cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recurrent probabilistic dynamics: Applications to face recognition

Abstract The biological motivation for this work is to investigate the role of retinal image processing and the information content encoded in ganglia, LGN and higher levels of processing in the visual system that contribute to face recognition through combination of top–down and bottom–up recurrent dynamics. We propose a network model composed of three sub-structures that are probabilistic and dynamic with a time resolution for individual neuronal processes in the order comparable to the refractory period in spiking.
Vegetation dynamics in impounded marshes along the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, USA.

Data are presented on the vegetation dynamics of two impounded marshes along the Indian River Lagoon, in east-central Florida, USA. Vegetation in one of the marshes (IRC 12) was totally eliminated by overflooding and by hypersaline conditions (salinities over 100 ppt) that developed there in 1979 after the culvert connecting the marsh with the lagoon was closed. Over 20% recovery of the herbaceous halophytesSalicornia virginica, S. bigelovii, andBatis maritima was observed at that site after the culvert was reopened in 1982, but total cover in the marsh remains well below the original 75%. No recovery of mangroves was observed at this site. The second site (SLC 24), while remaining isolated from the lagoon during much of the study, did not suffer the complete elimination of vegetation experienced at the first site. At this location, mangroves increased in cover and frequency with a concomitant decrease in herbaceous halophytes.
Natural Morality, Descriptivism, and Non-Cognitivism

I attempt to identify a problem running through the foundation of R. M. Hare’s ethical prescriptivism and the more recent sentimentalism/ethical expressivism of Simon Blackburn. The non-cognitivism to which Hare and Blackburn’s approaches are committed renders them unable to establish stable contents for basic moral principles and, thus, incapable of conducting a logical analysis of moral terms or statements. I argue that objective-descriptive-natural ethical theories are in a much better position to provide a satisfying account of the logical analysis of moral terms or statements. Such ethical theories can arrive at basic moral principles with stable contents, thus paving the way for the kind of descriptive approach that can accommodate stable truth conditions. This, in turn, provides stable grounds for the logical analysis of moral terms and statements.
Adolescent mothers: what produces positive mother-infant interaction?

This study tested the following hypotheses about the relationship of the self-esteem of adolescent mothers and their interactions with their infants: that self-esteem would be positively related to positive interactions and that self-esteem would be directly related to responsiveness of mothers to infant behavior. Data were collected from observations of 36 mothers 13-19 years old attending an alternative urban school for pregnant and parenting adolescents. The Nursing Child Assessment Teaching Scale (NCATS) and the Hudson Index of Self-Esteem were used for data collection over a six-month period. It was found that mothers with more education responded significantly more appropriately to infant distress and more contingently to infant behavior. Higher self-esteem was significantly positively related to maternal response to infant distress. Low self-esteem was found in 41% of this population and those with the lowest self-esteem had the lowest Parent Contingency Scores and least satisfactory response to distress. Mother-infant interaction benefitted from paternal involvement (financial support or child care). Living situation was not significantly related to self-esteem or to mother-infant interaction. Involvement in this school program may be responsible for the relatively higher NCATS overall scores seen in this sample. The only demographic variable related to maternal self-esteem in this sample was that older mothers had more self-esteem. Further research is needed to assess the unexpected positive impact of paternal involvement. These findings indicate that nurses working with adolescent mothers may find assessment techniques helpful to design appropriate and effective interventions.
A field evaluation case study of the environmental and energy impacts of traffic calming

This study quantifies the energy and environmental impact of a selection of traffic calming measures using a combination of second-by-second floating-car global positioning system data and microscopic energy and emission models. It finds that traffic calming may result in negative impacts on vehicle fuel consumption and emission rates if drivers exert aggressive acceleration levels to speed up to their journeys. Consequently by eliminating sharp acceleration maneuvers significant savings in vehicle fuel consumption and emission rates are achievable through driver education. The study also demonstrates that high emitting vehicles produce CO emissions that are up to 25 times higher than normal vehicle emission levels while low emitting vehicles produce emissions that are 15-35% of normal vehicles. The relative increases in vehicle fuel consumption and emission levels associated with the sample traffic calming measures are consistent and similar for normal, low, and high emitting vehicles.
366 USE OF BUTORPHANOL FOR POST OPERATIVE PAIN IN CHILDREN

