cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Functional mapping of neural sites mediating prolactin-induced hyperphagia in doves.

Microinjections of prolactin (PRL) into the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMN) or the preoptic area (POA) have been previously shown to increase food intake and body weight in ring doves. In an attempt to corroborate these results and to provide a more complete map of PRL-sensitive brain sites mediating the orexigenic action of PRL, a microinjection procedure was employed in the present study that delivered PRL or saline vehicle in extremely small volumes (10 nl/injection) to a variety of diencephalic sites in dove brain that had been previously demonstrated to contain high concentrations of PRL receptors. Estimates obtained from one female subject given a single 10 nl injection of [125I]ovine PRL into the VMN supported the claim that such injection volumes resulted in limited diffusion, as 80% of the tissue radioactivity was found within a 280 mm area surrounding the injection site at 30 min after injection. Food intake of cannulated male doves in the mapping study was monitored daily during a 6 day baseline period, an initial 4 day treatment period, a 6–12 day post-treatment recovery period, and a second 4 day treatment period. Approximately half of the birds received PRL injections (50 ng/10 nl twice daily) and saline vehicle injections (10 nl twice daily) during the first and second treatment periods, respectively, while remaining birds received these treatments in the reverse order. No significant changes in food intake across baseline, vehicle, post-treatment, or PRL treatment periods were observed in birds with injection sites in the lateral POA, paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), or the medial-basal hypothalamic region between the tuberal hypothalamus (TU) and VMN. In contrast, injections of PRL into the VMN area, medial POA, or TU resulted in average daily food intake values that significantly exceeded those recorded during other periods. The most robust feeding response was seen in the VMN group, where PRL injections resulted in a 58% increase in food intake over that recorded during injection of vehicle. This increase was significantly greater than that observed following PRL injections into the mPOA (26%) or the TU (32%). These findings suggest that the VMN may be a primary site of PRL action in promoting hyperphagia in this species, although PRL effects at other diencephalic loci, such as the mPOA and TU, may also contribute to the orexigenic action of this hormone.
Mortality and air pollution - lessons from statistics

Abstract This paper reviews cross sectional studies which attempt to link persistent geographic differences in mortality rates with air pollution. Some early studies are mentioned and detailed results are given for seven major contemporary studies, two of which are still in the publication process. Differences among the studies are discussed with regard to statistical techniques, trends in the results over time (1959–1974), and interpretation and use of the results. The analysis concludes that there are far too many problems with this technique to allow causality to be firmly established, and thus the results should not be used for cost benefit or policy analysis.
Astrocytes contribute to regulation of extracellular calcium and potassium in the rat cerebral cortex during spreading depression.

Abstract This study used spreading depression (SD), which is characterized by redistribution of ions, to examine the role of astrocytes in the regulation of extracellular potassium ([K+]o) and calcium ([Ca2+]o) levels. Recurrent spreading depression episodes were induced by application of 3 M potassium chloride to the cortex of adult anesthetized rats while monitoring the extracellular direct current (DC) potential shifts and changes in [K+]o or [Ca2+]o 6–7 mm away. The reversible glial toxins, fluorocitrate (FC) and fluoroacetate (FA), were injected locally into the cortex at doses that are selective for reducing glial function. The peak changes and area under the curve for [K+]o and [Ca2+]o, recovery rate for [K+]o, and interval between spreading depression episodes were measured before and at various times after administration of the toxins. Both fluorocitrate and fluroacetate slowed the recovery of the [K+]o and altered the recovery of the [Ca2+]o. Local injection of glutamate uptake inhibitors or barium had no effect on the peak changes in [K+]o or the rate of recovery of the [K+]o. The slowing of the recovery rate is consistent with the hypothesis that glial cells play a role in the return of [K+]o to baseline after spreading depression in the cortex in vivo. The change in movement of calcium after administration of FC suggests that astrocytes normally extrude calcium during spreading depression, resulting in rapid recovery of the levels of [Ca2+]o with an overshoot. These findings demonstrate that astrocytes contribute to the regulation of both potassium and calcium during and after a stress to the ionic homeostatic mechanisms.
Ultrasound therapy amplifies chemotherapeutic effectiveness in head and neck cancer

