cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Post-dural puncture headache: The worst common complication in obstetric anesthesia

Ever since the first spinal anesthetic in the late 19th century, the problem of "spinal headache" or post-dural puncture headache (PDPH) has plagued clinicians, and more importantly, patients. It has long been realized that the headache and other symptoms that often occur after the entry of a needle into the subarachnoid space is somehow related to fluid loss, although the exact pathophysiology of the headache has really never been defined. With the introduction of pencil-point spinal needles for spinal anesthesia in pregnant women over the past 2 decades, the problem of PDPH in obstetrics has been more associated with accidental dural puncture during attempted epidural procedures. Accidental puncture probably occurs in about 1% of procedures, so with over 60% of pregnant women receiving epidural analgesia for labor, there are probably 20,000-50,000 obstetric patients with PDPH in the United States each year. In this article, we will discuss the current state of knowledge in this area, suggesting that the PDPH syndrome is more severe and often more long-lasting, with some potentially life-threatening complications (cerebral hemorrhage) than usually appreciated or admitted. While prevention and treatment options are still limited, with the only clearly effective treatment being the epidural blood patch, recognition of the PDPH syndrome in postpartum women by anesthesiologists and obstetricians, with aggressive follow-up and treatment, may help limit the associated morbidity and mortality.
Excitation of supraoptic neurosecretory cells by angiotensin II.

ANGIOTENSIN II, a circulating peptide which regulates electrolyte balance by controlling the adrenal release of aldosterone, may also act on the central nervous system. The reported central effects include elevations of blood pressure1–6, drinking behaviour7–11, adrenocorticotrophic hormone release12,13 and antidiuretic hormone (ADH) release5,14,15. The evidence for ADH release from the supraoptico-neurohypophysial system is based on studies involving the parenteral and intraventricular administration of angiotensin II. These routes of administration make an exact localization of the releasing action impossible and therefore we have attempted to locate the site by applying angiotensin II directly to individual supraoptic neurosecretory cells. We now report that angiotensin II increases the discharge rate of these and other neurones in the supraoptic nucleus.
COMPARING ALTERNATIVE SERVICE DELIVERY MODES: Municipal Enterprises Require Special Consideration

ABSTRACT: An increasingly constrained fiscal environment and unrelenting citizen demands for services have cities searching for new ways to provide many needed services. Municipal enterprises require special consideration because they provide many advantages for cities. However, because they are separate municipal funds, an understanding of commonly used fund transfer mechanisms, such as payments in lieu of taxes or services in kind, is essential to making valid service provision comparisons. This study uses examples from a recent national survey of cities to explain and illustrate various means used by municipal enterprises to transfer revenue to, and from, other municipal funds. It also provides examples of how accurately accounting for the resultant revenue can significantly alter the results of the comparison process for five commonly used utility enterprises.
The colours of transition metal hexafluorides

The absorption spectra of ReF6, OsF6, IrF6 and PtF6 have been obtained between 2500 and 40 000 cm-1 in the gas phase. The interesting band systems have been assigned on the basis of ligand field theory, and some predictions have been made as to magnetic properties.
Angiographic morphology of coronary artery stenoses in prolonged rest angina: evidence of intracoronary thrombosis.

Previous clinical and angiographic/histopathologic correlative studies have demonstrated that angiographic findings of occlusive thrombus, intraluminal filling defects and complex lesion morphology indicate the presence of intracoronary thrombosis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the presence of these descriptors of intracoronary thrombosis is associated with the syndrome of prolonged rest angina. The coronary angiograms of 50 patients with prolonged rest angina without myocardial infarction (group I) and 42 concurrent patients with stable angina (group II) were reviewed without knowledge of the clinical syndrome. Patients with prior myocardial infarction, coronary angioplasty or coronary artery bypass graft surgery were excluded, as were patients with important aortic stenosis. Each coronary artery stenosis in a major epicardial vessel was evaluated for the presence or absence of intracoronary thrombus (defined using standard criteria), complex lesion morphology (defined as the presence of haziness, a smudged appearance or irregular lesion margins) and eccentricity, and the frequency of each of these findings in groups I and II was compared. Intracoronary thrombus was present significantly more often in group I patients (42%) than in group II patients (17%) (χ25.77; p < 0.02). Complex lesion morphology was also present significantly more often in group I (44%) than in group II (14%) patients (χ28.17; p < 0.01). Either standard criterion for intracoronary thrombus or complex morphology was present in 70% of group I but only 21% of group II patients (χ219.7; p < 0.001). These results support a strong association of the angiographic descriptors of intraluminal thrombosis with the clinical syndrome of prolonged rest angina. They suggest that the syndrome of prolonged rest angina shares with acute transmural myocardial infarction a thrombotic mechanism.
Preservation of the deep muscular fascia and locoregional control in melanoma

