cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
LAMBARÉNÉ, OKOUMÉ AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF LABOR ALONG THE MIDDLE OGOOUÉ (GABON), 1870–1945

IN 1929, the French colonial administration's forced recruitment of labor for two road construction projects designed to create more effective transportation links between the town of Lambarene on the Middle Ogooue and the colonial post at Mouila on the Upper Ngounie led to food shortages in several parts of southern Gabon. A disturbing pattern had developed over the previous 15 years where colonial demands for labor led to disruptions in the seasonal cycle of agricultural production. Able-bodied men forced to gather forest products or work as porters to pay the head tax, or required to participate in the construction of colonial infrastructure projects, or even willingly employed as laborers in the growing timber industry, could not meet their traditional obligations to clear fields for women farmers during the long dry season (generally June to September), thus leading to poor harvests and food shortages. French officials at the end of the 1920s were especially anxious as the Fang populations in the northern portion of the colony had experienced severe famine several years earlier, partly due to male workers being recruited into the timber industry. Memories of famine occurring between 1916 and 1918 were also quite vivid among the peoples living along the Ngounie. Labor recruitment for the timber industry and colonial infrastructure projects remained a precarious enterprise at the outset of the 1930s. Yet by the 1940s, the most difficult segment of the Lambarene–Mouila road network – a 50 kilometer stretch through hilly, forested terrain south of Lambarene – was completed without resorting to forced labor and without the threat of food shortages. The intervening decade had witnessed the final stage of the transformation of Gabonese labor wrought by the French colonial presence, a transformation that broke the pre-colonial system of labor exploitation controlled by clan leaders. At the outbreak of World War II, the process had advanced to the point that there now existed a ‘labor market’ in the French Equatorial Africa federation integrated into the capitalist wage-earning sector and capable of accomplishing infrastructure projects without disastrous consequences for the local population. We argue that the predominance of the timber industry in Gabon placed these developments on a strangely ambiguous path when compared to the growth of capitalist wage-labor in other parts of the continent.
Expression and regulation of ryanodine receptor/calcium release channels

Abstract Intracellular calcium release channels on the endoplasmic or sarcoplasmic reticula (ryanodine receptors, RyR, and inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors, IP3R) comprise a unique family of molecules that are structurally and functionally distinct from all other known ion channels. These channels play crucial roles in many cellular signaling pathways including excitation-contraction coupling, oocyte fertilization, hormone secretion, neurotransmitter release, and T lymphocyte activation. Three forms of RyR have been identified: RyR1 expressed predominantly in skeletal muscle, RyR2 in cardiac muscle, and RyR3 in the brain. The tetrameric structures of RyR1 and RyR2 are stabilized by a channel-associated protein, FKBP12. The immunosuppressant drugs FK506 and rapamycin inhibit the prolyl isomerase activity of FKBP12 and could cause cardiac dysfunction by inducing a Ca2+ leak from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. RyR2 is downregulated and IP3R is upregulated during severe end-stage heart failure secondary to dilated cardiomyopathies in humans, suggesting that these channels may contribute to abnormalities in Ca2+ homeostasis.
Peer turnover and student achievement: Implications for classroom assignment policy

Abstract This paper examines the effect of peer turnover on academic achievement using random variation in classroom composition induced by Tennessee's Student Teacher Achievement Ratio (STAR) experiment. In central city school districts, I find that first graders benefit from greater peer turnover. Conversely, turnover is found to have a negative effect on young students in schools outside of central city districts. These results are consistent with a model of classroom learning in which the educational returns to having a stronger social network depend on neighborhood context. They suggest that a richer understanding of peer continuity effects is essential for designing optimal classroom assignment policies.
Compensation of the color distortion in LCD projection systems

A new method is proposed for the compensation of color distortion between the right and left sides of a projected image in an LCD projection system. The deviation of the incident beam angle causes the difference in spectral transmittance between the sides of a dichroic mirror, and the color distortion resulting from this difference is analyzed by the colorimetric method. In the compensation method, the variation of the transformation matrix between the Commission Internationale de I’Eclairge (CIE) XYZ tristimulus values and RGB primary values is linearly approximated under reasonable assumptions based on typical LCD projection systems. The proposed method can be simply implemented with an on-line scheme to be practically applicable to projection TV systems and its effectiveness is shown via experimental image examples.
Translational Traits of Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma with Drug Resistances by Dual mRNA and Protein Quantification at the Single Cell Level

Translation in eukaryotic cells is a fundamental biological process that has been investigated widely for understanding gene expression. To comprehensively understand gene expression, single cell level observation of both transcript and protein is desirable for translational analysis. The simultaneous observation of both transcript and protein, however, remains challenging due to the requirements of a highly sensitive and multi-modal platform. Here, we report a robust microdevice enabling both transcript and protein quantification from a single cell with a large number of cells per assay. Using 25600 microwells, we quarantined single cells for observing protein expression through immunostaining and sequentially mRNA expression via single cell reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Based on this correlation between transcript and protein, 2-dimensional cytometric representation from single cells is possible. The relationship between transcript and proteome of three NSCLC cell lines (HCC827, H1650 and H1975) with different levels of drug resistances to epidermal growth factor tyrosine kinase inhibitors clearly indicates unique translational traits of each cell line. Our data demonstrated that the most drug resistant cell line, H1975, showed least translational efficiency in cMET whereas the least drug resistant cell line, HCC827, showed most translational efficiency. Cytometric platforms, like the one introduced here, may ultimately allow researchers to quantify the evolution of cancerous tissues enabling detailed monitoring of tumor progression.
Remote estimation of crop fractional vegetation cover: the use of noise equivalent as an indicator of performance of vegetation indices

