cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recent Advances in Mixtec Archaeology

Current research in the Mixteca region of Mexico has revealed that Formative communities were as populous as in other Mesoamerican regions. Evidence of emerging social complexity is associated with the use of and access to luxury items of foreign style and/or manufacture. Research efforts draw from indigenous models to interpret data and investigate urbanism. Regional and environmental approaches, household studies, and ethnohistory are integrated to study ethnic diversity and the complex history of human occupation. The politics associated with cultural resource management and community archaeology in the Mixteca also are discussed.
Making Ends Meet During the Great Recession: How Child Care Subsidies Matter to Low-Wage Workers

In the last 15 years, the triumph of neoliberal politics in the United States has been marked in part by the end of welfare “as we knew it” and the long-coming disappearance of the family wage. Remnants remain, such as work supports like child care assistance. In the current context of high unemployment, legislators are debating eliminating child care subsidies. To understand recent employment experiences and the effects of subsidies on the employment of less educated single mothers, the authors conducted in-depth interviews with recipients of child care subsidies in Oregon and found that the subsidies were imperative to their employment.
In Their Own Voices: Women Who Were Sexually Abused by Members of the Clergy

Women remain perhaps the forgotten majority of persons to survive clergy-perpetrated sexual abuse. The impact of this abuse of women has been largely overlooked. Through a qualitative exploration of narratives from semistructured interviews of 25 women sexually abused by clergy (18 as adults and 7 as children), this study examined how the women experienced symptoms associated with post-traumatic stress disorder and complex post-traumatic stress disorder. Consideration is given to clergy-specific factors related to CPSA. Other considerations included intensified captivity experiences for many and extreme isolation related to nonexistent "contexts" for validation and support. A change in personal spirituality among many subjects from structured traditional religious practice to spirituality strongly dependent on interpersonal and relational factors is also considered.
Formation of Device Quality Si/SiO2 Interfaces in a Multichamber Integrated Processing System

This paper describes the key process steps in the low temperature, <300°C, formation of device quality Si/SiO2 interfaces employing oxide deposition by Remote Plasma-Enhanced Chemical Vapor-Deposition (Remote PECVD). The quality of the Si/SiO2 interface correlates with the degree of surface reconstruction that is controlled by ex-situ wet cleaning and in-situ Rapid Flash Heating. Electronic properties of the MOS structure also vary with the deposited oxide thickness, independent of the initial surface quality.
Evidence for genetic modifiers of ovarian follicular endowment and development from studies of five inbred mouse strains.

The laboratory mouse is the model of choice for genetic studies in mammals due to the availability of many genetically defined inbred strains and inbred congenic strains, as well as the ability to study the effects of over-expression (transgenics) or inactivation (knockouts) of a given gene on cells or tissues. During our studies using these technologies to uncover the importance of various genes to apoptosis in the ovary, we observed that the size of the primordial oocyte reserve was affected by mouse strain in the absence of any other genetic manipulation. To determine if genetic modifiers of oocyte endowment truly exist, herein we examined follicle numbers in one outbred (CD-1) and several inbred (129/Sv, DBA/2, C57BL/6, FVB, AKR/J) strains of mice at day 4 (neonatal) and day 42 (young adult) postpartum. In neonatal life, ovaries of AKR/J females had the lowest total number of follicles, whereas 129/Sv females possessed the highest total number of follicles (P < 0.05 for AKR/J versus 129/Sv). There wer...
Effect of FWD Testing Position on Modulus of Subgrade Reaction

This paper discusses the variation of the Modulus of subgrade reaction (k) backcalculated from slab deflection basins, interactive with the location of the Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) load pulse, and curling of slabs due to daily temperature variations. The k-value was calculated following the AASHTO design guides procedures, while deflection basins were recorded at an interval of 3 to 4 hours along the day on an instrumented concrete pavement test section in West Virginia. The state of deformation of the slabs are continuously monitored, through dowel bar bending measurements and records of the temperature gradient profiles through the slab thickness, as well as joint openings every 20 minutes. The results indicated that the backcalculated k-values are greatly affected by the positive temperature gradient, and the least variation in (k) was found in the slab center. In order to minimize errors in back-calculations of k-values, it is recommended to perform the FWD test for recording deflection basins in the interior of the slab during late evening or in the early morning.
Seasonal and Size-specific Distribution of Methylmercury in Seston and Zooplankton of Two Contrasting Great Lakes Embayments

Abstract The use of a large volume sieve system is described which allows quantification of mass, pigments, and methylmercury (MeHg) in five distinct size classes of suspended material: > 243 μm, 112–243 μm, 63–112 μm, 35–63 μm, and
Knudsen void gas heat transport in fibrous media

Abstract A variational upper bound principle is used to derive equations for the Knudsen void gas thermal conductivity in three model fiber beds made up of randomly placed, freely overlapping, long right circular cylinders with their central axes mutually parallel, with each cylinder axis independently oriented in two dimensions or with each axis independently oriented in three dimensions. In order to establish the importance of dispersed solid shape and spatial distribution in predicting the low pressure gas conductivities in cryogenic insulation, the five fiber bed conductivities are compared with sphere bed and parallel plate Knudsen thermal conductivity equations for various values of the thermal accommodation coefficient.
Ethics of nonformulary review in psychiatry.

