cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Task-related coding of stimulus and response in cat motor cortex

In a previous study in the cat, we have reported that motor cortex neurons discharging before the initiation of an aimed forearm response (lead cells) are better timed to movement of a display (stimulus) than to the response. The present study was done to distinguish the coding of stimulus and response features in the discharge patterns of such early activity in motor cortex. Single neurons were recorded in the arm area of motor cortex in three cats performing the same pair of responses (forearm flexion and extension) but to display movements in either of the two directions by changing display polarity. The modulation of lead cell activity was contingent on the occurrence of the learned motor response and timed to the stimulus in all conditions. The majority of lead cells (88%, n = 50) fell into one of two distinct classes. In one class of neurons, force-direction (56%, n = 32), activity was contingent on a single direction of forelimb response (flexion or extension) and was thus independent of the direction of the display stimulus. The only muscles whose patterns matched the activity of this class of response-related neurons were forelimb flexors and extensors. In these neurons, the onset of modulation was timed to one or the other of the two stimuli according to the stimulus direction which elicited the appropriate response. Thus, the display-related input to these neurons varied according to the response required. In the second class of neurons, stimulus-direction (32%, n = 18), modulation was associated with a specific stimulus direction rather than the response direction. The pattern of activity of these neurons was similar to the pattern of EMG signals of shoulder and neck muscles during the different task conditions. The contraction of proximal and axial muscles corresponded to a second response elicited by the stimulus, namely attempts at head rotation towards the moving display and was independent of the conditioned forelimb response in both time of onset and direction. To test the possibility that stimulus-direction neurons participated in the control of head rotation we trained two of the animals to also produce isometric changes in neck torque in the direction of the moving display without making the forelimb response. The activity of stimulus-direction neurons was similarly modulated during performance of the neck task. By contrast, force-direction neurons examined during the neck task were either unmodulated or discharged after the neck response.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
INTRAWEEK SEASONALITY IN THE FEDERAL FUNDS MARKET

This paper examines daily Federal funds interest rates for intraweek seasonality over the period 1966 through June 1982. Seasonals are identified using several techniques and are found to vary over time in both intensity and relative size. Furthermore, seasonality is not limited to a Wednesday effect. The seasonals are used to test the effectiveness of active reserve management based on seasonal rate forecasts. The results indicate that extraordinary risk-adjusted profits are not likely.
The relationship of bile duct crystals to sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction

Bile duct crystals collected either from the duodenum after gallbladder contraction or directly from bile duct aspiration are surrogates for gallbladder stones and microlithiasis. Whether bile crystals also serve as surrogates for bile duct stones or microlithiasis that forms in the bile duct after cholecystectomy is not known based on current data. Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD), due either to muscular spasm or sphincter fibrosis, is a cause of bile duct obstruction. Almost all of the literature on SOD involves patients who have had a prior cholecystectomy. Intuitively, obstruction at the SO following cholecystectomy would seem to lead to biliary stasis and predispose patients to bile duct microlithiasis. However, a recent study did not find bile duct crystals in patients with manometrically diagnosed SOD. The reason for this is unknown, although we hypothesize that cholesterol and bilirubinate crystals are not surrogates for brown pigment stones commonly found in patients following cholecystectomy.
The REDD menace: Resurgent protectionism in Tanzania's mangrove forests

Abstract Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) is being proclaimed as “a new direction in forest conservation” ( Anglesen, 2009 : 125). This financial incentives-based climate change mitigation strategy proposed by the UNEP, World Bank, GEF and environmental NGOs seeks to integrate forests into carbon sequestration schemes. Its proponents view REDD+ as part of an adaptive strategy to counter the effects of global climate change. This paper combines the theoretical approaches of market environmentalism and environmental narratives to examine the politics of environmental knowledge that are redefining socio-nature relations in the Rufiji Delta, Tanzania to make mangrove forests amenable to markets. Through a case study of a “REDD-readiness” climate change mitigation and adaptation project, we demonstrate how a shift in resource control and management from local to global actors builds upon narratives of environmental change (forest loss) that have little factual basis in environmental histories. We argue that the proponents of REDD+ (Tanzanian state, aid donors, environmental NGOs) underestimate the agency of forest-reliant communities who have played a major role in the making of the delta landscape and who will certainly resist the injustices they are facing as a result of this shift from community-based resource management to fortress conservation.
U-Pb geochronology of two pre-Tertiary plutons in the Coast Mountains batholith near Ketchikan, southeastern Alaska

U-Pb geochronologic studies indicate that the central part of the Coast Mountains batholith in the Ketchikan area contains plutons of Triassic and possibly mid-Paleozoic age in addition to the previously recognized early Tertiary plutons. Zircons from a foliated granodiorite in Burroughs Bay yield an upper concordia intercept of 336 ± 34 Ma, which is tentatively interpreted as the crystallization age, and a lower intercept of 79 ± 7 Ma, which may record extreme Pb loss and growth of metamorphic zircon during amphibolite- to granulite-facies metamorphism. Zircons from a tonalite in Boca de Quadra yield an upper intercept (crystallization age) of 215 ± 15 Ma and a lower intercept (Pb-loss age) of 50 ± 20 Ma. The presence of these Triassic and possibly mid-Paleozoic plutons supports previous interpretations that pre-Tertiary rocks in this part of the batholith may belong to the Yukon-Tanana terrane.
Papillary thyroid carcinoma and familial adenomatous polyposis of the colon.