Background Locoregional recurrence occurs in approximately 20% of patients with melanoma and is associated with a significantly worse prognosis. Standards are well established for peripheral margins; however, there is insufficient evidence regarding depth of resection. Methods Retrospective review of 964 patients undergoing excision of trunk or extremity melanoma ≥1 mm thick during a 29-year period at a tertiary academic center. Multivariate analysis and hazard ratios were used to determine the effect of excision of the deep muscular fascia on locoregional recurrence. Results A total of 278 (29%) patients underwent resection of the muscular fascia. Of these patients, 18 (6%) developed local, 33 (12%) developed in-transit, and 68 (24%) developed nodal recurrence within 5 years. A total of 686 (71%) patients underwent excision of their primary melanoma with preservation of the muscular fascia. Of these patients, 40 (6%) developed local, 30 (4%) developed in-transit, and 84 (12%) developed nodal recurrence at 5 years. In multivariate analysis excision of the deep muscular fascia was an independent predictor of locoregional recurrence in patients treated with sentinel lymph node biopsy. Specifically, fascia resection was associated with a 2.5-fold increased risk of nodal recurrence but not associated with local recurrence or overall survival. Conclusion On the basis of no demonstrated advantage for resection of the deep muscular fascia, but potential for increased risk of intralymphatic recurrences, we recommend preservation of the deep muscular fascia during resection of primary cutaneous melanoma.
Infants' use of speed information to individuate objects in occlusion events

Abstract The present research investigated infants’ ability to use speed information to individuate objects in occlusion events. In Experiment 1, 7.5- and 4.5-month-olds were presented with a discontinuous-speed occlusion event; the screen was then lowered and infants saw a single object on the platform. The infants responded as if they (a) concluded that two objects were involved in the event; (b) expected to see two objects when the screen was lowered; and (c) were surprised when this expectation was violated. In Experiment 2, 4-month-olds were tested using the same procedure and negative results were obtained, a finding consistent with those of Spelke, Kestenbaum, Simons, and Wein (1995). Experiment 3 explored whether younger infants might reveal an ability to use speed information if a different, more sensitive, individuation task was used; positive results were obtained. Together, these results suggest that speed of motion is fundamental to the individuation process.
Effect of amiloride on bulk flow and iontophoretic taste stimuli in the hamster

This investigation 1) demonstrates the effect of amiloride on various taste responses in the hamster, and 2) tests the hypothesis that its action on iontophoretic application of taste stimuli parallels its action on bulk flow delivery. Amiloride has not previously been tested in the hamster nor has its effect on iontophoretic stimuli (socalled ‘electric taste’), which is thought to behave similarly to bulk flow stimuli, been examined. Amiloride treatment (4 min of 0.0001M) of the hamster's tongue effectively inhibited chorda tympani responses to NaCl and LiCl solutions. Bulk flow (0.1M) and iontophoretic (+7 μA through 0.001M) presentations of NaCl and LiCl, which had unequal response magnitudes pre-treatment, were inhibited to the same residual response magnitude post-treatment. Recovery then proceeded along two distinct curves asymptotically returning to pre-treatment response levels. These curves could be adequately described by a simple exponential relationship. KCl responses were unaffected when presented via bulk flow techniques but significantly reduced when presented iontophoretically. HCl responses via either method were only slightly diminished. No decrement in response level was observed for the sweet stimuli sucrose (0.5M) or saccharin (−9 μA through 0.001M Na-saccharin) nor for potassium picrate, a bitter stimulus, (0.01M or −10 μA through 0.001M). Amiloride treatment of the hamster tongue was as specific in its action for sodium and lithium as reported in other species, and with the exception of KCl the action of amiloride on iontophoretic stimulation paralleled its action on bulk flow stimulation.
Apoptosis, cancer and cancer therapy

Apoptosis is a specific process that leads to programmed cell death through the activation of an evolutionary conserved intracellular pathway leading to pathognomic cellular changes distinct from cellular necrosis. Apoptosis is essential in the homeostasis of normal tissues of the body, especially those of the gastrointestinal tract, immune system and skin. There is increasing evidence that the processes of neoplastic transformation, progression and metastasis involve alterations in the normal apoptotic pathways. Furthermore, the majority of chemotherapeutic agents as well as radiation utilize the apoptotic pathway to induce cancer cell death. Resistance to standard chemotherapies also seems to be determined by alterations in the apoptotic pathways of cancer cells. Therefore, understanding the signals of apoptosis and the mechanism of apoptosis may allow the development of better chemo- or radiotherapeutic regimens for the treatment of cancer. Finally, components of the apoptotic pathway may represent potential therapeutic targets using gene therapy techniques.
Missed delirium in older emergency department patients: A quality-of-care problem

Abstract Sanders AB. Missed delirium in older emergency department patients: a quality-of-care problem. Ann Emerg Med. March 2002;39:338-341.
Concussions: assessment, management, and recommendations for return to activity

Abstract Concussions in children and adolescents are a common presenting complaint seen in all emergency departments. Concussions range from a brief period of neural dysfunction to a prolonged period of unconsciousness with retrograde amnesia. It is imperative that the emergency physician be familiar with the appropriate assessment of the child or adolescent who has sustained a concussion, methods for grading their severity, current acute management, and recommendations for returning to activity.
Theoretical and empirical investigations of KCl : Eu2+ for nearly water-equivalent radiotherapy dosimetry.