Many algorithms have been developed for the remote estimation of vegetation fraction in terms of combinations of spectral bands, derivatives of reflectance spectra, neural networks, inversion of radiative transfer models, and several multispectral statistical approaches. The most widespread type of algorithm used is the mathematical combination of visible and near-infrared reflectance, in the form of spectral vegetation indices. The general objective of this study is to evaluate different vegetation indices for the remote estimation of the fractional vegetation cover in two crop types, maize and soybean, with contrasting canopy architectures and leaf structures. The noise equivalent of vegetation indices was used as an indicator of sensitivity and accuracy of vegetation fraction estimation. Among the indices tested, the enhanced vegetation index EVI2, wide dynamic range vegetation index WDRVI, green-and red-edge normalized difference vegetation index NDVI were found to be accurate in estimating vegetation fraction. These results were obtained using reflectance data acquired with close-range sensors i.e. spectroradiometers mounted 6 m above the top of canopy. WDRVI was able to estimate vegetation fraction in both crops with no re-parameterization with RMSE below 6% and mean normalized bias below 2%.
Screening strategies for cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

Exfoliative cytology is a highly sensitive and inexpensive screening technique for cervical cancer and its precursors. The detection and eradication of the precursors have led to a significant fall in cervical cancer incidence rates and death rates in those areas in which there has been widespread and prolonged use. Recently, however, the utility and cost-effectiveness of cytology has been questioned, and it has been suggested that screening strategies be altered. A consideration of the effect of the transit times of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia on screening intervals and the impact of the changing patterns of cervix cancer epidemiology on screening strategy suggests that a significant change in screening intervals may be counterproductive.
l-Amino acid decarboxylase- and tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive cells in the extended olfactory amygdala and elsewhere in the adult prairie vole brain

Abstract Neurons synthesizing dopamine (DA) are widely distributed in the brain and implicated in a tremendous number of physiological and behavioral functions, including socioreproductive behaviors in rodents. We have recently been investigating the possible involvement of sex- and species-specific TH-immunoreactive (TH-ir) cells in the male prairie vole ( Microtus ochrogaster ) principal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (pBST) and posterodorsal medial amygdala (MeApd) in the chemosensory control of their monogamous pairbonding and parenting behaviors. These TH-ir cells are not immunoreactive for dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH), suggesting they are not noradrenergic but possibly DAergic. A DAergic phenotype would require them to contain aromatic l -amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) and here we examined the existence of cells immunoreactive for both TH and AADC in the pBST and MeApd of adult virgin male and female prairie voles. We also investigated the presence of TH/AADC cells in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV), medial preoptic area (MPO), arcuate nucleus (ARH), zona incerta (ZI), substantia nigra (SN) and ventral tegmental area (VTA). Among our findings were: (1) the pBST and MeApd each contained completely non-overlapping distributions of TH-ir and AADC-ir cells, (2) the AVPV contained surprisingly few AADC-ir cells and almost no TH-ir cells contained AADC-ir, (3) approximately 60% of the TH-ir cells in the MPO, ARH, and ZI also contained AADC-ir, (4) unexpectedly, only about half of TH-ir cells in the SN and VTA contained AADC-ir, and (5) notable populations of AADC-ir cells were found outside traditional monoamine-synthesizing regions, including some sites that do not contain AADC-ir cells in adult laboratory rats or cats (medial septum and cerebral cortex). In the absence of the chemical requirements to produce DA, monoenzymatic TH-ir cells in the virgin adult prairie vole pBST, MeApd, and elsewhere in their brain may instead produce l -DOPA as an end product and use it as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator, similar to what has been observed for monoenzymatic TH-synthesizing cells in the laboratory rat brain.
Comparison of naloxonazine and β-funaltrexamine antagonism of μ1 and μ2 opioid actions

β-Funaltrexamine (β-FNA) irreversibly blocks morphine analgesia, lethality and its inhibition of gastrointestinal transit, confirming that these actions involve μ receptors. In dose-response studies, β-FNA antagonized all the actions with similar potencies (ID50 values of 12.1, 11.3 and 12.3 mg/kg, respectively). β-FNA also reduced intra-cerebroventricular and intrathecal DAMGO analgesia equally well (ID50 values of 6.09 and 7.7 mg/kg, respectively). Naloxonazine blocked systemic morphine analgesia (ID50 value 9.5 mg/kg) and supraspinal DAMGO analgesia (ID50 value 6.1 mg/kg) as potently as β-FNA. However, against spinal DAMGO analgesia, morphine's inhibition of gastro-intestinal transit or lethality, naloxonazine (ID50 values 38.8, 40.7 and 40.9 mg/kg, respectively) was significantly less active than β-FNA (p < 0.05). β-FNA remains a valuable tool in the classification of μ opioid actions. Within the μ category, actions can be defined as either μ1 (naloxonazine-sensitive) or μ2 (naloxonazine-insensitive).
A field study of the microbiological quality of fresh produce of domestic and Mexican origin