Abstract Objective Case report and limited review of the literature on the topic of papillary thyroid carcinoma and familial adenomatous polyposis and its genetic associations. Methods A patient with multiple prior surgeries for colonic polyps, abdominal perineal resection for colorectal cancer, and wedge resection for metastatic adenocarcinoma (consistent with rectal primary) presented with a thyroid mass. Fine-needle aspiration demonstrated papillary thyroid carcinoma. Results The patient underwent total thyroidectomy. Pathologic examination revealed the cribriform-morular variant of papillary carcinoma that has been reported in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis. Conclusions Cribriform-morular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma is an uncommon diagnosis known to be associated with familial adenomatous polyposis. Although the incidence is rare, this diagnosis should raise the clinician's suspicions to recommend both colorectal screening and genetic counseling for family members.
Measuring return on investment (ROI) of organizations’ internal communication efforts

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to investigate how senior communication executives measure the effectiveness of organizations’ internal communication efforts and link the efforts with organizations’ business performance.Design/methodology/approach – An online international survey of 264 experienced business communicators was analyzed to identify those specific aspects of internal communication initiatives that have been measured by the organizations on a regular basis. In‐depth interviews with 13 senior communication executives were used as a supplementary approach to share their experiences and insights about measurement challenges in communication practices.Findings – Results suggested that most business communicators and organizations recognized the importance of measuring organizations’ internal communication initiatives; however, limited metrics have been applied to the assessment process. Several specific aspects of internal communication initiatives (e.g., improved job performance, change...
Determination of Enantiomers of Synthetic Pyrethroids in Water by Solid Phase Microextraction − Enantioselective Gas Chromatography

Solid phase microextraction (SPME) is an ideal sample preparation technique because of its speed and solvent-free features. Sampling by SPME is selective and only the dissolved concentration is measured, which allows measurement of the bioavailable fraction of a contaminant in aqueous media. One potential application of SPME is for analysis of enantiomers of chiral contaminants in environmental samples. In this study, a method was developed for determining enantiomers of (Z)-cis-bifenthrin and cis-permethrin in water using coupled SPME and enantioselective gas chromatography (GC). Following SPME sampling, enantiomers of (Z)-cis-bifenthrin and cis-permethrin were separated at the baseline on a beta-cyclodextrin-based enantioselective column, and analyte enrichment onto the SPME fiber was not enantioselective. The GC response increased as sampling time was increased from 0 to 240 min, and as sampling temperature was increased from 20 to 40 degrees C. Organic solvents such as methanol, acetone, and acetonitrile enhanced, while soil extracts slightly decreased, the GC response. The integrated SPME-enantioselective GC method was used to analyze surface runoff samples. The analysis showed preferential degradation of the 1S-3S enantiomer over the 1R-3R enantiomer for both (Z)-cis-bifenthrin and cis-permethrin. The concentrations detected by SPME-GC were substantially smaller than those determined following solvent extraction, suggesting that SPME-enantioselective GC analysis selectively measured the dissolved fraction.
Case report 710: Symmetrical eosinophilic granuloma of the lower extremities (proven) and Erdheim-Chester disease (probable).

Abstract We present a case of symmetrical EG of the lower extremities in a 36-year-old man. Several entities are considered in the differential diagnosis. However, many of the features bear a striking resemblance to ECD, which probably coexists in this case. A link between the two entities, EG and ECD, has been suggested by others. Future experience may confirm this hypothesis.
Functional Specific Gravity of Ground Hay Samples in Ionic Solutions

Abstract Specific gravity of forages affects rate of passage from the rumen. Ionic concentration influences rate of change of specific gravity of forage particles, but it has not been established whether some ions influence rate of change of functional specific gravity more than others. Effects of solutions containing half and twice the ionic concentration of standard buffer were compared with water and with standard. Samples in more concentrated solutions had higher specific gravities than those in more dilute, less basic liquids. Effects of different ions also were investigated. In solutions with ionic concentrations similar to mixed saliva, specific gravities of samples in solutions containing sodium and potassium were higher than those in solutions with calcium and magnesium. With equivalent sodium concentrations, disodium phosphate solutions increased specific gravity of forages more than did solutions with sodium chloride. At equal phosphate concentrations, samples in solutions containing disodium phosphate had higher specific gravities than did those in monosodium phosphate or water. Samples in ammonium phosphate solution had lower specific gravity readings than did those in either dipotassium or disodium phosphate. Ionic composition, pH, and osmolality influence forage specific gravity in vitro.
Determination of the point group of β-Ga2O3 from morphology and physical properties