Butorphanol (B), a new synthetic agonist-antagonist type analgesic, was evaluated in 34 patients aged 4-12 years requiring a parenteral medication for relief of pain following elective surgical procedures. B was administered IM when, in the estimate of the patient or the recovery room staff, an analgesic was required. Doses of B ranged from 0.01 mg/kg to 0.02 mg/kg, with most patients receiving 0.015 mg/kg. Scores of pain intensity (0-3) and relief (0-4) were done prior to dosing and at hourly intervals for six hours following the dose, or until additional medication was required. Surgery included orthopedic (12), abdominal (5), non-cardiac thoracic (3), genitourinary (11) and miscellaneous (2) procedures. There were 19 male and 15 female patients. 16/34 patients continued to experience good pain relief at the end of the six hour observation period. The mean length of time to remedication was 5.0 hr. with a 6 hr. maximum given. The range was 2-6 hr. At any given dose, pain relief tended to be better and more prolonged in the younger patients. This may derive from the increased sedation seen with B in the younger children. There was no significant difference between the three doses used in degree or duration of analgesic effect. Except for one patient who experienced transient urinary retention, sedation was the only significant side effect seen. This is the first reported dose ranging study of pain therapy in children. B, at a dose of 0.01-0.02 mg/kg, provided good relief of post-operative pain in children.
Nonaxisymmetric Acoustic Radiation and Scattering From Rigid Bodies of Revolution Using the Surface Variational Principle

The surface variational principle (SVP), which represents the surface response as a series of basis functions spanning the entire surface, provides a global description of acoustic fluid-structure interaction that has many of the benefits associated with analytical methods. This paper describes the extension of SVP to model the interaction between the velocity and pressure on the surface of an axisymmetric body subjected to nonaxisymmetric excitation. Problems addressed are radiation due to arbitrary rigid body motion, and scattering associated with arbitrary incidence of a plane wave on a stationary rigid body. Numerical results are presented for flat-ended and hemi-capped cylinders. These results are compared to those obtained from the CHIEF-88 and SHIP-92 computer codes. The convergence properties of SVP are examined in detail, particularly for its requirements when ka is in the upper part of the mid-frequency range.
New species of Pseudosinella (Collembola) from Ascension Island

Three new species of the genus Pseudosinella from Ascension Island are described. One is a littoral species, one a surface species and one a cave—euedaphic form. They all share a number of characteristics unlike those seen elsewhere in the genus, and the latter two species, which are closely related, have unusual foot complex structures.
Postulational basis of the law of increase of entropy.

Abstract The law increase of entropy is shown to be a consequence of the central assumption, in the manner of Gibbs, for the construction of the ensemble that represents the physical system. It is no longer necessary to make two separate assumptions in the Gibbs-Tolman development of the bases of statistical mechanics.
MINORITY POLITICAL REPRESENTATION AND LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT POLICY

: This article examines the relationship between black and Hispanic political representation in local government and the economic development policy approaches pursued by city administrations. It asks whether the administrations of black and Hispanic mayors are more likely than other administrations to follow policy approaches that address the interests of minority residents. In each aspect of development policy examined, the results indicate that administrations of minority mayors are no more likely than other administrations to promote the interests of minority constituents.
Disseminated histoplasmosis in systemic lupuserythematosus: Case report and review of the literature

Abstract Objectives: To report a patient who developed both central nervous systemsystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and disseminated histoplasmosis and to review the literature regarding histoplasma infection in patients with SLE. Methods: MEDLINE review of the medical literature published in English. Results: Disseminated histoplasmosis occurs rarely in patients with SLE. The main risk factor is treatment with corticosteroids at doses of 20 mg/d or greater. Fever, dyspnea, pleurisy, and weight loss are typical presenting symptoms. The most commonly involved tissues are lung, liver, and bone marrow. In our patient, both SLE flare and disseminated histoplasmosis were present simultaneously. Conclusions: Opportunistic infection is an important complication of SLE and may be difficult to diagnose. Symptoms of infection may mimic those of a lupus flare, or conversely, symptoms may be masked by the use of corticosteroids. Fever, unexplained tissue involvement, atypical clinical patterns, and poor response to immunosuppressive therapy should alert the clinician to aggressively pursue evaluation of possible infection in patients with SLE.
Kinetics of Triscarbonato Uranyl Reduction by Aqueous Ferrous Iron: A Theoretical Study

Uranium is a pollutant whose mobility is strongly dependent on its oxidation state. While U(VI) in the form of the uranyl cation is readily reduced by a range of natural reductants, by contrast complexation of uranyl by carbonate greatly reduces its reduction potential and imposes increased electron transfer (ET) distances. Very little is known about the elementary processes involved in uranium reduction from U(VI) to U(V) to U(IV) in general. In this study, we examine the theoretical kinetics of ET from ferrous iron to triscarbonato uranyl in aqueous solution. A combination of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and density functional theory (DFT) electronic structure calculations is employed to compute the parameters that enter into Marcus' ET model, including the thermodynamic driving forces, reorganization energies, and electronic coupling matrix elements. MD simulations predict that two ferrous iron atoms will bind in an inner-sphere fashion to the three-membered carbonate ring of triscarbonato urany...
Charting future directions for research in jazz pedagogy: implications of the literature

This paper surveys and evaluates extant empirical research in jazz pedagogy. Investigations in the following areas are addressed: (a) variables that predict achievement in jazz improvisation; (b) content analyses of published instructional materials; (c) effectiveness of pedagogical methods; (d) construction and evaluation of jazz improvisation achievement measurement instruments; and (e) relationships between the construct of creativity and jazz improvisation achievement. A number of possible directions for future research are suggested, including possible extensions of research on instructional methodologies, assessment of achievement that considers group dynamics and the application of confluence models of creativity to jazz improvisation research.
Monoamine oxidase inhibition cannot account for changes in visual evoked potentials produced by chlordimeform.

