cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome with diarrhea as the predominant clinical feature

Dr. Fang: The patient, a 33-yr-old white fewas admitted to George Washington University Hospital on January 3, 1978, with a 10 mo history of diarrhea and a 20 lb weight loss. In March, 1977, she noted a change from her normal pattern of one stool daily to passage of 1-2 brownish semiformed stools/day. The frequency of the stools increased to five-six times a day in September, 1977. She did not use drugs or drink alcohol. By October, 1977, she had developed epigastric cramps with intermittent nausea. Occasional vomiting began in November, 1977, and at one time, she vomited coffee ground material. She drank bottled water shipped from Arkansas. Her private physician obtained a barium enema and an oral cholecystogram in October, both of which were normal. An upper gastrointestinal series revealed an enlarged duodenal bulb and a dilated jejunum with thickened jejunal folds. No ulcers were seen. She was hospitalized on November 23, 1977, for a work-up of the diarrhea. Physical examination revealed occasional high-pitched bowel sounds and mild diffuse abdominal tenderness. The stool was hemoccult negative and negative for fat by Sudan stain. The hematocrit was 45; white blood count was 7,700; transaminases were normal; serum albumin was 4.2 g/dl; serum cholesterol was 194 mg/dl. A small bowel biopsy specimen obtained at the duode-
Deactivation of laser excited CH3F in CH3F–X mixtures

The vibrational relaxation of CH3F in mixtures of rare gases, O2, N2, H2, and D2 has been studied by means of laser induced fluorescence. The data can be interpreted qualitatively in terms of a combination of V → T/R energy transfer processes from both the ν3 and ν6 v=1 states of CH3F. V → R processes seem to be dominant for heavy collision partners while V → T processes appear to dominate for light collision partners. The quantitative agreement between theory and experiment is also considered.
A MODEL FOR DELIVERY OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES TO SPANISH-SPEAKING MINORITIES

A mental health program for Spanish-speaking minorities that takes into consideration their unique cultural and linguistic characteristics proves to be more responsive to their needs. Use of bilingual staff, walk-in clinic, educational and preventive programs, collaboration with faith healers, as well as benefits of gaining cooperation and participation of local political and religious leaders, are discussed.
Numerical modeling of pendulum dampers in torsional systems

Centrifugal pendulum-design dampers are utilized in torsional systems to reduce the vibration amplitude at certain objectionable torsional speeds. The damper is tuned by proper design of its mass, dimensions, and position on a carrier disk, which is rigidly attached to the torsional system. The effects of the pendulum damper on the response of the torsional system may be included by modifying the structural model to include a separate damper element representing each order of the pendulum damper. The stiffness and mass matrices for a damper element are dependent upon the order of vibration being dampened, the mass, and the geometry of the damper. A general form of the mass and stiffness equations for a simple centrifugal pendulum damper are derived from first principles using Lagrange's equations of motion. The analysis of torsional systems with pendulum dampers utilizing the mass and stiffness properties developed is included in the program SHAMS. SHAMS calculates the steady-state response of a system of springs and masses to harmonic loads using modal superposition. The response of a crankshaft system with and without the pendulum dampers are included as a case study.
Subunit modification and association in VR1 ion channels

Background The capsaicin (vanilloid) receptor, VR1, is an agonist-activated ion channel expressed by sensory neurons that serves as a detector of chemical and thermal noxious stimuli.
Synthesis of Tensor Impedance Surfaces to Control Phase and Power Flow of Guided Waves

A synthesis method for printed-circuit tensor impedance surfaces (PCTISs) is presented that allows arbitrary control of phase progression and power flow of guided waves. PCTISs consist of a subwavelength-patterned metallic cladding atop a grounded dielectric substrate. The cladding is modeled by an anisotropic tensor sheet admittance. The synthesis method employs field analysis to determine the required tensor sheet admittance values for a prescribed phase progression and power-flow direction. An inhomogeneous distribution of PCTIS unit cells can be used to design a 2-D metasurface capable of spatial control of surface waves. A collimator is designed to verify the proposed synthesis procedure and demonstrate its utility.
A new method for noninvasive optical sectioning of the chorioretinal vasculature.

PURPOSE. To report a new method for optical sectioning of the chorioretinal vasculature to improve the visualization of vascular abnormalities due to chorioretinal eye diseases. METHODS. An imaging system was developed for optical sectioning of the vasculature called chorioretinal optical sectioning (CROS). CROS consists of projecting a laser beam at an angle on the retina after injection of a fluorescent dye and viewing the fluorescence. On the fluorescence optical section (F()S) image, the vasculature of the retina and choroid appear laterally displaced according to their depth location. The laser beam is scanned over a 2 X 2-mm area to generate 40 FOS images, each spatially separated by 50 μm on the retina. Optical section images of the vascular layers are constructed from the series of FOS images. RESULTS. CROS permitted optical separation of vascular layers in living eyes. Optical section images of normal and laser-photocoagulated retinas had higher contrast than conventional angiography because of the separation of the fluorescence from the overlapping layers and allowed enhanced visualization of vascular abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS. CROS enhances the visualization of the retinal and subretinal vasculature and promises to be a beneficial tool for evaluation of chorioretinal diseases.
Section 1031: We Don't Need Another Hero