Abstract The lattice of β-Ga2O3 is metrically monoclinic. The crystal structure was reported in space group C2 m (S. Geller, J. Chem. Phys. 33, 676 (1960)). However, monohedra are a constant feature of the crystal morphology, and enantiomorphous crystals have been found. The optical dispersion is asymmetric, and observations in the scanning electron microscope indicate polarity. Therefore, the point group is 1 and the space group P1. Although the crystal lacks any true symmetry, pseudosymmetry is extensive and accounts for the following observed twin laws: [001]180, [021]180, [021]90, [132]180, [1 3 2] 180 , and (5 1 2)m.
Experimental aspects of flux expulsion in type-II superconductors.

Experimental aspects of flux expulsion in ${\mathrm{Nb}}_{3}$Sn and ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ type-II superconductors are presented. There is a clear distinction in magnetization between field-cooled measured-upon-cooling (FCC) and field-cooled measured-upon-warming (FCW) results. This thermal hysteresis, predicted in the temperature-dependent critical-state model at low fields by Clem and Hao, was observed for measuring fields up to about 0.5 T. The model explains the observation of increases in diamagnetism after field cooling and thermal cycling. The thermal hysteresis, together with weak links, accounts for the occurrence of a negative peak in FCW magnetization. The FCC-FCW bifurcation observed for a 0.1 mT field down to 5 K might imply that flux lines are not completely frozen below ${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{c}1}$, the temperature at which the lower critical field is equal to the measuring field, but are expelled from the sample even in the Meissner state.
The rate of induction of the mitochondrial α-glycerolphosphate dehydrogenase by thyroid hormone in adult and senescent rats

Abstract The specific activities of the mitochondrial α-glycerolphosphate dehydrogenase from livers of adult (12–13-months old) and senescent (27–29-months old) hypothyroidic rats were measured at different intervals following the induction of enzyme synthesis by triiodo-L-thyronine. There were no significant differences between the two age groups in the rates of induction, the maximal levels of the induced enzyme, or the decreases in activity following the attainment of peak activities. These findings suggest that the biochemical machinery for protein synthesis in this tissue in aged animals is in no way impaired, at least in this specific model system, and that the livers of senescent rats are fully capable of responding to direct adaptive stress.
Changing Patterns of Anemia Management in US Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract Background Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents and adjuvant intravenous iron have been the primary treatment for anemia in chronic kidney disease. Recent clinical and policy-related events have challenged this traditional paradigm, particularly in regard to erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. Less is known about the impact of these events on intravenous iron use. Methods United States Renal Data System data (2002-2008) on Medicare hemodialysis patients were examined. For each patient, monthly intravenous iron dose, erythropoiesis-stimulating agent dose, and hemoglobin values were determined. Data were summarized by calendar quarter and plotted for the entire sample and by demographic, clinical, and facility-level subgroups. Marginal means for these variables also were computed to account for changes in patient characteristics over time. Results Quarterly iron use increased from 64% in 2002 to 76% in 2008. Mean quarterly iron dose increased from 500 mg in 2002 to 650 mg in 2008. Mean monthly erythropoiesis-stimulating agent dose (per quarter) increased from 2002 to 2006 and then declined. Mean hemoglobin values followed a pattern similar to erythropoiesis-stimulating agent dose. The same patterns in iron, erythropoiesis-stimulating agent dose, and hemoglobin were generally observed across demographic, clinical, facility, and geographic subgroups, with some important differences between subgroups, specifically race and dialysis vintage. Conclusions Anemia management patterns have changed markedly between 2002 and 2008, with a steady increase in intravenous iron use even after declines in erythropoiesis-stimulating agent dose and hemoglobin. The clinical impacts of these changes need further evaluation.
Chemische Bindung an Oberflächen

Adsorbierte Teilchen konnen an der Oberflache eines Festkorpers chemisch gebunden werden (Chemisorption). Erst modernste Varianten der Elektronenbeugung und Elektronenspektroskopie ermoglichen nun Einsichten in die Natur solcher Oberflachenverbindungen, denen bei der heterogenen Katalyse sowie bei vielen anderen technisch wichtigen Vorgangen, z. B. Haftung und Schmierung, die Schlusselrolle zukommt. Die uberwiegend lokalisierten Oberflachenbindungen lassen sich mit den kovalenten Bindungen in Clusterverbindungen vergleichen.
An Analytical Study of Heat Transfer in Finite Tissue With Two Blood Vessels and Uniform Dirichlet Boundary Conditions

Counter-current (vessel-vessel) heat transfer has been postulated as one of the most important heat transfer mechanisms in living systems. Surprisingly, however the accurate quantification of the vessel-vessel, and vessel-tissue, heat transfer rates has never been performed in the most general and important case of a finite, unheated/heated tissue domain with noninsulated boundary conditions. To quantify these heat transfer rates, an exact analytical expression for the temperature field is derived by solving the 2-D Poisson equation with uniform Dirichlet boundary conditions
Endoscopic-guided direct endonasal approach for pituitary surgery.