Nonformulary drug regulation in psychiatry can lead to increased cost-effectiveness and rational prescribing practice. Choice and implementation of methods are ethically tinged because of the impact on the psychiatrist's autonomy and on the doctor-patient relationship. A common-sense approach in which enforcement of the formulary system is combined with tact, neutrality, transmission of up-to-date information, and flexibility is advocated. The basic premise of nonformulary drug use is that the psychiatrist must be willing to justify the drug use to a reviewer. Such an exchange ideally has a consciousness-raising impact on drug prescribing practice that leads to improved clinical utility.
Explicit spectral formulas for scaling quantum graphs.

We present an exact analytical solution of the spectral problem of quasi-one-dimensional scaling quantum graphs. Strongly stochastic in the classical limit, these systems are frequently employed as models of quantum chaos. We show that despite their classical stochasticity all scaling quantum graphs are explicitly solvable in the form En= fsnd, where n is the sequence number of the energy level of the quantum graph and f is a known function, which depends only on the physical and geometrical properties of the quantum graph. Our method of solution motivates a new classification scheme for quantum graphs: we show that each quantum graph can be uniquely assigned an integer m reflecting its level of complexity. We show that a network of taut strings with piecewise constant mass density provides an experimentally realizable analogue system of scaling quantum graphs.
ENERGY AND URBAN SPATIAL STRUCTURE: A REVIEW OF FORECASTING RESEARCH

This study examines methods of forecasting urban spatial structure from information on energy supply and cost. Five general forecasting approaches are identified, of which four are represented in the literature. Each forecasting approach incorporates a particular set of methods, techniques, and epistemological principles. Not surprisingly, the conclusions provided by the forecasting methods are correspondingly diverse. Empiricists conclude that a causal link between energy and urban structure has not been demonstrated. In contrast, researchers employing scenario construction and various modeling techniques generally accept a causal link between energy and urban structure, but disagree on the nature of future urban geographies.
Interaction of human alpha-thrombin with artificial surfaces and reactivity of adsorbed alpha-thrombin.

Thrombin adsorbed onto Cuprophane or poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was shown to be inactive with respect to amidase activity. Desorbed thrombin from these two artificial surfaces showed only low amidase activity. However, in the presence of albumin, the surface-bound thrombin appeared to exhibit increased amidase activity. This apparent activity may be due to the action of thrombin displaced from the surfaces by albumin. Thrombin bound to Cuprophane or PVC was shown to be capable of reacting with antithrombin III (AT III) only in the presence of heparin. On the other hand, AT III bound to Cuprophane or PVC was unable to react with thrombin in either the absence or presence of heparin. Fibrin formation on or at surfaces was demonstrated by phase contrast microscopy when Cuprophane or PVC pretreated with thrombin and carefully rinsed was incubated in a fibrinogen solution. This fibrin formation is time dependent and likely is the result of direct interaction of adsorbed thrombin with fibrinogen in solution. Glass, Cuprophane, and PVC pretreated with thrombin were shown to attract more platelets than respective untreated surfaces. The enhancing effect of adsorbed thrombin on platelet adhesion was similar to the enhancing effect of adsorbed fibrinogen. Thrombin adsorbed onto PVC and crosslinked by glutaraldehyde treatment was shown to be antigenically active with a 125I-labeled monospecific antithrombin IgG produced in rabbits. No other plasma proteins adsorbed singly or from plasma or serum onto PVC reacted significantly with the antithrombin IgG preparation. The possible significance of these observations is discussed.
Perspectives from a pediatrician about diagnostic errors.

This opinion paper provides perspectives from a pediatrician about diagnostic challenges in caring for children. This essay shares personal experiences and lessons learned from a pediatric hospitalist about caring for children and making errors in diagnosis. This piece offers guidance about how to teach medical learners key concepts about error in diagnosis with underscoring the importance of developing critical thinking skills. Finally, the author offers tips from the literature about how physi- cians and other care providers can reorganize their own thinking (metacognition) to address their clinical practice.
Local and Systemic Spread of Tobacco Mosaic Virus in Transgenic Tobacco

Expression of a chimeric gene encoding the coat protein (CP) of tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) in transgenic tobacco plants confers resistance to infection by TMV. We investigated the spread of TMV within the inoculated leaf and throughout the plant following inoculation. Plants that expressed the CP gene [CP(+)] and those that did not [CP(-)] accumulated equivalent amounts of virus in the inoculated leaves after inoculation with TMV-RNA, but the CP(+) plants showed a delay in the development of systemic symptoms and reduced virus accumulation in the upper leaves. Tissue printing experiments demonstrated that if TMV infection became systemic, spread of virus occurred in the CP(+) plants essentially as it occurred in the CP(-) plants although at a reduced rate. Through a series of grafting experiments, we showed that stem tissue with a leaf attached taken from CP(+) plants prevented the systemic spread of virus. Stem tissue without a leaf had no effect on TMV spread. All of these findings indicate that protection against systemic spread in CP(+) plants is caused by one or more mechanisms that, in correlation with the protection against initial infection upon inoculation, result in a phenotype of resistance to TMV.
40-GHz Analog-to-Digital Converter Based on Sampling Gate of Silicon Waveguide with Ultra-Low Loss and High Conversion Efficiency

An ultra-low loss and high conversion efficiency silicon waveguide is used as sampling gate via four waves mixing, and 5.2 effective number of bits of signal at 40-GHz is achieved by 2-GHz cavity-less pulse source.
Second harmonic generation of stimulated raman scattered light in underdense plasmas.

