cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanosensitive Ion Channels Contribute to Micromotion Induced Membrane Potential Changes in Cells at the Neural Interface In Vivo

The functional impact of tissue micromotion and associated mechanical stresses on neurons and other cells in a neural interface remains unknown. Past in vivo experimental studies involving intracellular neural recordings have routinely noted membrane potential changes due to respiration and vascular pulsations. Often dismissed as an artifact, however, recent data using sharp electrodes in rodent models suggest that these changes are physiological. Previous work using gadolinium chloride, which directly and indirectly blocks mechano-sensitive ion channels and other ion channels, showed reduced micromotion-related membrane potential changes in intracellular neural recordings in vivo. This study aims to elucidate the role of mechanosensitive ion channels in micromotion related membrane potential changes. Using a double-barreled pipette, we delivered GsMTx-4 peptide (a known inhibitor of a class of mechano-sensitive ion channels) near cells experiencing micromotion related membrane potential changes. In all, we measured intracellular membrane potentials from 15 cells in one rat. Nine of 15 cells had significantly diminished respiratory-related membrane potential changes in the presence of GsMTx-4. These results indicate that mechano-sensitive ion channels may play a crucial role in modulating subthreshold electrophysiological signals at neural interfaces in response to mechanical micromotion.
Does Medical School Geography and Ranking Influence Residency Match in Otolaryngology

Objective:To elucidate the associations between geographic locations, rankings, and size/funding of medical schools and residency programs among the current otolaryngology residents.Methods:This re...
Examining the impacts of crash data aggregation on SPF estimation.

Abstract The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials’ Highway Safety Manual (HSM) includes a collection of safety performance functions (SPFs) or statistical models to estimate the expected crash frequency of roadway segments, intersections, and interchanges. These models are applied in several steps of the safety management process, including to screen the road network for opportunities to improve safety and to evaluate the performance of safety countermeasure deployments. The SPFs in the HSM are generally estimated using negative binomial regression modeling. In some instances, they are estimated using annual crash frequency and site-specific (e.g., traffic volume) data, while in other instances they are estimated using aggregate crash frequency and site-specific data. This paper explores the differences that result from estimating SPFs using aggregate versus disaggregate data using the same methods as those used to estimate the SPFs in the HSM. A synthetic dataset was first used to conduct these comparisons – these data were generated in a manner that is consistent with the properties of the negative binomial distribution. Then, an observational dataset from Pennsylvania was used to compare the SPFs from both aggregate and disaggregate data. The results show that SPFs estimated using the panel (disaggregate) data and aggregated data provide similar model coefficients, although some differences may sometimes arise. However, the overdispersion parameter obtained using each dataset can differ significantly. These differences result in systematic biases in calculations of expected crash frequency when Empirical Bayes adjustments are applied, which – as the paper demonstrates – could lead to different outcomes in a network screening exercise. Overall, these results reveal that aggregating crash data might result in biased SPF outputs and lead to inconsistent Empirical Bayes adjustments.
Quotient Rings and Field Extensions

In this chapter we describe a method for producing new rings from a given one. Of particular interest for applications is the case of a field extension of a given field.
Solidification of an aqueous salt solution in the presence of thermosolutal convection

The freezing of water-salt (sodium chloride) solution on a vertical wall of a rectangular cavity has been studied experimentally. The influence of thermally and solutally driven natural convection on the freezing process has been examined. The spatial and temporal variations of the temperature in the solid, mush and liquid regions have been recorded. By selectively withdrawing liquid samples and in conjunction with a refractometer, the concentration variation has been studied. The thermosolutal convective flow strongly influenced the rate of freezing. Due to the continuous rejection of salt, a solutally stratified stable region developed at the bottom of the test cell. The thickness of this region increased with the progress of freezing and it was separated from the remaining bulk liquid, where convective flow was present, by a thin interface.
Fetal platelet counts in the obstetric management of immunologic thrombocytopenic purpura

The optimal method of infant delivery for gravida women with immunologic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is controversial because of the unpredictability of the fetus developing thrombocytopenia and the uncertainty of the relation between vaginal birth and intracranial hemorrhage in thrombocytopenic infants. We have employed the technique of platelet counts on fetal scalp blood obtained prior to or early in the course of labor in 12 patients with ITP. A count of 50,000/cu mm, selected on the basis of literature review and retrospective analysis of our own experience, was used to define fetal thrombocytopenia. Three thrombocytopenic fetuses were delivered by cesarean section. Trial labor was permitted in the other nine cases in which fetal scalp platelet count exceeded 50,000/cu mm. The outcome was good in all instances. If cesarean section is to be employed in ITP patients to obviate the potential danger of fetal hemorrhage with vaginal delivery, the use of platelet counts of fetal scalp blood seems to provide the most rational basis for management at present.
Active Safety, Pre-Collision Safety, and Other Safety Products (Millimeter-Wave Radar, Image Recognition Sensors)

