cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Osmoregulation in crocodilians

Recent crocodilians live primarily in freshwater habitats. However two species ( Crocodylus acutus and C. porosus ) are estuarine specialists; two others ( C. niloticus and C. johnstoni ) that are primarily found in fresh water, have estuarine populations. Routes of uptake of water and sodium include drinking, feeding and associated incidental drinking, and integumental and buccal diffusion. Routes of loss include faeces-cloacal fluid, lingual salt glands, integumental and buccal diffusion, and respiratory loss. The least understood route of salt and water exchange is that of the oral and buccal epithelia, which are much more permeable to water and sodium than the general integument. The freshwater alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis ) osmoregulates in a manner typical for an amphibious reptile. Body sodium turnover is low and the general integument is quite low in permeability to sodium. Water turnover is more rapid (in terms of molar exchange) but still relatively low for an aquatic reptile. Most water exchange occurs across the integument and buccal epithelia. The presence of lingual salt glands in freshwater crocodilians remains enigmatic, as does the failure of these exocrine glands in estuarine species to respond to saline loading. Secretion does occur after injection of the parasympathetic stimulant methacholine chloride. The “salt water crocodile” ( C. porosus ) possesses a suite of osmoregulatory adaptations similar to those found in other estuarine reptiles. Water and sodium balance are maintained primarily by an extremely low general permeability to sodium, by economies in water loss, and by excretion of excess sodium by the lingual salt glands. Further work is needed to examine newly hatched C. porosus , and the possibility of ontogenetic change in lingual gland function in C. acutus. The importance of incidental drinking of sea water during feeding (recently discovered in turtles) needs to be evaluated in crocodilians. The use of osmoregulatory data in interpretation of the evolutionary history of the genus Crocodylus needs to be viewed with caution. The hypothesis that all species of Crocodylus originated from the transoceanic migration of a saline-tolerant form may not be the most parsimonious explanation.
A Novel GDP-Mannose Mannosyl Hydrolase Shares Homology with the MutT Family of Enzymes

The product of the Escherichia coli orf1.9, or yefc, gene (GenBank accession number L11721) has been expressed under the control of a T7 promoter, purified to apparent homogeneity, and identified as a novel enzyme that hydrolyzes GDP-mannose or GDP-glucose to GDP and the respective hexose. The enzyme has little or no activity on other nucleotides, dinucleotides, nucleotide sugars, or sugar phosphates. It has a pH optimum between 9.0 and 9.5, a Km of 0.3 mM, and a Vmax of 1.6 mumol min-1 mg-1 for GDP-mannose, and it requires divalent cations for activity. This enzyme of 160 amino acids (M(r) = 18, 405) contains the consensus sequence GX(I/L/V)(E/Q)(X)2ET(X)6R(X)4E(X)2(I/L), characteristic of the MutT family of proteins and previously shown to form part of the nucleotide-binding site of MutT (Frick, D. N., Weber, D. J., Abeygunawardana, C., Gittis, A. G., Bessman, M. J., and Mildvan, A. S. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 5577-5586). A comparison of the enzymatic reactions catalyzed by the GDP-mannose mannosyl hydrolase and the other enzymes of the MutT family suggests that the consensus signature sequence designates a novel nucleoside diphosphate binding site and catalytic motif.
Event-related potentials in schizophrenics ☆

Abstract Fifteen schizophrenics and 15 age-matched controls were compared on 3 auditory event-related potential (ERP) paradigms that elicited a variety of components. In one paradigm, tones were given at 0.75, 2.25 and 6.75 sec interstimulus intervals; in another, infrequently occurring targets in a reaction-time task were interspread with frequent background stimuli; and, in a third, noise bursts or tones were delivered in a random sequence at either 70 or 100 dB SPL. The sensitivity of some of the ERP components in distinguishing schizophrenics from controls depended on the conditions under which the component was elicited. N1 amplitude was smaller in the schizophrenics than in the controls after longer interstimulus intervals. P2 amplitude was smaller in the schizophrenics only at higher stimulus intensities. P2 latency was shorter in schizophrenics except in the paradigm that varied interstimulus intervals. P3 amplitude, however, was much smaller in schizophrenics than controls regardless of whether P3 was elicited by targets in a task or was elicited by 100 dB SPL stimuli. The loud stimuli also elicited blink reflexes that coincided with N1, but these reflexes did not vary by clinical group. Neither the amplitude of the slow wave following targets nor the sustained potential that accompanies prolonged auditory stimuli differed between schizophrenics and controls.
Analysis of single items on the Self‐Esteem And Relationship questionnaire in men treated with sildenafil citrate for erectile dysfunction: results of two double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trials