Abstract Chlordimeform (CDM), a formamidine insecticide and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor, has recently been shown to produce large changes in visual evoked potentials of hooded rats (Boyes and Dyer, 1984a). Two experiments were performed to determine if the changes in evoked potentials were a result of the inhibition of MAO. In the first, the degree of inhibition of MAO in the brains of rats treated with chlordimeform (1.0–100 mg/kg, i.p.) was compared with that produced by pargyline (0.3–30 mg/kg, i.p.). Both compounds preferentially inhibited MAO-B, although MAO-A was substantially inhibited at larger doses. Pargyline was a relatively more potent inhibitor of MAO than chlordimeform, but not more efficacious. In the second experiment, pattern reversal evoked potentials (PREPs) and flash-evoked potentials (FEPs) were recorded from groups of rats after treatment with either saline, 0.4 mg/kg pargyline, 20 mg/kg pargyline or 40 mg/kg chlordimeform. The latter two groups were selected so as to have similar levels of inhibition of MAO, about 90% inhibition of MAO-B and 60% inhibition of MAO-A. The results showed a doubling of the amplitude of pattern reversal evoked potentials and increased latencies of the pattern reversal evoked potential and the flash-evoked-potentials in the chlordimeformtreated group, but no significant changes from saline control values in the pargyline-treated groups. These results confirm that chlordimeform is a MAO inhibitor at doses which produce behavioral and electrophysiological changes, but demonstrate further that the changes in visual evoked potentials produced by chlordimeform are not a direct result of the inhibition of MAO.
Association of LAR-like receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases with an enabled homolog in Hirudo medicinalis.

Abstract Receptorprotein tyrosine phosphatases (RPTPs) are thought to play important functionsin pathfinding and target recognition by growing neuronal processes. The leech RPTPs Hm LAR1 and Hm LAR2 are expressed selectively by central neurons, Comb cells, and peripheral muscle tissues in the Hirudo medicinalis embryo. To explore the functions of HmLARs, we have sought to determine their physiological substrates. We report here the cloning and embryonic expression of Lena, the leech homolog of Enabled, a cytosolic protein implicated in actin-based cell motility. Lena is expressed in embryonic central neurons and in the Comb cell. We present experimental evidences indicating that Lena associates selectively with the intracellular domain of Hm LAR1 and Hm LAR2. Additionally, RNA interference (RNAi) of Hm LAR1 in intact leech embryos leads to the hyperphosphorylation of Lena. We propose, therefore, that Lena is an in vivo substrate of Hm LAR1 in neurons and perhaps of Hm LAR2 in the Comb cells.
Gould's most cherished concept

Don’t get excited. Punctuated Equilibrium is not a long-lost manuscript but an edited reprint of Chapter 9 from Gould's [1]The Structure of Evolutionary Theory. Excluding the brief introduction (p37–48 of the original book), each chapter corresponds to a section from chapter 9 of Gould's original book, in which he laid out his views on the status of his most cherished concept shortly before his premature death.
A new configuration for coupling purge‐and‐trap/cryogenic focusing/capillary column gas chromatography with splitless injection mode

A new configuration for coupling a purge-and-trap unit to a capillary column gas chromatograph via a cryogenic focusing interface has been developed. In this configuration, the precolumn of the cryogenic focusing interface was inserted through the septum of a split/splitless injection port where it served as both sample transfer and carrier gas supply lines. The injection port of the gas chromatograph was modified by plugging the carrier gas and the septum purge lines. This configuration allowed for the desorption of analytes at high flow rates while maintaining low, analytical-column flow rates which are necessary for optimum capillary column operation. The capillary column flow rate is still controlled by the column backpressure regulator. Chromatograms of purgeable aromatics exhibited improved resolution, especially for early eluting components compared to those obtained by direct liquid injection using the normal splitless injection mode. Quantitative sample transfer to the analytical column afforded excellent linearity and reproducibility of compounds studied.
The Influence of Layer Outeropping on the Separation of Boundary Currents. Part II: The Wind- and Buoyancy-Driven Experiments