Controls that support safe driving and help to alleviate damage in the event of a collision can be categorized in accordance with the driving scenario and degree of risk. These categories include driver assistance, active safety, precrash safety (PCS), and passive safety systems, as well as technologies for enhancing safety after the collision has occurred. Various driver assistance systems for providing information and alleviating driver burden in normal driving have been developed. These include adaptive front-lighting systems (AFS), night vision, and back guide monitors that support the driver's field of view, corner sonar, and tire pressure monitoring systems for notifying the driver of potential danger, as well as adaptive cruise control (ACC) and lane keeping assistance systems (LKAS) for alleviating driver burden. Active safety systems have been developed to assist driver operation when a potentially dangerous situation can be avoided. These include brake controls such as anti-lock brake systems (ABS), traction control systems (TCS), and electronic stability control (ESC), in addition to other active safety technologies. Some PCS systems also help to alleviate damage in more dangerous situations when the collision is unavoidable. Passive safety technologies are deployed in the event that an accident occurs. These include airbags for protecting the occupants of the vehicle, and fuel cut and emergency notification systems that aim to facilitate rescue after the accident. Developers are continuing to optimize driver assistance technologies in accordance with the situation by creating seamless combinations between safety systems with the ultimate goal of reducing traffic accident fatalities and injuries to zero. This chapter describes active safety systems and PCS, and the millimeter-wave radar and image recognition sensors used in these systems. Keywords: driver assistance systems; active safety systems; precrash safety systems (PCS); adaptive front-lighting systems (AFS); night vision; adaptive cruise control (ACC); lane keeping assistance systems (LKAS); lane departure warning (LDW); automatic emergency braking systems (AEBS); millimeter-wave radar; cameras
Chapter 28 The modular organization of brain systems. Basal forebrain: the last frontier

Abstract Computational anatomical studies suggest that specific clusters of projection neurons in the basal forebrain together with specific prefrontal and posterior cortical association regions constitute distributed parts of functional parallel circuits. The predictable sequence of cell clusters consisting of various types of noncholinergic cell populations in the basal forebrain suggests further subdivisions within these circuits. It is possible that similar to the parallel basal ganglia circuits ( Alexander and Crutcher, 1990 ), large number of specialized channels and sub-channels exist within this triangular circuitry that permit parallel, multilevel processing concurrently. The location and size of the active modules may temporarily vary according to the prevalence of state-related diffuse ascending brain stem and specific telencephalic inputs. From this latter group of afferents, the prefrontal input may function as an external threshold control which allocates attentional resources via the basal forebrain to distributed cortical processes in a selective, self-regulatory fashion.
Interplay Between Mediation and Offer of Judgment Rule Sanctions

Mediation and offer of judgment provisions in the Federal Rules of Civil Procedures both have the objective of promoting settlement, but function independently. Both have sanction regimes to enforce compliance with their requirements, but the mediation sanction regime is quite limited, while offer of judgment rule sanction is the very centerpiece of the procedure. The offer of judgment rule could be a useful adjunct to mediation and vice versa, but such interaction is destined to remain underutilized unless changes are made. Two states – Minnesota and Michigan – have recognized the potential complementary nature of mediation and offer of judgment rules. This article examines the rule changes that those states have undertaken, which although a useful start are still far from what could be done ideally. The article recommends changes in four areas – amendments to rule 68 (offer of judgment) and 16 (pre-trial conference and settlement devices including mediation); changes in local rules; and use of the case evaluation process to complement offers of judgment. The scope of Rule 68 should be broadened to allow plaintiffs to make offers and allow the shifting of attorney’s fees under certain circumstances. The potential use of Rule 68 should be discussed during pretrial conferences, and Rule 16 can be easily amended to make this explicit. Mediators should be instructed to consider the impact of Rule 68 in their facilitation of court-connected mediation. While attaching cost-shifting directly to orders to mediate is unwise, adoption of a case evaluation process with cost-shifting would provide additional incentives to settle. If implemented, the changes suggested here would allow offer of judgment rules and mediation practice to work in tandem to encourage settlement.
La descentralización del gasto en salud en México: Una revisión de sus criterios de asignación

This paper is part of the research activities of the Program of Budget and Public Expenditure at CIDE, under the auspices of the Ford Foundation. It presents an assessment of the decentralization of health services in Mexico, emphasizing its regional allocation criteria and mechanisms. Its principal findings are: 1) for the 1990-2000 period, federal expenditure in health services for the uninsured has grown in real terms; 2) even though states have improved their control over these financial resources since 1998, there are still shortages that might jeopardize its rationality and transparency; 3) the distribution of federal grants is influenced by regional socioeconomic conditions, such as infant mortality and deprivation, but the installed capacity for health services remains as the most influential variable; 4) the capacity of the central government to reallocate resources has not been completely eliminated by inertial factors.
The Guy We Didn't Invite To The Orgy

