cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
DJ-1 Expression Modulates Astrocyte-Mediated Protection Against Neuronal Oxidative Stress

DJ-1 deficiency is a cause of genetic Parkinson's disease (PARK7 PD). In sporadic Parkinson's disease (PD), however, DJ-1 is abundantly expressed in reactive astrocytes. This may represent a compensatory protective response. In initial support of this hypothesis, we have shown in vitro that DJ-1-overexpressing astrocytes protect neurons against rotenone-induced death. Rotenone, a pesticide linked to increased PD risk, can stimulate oxidative stress. This process is implicated in PD pathogenesis. Since DJ-1 can enhance antioxidant systems, we hypothesized that augmenting its expression in astrocytes would protect cocultured neurons against oxidative stress. We report here that DJ-1-overexpressing astrocytes were significantly more protective against rotenone-induced neuronal thiol oxidation than wild-type astrocytes in neuron-astrocyte cocultures. DJ-1-knockdown astrocytes, on the other hand, were significantly impaired in their capacity to protect neurons against thiol oxidation. Each of these findings was replicated using astrocyte-conditioned media on neuron-enriched cultures. Thus, DJ-1-modulated, astrocyte-released soluble factors must be involved in the mechanism. This is the first demonstration that the manipulation of a PD-causing gene in astrocytes affects their ability to protect neurons against oxidative stress.
The National Cancer Data Base report on ovarian cancer treatment in United States hospitals.

Background Epithelial ovarian cancer continues to challenge clinicians. There is no accepted method of screening for ovarian cancer, and most patients present with advanced disease. In spite of advances in surgery and chemotherapy, survival continues to be poor. Methods The data, comprising the ovarian cancer caseloads of 940 hospitals, are from the National Cancer Data Base. The 15,254 patients, diagnosed in 1988 or 1993, had no prior cancer diagnosis. Results Data quality had improved by 1993; 89.4% of the records included American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging information in 1993, compared with 67.9% in 1988. Borderline epithelial tumors and germ cell tumors were most commonly found in younger women and were more likely to be diagnosed at Stage I. The percentage of women with carcinoma treated only with surgery increased substantially by 1993. Relative survival decreased with increasing tumor stage or grade. Five-year survival was considerably lower for women with carcinoma (38%) than for women with either borderline carcinoma (95%) or germ cell tumors (86%). The addition of chemotherapy to the treatment of Stage I carcinoma did not improve outcome, nor was dramatic improvement in survival brought about by the addition of chemotherapy to the treatment of Stage II and III low grade disease. Chemotherapy was beneficial to patients with Stage II or III disease, Grade 3 or 4, and Stage IV disease. Conclusions Most women with epithelial ovarian cancers continue to present with advanced disease. No improvements in early detection were apparent in the reference years studied. The benefits of the addition of chemotherapy to the treatment of this disease were most obvious in patients with Stage II and III disease, Grade 3 or 4, and those with Stage IV disease. These benefits were less clear in early stage disease. However, there continues to be significant room for improvement in the diagnosis and treatment of this disease.
Turkish Mothers’ Parenting Beliefs in Response to Preschoolers’ Aggressive and Socially Withdrawn Behaviors

The present study aimed to examine Turkish mothers’ reactive parenting beliefs (reactive emotional appraisals, causal attributions, anticipated strategies, and underlying goals for their anticipated strategies) in response to children’s aggressive and socially withdrawn behaviors. Participants included 84 mothers with preschool-aged children residing in Ankara, Turkey. Supporting our expectations, the results showed that the degree of mothers’ negative emotional responses varied based on the child maladaptive behaviors. Moreover, mothers perceived aggressive behaviors as more temporary and contextually dependent, but intentional than withdrawn behaviors. More directive strategies and parent-centered goals were reported for aggression, whereas more indirect strategies and emphatic goals were reported for social withdrawal. Overall, the present study provided evidence that Turkish mothers’ perceptions and evaluations of maladaptive behaviors may have universal characteristics as well as aspects that are particular to the Turkish socio-cultural context.
Parametric study of antennas for long range Doppler radar heart rate detection

This research presents results obtained from long range measurements of physiological motion pertaining to human cardiac and respiration activity. A pulse pressure sensor was used as reference to verify the results from radar signals. A motion detection and grading algorithm was used to detect the presence of heart rate. In addition to showing that human heart rate and respiration can be measured at distances of 21 and 69 meters respectively, the effect of antenna size, radiation pattern and gain on the range of the radar has also been studied.
The effectiveness of male circumcision for HIV prevention and effects on risk behaviors in a posttrial follow-up study.