Abstract It is shown that the main characteristic of the Persons western boundary current separation mechanism, namely a separation south of the zero wind stress curt line (ZWCL), is no longer present when diabatic effects are included through the addition of a mixed layer to the model structure. When diabatic processes are taken into account, the separation is associated with the outcropping of interior layers into the mixed layer where the horizontal density gradient is a maximum. The maintenance of this maximum results from a balance between potential vorticity conservation and diabatic processes. In spite of wide variations in either forcing functions or parameters, the flow patterns of the thermally forced experiments described herein remain very similar from one experiment to the other. With a separation latitude located at the ZWCL. It is only when salinity is allowed to vary significantly in space that one observes a significant move in the jet separation latitude.
Minority participation in Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) Studies

Objective Participation of minority populations in clinical trials is paramount to understanding and overcoming cancer racial disparities. The goal of this project is to evaluate minority participation in published GOG clinical trials.
Employee Empowerment, Employee Attitudes, and Performance: Testing a Causal Model

The last three decades have witnessed the spread of employee empowerment practices throughout the public and private sectors. A growing body of evidence suggests that employee empowerment can be used to improve job satisfaction, organizational commitment, innovativeness, and performance. Nearly all previous empirical studies have analyzed the direct effects of employee empowerment on these outcome variables without taking into account the mediating role of employee attitudes. This article contributes to the growing literature on employee empowerment by proposing and testing a causal model that estimates the direct effect of employee empowerment on performance as well as its indirect effects as mediated by job satisfaction and innovativeness. The empirical analysis relies on three years of data from the Federal Human Capital Survey/Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey and a structural equation modeling approach, including the use of lagged variables. The results support the hypothesized causal structure. Employee empowerment seems to have a direct effect on performance and indirect effects through its influence on job satisfaction and innovativeness, two key causal pathways by which empowerment practices influence behavioral outcomes.
Catalytic reaction on FeN4/C site of nitrogen functionalized carbon nanotubes as cathode catalyst for hydrogen fuel cells

Abstract We utilized first-principles spin-polarized density functional theory (DFT) calculations to study the electrocatalytic reaction steps on FeN4/C site of carbon nanotubes. O2 molecule can be adsorbed and partially reduced on FeN4/C site without any activation energy barrier. The partially reduced O2 further reacts with H+ and e− through a direct pathway (DPW) and form two water molecules without any activation energy barrier. Through an indirect pathway (IDPW), there is an activation energy barrier of ~ 0.15 eV for the formation of the first H2O molecule. The formation of the second H2O molecule through IDPW does not have any activation energy barrier.
Use of two-dimensional ultrasonic imaging to measure pharmacologically induced vasomotion in rabbit aorta.

Abstract We have developed a novel method combining two-dimensional ultrasonic imaging and computerized edge detection to study the vasomotor responses of isolated arterial vessels to various pharmacological agents. Using this in vitro system, we studied the contraction and relaxation of rabbit aorta, respectively, to phenylephrine and acetylcholine. Quantification of these drug-induced changes in vessel wall diameter was achieved by computerized edge detection processing of the two-dimensional ultrasonic vessel wall images. Resolution of this imaging system was determined to be ± 0.27 mm. Dose-response curves obtained via this new method showed a high degree of correlation with data obtained by classical tissue bath techniques using ring segments. Two-dimensional ultrasonic imaging combined with computerized edge detection is a new and sensitive method to study vasoreactivity of whole, isolated arterial vessels to pharmacological agents.
Physiological correlates of steady potential shifts during sleep and wakefulness. I. Sensitivity of the steady potential to alterations in carbon dioxide

Spontaneous changes in the CO2 concentration of alveolar air (as an indicator of the pCO2 of arterial bloody) were recorded simultaneously with the SP changes occuring during the sleep-wakefulness cycle in cats and dogs. During desynchronized sleep, alveolar CO2 decreased by 0.1–0.4% in cats and by 0.3–1.0% in dogs. The decrease in CO2 concentration occurred at the same time as the negative SP shift recorded between the brain and an extra-cerebral point. During wakefulness CO2 also decreased. With arousal sufficient to produce an SP shift, it was not possible to obtain accurate measurements of alveolar CO2, but on return to slow wave sleep the alveolar CO2 showed an increase as the SP returned to previous slow wave sleep levels. The pCO2 of venous blood from dorsal sagittal sinus in dogs showed a decrease during both alert wakefulness and desynchronized sleep. Inhalation of CO2 by unanesthetized, unrestrained cats and dogs produced a positive SP shift even when the increase in CO2 concentration was nearly as small as the changes occurring spontaneously during the sleep-wakefulness cycle. The SP shifts produced by application of CO2 were, therefore, of the magnitude and polarity which would be expected if the changes in alveolar CO2 and therefore arterial pCO2, contributed to the production of the SP shifts occurring during the sleep-wakefulness cycle. However, it was suggested that whereas the changes in pCO2 of arterial blood may contribute to the production of the SP shift, the spontaneous arterial pCO2 changes probably are not primarily responsible for the SP changes observed during the sleep-wakefulness cycle.
A Numerical Model Study of Gravitational Effects and Production Rate on Solution Gas Drive Performance of Oil Reservoirs