There was one guy we didn't invite to the orgy. We invited everyone else: Solaire because she's crazy, and John and Walt because they're both so good looking and they 're partners anyway, and we invited Amy because everybody just loves Amy, and Raya because she brings the drugs and the good stories, and Smucks and Goldman and Belle because you can just look at them and see they've got the moves. We invited Pete, Shayna, Cooper, and Mac?all great folks. As a last-minute thing we invited that guy we met at the liquor store that night because he had a strange kind of authority, though we didn't really know anything about him. We invited our philosophy prof?we just knew he would be into it, and plus Solaire was already sleeping with him. We even invited Miranda just because she's the jealous type, and since her sister was in town we threw open the door to her sister, too. But there was this one guy we didn't invite. You know, right afterward we told him all kinds of things. We told him, / don't know what happened?maybe you were in the bathroom when we were telling everybody, and we said Didn't you get your invite in campus mail? and we said It's amazing how hard it is to organize an orgy. You'd think it'd be so easy, but really it's complicated. But none of it was true. We had a lot of people we wanted there, but this guy wasn't one of them, and even if none of us could come out and say that after the fact, it's the plain truth. It wasn't that we were worried about him disapproving. He isn't the type to get all sanctimonious about anything. He's been in his share of trouble himself, and he's heard all of Raya's stories, and Zook has the foulest mouth in North America, and this guy is as comfortable as anyone else with all of it. Besides, hell?we invited Cathy, and we just knew she'd bring her Jesus pamphlets with her, just knew she'd hand them out as soon as things were getting interesting, and that's exactly what she did, plus Smucks has this irritating thing where he has to rate everybody on everything?he was scor ing people on sexual technique all night?and we weren't concerned about either of them, or about Liza and her squeamishness, or even Hank and his fucking homophobia. Meanwhile, the guy we didn't invite, as it happens, is pretty good in the sack?not so good that it makes you feel like crap about yourself, but good 149
Instanton Packet Formation via a Wormhole Bridge between a Prior to our Present Universe, and criteria for their possible break up

We present a criteria for necessary conditions for instanton formation of an energy packet from a prior to our present universe, using the Reissnor-Nordstrom metric which is congruent with Crowell's pseudo time evolution version of Wheeler De Witt equation. This is based upon Wesson's (1999) treatment of instanton formation in five dimensional cosmologies. Criteria for break up of this instanton is proposed due to a causal barrier derived from first principles From the Friedmann equation for scale factor evolution, with a discussion of how this can be linked to Seth Lloyd's treatment of computational bits of 'information' in different periods of inflationary cosmology
Kinetic tremor: Differences between smokers and non-smokers

Tremor is among the acute effects of nicotine exposure. Published studies have focused on smoking-related postural (static) hand tremor rather than kinetic tremor (tremor during hand use), and gender differences in smoking-related tremor have not been examined. In a group of adults who were sampled from a population (mean+/-S.D.=65.7+/-11.5 years, range=18-92 years), the investigator assessed whether the severity of postural and kinetic tremors differed in smokers versus non-smokers, and whether this difference was influenced by gender. Twenty-seven (9.9%) of 273 subjects were current smokers. Greater tremor was observed in smokers than non-smokers during a variety of activities (drawing a spiral, using a spoon, finger-nose-finger maneuver, all p<0.05) and smokers had a higher total tremor score than non-smokers (5.15+/-3.06 versus 3.41+/-2.88, p<0.01), even after adjusting for age, caffeine intake and other potential confounding factors. The difference between smokers and non-smokers in terms of hand tremor was more apparent in women than in men. In women, the number of cigarettes smoked on the day of testing was weakly correlated with the total tremor score (r=0.17, p=0.03). In summary, smokers had more kinetic hand tremor than non-smokers. This difference between smokers and non-smokers was more apparent in women than in men. These results suggest that smoking habits should be considered carefully in order to avoid over- or underestimating the effects of occupational and non-occupational exposures to other tremor-producing neurotoxins.
Type 2 diabetes care: the role of insulin-sensitizing agents and practical implications for cardiovascular disease prevention

Millions of Americans are at risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality related to disorders of glucose intolerance--particularly type 2 diabetes and prediabetic conditions, including the insulin resistance, or "cardiovascular dysmetabolic," syndrome. The latter is apparently more intricately associated with macrovascular disease--myocardial infarction, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease. In some situations the risk of cardiovascular disease might be reduced by the prevention of diabetes and also by prevention or treatment of the cardiovascular dysmetabolic syndrome. Studies have shown that intensive glycemic control can delay the development of microvascular complications in type 1, and possibly type 2, diabetes. Several longitudinal observational studies have demonstrated a relationship between glycemic control and the development of cardiovascular disease. Prospective clinical intervention trials to address this issue are underway. Insulin may have a role in atherogenesis, both directly and by promoting development of such risk factors as hypertension and dyslipidemia. Genetic factors and mechanisms promoting or discouraging development of glucose intolerance are also under investigation. Lifestyle changes--dietary and exercise modification, weight loss, and smoking cessation--have been shown to have a positive effect on cardiovascular disease risk. Clinical trials suggest that oral antidiabetic agents--particularly the new noninsulin secretagogues (including troglitazone and metformin, which act on the liver and on skeletal muscle)--may be useful in delaying or preventing development of type 2 diabetes and the cardiovascular dysmetabolic syndrome, as well as in their treatment, when present. Both agents, acting primarily by different mechanisms of action, have also demonstrated potential beneficial effects on serum lipid profiles and other cardiovascular risk factors and may be useful in patients with cardiovascular dysmetabolic syndrome who do not yet meet the criteria for diabetes.
Eosinophilic Coronary Monoarteritis