Experiments examining nonlinear scattering mechanisms of high intensity (2 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{18}$ W/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$) laser light in underdense plasmas were performed. Redshifted second harmonic emission at 45\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} from the directly backscatterd direction was observed from field ionized plasmas having electron densities ranging up to ${10}^{19}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$. This result is consistent with the doubling of stimulated Raman scattered light from large plasma electron density gradients produced by ponderomotive cavitation.
Statistical prediction of continental planetary albedo

Regression equations have been derived for albedo in the United States, summer and winter, as a function of conventional meteorological variables of the type that might be available from a numerical model. For monthly mean patterns, the variance reduction was from 60% in summer to 84% in winter on test samples. On a day to day basis, the reduction of variance was from 45% in summer to 55% in winter. Still, errors of estimate are smaller in summer than in winter. The principal predictors were the mean relative humidity below 500 mb, and the pole-ward meridional wind component aloft. In addition, a snow-cover variable was needed in winter. Dynamic predictors, such as vorticity advection or vertical velocity, had relatively little skill and did not enter the equations consistently. Also, stability parameters played an unimportant part.
CO2 Injection for Enhanced Gas Production and Carbon Sequestration

Analyses suggest that carbon dioxide (CO{sub 2}) can be injected into depleted gas reservoirs to enhance methane (CH{sub 4}) recovery for periods on the order of 10 years, while simultaneously sequestering large amounts of CO{sub 2}. Simulations applicable to the Rio Vista Gas Field in California show that mixing between CO{sub 2} and CH{sub 4} is slow relative to repressurization, and that vertical density stratification favors enhanced gas recovery.
Fatty acid and product selectivities of potato tuber lipid acyl hydrolase in esterification reactions with glycerol in organic media

Fatty acid [FA; butanoic (C4); octanoic (C8); tetradecanoic (C14); and cis-9,12-octadecadienoic (C18:2) acids] reaction selectivity and the corresponding acyl profiles in differentially accumulating acylglycerol (AG) products (mono-, di-, and triacylglycerols; MAG, DAG, TAG, respectively) were evaluated for Celite™-immobilized potato tuber lipid acyl hydrolase (LAH)-mediated esterification reactions in isooctane at 35°C and water activity of 0.19. The ordinal pattern of FA selectivities was C8>C14>C18:2>C4, and the AG products accumulating were α-MAG>DAG>β-MAG>TAG. A dimensionless expression for fatty acid partitioning coefficient (FAPC) was contrived to represent the partitioning patterns of specific FA into specific AG pools on the basis of an equivalent extent of FA reaction. These FAPC values indicated that preferential partitioning of FA was as follows: C4 was preferentially partitioned into TAG, DAG, and β-MAG; C8 was preferentially partitioned into DAG; C14 was preferentially partitioned into α,β-MAG; C18:2 was preferentially partitioned into α,β-MAG and TAG. These findings infer that the tendency for LAH-mediated esterifications to accumulate MAG is based, in part, on a constraint in reactivity of α-MAG of ≥10 acyl carbon groups to serve as acceptors for further esterification events. The general approach taken in this study may assist in identifying the discrete steps in assembling structured glycerides where different biocatalysts exhibit the greatest degree or control of reaction selectivity.
Angiotensin II antagonists—saralasin

Saralasin is the only marketed member of a class of compounds described as angiotensin II receptor antagonists. Its pharmacology is characterized by three general properties: (1) no actions unrelated to the renin-angiotensin system; (2) a small partial agonist effect in some tissues in vitro and in some animal models in vivo, and (3) a blood-pressure lowering response to saralasin evident only in animals with an activated endogenous renin angiotensin system. It is suggested that the natriuretic effect of angiotensin II mediated via central nervous system (CNS) mechanisms may be future productive area of research in which to study the actions of angiotensin II antagonists.
Compressive Sensing Echelle Spectrometer

A compressive sensing echelle spectrometer has been built. By employing compression, we reconstructed the two dimensional echelle spectrums using the single photodetector with far fewer measurements when compared to raster scanning.
Characteristics of Photorelaxation in Vascular Smooth Muscle: Evidence Supporting the Hypothesis of Drug-Receptor Equilibrium Disturbance

The affinity of norepinephrine for the ?-adrenergic receptor in rabbit thoracic aorta is determined by three different methods. The first method assumes that the effect is directly proportional to receptor occupancy from which affinity is computed from the A 50 . The second method is a null method and employs a prior partial blockade, assuming only that equal effects imply equal receptor occupancy without making the direct proportion assumption. The third method is a new ``relaxation'' method in which the equilibrium is upset by a transient perturbation with UV radiation, and the kinetics of the restoration process are analyzed, from which not only affinity, but both forward and reverse rate constants are determined. Affinity constants determined by the ``null'' and ``relaxation'' methods are in agreement, while the affinity constant determined by A 50 is low. The nature of the photo-induced relaxation is discussed along with the basis for extending the relaxation method to other drug-effector combinations.
The logic of misperceived distance (or location) theories of the Poggendorff illusion.