Abstract BACKGROUND Submucosal dissection of the nasal septum is often performed as part of the transseptal approach to the sella. To evaluate whether this submucosal dissection is a necessary component of this operation, we compared the morbidity of a direct transmucosal endonasal approach to that of the transseptal approach in patients undergoing pituitary surgery. METHODS Forty-one consecutive patients undergoing pituitary surgery from January 1996 to March 1999 were included in this study. The first 21 patients underwent the standard transseptal operation through either a sublabial or columellar incision. The latter 20 patients were operated on through an endoscopically guided, direct endonasal exposure, without any submucosal dissection of the nasal septum. The operative morbidity, the duration of surgery, and the length of hospitalization for each group were compared. RESULTS The sphenoid sinus exposure obtained through the endonasal route was comparable with the transseptal approach and was adequate for resection of most pituitary tumors. Although the morbidity of the two approaches was similar, patients undergoing the endonasal operation had less postoperative facial pain. Furthermore, the endonasal approach significantly decreased the length of the operation (116 minutes vs. 161 minutes, p = 0.002) and the duration of hospitalization (3.6 vs. 5.1 days, p = 0.003) as compared with the transseptal route. CONCLUSIONS Morbidity of the endonasal approach to the sphenoid sinus is comparable to that of a conventional transseptal approach. By eliminating the submucosal dissection, the endonasal approach reduces postoperative facial discomfort and decreases length of surgery and hospitalization.
Twitter, Public Opinion, and the 2011 Nigerian Presidential Election

This paper analyzes a corpus of Nigerian Tweets collected during the run-up to the 2011 Nigerian Presidential election and compares it with official election returns and polling data. We found that counts of the mentions on Twitter of the two major candidates correlated strongly with polling and election results when compared across the country's geopolitical regions, though the same data over represented two other candidates who did not fare as well in the polls or at the ballot box. Sentiment extracted from Twitter was less accurate in capturing mean levels of support for the two major candidates and, in particular, showed a strong negativity bias against the incumbent president. Twitter sentiment did mirror regional trends in the polling and election results though not as strongly as seen for mention counts. We demonstrate methodologically how to sample these data, extract sentiment, and compare this sentiment with ground-truth polling data and election results. Although social media clearly capture opinion about contentious issues, our results suggest that the opinion represented there may not always accurately reflect true public opinion.
High-Order Orthonormal Scaling Functions and Wavelets Give Poor Time-Frequency Localization

For a fairly general class of orthonormal scaling functions and wavelets with regularity exponents n, we prove that the areas of the time-frequency windows tend to infinity as n → ∞. This class includes those of Battle-Lemarie and Daubechies. In addition, if the scaling functions have at least asymptotic linear phase, then we prove that they converge to the "sinc" function and their corresponding orthonormal wavelets converge to the "difference" of two sinc functions.
The role of stem cells in liver repair and fibrosis

In response to liver injury or loss of liver mass, proliferation of mature liver cells is the first-line defense to restore liver homeostasis. In the setting of chronic liver disease, however, the ability of hepatocytes and cholangiocytes to proliferate is blocked and small bipotential progenitor cells are activated. Recent studies have established the role of these facultative progenitor cells in injury repair and fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease and in experimental models. Several signaling pathways linking progenitor cell activation and fibrosis have been identified, and there is increasing evidence that cross-talk (both physical and via soluble factors) between progenitor cells and myofibroblasts is essential for both fibrosis and parenchymal regeneration. Even more exciting are new data examining the cellular components of the progenitor cell niche, demonstrating that both resident liver cells and circulating cells from the bone marrow can function as stem cells, suggesting that there is a surprising degree of phenotypic plasticity such that progenitor cells can contribute to the myofibroblast population and vice versa. We highlight here recent findings from the literature demonstrating the cellular and functional complexity of the progenitor cell niche, and emphasize some of the important questions that remain to drive future research.
Fire Retardant Halogen-Antimony-Clay Synergism in Polypropylene Layered Silicate Nanocomposites

Nanocomposites of polypropylene-graft-maleic anhydride with organically modified clays have been prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Their combustion behavior has been evaluated using oxygen consumption cone calorimetry. Synergy is observed between the nanocomposite formed and conventional vapor phase fire retardants, such as the combination of decabromodiphenyloxide and antimony oxide. The presence of bromine and antimony does not affect the heat release rate curves of the virgin polymer.
Textbook Neglect of the Constant Coefficient

The authors argue that the textbook treatments of the constant term in regression analysis vary extensively and are often neglectful, incomplete, or even incorrect. Given the potential importance of the constant coefficient in theoretical and applied work, they develop the factors biasing the estimation of the constant term to support the argument that textbook discussions of the constant coefficient should be made as clear as that of the slope coefficients.
Electrochemical and Electronic Properties of Platinum Deposits on Ru(0001): Combined XPS and Cyclic Voltammetric Study