Eosinophilic coronary monoarteritis is an unfamiliar cause of acute myocardial ischemia. Most commonly, it presents as a left-sided chest pain or sudden death in middle-aged women with no traditional risk factors for coronary artery disease. Because the abrupt onset leaves almost no time for intervention, the symptoms readily lead to death, and most cases are diagnosed at necropsy. Dissection of the coronary artery wall with resultant occlusion of the lumen, which commonly affects the left anterior descending artery, is a consistent gross finding. An inflammatory infiltrate, which is predominantly composed of eosinophils in the tunica adventitia and tunica media and is often accompanied by a hematoma in between these 2 layers, is observed histologically. The etiology remains unclear, but an increase in the activity of eosinophils because of hormonal interactions during pregnancy has been suggested. Interplay of hormones is thought to culminate in the release of histolytic agents by the eosinophils, which initiate the dissection process. Currently, there is no specific treatment for eosinophilic coronary monoarteritis, but cyclophosphamide and prednisone have shown positive results in the treatment of spontaneous coronary artery dissection with unspecified periadventitial inflammation. Percutaneous coronary procedures have also resulted in favorable outcomes in a subset of patients. Because of the high, sudden death rate in eosinophilic coronary monoarteritis, deciphering the underlying pathophysiology of this almost invariably fatal disease remains both a challenge and a key to developing screening methods that will allow timely detection and thus treatment.
Growth factor receptor signalling: location, location, location.

Abstract Ligand binding to plasma membrane receptors initiates a series of events culminating in a variety of changes in cellular phenotypes. Although numerous publications have documented the activation/inactivation of signalling molecules following receptor binding 1,2 , relatively few investigations have focused on the cellular compartment responsible for either initiating or selecting the particular pathway that mediates the response 3 . Specifically, does receptor signalling occur only at the plasma membrane; is signalling dependent upon the location of defined endosome populations; or are components of both plasma membrane and endosomal activity operative depending upon the particular signalling pathway or cell type? This review addresses aspects of these questions by discussing the evidence supporting or contrasting the interplay between the endocytic and signalling systems for a subset of tyrosine kinase, serine/threonine kinase and G-protein-coupled receptors.
Creating a Dynamic Syllabus: A Strategy for Course Assessment

A significant contribution of Ken Bain's What the Best College Teachers Do is the concept of the “promising syllabus.” Bain argues syllabi should inspire students to learn, serving as “a powerful i...
Theodor W. Adorno, and Hanns Eisler. Komposition für den Film, mit einem Nachwort von Johannes C. Gall und einer DVD “Hanns Eislers Rockefeller–Filmmusik– Projekt 1940–1942” Ed. Johannes C. Gall. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp, 2006.

Ed. Johannes C. Gall. Frankfurt am Main: Suhrkamp, 2006. In cooperation with the International Hanns Eisler Society [190 pp., DVD (53 minutes, black and white, various directors and producers). ISBN: 3518584618. €29.80 (currently $40.00, hardcover with DVD)] One music example, names index
The design structure system: A method for managing the design of complex systems

Systems design involves the determination of interdependent variables. Thus the precedence ordering for the tasks of determining these variables involves circuits. Circuits require planning decisions about how to iterate and where to use estimates. Conventional planning techniques, such as critical path, do not deal with these problems. Techniques are shown which acknowledge these circuits in the design of systems. These techniques can be used to develop an effective engineering plan, showing where estimates are to be used, how design iterations and reviews are handled, and how information flows during the design work. This information flow can be used to determine the consequences of a change in any variable on the rest of the variables in the system, and thus which engineers must be informed and which documents must be changed. From this, a critical path schedule can be developed for implementing the change. This method is ideally suited to an automated design office where data, computer input and output, and communications are all handled through the use of computer terminals and data bases. However, these same techniques can also be effectively used in classical engineering environments.
Was the Euro good for Greece

Taylor (1979) posits a permanent trade-off between the volatility of output gap and the volatility of inflation. This trade-off serves as an efficiency envelope for optimal monetary policy. Using data from 1960, we examine the efficiency of monetary policy in Greece by measuring the orthogonal distance between the observed volatilities of the output gap and inflation from their optimal levels. As expected in an optimal currency area, we find that the Maastricht convergence criteria greatly benefited Greece in improving macroeconomic stability but at the cost of monetary policy efficacy.
Multiple-input Maximum Power Point Tracking algorithm for solar panels with reduced sensing circuitry for portable applications

Abstract A method to track the maximum power of multiple-input, portable, photovoltaic systems is proposed. The method shares a single current sensor by interleaving Perturb and Observe operations. The system has reduced size and cost, making it attractive for compact portable solar panels and solar battery chargers, such as for cell phones, laptops, and other portable electronics with rechargeable batteries. A flexible total system architecture design is proposed and tested.
Measurement of Speech Effort during Fluency-Inducing Conditions in Adults Who Do and Do Not Stutter.