Purpose: The low effective atomic number, reusability, and other computed radiography-related advantages make europium doped potassium chloride (KCl:Eu2+) a promising dosimetry material. The purpose of this study is to model KCl:Eu2+ point dosimeters with a Monte Carlo (MC) method and, using this model, to investigate the dose responses of two-dimensional (2D) KCl:Eu2+ storage phosphor films (SPFs). Methods: KCl:Eu2+ point dosimeters were irradiated using a 6 MV beam at four depths (5–20 cm) for each of five square field sizes (5×5–25×25 cm2). The dose measured by KCl:Eu2+ was compared to that measured by an ionization chamber to obtain the magnitude of energy dependent dose measurement artifact. The measurements were simulated using DOSXYZnrc with phase space files generated by BEAMnrcMP. Simulations were also performed for KCl:Eu2+ films with thicknesses ranging from 1 μm to 1 mm. The work function of the prototype KCl:Eu2+ material was determined by comparing the sensitivity of a 150 μm thick KCl:Eu2+ film to a commercial BaFBr0.85I0.15:Eu2+-based SPF with a known work function. The work function was then used to estimate the sensitivity of a 1 μm thick KCl:Eu2+ film. Results: The simulated dose responses of prototype KCl:Eu2+ point dosimeters agree well with measurement data acquired by irradiating the dosimeters in the 6 MV beam with varying field size and depth. Furthermore, simulations with films demonstrate that an ultrathin KCl:Eu2+ film with thickness of the order of 1 μm would have nearly water-equivalent dose response. The simulation results can be understood using classic cavity theories. Finally, preliminary experiments and theoretical calculations show that ultrathin KCl:Eu2+ film could provide excellent signal in a 1 cGy dose-to-water irradiation. Conclusions: In conclusion, the authors demonstrate that KCl:Eu2+-based dosimeters can be accurately modeled by a MC method and that 2D KCl:Eu2+ films of the order of 1 μm thick would have minimal energy dependence. The data support the future research and development of a KCl:Eu2+ storage phosphor-based system for quantitative, high-resolution multidimensional radiation therapy dosimetry.
A three-component Fischer indole synthesis.

This protocol describes a three-component approach to multiply-substituted indoles from nitriles, organometallic reagents and arylhydrazine hydrochloride salts. The condensation of organolithium or Grignard reagents with nitriles produces metalloimines, which under acidic conditions and in the presence of arylhydrazines lead to arylhydrazones, the starting materials for the Fischer indole reaction. Combining this approach with the Fischer indole reaction produces indoles in an efficient, one-pot process. The procedure takes ∼20 h to complete: 3 h for metalloimine formation, 15 h for the Fischer indole reaction and 2 h for isolation and purification.
ON THE MEAN LIFE TIME OF K-MESONS PRODUCED BY THE COSMIC RADIATION

An experiment performed at Echo Lake (Colorado) in order to measure the mean lifetime of charged heavy mesons produced by the cosmic radiation is described. The experimental procedure consists in the electronic measurement (by means of a « chronotron ») of the time lag between the occurrence of a nuclear interaction and the delayed emission of a fast charged secondary in the decay (at rest) of an unstable particle produced in the interaction. The nuclear event is detected through its penetrating secondaries by means of a large scintillation counter and a Geiger counters hodoscope, whereas the decay secondary is detected by means of a large directional water Cerenkov counter. The experimental arrangement is described in Sect.2; the timing errors and the criteria used to select and classify the events are discussed in Sect.3. The delay distributions obtained are analyzed in Sect. 4: they can be resolved into a short life component (lifetime (9.6 ± 0.810-9) s) and a long life component (lifetime (2.2 ± 0.2) μs); the latter is interpreted as due to the electrons of the composite π→μ→e decay of π+-mesons produced locally by the incident nucleons. The possibility that the short life component is due to spurious effects of some kind is discussed and ruled out in Sect. 5 on the basis of the results of auxiliary measurements: the conclusion is that the lifetime obtained should be associated essentially with the Kμ2 decay mode, with a possible small admixture of Kπ2(θ+). A rough estimate of the production ratio of such particles to positive π-mesons is made, taking into account the corresponding detection efficiencies; the value found is rather higher than those (1:30- i : 70) obtained from previous cosmic ray experiments. The lifetime obtained is compared with the recent results of other Authors and the assumptions of a purely exponential decay curve with an unique lifetime is discussed.
Results of clinical trials of multimodality therapy for resectable nonsmall-cell lung cancer

More than 50% of patients presenting with so-called early stage or surgical disease nonsmall-cell lung cancer will die of their cancer despite resection. Over the years, postoperative efforts to improve the survival of these patients have been disappointing. There is presently a lot of enthusiasm surrounding the strategy of preoperative or induction chemotherapy in the treatment of such patients. Worldwide, at least 4 large-scale ongoing cooperative group trials are evaluating this question at the present time. Only by completing these trials in a timely manner will we know if induction chemotherapy should become the standard of care for all patients with surgical disease nonsmall-cell lung cancer.
Ambrosia Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) that Breed in Avocado Wood in Florida