A variety of mathematical models and solution techniques have been developed to calculate fluid flow in 3 dimensions and accounting for all known factors affecting flow in a system flowing 1, 2 or 3 phases. Numerical model simulations have been made of solution gas-drive performances covering a 500-fold range of oil production rates. By scaling theory, confirmed by calculation, these results were extended to all levels of permeability. Two-dimensional simulations were made in which the maximum total horizontal pressure drop was held to less than 20% of the average absolute pressure. These tests showed such small horizontal saturation gradients that comparative one-dimensional tests were made for the same producing rates. The model simulated was a linear segment 1,400 ft long x 25 ft high x 1 ft thick. For the 101-md model, oil-production rates ranges from 0.1 to 50.0 bpd. The production rates simulated correspond to a range of 2.48 to 1,280% of oil in place produced per year. At low rates vertical segregation was noted, and this affected the GOR and pressure performance. (40 refs.)
Vasopressin versus dopamine for treatment of hypotension in extremely low birth weight infants: a randomized, blinded pilot study.

Objective To evaluate vasopressin vs dopamine as initial therapy in extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants with hypotension during the first 24 hours of life. Study design ELBW infants with hypertension ≤30 weeks' gestation and ≤24 hours old randomly received treatment with vasopressin or dopamine in a blinded fashion. Normotensive infants not receiving vasopressor support served as a comparison group. Results Twenty ELBW infants with hypertension received vasopressin (n = 10) or dopamine (n = 10), and 50 were enrolled for comparison. Mean gestational age was 25.6 ± 1.4 weeks and birth weight 705 ± 154 g. Response to vasopressin paralleled that of dopamine in time to adequate mean blood pressure (Kaplan-Meier curve, P = .986); 90% of infants in each treatment group responded with adequate blood pressure. The vasopressin group received fewer doses of surfactant ( P 2 values ( P P Conclusions Vasopressin in ELBW infants as the initial agent for early hypotension appeared safe. This pilot study supports a larger randomized controlled trial of vasopressin vs dopamine therapy in ELBW infants with hypotension.
Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy

Cancer treatment frequently requires a multimodality approach, involving surgical resection(s), radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Advanced surgical approaches allow for the combination of two of these, offering patients intraoperative radiotherapy with surgical resection or intraoperative chemotherapy targeted and limited to a particular body region. The systemic toxic effect on nontargeted organs is always a concern in chemotherapy treatment. This potential limitation canminimize the dosage to that less than necessary for killing the intended malignancy. One option for overcoming this problem is administration of chemotherapy in a regionally limited method, which would expose the tumor to high drug concentrations yet reduce systemic exposure. In recent years, the practice of cytoreductive surgery combined with hyperthermic chemotherapy applied regionally has advanced as a treatment for cancermanagement. The incorporation of a hyperthermic variable improves the efficacy of numerous regionally administered chemotherapeutic agents. Malignant cells show a selective sensitivity to hyperthermia, and various causes have been hypothesized. On a cellular level, the tumor cells’ oxidative metabolism is inhibited, resulting in a lower pH and, in turn, an increase in lysosomal activity and cell death. In addition, membrane protein denaturation and an increase in vascular permeability may
'Quacking': A Sound Produced by Worker Honeybees after Exposure to Carbon Dioxide

SummaryWorker honeybees (Apis mellifera) recovering from CO2 narcotization emitted a distinctive ‘quacking’ sound consisting of a series of short notes, each possessing multiple harmonics and a fundamental frequency around 400 Hz. Quacking was usually accompanied by a distinctive ‘shoving’ behaviour. Paired bees ‘quacked’ more frequently than single bees. The similarity of worker quacking to certain variants of queen piping and worker piping is discussed.
Metric sex determination from the basal region of the occipital bone in a documented french sample

La determination du sexe a partir de vestiges du squelette revet une importance fondamentale pour les recherches medicolegales et bioarcheologiques. Dans cette etude, les differences sexuelles dans la morphologie de la region basale de l’os occipital ont ete mesurees dans une collection d’echantillons francais a l’aide de methodes classiques d’osteometrie. Nos resultats demontrent qu’un niveau faible de dimorphisme sexuel est observe dans les os de la base du crâne dans la mesure ou un faible nombre des variables mesurees presentent des differences significatives entre mâles et femelles. La precision d’une fonction de discrimination du sexe a ete mesuree par une methode de validation croisee sur la population d’origine et est notoirement plus faible que celle documentee dans d’autres populations. La precision maximale obtenue avec une methode de selection progressive est de 67,7 % pour une fonction de discrimination basee sur la longueur maximale du condyle occipital gauche et la distance minimale entre les condyles occipitaux. La meilleure fonction de discrimination univariee, basee sur la largeur de l’articulation bicondylaire, atteint une precision legerement plus faible de 67,6 % mais avec un biais sexuel plus fort. En conclusion, les analyses biometriques des dimensions des os de la base du crâne ne permettent pas de determiner le sexe avec precision dans cette population.
Anatomically Corrected Malposition of the Great Arteries {S, L, D}