Background The efficacy of male circumcision for HIV prevention over 2 years has been demonstrated in three randomized trials, but the longer-term effectiveness of male circumcision is unknown. Methods We conducted a randomized trial of male circumcision in 4996 HIV-negative men aged 15-49 in Rakai, Uganda. Following trial closure, we offered male circumcision to control participants and have maintained surveillance for up to 4.79 years. HIV incidence per 100 person-years was assessed in an as-treated analysis, and the effectiveness of male circumcision was estimated using Cox regression models, adjusted for sociodemographic and time-dependent sexual behaviors. For men uncircumcised at trial closure, sexual risk behaviors at the last trial and first posttrial visits were assessed by subsequent circumcision acceptance to detect behavioral risk compensation. Results By 15 December 2010, 78.4% of uncircumcised trial participants accepted male circumcision following trial closure. During posttrial surveillance, overall HIV incidence was 0.50/100 person-years in circumcised men and 1.93/100 person-years in uncircumcised men {adjusted effectiveness 73% [95% confidence interval (CI) 55-84%]}. In control arm participants, posttrial HIV incidence was 0.54/100 person-years in circumcised and 1.71/100 person-years in uncircumcised men [adjusted effectiveness 67% (95% CI 38-83%)]. There were no significant differences in sociodemographic characteristics and sexual behaviors between controls accepting male circumcision and those remaining uncircumcised. Conclusion High effectiveness of male circumcision for HIV prevention was maintained for almost 5 years following trial closure. There was no self-selection or evidence of behavioral risk compensation associated with posttrial male circumcision acceptance.
Cephalothin: hydrolysis of the C-3'-acetoxy moiety of a 7-aminocephalosporanic acid; observation of both acyl-oxygen bond cleavage and reversible alkyl-oxygen bond cleavage.

The aqueous solution chemistry of the C-3′-acetoxy moiety of cephalothin sodium (1b) was examined with the use of isotopically labeled H218O and [2-13C]acetate anion. The 18O incorporation studies indicate that the hydrolysis (at pH 4.7 ± 0.1) of 1b to the deacetyl derivative of cephalothin (2b) proceeds via two pathways: alkyl-oxygen bond cleavage (55–63%) and acyl-oxygen bond cleavage accounting for the remainder. The incorporation of [2-13C]acetate into 1b suggests that the alkyl-oxygen cleavage pathway is a reversible reaction.
The Chemo-Electro-Mechanical Behavior of the pH Sensitive Hydrogels in Transient Condition

Hydrogels are 3-D network polymeric materials that exhibit a phase-transition due to a change in their environment so that the response causes the hydrogel to swell or shrink. The changes in the solvent pH cause the hydrogel to swell or shrink, which is exploited for designing a drug delivery system. The time taken for drug uptake or delivery is an important aspect in these applications. The development of such systems require thorough understanding of the kinetic behavior of hydrogel swelling. We report the results of our research effort to model the time-dependent behavior using the finite element analysis. The hydrogel response is modeled using three partial differential equations in which two are nonlinear and third equation uses nonlinear material constants. Solving all three nonlinear equations using the finite element method for transient condition is a significant challenge. Our model is implemented using the generic finite element software COMSOL and the method can be used with any software having similar capabilities. We discuss the simulation of phase-transitions in transient conditions emphasizing the response to change in the solvent pH. The simulation was carried out on hydrogels with diameters from 200 μm to 500 μm while varying the solvent pH from 3 to 6. The results are compared with the published experimental data. A major achievement of this work is that the transient analysis is carried out in 2D, while the most reported literature are confined to one-dimensional analysis.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Purification and characterization of diacetyl reductase from Kluyveromyces marxianus

Diacetyl reductase (EC 1.1.1.5) from Kluyveromyces marxianus NRRL Y-1196 was purified 27.5-fold with a yield of 13% by ammonium sulphate fractionation, DEAE-anion exchange chromatography, hydroxyapatite chromatography and chromatofocusing. The purified enzyme was most active at pH 7.0 and exhibited optimal activity at 40 o C. The K m and V max values for diacetyl were 2.52 mmol l -1 and 0.026 mmol l -1 min -1 , respectively. The enzyme did not react with monoaldehydes or monoketones, but reduced acetoin, diacetyl and methylglyoxal with NADH as a cofactor. The enzyme had an isoelectric point (pI) of pH 5.8, and its molecular weight was 50 kDa
Bariatric Surgery: A Review of the Available Procedures and Complications for the Emergency Physician

Morbid obesity is a serious and widespread disease that has considerable morbidity and mortality. Bariatric surgery has become widely available in both community and academic centers as a weight loss option for the morbidly obese. Although the procedure is offered to patients after a careful screening process, it is highly invasive and is performed in patients with significant pre-existing comorbidities from obesity. Knowledge of possible postoperative complications and their management is important as it will affect Emergency Departments nationwide. A basic understanding of the available procedures, the anatomical changes of each procedure, and the common complications for each is important to the emergency physician who will need to evaluate and manage the postbariatric surgery patient.
The Iraqi medical brain drain: a cross-sectional study.