For the Poggendorff display (transversal interrupted by parallel lines), the typical distance-misperception theory postulates that a particular linear distance extending across the empty space between parallels is underestimated; examples are the intertransversal slant distance defined by the closest ends of the transversal segments (a "wings-in Muller-Lyer like" underestimation) or the perpendicular distance between parallels (parallels "attract"). Distance misperception by itself, however, can neither establish that perceived transversal misalignment exists for a Poggendorff display nor specify the perceived-location condition(s) that will produce perceptual collinearity. The perceptual displacement vector is introduced as a means of specifying fully the perceptual mislocation (displacement) of one transversal segment with respect to the other. Given this vector information (direction as well as distance), the logical soundness of theories postulating distance or location misperception were evaluated, and they were compared on the basis of extant data. Such vector information can be used to evaluate other classes of theories as well.
X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency: from molecular cause to gene therapy within seven years

X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (XSCID) is the most common form of SCID. The discovery of the genetic defect in this disease, namely mutations in the gene encoding the common cytokine receptor gamma chain, gammac, was reported just over seven years ago. In the subsequent period, a tremendous amount of knowledge about the biology and function of this protein has been generated. Moreover, gammac-knockout mice have been generated and their immune systems successfully reconstituted by gene therapy. Furthermore, initial attempts at using gene therapy to treat patients with XSCID have been successful for more than ten months, making this disease perhaps the most promising to date for treatment with such a strategy.
An Autonomous, Closed-Loop Pointing System For Use With Satellite Optics

The availability of microcomputer control has allowed a new design philosophy to be introduced which is of particular interest for remote or unattended instrumentation. Instead of attempting to create systems that will retain their attributes (e.g., mechanical dimensions) in the presence of all perturbations, it is now possible to use an arrangement in which errors are expected, but reduced to tolerable values by the exercise of machine intelligence. This involves sensors to monitor performance and effectors that actively reduce the error. With such a concept it is frequently possible to achieve better results with lighter and more compact hardware and to eliminate the need for human intervention to retain calibration. The presence of a microcomputer also makes it possible for a machine to perform functions that were previously left to human judgement. One of these, the resolution of seeming ambiguities, is the subject of this paper.
Automated identification of temporal pattern with high initial enhancement in dynamic MR lesions using fuzzy c-means algorithm

In contrast-enhanced (CE) MRI of the breast, signal-intensity time curves have been proven useful in differentiating between benign and malignant lesions. Due to uptake heterogeneity in the breast lesion, however, the signal-intensity time curve obtained from a specific region in the lesion may outperform that from the entire lesion. In this study, we propose the use of fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering algorithms to reveal different temporal patterns within the breast lesion. The algorithm finds fuzzy cluster centers (i.e., temporal patterns) and assigns membership values to each voxel. The temporal pattern with maximum initial enhancement is selected as the representative curve of the lesion and the thresholded membership map is the identified region of fast enhancement. The approach was applied to the analysis of 121 lesions (77 malignant and 44 benign). The resulting representative curves were classified with linear discriminant analysis (LDA). The differentiation performance of LDA output in leave-one-out cross evaluation was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Our results show that the use of FCM significantly improved the performance of signal-intensity time curves in the task of distinguishing between malignant and benign lesions.
Curing myeloma at last: defining criteria and providing the evidence

Does the dogma that multiple myeloma is incurable still hold?. The genomic chaos and resulting resistance to apoptosis of myeloma, long considered an obstacle to cure, formed the basis of Total Therapy (TT) program. The TT approach uses all myeloma-active drugs upfront to target drug-resistant subclones during initial treatment to prevent later relapse. Long-term follow-up of 1202 patients (TT1: n = 231, median follow-up: 21 years; TT2: 668, median follow-up: 12 years; TT3a: n = 303, median follow-up: 9 years) permitted investigation of whether progression-free survival (PFS) and complete response (CR) duration were consistent with curability, ie observation of plateaus in Kaplan-Meier plots for PFS and CR duration. In the subset of 627 patients with plasma cell gene expression profiling data, cure plateaus were apparent at 5 years in the 14% with high-risk myeloma compared with 10 years in the remainder with low-risk disease. A parametric model based on PFS and CR duration supported an increase in curability: 10-year PFS and CR estimates increased from 8.8%/17.9% in TT1 to 15.5%/28.2% in TT2’s control arm to 25.1%/35.6% in TT2’s thalidomide arm and to 32.9%/48.8% in TT3a. Toward developing novel therapies, we recommend a concerted focus on patients with high-risk myeloma whose outcome has not been advanced.
On the validity of single atom chemistry