Produce is responsible for an increasingly larger proportion of foodborne disease outbreaks. In particular, the globalization of the food supply may introduce new food safety risks and allow widespread distribution of contaminated food, particularly produce. The objectives of this study were to: (i) compare the overall quality of domestic and Mexican produce throughout the packing process; (ii) examine changes in microbiological quality of both domestic and Mexican produce at each stage of production and processing; and (iii) evaluate the prevalence of select pathogens on fresh produce, including leafy green, herbs, melons, and vegetables. Furthermore, we also sought to characterize the antibiotic resistance profiles of Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis strains isolated from fresh produce. A total of 466 produce and matching environmental swab samples was collected from various locations in packing sheds in the southern US from November 2002 through December 2003. These samples were assayed by enumerative tests for total aerobic bacteria (APC), total coliforms, total Enterococcus, and E. coli. Produce samples were also analyzed for the presence of Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Shigella, and E. coli O157:H7. A total of 112 E. faecium and E. faecalis isolates were further screened for antibiotic resistance using a panel of seventeen antibiotics. Overall, the microbiological quality of fresh produce ranged from 4.0 to 7.9 log(10) CFU/g (APC); less than 1.0 log(10) to 4.5 log(10) CFU/g (coliforms); less than 1.0 log(10) to 4.0 log(10) CFU/g (E. coli); and less than 1.0 log(10) to 5.4 log(10) CFU/g (Enterococcus). No Salmonella, Shigella, or E. coli O157:H7 were detected from the 466 25-g produce samples tested. However, three domestic cabbage samples were found to be positive for L. monocytogenes. Of the Enterococcus isolates, E. faecium had a higher degree of resistance to antibiotics in general, while Enterococcus spp. isolated from Mexican produce had a higher degree of antibiotic resistance when compared to strains isolated from produce samples of domestic origin. Despite increased attention to the role of imported produce in foodborne disease, this study does not support the assumption that domestic produce is of higher microbial quality than Mexican produce.
Concise review: adipose-derived stromal cells for skeletal regenerative medicine

As the average age of the population grows, the incidence of osteoporosis and skeletal diseases continues to rise. Current treatment options for skeletal repair include immobilization, rigid fixation, alloplastic materials and bone grafts, all which have significant limitations, especially in the elderly. Adipose derived stromal cells (ASCs) represent a readily available abundant supply of mesenchymal stem cells which demonstrate the ability to undergo osteogenesis in vitro and in vivo, making ASCs a promising source of skeletal progenitor cells. Current protocols allow for the harvest of over 1 million cells from only 15cc of lipoaspirate. Despite the clinical use of ASCs to treat systemic inflammatory diseases, no large human clinical trials exist using ASCs for skeletal tissue engineering. The aim of this review is to define ASCs, to describe the isolation procedure of ASCs, to review the basic biology of their osteogenic differentiation, discuss cell types and scaffolds available for bone tissue engineering and lastly to explore imaging of ASCs and their potential future role in human skeletal tissue engineering efforts.
Mechanical properties of a density-graded replicated aluminum foam

The compressive mechanical properties of uniform and density-graded Al-6061 foams, produced by replication of polymer foams, are measured. While the uniform foam shows compressive behavior characteristic of conventional (uniform) metallic foams with a near constant plateau stress, the density-graded foam exhibits a smoothly rising plateau stress. This behavior is modeled using a simple series composite model based on semi-empirical scaling relationships for the compressive behavior of uniform foams.
A Camera of Her Own: Woolf and the Legacy of the Indomitable Mrs. Cameron