This study aims to explore the independent predictors of physicians' emigration from Iraq and the emigration temporal trends of Iraqi doctors. We used a convenience sample of Iraqi physicians, extracting their e-mail addresses from public records of Iraqi Medical Association websites and asking them to complete an online survey. Of the 1,395 Iraqi physicians contacted, 599 responded and 567 were eligible for inclusion. Of these, 202 reside in Iraq and the rest live abroad. Doctors abroad describe better work atmospheres, job satisfaction, and training quality. The majority live in English-speaking countries. Of these, 60 percent left Iraq for security reasons, 99 percent left when they were juniors, and 66 percent of those completed their specialty training and settled abroad forever. Of doctors abroad, 17 percent want to return to Iraq, while 50 percent of doctors in Iraq want to leave. Iraqi doctors' rate of emigration peaked in 2006; these figures have since declined, but remain relatively high. Iraq h...
Current Status of Bulking Agents for Urinary Incontinence

Injectable agents are frequently used in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence in a variety of patients. Materials and techniques used in this mode of therapy have evolved over time, with several agents currently available in the US. Each of the agents has variable biophysical properties that affect its efficacy and safety. Despite increasing evidence evaluating the various injectable materials for the treatment of stress incontinence, there is no clear data to establish any agent as superior and durability of effect remains a limiting factor. The ideal periurethral injectable agent has not yet been identified though many of the currently used agents have acceptable efficacy in selected populations. In the future, alternative biomaterials that are currently being investigated could prove to be more effective and durable.
Test Chamber Design for Remotely Deployed Migratory Tracking Tags Used on Large Whales

Knowing the location of whales as they migrate, eat, and breed is of significant interest to those concerned with the conservation of endangered whale species. This information can be used to adjust human activities, such as naval traffic, commercial fishing, and the exploration for oil and gas, to manage the recovery of these species. When tracking large whales over long distances and periods of time, satellite-monitored radio tags are used to communicate where the whales are located. These tags are remotely deployed as either dorsal body tags or dorsal fin tags. A dorsal body tag, is a radio transmitter that anchors subdermally in a region near the dorsal fin so that it can transmit whenever the whale surfaces. Dorsal fin tags are a similar form of radio transmitter that anchors directly to the dorsal fin. Tag trials on stranded whale carcasses are commonly used to test both dorsal body tag and dorsal fin tag designs [1,2]. However, there is a need to develop a more readily available testing method for dorsal body tags.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Perspectives on Drug Use

Man has always used chemical substances to change mood, feeling, and perception; he probably always will. The substances used will depend upon the changes he desires or values and his perception of the effects of available substances in relation to those changes. Substances now widely used fall into three general categories: (a) Ups, (b) Downs, and (c) those which change the way one perceives one's self or one's physical and social environment. All drug use, legal or illegal, involves risk at some dosage level for some individuals under some circumstances; determination of what risks are to be tolerated for what benefits is clearly a value judgment. The important issue then becomes who shall make these value judgments and according to what system of values. Language: en
Participation games and international environmental agreements: A non-parametric model

Abstract We examine the size of stable coalitions in a participation game that has been used to model international environmental agreements, cartel formation, RD based on these examples, a consensus has emerged that in this kind of game, the equilibrium coalition size is small, except possibly when the potential benefits of cooperation are also small. In this paper, we develop a non-parametric approach to the problem, and demonstrate that the conventional wisdom is not robust. In a general setting, we identify conditions under which the equilibrium coalition size can be large even when potential gains are large. Contrary to previously examined leading special cases, we show that reductions in marginal abatement costs in an international environmental game can increase equilibrium membership, and we provide a measure of the smallest reduction in costs needed to support a coalition of arbitrary size.
Persistence and professional fulfillment.

Receiving the Pharmacist Achievement Award from the New York State Council of Health-System Pharmacists brought back many memories of my entry into the profession. It seems like only yesterday that I was a delivery boy for a pharmacy in Brooklyn. That experience convinced me that I wanted to become
A light and electron microscopic study of perineuronal glial cells and processes in the rabbit neocortex

The morphology of satellite cells was determined by examining brom formalin fixed tissue stained by the silver carbonate technique, and tissue fixed in gluteraldehyde, post-fixed in osmium and prepared for electron microscopy. Light microscopy indicated that oligodendrocytes and astrocytes were the predominant perineuronal cell types. Cells with intermediate morphological characteristics were also observed. The light microscopic criteria for cellular indentification were the comparative size and shape of the cell bodies, and the number and nature of glial processes. Electron microscopy revealed perineuronal cells with round to oval shaped cell bodies, dense nuclear and cytoplasmic matrices, and a rich compliment of organelles. A second, less numerous, type of satellite cell had a larger, oval, elongate, or somewhat angular cell body, light nuclear and cytoplasmic matrices, and gliofibrils and glycogen. The former correlated well with the light microscopic oligodendrocyte and the latter with the astrocyte. “Dark cells” were not observed in a satellite position with the electron microscope nor were cells observed that conform to Hortega's “spiny microglia” in our silver preparations. Specializations of the plasma membranes of satellite glial cells and neurons were observed, and were interpreted as possible morphological evidence for “transport” between neurons and neuroglia.
Natural history of surgically treated bladder carcinoma with extravesical tumor extension.