Laurel wilt is a destructive disease caused by the fungus Raffaelea lauricola, which is transmitted by the invasive redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus. Here we document ambrosia beetles that emerged from wilted avocado trees throughout Florida. In addition, the ambrosia beetle fauna associated with wilted swampbay trees in Miami-Dade was studied. Fourteen species of scolytine beetles were found associated with avocado wood from different parts of Florida. Multiple species of ambrosia beetles were found breeding in avocado and swampbay wood infected by R. lauricola with or without the presence of its primary vector, X. glabratus. Work is under way to determine whether other ambrosia beetle species can carry R. lauricola and transmit this pathogen to healthy avocado and swampbay trees. Resumen: La marchitez del laurel es una enfermedad destructiva causada por el hongo Raffaelea lauricola, el cual es transmitido por el escarabajo de ambrosia, Xyleborus glabratus. Se presenta un registro de las especies de escarabajos de ambrosia que emergieron de arboles de aguacate marchitos, colectados en diferentes partes de Florida. Tambien se estudio la fauna de escarabajos de ambrosia asociados a Persea palustris en el condado de Miami-Dade. Catorce especies de escarabajos de ambrosia fueron encontradas reproduciendose en madera de aguacate en diferentes partes de Florida. Varias especies de escarabajos de ambrosia se encontraron en arboles infectados con R. lauricola. Sin embargo, su principal vector, X. glabratus, no se encontro en todos los arboles infectados. Se esta trabajando para determinar si otras especies de escarabajos de ambrosia pueden transmitir este patogeno a plantas sanas de aguacate y P. palustris.View this article in BioOne
Biography-Driven Strategies as the Great Equalizer: Universal Conditions that Promote K-12 Culturally Responsive Teaching

The growing number of culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students entering our public school system demands a new pedagogical framework for teaching and learning. With its emphasis on all four dimensions of the CLD student biography (sociocultural, linguistic, cognitive, academic), biography-driven culturally responsive teaching (Herrera, 2010) addresses the limited attention currently devoted to second language learning issues in the literature and research related to culturally responsive pedagogy. This study investigates the use of biography-driven instructional (BDI) strategies by 58 general education teachers at the elementary and secondary levels with CLD students in their classrooms using the Biography-Driven Performance Rubric, which measures enactment of teaching standards and educational best practices. Findings indicate that the use of BDI strategies can facilitate the practical actualization of culturally responsive teaching. Findings also suggest that implementation of BDI strategies can help teachers overcome challenges that are unique to secondary settings as they accommodate the assets and needs of CLD learners.
Surface-micromachined pyroelectric infrared imaging array with vertically integrated signal processing circuitry

Surface-micromachining techniques have been used in the fabrication of a 64/spl times/64 element PbTiO/sub 3/ pyroelectric infrared imager. Polysilicon microbridges of 1.2 /spl mu/m-thickness have been formed 0.8 /spl mu/m above the surface of a silicon wafer. Each of the 4096 polysilicon microbridges measures 50/spl times/50 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ and forms a low thermal mass support for a 30/spl times/30 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ PbTiO/sub 3/ pyroelectric capacitor with a thickness of 0.36 /spl mu/m. The air-bridge formed reduces the thermal conduction path between the detector element and substrate. An NMOS preamplifier cell is located directly beneath each microbridge element. The measured blackbody voltage responsivity at 30 Hz is 1.2/spl times/10/sup 4/ V/W. The corresponding measured normalized detectivity (unamplified) D* is 2/spl times/10/sup 8/ cm-Hz/sup 1/2/W at 30 Hz. The test chip fabricated measures 1/spl times/1 cm/sup 2/ and contains more than ten thousand transistors and 4096 micromechanical structures with integrated ferroelectric microsensors. The technique of stacking of microsensors and integrated circuits represents a new approach for achieving high-density and high-performance integrated pyroelectric microsensors through minimization of circuit to sensor interconnection with extremely small thermal crosstalk. >
Comparison of human fibroblast ECM-related gene expression on elastic three-dimensional substrates relative to two-dimensional films of the same material.

Abstract Three-dimensional elastic substrates were fabricated from a commercially available polyurethane with an internal porosity of approximately 70% and elastic modulus of 27.4±2.76 KPa and examined for suitability in vocal fold tissue engineering. Using immunohistochemistry, biomechanical testing, and RT-PCR; we examined human fibroblast viability, distribution and extracellular matrix related gene expression within substrates for periods up to 4 weeks. We found that cells were capable of colonizing the entire volume of a 5 mm wide×3 mm deep×20 mm long substrate at high viability. Histological cross-sections showed extensive extracellular matrix deposited around the cells and throughout the pore structure of the substrates, which consisted of fibronectin and type I collagen. Cell seeded substrates displayed a significantly higher elastic modulus than unseeded controls similar to native tissue. The transfer of cell growth from two-dimensional to three-dimensional culture resulted in changes in ECM-related gene expression consistent with decreasing cell migration and increasing tissue formation. We found that fibroblasts cultured in three-dimensional substrates expressed significantly higher levels of mRNA for elastin and fibromodulin, while expressing significantly lower levels of mRNA for MMP-1 and hyaluronidase relative to two-dimensional substrates of the same material. The results suggest that three-dimensionally porous, Tecoflex-derived elastic biomaterials may be suitable substrates for engineering vocal fold tissue.
Asymptotic properties of predictive recursion: Robustness and rate of convergence