Abstract This study is intended to apply to the many experiments in which small numbers of radioactive isotopes are artificially produced whose half lives are approximately the same time as that required for chemical identification. Conventional chemical kinetics combined with radioactive decay yields equations that were analyzed for their applicability to regimes containing much less than a statistical ensemble of atoms. Deviations from the predicted most-probable value for the concentration of a given chemical species are calculated using standard probability functions. It was found that a surprisingly small number of atoms is required to establish chemical identity under the usual conditions of experimentation.
Multi-time-delay LSE-POD complementary approach applied to unsteady high-Reynolds-number near wake flow

This investigation compared the application and accuracy of single- and multi-time-delay linear stochastic estimation-proper orthogonal decomposition (LSE-POD) methods in the temporal domain. These methods were considered for low-dimensional estimations of the dynamics of the energy-containing structures in a high Reynolds number flow. The near wake dynamics of a bluff body were used to demonstrate the robustness and accuracy of the investigated LSE-POD methods. Statistically independent two-dimensional particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements were used to determine spatial POD modes, and time-resolved surface pressure measurements were used to determine LSE coefficients required for estimating the time-varying POD coefficients. A low-order, time-resolved reconstruction of the wake dynamics was accomplished using these estimated time-varying POD coefficients. The paper also provides details concerning the accuracy of the estimation using multi-time-delay LSE-POD. The results demonstrate that the multi-time LSE-POD technique is successful in capturing and reconstructing the important near wake dynamics. It is also shown that optimizing the time delays used for the estimations increases the accuracy of the reconstruction. As a result of its capabilities, the multi-time-delay implementation of the LSE-POD approach offers an alternate method for low-dimensional modeling that is attractive for real-time flow estimation.
PULMONARY FUNCTION AND DYSFUNCTION IN THE TRAUMATIZED PATIENT

Pulmonary injuries and hypoxemia are serious and relatively common complications in the traumatized patient. The chest and lung may be directly damaged by the traumatic injury. Alternately, pulmonary dysfunction may occur as a secondary injury, as with adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), fat embolism, or pneumonia. The development of respiratory failure and hypoxemia contributes to morbidity and mortality after trauma. This article reviews the etiology of hypoxemia in the traumatized patient and the perioperative diagnosis and treatment of posttraumatic pulmonary dysfunction.
Advanced digital control for a switched capacitor and interleaved switched capacitor hybrid electric vehicle energy management system

This paper presents the analysis and novel controller design for a two-quadrant hybrid switched capacitor (SC) converter and interleaved two-quadrant SC bidirectional DC/DC converter for a hybrid electric vehicle dual energy storage system. The designed novel control strategy enables simpler dynamics compared to a standard buck converter with input filter, good regulation capability, low EMI, lower source current ripple, ease of control, and continuous input current waveform in both buck as well as boost modes of operation.
Droperidol vs. prochlorperazine for benign headaches in the emergency department.

Objective To compare the efficacy of droperidol with that of prochlorperazine for the treatment of benign headaches in emergency department (ED) patients. Methods Prospective, randomized clinical trial in an urban ED. Patients were given either droperidol, 5 mg intramuscular (IM) or 2.5 mg intravenous (IV), or prochlorperazine, 10 mg IM or 10 mg IV. Measurements included side effects and the patient's pain perception as measured on a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS) at baseline, 30, and 60 minutes after the medication was given. Data were analyzed using chi-square, two-tailed t-tests, and two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) when appropriate. Results During an eight-month period, 168 patients were enrolled. Eighty-two (48.8%) of the patients received droperidol; 86 (51.2%) received prochlorperazine. In the droperidol group, 49 (59.6%) received IM administration and 33 (40.4%) IV. In the prochlorperazine group, 57 (66.3%) received IM administration and 29 (33.7%) IV. Sixty minutes after the medication, the mean decrease in the VAS scores was 81.4% for droperidol and 66.9% for prochlorperazine (p = 0.001). At 30 minutes, 60.9% of the patients receiving droperidol and 44.2% of the patients receiving prochlorperazine had obtained at least a 50% reduction in their VAS scores (p = 0.09). At 60 minutes, 90.2% of the patients receiving droperidol and 68.6% of the patients receiving prochlorperazine had at least a 50% reduction in their VAS scores (p = 0.017). No difference between IM dosing and IV dosing was detected. Side effects, including dystonia, akathisia, and decreased level of consciousness, were seen in 15.2% of the patients receiving droperidol and 9.61% of the patients receiving prochlorperazine. No significant or persisting morbidity was detected. Conclusions Droperidol was more effective than prochlorperazine in relieving pain associated with benign headaches.
The Residents' Benefits and Concerns Before and After a New Rail Stop: Do Residents Get What They Expect?