Microbubble (MB) mediated ultrasound (US) therapy is a novel technique to non-invasively enhance cancer treatment by increasing cell membrane permeability and vascular extravasation. The objective of this experiment is to determine if MB-mediated US therapy can improve cancer therapy, specifically cisplatin or cetuximab, in head and neck cancer. In vitro experiments included combination chemotherapy and MB-mediated US therapy on head and neck cancer cell line, SCC-5, and dose curve responses to therapy. In vivo experimentation included a four week study of MB-mediated US therapy compared to current standard therapy of drug alone. Monitoring of tumor response to therapy included caliper measurements, diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (DW-MR) imaging, and immunohistologic analysis. Anti-tumor effects increased by over 50% when combining MB-mediated US therapy with cetuximab and cisplatin (P = 0.01, P = 0.02). MBmediated US therapy was seen to produce as additive effect by increasing localized delivery of drug in head and neck cancer. This technique shows potential for improved localized therapy in cancer.
Inference for ecological dynamical systems: a case study of two endemic diseases.

A Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo method is used to infer parameters for an open stochastic epidemiological model: the Markovian susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) model, which is suitable for modeling and simulating recurrent epidemics. This allows exploring two major problems of inference appearing in many mechanistic population models. First, trajectories of these processes are often only partly observed. For example, during an epidemic the transmission process is only partly observable: one cannot record infection times. Therefore, one only records cases (infections) as the observations. As a result some means of imputing or reconstructing individuals in the susceptible cases class must be accomplished. Second, the official reporting of observations (cases in epidemiology) is typically done not as they are actually recorded but at some temporal interval over which they have been aggregated. To address these issues, this paper investigates the following problems. Parameter inference for a perfectly sampled open Markovian SIR is first considered. Next inference for an imperfectly observed sample path of the system is studied. Although this second problem has been solved for the case of closed epidemics, it has proven quite difficult for the case of open recurrent epidemics. Lastly, application of the statistical theory is made to measles and pertussis epidemic time series data from 60 UK cities.
In-flight acoustic results from an advanced-design propeller at Mach numbers to 0.8

Acoustic data for the advanced-design SR-3 propeller at Mach numbers to 0.8 and helical tip Mach numbers to 1.14 are presented. Several advanced-design propellers, previously tested in wind tunnels at the Lewis Research Center, are being tested in flight at the Dryden Flight Research Facility. The flight-test propellers are mounted on a pylon on the top of the fuselage of a JetStar airplane. Instrumentation provides near-field acoustic data for the SR-3. Acoustic data for the SR-3 propeller at Mach numbers up to 0.8, for propeller helical tip Mach numbers up to 1.14, and comparison of wind tunnel to flight data are included. Flowfield profiles measured in the area adjacent to the propeller are also included.
Microdebrider tonsillectomy associated with more intraoperative blood loss than electrocautery.

Abstract Objective To describe and compare the intraoperative blood loss in children who underwent tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy during a transition from using electrocautery to a microdebrider. Methods Retrospective case series of a single pediatric otolaryngologist at an urban general hospital. Patients aged 2–20 years who had tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy, or adenotonsillectomy over a 12 month period were included. Tonsillectomy was performed by microdebrider or electrocautery and adenoidectomy was performed by microdebrider, curette, or suction electrocautery. Total intraoperative blood loss was measured and compared between surgical techniques. Results Of the 148 patients, 109 had tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy and 39 had adenoidectomy alone. The mean blood loss was 47 ml or 1.8 ± 1.6 ml/kg and the maximum blood loss was 11 ml/kg. Adenoid curette and adenoid microdebrider yielded similar blood loss but were associated with more bleeding than suction electrocautery ( P P = 0.0002). Eighteen percent of adenotonsillectomy patients lost greater than 5% of calculated circulating blood volume (95% CI, 9.8–26). Linear regression models did not show an association between the amount of blood loss and patient age, clinical indication, or the surgeon's experience with the microdebrider ( P > 0.05). Conclusions Microdebrider tonsillectomy is associated with more intraoperative bleeding than electrocautery tonsillectomy. Approximately twice as much blood was lost with the microdebrider, but the absolute increase was insignificant from a hemodynamic perspective.
Changes in the metabolic responses of brain tissue to stimulation, in vitro, produced by in vivo administration of methyl mercury.