The following is the first case of anatomically corrected malposition of the {S, L, D} type clinically diagnosed antemortem and only the second case recorded in the literature. The {S, L, D} notation indicates the segmental set of situs solitus of viscera and atria (S), ventricular l -loop (L), and d -malposition of the great arteries (D). This rare anomaly has the physiologic findings of complete d -transposition. Attempted surgical palliation was unsuccessful.
Reduced Angiotensin II and Oxidative Stress Contribute to Impaired Vasodilation in Dahl Salt-Sensitive Rats on Low-Salt Diet

This study investigated the role of impaired angiotensin II (Ang II) modulation in contributing to reduced vascular relaxation in isolated middle cerebral arteries (MCA) (100 to 200 microm in diameter) of normotensive Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) rats maintained on low salt (LS) diet (0.4% NaCl) for 9 to 10 weeks. MCA from SS rats on LS diet (n=6 to 9) constricted in response to reduction of perfusate and superfusate PO2 to 35 to 40 mm Hg or acetylcholine (ACh). Vasodilator responses to reduced PO2 and ACh were restored in SS.13BN consomic rats that are 98% genetically identical to SS rats, but exhibit normal regulation of their renin-angiotensin system (RAS). This restored dilation could be prevented by feeding SS.13BN rats high-salt (HS) diet (4% NaCl) for 3 days to suppress Ang II. A continuous intravenous infusion of a subpressor dose (3 ng/kg per minute) of Ang II for 3 days restored vasodilator responses to ACh and reduced PO2 in SS.13BN rats on HS diet and in SS rats on LS diet. Superoxide scavenging with tempol (100 micromol/L) restored vasodilator responses to ACh and reduced PO2 in MCA of SS rats on LS diet, but did not affect vasodilator responses in MCA of SS.13BN rats on LS diet. These data indicate that exposure to chronically low Ang II levels leads to impaired vascular relaxation in SS rats, even when the animals are on LS diet and normotensive. This impaired relaxation appears to be mediated by increased levels of oxidative stress in the arteries.
Fast electromagnetic analysis of dense shielded integrated circuits using the adaptive integral method (AIM)

The adaptive integral method (AIM) is used to accelerate the electromagnetic solution of dense integrated circuits inside metallic enclosures of rectangular cross section. The computational complexity and memory requirements for the proposed AIM-based electromagnetic solver scale as O(N log N) and O(N), respectively, where N is the number of unknowns in the discrete approximation of the governing integral equation. The accuracy and efficiency of the solver is demonstrated through its application to the modeling of a shielded patch array used for spatial power combining.
Electoral Security and the Provision of Constituency Service

We examine the relationship between legislators’ electoral environment and the provision of constituency service in the Texas State Legislature. Using fictitious constituent requests soliciting information on voter registration and a government program, we analyze the relationship between legislators’ previous vote share and the probability of legislator response. To account for possible simultaneity bias of constituency service and election results, we employ an instrumental variables approach. In contrast with previous empirical studies, we find that legislators’ response rates to constituent requests decreases in their electoral security across a wide range of model specifications that control for legislator-specific characteristics. We also investigate how electoral security affects legislators’ provision of legislative public goods and find some suggestive evidence that electoral security increases the number of bills legislators author, but has little effect on other measures of legislative production.
Cognitive Decline and Older Adults’ Perception of Stigma Controllability

Emerging research suggests that older adults who experience age-related declines in regulatory abilities may have more difficulty inhibiting their expression of negative bias to stigmatized individuals as compared with young adults. However, it remains largely unexplored why this might be. For instance, older adults may hold stigmatized individuals more accountable for their conditions as compared with young adults, which could subsequently increase their expression of negative bias. The current study investigated this question by testing 90 older adults and 44 young adults. Researchers found that older adults with relatively impaired executive function placed a greater emphasis on controllability when evaluating stigmatized individuals and rated the stigmatized conditions overall as being more changeable.
Commentary: On the Integration of Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship: Views of a Contrarian

“Nescire autem quid ante quam natus sis acciderit, id est semper esse puerum. Quid enim est aetas hominis, nisi ea memoria rerum veterum cum superiorum aetate contexitur? (To be ingorant of what oc...
Antibiotics, Pediatric Dysbiosis, and Disease