We report a combined X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and cyclic voltammetric study of Ru(0001) electrodes covered by platinum. The Ru(0001) surfaces were prepared in ultrahigh vacuum, transferred to an electrochemical cell, and covered with platinum using either spontaneous deposition or electrolysis tactics. The Pt 4f7/2 core level binding energies of the Pt/Ru(0001) electrodes prepared in this way were next studied as a function of Pt coverage. At 0.05 monolayer (ML), the binding energy is shifted by ca. 0.5 eV with respect to bulk Pt, but the shift decreases by 0.4 eV when the Pt coverage increases from 0.05 to 0.5 ML. The binding energy shifts are discussed in terms of the contributions from charge transfer and from lattice strain. We also studied the modes of growth of Pt islands on Ru(0001) by comparing estimates of the Pt coverage obtained from XPS and from cyclic voltammetry. At low Pt coverage, the islands have a monolayer height, but multilayer growth begins at a coverage of approximately...
All-electron local-density-functional theory of alkali-metal adsorption on transition-metal surfaces: Cs on Mo(001).

The electronic structure of a clean Mo(001) surface and the bonding between a dense [c(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2)] Cs overlayer with the Mo(001) substrate are studied using all-electron local-density-functional theory and the full-potential linearized augmented-plane-wave (FLAPW) method for thin films. We find that Cs(s)-Mo(d) interactions lead to a shift of the high-lying surface state at \ensuremath{\Gamma}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{} from 0.1 to 0.9 eV below the Fermi level and to a Cs(s)-Mo(d) band with an upward dispersion away from \ensuremath{\Gamma}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}. Furthermore, Cs(d)-Mo(d) interactions reduce the high Mo-surface-projected density of states at ${E}_{F}$ by shifting some of the Mo(d) bands [notably those midway between \ensuremath{\Gamma}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{} and M of the Mo(001) surface Brillouin zone] to larger binding energies. In addition, Cs is found to induce unoccupied adsorbate-surface states of Cs p and d character, located 0.8 eV above the Fermi level. Similar to the case of tungsten metal, the lowering of the work function of Mo(001) due to Cs adsorption is explained by the formation of multiple surface dipoles involving a polarization of the Cs 6s--derived states towards the transition metal and a counterpolarization of the Cs 5p states.
Diet, nutrition and agricultural development in Swaziland. 1. Agricultural ecology and nutritional status

Despite the importance of diet and nutrition as indicators of household well‐being, few agricultural development projects have incorporated such concerns into their research or project objectives. This paper presents results of a nutrition and food consumption survey carried out by the Swaziland Cropping Systems Project as part of its research to assess conditions and constraints faced by small farmers. Anthropometric measurements show stunting to be the most common nutritional problem in preschool children, while women show significant rates of both obesity and undernutrition. Differences in nutritional status correspond to regional differences in both climate and economic opportunities.
The Caenorhabditis elegans pumilio homolog, puf-9, is required for the 3'UTR-mediated repression of the let-7 microRNA target gene, hbl-1.

Abstract The Puf family of RNA-binding proteins directs cell fates by regulating gene expression at the level of translation and RNA stability. Here, we report that the Caenorhabditis elegans pumilio homolog, puf-9, controls the differentiation of epidermal stem cells at the larval-to-adult transition. Genetic analysis reveals that loss-of-function mutations in puf-9 enhance the lethality and heterochronic phenotypes caused by mutations in the let-7 microRNA (miRNA), while suppressing the heterochronic phenotypes of lin-41, a let-7 target and homolog of Drosophila Brat. puf-9 interacts with another known temporal regulator hbl-1, the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog of hunchback. We present evidence demonstrating that puf-9 is required for the 3′UTR-mediated regulation of hbl-1, in both the hypodermis and the ventral nerve cord. Finally, we show that this regulation is dependent on a region of the hbl-1 3′UTR that contains putative Puf family binding sites as well as binding sites for the let-7 miRNA family, suggesting that puf-9 and let-7 may mediate hypodermal seam cell differentiation by regulating common targets.
Experimental Verification of a Stability Theory for Periodic Cutting Operations

The stability of periodic cutting operations, the dynamics of which are described by linear differential-difference equations with periodic coefficients, is studied. A new stability theory that uses parametric transfer functions and Fourier analysis to obtain the characteristic equation of such systems is experimentally verified. The theory is applied to single-point turning of a compliant work piece with two degrees-of-freedom. The theoretical predictions of both the critical depth of cut for chatter-free turning and the corresponding chatter frequency were found to be in good agreement with the measurements obtained from actual chatter tests under various surface speeds.
Effect of aldosterone and dexamethasone pretreatment on sodium transport in rat distal colon in vitro.