Abstract Electrical stimulation of rat cerebral cortex slices produced responses in the redox state of nicotinamide-adenine dinueleotides (NAD(P)) ∗ and cytochrome intermediates which were measured spectrophotometrically. These responses could be divided into three distinct phases: (1) an initial oxidative phase, followed by (2) a reductive phase and (3) a relaxation to the prestimulation baseline. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to intraperitoneal injections of methyl mercuric chloride in doses ranging from 0.005 to 2.0 mg/kg per day for a period of 14 days. Methyl mercury enhanced the reductive response at low doses and inhibited at higher doses. At doses of 0.05 mg/kg per day and higher, methyl mercury significantly inhibited the reoxidation of NAD(P) reduced by electrical stimulation. An increase in the media potassium concentration from 3 to 30 mM resulted in an initial oxidation followed by a net reduction of NAD(P). Inhibition of the initial oxidative phase of the response to potassium stimulation became evident at doses above 0.15 mg/kg per day. The reductive response of the NAD(P) to addition of potassium was also enhanced by low doses of methyl mercury. In contrast to results with electrical stimulation, inhibition of this response at high doses was not as apparent. However, aerobic glycolytic rate in response to addition of potassium was found to be inhibited at 2.0 mg/kg per day. These results are discussed in terms of the necessary integration of energy metabolism with the function of brain.
Tunnel current through AlAl2O3Al structures in the case of non-uniform Al2O3 layer thickness

Abstract This paper deals with the tunnel current through the AlAl2O3Al sandwich structures. It is shown that a model based on nonuniform thickness (NTM) of insulating Al2O3 film can well explain observed discrepancies between the experimental and the theoretical tunnel I–V characteristics in these structures. It is pointed out that the NTM is particularly successful in explaining the experimentally observed relation between the dielectric layer thickness determined from tunnel current (sT) and from capacitance measurements (sc). This experimentally determined ratio s T /s c ≈ 1 2 corresponds to the 10–20 orders of magnitude difference between the theoretical and experimental tunnel current. The results of structural studies of γ-modification of Al2O3 under the assumption of the NTM, predict for the ratio between the tunnel and capacitance thickness ST/Sc values 0.4–0.6, and thus provide good agreement between theory and experiment. In addition, NTM can explain other properties of the experimental tunnel current, such as values of 10−3-10−1 for the ratio of the effective and geometric areas σeff/σgeom, experimentally observed by Pollack and Morris from breakdown phenomena.
On procedures for the measurement of questions in quantum mechanics

It is shown that there exist observablesA and Borel setsE such that the procedure “measureA and give as output the number 1 (0) if theA measurement outcome is (is not) inE” does not correspond to a measurement of the proposition observable ℰA(E) usually assigned to such procedures. This result is discussed in terms of limitations on choice powers of observers.
Effects of adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate, dibutyryl adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate, aminophylline, and imidazole on renal cellular calcium metabolism.

The effects of cAMP, dibutyryl cAMP (DBcAMP), aminophylline, and imidazole on total cell calcium, calcium transport, and distribution were studied in cultured kidney cells by kinetic analysis of 45Ca uptake and desaturation curves. Low concentrations of the cyclic nucleotides (10-7 and 10-5 M) increase the total cell calcium, all intracellular exchangeable pools, and calcium transport between all cellular compartments. Aminophylline (1 mM) has effects qualitatively similar to cAMP and DBcAMP, while imidazole has opposite effects. At concentrations of 15 and 40 mM, imidazole depresses the total cell calcium and the cellular exchangeable calcium. Compared to the effects of parathyroid hormone (PTH), the changes obtained with 10-7 and 10-5 M cAMP are relatively modest, but higher concentrations (10 3 M) of both cAMP and DBcAMP produce stimulations as marked as with 15 ng/ml PTH. The most dramatic changes are seen in the mitochondrial calcium pool and in the mitochondrial calcium exchange, which increase betw...
Power-efficient rate scheduling in wireless links using computational geometric algorithms