Antibiotics are by far the most common medications prescribed for children. Recent epidemiological data suggests an association between early antibiotic use and disease phenotypes in adulthood. Antibiotic use during infancy induces imbalances in gut microbiota, called dysbiosis. The gut microbiome's responses to antibiotics and its potential link to disease development are especially complex to study in the changing infant gut. Here, we synthesize current knowledge linking antibiotics, dysbiosis, and disease and propose a framework for studying antibiotic-related dysbiosis in children. We recommend future studies into the microbiome-mediated effects of antibiotics focused on four types of dysbiosis: loss of keystone taxa, loss of diversity, shifts in metabolic capacity, and blooms of pathogens. Establishment of a large and diverse baseline cohort to define healthy infant microbiome development is essential to advancing diagnosis, interpretation, and eventual treatment of pediatric dysbiosis. This approach will also help provide evidence-based recommendations for antibiotic usage in infancy.
Joint encoder and channel rate control of VBR video over ATM networks

Rate control is considered an important issue in video coding, since it significantly affects video quality. We discuss joint encoder and channel rate control for variable bit-rate (VBR) video over packet-switched ATM networks. Since variable bit-rate traffic is allowed in such networks, an open-loop encoder without rate control can generate consistent quality video. However, in order to improve the statistical multiplexing gain (SMG), an encoder buffer is essential to meet traffic constraints imposed by networks and to smooth the highly variable video bitstream. Due to the finite buffer size, some forms of encoder rate control have to be enforced, and consequently, video quality varies. We argue that a rate control scheme has to balance both issues of consistent video quality on the encoder side and bitstream smoothness for the SMG on the network side. We present a joint encoder and channel rate control algorithm for ATM networks with leaky buckets as open-loop source flow control models. The algorithm considers constraints imposed by the encoder and decoder buffers, the leaky bucket control, traffic smoothing, and rate control. The encoder rate control is separated into a sustainable-rate control and a unidirectional instantaneous-rate control. It can improve the problem of leaky bucket saturation exhibited in previous works. Experimental results with MPEG video are presented. The results verify our analysis and show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Free Ca2+ Gradient in Growing Pollen Tubes of Lillium

Fluorescence ratiometric imaging of Lilium pollen tubes loaded with the Ca 2+ indicator Fura-2 dextran has revealed a distinct elevation of free intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca 2+ ] i ) at the extreme tip of actively growing Lilium pollen tubes that declines to a uniform basal level of 170 nM throughout the length of the tube. The calcium gradient occurs within the first 10–20 μm proximal to the tip. Experimental inhibition of tip growth, usually achieved through the injection of the Ca 2+ buffer 5,5′-dibromo BAPTA, results in the loss of the [Ca 2+ ] i gradient. Occasionally these inhibited cells reinitiate growth, and when they do so ratio imaging reveals that the tip gradient of free [Ca 2+ ] i re-emerges. The results presented here are very different from those previously published by revealing the presence of the [Ca 2+ ] i gradient that is restricted to the 10–20 μm adjacent to the tube tip. Further, these experiments demonstrate a strict correlation between the presence of a [Ca 2+ ] i gradient, and tip growth in Lilium pollen tubes.
Regional structure and kinematic history of the Sevier fold-and-thrust belt, central Utah

Christie-Blick and Anders highlight worthwhile aspects of the debate over the magnitude of Cenozoic crustal extension associated with the Sevier Desert detachment of central Utah. We welcome this opportunity to expand the necessarily limited treatment of the Sevier Desert detachment in [DeCelles and
VRSync: characterizing and eliminating synchronization-induced voltage emergencies in many-core processors

Power consumption is a primary concern for microprocessor designers. Lowering the supply voltage of processors is one of the most effective techniques for improving their energy efficiency. Unfortunately, low-voltage operation faces multiple challenges going forward. One such challenge is increased sensitivity to voltage fluctuations, which can trigger so-called "voltage emergencies" that can lead to errors. These fluctuations are caused by abrupt changes in power demand, triggered by processor activity variation as a function of workload. This paper examines the effects of voltage fluctuations on future many-core processors. With the increase in the number of cores in a chip, the effects of chip-wide activity fluctuation -- such as that caused by global synchronization in multithreaded applications -- overshadow the effects of core-level workload variability. Starting from this observation, we developed VRSync, a novel synchronization methodology that uses emergency-aware scheduling policies that reduce the slope of load fluctuations, eliminating emergencies. We show that VRSync is very effective at eliminating emergencies, allowing voltage guardbands to be significantly lowered, which reduces energy consumption by an average of 33%.
Bcl-x(L) prevents the initial decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential and subsequent reactive oxygen species production during tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced apoptosis.