Purpose To investigate the effects of 4 fluency-inducing (FI) conditions on self-rated speech effort and other variables in adults who stutter and in normally fluent controls. Method Twelve adults with persistent stuttering and 12 adults who had never stuttered each completed 4 ABA-format experiments. During A phases, participants read aloud normally. During each B phase, they read aloud in 1 of 4 FI conditions: auditory masking, chorus reading, whispering, and rhythmic speech. Dependent variables included self-judged speech effort and observer-judged stuttering frequency, speech rate, and speech naturalness. Results For the persons who stuttered, FI conditions reduced stuttering and speech effort, but only for chorus reading were these improvements obtained without diminishing speech naturalness or speaking rate. By contrast, speech effort increased during all FI conditions for adults who did not stutter. Conclusions Self-rated speech effort differentiated the effects of 4 FI conditions on speech perform...
Dose-response signal estimation and optimization for salesforce management

Estimating generalizable relationships between actions and results from historical samples, especially when there is a level of noise or randomness in that signal, is an important problem to address before making decisions on actions to take. Many business analytics problems require the optimal assignment of limited resources to actions and activities to maximize some result or objective such as profit. We present a novel approach to solving this class of analytics problems by modeling the relationship between resource effort and expected return as a dose-response signal and formulating its causal estimation as one of kernel regression. The estimated expected value and variance of the result are then used to optimize resource allocation so as to maximize expected response while minimizing the risk around response subject to business constraints. We apply this approach to the task of optimally assigning salespeople to enterprise clients using real-world data, and show that profit can be substantially increased with fewer salespeople and reduced risk.
Human Conditioning to Wildlife: Steps Toward Theory and Research

Wildlife conditioning and habitation to humans are frequently studied, but human conditioning and habituation to wildlife have received little attention. We propose that human–wildlife interaction can be better understood and managed if conditioning and habituation are examined in both humans and wildlife. We review what is known about human conditioning and habituation and their relationships to four aspects of human learning (i.e., enactive learning, behavior modeling, expectancy, tutelage) and conclude that human conditioning to wildlife occurs more often than habituation. The results of human conditioning vary among individuals because the process is shaped by pre-existing expectations, attitudes and values, knowledge, skills, and situational differences. An improved understanding of human conditioning to wildlife has the potential to improve our ability to predict, understand, and influence human beliefs about and behavior toward wildlife, minimize negative aspects of wildlife–human interaction, and ...
Locus of interpolated activity and short-term memory

The present study investigated the interference effects on short-term memory of a 5-sec pause following presentation of a CCC then recitation of six letters vs the condition of recitation of six letters and then a 5-sec pause before recall A tape recorder was used to present the task to the S. A within-Ss design was employed such that all 14 Ss underwent both conditions. For all 14 Ss, the pause-recite condition was conducive to better recall than was the recite-pause condition.
Melanomas of the mucous membrane of the head and neck

This is a report comprised of 78 cases of melanoma of the mucous membrane of the head and neck and is part of a larger study of 995 cases of head and neck melanoma. These cases represent a review of patients over a 55-year period from the Pack Medical Foundation
Magnetic susceptibility of (N H 3 C H 2 C H 2 N H 3 )Cu Cl 4 : A layered structure with strong interlayer magnetic coupling

The magnetic susceptibility of single-crystal (N${\mathrm{H}}_{3}$C${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$C${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$N${\mathrm{H}}_{3}$)Cu${\mathrm{Cl}}_{4}$ has been investigated between 4 and 300\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K and this compound was found to be a three dimensional antiferromagnet with a nearest-neighbor exchange of $\frac{J}{k}=23.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ K and a next-nearest-neighbor exchange of $\frac{{J}^{\ensuremath{'}}}{k}=\ensuremath{-}13.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ K. The transition to long-range order occurs at 31.5\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.1\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The structure of (N${\mathrm{H}}_{3}$C${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$C${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$N${\mathrm{H}}_{3}$)Cu${\mathrm{Cl}}_{4}$ is similar to that of other compounds which exhibit a square-planar nature and comparisons to these compounds are made.
Nurse practitioner–client interaction as resource exchange in a women's health clinic: an exploratory study