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of sildenafil citrate on each item of the 14-item Self-Esteem And Relationship (SEAR) questionnaire, which is used to measure self-esteem, confidence, satisfaction with sexual relationship, and overall relationship satisfaction in men with erectile dysfunction (ED). PATIENTS AND METHODS Data were combined from two 12-week, double-blind, placebo-controlled, flexible-dose sildenafil trials having identical protocols, one conducted in the USA and the other in Mexico, Brazil, Australia and Japan. All men had ED and were aged >or=18 years. Response categories of each SEAR item used a 4-week reference period and were based on a five-point scale (1, almost never/never; 2, a few times; 3, sometimes; 4, most times; 5, almost always/always). The difference (sildenafil vs placebo) in the change from baseline to week 12 was evaluated with a Wilcoxon rank sum test using ridit analysis, and an analysis of covariance model that included treatment group, centre, study and baseline item score. RESULTS Compared with the 274 patients receiving placebo, the 279 receiving sildenafil reported significantly greater mean and median improvements (P < 0.001) in each of the 14 SEAR items. The probability of increased psychosocial benefit from baseline to week 12 was higher with sildenafil for each SEAR item, and ranged from 0.60 ('My partner was unhappy with the quality of our sexual relations'[item reverse-scored]) to 0.72 ('I was satisfied with my sexual performance'). Across all items, the mean (sd) probability was 0.67 (0.04) that a randomly selected patient in the sildenafil group would have a more favourable change relative to a randomly selected patient in the placebo group. CONCLUSIONS Sildenafil produced substantial and meaningful improvements at the item-specific level. This analysis complements previously published work on self-esteem, confidence and relationship satisfaction.
Large thermal Hall conductivity of neutral spin excitations in a frustrated quantum magnet

In frustrated quantum magnets, long-range magnetic order fails to develop despite a large exchange coupling between the spins. In contrast to the magnons in conventional magnets, their spin excitations are poorly understood. Here, we show that the thermal Hall conductivity κ(xy) provides a powerful probe of spin excitations in the "quantum spin ice" pyrochlore Tb2Ti2O7. The thermal Hall response is large, even though the material is transparent. The Hall response arises from spin excitations with specific characteristics that distinguish them from magnons. At low temperature (<1 kelvin), the thermal conductivity resembles that of a dirty metal. Using the Hall angle, we construct a phase diagram showing how the excitations are suppressed by a magnetic field.
Activities of a mechanosensitive ion channel in an E. coli mutant lacking the major lipoprotein.

The activity of the mechanosensitive (MS) ion channels in membrane patches, excised fromE. coli spheroplasts, was analyzed using the patch-clamp technique. Outer membranes from a mutant lacking the major lipoprotein (Lpp) and its wildtype parent were examined. The MS-channel activities in the wild-type membrane rarely revealed substates at the time resolution used. These channels showed a stretch sensitivity indicated by the IISP (the suction for ane-fold increase in channel open probability) of 4.9 mm Hg suction. The MS-channel activities oflpp included a prominent substate and showed a weaker mechano-sensitivity with an 1/S p of 10.0 mm Hg. Whereas small amphipaths (chlorpromazine, trinitrophenol) or a larger amphipath (lysolecithin) all activated the MS channel in the wild-type membrane under minimal suction, only the larger lysolecithin could activate the MS channel in thelpp membranes. After lysolecithin addition, thelpp membrane became more effective in transmitting the stretch force to the MS channel, as indicated by a steepening of the Boltzmann curve. We discuss one interpretation of these results, in which the major lipoprotein serves as a natural amphipath inserted in the inner monolayer and the loss of this natural amphipath makes the bilayer less able to transmit the gating force.
Extreme mitochondrial DNA divergence within populations of the deep-sea gastropod Frigidoalvania brychia

The deep sea supports a diverse and highly endemic invertebrate fauna, the origin of which remains obscure. Little is known about geographic variation in deep-sea organisms or the evolutionary processes that promote population-level differentiation and eventual speciation. Sequence variation at the 16 S rDNA locus was examined in formalin-preserved specimens of the common upper bathyal rissoid Frigidoalvania brychia (Verrill, 1884) to examine its population genetic structure. The specimens came from trawl samples taken over 30 years ago at depths of 457–1,102 m at stations in the Northwest Atlantic south of Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA. Near the upper boundary of its bathymetric range (500 m), extremely divergent haplotypes comprising three phylogenetically distinct clades (average uncorrected sequence divergence among clades ~23%, ~3% within clades) were found at stations separated by a maximum distance of ~80 km, suggesting the presence of high levels of intraspecific divergence or the possibility of morphologically cryptic species. Only one of these clades was found at two stations in the mid- to lower part of F. brychia's depth distribution (800–1,100 m), suggesting lower clade diversity with increasing depth, although among-sample divergence, with a single exception, was minimal. One station was genetically divergent from all others sampled, containing a unique suite of haplotypes including two found only at this site. Steep vertical selective gradients, major oceanographic changes during the late Cenozoic, and habitat fragmentation by submarine canyons might have contributed to an upper bathyal region that is highly conducive to evolutionary change.
The Pregnancy in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome II (PPCOS II) trial: Rationale and design of a double-blind randomized trial of clomiphene citrate and letrozole for the treatment of infertility in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a common cause of female infertility and first line treatment is currently oral clomiphene citrate, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, which results in both a high nonresponse rate and multiple pregnancy rate. Aromatase inhibitors such as letrozole may have more favorable ovarian and endometrial effects. The goal of the Pregnancy in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome II (PPCOSII) study is to determine the safety and efficacy of clomiphene citrate (CC) compared to letrozole, in achieving live birth in infertile women with PCOS. The population will consist of 750 infertile women with PCOS. Additionally, the couple will have no other major infertility factor. This will be a multi-center, prospective, double-blind clinical trial of CC vs. letrozole for 5 treatment cycles (or approximately up to 25 weeks). The randomization scheme will be coordinated through the central data coordinating center (DCC) and the randomization is stratified by each participating site. After progestin withdrawal as needed, 750 women will be equally randomized to two different treatment arms: A) CC 50mg every day for 5 days (days 3-7 of cycle), or B) letrozole 2.5mg every day for 5 days (days 3-7 of cycle), for a total of 5 cycles or 25 weeks. The dose will be increased in subsequent cycles in both treatment groups for non-response or poor ovulatory response up to a maximum of 150 mg of CC a day (×5 days) or 7.5mg of letrozole a day (×5 days). The primary analysis will use an intent-to-treat approach to examine differences in the live birth rate in the two treatment arms.
Deposition of hard metal nitride-like coatings in an electron cyclotron resonance discharge