The Bcl-2 family of proteins are involved in regulating the redox state of cells. However, the mode of action of Bcl-2 proteins remains unclear. This work analyzed the effects of Bcl-xL on the cellular redox state after treatment with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) or exogenous oxidants. We show that in cells that undergo TNF-α-induced apoptosis, TNF-α induces a partial decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) followed by high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS scavengers delay the progression of mitochondrial depolarization and apoptotic cell death. This indicates that ROS are important mediators of mitochondrial depolarization. However, ROS scavengers fail to prevent the initial TNF-α-induced decrease in ΔΨm. In contrast, expression of Bcl-xL prevents both the initial decrease in ΔΨm following TNF-α treatment and the subsequent induction of ROS. Bcl-xL itself does not act as a ROS scavenger. In addition, Bcl-xL does not block the initial decrease in ΔΨm following treatment with the oxidant hydrogen peroxide. However, unlike control-transfected cells, Bcl-xL-expressing cells can recover their mitochondrial membrane potential following the initial drop in ΔΨm induced by hydrogen peroxide. These data suggest that Bcl-xL plays a regulatory role in controlling the membrane potential of and ROS production by mitochondria rather than acting as a direct antioxidant.
Pulmonary Hyalinosis in Dogs

Pulmonary hyalinosis occurred in Beagles exposed to radon daughters with uranium ore dust. The lesion was composed of alveolar cells distended with material positive for periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and oil red O that ultrastructurally consisted of a whorled arrangement of lamellar membranes suggestive of a storage disease. The high incidence in exposed dogs and the ultrastructural appearance suggested the material originated endogenously as a degenerative response to injury.
Intraoperative endoscopy in the management of patients with colorectal disease.

Preoperative colonoscopy is recommended in the evaluation of patients with lower gastrointestinal malignancies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the indications and impact on patient management in patients undergoing intraoperative endoscopy. This is a retrospective review of patient charts from February 1972 to July 1994 of 69 intraoperative endoscopic procedures performed in 54 patients during 54 operative sessions. The results of intraoperative endoscopy affected patient management in 29 of the 54 operative sessions (54%). This included 9 cases (17%) in which the planned surgical procedure was altered. There were no complications related to the endoscopies and 99% were completed successfully. Intraoperative endoscopy can provide important information that can alter the surgical management of patients with colorectal disease. This technique should be considered when intraoperative palpation fails to identify synchronous lesions identified on preoperative studies or in cases where the preoper...
A Functioning Multichannel Auditory Nerve Stimulator A Preliminary Report on Two Human Volunteers

This paper is a brief progress report on our work with two volunteers, each with 4 electrodes placed in his auditory nerve. We are performing stimulation studies to find out if multielectrode stimulation is more effective as a communication aid than single-electrode stimulation, and to gain insights on stimulus coding of environmental sound using sophisticated digital signal processing techniques.
Duality and the pseudoscalar mesons

The Lovelace-Veneziano model for the pseudoscalar-meson process PP → PP is considered with particular attention to the problematical requirement of ideal mixing for the pseudoscalar nonet. A solution to the problem which retains the narrow-resonance approximation for this process is found.
Collaborative Inquiry Tutors

Inquiry is an approach to learning in which students actively construct their own knowledge. Students ask questions and gather data to support and refute hypotheses. In inquiry students apply and transfer knowledge in addition to just acquiring it. Inquiry learning has many pedagogical benefits, including improved student reasoning ability, self-directedness, and understanding the scientific process. Inquiry-based methods help students remain active and develop an integrated understanding of concepts in their field. Inquiry skills improve student ability to acquire knowledge. When students manipulate artifacts themselves and think freely about problems, they become more actively involved and generally more systematic and scientific in their discovery of laws. Collaborative projects encourage students to work in teams to articulate, and reflect on knowledge, engage in active learning, and envision how knowledge is shared and extended. Collaborative student discourse promotes deep, and meaningful learning, and enhances students' reasoning skills. It often results in learning that outperforms the ability of the best individuals in the group, produces knowledge that none of its members would have produced by themselves, and leads to the generation of new ideas.
Antidotes for Bleeding Caused by Novel Oral Anticoagulants

Anticoagulation, the thinning of the blood to treat abnormal clotting, is used by physicians to treat existing clots and to prevent new clots. The inherent problem with anticoagulation is that it not only prevents abnormal clotting but also interferes with normal clotting. This was evident with the anticoagulant warfarin (Coumadin), with which, even with carefully monitored anticoagulation, serious bleeding complications sometimes occur.1 Warfarin, also known as a vitamin K antagonist, thins the blood by preventing the body from synthesizing several clotting factors required for normal coagulation. Those clotting factors all require vitamin K for their production. When warfarin-related bleeding complications occur, physicians reverse the warfarin anticoagulation, that is, return “thinned” blood to a more normal clotting condition, by following protocols that are in turn guided by the measured anticoagulation effect that warfarin induces. That measurement is done with a blood test called the international normalized ratio, which is readily available in hospital and outpatient laboratories. The international normalized ratio provides physicians with laboratory information that can help them decide whether to give extra vitamin K or to administer concentrated doses of the clotting factors to treat patients who are bleeding because of the warfarin. Over the past 5 years, 4 new (novel) drugs have come to market that …