This paper forms part of a Literature Compass cluster of articles which examines the current state of Virgina Woolf Studies and aims to provide a snapshot of the field. Urmila Seshagiri (University of Tennessee) and Rishona Zimring (Lewis and Clark College) first provide an introduction for this paper along with Anne Fernald's article, “Woolfian Resonances.” The full text of Emily Setina's piece then follows. These papers grew out of the 15th Annual International Virginia Woolf Conference (College of Lewis and Clark, Portland, OR, June 9–12, 2005). The full cluster is made up of the following articles: “Introduction: Virginia Woolf and The Art of Exploration,” Urmila Seshagiri and Rishona Zimring, Literature Compass 3 (2006), 10.1111/j.1741-4113.2006.00393.x “Virginia Woolf's Sense of Adventure,” Maria DiBattista, Literature Compass 3 (2006), 10.1111/j.1741-4113.2006.00394.x “The Twentieth Part: Virginia Woolf in the British Museum Reading Room,” Benjamin Harvey, Literature Compass 3 (2006), 10.1111/j.1741-4113.2006.00395.x “‘Street Haunting’: Phantasmagorias of the Modern Imperial Metropolis,” Sara Gerend, Literature Compass 3 (2006), 10.1111/j.1741-4113.2006.00396.x “Hyde Park Gate News,” Gill Lowe, Literature Compass 3 (2006), 10.1111/j.1741-4113.2006.00397.x “The Art of ‘Scene-Making’ in the Charleston Bulletin Supplements,” Claudia Olk, Literature Compass 3 (2006), 10.1111/j.1741-4113.2006.00398.x “A Camera of Her Own: Woolf and the Legacy of the Indomitable Mrs. Cameron,” Emily Setina, Literature Compass 3 (2006), 10.1111/j.1741-4113.2006.00399.x “Woolfian Resonances,” Anne Fernald, Literature Compass 3 (2006), 10.1111/j.1741-4113.2006.00400.x “Early Twentieth-Century British Women Travellers to Greece: Contextualizing the Example of Virginia Woolf,” Martha Klironomos, Literature Compass 3 (2006), 10.1111/j.1741-4113.2006.00401.x “‘Others Wanted to Travel’: Woolf and ‘America Herself’,” Thaine Stearns, Literature Compass 3 (2006), 10.1111/j.1741-4113.2006.00402.x
Spectral theory of two-point differential operators determined by −D2. II. Analysis of cases

Abstract In Part I the necessary tools are developed for the complete resolution of the spectral theory for all linear two-point differential operators L in L2[0, 1] determined by τ = −D2 and by boundary values B1, B2. The development emphasizes six numerical parameters defined in terms of the coefficients of B1, B2. In this paper we state and prove all results pertaining to the spectrum σ(L) of L, to the algebraic multiplicities of the eigenvalues λ ϵ σ(L) and the ascents of the operators λI − L, to the boundedness of the family of all finite sums of the projections associated with L, to the denseness of the generalized eigenfunctions, and to the existence of bases consisting of generalized eigenfunctions; we utilize the tools developed in Part I to establish these results. In particular, this paper provides either the explicit or the asymptotic form for the eigenvalues of L, provides explicit numbers for the algebraic multiplicities and ascents, provides the explicit or the asymptotic form for the projections, and provides explicit bounds on the family of all finite sums of these projections or shows that the family is unbounded.
Community attitudes toward Black English

Black English is increasingly recognized as a systemic, 'rule-governed', form of language (lect), like any other, at least among scholars. There is less adequate understanding of the meaning of Black English to those who use it. Such understanding requires ethnographic study of the place of Black English in the verbal repertoire of the community in which it is used. There has been some work in this area, but much of it has focused on aspects of Black English of interest for linguistic theory, e.g. the possibility of creole origins as a constraint on variability. Such studies have tended not to recognize the full scope and complexity of Black English. The aspects given attention have been those most exotic and remote from conventional English (for criticism on this point, see Abrahams (I972) and Wright (I972) ). While such studies have increased recognition and acceptance of Black English, the model in terms of which they have done so has been implicitly the 'other culture' model. There has been an appeal to the acceptance of cultural difference associated in our minds with Ruth Benedict's studies of Patterns of Culture, Margaret Mead's studies in Samoa and New Guinea, etc. This 'other culture' model is inadequate to the situation of the Black Community. There is partial truth to it; respect for the ways in which Black Americans may differ from 'mainstream' expectations is necessary. But social policy and action, especially in regard to education, cannot be based on so partial a truth. This became clear when well-meaning scholars attempted to introduce elementary school readers that used vernacular Black English. There was great protest from many in the Black community itself. Because of such reactions, some concluded that Black people suffered from 'self-hatred' due to oppression. (Perhaps the simple 'other culture' model was operating here as well.) Racism and oppression do continue to exist, and have psychological consequences, but Black opposition to textbooks in Black English is not evidence of 'self-hatred'. The proper interpretation is sociolinguistic rather than psychiatric. The error is in generalizing from just one portion of the 'ecology of language' (Haugen 1972). In order to properly interpret Black attitudes
Aging and the blood-brain barrier: changes in the carrier-mediated transport of peptides in rats.

Abstract Age-related changes in the brain's saturable, specific, carrier-mediated transport system for the small, N-tyrosinated peptides Tyr-MIF-1 (Tyr-Pro-Leu-Gly-NH 2 ) and methionine-enkephalin (Met-Enk) were studied in Fischer 344 rats aged 4 and 26 months. These studies showed statistically significant differences between the two age groups for both the T max (transport maximum) [3.22 ± 0.013 nmol/min/g (young rats, mean ± S.E.M.) vs 2.41 ± 0.009 nmol/min/g (aged rats)] and T 50 (the amount required to achieve 50% of that maximum) [84.9 ± 1.0 nmol/g (young) vs 65.1 ± 0.60 nmol/g (aged)]. The T 50 : T max ratio was nearly equal for the two groups: 26.4 (young) vs 26.9 (aged), consistent with the uncompetitive type of inhibition indicative of alterations in the substrate-carrier complex. In addition, blood concentrations of Tyr-MIF-1-like immunoactivity were nearly doubled in aged rats (3.24 ± 0.373 vs 1.67 ± 0.0904 pM/ml), while blood concentrations of Met-Enk-like immunoactivity and brain concentrations of immunoactive Tyr-MIF-1 and Met-Enk showed no statistically significant difference between age groups. Thus, a carrier-mediated system responsible for the transport of peptides across the blood-brain barrier undergoes changes with aging.
Impact of newly adopted guidelines for management of children with isolated skull fracture