This Article critiques current Internal Revenue Code section 1031 which provides for the non-recognition of gain on the exchange of “like-kind” property. Part I begins with a chronological history of Section 1031 and a summary of the traditional rationales for the section and the acknowledged flaws in those explanations. It then proceeds to an in depth analysis of several hypotheses as to the section's origins. Part I concludes that several factors collectively led to the enactment of section 1031, including confusion about the realization doctrine, a sympathy for a consumption tax, reflected in a variety of ways, and a conscious decision by Congress to use the tax laws to promote economic growth. Part II evaluates the unintended effects, both positive and negative, of the provision. It concludes that any benefits of section 1031 are attained only at a high cost. The section is inequitable, inefficient and contradicts our present notions of income. Furthermore, its benefits can be better achieved, at less cost, through other methods. Consequently, the provision should not remain in the Code in its present form. The proper form of section 1031 depends both upon close analysis of economic and equitable considerations, and upon administrative and political practicalities. The most important choice is whether to retain an income tax or switch to a consumption-based tax. If Congress decides to switch to a consumption-based tax, then section 1031 is not needed at all. An expenditure tax is the ultimate section 1031 since all investments (whether like-kind or not) result in deferral. Section 1031 is simply subsumed by the tax. If Congress retains an income tax, several possibilities exist. The most extreme is complete abolition of the section. Even if this were accomplished, however, a narrow range of exchanges would still be nontaxable under the basic sales and exchange provision of section 1001. Less extreme options include using a section 1033 functional similarity test for non-recognition exchanges or providing lower rates for all investment rollovers.The inconsistencies within section 1031 reflect both the often poorly understood nature of these factors and the political compromise necessary to enact the law. The original factors involved in its enactment, confused to begin with, do not stand up against today's concepts of income, nor against sixty years of experience with the section. Section 1031 is inefficient, inequitable, and a revenue loser. The section should be repealed or drastically altered.
Streptococcus mutans Genes That Code for Extracellular Proteins in Escherichia coli K-12

Abstract Chromosomal DNA from Streptococcus mutans 6715 (serotype g) was cloned into Escherichia coli K-12 by using the cosmid pJC74 cloning vector and a bacteriophage λ in vitro packaging system. Rabbit antiserum against S. mutans extracellular proteins was used for immunological screening of the clone bank. Twenty-one clones produced weak to strong precipitin bands around the colonies, but only after the λ c1857 prophage was induced by being heated to lyse the E. coli cells. None of the clones expressed enzyme activity for several known S. mutans extracellular enzymes. One of these clones contained a 45-kilobase recombinant plasmid designated pYA721. An 8.5-kilobase fragment of S. mutans DNA from pYA721 was isolated and recloned into the BamHI restriction site of the plasmid vector pACYC184 to construct pYA726. pYA726 contained all, or nearly all, of the gene for a surface protein antigen (the spaA protein) of S. mutans 6715. This was deduced from immunological studies in which extracts of cells harboring pYA726 reacted with antisera against both purified 6715 spaA protein (about 210,000 daltons) and the immunologically similar antigen I/II of serotype c strains of S. mutans. In addition, the S. mutans spaA protein was found to possess at least one antigenic determinant not present on the protein specified by pYA726. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of E. coli clone extracts revealed that pYA726 produced a polypeptide with a molecular mass of about 180,000 daltons which was predominantly found in the periplasmic space of E. coli cells. Antisera to the spaA protein of S. mutans reacted with extracellular protein from representative strains of S. mutans serotypes a, c, d, e, f, and g, but not b.
Muscarinic Regulation of Alzheimer's Disease Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretion and Amyloid β-Protein Production in Human Neuronal NT2N Cells

The Alzheimer amyloid precursor protein (APP) undergoes complex processing resulting in the production of a 4-kDa amyloid peptide (A beta) which has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Recent studies have shown that cells can secrete carboxyl terminus truncated APP derivatives (APP-S) in response to physiological stimulus. We have used human central nervous system neurons (NT2N) derived from a teratocarcinoma cell line (NT2) to study the signal transduction pathways involved in APP-S secretion and A beta production. Muscarinic receptors (m2 and m3) as well as the heterotrimeric GTP-binding protein Gq and the beta 1 isoform of phospholipase C were present in NT2N neurons. Stimulation of the muscarinic receptor with carbachol resulted in phospholipase C activation as shown by a transient increase in the second messengers 1,2-diacyl-sn-glycerol and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. Carbachol also caused an increase in intracellular Ca2+ levels measured in single NT2N neurons. Under these conditions, carbachol caused a time-dependent 2-fold increase in APP-S secretion into the medium. In contrast, prolonged treatment with carbachol caused a decrease in A beta production into the medium. These results suggest that APP-S secretion and A beta production in NT2N neurons are regulated by the muscarinic/phospholipase C signal transduction pathway. Furthermore, activation of this pathway results in dissociation of APP-S secretion and A beta production.
Neogene reorganization of spreading between the Tamayo and the Rivera fracture zone