Abstract Hard titanium, zirconium and chromium nitride-like coatings were grown in a high-density microwave electron cyclotron resonance discharge. The organometallic deposition precursors were titanium (IV) isopropoxide and tetrakis(dimethylamino)titanium, zirconium 2-methyl-2-butoxide and zirconium t -butoxide, and bis(ethylbenzene)chromium, with ammonia as the reactive gas. The deposited metal nitride-like coatings have nano-indentation hardness values of 20–28 GPa for TiN-like coatings, 17–21 GPa for ZrN-like coatings and 25–31 GPa for CrN-like coatings. Growth rates were 10–20 nm/min. X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopic analyses showed the compositions of titanium-, zirconium- and chromium-containing coatings to be TiC x O y N z , ZrC x O y N z and CrC x O y N z with significant carbon and oxygen atomic concentrations. The titanium nitride-like and zirconium nitride-like coatings had characteristic gold coloring and lasted more than 1000 h in an ASTM B117 salt-fog corrosion test without color change or visible corrosion.
The influence of surgical volume on morbidity and mortality of radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer

Objective We examined the influence of physician and hospital volume on the morbidity and mortality of radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer. Study Design Women who underwent radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer between 2003 and 2007 were examined. The effect of surgeon and hospital volume on morbidity and mortality was examined using multivariable generalized estimating equations. Results A total of 1536 women who underwent radical hysterectomy were identified. Patients treated by high-volume surgeons had fewer medical complications (odds ratio, 0.55; 95% confidence interval, 0.34–0.88) and shorter lengths of stay (odds ratio, 0.49; 95% confidence interval, 0.25–0.98). After adjustment for case mix and surgeon volume, hospital volume had no independent effect on any of the variables of interest. Conclusion High-volume surgeons have fewer postoperative medical complications, shorter lengths of stay, and lower transfusion requirements. Hospital volume appears to have only a minor influence on outcomes after radical hysterectomy.
Dynamics of risk behavior for HIV infection among young Thai men.

The objective of this investigation was to analyze the dynamics of risk for HIV-1 infection among young men in Thailand. The authors conducted a prospective study in a cohort (n = 1236) of young men aged 19-23 years at conscription into the Royal Thai Army and Air Force from six provinces in northern Thailand in May 1991 who were followed until their discharge in April 1993. The outcome measure was change since conscription in the frequency of self-reported sex with female commercial sex workers (CSW) during military service. Although 42% of conscripts reported no visit to a female CSW in the year prior to conscription most had a visit during military service. Men who visited female CSWs infrequently at baseline increased their visits somewhat over time whereas those with high initial rates of CSW visits decreased. Based on an assumed stable distribution over time change from baseline was not statistically significant. Only marital status and high baseline CSW visit rates were associated with diminished visit frequency in multivariate analysis. No differences were seen in patterns of change in CSW visits by HIV-1 serostatus. More aggressive preventive interventions are needed to reduce the frequency of CSW visits in northern Thailand a setting where 40-80% of all female CSWs working in brothels are now HIV seropositive. (authors)
The magnitude and duration of itch produced by intracutaneous injections of histamine