Abstract Purpose In an effort to standardize practices and reduce unnecessary hospital resource utilization, we implemented guidelines for management of patients with isolated skull fractures (ISF). We sought to examine the impact of these guidelines. Methods Patients with nondisplaced/depressed fracture of the skull vault without intracranial hemorrhage were prospectively enrolled from February 2010 to February 2014. Results Eighty-eight patients (median age = 10 months) were enrolled. Fall was the most common mechanism of injury (87%). The overall admission rate was 57%, representing an 18% decrease from that reported prior to guideline implementation (2003–2008; p = 0.001). Guideline criteria for admission included vomiting, abnormal neurologic exam, concern for abuse, and others. Forty-two percent of patients were admitted outside of the guideline, primarily because of young age (20%). Patients transferred from another hospital (36%) were more likely to be admitted, though the majority (63%) did not meet admission criteria. No ED-discharged patient returned for neurologic symptoms, and none reported significant ongoing symptoms on follow-up phone call. Conclusions Implementation of a new guideline for management of ISF resulted in a reduction of admissions without compromising patient safety. Young age remains a common concern for practitioners despite not being a criterion for admission. Interhospital transfer may be unnecessary in many cases.
Flexible N-Way MIMO Detector on GPU

This paper proposes a flexible Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) detector on graphics processing units (GPU). MIMO detection is a key technology in broadband wireless system such as LTE, WiMAX, and 802.11n. Existing detectors either use costly sorting for better performance or sacrifice sorting for higher throughput. To achieve good performance with high though put, our detector runs multiple search passes in parallel, where each search pass detects the transmit stream with a different permuted detection order. We show that this flexible detector, including QR decomposition preprocessing, outperforms existing GPU MIMO detectors while maintaining good bit error rate (BER) performance. In addition, this detector can achieve different tradeoffs between throughput and accuracy by changing the number of parallel search passes.
Region-based hierarchical operation partitioning for multicluster processors

Clustered architectures are a solution to the bottleneck of centralized register files in superscalar and VLIW processors. The main challenge associated with clustered architectures is compiler support to effectively partition operations across the available resources on each cluster. In this work, we present a novel technique for clustering operations based on graph partitioning methods. Our approach incorporates new methods of assigning weights to nodes and edges within the dataflow graph to guide the partitioner. Nodes are assigned weights to reflect their resource usage within a cluster, while a slack distribution method intelligently assigns weights to edges to reflect the cost of inserting moves across clusters. A multilevel graph partitioning algorithm, which globally divides a dataflow graph into multiple parts in a hierarchical manner, uses these weights to efficiently generate estimates for the quality of partitions. We found that our algorithm was able to achieve an average of 20% improvement in DSP kernels and 5% improvement in SPECint2000 for a four-cluster architecture.
Theoretical studies of structures and stabilization energies of (H2O)26, (H2O)27 and (H2O)28 pentakaidecahedral clusters

Abstract The 26, 27 and 28 mer pentakaidecahedral water clusters were studied by applying the intermediate neglect of differential overlap self-consistent field restricted Hartree-Fock method (INDO SCF RHF) after parameterization for H and O atoms. The 27 and 28 mer clusters have one and two water molecules respectively within the cavity of the distorted pentakaidecahedral cage, and the H atoms on the surface are rearranged giving H 3 O 2 , H 5 O 2 , H 5 O 3 , and H 7 O 3 species. The stabilization energy (SE)/monomer values for the most stable 26, 27 and 28 mer pentakaidecahedral clusters are 9.88, 10.58 and 10.98 kcal respectively with all the non H-bonding H atoms (NHB H) directed outward.
Outcomes of carotid artery stenting in high-risk patients with carotid artery stenosis: a single neurovascular center retrospective review of 101 consecutive patients.