Bathymetric and magnetic data from the mouth of the Gulf of California show an early episode of spreading between ±6 mybp and 3.5 mybp which rifted crust at the foot of the Tres Marias Islands from Baja California. Fracture zones from this episode do not offset the present East Pacific Rise (EPR). A reorganization of spreading beginning 3.5 mybp has led to the present configuration; its initiation is marked in the topography by a valley partially filled by a NS trending turbidite plain.
A Simple Method for Maintaining Neurons in Vitro

A technique for maintaining neurons in vitro on a supporting medium of perforated cellophane tape, rather than on collagen-coated coverslips or plasma clots, has been developed. The explants can be put directly onto a piece of sterile tape placed in a Leighton tube. After a suitable period the explants can easily be studied using many histological, ultrastructural and enzyme histochemical techniques without removal from the tape.
Facile oxygenation of organic sulfides with H2O2 catalyzed by Mn–Me3TACN compounds

Abstract Two binuclear Mn–Me 3 TACN (Me 3 TACN is 1,4,7- N , N ′, N ″-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane) compounds catalyze the oxygenation of organic sulfides utilizing H 2 O 2 under ambient conditions. Both phenyl sulfide and ethyl phenyl sulfide were converted to the corresponding sulfones and chloroethyl phenyl sulfide proceeds to its elimination product of phenyl vinyl sulfone.
Amplitude relationships between evoked potential components during trace conditioning.

Abstract The degree to which total amplitude excursion of photically evoked potentials is reflected by wave component amplitudes during behavioral conditioning was investigated in cats. Three positive-negative wave complexes were identified and examined. It was found that both total and component amplitudes, treated individually, were reliably affected by conditioning and extinction procedures. Intercorrelations between total and component amplitudes were of the same relative magnitude. There was a good deal of variability among cats, however. It was observed that the amplitude of a late positive-negative component reliably correlated with the CR performance level of several cats.
Effect of a drug holiday on plasma chlorpromazine levels in chronic schizophrenic patients.

Low chloropromazine (CPZ) levels have been measured in chronically treated schizophrenics. We tested six such patients to determine whether a 2-week CPZ-free period (drug holiday) would improve plasma CPZ levels. We also monitored psychiatric symptoms, autonomic function, and extrapyramidal signs. We found these patients to have low predose CPZ levels that did not change appreciably after the drug holiday. Peak levels following the holiday averaged 28 ±7 ng/ml higher than those measured prior to the holiday. Drug holidays are safe and should be examined more thoroughly as a means of improving plasma neuroleptic levels in chronically treated schizophrenics.
The crystal structure and thermotropic liquid-crystal properties of N-n-undecyl-D-gluconamide

N-n-Undecyl-D-gluconamide, C17H35O6, crystallizes in space group P1, with one molecule in a unit cell a = 5.2267(6), b = 19.628(9), c = 4.7810(4) A, alpha = 93.23(2), beta = 95.60(1), gamma = 89.58(2) degrees, V = 487.35 A3, Dx = 1.19 g.cm-3. The crystal lattice is isostructural with N-n-heptyl-D-gluconamide having monolayer head-to-tail molecular packing. The molecules have a V-shaped conformation. The hydrogen bonding of the gluconamide moieties includes a four-link homodromic cycle. The transition to a smectic A liquid-crystal phase at 156.7 degrees is preceded by two crystal-to-crystal phase transitions at 77.2 degrees and 99.4 degrees. The long d-spacing of the intermediate crystal phase of 39 A, and the d-spacing of the liquid-crystal phase of 32 A, are consistent with a transition to a bilayer head-to-head molecular packing.
Persistent bilateral ureteral obstruction secondary to endometriosis despite treatment with an aromatase inhibitor.

Objective To present a case demonstrating lack of efficacy of an aromatase inhibitor in treating ureteral endometriosis. Design Case report. Setting A tertiary-care hospital. Patient(s) A 47-year-old woman with severe ureteral endometriosis. Intervention(s) Anastrozole 1 mg daily for 15 months. Main Outcome Measure(s) Renal function. Result(s) Despite medical management with anastrozole, our patient continued to have worsening renal function and subsequently required surgical intervention. Conclusion(s) Anastrozole was ineffective at preventing deterioration of renal function in this patient.
Episodic-like memory in pigeons.