Here we explore general asymptotic properties of Predictive Recursion (PR) for nonparametric estimation of mixing distributions. We prove that, when the mixture model is mis-specified, the estimated mixture convergesalmost surely in total variation to the mixture that minimizes the Kullback-Leiblerdivergence,and a bound on the (Hellingercontrast)rate of convergence is obtained. Simulations suggest that this rate is nearly sharp in a minimax sense. Moreover, when the model is identifiable, almost sure weak convergence of the mixing distribution estimate follows. PR assumes that the support of the mixing distribution is known. To remove this requirement, we propose a generalization that incorporates a sequence of supports, increasing with the sample size, that combines the efficiency of PR with the flexibility of mixture sieves. Under mild conditions, we obtain a bound on the rate of convergence of these new estimates. AMS 2000 subject classifications: Primary 62G20; secondary 62G05, 62G07, 62G35. Keywords and phrases: Almost supermartingale, density estimation, empirical Bayes, Kullback-Leibler projection, mixture models.
Food availability in beach and marsh habitats and the size of the fiddler crab claw, a sexually selected weapon and signal

Males of the sand fiddler crab Uca pugilator possess a greatly enlarged claw that is used as a weapon in ritualized contests for control of breeding burrows and is waved to attract females to breeding burrows. Approximately 5400 crabs were collected along the Atlantic coast of North America at 14 localities, all of which had both beach and salt marsh habitats. Five measurements were made on each claw. Principal components analysis was used to generate a single measure of claw size from the seven correlated measures and scores of the claw. Carapace width was measured to index body size. Claw size was greater in beach than marsh habitats, controlling for body size. However, body size did not differ by habitat type. Claw size was also greater in laboratory-reared males receiving more food, suggesting that differential access to food could influence habitat-associated differences in claw size. Chlorophyll a concentration and total organic content, reflecting, respectively, the abundance of benthic algae and other food, were greater in beach than marsh habitats. Moreover, feeding opportunities were greater in the wetter beach habitat because crabs there, but not in marsh habitat, can feed at breeding burrows. Adult fiddler crabs continue to molt and grow in both body and claw size as they age. Energetic investment in the claw relative to the body is plastic. It appears that the availability of food can affect the amount of energy invested in the claw.
Pressure-driven fluidic delivery through carbon tube bundles

The aim of this work is to demonstrate controlled flow through macroscopically long (∼1 cm) carbon tubes (0.5–1.8 µm in radius). A model, high-throughput, pressure-driven fluidic setup, which features a large number of parallel carbon tubes forming a bundle, is fabricated and tested. The carbon tubes are synthesized and self-assembled via co-electrospinning and subsequent carbonization. The setup accommodates pressure-driven flows with flow discharge rates of the order of 1 nL s–1 (73 × 10–11 kg s–1) for low-viscosity liquids and 30 nL s–1 (36.3 × 10–12 kg s–1) for gases into a water pool under imposed pressure drops below 4 bar. The measurements demonstrate the ability to sustain well-controlled laminar flows through these long carbon tube bundles and elucidate the main transport features. A novel procedure is also formulated to recover the flow-carrying tube inner-diameter distribution from the measured dependence of the fluid volumetric or mass flow rate on the imposed pressure drop.
Physiology and behavior of the hen during induced molt

Feed deprivation has been adopted by the commercial egg industry to induce molt because it is the easiest method to apply and produces the best results. Feed deprivation, however, raises concerns about animal welfare. Birds respond to long-term feed deprivation in three phases. The first phase lasts at most a few days, during which physiological and behavioral adjustments ultimately reduce protein catabolism and energy expenditure. A temporary increase in plasma corticosterone may be observed at this time. Corticosterone promotes gluconeogenesis, helping to maintain plasma glucose levels in the initial stage of the fast. The corticosterone increase may also be linked to increased activity in feed-deprived birds. Hens have been observed to manifest temporarily increased levels of alertness and activity during the first 48 h of feed deprivation. Aggressive behavior of hens also has been observed to increase briefly during the first day of feed deprivation. The second phase is the longest, during which proteins are spared and lipids are catabolized to provide energy. This phase may last several months in some species; in the chicken it can continue more than 20 d. Hens show increasing amounts of resting behavior during this phase. The third phase begins when protein catabolism accelerates. A pathological stage eventually is reached when the bird will cease activity and no longer eat. The phased response to feed deprivation optimizes a tradeoff between the need to maintain constant levels of plasma glucose to sustain activity and the need to preserve critical body structures such as muscles and organs. Hens are capable of vigorous activity throughout feed deprivation periods typical of induced molts, which do not appear to take birds beyond the second phase of fasting. Hens having undergone extended fasts may also have improved livability. Alternative induced molting methods are being sought to reduce animal welfare concerns. The methods of current interest involve alteration of feeding regimen and cause at least some body weight loss. These alternative methods should be evaluated to ensure that they do not actually make aspects of hen welfare worse compared to feed withdrawal, which might happen if hens perceive feed restriction without being allowed to progress fully into the second phase of adaptation to feed deprivation.
Microbeam studies of single-event effects