The magnitude and duration of itch sensation produced by intracutaneous injection of histamine were determined for humans with the procedure of magnitude estimation scaling. Thirteen subjects received a 10-microliter intracutaneous injection of histamine at doses of 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10 micrograms into the volar forearm; eight of these subjects also received a 100-microgram dose. One subject received multiple injections over several weeks to determine the reliability of the magnitude estimates of itch. Following each injection, the area of flare and duration of itch were also determined. Intracutaneous injection of histamine produced a pure sensation of itch, without pain. The magnitude of itch increased in a dose-dependent fashion. The lowest histamine dose that produced itch greater than the itch produced by vehicle was 0.01 micrograms. The greatest itch was produced by the 100-microgram dose. A power function fitted to the mean magnitude estimates had an exponent of 0.17, indicating a negatively accelerating relation between the magnitude of itch and histamine dose. The one subject who received histamine over several weeks gave fairly reproducible estimates of itch magnitude. The duration of itch and the area of flare also increased in a dose-dependent fashion. The lowest dose of histamine that produced a duration of itch longer than the itch produced by the vehicle was 0.1 microgram, while the 100-microgram dose produced the longest duration of itch. Although the area of flare increased with each increase in dose from 0.1 to 10 micrograms, the areas of flare produced by 10 and 100 micrograms of histamine did not differ. These results indicate that humans can scale the magnitude of itch produced by histamine in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the duration of itch and the area of flare produced by histamine are dose-dependent, confirming results of previous investigators. Intracutaneous histamine is easily quantifiable and may thus be a useful stimulus in neurophysiological studies of the peripheral neural mechanisms of itch.
Multi-Hull Configuration Design: A Framework for Powering Minimization

The powering issue of a high-speed marine vehicle with multi-hulls is addressed, since there is an often need to quickly evaluate the effects of several configuration parameters in the early stage of ship design. For component hulls with given geometry, the parameters considered include the relative locations of individual hulls and the relative volumetric ratios. Within the realm of linearized theory, an interference resistance expression for hull-to-hull interaction is first reviewed, and then a new formula for hull-and-pressure distribution interference is derived. Each of these analytical expressions is expressed in terms of the Fourier signatures or Kochin functions of the interacting components, with the separation, stagger, and speed as explicit parameters. Based on this framework, examples are given for assessing the performance of a di-hull as opposed to a tetra-hull system. Also examined is the wave resistance generated by a Surface-Effect Ship (SES) in comparison with that by a baseline catamaran, subject to the constraint of constant total displacement.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Length dependence of LP 11 Mode Cutoff And Its Influence On The Chromatic Dispersion Measurement By Phase Shift Method

The length dependence of LP11 mode cutoff wavelength and its influence on the chromatic dispersion measurement by phase shift method is investigated both theoretically and experimentally. The effective cutoff wavelength λce decreases linearly in a logarithmic scale of fiber length as fiber length increases. Based on the length dependence of λce, the error in the chromatic dispersion measurement of a single-mode fiber by phase shift method is analyzed, which operates at wavelengths including those shorter than the cutoff wave-length. It is clarified that the measurement error for a 200 m-length fiber with a longer cutoff wavelength of 1.35 μm is less than 0.1 ps/km/nm.
Incontinence: what is the learning curve for artificial urinary sphincter surgery?

Although various male sling techniques are available, artificial urinary sphincter surgery (AUS) remains the treatment of choice for male stress urinary incontinence. A recent article has described the surgical learning curve for reoperation rates after AUS implantation, finding that there was no plateau, even with very experienced surgeons.
Perceptions of excessive alcohol consumption in stressful and nonstressful situations among undergraduates

We devised and administered the Alcohol Perceptions Questionnaire (APQ) to 56 male and 51 female undergraduates in a small midwestern university. Findings yielded statistically significant results between the level of alcohol consumption reported by the subjects and their perceptions of excessive drinking in interpersonal situations, social group situations, and under conditions of subjective stress. The greater the amount of personal alcohol consumption among the sample, the less likely they viewed excessive drinking as a problem. In addition, subjects from lower income environments viewed excessive drinking in general as a problem, whereas subjects from higher income environments viewed excessive drinking as no problem at all.
A Look at the Recently Proposed Solar-QBO-Weather Relationship

Abstract Surface meteorological data at several stations over the period 1875–1936 are examined in relation to solar activity. In particular an attempt is made to we if these historical data can be reconciled with the sun-QBO-weather relationship recently found in modern (post-1950) data by van Loon and Labitzke (vLL). The basic problem in extending vLL's analysis to earlier periods is ignorance of the phase of the QBO. In the present study, vLL's computations are repeated for the historical data using several million possible sequences for the phase of the QBO. The results reveal problems in reproducing vLL's results in the earlier data. This indicates either that the QBO behaved differently in the past, or that vLL's results for a solar-weather relationship are not stable over the long term.
Two dimensional Kohn anomally in NbSe2

Abstract Phonon dispersion curves for several low frequency branches in the layered compound NbSe2 have been measured. The results indicate the possible existence of a two dimensional Kohn anomaly in this material.
Determination of Ferrocene Solubility by Normalized Chronoamperometry: An Evaluation of Experimental Constraints

The determination of ferrocene solubilities in aqueous ethanol mixtures by normalized chronoamperometry is described. Normalized chronoamperometry has been used to determine D without prior knowledge of n or C, although little information is available regarding the experimental limitations of this technique. A comparison of 1,1′-ferrocenedimethanol diffusion coefficients obtained using voltammetry and normalized chronoamperometry indicates that analyte concentrations less than 3 mM may lead to an underestimation of the diffusion coefficient for a single electron transfer process. The use of normalized chronoamperometry to measure diffusion coefficients in aqueous ethanol solutions was validated via the Stokes-Einstein equation.
Preventing Insurgencies After Major Combat Operations