BACKGROUND The current TNM classification for bladder carcinoma stratifies extravesical extension into microscopic (pT3a) and macroscopic (pT3b) tumor involvement. The authors evaluated the outcomes of patients with pT3a and pT3b disease after radical cystectomy. METHODS Patients (n = 129) with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder treated with radical cystectomy alone demonstrated pathologic extravesical tumor extension: 37 (29%) had pT3a disease and 92 (71%) had pT3b disease. No patient received any adjuvant therapy. With a median follow-up of 13.6 years, the presence of lymph node involvement, margin positivity, local (pelvic) and distant disease recurrence, and clinical outcomes were determined. RESULTS Of the 129 patients, 43 (33%) had lymph node tumor involvement: 13 of 37 patients with pT3a disease (35%) and 30 of 92 patients with pT3b disease (33%). The 10-year recurrence-free and overall survival for the entire group was 54% and 20%, respectively. No statistical difference between pT3a and pT3b disease was observed with regard to recurrence-free (P = 0.54) and overall (P = 0.66) survival. Lymph node involvement was predictive of a significantly worse 10-year recurrence-free survival (32%) compared with lymph node-negative disease (60%; P = 0.003). Local disease recurrence was reported to occur in 12 patients (9%), whereas 37 patients (29%) were reported to develop distant metastases. Among those who had disease recurrence, the type of disease recurrence (local or distant) was not found to be associated with tumor stage (pT3a vs, pT3b, P = 0.47). CONCLUSIONS This cohort of surgically managed patients provided insight into the long-term natural history of pathologically confirmed extravesical bladder carcinoma after radical cystectomy. There was no important difference in the incidence of lymph node involvement, survival rates, and disease recurrence rates between patients with microscopic and macroscopic extravesical extension. Adjuvant protocols should be undertaken for these high-risk patients to further improve on these clinical outcomes. Cancer 2003;98:955–61. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11569
Effect of source gas and deposition method on friction and wear performance of diamondlike carbon films

Abstract We investigated the tribological performance of diamondlike carbon (DLC) films derived from methane, acetylene, and hydrogen + methane source gases in a magnetron sputtering system and an ion-beam-deposition system. Films have been deposited on AISI 440C bearing-steel substrates and were tested in a pin-on-disk machine under a wide range of conditions in open air and in dry nitrogen. We found that the films grown in a hydrogen + methane plasma resulted in significantly lower friction coefficients (i.e. 0.01) and ball wear rates during tests in dry nitrogen (N 2 ). The friction coefficients for the methane-derived films were also low (0.02 in dry N 2 but the friction coefficients of the acetylene-produced films were 2- to 10-times higher than those recorded for the methane- and hydrogen + methanegrown films, especially in dry N 2 . The methane- and hydrogen + methane-grown films also resulted in very small wear losses on counterface balls, regardless of the test environments. Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy were used to elucidate the structural chemistry of each film and correlate the findings with tribological performance.
Reconstitution of chromatin higher-order structure from histone H5 and depleted chromatin.

Abstract Reconstitution of the 30 nm filament of chromatin from pure histone H5 and chromatin depleted of H1 and H5 has been studied using small-angle neutron-scattering. We find that depleted, or stripped, chromatin is saturated by H5 at the same stoichiometry as that of linker histone in native chromatin. The structure and condensation behavior of fully reconstituted chromatin is indistinguishable from that of native chromatin. Both native and reconstituted chromatin condense continuously as a function of salt concentration, to reach a limiting structure that has a mass per unit length of 6·4 nucleosomes per 11 nm. Stripped chromatin at all ionic strengths appears to be a 10 nm filament, or a random coil of nucleosomes. In contrast, both native and reconstituted chromatin have a quite different structure, showing that H5 imposes a spatial correlation between neighboring nucleosomes even at low ionic strength. Our data also suggest that five to seven contiguous nucleosomes must have H5 bound in order to be able to form a higher-order structure.
The disappearing size effect

Abstract In this paper, we use average monthly returns and monthly cross-sectional regressions to investigate the relation between returns and firm size. During the period 1963–1981, we find an annualized return difference between small and large firms over 13% compared to a negative 2% return differential since 1982. Removal of the smallest firms (less than $5 million market value) eliminates any statistically significant size effect during the sample period using a regression framework. Several explanations are proposed for the disappearance of the size effect. Our results imply that size should not be considered as a systematic proxy for risk.
Hydrogenolysis of some organopolysilanes

Abstract The disilane bonds of various organosilicon compounds were found to be cleaved by hydrogen to give silicon hydrides when treated under conditions of relatively high temperatures and pressures in the presence of copper oxide catalysts, providing that the silicon-silicon bonds were activated by the presence of phenyl groups. Raney nickel was not effective as a catalyst for the hydrogenolysis reaction, nor could the aromatic rings be hydrogenated when attached to the disilane linkage.
PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF INFLUENZA VIRUS COMPONENTS OBTAINED AFTER ETHER TREATMENT