The application of heavy-ion microbeam systems to the study of single-event effects is reviewed. Apertured microbeam systems have been used since the early 1980s to study charge collection. This has led to the development of the present models for the transport of charge following heavy-ion strikes in semiconductors. More recently, magnetically focused scanned microbeams have allowed direct imaging of charge collection regions with a technique called IBICC (ion-beam induced charge collection). Charge collection depth can be extracted from the pulse height spectrum from well-defined regions of the IC. When applied to single event upset, those regions sensitive to upset have been directly mapped with scanned microbeam systems. Damage effects due to total-ionizing dose and displacement damage are discussed. These techniques have removed uncertainty associated with broad-beam techniques, and improved our understanding of the mechanisms responsible for single-event effects in ICs.
Seizures increase cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus by shortening progenitor cell-cycle length.

Summary Purpose: A prolonged seizure, status epileptics (SE), is a potent stimulus for increased neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus. Molecular mechanisms that regulate normal and pathologic cell birth in the dentate gyrus are poorly understood. Methods: Lithium–pilocarpine was used to induce SE in immature postnatal day 20 rats. Newborn cells in the dentate were labeled with bromo-deoxyuridine to determine a time-course of cell proliferation, and measure cell-cycle length. In addition, we studied expression by Western blot and immunohistochemistry of two known inhibitors of G1–S cell-cycle progression P27/Kip1 and P15/Ink4b following SE. Results: Cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus increases starting 2 h after SE and is sustained for 40 days. Increased cell proliferation following SE is associated with a shortened dentate gyrus progenitor’s cell cycle, 15 h in control to 12 h in the SE animals. To identify molecules responsible for the shortened progenitor cell cycle we studied inhibitors of cell-cycle progression P27/Kip1, and P15/Ink4b. We find decreased phosphorylation at P27/Kip1 Serine 10 and Threonine 187 following SE. Although total P27/Kip1 and P15/Ink4b levels were not altered after SE, P27/Kip1 immunoreactivity was minimal in newborn but increased with maturation of the dentate granule neurons. Discussion: The sustained increase in dentate gyrus cell proliferation following SE provides a large pool of immature dentate granule cells prior to development of spontaneous seizures. A decrease in cell-cycle length of dentate gyrus progenitors is at least partially responsible for increased numbers of newborn cells following SE.
Idiopathic Pericarditis and Pericardial Effusion in Children: Contemporary Epidemiology and Management

Background Multicenter studies on idiopathic or viral pericarditis and pericardial effusion (PPE) have not been reported in children. Colchicine use for PPE in adults is supported. We explored epidemiology and management for inpatient hospitalizations for PPE in US children and risk factors for readmission. Methods and Results We analyzed patients in the Pediatric Health Information System database for (1) a code for PPE; (2) absence of codes for underlying systemic disease (eg, neoplastic, cardiac, rheumatologic, renal); (3) age ≥30 days and <21 years; and (4) discharge between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2012, from 38 hospitals contributing complete data for each year of the study period. Among 11 364 hospitalizations with PPE codes during the study period, 543 (4.8%) met entry criteria for idiopathic or viral PPE. Significantly more boys were noted, especially among adolescents. No temporal trends were noted. Median age was 14.5 years (interquartile range 7.3 to 16.6 years); 78 patients (14.4%) underwent pericardiocentesis, 13 (2.4%) underwent pericardiotomy, and 11 (2.0%) underwent pericardiectomy; 157 (28.9%) had an intensive care unit stay, including 2.0% with tamponade. Median hospitalization was 3 days (interquartile range 2 to 4 days). Medications used at initial admission were nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (71.3%), corticosteroids (22.7%), aspirin (7.0%), and colchicine (3.9%). Readmissions within 1 year of initial admission occurred in 46 of 447 patients (10.3%), mostly in the first 3 months. No independent predictors of readmission were noted, but our statistical power was limited. Practice variation was noted in medical management and pericardiocentesis. Conclusions Our report provides the first large multicenter description of idiopathic or viral PPE in children. Idiopathic or viral PPE is most common in male adolescents and is treated infrequently with colchicine.
A channel allocation model with preemptive priority for integrated voice/data mobile networks