Transit-oriented developments are touted as providing a variety of social benefits, but personal benefits to residents are underresearched. The authors surveyed 51 residents before and after a new light rail stop was constructed in their revitalizing Salt Lake City neighborhood. Residents anticipated and then later experienced increased housing and neighborhood economic values, enhanced sense of community, and improved neighborhood reputation. Residents experienced greater than anticipated pedestrian and child safety after rail service started. Compared with resident perceptions of walkable neighborhoods elsewhere, the Salt Lake residents perceived their neighborhood to be denser, and offering less land-use diversity and more crime safety problems. Perceived walkability increased, with residents reporting greater land-use diversity and neighborhood satisfaction after rail stop completion. However, residents said more stores, parks and trails, and trees would improve walkability. These results show the personal benefits residents desire to make transit-oriented living a satisfying residential alternative.
Acute effects of an alternative electronic-control-device waveform in swine

In previous studies, repeated 5-s exposures of anesthetized pigs to an electronic control device (TASER International’s Advanced TASER® X26 device) resulted in acidosis and increases in blood electrolytes. In the current study, experiments were performed to investigate the effects of longer continuous exposures to a different electronic-control-device waveform. After intramuscular injection of tiletamine HCl and zolazepam HCl, anesthesia was maintained with propofol infusion. Ten pigs were exposed to either 30- or 60-s applications of an electronic waveform similar to the TASER-X26 device. Transient increases in potassium, and sodium were consistent with previous reports in the literature dealing with studies of muscle stimulation or exercise. Blood pH was significantly decreased after exposure, but subsequently returned to baseline levels. Lactate was highly elevated and remained somewhat increased even after three hrs. Serum myoglobin was increased after exposure and remained elevated for the 3-h follow-up period. Acidosis would appear to be one of the major concerns with long-duration (e.g., several min) exposures over a short period of time. Even with the extremely low pH immediately after exposure, all animals survived. On the basis of these results, further development of useful continuous-exposure electronic control devices is at least feasible, with the caveat that some medical monitoring of subjects may be required.
Maternal interpersonal trauma and cord blood IgE levels in an inner-city cohort: A life-course perspective

Background Prenatal stress affects immunocompetence in offspring, although the underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Objective We sought to examine associations between maternal lifetime interpersonal trauma (IPT) and cord blood total IgE levels in a sample of urban newborns (n = 478). Methods Maternal IPT during childhood and adolescence (birth to 17 years), adulthood (18 years to index pregnancy), and the index pregnancy were ascertained by using the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale at 28.4 ± 7.9 weeks' gestation. Cord blood IgE levels were derived by using a fluoroenzyme immunoassay. We examined effects of maternal IPT on increased cord blood IgE levels (upper quartile, 1.08 IU/mL) by using logistic regression, adjusting for confounders and mediating variables. Results Maternal trauma was categorized as unexposed (n = 285 [60%]), early (childhood and/or teenage years only, n=107 [22%]), late (adulthood and/or index pregnancy only, n=29 [6%]), and chronic (early and late, n=57 [12%]) exposure. Relative to no IPT, early (odds ratio [OR], 1.78; 95% CI, 1.05-3.00) and chronic maternal IPT (OR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.19-4.24) were independently associated with increased IgE levels in unadjusted analyses. When adjusting for standard controls, including maternal age and race, season of birth, child's sex, and childhood and current socioeconomic status, early effects became nonsignificant (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 0.85-2.58). Chronic exposure remained significant in fully adjusted models, including standard controls, current negative life events, allergen exposure, and potential pathway variables (maternal atopy, prenatal smoking, and birth weight; OR, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.06-4.50). Conclusion These data link chronic trauma over the mother's life course with increased IgE levels in infants at birth. Research examining associations between maternal trauma and indicators of offspring's atopic risk might be particularly relevant in inner-city high-risk populations.
Compaction of Submicron and Nanocrystalline Al2O3-ZrO2 Ceramics

The eutectic in the Al2O3-ZrO2 system was rapidly solidified by heating with an O2-H2 torch and then quenching the melt with a twin roller device. The as-quenched material, which was amorphous or nanocrystalline, was milled with B4C or Al2O3 media and pressed into pellets which were sintered conventionally or with microwaves. Samples contaminated with boron carbide resulted in compacts with substantially reduced porosity and a lower fraction of tetragonal ZrO2. Conventional sintering at low temperatures resulted in the formation of ‘rods’ of an Al2O3 rich phase which grew from the presence of a low melting B2O3-rich liquid. Conventional and microwave sintering at temperatures up to 1600°C resulted in a microstructure where 100–200 nm ZrO2 grains were present intragranularly in the α—Al2O3 grains. Larger ZrO2 grains (~1 μm) were found intergranularly. As-quenched lamellar microstructures were preserved at low temperatures but spheroidized at sintering temperatures > 1600°C.
Thick, three-dimensional nanoporous density-graded materials formed by optical exposures of photopolymers with controlled levels of absorption