Aldosterone and dexamethasone stimulate sodium absorption in the rat colon in vivo. In vitro, increased amiloride inhibitable short-circuit current (ISC) has been demonstrated following aldosterone or dexamethasone treatment. Since ISC bears no relationship to sodium flux (JNa) in the untreated rat colon, we measured JNa in partially stripped voltage clamped segments of rat distal colon. Our results demonstrate directly that continuous infusion of aldosterone or dexamethasone for 4–7 days stimulated amiloride inhibitable JNa by stimulating JNaM-S. The amiloride inhibitable portion of JNaM-S was highly correlated with and approximately equal to the amiloride inhibitable ISC. Amiloride had no effect in controls. We conclude that JNaM-S in the rat distal colon is only sensitive to mucosal amiloride after treatment with aldosterone or dexamethasone. the amiloride sensitive ISC in these treated tissues was a good measure of the amiloride sensitive JNa. Small differences between aldosterone and dexamethasone treatment were noted in the effect on transepithelial resistance, potential difference, and the ISC after amiloride.
Power-law behavior of power spectra in low Prandtl number Rayleigh-Bénard convection

The origin of the power-law decay measured in the power spectra of low Prandtl number Rayleigh-Benard convection near the onset of chaos is addressed using long time numerical simulations of the three-dimensional Boussinesq equations in cylindrical domains. The power law is found to arise from quasidiscontinuous changes in the slope of the time series of the heat transport associated with the nucleation of dislocation pairs and roll pinch-off events. For larger frequencies, the power spectra decay exponentially as expected for time continuous deterministic dynamics.
Psychopharmacologic Treatment of Cigarette Smoking

In summary, the entrance of the dental community into this area of treatment may have a significant impact on the reduction of smoking in our society. Dentists may be seeing smokers before the onset of disease and when they are ready to quit. Repeated patient visits offer a unique opportunity for follow-up. Presently, nicotine polacrilex is the only approved pharmacological FDA treatment. This is an ideal treatment for dentists to pursue because it is orally administered and effective through a proper chewing action. Other pharmacological agents (for example, antihypertensives) may require the followup of the physician. There are three key demands on the practitioner treating smokers: an understanding of the role of nicotine dependence in compulsive smoking; how to prescribe and educate in the proper use of nicotine polacrilex; and sympathy and a basic awareness of withdrawal and the psychological needs of patients undergoing cessation from smoking. This paper covers the rationale for development and use of nicotine polacrilex as well as some of the evidence for its effectiveness (relief of nicotine withdrawal) and efficacy (short and long term). The specifics of proper use have been described along with a brief overview of the psychosocial skills needed to succeed. The dentist offers a unique opportunity to reach enormous numbers of smokers in the battle against tobacco-induced disease and death.
The Effect of Turbulent Fluctuations in the Interstellar Gas and Magnetic Field on Faraday Rotation

The effect of fluctuations in both the interstellar electron number density and galactic magnetic field on the propagation of high frequency radio waves is discussed in terms of the frequency dependent Faraday rotation. It is shown that when the fluctuations are representative of large scale disturbances (1–102 pc) in the interstellar medium, then the observed Faraday rotation is not a measure of the line of sight integral of the product of the magnetic field with the electron number density. Since evidence has been presented elsewhere for believing that such large scale disturbances do exist in our galaxy, some care must be exercised in the physical interpretation of Faraday rotation measurements.
Visual laser ablation of the canine prostate with a diffusing fiber and an 805-nanometer diode laser.

Background and Objective: Although the popularity of visual laser ablation of the prostate (VLAP) as a treatment for symptomatic, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is increasing, the perceived advantages of VLAP over conventional transurethral electroresection of the prostate (TURP) is being debated because optimal technique and dosimetry for surgical lasers are still being refined. At this time, the 1.06 neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser and a laterally deflecting delivery system is the hardware combination most widely used for VLAP. Study Design/Materials and Methods: Reported here is a study of an alternate system, a 805-nm diode laser (Diomed 25® Diomedics, The Woodlands, TX) with a cylindrically diffusing fiber (Surgimedics Inc., The Woodlands, TX). Eight mongrel dogs were prostatectomized by transurethral irradiation of the prostate with 15,000 J of diode laser energy delivered via a fiber that diffuses the energy in a 1.5-cm-long cylindrical pattern. The dogs were sacrificed and prostates harvested at 3 hours and 1, 4, 7, 14, 21, 35, and 49 days after the procedure, fixed with 10% buffered formalin, and examined histologically. Results/Conclusions: It was found that this laser/fiber combination created volumes of tissue coagulation similar to those encountered in our previous work with the Nd:YAG laser in combination with both laterally deflecting and diffuser fibers, while offering the distinct advantages of simplified technique, lower cost hardware, and fewer postoperative complications in the dog model.
Development of a lightweight, underactuated exoskeleton for load-carrying augmentation