The Rostock strain of fowl plague, the swine, A, A', and Asian strains of influenza A as well as their hemagglutinin and internal s antigen subunits obtained after ether splitting, were found to be morphologically indistinguishable when examined simultaneously. Hemagglutinin fractions reacted in a highly strain specific manner when tested by hemagglutination inhibition or by complement fixation using sera obtained after infection. With the same sera internal s antigen fractions were shown to be serologically distinguishable by complement fixation. This observation may stimulate interest in the feasibility of employing immunologic techniques for the study of nucleoproteins. The significance of the findings reported is discussed.
History of narcolepsy at Stanford University

Although narcolepsy was first described in the late nineteenth century in Germany and France, much of the research on this disorder has been conducted at Stanford University, starting with Drs. William C. Dement and Christian Guilleminault in the 1970s. The prevalence of narcolepsy was established, and a canine model discovered. Following the finding in Japan that almost all patients with narcolepsy carry a specific HLA subtype, HLA-DR2, Hugh Mac Devitt, F. Carl Grumet, and Larry Steinman initiated immunological studies, but results were generally negative. Using the narcoleptic canines, Dr. Nishino and I established that stimulants increased wakefulness by stimulating dopaminergic transmission while antidepressants suppress cataplexy via adrenergic reuptake inhibition. A linkage study was initiated with Dr. Grumet in 1988, and after 10 years of work, the canine narcolepsy gene was cloned by in 1999 and identified as the hypocretin (orexin) receptor 2. In 1992, studying African Americans, we also found that DQ0602 rather than DR2 was a better marker for narcolepsy across all ethnic groups. In 2000, Dr. Nishino and I, in collaboration with Dr. Lammers in the Netherlands, found that hypocretin 1 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were undetectable in most cases, establishing hypocretin deficiency as the cause of narcolepsy. Pursuing this research, our and Dr. Siegel’s group, examining postmortem brains, found that the decreased CSF hypocretin 1 was secondary to the loss the 70,000 neurons producing hypocretin in the hypothalamus. This finding revived the autoimmune hypothesis but attempts at demonstrating immune targeting of hypocretin cells failed until 2013. At this date, Dr. Elisabeth Mellins and I discovered that narcolepsy is characterized by the presence of autoreactive CD4+ T cells to hypocretin fragments when presented by DQ0602. Following reports that narcolepsy cases were triggered by vaccinations and infections against influenza A 2009 pH1N1, a new pandemic strain that erupted in 2009, our groups also established that a small epitope of pH1N1 resembles hypocretin and is likely involved in molecular mimicry. Although much remains to be done, these achievements, establishing hypocretin deficiency as the cause of narcolepsy, demonstrating its autoimmune basis, and showing molecular mimicry between hypocretin and sequences derived from a pandemic strain of influenza, are likely to remain classics in human immunology.
Short-time dynamics of an ising system on fractal structures

The short-time critical relaxation of an Ising model on a Sierpinski carpet is investigated using Monte Carlo simulation. We find that when the system is quenched from high temperature to the critical temperature, the evolution of the order parameter and its persistence probability, the susceptibility, and the autocorrelation function all show power-law scaling behavior at the short-time regime. The results suggest that the spatial heterogeneity and the fractal nature of the underlying structure do not influence the scaling behavior of the short-time critical dynamics. The critical temperature, dynamic exponent z, and other equilibrium critical exponents \ensuremath{\beta} and \ensuremath{\nu} of the fractal spin system are determined accurately using conventional Monte Carlo simulation algorithms. The mechanism for short-time dynamic scaling is discussed.
Preliminary evaluation of the Arctic Sun temperature-controlling system during off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery.

Abstract Background Maintaining normothermia during off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) surgery is a challenge not met by currently available medical devices and strategies. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of a new thermoregulatory device, the Arctic Sun temperature-controlling circulating fluid adhesive pad system, in preventing hypothermia during OPCAB surgery. Methods Thirteen consenting patients undergoing OPCAB had their temperature managed using the Arctic Sun™ system. They were matched with 23 consenting control OPCAB patients whose temperature was maintained with standardized, conventional therapy (elevated ambient operating room temperature, warmed intravenous fluids, and a convective forced air warming system placed under the surgical drapes). Nasopharyngeal temperature (recorded at 1-minute intervals) was compared between the two groups by analysis of both the time and area under the curve for a temperature less than 36°C. Results Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that the average amount of hypothermia in the Arctic Sun group was significantly less than in the control group, both for time spent less than 36°C (20.7 vs 121.3 minutes, p = 0.0004) and for area under the curve less than 36°C (11.8°C vs 78.1°C × minutes, p = 0.0001). Conclusions The Arctic Sun temperature-controlling system is more effective than conventional warming methods in preventing hypothermia during OPCAB surgery.
Networked embedded automation