Energy efficiency has become increasingly critical in designing and operating wireless networks, especially for mobile ad hoc networks consisting of portable mobile wireless computing/communication devices powered by limited battery capacity. Since the energy required to transmit a given amount of data is a convex and monotonically increasing function of the transmission rate [5, 12], theoretically one can improve energy efficiency by transmitting data at lower rates. Unfortunately, low data rates result in longer transmission duration and larger communication delay at receiving end, which is usually undesirable. How to optimally schedule transmission process to both minimize the total power consumption and observe all time constraints (available times and transmission deadlines) is a challenging and interesting problem.In this paper, we propose a technique to solve the above rate scheduling problem by transforming it into finding the shortest path between two vertices of a two dimensional polygon, which yields an elegant analytical solution and easy-to-prove optimality. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first solution to the rate scheduling problem in its general form.
The impact of a formal mentorship program in an anesthesiology academic department

INTRODUCTION: A mentor is a person who has acquired experience and seniority; who is more than a teacher or colleague; who serves as a sponsor, advisor and role-model; who has the time to counsel and support more junior people; a person whose high standards of excellence a protege can emulate.12 In a previous survey of anesthesiologists, 71% (32/45) rated mentoring as important/very important.3 This study was designed to assess the impact for these anesthesiologists of mentorship after participating in a two-hour interactive faculty development mentorship workshop.
Repair of orbital floor fractures: Application of biomater als in plastic surgery

Abstract The perfect reconstructive material for orbital floor fractures remains elusive. However, recent advances in the development of bioresorbable materials has broadened the surgeon's choice of options for the clinical use and application of such materials. Previously, fractures of this nature were reconstituted with a variety of metallic plating devices or silicone. Today, reconstructive surgeons have a number of additional different options to support repaired orbital contents. The identification and application of noninflammatory and nonallergic, sufficiently rigid biomaterials (that persist over a finite period of time permitting complete bony reconstitution) remains an exciting future topic for clinicians and researchers.
Territorial Issues and Recurrent Conflict

It is well established that territorial issues are highly conflict prone. Furthermore, dyads encountering conflicts over territory should be expected to fight more frequently, with shorter durations of peace than other dyads. However, the growing literature examining factors leading to the recurrence of conflict has largely ignored the impact of territorial issues, focusing instead on factors such as the type of dispute settlement. In this article, I seek to examine the relationship between territorial issues, settlements, and conflict recurrence through survival analyses of the periods of peace following 2,974 dyadic militarized interstate disputes between 1816 and 2001.
Relevance assessments and retrieval system evaluation

Abstract Two widely used criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of information retrieval systems are, respectively, the recall and the precision. Since the determination of these measures is dependent on a distinction between documents which are relevant to a given query and documents which are not relevant to that query, it has sometimes been claimed that an accurate, generally valid evaluation cannot be based on recall and precision measures. A study was made to determine the effect of variations in relevance assessments on the average recall and precision values used to measure retrieval effectiveness. Using a collection of 1200 documents in information science for test purposes, it is found that large scale differences in the relevance assessments do not produce significant variations in average recall and precision. It thus appears that properly computed recall and precision data may represent effectiveness indicators which are generally valid for many distinct user classes.
Energy efficient mapping and voltage islanding for regular NoC under design constraints

Computational energy consumption of the processing elements (PEs) of a NoC can be significantly reduced by scaling down their voltage levels. This creates clusters of adjacent PEs operating at the same voltage level, known as voltage islands. Excessive number of voltage islands is undesirable from the physical design perspective and due to the overhead of level shifter energy consumption between adjacent voltage islands. Considering these issues during mapping of the PEs to the NoC routers, can potentially lead to acceptable solutions with reduced overall energy consumption. In this paper, we formulate the mapping problem as an optimisation problem. We present both optimal solution, obtained by solving a mixed integer linear program (MILP), and heuristic solution based on random greedy selection. Experimental results using benchmark and real applications show that the heuristic finds near-optimal solution in almost all cases in a very small fraction of the time required to achieve the optimal solution.
Rapid light-evoked potentials at extremes of pH from the frog's retina and pigment epithelium, and from a synthetic melanin.