Empirical research has thoroughly documented the success of nurse practitioners (NPs) in terms of patient satisfaction and cost-effectiveness. What is missing is the in-depth knowledge of the interactive process through which this is accomplished during a clinic visit. The aim of this study was to understand the special nature and processes of NP and client encounters in the ambulatory primary care context using a resource exchange perspective. An exploratory descriptive design was used to address the following research questions: (i) What do midlife female clients expect in terms of resources to be exchanged prior to a visit with a NP in an ambulatory clinic visit? (ii) What resources are actually exchanged during the clinic visit? (iii) To what extent is there congruence between a woman's expectations and what she is actually receiving from the clinic visit in terms of resources exchanged? The participants included two women health NPs and eight midlife female clients. Data for the study were comprised of audiotaped pre- and postencounter interviews with the clients, audiotapes of the entire clinic visits with the NP and field notes recorded by the researcher of the client visits. Content analysis was conducted using ETHNOGRAPH software. Findings indicated that clients of both NPs had surprisingly similar expectations of receipt of services as well as actual receipt of services. Resources expected and received from the visits included some combination of services, health information, trust, self-disclosure, support, affirmation, time, acceptance and respect. Results of this study suggest that resource exchange theoretical formulations can be applied to NP-client interactions to understand and explain the specific nature of resources the clients expect and receive from a NP during a woman's health clinic visit.
Leon Festinger: Lunch With Leon

How shall I outline my thoughts about a man whose mental life permeated every aspect of my own for more than 20 years? Leon Festinger and I took an instant liking to one another in a chance meeting back in the late 1960s. It would be difficult to imagine two more different people we had different philosophies, different styles, and different aspirations. Our friendship developed around a mutual love for good ideas and for good food and drink. The rest took care of itself. One of the hallmarks of a gifted mind is its steadfast belief that, in fact, not much of anything relates to anything else. How often we say, "Because of X, we seem to have new evidence to believe in Y." Leon, with cold logic, could take even the best scientists and reduce them to blubbering mortals in a matter of seconds. His favorite joke related the story of the old Jewish couple who are lying in bed when the wife says, "Harry, close the window. It's cold outside." Harry gets up and closes the window, turns to his wife, and says, "So now it's warm outside?" Every statement has multiple implications, and Leon reflexively noted them all.
A Slot Blot Method for Detection of Ultraviolet Photoproducts in DNA

Abstract A simple new method was established to detect the major uv photoproducts in DNA. A slot blot method, involving the use of T4 DNA polymerase-associated (3′ → 5′) exonuclease digestion of uv-irradiated DNA, was used to detect (primarily) cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers and pyrimidine-pyrimidone (6-4) dimers. Hydrolysis of DNA by this enzyme is quantitatively blocked by both of these photoproducts. To detect (primarily) (6-4) dimers, Escherichia coli DNA photolyase was utilized to specifically reverse cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers.
Differences in semantic event-related potentials in learning-disabled, normal, and gifted children

Cortical event-related potentials (ERP) were recorded over FZ, CZ, and PZ scalp sites in 15 learning-disabled (LD), 14 gifted (G), and 13 normal control (N) children of ages 8-12. The common stimulus consisted of nouns presented 80 percent of the time; the target stimulus of animal names presented 20 per cent of the time. ERPs were averaged over subjects from 180 msec pre-stimulus to 900 msec post-stimulus. Principal components analysis was used to determine if there were amplitude differences at different post-stimulus latencies as a function of condition. Differences in ERP's between groups (LD, gifted, and controls), scalp locations, and common versus target stimuli were analyzed by ANOVAs. P3, Late, P2, and N1 components represented by four factors were identified. Significant differences between G and LD and the N and LD groups were found target stimulus at all central locations for the P3 component. Differences were found centrally between G and LD, G and N, and N and LD groups for the P2 component centrally. Other differences were found for the N1 and late components. These differences could be interpreted as a deficit in either attentional mechanisms or information processing for the LD group.
Measuring and Modeling Elastography of Human Cornea Using Scanning Laser Doppler Vibrometry

Our interest is in noninvasively mapping the viscoelastic properties of the human cornea with the aid of a Scanning Laser Doppler Vibrometer (SLDV). Mechanical properties of the cornea can be used to predict early onset of diseases, such as glaucoma and keratoconus. By applying mechanical vibration near the cornea and measuring the dynamic wave propagation across the cornea, an elastographic map can be reconstructed. To effectively reconstruct the data, an appropriate analytical solution is needed to interpret the measured motion; in the present article, we review initial measurements and modeling of phantom cornea models. Several viscoelastic plate phantoms were constructed using silicone gels to simulate corneal structures. Comprehensive frequency sweeps were performed on these phantoms. The material can be represented using a fractional order model of viscoelasticity. Similar experiments have been completed on ex-vivo human cornea from donor eyes. The design shows proof of concept and is now being modified to a more applicable manner for in vivo experiments.© 2013 ASME
Leaf hydraulics II: Vascularized tissues

Current models of leaf hydration employ an Ohm's law analogy of the leaf as an ideal capacitor, neglecting the resistance to flow between cells, or treat the leaf as a plane sheet with a source of water at fixed potential filling the mid-plane, neglecting the discrete placement of veins as well as their resistance. We develop a model of leaf hydration that considers the average conductance of the vascular network to a representative areole (region bounded by the vascular network), and represent the volume of tissue within the areole as a poroelastic composite of cells and air spaces. Solutions to the 3D flow problem are found by numerical simulation, and these results are then compared to 1D models with exact solutions for a range of leaf geometries, based on a survey of temperate woody plants. We then show that the hydration times given by these solutions are well approximated by a sum of the ideal capacitor and plane sheet times, representing the time for transport through the vasculature and tissue respectively. We then develop scaling factors relating this approximate solution to the 3D model, and examine the dependence of these scaling factors on leaf geometry. Finally, we apply a similar strategy to reduce the dimensions of the steady state problem, in the context of peristomatal transpiration, and consider the relation of transpirational gradients to equilibrium leaf water potential measurements.
Poster - Thurs Eve-06: Maximizing eclipse IMRT dose accuracy by adjusting the dosimetric leaf gap parameter.