Three-dimensional (3D) intensity distributions generated by light passing through conformal phase masks can be modulated by the absorption property of photosensitive materials. The intensity distributions have extremely long depth of focus, which is proportional to the size of the phase masks, and this enables one to pattern thick (approximately 100 microm), nanoporous structures with precise control of grade density. Various density-graded 3D structures that result from computational modeling are demonstrated. Results of x-ray radiograph and the controlled absorption coefficient prove the dominant mechanism of the generated graded density is absorption of the photosensitive materials. The graded-density structures can be applied to a chemical reservoir for controlled release of chemicals and laser target reservoirs useful to shape shockless wave compression.
A Theoretical and Empirical Comparison of Two Mixed-Factor Central-Composite Desicns

Abstract : This paper provides a brief review of the application of central-composite designs (CCD) in human performance research. Particular mention is made of the mixed-factor CCD, which allows simultaneous consideration of within-subject and between-subjects factors. The current paper details the construction of two alternative versions of such a design. After the two versions have been compared on theoretical grounds, an empirical investigation is proposed to determine the relative predictive accuracy and validity of prediction equations derived from data collected in accordance with each design version.
Fast DFT algorithms for diagonally symmetric 2-D data

An efficient algorithm is presented for the evaluation of DFTs (discrete Fourier transforms) of diagonally symmetric 2-D data of size N*N, where N is a prime number. The general Winograd algorithm for 3*3 size data is modified to take into account the diagonal symmetry present in the data. This diagonal symmetry based algorithm for 3*3 DFTs requires four scalar multiplications and 21 scalar additions, whereas the general Winograd algorithm requires nine scalar multiplications and 36 scalar additions. The above procedure is extended for N*N (where N is prime) data processing diagonal symmetry. The resulting symmetry-based transform is nearly half the size of the conventional transform, and, hence requires considerably less computation than the conventional 2-D FFT (fast Fourier transform). >
Function-Specific Intracellular Signaling Pathways Downstream of Heparin-Binding EGF-like Growth Factor Utilized by Human Trophoblasts

Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HBEGF) is expressed by trophoblast cells throughout gestation. First-trimester cytotrophoblast cells are protected from hypoxia-induced apoptosis because of the accumulation of HBEGF through a posttranscriptional autocrine mechanism. Exogenous application of HBEGF is cytoprotective in a hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) injury model and initiates trophoblast extravillous differentiation to an invasive phenotype. The downstream signaling pathways induced by HBEGF that mediate these various cellular activities were identified using two human first-trimester cytotrophoblast cell lines, HTR-8/SVneo and SW.71, with similar results. Recombinant HBEGF (1 nM) induced transient phosphorylation of MAPK3/1 (ERK), MAPK14 (p38), and AKT within 15 min and JNK after 1–2 h. To determine which downstream pathways regulate the various functions of HBEGF, cells were treated with specific inhibitors of the ERK upstream regulator MEK (U0126), the AKT upstream regulator phosphoinositide-3 (PI3)-kinase (LY294002), MAPK14 (SB203580), and JNK (SP600125), as well as with inactive structural analogues. Only SB203580 specifically prevented HBEGF-mediated rescue during H/R, while each inhibitor attenuated HBEGF-stimulated cell migration. Accumulation of HBEGF at reduced oxygen was blocked only by a combination of U0126, SB203580, and SP600125. We conclude that HBEGF advances trophoblast extravillous differentiation through coordinate activation of PI3 kinase, ERK, MAPK14, and JNK, while only MAPK14 is required for its antiapoptotic activity. Additionally, hypoxia induces an autocrine increase in HBEGF protein levels through MAPK14, JNK or ERK. These experiments reveal a complexity of the intracellular signaling circuitry that regulates trophoblast functions critical for implantation and placentation.
Bumetanide Inhibition of the Blood-Brain Barrier Na-K-Cl Cotransporter Reduces Edema Formation in the Rat Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Model of Stroke:

Increased transport of Na+ across an intact blood-brain barrier (BBB) participates in edema formation during the early hours of cerebral ischemia. In previous studies, the authors showed that the BBB Na-K-Cl cotransporter is stimulated by factors present during ischemia, suggesting that the cotransporter may contribute to the increased brain Na+ uptake in edema. The present study was conducted to determine (1) whether the Na-K-Cl cotransporter is located in the luminal membrane of the BBB, and (2) whether inhibition of the BBB cotransporter reduces brain edema formation. Perfusion-fixed rat brains were examined for cotransporter distribution by immunoelectron microscopy. Cerebral edema was evaluated in rats subjected to permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) by magnetic resonance diffusion-weighted imaging and calculation of apparent diffusion coefficients (ADC). The immunoelectron microscopy studies revealed a predominant (80%) luminal membrane distribution of the cotransporter. Magnetic resonance imaging studies showed ADC ratios (ipsilateral MCAO/contralateral control) ranging from 0.577 to 0.637 in cortex and striatum, indicating substantial edema formation. Intravenous bumetanide (7.6-30.4 mg/kg) given immediately before occlusion attenuated the decrease in ADC ratios for both cortex and striatum (by 40-67%), indicating reduced edema formation. Bumetanide also reduced infarct size, determined by TTC staining. These findings suggest that a luminal BBB Na-K-Cl cotransporter contributes to edema formation during cerebral ischemia.
Transcriptome profile of OVCAR3 cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cell line