In March 2003, the United States and its allies launched Operation ‘Iraqi Freedom’ to remove Saddam Hussein from power. Major combat operations lasted three weeks, far less time than initially anti...
Maternal use of hot tub and major structural birth defects

Background Previous studies on the associations between hot tub use during early pregnancy and birth defects have found an increased risk of neural tube defects, but no increase in risk of cardiac defects. No previous studies have assessed the association between maternal hot tub use and other types of noncardiac birth defects. Methods We included mothers of infants with birth defects (n = 10,825) and mothers of infants without birth defects (n = 6795) who participated in the multisite National Birth Defects Prevention Study between 1997 and 2005. Odds ratios were adjusted for maternal ethnicity and education. Results Analysis of 17 birth defects revealed that mothers of infants with gastroschisis and anencephaly were significantly more likely to report any use of a hot tub in early pregnancy: adjusted odd ratios were 1.54 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-2.17) and 1.68 (95% CI, 1.05-2.70), respectively. Among the mothers who reported using a hot tub more than once in the exposure period and remaining in it for more than 30 min, we found significantly elevated odds ratios (≥2.0) for esophageal atresia, omphalocele, and gastroschisis and a nonsignificant elevation (≥2.0) for spina bifida and anencephaly. Conclusions These results suggest that women who use hot tubs more than once during early pregnancy and for long periods of time have an increased risk of certain birth defect phenotypes, particularly anencephaly and gastroschisis. Because of multiple statistical tests and small sample sizes, we cannot exclude the possibility that some of these elevated associations may be due to chance.
Archaeology as human ecology : method and theory for a contextual approach

Part I. Perspectives: 1. Context in archaeology 2. Environmental systems: spatial and temporal variability Part II. Foundations: 3. Geo-archaeology I: basic principles 4. Geo-archaeology II: landscape context 5. Geo-archaeology III: stratigraphic context 6. Geo-archaeology IV: site formation 7. Geo-archaeology V: site modification and destruction 8. Geo-archaeology VI: human impact on the landscape 9. Archaeometry: prospecting, provenance, dating 10. Archaeobotany: vegetation and plant utilization 11. Zoo-archaeology: faunas and animal procurement Part III. Synthesis: 12. Spatial integration I: quantitative models for pattern analysis 13. Spatial integration II: socioecological models for settlement analysis 14. Spatial integration III: reconstruction of settlement systems 15. Diachronic systems I: cultural adaptation 16. Diachronic systems II: continuity and change References Index.
Indications for the vastus lateralis flap in oral and maxillofacial surgery

Objective: To find out the applications, usefulness and advantages of the microsurgically anastomosed vastus lateralis flap. We evaluated the results of 60 consecutive oral and maxillofacial reconstructions and established typical indications for use of this flap. Design: The transplant was applied as a pure muscle flap in 17 cases, four of those being a split-skin flap for coverage of defects on the scalp. Further reconstructions were done with myocutaneous flaps for the tongue (n = 13), floor of the mouth (n = 16) and external skin defects (n = 6) as well as to close perforating defects (n = 8). Results: The long and high-calibre vascular pedicle, the unvarying anatomy, and the time-saving possibility of simultaneously resecting the tumour and raising the flap in the head and neck region proved to be particularly advantageous during flap transfer. The best results were obtained in extensive, deep, or perforating defects and in tongue reconstruction; neuromuscular connection of the transplant is possible. Pure muscle transplants have only a few indications for application in the oral cavity because of their tendency to shrink. Donor site morbidity was generally low; the flap was lost in 5 cases. Conclusion: This hitherto rarely used transplant is well-suited for maxillofacial reconstructions if the correct indications apply.
Cross-sensitization between footshock stress and apomorphine on self-injurious behavior and neostriatal catecholamines in a rat model of Lesch–Nyhan syndrome

Abstract The effects of footshock sensitization (priming), apomorphine (APO) priming and their combination on behavior and neostriatal and cortical catecholamines were examined in adult rats which had neonatally received bilateral intracerebroventricular injections with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA; a model of Lesch–Nyhan syndrome (LNS)) or vehicle (unlesioned rats). Lesioned (6-OHDA-treated) rats displayed self-biting (SB; 7/20 rats) and self-injurious behavior (SIB; 1/20 rats) during APO priming, but not during footshock priming. During subsequent acute cumulative APO dosing, 20–30% of lesioned rats primed with APO alone or footshock alone displayed SB and SIB. However, SB and SIB incidence in APO+footshock-primed lesioned rats was nearly tripled. Dopamine (DA) synthesis, metabolism and extracellular concentrations (disposition) in unlesioned rats and in cortices of lesioned animals were unaffected by priming. In lesioned rats primed with APO alone or footshock alone, only neostriatal 3-methoxytyramine (3-MT) was significantly increased. However, neostriatal DA and metabolite concentrations (and norepinephrine (NE)) were all significantly elevated in lesioned rats primed with both APO and footshock. These results confirm that neonatal 6-OHDA-induced neostriatal catecholamine depletion can be antagonized by experiential change, suggest that behavioral and neurochemical cross-sensitization between APO and footshock in such rats is unidirectional and support the view that stress can exacerbate the incidence of SIB in LNS.
Consistency of the interfacial tracer technique: experimental evaluation