The dosimetric leaf gap (DLG) is a parameter used by Eclipse to model the rounded leaf ends of Varian MLCs. The DLGs were determined for the Millennium (M120) and High‐Definition (HD120) model MLCs and taken as the difference between measured (0.6mm diode, IBA) and nominal MLC‐defined profile FWHM values. Configuring the Eclipse pencil beam algorithm with the measured DLG gave poor agreement between measured and calculated IMRT dose distributions for the HD120 but not the M120. Agreement was optimized by adjusting the DLG for the HD120; 0.3mm changes in DLG were enough to cause significant variations in field dose agreement. Optimal DLG values of 0.04cm and 0.05cm were found for the 6MV HD120 and 10MV HD120, respectively, and 0.135cm 0.175cm for the 6MV M120 and 18MV M120, respectively. Agreement between measured and calculated dose distributions worsened for the AAA algorithm indicating separate DLG values may be required. A leaf calibration software upgrade also reduced agreement by changing the physical leaf position for a given location value. The change was detected using film and the picket fence MLC‐pattern which places the two banks of opposing leaves at the same position but at different times. The DLG value can be adjusted from its measured physical value to improve the dosimetric accuracy of Eclipse IMRT plans and compensate for the effects of treatment planning algorithm and varying leaf calibrations. Since leaf calibrations are variable it is important to define the dosimetric leaf gap for each accelerator and clinic.
Cultural geography II Cultures of nature (and technology)

Recent cultural geographic research, located at a variety of settings (laboratory, clinic, battlefield, container port), has emphasized culture’s productive dimensions through studies of the linked...
Syntheses of 12-aminododecanoic and 11-aminoundecanoic acids from vernolic acid

12-Aminododecanoic acid and 11-aminoundecanoic acid, monomer precursors for nylon-12 and nylon-11, respectively, have been synthesized from vernolic (cis-12,13-epoxy-cis-9-octadecenoic) acid via a reaction sequence that includes the formation of 12-oxododecanoic acid oxime. Saponification of vernonia oil, followed by a low-temperature recrystallization at −20°C, gave 51% vernolic acid (97% purity, m.p. 23–25°C). Hydrogenation afforded cis-12,13-epoxystearic acid (m.p. 52–54°C, lit. m.p. 52–54°C), which upon oxidation with periodic acid in tertiary butyl alcohol gave 12-oxododecanoic acid with an isolated yield of 71.0%. Reaction of the oxoacid with hydroxylamine hydrochloride gave 12-oxododecanoic acid oxime, which was catalytically reduced to give 12-aminododecanoic acid with a yield greater than 85% and a melting point of 184–186°C (lit. m.p. 185–187°C). 11-Aminoundecanoic acid was prepared from the 12-oxododecanoic acid oxime via a three-step reaction sequence that involved a Beckmann rearrangement, Hofmann degradation, and hydrolysis. Thus, the aldoxime acid was hydrolyzed in the presence of nickel acetate tetrahydrate to give 11-carbamoylundecanoic acid (48% yield, m.p. 129–131°C, lit. m.p. 129–130°C). The amide was then treated with a solution of sodium methoxide and bromine at 70–80°C to give 11-(methoxycarbonylamino)undecanoic acid at 75% yield (m.p. 84–86°C; elemental analysis, calculated for C13H25NO4: C, 60.19; H, 9.73; N, 5.40; O, 24.68%; found C, 60.02; H, 9.81; N, 5.26; O, 24.91%), which upon alkaline hydrolysis and subsequent neutralization gave 11-aminoundecanoic acid at 34% yield (m.p. 189–192°C, lit. m.p. 190°C). Mass spectrometric and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance data of the previously unreported 11-(methoxycarbonylamino)undecanoic acid is provided.
Isolation of a novel peptide with a unique binding profile from human brain cortex: Tyr-K-MIF-1 (Tyr-Pro-Lys-Gly-NH2)