Objective Carotid artery angioplasty and carotid artery stenting (CAS) offer a viable alternative to carotid endarterectomy for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients; however, the complication rates associated with CAS may be higher than previously documented. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of CAS in high surgical risk patients in a single neurovascular center retrospective review. Methods An institutional review board-approved retrospective review of the clinical variables and treatment outcomes of 101 consecutive patients (109 stents) from July 2001 to March 2007 with carotid stenosis were analyzed. Both symptomatic and asymptomatic stenoses were studied in high surgical risk patients as defined by the SAPPHIRE (Stenting and Angioplasty with Protection in Patients at High-Risk for Endarterectomy) trial. Specifically, those patients with clinically significant cardiac disease (congestive heart failure, abnormal stress test, or need for open-heart surgery), severe pulmonary disease, contralateral carotid occlusion, contralateral laryngeal nerve palsy, recurrent stenosis after carotid endarterectomy, previous radical neck surgery, or radiation therapy to the neck, and an age older than 80. Results Seventy-four percent of the patients were symptomatic (n = 81), and the mean stenosis in symptomatic patients was 83%. Reasons for stenting included cardiac/pulmonary/medical risk (60%), contralateral internal carotid artery occlusion (8%), recurrent stenosis after carotid endarterectomy (11%), carotid dissection (6%), age older than 80 (7%), previous radical neck surgery (7%), and previous neck radiation (1%). Stent deployment was achieved in 108 of 109 vessels (99%). Distal embolic protection devices were used in 72% of cases treated. The overall rate of in-hospital adverse events (transient ischemic attack, intracranial hemorrhage, minor stroke, major stroke, myocardial infarction, and death) was 8.3% (9 of 109). Of these events, 2 patients (1.8%) experienced a hemispheric transient ischemic attack (neurological symptoms that resolved within 24 hours), 2 others (1.8%) had transiently symptomatic acute reperfusion syndrome. The 30-day stroke/death/myocardial infarction risk was 4.6% (n = 5). Of these patients, 3 had minor strokes (2.7%) defined as a modified Rankin Scale score less than 3 at 1-year follow-up, 1 had a major stroke (0.9%) defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 3 or more at 1-year follow-up, and 1 patient died after a periprocedural myocardial infarction (0.9%). Conclusion CAS can be performed with a low 30-day complication rate, even with a higher percentage of symptomatic lesions. The results support the use of CAS in high surgical risk patients with both significant symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid artery disease.
Controversies in adolescent hormonal contraception

Unintended pregnancy and abortion rates among US adolescents remain high although hormonal contraception is safe and effective in this population. Controversies affecting the provision of hormonal contraception for adolescents include the side effects of oral contraceptives, the possibility that progestin-only injectables lead to decreased bone health, and debate as to whether emergency contraception should be available to teens without a prescription. Each of these issues is addressed with a review of relevant literature.
Preparation of 3-amino-2,3,6-trideoxy-D-arabino-hexose hydrochloride and its N-trifluoroacetyl derivative.

Abstract Methyl 3-acetamido-4,6- O -benzylidene-2,3-dideoxy-α- D - arabino -hexopyranoside ( 5 ) was converted by treatment with N -bromosuccinimide into the 4- O -benzoyl-6-bromo derivative 6 . Reduction with Raney nickel followed by catalytic transesterification or the resultant 4-benzoate 7 afforded methyl 3-acetamido-2,3,6-trideoxy-α- D - arabino -hexopyranoside ( 8 ), which could readily be converted into the 4-acetate 11 . N -Deacetylation of 7 and subsequent acid hydrolysis furnished 3-amino-2,3,6-trideoxy- D - arabino -hexose hydrochloride ( 9 ), the D enantiomorph of acosamine. The 3-benzamido analog ( 12 ) of 8 was prepared from 8 by N -deacetylation and subsequent benzoylation. Hydrolysis of 8 and 12 gave the 3-acetamido ( 10 ) and 3-benzamido ( 13 ) analogs of 9 , which crystallized in the α anomeric form. 2,3,6-Trideoxy-3-trifluoro-acetamido-α- D - arabino -hexopyranose ( 15 ), a key intermediate for the synthesis of glycosidically coupled derivatives or 9 , was obtained from 7 by saponification with barium hydroxide followed by N -trifluoroacetylation of the resultant glycoside 14 and subsequent, selective hydrolysis.
Diffusion in Metamorphic Tectonites: Lattice-Fixed Reference Frames

The nature of volume diffusion during metamorphism may be studied by examining compositional zoning in metamorphic minerals. Garnets with sharp optical zones and internal fabrics related to deformation are of special interest, because they provide a link between partitioning by growth and by diffusion. Diffusion in the almandine-rich garnets of pelitic schists involves, at the very least, the migration of four ionic components (Fe$^{2+}$, Mn$^{2+}$, Mg$^{2+}$ and Ca$^{2+}$). Because of the possible occurrence of uphill diffusion and other phenomena we do not intuitively associate with diffusion, the search for evidence of volume diffusion must be preceded by a careful theoretical and experimental examination of diffusion in multicomponent minerals. The theoretical and experimental investigation of diffusion in silicates may be simplified by: (1) the choice of ions as components in the flux equations; (2) the construction of lattice-fixed reference frames to reduce the number of flux equations and diffusion coefficients. Flux equations are developed specifically for diffusion via ionized vacancies, but they may be easily modified to treat diffusion via neutral vacancies or by one to one exchange of ions. Methods are presented for solving the flux equations under the constraint that the crystal remain electrically neutral during diffusion. The transition-state theory of Lane & Kirkaldy (1964), which allows the calculation of the matrix of chemical diffusion coefficients from the mobility of individual ions, is adapted to the particular lattice-fixed frames developed here.
Frontal lobe functioning in boys with attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder

Prior attempts to relate attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) to frontal lobe dysfunction have yielded mixed results. The present study attempted to minimize several methodological problems that may have contributed to these inconsistencies. A relatively large sample of rigorously defined ADHD boys (n = 66) and controls (n = 64) at two different age levels were administered a battery of neuro‐psychological tests sensitive to frontal damage in adults. ADHD boys were inferior to controls on a Vigilance task, Stroop, FAS, Rey‐Osterrieth Complex Figure, and Porteus Mazes. The groups did not differ on Trail Making or on aspects of Wisconsin Card Sorting sensitive to cognitive flexibility. ADHD boys and controls were comparable on several control tasks. Both groups showed a developmental advance in skills implicating prefrontal cortex between ages 6 to 8 and ages 9 to 11, but the relative deficit of the ADHD children appeared stable during this period. It is suggested that a longitudinal study would ...
Control of low velocity friction and gear backlash in a machine tool feed drive system

Abstract Precision-controlled mechanisms are commonly used in machining applications where the feed rates are low, direction reversals are necessary to obtain the desired work piece profile and precision requirements are in the order of micrometers or sub-micrometers. Under these conditions, friction and gear backlash effects contribute significantly to the dynamics of the system. This study investigated the use of neural network models to compensate for these effects. The approach was to switch between two controllers: (i) a proportional-plus-derivative controller together with a feedforward friction compensator when the transmission gears were engaged; and (ii) a feedforward backlash controller when the transmission gears were disengaged. The control scheme was experimentally verified using a retrofitted geared head engine lathe. The results obtained were compared to those obtained with a compensation method found in the literature.
Synchronized release of dopamine and serotonin in the medial and lateral hypothalamus of rats

A positive linear correlation between dopamine and serotonin release was found in the ventromedial hypothalamus and in the lateral hypothalamic area in fasting rats and in fed rats during intermeal intervals. Dopamine release in the ventromedial hypothalamus positively correlated with dopamine and serotonin release in the lateral hypothalamic area, which occurred only during intermeal intervals and was non-significant during the meal consumption periods or during fasting. Meal size correlated significantly only with a decrease in serotonin release in the lateral hypothalamic area. The study was designed to evaluate the relationship between dopamine and serotonin release in these hypothalamic areas and their dependence on feeding status. Microdialysis was performed simultaneously via two probes, one in the ventromedial hypothalamus and the other in the contralateral lateral hypothalamic area, of freely moving male lean Zucker rats over 24h with preserved light and dark phase, either with ad libitum access to food and water, or when no food was available. Dopamine and serotonin concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection in 20-min dialysis samples. Time-series analysis was applied to determine linear correlations between monoamines and in relation to food intake. Data showed that release of dopamine and serotonin is synchronized within the ventromedial hypothalamus and lateral hypothalamic area, particularly in the dark phase and when no food was ingested. However, synchronized release of monoamines between these nuclei occurred only during intermeal intervals: the periods of satiety. These findings suggest a tight relationship between dopaminergic and serotonergic systems of the lateral hypothalamic area and ventromedial hypothalamus, which is influenced by the feeding state and which may be involved in maintaining the balance within and between the centers of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. The data also illustate that food intake is coupled unequivocally to the release of dopamine and serotonin in the hypothalamus, suggesting it as a mechanism of activation of postsynaptic neurons associated with new metabolic status.
A note on the polarization of light scattered from entropy and la fluctuations in solids

Abstract Analysis of the theory of entropy and LA fluctuations in solids shows that the coupling to the dielectric constant is anisotropic. Scattered radiation therefore in general will change its state of polarization. Thus the observation of thermal Rayleigh and LA Brillouin scattering in solids is facilitated by detection of the depolarized component. The Landau-Placzek ratio strongly depends on polarization and scattering geometry.
Engine-generator sizing for re-engineering an electric vehicle into an extended range electric vehicle

The modeling, simulation, sizing and implementation of a range extender for an existing electric vehicle are presented in this paper. The objective is to re-engineer an existing E-truck built with a Li-ion battery pack to increase its initial range of 67 miles to 100 miles. The range extender has been incorporated along with a compact and fault-tolerant battery charger to increase the range. Considering the performances of the different energy sources such as engine-generator set, fuel cells, photovoltaic panels etc., the engine-generator set is selected as a range extender. Different charging schemes are simulated to increase the range of the E-Truck, and a particular charging scheme has been implemented experimentally. The simulation and the experimental results for the developed range extender to charge the battery pack, and the simulation results of the range extended electric truck are presented in the paper.
The influence of a positive correlation between clutch size and offspring fitness on the optimal offspring size

The effect is modeled of a positive relationship between clutch size and offspring fitness on the optimal investment in offspring. In species which meet the assumptions of the model, the model predicts a positive correlation between maternal resource level and offspring size. If larger mothers are able to allocate more resources to offspring, then the model would also predict a positive correlation between maternal size and offspring size when the assumptions of the model are met. Thus, this model may help explain both among and within individual variation in offspring size. When offspring are produced in groups and the number of offspring killed per clutch is limited by predator satiation, offspring in larger clutches may experience a higher probability of survival. Such a life style may be found in animals such as sea turtles. Offspring size is positively correlated with maternal size in some members of this group.
Responses of Juvenile Golden Shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas Fed Semipurified or Practical Diets With or Without Supplemental Ascorbic Acid