Miscible displacement experiments were conducted using sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (SDBS) and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) as interfacial tracers to measure non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL)–water interfacial areas (anw) in columns packed with silanized glass beads which were coated with either n-decane or perchloroethylene (PCE). The consistency of the interfacial tracer technique was evaluated by showing that: (1) anw values measured with two tracers for two NAPLs were similar; (2) the interfacial adsorption isotherm estimated from the surfactant retardation factors was comparable to that predicted from interfacial tension data and the Gibbs adsorption equation; and (3) the measured anw values were comparable with those estimated from a simple geometrical analysis of the solid surface area of the glass beads of known size and shape.
Initial and repeat screening for Chlamydia trachomatis during pregnancy

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis and risk factors for positive repeat tests in a high-risk population presenting for early prenatal care. METHODS: We completed a retrospective cohort study of 2,484 women who initiated prenatal care prior to 20 weeks gestation, delivered, and received testing for cervical C. trachomatis at Grady Memorial Hospital or a Grady-affiliated clinic between July 1, 1993 and December 31, 1994. We calculated adjusted odds ratios (OR) for selected risk factors for a positive initial test and for a positive subsequent test after an initial negative test. RESULTS: The prevalence of C. trachomatis was 14.8%. At initial testing, 10.4% of the women were positive. If the initial test was negative, 5.7% had a positive subsequent test; but if the initial test was positive, 32.0% had a positive subsequent test (P < 0.001). The variables significantly and independently associated with a positive initial test were black race/ethnicity, age less than 25, unmarried, and less than a high-school education (adjusted OR of 1.66, 3.53, 2.18, and 1.81, respectively). Variables significantly and independently associated with a positive subsequent test after a negative initial test were white race/ethnicity, black race/ethnicity, age less than 25, and less than a high-school education (adjusted OR 8.69, 7.77, 4.12, and 2.27, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In our inner-city population, most pregnant women have risk factors suggesting the need to rescreen for C. trachomatis in the second half of pregnancy.
The Harvard University Library Islamic Heritage Project: Challenges in Managing Large-Scale Digitization of Islamic Manuscripts

The Islamic Heritage Project (IHP) is a collaboration of the Harvard University Library Open Collections Program (OCP) and the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Alsaud Islamic Studies Program at Harvard University. The project focused upon Islamic manuscripts and rare books and aima at making unique or difficult-to-obtain works freely available and easily accessible worldwide. Author deals with the strategies by which a large-scale project as this one was set up, and by which considerations this project was managed in a sustainable way. The article highlights key decisions pertaining to selection, cataloging, conservation, and imaging specifications for manuscripts, as well as the local infrastructure of systems and services used in the production workflows for this reasonably large-scale project.
Lower bounds to the Weizsäcker energy

Gram determinants can be used to obtain lower bounds to the Weizsacker energy for an N-particle density using expectation values of a wide variety of functions of position. This work focuses on expectation values of radial moments to easily derive many previous bounds and some new bounds and to show that improved bounds are easily obtained by increasing the size of the determinant. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Quantum Chem, 2005
Declotting grafts with thrombolysis

Percutaneous declotting of dialysis grafts has been evolving since its introduction in the early 1980s. At first, a low-dose thrombolytic infusion through a single catheter was used. Crossing catheters with a higher dose infusion was then introduced. The next method used was a pharmacomechanical thrombolysis, which uses crossing catheters and pulse-spray technique. Mechanical displacement of the platelet plug at the arterial anastomosis is necessary. Residual clot in the midgraft is mobilized with Fogarty balloons and/or angioplasty balloons. The underlying cause of graft failure, which is typically a stenosis at the venous anastomosis, must be addressed. The viability of a graft after successful lysis is probably most dependent on successful treatment of the lesion that caused the graft to thrombose. If an angioplasty of this lesion is not successful, one can consider directional atherectomy or stents. Alternatively, a surgical repair with a patch angioplasty or with an interposition graft can be performed. Recently, alternative declotting devices have been introduced. The Amplatz device and the Possis device are 2 such devices. Additionally, aspiration thrombectomy is being used with or without addition of lytic agents to attempt to declot grafts. These newer devices and techniques must be shown to be similar in terms of efficacy and cost when compared to pharmacomechanical thrombolysis before being considered for widespread use. Ultimately, it is the management of the platelet plug at the arterial anastomosis and the venous stenosis that will determine how long the graft will function after the procedure. The lyse and wait (L&W) technique was described in 1997 as a quick and simple method to declot arteriovenous (AV) grafts. A 250,000 U urokinase (5 mL), 5,000 U heparin (1 mL) mixture (total 6 mL) is injected into the graft via a 22-gauge angiocatheter. This mixture is allowed to sit in the graft for 30 to 60 minutes. The same technique can be used with any lytic agent. A multicenter randomized prospective study comparing pulse-spray pharmacomechanical thrombolysis versus L&W was recently completed. Eighty-eight patients were randomized. L&W on the average was 20 minutes quicker than pulse-spray with similar technical success and patencies. With similar results and faster procedure times, we believe L&W to be a good alternative for dialysis qraft declotting.
Unidentified Factors in Poultry Nutrition 2. Properties and Preliminary Fractionation of a Growth Factor in Condensed Fish Solubles