Abstract Tyr-MIF-1 (Tyr-Pro-Leu-Gly-NH 2 ), Tyr-W-MIF-1 (Tyr-Pro-Trp-Gly-NH 2 ), and MIF-1 (Pro-Leu-Gly-NH 2 ) are biologically active peptides previously isolated from brain tissue. We now have used size exclusion chromatography and several consecutive rp-HPLC steps monitored by RIA to isolate a structurally related peptide from human brain cortex with the sequence Tyr-Pro-Lys-Gly-NH 2 (Tyr-K-MIF-1). Determination of the sequence, electrospray mass spectrometry, and comparison of its chromatographic behavior with synthetic Tyr-K-MIF-1 confirmed the structure. Unlike Tyr-MIF-1 and Tyr-W-MIF-1 does not bind to the mu opiate site; unlike MIF-1, Tyr-K-MIF-1 can bind to the Tyr-MIF-1 site. Of these peptides, only Tyr-K-MIF-1 binds to its own site in brain tissue prepared in Tris buffer. Thus, a new member of the Tyr-MIF-1 family of peptides, with a unique profile of binding, has been isolated from human brain cortex.
Continental alkali basalts as mixtures of kimberlite and depleted mantle: Evidence from Kilbourne Hole Maar, New Mexico

A depleted-mantle nodule from Kilbourne Hole, New Mexico, has been analyzed in detail to test a recent model for the formation of alkali basalts by two-component mixing of depleted mantle and enriched (kimberlite) mantle. The bulkrock chemistry of the nodule can be reconstructed from its constituent phases, except for calcium, sodium and several incompatible elements. It is found that acid-leachates derived from the surfaces of the minerals contain the "missing" complement of these elements. Furthermore, major element compositions indicate that each leachate may be a mixture of nodule mineral plus kimberlite. It is suggested that the host alkali basalt lava could have formed by the same mixing process, as the lava and enclosed nodule are in approximate Nd isotopic equilibrium, and calculated mineral/melt partition coefficients for the rare earth elements (REE) between nodule minerals and host lava match those determined experimentally.
The relation of the neutron single particle gap at N = 82 to high spin yrast states at A ≈ 150

Abstract Experimental data on levels in 145 Gd, 146 Gd, and 147 Gd are used to determine the magnitude of the neutron single particle gap at N = 82. This neutron single particle spectrum is used to calculate the excitation energies of high spin yrast states in the A ≈ 150 mass region. Good agreemeent with experimental assignments is found.
Elastase release of basic fibroblast growth factor in pulmonary fibroblast cultures results in down-regulation of elastin gene transcription. A role for basic fibroblast growth factor in regulating lung repair.

We have reported previously that a factor released by elastase treatment of pulmonary fibroblast cultures is capable of down-regulating elastin gene expression. In the present study we have pursued the identification of the factor released by elastase treatment and the characterization of the level of elastin gene expression at which this factor exerts its effect. We have found by immunologic and biochemical procedures that elastase treatment results in the release of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) that is bound within the matrix. Both purified bFGF and bFGF released by elastase from cell matrices decrease the transcriptional level of the elastin gene by 70-80% within 24 h. Transient transfections of pulmonary fibroblasts with a series of elastin promoter deletion constructs show that the region of the elastin gene responsive to bFGF is located within sequences spanning −900 to −200 base pairs. The biological implications of these findings coupled with our previous report are significant, since they demonstrate that elastase digestion of pulmonary fibroblast matrices not only results in the proteolysis of elastin but also results in the release of a potent regulator of elastin gene transcription whose activity can influence repair mechanisms.
Precision determination of the magnetic field in a muon storage ring using the cyclotron frequency of heavy ions — A technique for use in a new measurement of the muon g-2 value

Abstract A new experiment will measure the muon g-2 value with 20 times better precision than it is presently known. To reach this goal, the magnetic field in the muon storage ring must be known to one part in 107. This can be achieved by storing singly charged heavy ions in the ring and measuring their cyclotron frequency.
Online Focus Group: A Tool to Evaluate Online Students' Course Experience

This study suggests that virtual focus groups can be used as a powerful research tool to evaluate students' online course experiences. Students taking courses through the Internet want to be in control of when to access their course content. They also want to be able to decide when and how they interact with their peers and professors. In other words, students are striving for flexibility. Due to the fact that online courses require a different array of preparation, infrastructure, technical support, technology expertise, and course methodology; the evaluation of student online course experience(s) requires a different evaluation paradigm. In this study, the researchers combined the focus group with the Delphi technique and were able to verify the important matters that made an impact on students' satisfaction with the online course(s) they took. The uniqueness of this study is related to the adoption of asynchronous communication into the focus group research technique.
Enhancing airlift fuel efficiency through increased utilization of cargo capacity

This paper addresses the constraints preventing full utilization of an aircraft’s cargo compartment. The fact that many sorties are flown with less than the maximum allowable weight or volume results in more airlift sorties being required to move the same amount of cargo. Various solutions are investigated to more efficiently fill the volume while simultaneously maximizing against the weight constraint. Solving the problem of the inefficient utilization of the airlift cargo compartment space can increase aircraft and aircrew availability, reduce fuel consumption for a given level of output, and reduce the number of flights required into constrained airfields. We recommend a pallet stacking solution moving cargo from Dover Air Force Base to Ramstein Air Force Base that we estimate would reduce C-17 sorties 31.4% when aggregated over a three calendar day period saving over eight million dollars per year.