A 12-wk feeding trial was conducted in a flow-through system to determine whether juvenile golden shiner Notemigonus crysoleucas have a dietary requirement for ascorbic acid. Triplicate groups of 30 fish each weighing 0.44 g initially were fed semi-purified (casein) diets supplemented with 0 or 250 mg ascorbic acid/kg, or practical (fish meal) diets supplemented with 0 or 250 mg ascorbic acid/kg. The form of ascorbic acid used was L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate. Survival was higher in fish fed the semi-purified diet with 250 mg ascorbic acid/kg than in those fed the unsupplemented semi-purified diet, while weight gain did not differ between treatments. Weight gain was higher in fish fed the practical (fish meal) diet supplemented with 250 mg ascorbic acid/kg than in those fed the unsupplemented practical diet, while survival did not differ between treatments. No other signs of ascorbic acid deficiency were observed, but fish fed the casein diets had skin and fin erosion indicative of a possible bacterial infection. Whole-body concentrations of ascorbic acid (total, reduced, and percent of reduced ascorbic acid) were higher in fish fed semi-purified or practical diets supplemented with 250 mg ascorbic acid/kg than in fish fed unsupplemented diets. Golden shiners appear to require a dietary source of ascorbic acid for growth or survival, depending on experimental conditions. The two main differences in the study were in diet composition (semi-purified versus practical diets) and apparent health status of fish fed the different diet types. Additional studies are needed to define requirements further.
Effects of high-fiber diet on fecal blood content (HemoQuant assay) in healthy subjects

Consumption of high-fiber diets has been recommended prior to fecal blood testing to increase bleeding from polyps, cancer, and other lesions associated with mucosal erosion in the gastrointestinal tract. The effect of a high-fiber diet on fecal hemoglobin loss was examined in 17 healthy subjects during two dietary periods: (1) self-selected diet, (2) same diet plus 24 g/day dietary fiber (Fiber One Cereal). Five-day fecal composites were weighed and homogenized, and hemoglobin concentration was determined by the HemoQuant test. Average daily fecal weight increased from 145±90 g to 281±91 g (P=0.0001), fecal hemoglobin concentrations decreased from 0.98±0.48 to 0.48±0.28 mg/g (P=0.0001), while daily fecal hemoglobin contents were similar (P=0.39) for self-selected and added-fiber diets, respectively. In these healthy individuals a high-fiber diet had no effect on mucosal bleeding, but the increased fecal weight significantly lowered fecal hemoglobin concentration. Clinical implications are considered.
Autonomic dysfunction in children with sleep-disordered breathing.

STUDY OBJECTIVES To measure sympathetic responses in children with and without sleep-disordered breathing. DESIGN Prospective, observational study. SETTING Kosair Children's Hospital Sleep Medicine and Apnea Center. PARTICIPANTS Subjects were prospectively recruited from children undergoing overnight polysomnographic assessments and were retrospectively grouped according to the results of the polysomnogram. Sleep-disordered breathing was defined as an apnea-hypopnea index >5 and children were assigned to the control group if their apnea-hypopnea index was < 1. INTERVENTION N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS During quiet wakefulness, pulse arterial tonometry was used to assess changes in sympathetic activity following vital capacity sighs in 28 children with sleep-disordered breathing and 29 controls. Each child underwent a series of 3 sighs, and the average maximal pulse arterial tonometry signal attenuation was calculated. Further, a cold pressor test was conducted in a subset of 14 children with sleep-disordered breathing and 14 controls. The left hand was immersed in ice cold water for 30 seconds while right-hand pulse arterial tonometry signal was continuously monitored during immersion and 20-minute recovery periods. Signal amplitude changes were expressed as percentage change from corresponding baseline. RESULTS The magnitude of sympathetic discharge-induced attenuation of pulse arterial tonometry signal was significantly increased in children with sleep-disordered breathing during sigh maneuvers (74.1% +/- 10.7% change compared with 59.2% +/- 13.2% change in controls; P<.0001) and the cold pressor test (83.5% +/- 7.3% change compared with 74.1% +/- 11.4% change in controls; P=.039). Further, recovery kinetics in control children were faster than those of children with sleep-disordered breathing. CONCLUSION Children with sleep-disordered breathing have altered autonomic nervous system regulation as evidenced by increased sympathetic vascular reactivity during wakefulness.
Subjective and Objective Intellectual Change in Older Adults

In this longitudinal study, 108 older individuals (M age = 70.58 years, SD = 6.94) estimated the extent to which their fluid and crystallized skills had changed over the previous three years. For each perceived change, individuals also estimated the extent to which numerous explanatory factors were responsible for such change. Crystallized skills were seen as unchanging, whereas fluid skills were perceived as having declined slightly. In both cases, self-initiated efforts to maintain one's skills were endorsed most frequently as explanations for the maintenance of one's skills. Variability in attributions in three-year changes in both fluid and crystallized skills was associated with individual differences in health, self perceived everyday cognitive failures, and state anxiety. The findings from this study suggest that it is important to identify factors over which older adults perceive themselves as having control as salient targets for educational interventions fostering a sense of self-efficacy, criti...