Purpose – The aim of this research is to investigate whether a collection of tiny, resource constrained, microcontrollers that communicate with each other over wireless links can perform rigorous automation tasks.Design/methodology/approach – We identify three building blocks that are necessary to obtain large conveyor systems. The operation of each building block is regulated by a local microcontroller and the microcontrollers interact via wireless links to coordinate the operations across blocks. We define the actions necessary in each block and discuss two example applications for this method.Findings – It is necessary to fundamentally revisit how automation applications are engineered to get the benefits of new technologies. We show that the three blocks that we call segment, turnaround and crossover are sufficient to obtain a large variety of conveyor systems. By embedding the blocks in a grid, we can simplify the design of the conveyor systems.Research limitations/implications – Extensions of this r...
The uterus and control of ovarian function.

Though many experiments have shown central (hypothalamo-pituitary) regulation of corpus luteum function evidence exists to show that the uterus also plays an important role in this ovarian process. The broad areas reviewed here include effects hysterectomy effects of IUDs effects of conceptus effects of pathological changes of uterus and physiological mechanisms. Observations suggest that the transformation of functional corpora lutea into corpora albicans depends upon uterine stimulation. A luteolytic factor carried vascularly and/or local nervous connections may be important in this regard.
Modeling the impact of soil aggregate size on selenium immobilization

Soil aggregates are mm- to cm-sized microporous structures separated by macropores. Whereas fast advective transport prevails in macropores, advection is inhibited by the low permeability of intra-aggregate micropores. This can lead to mass transfer limitations and the formation of aggregate scale concentration gradients affecting the distribution and transport of redox sensitive elements. Selenium (Se) mobilized through irrigation of seleniferous soils has emerged as a major aquatic contaminant. In the absence of oxygen, the bioavailable oxyanions selenate, Se(VI), and selenite, Se(IV), can be microbially reduced to solid, elemental Se, Se(0), and anoxic microzones within soil aggregates are thought to promote this process in otherwise well-aerated soils. To evaluate the impact of soil aggregate size on selenium retention, we developed a dynamic 2-D reactive transport model of selenium cycling in a single idealized aggregate surrounded by a macropore. The model was developed based on flow-through-reactor experiments involving artificial soil aggregates (diameter: 2.5 cm) made of sand and containing Enterobacter cloacae SLD1a-1 that reduces Se(VI) via Se(IV) to Se(0). Aggregates were surrounded by a constant flow providing Se(VI) and pyruvate under oxic or anoxic conditions. In the model, reactions were implemented with double-Monod rate equations coupled to the transport of pyruvate, O 2 , and Se species. The spatial and temporal dynamics of the model were validated with data from experiments, and predictive simulations were performed covering aggregate sizes 1–2.5 cm in diameter. Simulations predict that selenium retention scales with aggregate size. Depending on O 2 , Se(VI), and pyruvate concentrations, selenium retention was 4–23 times higher in 2.5 cm aggregates compared to 1 cm aggregates. Under oxic conditions, aggregate size and pyruvate concentrations were found to have a positive synergistic effect on selenium retention. Promoting soil aggregation on seleniferous agricultural soils, through organic matter amendments and conservation tillage, may thus help decrease the impacts of selenium contaminated drainage water on downstream aquatic ecosystems.
An examination of periodontal treatment and per member per month (PMPM) medical costs in an insured population

Chronic medical conditions have been associated with periodontal disease. This study examined if periodontal treatment can contribute to changes in overall risk and medical expenditures for three chronic conditions [Diabetes Mellitus (DM), Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), and Cerebrovascular Disease (CVD)]. 116,306 enrollees participating in a preferred provider organization (PPO) insurance plan with continuous dental and medical coverage between January 1, 2001 and December 30, 2002, exhibiting one of three chronic conditions (DM, CAD, or CVD) were examined. This study was a population-based retrospective cohort study. Aggregate costs for medical services were used as a proxy for overall disease burden. The cost for medical care was measured in Per Member Per Month (PMPM) dollars by aggregating all medical expenditures by diagnoses that corresponded to the International Classification of Diseases, 9th Edition, (ICD-9) codebook. To control for differences in the overall disease burden of each group, a previously calculated retrospective risk score utilizing Symmetry Health Data Systems, Inc. Episode Risk Groups™ (ERGs) were utilized for DM, CAD or CVD diagnosis groups within distinct dental services groups including; periodontal treatment (periodontitis or gingivitis), dental maintenance services (DMS), other dental services, or to a no dental services group. The differences between group means were tested for statistical significance using log-transformed values of the individual total paid amounts. The DM, CAD and CVD condition groups who received periodontitis treatment incurred significantly higher PMPM medical costs than enrollees who received gingivitis treatment, DMS, other dental services, or no dental services (p < .001). DM, CAD, and CVD condition groups who received periodontitis treatment had significantly lower retrospective risk scores (ERGs) than enrollees who received gingivitis treatment, DMS, other dental services, or no dental services (p < .001). This two-year retrospective examination of a large insurance company database revealed a possible association between periodontal treatment and PMPM medical costs. The findings suggest that periodontitis treatment (a proxy for the presence of periodontitis) has an impact on the PMPM medical costs for the three chronic conditions (DM, CAD, and CVD). Additional studies are indicated to examine if this relationship is maintained after adjusting for confounding factors such as smoking and SES.
The Social Dynamics and Durability of Moral Boundaries