Abstract THE isolation and availability of crystalline vitamin B12 has stimulated the investigation of unidentified growth factors for poultry. This work has been comprehensively reviewed by Combs (1951), Menge et al. (1952a), and Briggs (1952). Studies conducted in this laboratory have shown condensed fish solubles to contain an unidentified chick growth factor, or factors, Lillie et al. (1953). The present investigation was undertaken to prepare a potent concentrate of this factor and to study some of its properties. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE The method of assay used in the following studies has been described by Lillie et al. (1953). The stability of the growth factor to autoclaving at various pH values was determined by adding either concentrated sodium hydroxide or concentrated hydrochloric acid to a sample of fish solubles diluted with an equal quantity of water. The total volume, after adjustment of pH, was kept uniform for each sample. Each lot was autoclaved …
Retrorectal fistula secondary to barium-abscess granuloma: report of a case.

Although perforation of the rectum at the time of barium enema is extremely rare, dire consequences may result, as pointed out in this case report. Bariumenema examination should not be performed routinely when rectal or colonic biopsy has been done recently.
The library of congress surplus book program-a single library's experience

The Library of Congress Surplus Book Program, whereby public and educational institution libraries may obtain free books and serials, is described. After analyzing the intensive use of this program by the University of Texas at Dallas Library during a three-year period from 1984 to 1987, the author concludes the program may not be useful to every library, but that all collection development and acquisitions librarians should be aware of this source.
ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT: INFORMATION MANAGEMENT CAPACITY, ORGANIZATIONAL CAPABILITIES, AND THE SOURCING MIX

Abstract The information systems-related sourcing literature currently emphasizes a portfolio approach combining homegrown, hybrid, and outsourced (contracted) systems. This study found similar approaches in the sourcing for electronic government (e-Government, e-Gov). E-Gov-related sourcing mixes potentially create high switching costs and path dependency. They may also severely impact governments' information management capacity and organizational capabilities. Further, e-Government leads to business process change, all of which necessitates an increased understanding of e-Gov-related sourcing and its integration with traditional public management information systems (PMIS). In the absence of an e-Gov-specific sourcing theory, this study explores current sourcing practices and uncovers overlaps in sourcing concepts and also significant differences between private and public sourcing practices. E-Gov sourcing portfolios were found not systematically managed potentially compromising the public information management capacity. To help public managers design and manage e-Gov sourcing mixes, the article proposes framework for e-Government sourcing for further testing.
Efficient mesh optimization schemes based on Optimal Delaunay Triangulations

Abstract In this paper, several mesh optimization schemes based on Optimal Delaunay Triangulations are developed. High-quality meshes are obtained by minimizing the interpolation error in the weighted L1 norm. Our schemes are divided into classes of local and global schemes. For local schemes, several old and new schemes, known as mesh smoothing, are derived from our approach. For global schemes, a graph Laplacian is used in a modified Newton iteration to speed up the local approach. Our work provides a mathematical foundation for a number of mesh smoothing schemes often used in practice, and leads to a new global mesh optimization scheme. Numerical experiments indicate that our methods can produce well-shaped triangulations in a robust and efficient way.
A theoretical representation of single bubble motion in a cylindrical gas fluidized bed

Abstract The steady motion of a single bubble along the axis of an incipiently fluidized bed, with cylindrical walls, is analysed. This theory is based on a continuum two-phase description of fluidization, wherein the linearization of the solid-phase inertial terms, in the manner proposed by Murray (1965, J. Fluid Mech. 22 , 57–80), and the neglect of particle-particle forces permit an analytical solution. The solution shows the influence of the vessel walls on the bubble velocity, bubble shape, cloud geometry and the gas and solid flow patterns for a range of bubble size between that of an isolated bubble and a slug. Comparisons between the theory and selected data on bubble velocity and cloud geometry are presented. A particular aspect of the theory is that it provides a prediction of bubble velocity which is in excellent agreement with experimental data on isolated bubbles and slugs and which appears to represent the trends in bubble velocity for intermediate size bubbles.
SU-FF-T-419: Time-Delay Measurement of Phase Gated Treatment with a Varian Real-Time Position Management System Using Computed Radiography