BackgroundThe NIH:OVCAR-3 is a cisplatin refractory cell lineestablished from malignant ascites of a patient with pro-gressive adenocarcinoma of the ovary after combinationchemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, Adriamycin, andcisplatin [1]. Thus, OVCAR3 serves as a model cell linefor drug resistance in ovarian cancer. Here, we perform acomparative transcriptome analysis from the US NationalCancer Institute human tumor cell line anticancer drugscreen (NCI60) dataset [2]. Our results indicate a specificgene transcription profile of OVCAR3 genes relative tonon-cancerous Human Ovarian Surface Epithelial cells(HOSE) and drug sensitive Serous Ovarian CancerEpithelial Samples (CEPI) and SKOV3 cell lines. Pathwayenrichment analysis from OVCAR3 unique transcriptswas conducted using KEGG; Disease and Drug termenrichment used the PharmGKB [3] databases.Materials and methodsDatasets from the NCI60 were obtained from the GeneExpression Omnibus (GEO) of NCBI [4] (OVCAR3 andSKOV3 from series GSE2003, OSE and CEPI from series
Consort: Node-Constrained Opportunistic Routing in wireless mesh networks

Opportunistic routing is proposed to improve the performance of wireless networks by exploiting the broadcast nature and spatial diversity of the wireless medium. In this paper, we study the problems of how to choose opportunistic route for each user to optimize the total utility or profit of multiple simultaneous users in a wireless mesh network (WMN) subject to node constraints. We formulate these two problems as two convex programming systems. By combining primal-dual and subgradient methods, we present a distributed iterative algorithm Consort (node-Constrained Opportunistic Routing). In each iteration, Consort updates Lagrange multipliers in a distributed manner according to the user and node behaviors obtained in the previous iteration, and then each user and each node individually adjusts its own behavior based on the updated Lagrange multipliers. We prove the convergence of this iterative algorithm, and provide bounds on the amount of feasibility violation and the gap between our solution and the optimal solution in each iteration.
Dose-Dependent Pharmacokinetics of Amphotericin B Lipid Complex in Rabbits

Amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC) was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treatment of patients with invasive fungal infections who are intolerant of or refractory to conventional amphotericin B therapy. Little is known, however, about the pharmacokinetics of this new antifungal compound. We therefore investigated the pharmacokinetics of ABLC in comparison with those of conventional desoxycholate amphotericin B (DAmB) in rabbits. The pharmacokinetics of DAmB in a rabbit model were similar to those previously reported in humans. The pharmacokinetics of ABLC differed substantially from those of DAmB. Plasma amphotericin B levels following ABLC administration were 10 times lower than those following administration of an equal dosage of DAmB. The levels of ABLC in whole blood were approximately 40 times greater than those in plasma. The ABLC model differed from the DAmB model by (i) a dose- and time-dependent uptake and return between the plasma compartment and apparent cellular components of the blood-sediment compartment and (ii) time-dependent tissue uptake and return to plasma from serially connected compartments. Following infusion of ABLC, there was a nonlinear uptake into the apparent cellular components of the blood-sediment compartment. This uptake was related to the reciprocal of the integral of the total amount of drug infused (i.e., the more drug infused the greater the fractional uptake between 0.5 and 5 mg/kg of body weight for ABLC). The transfer of drug from plasma to the cellular components of the blood-sediment compartment resulted in initial uptake followed by rapid redistribution back to the plasma. The study describes a detailed model of the pharmacokinetics of ABLC and characterizes a potential role of the cellular components of the blood-sediment compartment in the distribution of this new antifungal compound in tissue.
Microfluidic Immunoassay for Alveolar Cell Released Interleukin-8 Using a Braille Display for Computer-Controlled Fluid Actuation

We have developed a self-contained, connectorless, automated microfluidic immunoassay system to detect and quantify levels of Interleukin (IL)-8, an important cytokine involved in the inflammatory response. In our microfluidic system, liquid flow is controlled using the pins of a commercially available, refreshable Braille display that act as small mechanical actuators. The successful development of such a microsystem will prove beneficial in both the early diagnosis and treatment of various disease states. Integration of the microfluidic immunoassay system with cell culture can provide a novel, self-contained device to analyze the by-products of chemically stimulated cells in a controlled microenvironment.
The Aging Behavior of Commercial Thick-Film Resistors

An earlier paper reported the promising prospects of accelerating thick-film resistor aging by elevated temperature and humidity stress; those early findings have now been confirmed by further results from many thousands of hours of overstress testing of commercially produced resistors from various sources--amounting to accumulated test times of some millions of resistor-hours. The normal aging trend is a steady increase in resistance at a rate influenced by various factors such as manufacturing origin, resistivity, electrical bias, environment, and encapsulation. The majority of the increases vary with the square-root of time, consistent with a diffusion-controlled degradation of the conduction processes. Some changes also conform to piezo-resistive effects and together these provide physical explanations for the aging behavior of thick-film resistors. The drift observed in the majority of resistors can be extrapolated to give a prediction of less than 0.5 percent change in 20 years operation in standard environments---a heartening prospect indeed for thick-film reliability.