This paper presents an analytical model of channel allocations with preemptive priority to study the handoff performance for integrated voice/data mobile networks. By analyzing the system as a quasi-birth-and-death process, we obtain the steady state probabilities and some interesting performance measures, such as new voice (new data) blocking probability, handoff voice (handoff data) dropping probability, the channel utilization, and the busy period time in the cell. From the analysis and numerical results, we can conclude that our scheme can provide complete service differentiation and different QoS guarantee for different traffic classes, and get pretty good channel utilization by appropriate threshold parameter design. The performance measures obtained in the paper are very useful in evaluating the needed resource of future wireless mobile networks.
Family-based association analysis of alcohol dependence implicates KIAA0040 on Chromosome 1q in multiplex alcohol dependence families

Background: A previous genome-wide linkage study of alcohol dependence in multiplex families found a suggestive linkage result for a region on Chromosome 1 near microsatellite markers D1S196 and D1S2878. The KIAA0040 gene has been mapped to this region (1q24 - q25). A recent genome-wide association study using SAGE (the Study of Addiction: Genetics and Environment) and COGA (Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism) found five SNPs within the KIAA0040 gene significantly associated with alcohol dependence. A meta-analysis using data from these sources also found the KIAA0040 gene significantly associated with alcohol dependence. Methods: Using family data consisting of 1000 individuals with phenotypic data (762 with both phenotype and DNA), finer mapping of a 0.3 cM region that included the KIAA0040 gene and a flanking gene was undertaken using SNPs with minor allele frequency (MAF) ≥ 0.15 and pair-wise linkage disequilibrium (LD) of r 2 < 0.8 using the HapMap CEU population. Results: Significant FBAT p-values were observed for six SNPs, four within the KIAA0040 gene (rs2269650, rs2861158, rs1008459, rs2272785) and two adjacent to KIAA0040 (rs10912899 and rs3753555). Five haplotype blocks of varying size were identified using HAPLOVIEW. Analysis using the haplotype-based test function of FBAT revealed one two-SNP block (rs1008459rs2272785) associated with alcohol dependence. This block showed a pattern of transmission in which one haplotype, CT, with a frequency of 0.577 was found to be over-transmitted to affected offspring (p = 0.017) while another haplotype, AG, with a frequency of 0.238 was found to be under-transmitted to affected offspring (p = 0.006). A three-SNP block (rs1008459rs2272785-rs375355) showed an overall significant association (p = 0.011) with alcohol dependence with the haplotype ACT over-transmitted to affected offspring (p = 0.016) and the haplotype GAG undertransmitted (p = 0.002). Conclusions: Family-based association analysis shows the KIAA0040 gene significantly associated with alcohol dependence. The potential importance of the KIAA0040 gene for AD risk is currently unknown. However, the present results support earlier findings from a genome-wide association study.
Cell-autonomous regulation of fast troponin T pre-mRNA alternative splicing in response to mechanical stretch

How mechanochemical signals induced by the amount of weight borne by the skeletal musculature are translated into modifications to muscle sarcomeres is poorly understood. Our laboratory recently de...
Generalized Frequency Scaling and Backprojection for LFM-CW SAR Processing

This paper presents a generalized treatment of image formation for a linear-frequency-modulated continuous wave (LFM-CW) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) signal, which is a key technology in making very small SAR systems viable. The signal model is derived, which includes the continuous platform motion. The effect of this motion on the SAR signal is discussed, and an efficient compensation method is developed. Processing algorithms are developed including precise and approximate backprojection methods and a generalized frequency scaling algorithm that accounts for an arbitrary number of terms of a Taylor expansion approximation of the SAR signal in the Doppler frequency domain. Together, these algorithms allow for the processing of LFM-CW SAR data for a wide variety of system parameters, even in scenarios where traditional algorithms and signal approximations break down.
Gravity Wave Breaking over the Central Alps: Role of Complex Terrain

Abstract The characteristics of gravity waves excited by the complex terrain of the central Alps during the intensive observational period (IOP) 8 of the Mesoscale Alpine Programme (MAP) is studied through the analysis of aircraft in situ measurements, GPS dropsondes, radiosondes, airborne lidar data, and numerical simulations. Mountain wave breaking occurred over the central Alps on 21 October 1999, associated with wind shear, wind turning, and a critical level with Richardson number less than unity just above the flight level (∼5.7 km) of the research aircraft NCAR Electra. The Electra flew two repeated transverses across the Otztaler Alpen, during which localized turbulence was sampled. The observed maximum vertical motion was 9 m s−1, corresponding to a turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) maximum of 10.5 m2 s−2. Spectrum analysis indicates an inertia subrange up to 5-km wavelength and multiple energy-containing spikes corresponding to a wide range of wavelengths. Manual analysis of GPS dropsonde data indic...
Synthesis of transactinide nuclei using radioactive beams

The prospects for the synthesis of transactinide nuclei using radioactive beams are evaluated quantitatively for a modern radioactive beam facility. A simple formalism for calculating the complete fusion cross sections that reproduces the known heavy element production cross sections over six orders of magnitude is used to calculate the production rates for transactinide nuclei with $Z\ensuremath{\leqslant}120$. All possible projectile and target combinations are evaluated. Exciting new possibilities for studies of the atomic physics, chemistry, and nuclear spectroscopy of the heaviest elements should be realized at a modern radioactive beam facility. The synthesis of new heavy elements is best undertaken at stable beam accelerators.
Quantifying Certainty in Design Decisions: Examining AHP