Moral boundaries are often conceptualized as an expression of an individual’s identity or belief system. However, social forces greatly influence how and when consumers activate moral boundaries. Utilizing a dramaturgical perspective, this article shows that the activation of moral boundaries is largely determined by an individual’s position in the market (role), the discourse he or she is expected to perform (scripts), and the individuals with whom he or she is interacting (audience). This article makes four contributions to our understanding of ethical consumption and boundary theory: (1) it provides a counterbalance to theories that imply moral boundaries are an expression of an individual’s belief system; (2) it demonstrates the permeability of moral boundaries; (3) it shows that strong moral boundaries can, but rarely do, lead to the formation of social boundaries; and (4) it reinforces the notion that boundary research needs to include naturalistic data looking at how people activate boundaries in their everyday lives. These findings are based on participant observation and interviews with 102 consumers, activists, store owners, and managers of Fair Trade coffee and handicraft retail stores.
Particulate Air Pollution and Hospital Emergency Room Visits for Asthma in Seattle

Recent studies have associated short-term exposure to respirable particulate matter (PM10) exposure with peak flow decrements, increased symptoms of respiratory irritation, increased use of asthma medications, and increased hospitalization for asthma. Increased mortality from chronic respiratory disease has also been reported. To help confirm whether PM10 exposure is a risk factor for the exacerbation of asthma, we compiled daily records of asthma emergency room visits from eight hospitals in the Seattle area. In Poisson regressions controlling for weather, season, time trends, age, hospital, and day of the week, the daily counts of emergency room visits for persons under age 65 were significantly associated with PM10 exposure on the previous day. The mean of the previous 4 days' PM10 was a better predictor (p < 0.005). The relative risk for a 30 µg/m3 increase in PM10 was 1.12 (95% confidence interval 1.20 to 1.04). Daily PM10 concentrations never exceeded 70% of the current ambient air quality standards...
Regular Expression Software Deceleration for Intrusion Detection Systems

The use of reconfigurable hardware for network security applications has recently made great strides as FPGA devices have provided larger and faster resources. Regular expressions have become a necessary and basic capability of intrusion detection systems, but their implementation tends to be expensive in terms of memory cost and time performance. This work provides an architecture that reduces the exponential NFA to DFA conversion cost to a linear growth for many expressions. By handling the timing and integration of the regular expression-based rules in a custom microcontroller, the memory costs are reduced and the capabilities are increased over a DFA-only solution. Both the microcontroller and its associated DFA are implemented on the FPGA. The patterns and software are stored using run-time programmable memory tables. This allows on-the-fly modification to the regular expressions. This paper presents the design details of the regular expression microcontroller and its integration to the DFA state machines. The types of expressions that the system can handle efficiently are discussed as well as the outstanding problems that continue to challenge the community.
High Incidence of Cardiac Malformations in Connexin40-Deficient Mice

Gap junctions are intercellular channels formed by oligomerization of a protein called connexin (Cx). The heart expresses at least three connexin isotypes: Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45. A possible role for Cx40 in cardiac morphogenesis remains to be determined. We have characterized the anatomy and histology of fetal and newborn hearts obtained from crossing Cx40-deficient mice of mixed genetic background (C57BL/6×129Sv). Hearts were serial-sectioned (5 μm) along the coronal plane, stained with hematoxylin-eosin, and visualized by conventional light microscopy. Cardiac malformations in mice lacking Cx40 in one allele (Cx40+/−) included bifid atrial appendage, ventricular septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), and an aortic arch abnormality. In Cx40−/− mice resulting from crossing of Cx40+/− mice, the most common cardiac malformations were double-outlet right ventricle (DORV), TOF, and endocardial cushion defects. Overall incidence of cardiac malformations was 6/33 (18%) in Cx40+/− mice and 4/12 (33%) in Cx40−/...
Extension of eigenfunction-expansion solutions of a fokker-planck equation--I. First order system

Abstract In an earlier paper the authors presented results for eigenfunction-expansion solutions to the forward Fokker-Planck equation associated with a specific, non-linear, first-order system subject to white noise excitation. This work is concerned with eigenfunction-expansion solutions to the forward and backward Fokker-Planck equations associated with a specific, non-linear, second-order system subject to white noise excitation. Expansion terms through the fourth-order have been generated using a digital computer. Using this new information, inverted Domb-Sykes plots revealed a pattern in the coefficients for certain values of the parameters. Through this pattern, Dingle's theory of terminants was used to recast the series into a more favorable computational form.
Characterizing molecular diffusion in the lens capsule