It has been proposed that memory for personal experiences (episodic memory, rather than semantic memory) relies on the conscious review of past experience and thus is unique to humans. In an attempt to demonstrate episodic-like memory in animals, we first trained pigeons to respond to the (nonverbal) question “Did you just peck or did you just refrain from pecking?” by training them on a symbolic matching task with differential responding required to the two line-orientation samples and reinforcing the choice of a red comparison if they had pecked and the choice of a green comparison if they had not pecked. Then, in Experiment 1, after providing the conditions for (but not requiring) the pigeons to peck at one new stimulus (a yellow hue) but not at another (a blue hue), we tested them with the new hue stimuli and the red and green comparisons. In Experiment 2, we tested the pigeons with novel stimuli (a circle, which they spontaneously pecked, and a dark response key, which they did not peck) and the red and green comparisons. In both experiments, pigeons chose the comparison appropriate to the response made to the test stimulus. Thus, the pigeons demonstrated that they could remember specific details about their past experiences, a result consistent with the notion that they have the capacity for forming episodic-like memories.
A current-limiter-based soft-start scheme for linear and low-dropout voltage regulators

A soft-start strategy for linear and low-dropout voltage regulators based on a successive current-limiting scheme during the startup phase is presented. The proposed current-limiting scheme incorporates a digitally-programmable mechanism for precisely controlling the current profile of the pass device during the startup transient. The proposed scheme is compact, as it requires no external components and has minimal transistor overhead, thereby minimizing the implementation area and cost of the overall regulator. The proposed soft-start circuit has been developed on a standard 0.35-µm CMOS technology as part of a USB-powered linear regulator for portable power applications.
SU‐C‐18C‐01: Surrogate Function Evaluation and Comparison for Atlas Selection in Multi‐Atlas‐Based Segmentation

Purpose: To develop a systematic surrogate evaluation and comparison scheme to select a subset of training samples that best resemble the target in multi-atlas-based automatic segmentation, for the purpose of improved accuracy. Methods: In multi-atlas-based segmentation, it is desirable to fuse labels from a subset of training samples among the atlases that contribute positively to the final segmentation, for improved accuracy and efficiency. A surrogate metric is needed to prognosticate the contribution of a training image to the target segmentation. We formalize atlas subset selection as a ranking problem and develop a quality index to characterize the efficacy of a surrogate approach. A candidate surrogate is assessed in a supervised learning setting, where images with known segmentation are split into training atlases and testing targets, to enable assess to ground-truth contribution level from a training atlas to the target, as measured by the Dice similarity coefficient (DSC). The quality index measures the discrepancy between (1) DSC in descending order as from an Oracle and (2) the reordered DSCs based on the surrogate metric. The quality index was applied in the context of automatic prostate and brain segmentations, to assess 6 surrogate candidates, namely, mean square error (MSE), normalized cross correlation (NCC), and mutual information (MI), either measured within a fixed region of interest (ROI), fROI, or adaptive ROI (aROI). Results: Surrogate metrics measured within aROI significantly outperform those within fROI (paired t-test, p-values consistently below 0.067), yet no statistically significant difference among MSE/NCC/MI (paired t-test, 0.014≤p≤0.941). Conclusion: We have developed a quality index to quantitatively evaluate and compare surrogates' efficacy in atlas selection for automatic segmentation. When applied to comparing MSE/NCC/MI within fROI/aROI, it shows that surrogate metrics over aROI instead of fROI significantly improve segmentation performance, while there is no statistical evidence to support the superiority among MSE/NCC/MI.
Combustion of carbon residue from oil shale retorting

The combustion of a bed of particles impregnated with carbon is considered. An analysis is developed for the combustion wave after it has progressed some distance into the bed. It is shown that the calculations are considerably simplified by choosing a coordinate system that moves with the combustion wave and by neglecting dispersion of heat or mass.
Vibration suppression schemes for active composite struts and panels

This paper focuses on various vibration suppression schemes for Active Composite Struts (ACS) and Active Composite Panels (ACP). Dynamic responses of struts and panels using piezoelectric sensors and actuators were analyzed and evaluated by the finite element method. Four different vibration suppression schemes for ACS and ACP have been studied. Objectives were to first investigate various schemes for active vibration suppression that can be determined directly without trial and error, and Second to determine a scheme that can completely suppress the vibration and is easy to use. Four schemes were considered, namely, 1) constant voltage (CV), 2) optimum voltage (OV), 3) corresponding voltage (COV) and 4) truncated corresponding voltage (TCOV) schemes. This paper also discusses the pros and cons of each and provides guidelines for active vibration suppression of intelligent structures.
On Erdős's Eulerian Trail Game

Paul Erdős proposed the following graph game. Starting with the empty graph on n vertices, two players, Trailmaker and Breaker, draw edges alternatingly. Each edge drawn has to start at the endpoint of the previously drawn edge, so the sequence of edges defines a trail. The game ends when it is impossible to continue the trail, and Trailmaker wins if the trail is eulerian. For all values of n, we determine which player has a winning strategy.
The role of nocturnal polysomnography in assessing children with Chiari type I malformation.