Quantification of stochastic uncertainty through confidence intervals when probability distributions are known is well-understood. There is considerable uncertainty in design decision support, however, for which probability distributions are unknown. The confidence interval formulation does not apply to these situations. The Analytic Hierarchy Process, or AHP, is an example of a tool with wide-spread industry application but questionable mathematical foundations. It is recognized by responsible practitioners that AHP should not be used as an optimization tool, but as a means of clarifying group attitudes. This raises the question, how differently must two alternatives be ranked by AHP to instill confidence that one is truly better than the other? In practice, this question is always answered using intuition. This paper examines and proposes the quantification of sources of uncertainty in the Analytic Hierarchy Process, and offers an answer to the question posed above. This study is the first step of a larger effort to quantify uncertainties in decision support in engineering design.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Feasibility studies of using PED deposited Sn-doped In2O3 Films for Organic Electronic Devices

In this work, pulsed electron deposition was used to prepare thin films of ITO on plastic substrates. These films were used as electrodes for organic photovoltaic devices to determine the feasibility of using PED deposited ITO as electrodes. ITO films deposited on plastic showed optical transmission values as high as 85% for films deposited at high pressures. Films deposited on plastic substrates were further used to prepare a test organic solar cell, with ITO as the bottom electrode. The device performance was seen to depend on the quality of the ITO electrode, and the ITO film deposited at the lowest oxygen pressure was found to be the best electrode for the organic photovoltaic device.
THE EFFECTS OF HOST-PLANT GENOTYPE, HYBRIDIZATION, AND ENVIRONMENT ON GALL-APHID ATTACK AND SURVIVAL IN COTTONWOOD: THE IMPORTANCE OF GENETIC STUDIES AND THE UTILITY OF RFLPS.

Using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) we show how host-plant genotype and hybridization in cotton wood, Populus sp., affects the attack and survival of the gall-forming aphid, Pemphigus betae. Fremont cottonwoods, hybrid ∗∗∗F1's and backcross ∗∗∗1's were found to be highly resistant, while backcross 2's, 3's, 4's and pure narrowleafs ranged from highly resistant to highly susceptible with only a few trees being highly resistant. Results from our genetic analysis also suggest that resistance is likely polygenic, not the result of single gene resistance. In addition, genetic analysis showed that studies based upon leaf morphology alone give an inaccurate assessment of host-plant genotype ∗∗∗and the extent of hybridization, altering previous views of the relationship between plant hybridization and pest attack. Previous studies assumed that narrowleafs were more resistant than backcross genotypes based upon comparisons of overall levels of resistance between the hybrid zone and the "pure" narrowleaf zone. Results from RFLP analyses, however, show that there are no significant differences in the levels of resistance between backcross genotypes (BC2's-4's) and pure narrowleafs. Furthermore, results show that the "pure" narrowleaf zone is in fact a mixture of pure and backcross genotypes, extending the zone of introgression previously reported. Experiments in combination with RFLP analyses suggest that resistance traits are differentially expressed along an environmental gradient partially explaining the previously reported differences in resistance between these two regions. In light of our results it is clear that genetic studies will be necessary to discern the true relationship between hybridization and pest resistance. Until such studies are widely conducted generalizations regarding the effects of hybridization on the structure and dynamics of pest populations will be premature at best.
LATERAL DEFORMATIONS ANALYSIS OF REINFORCED CONCRETE COLUMNS INCOPARATING BOND-SLIP AND SHEAR EFFECTS

Flexural-shear failure and shear failure of reinforced concrete(RC) columns under seismic loading are critical issues that may cause the loss of axial capacity and even collapse of a structure. Extensive experimental studies indicate that the lateral deformation of RC columns consists of deformations induced by flexural, bond-slip, and shear effects. The combined effects of the three components define the lateral load-deformation characteristics of RC columns. Based on the studies on each deformation component, the paper proposes a macro-element model incorporating bond-slip and shear effects into the numerical analysis of RC columns. The developed model is used to simulate three RC columns under reversed static cyclic loading and analyze the progression of deformation components as well as their contributions to the total deformation. Comparison of the numerical results and experimental results validate that the efficacy of the proposed model for the analysis of the progression of load-deformation behavior for shear-critical members under lateral loading.
Green Chemistry's Influences on Environmental Pollution

Environmental pollution has drawn the attention of all the global.Green chemistry transforms people's previous concepts about how to improve the environment.To discuss that green chemistry's original prevention measures are available to remove the environmental pollution.To prove that green chemistry is the most effective solution to government environment.
Opportunities for improving photon radiotherapy.

There is growing interest in combining radiotherapy with chemotherapy, hyperthermia, or chemical modifiers of radiosensitivity. The rationale for each approach—as well as the attendant problems and progress—is reviewed. Combinations of radiotherapy and chemotherapy (with or without surgery) have already demonstrated their clinical value in many cancers.