an organism-specific property of the ribosome. This paper adopts a systems approach to model the protein output as a measure of specific ribosome reactive properties in a ribosome-mediated translation apparatus. We use the steady-state assumption to define a transition state complex for the ribosome, coupled with mRNA, tRNA, amino acids and reaction factors, as a subsystem that allows a focus on the completed translational output as a measure of specific properties of the ribosome. Results: In analogy to the steady-state reaction of an enzyme complex, we propose a steady-state translation complex for mRNA from any gene, and derive a maximum specific translation activity, Ta(max), as a property of the ribosomal reaction complex. Ta(max) has units of a-protein output per time per a-specific mRNA. A related property of the ribosome, , has units of a-protein per time per total RNA with the relationship = ρ a T a(max) , where ρ a represents the fraction of total RNA committed to translation output of Pa from gene a message. Ta(max) as a ribosome property is analogous to kcat for a purified enzyme, and is analogous to enzyme specific activity in a crude extract. Conclusion: Analogy to an enzyme reaction complex led us to a ribosome reaction model for measuring specific translation activity of a bacterial ribosome. We propose to use this model to design experimental tests of our hypothesis that specific translation activity is a ribosomal property that is subject to natural variation and natural selection much like V max and K m for any specific enzyme.
Nonuniform distribution of myosin light chains within the thick filaments of lobster slow muscle: Immunocytochemical study

The in situ distribution of the alpha and beta myosin light chains was investigated at the subsarcomeric and subfilament levels in individual fibers of the superficial flexor muscle (SFM) of the lobster, Homarus americanus. Polyclonal antibodies were produced against the two classes of myosin light chains and used for subsequent immunolocalization on thin sections of sarcomeres and on isolated filaments from both the medial and lateral fiber bundles of the SFM. The beta myosin light chains were uniformly distributed within the crossbridge region of sarcomeres of both medial and lateral bundles. The alpha myosin light chains were uniformly distributed within the crossbridge region of sarcomeres from the medial bundle, but were nonuniformly distributed over the crossbridge region of lateral bundle sarcomeres. In the latter, the number of alpha myosin light chains was highest toward the center of the thick filaments, diminishing towards the ends. Similar distributions of alpha light chains were found in isolated myosin filaments. These data demonstrate that heterogeneity in protein composition extends to the level of the myosin filament and suggest that the myosin filament substructure in lobster may be different than that found in vertebrate skeletal muscle.
Chemical ecology of the red-sided garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis

The red-sided garter snake, Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis is an ideal model for the study of chemical or pheromonal communication in vertebrates. Results of long-term field and laboratory investigations of the chemical ecology of these unusual animals is summarized. These studies include a description of the characterization of the female attractiveness pheromone that serves to induce male courtship behavior. The male sex recognition pheromone system that identifies males as inappropriate individuals to court is also described. She-males, individual males that are courted as if they were females, seem to possess semiochemical components intermediate to both males and females. Finally, investigations of the species-specific nature of these pheromones indicate that chemical differences exist in the methyl ketones of all species examined to date.
Tongues Untied: Lord Salisbury's “Black Man” and the Boundaries of Imperial Democracy

In the general election of 1886 Dadhabai Naoroji (1825–1917), one-time Bombay mathematics professor and longtime Parsi merchant-entrepreneur, ran on the Liberal ticket for the constituency of Holborn and lost, with a total of 1,950 votes against 3,651 cast in favor of the Tory candidate, Colonel Duncan.R. P. Masani, Dadhabai Naoroji: The Grand Old Man of India (London: George Allen Unwin, 1939), 247. Naoroji's candidacy received little publicity outside Holborn itself and indeed, but for Naoroji's second bid for a parliamentary seat in 1892 the Holborn debacle might have gone unnoticed in the annals of parliamentary history, as did the attempts of two compatriots: David Octerlony Dyce Sombre, who was elected for Sudbury in 1841; and Lal Mohan Ghose, who ran as a Liberal candidate for Deptford just a few years before Naoroji.Rozina Visram, Ayahs, Lascars and Princes: Indians in Britain, 1700–1947 (London, Pluto, 1986), 78; see also S. R. Mehrotra, The Emergence of the Indian National Congress (New York: Barnes and Noble, 1971), 405 and ff. Dyce Sombre (1808–1851) was a person of mixed Indian and European ancestry who, despite the fact this his election was “controverted” the next year, did sit and vote on several bills. I am indebted to Michael Fisher for this information. See his entry on Dyce Sombre in The New Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, forthcoming). Even so, Naoroji's accomplishment—i.e., election to the House of Commons as the spokesman for a colonial territory that many contemporaries, even those who were sympathetic to the cause of India, scarcely recognized as a legitimate nation, let alone a viable electoral constituency—remains one of the last untold narratives in the high political history of the Victorian period.Though he ran for a London constituency and was its official representative, Naoroji was also, and consistently, viewed as “the representative for India” to the House of Commons. This omission persists despite the availability of information on Naoroji's career in Britain through the work of Rozina Visram and others, not to mention the attention given to it in the contemporary Victorian press. More remarkable still, Naoroji's bid for parliamentary representation as an Indian for “India” remains obscure despite recent attempts to understand how thoroughly empire helped to constitute “domestic” politics and society across the long nineteenth century.See for example Jonathan Schneer's London 1900: The Imperial Metropolis (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1999), which devotes an entire chapter to Naoroji but only briefly mentions the “Blackman” incident.
Discussion of trace metals in the waters of a partially-mixed estuary

A general relation for the determination of losses of miscible constituents in an estuary is derived. The relation is applicable to the steady state, tidally-averaged conditions in a partially-mixed estuary where both the advective fluxes from the net circulation and the tidal, non-advective fluxes are important.