Metabolic studies have shown that there is a metabolic cost associated with carrying load. Several leg exoskeletons have been developed by various groups in an attempt to augment the load carrying capability of the human. Previous research efforts have not fully exploited the passive dynamics of walking and have largely focused on fully actuated exoskeletons that are heavy with large energy requirements. In this paper, a lightweight, underactuated exoskeleton design is presented that runs in parallel to the human and supports the weight of a payload. Two exoskeleton architectures are pursued based on examining human walking data. A first architecture consists of springs at the hip, a variable impedance device at the knee, and springs at the ankle. A second architecture replaces the springs at the hip with a non-conservative actuator to examine the effect of adding power at desired instances throughout the gait cycle. Preliminary studies show that an efficient, underactuated leg exoskeleton can effectively transmit payload forces to the ground during the walking cycle
Short-term wind generation forecasting and confidence interval estimation based on neural networks trained by extended Kalman particle filter

Short-term wind generation forecasting predicts wind power 24-hours into the future in hourly steps. Effective forecasting is important for reliability, electricity markets and transmission grids. It is however difficult in view of the intermittent nature of the wind generation. We previously presented a method of neural networks trained by extended Kalman filter. In this paper, the method of the neural networks trained by extended Kalman particle filter is developed to capture the stochastic feature of the wind generation. The key idea is to take differencing transformation on the wind generation since differenced data has the student t-distribution based on the data analysis. The method of neural network trained by extended Kalman particle filter is then developed. It runs several neural networks trained by extended Kalman filter in parallel, and dynamically weights them based on the particle filter algorithm. Because the forecasting accuracies can be volatile, the method of generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedastic is used to model the changes in residuals to improve predictions. Individual predictions from each neural network are then statistically combined to form the final forecasting. To accurately estimate the confidence interval, the dynamic covariance matrices are derived based on the differencing transformation. The overall dynamic covariance matrix is calculated by statistically combining all the covariance matrices. Numerical testing based on EIRGRID and ISO New England data demonstrates the significant values of our methods.
A Versatile Wide-Range Electrical Heart Stimulator

A versatile wide-range electrical stimulator has been built for stimulated fibrillation of the heart in animal experiments using readily available low cost IC's and general purpose instruments easily available in the laboratory or commercially. An outline of the whole system is presented along with a detailed description of the master control section which generates all the important trigger commands.
Texture Analysis for Automated Classification of Geologic Structures

Texture present in aeromagnetic anomaly images offers an abundance of useful geological information for discriminating between rock types, but current analysis of such images still relies on tedious, human interpretation. This study is believed to be the first effort to quantitatively assess the performance of texture-based digital image analysis for this geophysical exploration application. We computed several texture measures and determined the best subset using automated feature selection techniques. Pattern classification experiments measured the ability of various texture measures to automatically predict rock types. The classification accuracy was significantly better than a priori probability and prior weights-of-evidence results. The accuracy rates and choice of texture measures that minimize the error rate are reported
The effect of maternal PTSD following in utero trauma exposure on behavior and temperament in the 9-month-old infant

UNLABELLED In view of evidence of in utero glucocorticoid programming, and our prior observation of lower cortisol levels in 9-month-old infants of mothers with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) compared to mothers without PTSD, we undertook an examination of the effect of in utero maternal stress, as determined by PTSD symptom severity, and maternal cortisol levels on behavioral outcomes in the infant. METHODS Ninety-eight pregnant women directly exposed to the World Trade Center (WTC) collapse on 9/11 provided salivary cortisol samples and completed a PTSD symptom questionnaire and a behavior rating scale to measure infant temperament, including distress to limitations, and response to novelty. RESULTS Mothers who developed PTSD in response to 9/11 had lower morning and evening salivary cortisol levels, compared to mothers who did not develop PTSD. Maternal morning cortisol levels were inversely related to their rating of infant distress and response to novelty (i.e., loud noises, new foods, unfamiliar people). Also, mothers who had PTSD rated their infants as having greater distress to novelty than did mothers without PTSD (t = 2.77, df = 61, P = 0.007). CONCLUSION Longitudinal studies are needed to determine how the association between maternal PTSD symptoms and cortisol levels and infant temperament reflect genetic and/or epigenetic mechanisms of intergenerational transmission.
Occurrence of Pesticides in Shallow Groundwater of the United States: Initial Results from the National Water-Quality Assessment Program

The first phase of intensive data collection for the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) was completed during 1993−1995 in 20 major hydrologic basins of the United States. Groundwater land-use studies, designed to sample recently recharged groundwater (generally within 10 years) beneath specific land-use and hydrogeologic settings, are a major component of the groundwater quality as sessment for NAWQA. Pesticide results from the 41 land-use studies conducted during 1993−1995 indicate that pesticides were commonly detected in shallow groundwater, having been found at 54.4% of the 1034 sites sampled in agricultural and urban settings across the United States. Pesticide concentrations were generally low, with over 95% of the detections at concentrations less than 1 μg/L. Of the 46 pesticide compounds examined, 39 were detected. The compounds detected most frequently were atrazine (38.2%), deethylatrazine (34.2%), simazine (18.0%), metolachlor (14.6%), and prometon (13.9%). Statistically significant rel...
Influence and Power: The Types of Authority in the Process of Scripturalization