a b s t r a c t Objective: To evaluate nocturnal polysomnogram findings in children with suspected symptomatic Chiari type I malformation, correlate them with clinical and magnetic resonance imaging data and to determine if this information has value in clinical decision making process. Methods: A retrospective review identified 24 children with type I Chiari malformation, presumed symp- tomatic who had undergone neurological assessment, cranial magnetic resonance imaging and nocturnal polysomnography. Perimedullary subarachnoid space effacement on the magnetic resonance studies and the magnitude of cerebellar tonsillar descent in relation to the McRae line were correlated with frequency of obstructive or central sleep apnea, number of cortical arousals and evidence of impaired vocal mobility on laryngoscopy. The Wilcoxon rank sum test was applied for continuous variables and the Fisher exact test for categorical variables. Results: The median age of the subjects was 6 years. The findings from 16/24 subjects with perimedullary subarachnoid space effacement (effaced group) were compared with those of 8/24 in the non-effaced group. The central apnea index (1.5 (IQR 1-3.5) versus 0.5 (IQR 0-1.5)) and cortical arousal index (12 (IQR 10-19) versus 8 (IQR 6.5-9)) were significantly higher in the effaced group than in the non-effaced group (p = 0.0376 and 0.0036 respectively). Greater descent of tonsils as measured by distance from the McRae line to the tonsil tip was associated with significantly higher central apnea index, total arousal index and respiratory event related arousals. Measurements of clivus-canal angle, Klauss index and pB-C2 line did not correlate with abnormalities on polysomnography. Conclusion: The central apnea and arousal indices derived from the nocturnal polysomnogram correlate well with magnetic resonance imaging findings of subarachnoid space effacement and degree of ton- sillar herniation. In children with Chiari type I malformation, the nocturnal polysomnogram findings provides important information that aids in the decision making process about proceeding with surgical decompression.
Hemodynamic responses to acute hematocrit and blood volume alterations in rats

Previous investigations of polycythemia in rodents failed to delineate the effects of the increased hematocrits from the effects of possible changes in blood volume. The hemodynamic responses of anesthetized rats to acutely produced increases in hematocrit and blood volume were therefore studied in this experiment. Acute isovolumetric polycythemia decreased O2 transport from a control value of 44.9 to 35.1 ml/min/kg 60 min after the exchange-transfusion. However, the high venous O2 content (over 12 Vol.-%) following the production of isovolumetric polycythemia suggested that there was still sufficient oxygen available to the tissues. Hypervolemia significantly modified the response to acute polycythemia. When hematocrit was maintained at a constant level, acute hypervolemia increased O2 transport (to 54.6 ml/min/kg after 60 min), and when acute hypervolemia and polycythemia were induced simultaneously, O2 transport was transiently increased (to 57.5 ml/min/kg after 15 min) and then returned to a value similar to the control level.
Compressive Sensing based Reconstruction for Early Time-gate Fluorescence Molecular Tomography

we applied lp (0<p≤1) regularization based reconstruction algorithms for early gate fluorescence molecular tomography. Our results show that lp (0<p<1) regularization obtained more sparse and accurate solutions than l1 regularization method for early time gates.
QUANTITATIVE STUDIES OF PROSTATIC SECRETION : I. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE NORMAL SECRETION; THE INFLUENCE OF THYROID, SUPRARENAL, AND TESTIS EXTIRPATION AND ANDROGEN SUBSTITUTION ON THE PROSTATIC OUTPUT

A simple isolation of the prostate enabled quantitative collection of prostatic secretion in dogs over periods of months. The secretory stimulant was pilocarpine and 2 similar amounts injected with a 6 hour interval gave smaller amounts at the second testing, suggesting a fatigue effect. The prostate was not absolutely refractory since doubling the amount of alkaloid injected at the second test increased the volume to equal or exceed the preliminary secretion. The depression effect had disappeared at 24 hours. In normal dogs the secretory curves were essentially regular, with occasional prolonged rises or depressions. The amount of secretion did not bear a direct relationship to the weight of the gland in adult dogs. The germinal epithelium of the testis underwent atrophy during the first few weeks of cage life while the prostatic secretion was maintained, showing that the atrophy was differential and did not involve the cells producing the androgenic hormone. The atrophy was reversible and all dogs kept for more than 4 months showed restoration of the germ cells. A few dogs developed atrophy of the germinal cells with cessation of prostatic secretion for many weeks but with final recovery. Removal of the suprarenal glands with suprarenal insufficiency did not produce sterility. The distribution of electrolytes in the prostatic secretion differed from that in the serum-transudate system, although the concentration of osmotically active substances was the same, being made up almost entirely of sodium and chloride. The distribution was not affected by the different physiological procedures used in this study. Protein concentrations were less than 1 per cent. The rate of prostatic atrophy following castration was determined, and cessation of secretion occurred in 7 to 23 days. The restoration of prostatic fluid in castrate dogs following daily injections of testosterone propionate followed a smooth curve to form a plateau which was interrupted occasionally by prolonged elevations with return to the established level. The prostate having been reconstructed, the dosage of androgenic material injected could be greatly reduced without causing a decrease in secretion. Ablation of the thyroid and parathyroid glands had no significant influence on prostatic secretion. Hyperthyroidism caused a secretory depression interrupted with returns to normal levels.
Routing in packet‐switched communication networks with different criticality classes of communicating node pairs