Purpose: Respiratory gating systems have been developed to reduce treatmentuncertainty caused by organ motions related to respiration. The time‐delay between when the gating signal is triggered and when the beam is turned on may affect the actual radiationdose delivered. In this study, we investigated the time delay for a Varian real‐time position management(RPM) respiratory gating treatment system. Method and Materials: A motion phantom with infrared markers was used to simulate a respiration signal. An infrared camera was used to observe the motion of the phantom and to plot out a true position‐versus‐time curve. Computed Radiography(CR)images were taken with a Varian Clinac 21EX at 10% intervals of the simulated breathing cycle with a 2% window. On the CRimages, the center of a metal disk attached to the phantom was used to determine the measured position of the phantom relative to a stationary disk. The RPM curve and measured curve were both normalized. The RPM curve was then shifted relative to the measured curve in steps of 0.1milliseconds, and correlation between the two curves was measured at each step using MATLAB. The time shift corresponding to the greatest correlation was defined as the time delay in the gating system. Results: Three measurements were taken and averaged (arithmetic mean) to determine the time delay. The time‐delay between the actual beam‐on time and the RPM beam‐on triggering signal was found to be 0.513 ± 0.077 seconds. Conclusion: This work shows that there is a significant time delay between the gating signal and the time when the radiation beam is turned on for the Varian RPM system. The effect of time‐delay on patient dosimetry needs to be further investigated. Partially supported by Varian research grant.
Information Fusion Strategy for Aircraft Engine Health Management

Modern aircraft engines are equipped with sophisticated sensing instruments to enable proactive condition monitoring and effective health management capability. Development of intelligent systems that efficiently process sensor and operational data both onboard and off-board, to provide maintenance personnel with timely decision support, is the key to minimize flight service disruption and reduce engine ownership cost. The goal of this research is to develop a practical approach and strategy to leverage various available information sources and modeling techniques to streamline the engine health management process and maximize system accuracy and efficiency. This paper demonstrates a flexible fusion architecture that encapsulates the key elements of the engine monitoring and diagnostic process, i.e., sensor trend analysis module for anomaly detection, feature selection and fault isolation module for root cause identification, a decision module for diagnostic model fusion and action determination, and finally, a feedback module for knowledge validation and continuous learning. At the core of this engine health management system is a diagnostic fusion model designed around a common fault hierarchy which captures both a priori probabilities and interactions among various engine faults isolated by different classification models. The fusion model will resolve conflicting assessments from individual diagnostic models and provide a more accurate and comprehensive engine state estimate.© 2007 ASME
Probing the reaction coordinate for ligand binding in hemoglobin using ultrafast transient Raman spectroscopy

Transient picosecond Raman spectroscopy is capable of differentiating vibrational relaxation from conformational changes by comparing the Stokes and anti-Stokes dynamics. We report pump-probe picosecond Raman experiments on oxy- and deoxyhemoglobin (oxyHb and deoxyHb, respectively) using 8 ps 532 nm pump pulses and 8 ps 355 nm probe pulses. Heme- to-protein vibrational cooling has been directly observed in deoxyHb for the first time, and the deconvolved cooling time constant is measured to be 2 - 5 ps. By applying our mode-specific Stokes and anti-Stokes technique to oxyHb, we find that any geminate recombination of photodeligated O2 must occur in either less than two picoseconds or longer than a nanosecond.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Complementary limit induced bifurcation theorem and analysis of Q limits in power-flow studies

Complementary limit describes a change in system structure when two variables and constants in the system model exchange their status. Complementary limits have been used in the power system literature in the past for modeling the Q limit problem in power-flow equations. This paper presents a general theorem about static bifurications induced by complementary limits. A direct application of the theorem is a powerful characterization of the static bifurcations induced by Q-limits in any general large set of power-flow equations.Specifically, we prove that the Q-limit induced static bifurcation occurs whenever there is a change in the sign of the determinants of the respective power-flow Jacobian matrices when the critical generator bus changes from a PV bus to a PQ bus.The paper also discusses another application of complementary limits in power-flow equations for a system with phase shifting transformers.
Exosome proteomics reveals transcriptional regulator proteins with potential to mediate downstream pathways

Exosomes are virus-sized, membrane-enclosed vesicles with origins in the cellular endosomal system, but are released extracellularly. As a population, these tiny vesicles carry relatively enormous amounts of information in their protein, lipid and nucleic acid content, and the vesicles can have profound impacts on recipient cells. This review employs publically-available data combined with gene ontology applications to propose a novel concept, that exosomes transport transcriptional and translational machinery that may have direct impacts on gene expression in recipient cells. Here, we examine the previously published proteomic contents of medulloblastoma-derived exosomes, focusing on transcriptional regulators; we found that there are numerous proteins that may have potential roles in transcriptional and translational regulation with putative influence on downstream, cancer-related pathways. We expanded this search to all of the proteins in the Vesiclepedia database; using gene ontology approaches, we see that these regulatory factors are implicated in many of the processes involved in cancer initiation and progression. This information suggests that some of the effects of exosomes on recipient cells may be due to the delivery of protein factors that can directly and fundamentally change the transcriptional landscape of the cells. Within a tumor environment, this has potential to tilt the advantage towards the cancer.