ABSTRACTMany scholars recognize the importance of authority in the process of scripturalization. The presence of words like “authority” and “authoritative” in definitions of the term “scripture” is ubiquitous. Many also identify authoritative status for a text as an important step on the way toward it becoming scripture. However, “authority” and the words that derived from it are ill-defined in most studies. Even when the term and its synonyms are defined, there is little empirical evidence for the type of reception described. Further, there is hardly any recognition of the various ways in which a text can be seen as authoritative (historically accurate, politically expedient, divinely inspired, etc.). This paper attempts to fill this gap in our knowledge by looking to ancient testimonies, which explicitly describe the reception of texts in order to discern the varieties of ways a text might be recognized as a notable source.
Hyalinizing clear‐cell carcinoma of salivary glands in fine‐needle aspiration

Hyalinizing clear-cell carcinoma (HCCC) is a recently described distinctive salivary gland neoplasm. Because of its cytoplasmic clearing and the bland nuclear features, HCCC resembles other tumors. The authors describe the cytomorphologic features of four cases of HCCC in fine-needle aspirates (FNA) and discuss the differential diagnosis. Fine-needle aspirates from 4 patients with primary HCCC of minor salivary glands were reviewed. Smears were stained with Diff-Quik and Papanicolaou stains. The cytologic features of the epithelial and the stromal components were analyzed. Cell blocks were prepared, and findings were correlated with prior or subsequent surgical specimens in each case. The smears contained numerous cohesive small and large epithelial cell groups and sheets which had sharp outlines and showed focal nuclear overlapping. The cells had uniform round to ovoid nuclei, granular chromatin, and small nucleoli. The abundant, well-defined cytoplasm was clear in many cells but denser in others. No myoepithelial cells or hyaline globules were identified. HCCC seems to have characteristic cytomorphologic findings on FNA smears. Because these cytologic features are not specific, and overlap with those of a number of salivary gland neoplasms that contain clear cells, a high level of suspicion, clinico-pathologic correlation, and examination of cell blocks are necessary to suggest the diagnosis. A diagnosis of HCCC by FNA was suspected in 3 of the 4 cases reported here.
Modeling and Tracking of Transaction Flow Dynamics for Fault Detection in Complex Systems

With the prevalence of Internet services and the increase of their complexity, there is a growing need to improve their operational reliability and availability. While a large amount of monitoring data can be collected from systems for fault analysis, it is hard to correlate this data effectively across distributed systems and observation time. In this paper, we analyze the mass characteristics of user requests and propose a novel approach to model and track transaction flow dynamics for fault detection in complex information systems. We measure the flow intensity at multiple checkpoints inside the system and apply system identification methods to model transaction flow dynamics between these measurements. With the learned analytical models, a model-based fault detection and isolation method is applied to track the flow dynamics in real time for fault detection. We also propose an algorithm to automatically search and validate the dynamic relationship between randomly selected monitoring points. Our algorithm enables systems to have self-cognition capability for system management. Our approach is tested in a real system with a list of injected faults. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach and algorithms
Class, Regionality, and Leisure among Urban Black Americans: The Post-Civil Rights Era.

This article discusses leisure behavior among Black Americans in the post-civil rights era. A model composed of social class and intragroup regionality variables is offered to explain leisure patterns. The analysis of empirical data collected by telephone interview (N = 311) in a southwest Chicago community revealed that the number of full-time employed adults in the household most accurately predicts participation across activities but that social class and regionality are also important variables. The analysis showed that participants in metropolitan activities are likely to be middle class, from the urban North, and live in families with two or more full-time employed adults. These findings suggest that explanations of Black American life in the post-civil rights era should include vertical as well as horizontal differentiation of the Black American social structure.
Femtosecond optical Kerr effect measurements in silicate glasses

The optical Kerr effect was measured with 130-fs laser pulses for a variety of metal-doped silicate glasses, including pairs of glasses with comparable refractive index and Abbe number but different dopant cations. The nonlinear response appeared to be instantaneous within the resolution of the experiment, matching the measured autocorrelation function of the incident laser pulses, and therefore potentially useful in ultrafast photonic switching applications. We explain the absence of any detectable slow nuclear components through a detailed time-domain analysis of the contributions to an optical Kerr effect measurement made with ultrashort pulses. This analysis describes nonresonant vibrational contributions that are temporally indistinguishable from electronic contributions. The measured third-order susceptibilities of the Ti-, Nb-, and La-doped glasses were significantly overestimated by semiempirical models based on linear material parameters, such as the model developed by Lines [J. Appl. Phys.69, 6876 (1991)] and the equation given by Boling–Glass–Owyoung [IEEE J. Quantum Electron.QE-14, 601 (1978)].