This paper addresses the routing problem with reliability requirements in packet-switched communication networks. In this problem, two classes of communicating node pairs are considered: less critical and highly critical node pairs. We develop a model which identifies a primary route for each less critical node pair and both a primary and a secondary (back up) route for each highly critical node pair. The objective is to minimize the average delay encountered by messages. A solution procedure based on a relaxation of the problem is presented. Computational results over a wide range of problem structures show that the procedure is very effective.
Federal Funding for Research and Demonstrations: One of the Few Games in Town

Research is vital to any profession that demands continuous improvement, updating, and experimentation. New directions in service require commitment to the development of additional knowledge. Unfortunately, in librarianship, few sources of funding are available to sponsor investigations that move the professional boundaries forward.
Smoking cessation and acute airway response to ozone.

Abstract Pulmonary function and symptom responses of asymptomatic smokers were measured during chamber exposures to ozone or filtered air. Subjects were evaluated while habituated to smoking and after 6 mo of smoking abstinence. At the onset of treatment, subjects (n = 18) who had a history of smoking 33.4 ± 15.6 packs/y and who had almost normal pulmonary function (forced vital capacity [FVC], forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1.0], and mid-maximal flow [MMF] were g 82% of predicted) were unresponsive to ozone exposure (0.4 ppm for 2 h). A matched group of control smokers (n = 16) did not respond to filtered air exposure. After 6 mo of smoking cessation, baseline MMF rates improved significantly (p < .02); exsmokers (n = 15) raised this index from 3.32 to 4.11 l/s. All 9 subjects who abstained from smoking cigarettes for 6 mo and who were re-exposed to 0.4 ppm ozone had significant (p < .01) reductions in MMF (from a mean of 3.86 ± 1.32 [standard deviation] to 2.99 ± 0.94 l/s, i.e., 22.5% reduction) an...
The development of retinal ganglion cells deprived of their targets

The influence of central targets on the morphological differentiation of retinal ganglion cells was investigated in Xenopus laevis. Since the ganglion cells mature into distinct morphological subtypes after their axons have reached their central targets, it is possible that the target tissues may influence or specify this aspect of neuronal cell development. To test this idea, Xenopus eyebuds were target-deprived by transplantation to the flank region of host embryos where they developed ectopically. The grafted eyes grew at normal rates, but could not make any projections into the central nervous system. To examine the morphological differentiation of the retinal ganglion cells their structures were revealed using an in vitro retinal preparation and intracellular injections of the dye Lucifer yellow. The elaboration and maturation of ganglion cell dendrites were found to be indistinguishable between control and transplanted eyes throughout development. Thus, the development of retinal ganglion cells into distinct morphological classes can occur even when their axons do not interact with the appropriate central targets.
Specificity of induced systemic resistance as elicited by ethephon and tobacco mosaic virus in tobacco

Abstract Inoculation of 3–4 leaves of tobacco cv Ky 14 with tobacco virus (TMV) induced systemic resistance to blue mold and TMV but pricking in the presence of ethephon induced systemic resistance to TMV only. Twelve acid-soluble proteins either increased or were detected only in TMV-inoculated leaves by sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) as compared to mock-inoculated controls. Most of the proteins were induced locally and systemically by TMV and ethephon, but accumulated levels of some differed. Ten major acidic pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins were systemically induced by TMV. After treatment with ethephon, three of these proteins, PR-2, N and O, were not systemically induced. Ethephon treatment did induce PR-la, b and c, although induction was weak in comparison to that which occured in response to TMV. Two other proteins, EI 1 and EI 2, were induced following treatment with ethephon, but these proteins were not found in TMV-infected leaves. Chitinase and peroxidase activites were systemically and equally enhanced by TMV and ethephon. Seven acidic proteins exhibiting chitinase activities were detected as lytic zones on glycol chitin-containing overlay gels. One chitinase corresponding to PR-P was enhanced locally and systemically after inoculation with TMV or treatment with ethephon. Activities of two highly anionic peroxidases were systemically increased after TMV inoculation and treatment with ethephon, whereas activities of two moderately anionic peroxidases were markedly increased in TMV-inoculated leaves only. Inoculation with TMV induced systemically two major bands with β-1,3-glucanase activity corresponding to PR-N and PR-O and one minor band of an unknown β-1,3-glucanase. PR-2 had low β-1,3-glucanase activity. Ethephon did not significantly increase systemic β-1,3-glucanase activity. Induced resistance against blue mold and TMV are different and the responses induced by ethephon are insufficient for resistance to blue mold. One difference observed is that TMV induces β-1,3-glucanase activity, whereas ethephon does not. Clearly, chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase activity are not consistently coordinately regulated in tobacco.
A quantitative assessment of T-wave morphology in LQT1, LQT2, and healthy individuals based on Holter recording technology.