Abstract Intense light flashes elicit potentials of extremely short latency from both the retina and the pigment epithelium of the frog's eye at pH 1 and pH 13. The polarity of these responses is a function of pH, but is independent of whether light strikes the preparation from above or below. The potentials from the pigment epithelium persist after treatment of the cells with urea or sodium lauryl sulphate in concentrations adequate to damage the cell membrane, and similar potentials may be demonstrated from a synthetic pigment derived by oxidation of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalaninein vitro. Since the latter potentials are photovoltaic in origin, it is probable that solid-state mechanisms underlie acid and alkali responses of the pigment cell and by analogy, the retina. The demonstration of such potentials adds support to earlier suggestions that solid-state mechanisms are involved in the rapid responses of the retina and pigment epithelium at normal pH.
Campus learning spaces: meeting students' current and future needs

The University of Washington (UW) has historically met students' general-access computing needs through a combination of large computing centers and distributed workstations. In June 2010, however, one of the two large general-access computing centers was closed. This closure presents an opportunity for the UW to reassess its model of providing computing services and to identify new opportunities for meeting students' evolving needs. While the UW will continue to maintain one general-access computing center and numerous distributed workstations, new spaces and services are being developed on campus that will support students' use of their own hardware (laptops, netbooks, or other devices).In autumn 2009, UW Information Technology conducted both an online survey and a series of focus groups in order to increase our knowledge of how students currently use UW-provided and personal computers while on campus, the problems they encounter when using these resources, and their current and future needs. More than 3,250 students participated in our research. This paper will discuss research findings and recommendations. The UW is also improving student spaces and introducing new services in order to meet the needs identified by this research. Planned changes include: increasing wireless, electrical, and data capacity in several existing student spaces; designing a new library facility that supports both independent and collaborative activities; providing remote online access to high-end software; and introducing an online chat service for technical support
Surgical approaches to disrupt primary visual pathway in mammals

Abstract Current techniques, including two herein reported, to disrupt visual pathways are discussed with respect to their usefulness, reliability, difficulty, incidental damage as well as postoperative animal care and discomfort.
Utilizing metalized fabrics for liquid and rip detection and localization

This paper proposes a novel technique for utilizing electrically conductive textiles as a distributed sensor for detecting and localizing liquids (e.g., blood), damage (e.g., rips, cuts, bullet holes) and, potentially, biosignals. The proposed technique is verified through both simulation and experimental measurements. Circuit theory is employed to depict conductive fabric as a bounded, near-infinite grid of resistors. Solutions to the well-known infinite resistance grid problem are used to confirm the accuracy and validity of this modeling approach. Simulations allow for discontinuities to be placed within the resistor matrix to illustrate the effects of bullet holes within the fabric. A real-time experimental system was developed that uses a multiplexed, Wheatstone bridge measurement approach to determine the resistances of a coarse electrode grid across the conductive fabric. Non-uniform resistance values of the grid infer the presence of liquids and rips in the fabric. The resistor-grid model is validated through a comparison of simulated and experimental results. Results suggest accuracy proportional to the electrode spacing in determining the presence and location of disturbances in conductive fabric samples. Future work is focused on refining the experimental system to provide more accuracy in detecting and localizing events (although just the knowledge of a penetration may be adequate for some intended applications) as well as developing a complete prototype that can be deployed for field testing. Potential applications include intelligent clothing, flexible, lightweight sensing systems, and combat wound detection.
Giant umbilical cord associated with cord hemangioma

A 6-h-old girl was transferred to the Pediatric Surgery Department of Sisli Children's Hospital due to a giant umbilical cord. Radiologic and laboratory studies were within normal limits. The umbilical mass excised through an intraumbilical incision and the umbilicus reconstructed. Pathologic investigation demostrated an umbilical cord hemangioma located near the umbilical end, compressing the cord structures externally. The remaining cord consisted of loose, edematous stroma similar to Wharton's jelly. The patient was discharged from the hospital on the 5th postoperative day and remains healthy 1 year later. Umbilical cord hemangioma should be considered in the etiology of a giant umbilical cord.
Robust control design with real-parameter uncertainty and unmodeled dynamics