We tackle the following questions: 1. Why does the double exponential fit better than the single exponential? 2. Why does the time at which you terminate the data alter the predictions? 3. Is there a more robust way to fit the data than is currently being used? 4. Does the effect of transfer between the mobile molecules and the bound ones explain the difference between the two types of graphs?
Bayesian importance parameter modeling of misaligned predictors: soil metal measures related to residential history and intellectual disability in children

In this paper, we propose a novel spatial importance parameter hierarchical logistic regression modeling approach that includes measurement error from misalignment. We apply this model to study the relationship between the estimated concentration of soil metals at the residence of mothers and the development of intellectual disability (ID) in their children. The data consist of monthly computerized claims data about the prenatal experience of pregnant women living in nine areas within South Carolina and insured by Medicaid during January 1, 1996 and December 31, 2001 and the outcome of ID in their children during early childhood. We excluded mother-child pairs if the mother moved to an unknown location during pregnancy. We identified an association of the ID outcome with arsenic (As) and mercury (Hg) concentration in soil during pregnancy, controlling for infant sex, maternal race, mother’s age, and gestational weeks at delivery. There is some indication that Hg has a slightly higher importance in the third and fourth months of pregnancy, while As has a more uniform effect over all the months with a suggestion of a slight increase in risk in later months.
Gain/variability tradeoffs in undiscounted Markov decision processes

We consider a finite state/action Markov Decision Process over the infinite time horizon, and with the limiting average reward criterion. However, we are interested not only in maximizing the above reward criterion but also in minimizing "the variability" of the stream of rewards. The latter notion is formalized in two alternative ways: one in terms of measuring absolute deviations from the "optimal" reward, and the other in terms of a "long-run variance" of a policy. In both cases we formulate a bi-objective optimization problem and show that efficient (i.e., "nondominated") deterministic stationary policies exist and can be computed by finite algorithms. In addition, in the former case we give an algorithm for computing a finite set of "critical efficient policies" which in a sense constitutes one complete set of reasonable responses by a decision-maker sensitive to the variability of rewards. However, the analysis of this case is intended primarily as a "sensitivity analysis" technique rather than a complete theoretical treatment of the gain/variability trade-offs.
Interaction of dantrolene sodium with human serum albumin

The binding of dantrolene sodium to human serum albumin was studied by fluorescence quenching and difference spectrophotometry. The association constant was calculated from each method of measurement and was large. This binding affinity may be of importance in the clinical setting, since competitive displacement of anionic drug by concurrently administered agents can occur. Consequently, the displacement of dantrolene from albumin was examined with a wide range of drugs. To gain insight into the characteristics of drug-albumin binding, the interaction of drug with cationic, anionic, and nonionic surfactants was also studied. Additions of drug to solutions of either the anionic or nonionic surfactant failed to result in a perturbation with the difference spectral technique. However, dantrolene added to the cationic resin produced a difference spectrum analogous to that observed with the drug-protein interaction.
Optimization of an RF driven H - ion source

A radio-frequency (RF)-driven multicusp source has recently been developed to generate volume-produced H/sup -/ ion beams with extracted current density higher than 200 mA/cm/sup 2/. The output power of the RF generator and the insulation coating of the antenna coil have been improved. The antenna position and geometry and the filter magnetic field for high-power pulsed operation have also been optimized. A total H current of 30 mA can be obtained with a 5.4-mm-diameter extraction aperture and with an RF input power of 50 kW. >
Imaging of glutamate neurotransmitter alterations in Alzheimer's disease.

Glutamate (Glu) is a major excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain and has been shown to decrease in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Using a glutamate chemical (amine) exchange saturation transfer (GluCEST) method, we imaged the change in [Glu] in the APP-PS1 transgenic mouse model of AD at high spatial resolution. Compared with wild-type controls, AD mice exhibited a notable reduction in GluCEST contrast (~30%) in all areas of the brain. The change in [Glu] was further validated through 1 H MRS. A positive correlation was observed between GluCEST contrast and 1 H MRS-measured Glu/total creatine ratio. This method potentially provides a novel noninvasive biomarker for the diagnosis of the disease in preclinical stages and enables the development of disease-modifying therapies for AD. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nanoscale simulation of heat conduction in semiconductor devices

Localized heat generation, with dimensions of the order of 10 nm, takes place in the drain regions of current transistors, resulting in an increase in thermal resistance near such a hotspot. We present a model based on the phonon Boltzmann transport equation (BTE) that agrees well with data for hotspots in simple geometries. The model suggests that scattering rates of optical phonons are key to the conduction physics. We use molecular dynamics to obtain phonon relaxation rates and show their dependence on the energy density in the hotspot. This work improves the constitutive modeling of heat flow in nanoscale devices.