BACKGROUND The clinical course and the precipitating risk factors in the congenital long QT syndrome (LQTS) are genotype specific. OBJECTIVES The goal of this study was to develop a computer algorithm allowing for electrocardiogram (ECG)-based identification and differentiation of LQT1 and LQT2 carriers. METHODS Twelve-lead ECG Holter monitor recordings were acquired in 49 LQT1 carriers, 25 LQT2 carriers, and 38 healthy subjects as controls. The cardiac beats were clustered based on heart-rate bin method. Scalar and vectorial repolarization parameters were compared for similar heart rates among study groups. The Q to Tpeak (QTpeak), the Tpeak to Tend interval, T-wave magnitude and T-loop morphology were automatically quantified using custom-made algorithms. RESULTS QTpeak from lead II and the right slope of the T-wave were the most discriminant parameters for differentiating the 3 groups using prespecified heart rate bin (75.0 to 77.5 beats/min). The predictive model utilizing these scalar parameters was validated using the entire spectrum of heart rates. Both scalar and vectorcardiographic models provided very effective identification of tested subjects in heart rates between 60 and 100 beats/min, whereas they had limited performance during tachycardia and slightly better discrimination in bradycardia. In the 60 to 100 beats/min heart rate range, the best 2-variable model identified correctly 89% of healthy subjects, 84% of LQT1 carriers, and 92% of LQT2 carriers. A model including 3 parameters based purely on scalar ECG parameters could correctly identify 90% of the population (89% of healthy subjects, 90% of LQT1 carriers, and 92% of LQT2 carriers). CONCLUSION Automatic algorithm quantifying T-wave morphology discriminates LQT1 and LQT2 carriers and healthy subjects with high accuracy. Such computerized ECG methodology could assist physicians evaluating subjects suspected for LQTS.
Maximizing capture of gene co-expression relationships through pre-clustering of input expression samples: an Arabidopsis case study

Background In genomics, highly relevant gene interaction (co-expression) networks have been constructed by finding significant pair-wise correlations between genes in expression datasets. These networks are then mined to elucidate biological function at the polygenic level. In some cases networks may be constructed from input samples that measure gene expression under a variety of different conditions, such as for different genotypes, environments, disease states and tissues. When large sets of samples are obtained from public repositories it is often unmanageable to associate samples into condition-specific groups, and combining samples from various conditions has a negative effect on network size. A fixed significance threshold is often applied also limiting the size of the final network. Therefore, we propose pre-clustering of input expression samples to approximate condition-specific grouping of samples and individual network construction of each group as a means for dynamic significance thresholding. The net effect is increase sensitivity thus maximizing the total co-expression relationships in the final co-expression network compendium.
Body image in middle school children

The study purpose was to examine the relationship between sex, age, body mass index (BMI), and fitness level on the body image of 388 middle school children. Participants completed affective (social physique anxiety) and subjective evaluation (body dissatisfaction) body image measures and the 1-mile run/walk as an objective fitness measure. It was found that: (a) the females reported more social physique anxiety and body dissatisfaction than the males; (b) body dissatisfaction, especially for the females, was prevalent, (c) BMI was positively related to the body image measures; (d) for the males only, age was negatively related to the body image measures; (e) body dissatisfaction was negatively related to fitness levels; and (f) after controlling for BMI (and age for the males), fitness level was not a significant predictor of body dissatisfaction. The results indicate that body dissatisfaction was prevalent and early interventions with youth may be required.
The war relief work of the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee in Poland and Lithuania, 1915–18

The article examines the adverse conditions in which the Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) started its war relief work in German‐occupied Lithuania in 1915. As Lithuania's fate was still uncertain, the JDC had to overcome almost insurmountable diplomatic, political and practical problems in the initial stages of its activity. The article highlights how the JDC was able to adopt a consistent policy, always subscribing to a non‐political approach and adapting its tasks to the immediate and most pressing need of the countries aided, while having to deal with significant political challenges that deeply affected its freedom of movement, such as the impossibility of acting without the State Department's approval and of ignoring the reality of the German military administration.
Universality in the algebra of vertex strengths as generated by bilocal currents

Abstract We review the derivation of the algebra of vertex strengths (AVS) from the algebra of current bilocals on the null plane in the deep Regge scaling region (DRSR). We discuss the difficulties and present a mathematical procedure yielding AVS through a smooth removal of the divergent ω α dependences which differ on both sides of the infinite “ω-local” algebra of scaling functions. We suggest that the S a charges in AVS (the 2 ++ trajectories' vertex strengths) may be given by the antisymmetrized matrix elements of the vector bilocals.
Professionals' standards of “normal” behavior with anatomical dolls and factors that influence these standards☆

Abstract Do professionals have a consisten standard of what constitutes normal behavior with anatomical dolls? To answer this question, 201 professionals who work with child sexual abuse victims were asked to rate the normalcy of various behaviors with the dolls for nonabused children ages 2 to 5.9 years. The majority of respondents agreed that overtly sexual behaviors, such as demonstrating oral-genital contact or vaginal intercourse, were abnormal for non-abused children. For less obvious behaviors, such as touching the sex parts of dolls, there was more disagreement among professionals about what these behaviors mean. The ratings of these ambiguous behaviors varied depending on profession of the respondent, gender of the respondent, and number of years of experience. Law enforcement professionals, women, and those with the least amount of experience were more likely to view ambiguous behaviors as abnormal. These findings are discussed in the context of past research, with suggestions for future studies.
Study on anode oxidation process of aluminum alloy foams and microwave absorbing properties