This paper presents a design methodology for the synthesis of a robust controller that accounts for both unmodeled dynamics and structured real-parameter uncertainty for multiple-input/multiple-output systems. The unmodeled dynamics are assumed to be characterized as a single block dynamic uncertainty at a point in the closed-loop system. In a design aimed at constraining both the H^ norm of a certain disturbance transfer matrix and a quadratic Gaussian performance index under their respective bounds, a surrogate system may be formed by modeling the structured real-parameter uncertainty as additional noise inputs and additional weights at the existing noise inputs and measurement outputs of the system. Application of a Riccati equation approach to this surrogate system then yields a robust controller that, when used in the actual system, will result in a closed-loop system that has the same H^ bound and quadratic Gaussian performance index bound as the surrogate system, even in the presence of given real-parameter variations.
Alternative Demand Model Estimators for Block Rate Pricing

: Three alternative demand model estimators for water sold under block rate tariffs are examined. The models are conceptually discussed and empirically estimated using cross-section and time-series data from Tucson, Arizona. While all three techniques produce plausible elasticity estimates, the ordinary least squares and censored sample techniques are shown to produce statistically biased results.
Prognostic value of an abnormal signal-averaged electrocardiogram in patients with nonischemic congestive cardiomyopathy.

BACKGROUNDAn abnormal signal-averaged ECG (SAECG) has predictive value for arrhythmic events in patients with coronary artery disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether an abnormal SAECG could provide prognostic information in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.METHODS AND RESULTSWe prospectively obtained SAECGs in 114 patients with dilated nonischemic cardiomyopathy. Twelve-lead ECGs, left ventricular ejection fractions, hemodynamic measurements, and peak exercise oxygen consumption (VO2) also were measured. An SAECG was defined as abnormal by any one of the three following criteria: filtered QRS duration > 120 msec, root-mean-square voltage in the last 40 msec 38 msec at 40 Hz. Sixty-six patients had a normal SAECG, 20 patients had an abnormal SAECG, and 28 patients had bundle branch block (BBB). Mean follow-up was 10 +/- 5 months. Age, ejection fraction, peak VO2, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and cardiac index were not stati...
On input/output stabilization of singular integrodifferential systems

In this paper we consider a class of systems described by singular integrodifferential equations. This type of systems appear, for example, in the modeling of certain aeroelastic control problems. We study these systems in frequency domain framework and show the existence of finite-dimensional stabilizing controllers. An algorithmic procedure is outlined for the construction of such controllers. In order to illustrate the numerical aspects of this algorithm, we present an example involving the classical Theodorsen model of an airfoil, which fits in the class of systems considered here.
A developmental basis for social support

Developmental theory is proposed as a basis for understanding how social support is learned. The effect of life events on learning about social support is described. Six themes common to the developmental process which help to shape individual perceptions about social support are outlined.
Influence of an endogenous lectin substrate on cultured dorsal root ganglion cells.

Dorsal root ganglion neurons normally contain a 14 500 molecular weight lactose-binding lectin, designated L-14. Although this lectin is developmentally regulated, and is localized to specific neurons as well as to specific areas of the rat spinal cord, its function in the nervous system is not known. In an effort to study the possible role of this lectin on peripheral neurons, they were dissociated and grown on substrates consisting of either L-14 or laminin, a molecule known to support neurite outgrowth. In contrast to the random distribution and fine neurites displayed by neurons on laminin, those growing on L-14 formed large aggregates with highly fasciculated neurite bundles. Experiments using plant lectins with sugar-binding specificity similar to that of L-14, as well as another endogenous rat lectin not present in neurons, resulted in essentially no neuronal attachment or neurite outgrowth. In addition, the effects induced by L-14 were not blocked by high concentrations of competing sugars, suggesting that it interacts with neurons by a domain distinct from its carbohydrate-binding site.
T incision for exposure of the distal radius and wrist.