Porous aluminum anodizing film was prepared on aluminum alloy foams in oxalic acid solution by electrochemical method, Al-alloy foams were tested according to the Standard GJB 2038-94 “Method to test the reflectivity of radar absorbing materials”, i.e., the RCS (radar cross-section) method. Micromorphology and crystal structure of the oxide films were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The influence of oxalic acid solution consistency, oxidizing current density and temperature on the structure of porous aluminum anodizing film was investigated, and making a comparison between porous aluminum anodizing film produced by one step and two steps. The results show that microporous on the oxide film are equally distributed and the size of aperture is nearly same, porous aluminum anodizing film produced by one step anodic oxidation method is more superior than two step and the microwave absorbing properties of aluminum foams are enhance obviously after anodic oxidation.
Comparison of electrical stimulation thresholds in normal and retinal degenerated mouse retina.

To compare the threshold for electrically elicited action potentials of retinal ganglion cells in normal mouse retina and photoreceptor degenerated (rd) mouse retina. Microelectrode recordings were made from retinal ganglion cells of normal and rd mice. Mice with a genetically based retinal degeneration (rd mice) were grown to the age of 16 weeks, when light-evoked responses could no longer be recorded. A bare wire was placed in the vitreous to stimulate the retina with charge-balanced current pulses. The following pulse shapes were investigated: single, square biphasic pulse, single sine wave, and biphasic pulse trains. Normal mice had significantly lower stimulus thresholds than rd mice for all pulse shapes. In normal and rd mice, short pulses were more efficient with respect to total charge used, but required a higher current. In normal mice, sine wave stimulation was significantly more efficient than a biphasic pulse of the same duration. No difference was noted between sine wave and square wave stimulation in rd mice. Pulse trains offered little benefit over single pulses. The amount of electrical charge required to elicit an action potential is dependent on the condition of the retina and the shape of the stimulus pulse used to deliver the charge.
A Spatial Dirichlet Process Mixture Model for Clustering Population Genetics Data

Identifying homogeneous groups of individuals is an important problem in population genetics. Recently, several methods have been proposed that exploit spatial information to improve clustering algorithms. In this article, we develop a Bayesian clustering algorithm based on the Dirichlet process prior that uses both genetic and spatial information to classify individuals into homogeneous clusters for further study. We study the performance of our method using a simulation study and use our model to cluster wolverines in Western Montana using microsatellite data.
Using Functional Trajectories to Track Constructed Salt Marsh Development in the Great Bay Estuary, Maine/New Hampshire, U.S.A.

A growing number of studies have assessed the functional equivalency of restored and natural salt marshes. Several of these have explored the use of functional trajectories to track the increase in restored marsh function over time; however, these studies have disagreed as to the usefulness of such models in long-term predictions of restored marsh development. We compared indicators of four marsh functions (primary production, soil organic matter accumulation, sediment trapping, and maintenance of plant communities) in 6 restored and 11 reference (matched to restored marshes using principal components analysis) salt marshes in the Great Bay Estuary. The restored marshes were all constructed and planted on imported substrate and ranged in age from 1 to 14 years. We used marsh age in a space-for-time substitution to track constructed salt marsh development and explore the use of trajectories. A high degree of variability was observed among natural salt marsh sites, displaying the importance of carefully chosen reference sites. As expected, mean values for constructed site (n = 6) and reference site (n = 11) functions were significantly different. Using constructed marsh age as the independent variable and functional indicator values as dependent variables, nonlinear regression analyses produced several ecologically meaningful trajectories (r 2 > 0.9), demonstrating that the use of different-aged marshes can be a viable approach to developing functional trajectories. The trajectories illustrated that although indicators of some functions (primary production, sediment deposition, and plant species richness) may reach natural site values relatively quickly (<10 years), others (soil organic matter content) will take longer.
A novel technique for processing functionally graded HA coatings

Hydroxyapatite (HA) films were deposited using dual ion beam sputtering. Deposition was carried out with an in situ heat treatment at three temperature settings during deposition. X-ray diffraction of the films at the surface revealed that the deposited film is composed of hydroxyapatite crystalline and amorphous phases. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy analysis displayed that the films have a graded crystal structure with the crystalline layer near the substrate and the amorphous layer at the top surface. Compositional analysis was performed using SEM-EDX at the top surface as well as STEM-EDX at the cross-section of the film. The average calcium to phosphorous ratio at the surface is 1.46, obtained by SEM-EDX. The Ca/P ratios in the crystalline and amorphous layers of the film are 1.6 to 1.7, close to the ratio of 1.67 for HA.