A retrospective review of 66 T-shaped incisions for exposure of the dorsal distal radius and wrist was performed. The incision provided excellent exposure in all cases and no additional incisions were required. Cosmesis was considered acceptable by all patients. Complications occurred in 6% and were more likely in patients undergoing fixation of acute distal radius fractures using Kirschner wires which protruded through the skin flaps.
Hydration of tricalcium and dicalcium silicate mixtures studied using quasielastic neutron scattering.

Quasielastic neutron scattering was used to study the hydration reaction of tricalcium and dicalcium silicate mixtures by following the fixation of hydrogen into the reaction products, and by applying hydration models to the data. The reaction kinetics were well-described by an Avrami-derived model for the nucleation and growth regime during early hydration times and a diffusion-limited model for later periods. This study showed that the hydration reaction is not a simple linear combination of the reactions for the individual components. Compressive strength tests correlated with the neutron scattering data, suggesting that the details of the interaction affect the microstructure and therefore the strength of the product. Results suggest that favorable reaction mechanics provide optimal strength when an 80−95% tricalcium silicate and 20−5% dicalcium silicate mixture is used.
From common signalling components to cell specific responses: insights from the cereal aleurone

Studies into the molecules underlying plant signal transduction events continue to reveal the involvement of highly conserved factors such as Ca2+, calmodulin, cyclic GMP and phospholipases in a remarkably diverse array of physiological processes. The hormonal response systems in the aleurone cells of the cereal grain and in the stomatal guard cell are beginning to reveal how diversity of response can be hard wired into these cells despite the use of these common signalling intermediates. In both the aleurone and the guard cell ABA signalling operates through the action of phospholipase D and alterations in a Ca2+-dependent signalling system. The role of phospholipase D is highly analogous in these two divergent cell types, perhaps reflecting the closeness of this enzyme to a conserved ABA receptor. However, specificity in response becomes evident in elements downstream from PLD, such as in the Ca2+ signalling system. For example, ABA has opposite effects on cytoplasmic Ca2+ in the aleurone and guard cell. Combining the Ca2+-dependent signalling activities in networks with parallel regulatory activities such as cyclic GMP appears to underlie the flexible regulatory systems that are the hallmark of plant cell function.
Correlated multisecond oscillations in firing rate in the basal ganglia: modulation by dopamine and the subthalamic nucleus

Previous studies from this laboratory have shown that many neurons in the basal ganglia have multisecond (<0.5 Hz) periodicities in firing rate in awake rats. The frequency and regularity of these oscillations are significantly increased by systemically injected dopamine (DA) agonists. Because oscillatory activity should have greater functional impact if shared by many neurons, the level of correlation of multisecond oscillations was assessed by recording pairs of neurons in the globus pallidus and substantia nigra pars reticulata in the same hemisphere, or pairs of globus pallidus neurons in opposite hemispheres in awake, immobilized rats. Cross-correlation (90-180 s lags) and spectral analysis were used to characterize correlated oscillations. Thirty-eight percent of pairs recorded in baseline (n=50) demonstrated correlated multisecond oscillations. Phase relationships were near 0 or 180 degrees. DA agonist injection significantly increased the incidence of correlation (intra- and interhemispheric) to 94% (n=17). After DA agonist injection, phase relationships of globus pallidus/substantia nigra neuron pairs were exclusively concentrated near 180 degrees, and phases of interhemispheric pairs of globus pallidus neurons were concentrated near 0 degrees. After subthalamic nucleus lesion (n=8), the incidence of correlated multisecond oscillations (or of multisecond oscillations per se) was not changed, although the consistent phase relationship between the globus pallidus and substantia nigra pars reticulata was disrupted. Subthalamic lesion also blocked apomorphine-induced decreases in oscillatory period and increases in oscillation amplitude, and significantly attenuated apomorphine-induced changes in mean firing rate. The data demonstrate that multisecond oscillations in the basal ganglia can be correlated between nuclei, and that DA receptor activation increases the level of correlation and organizes internuclear phase relationships at these multisecond time scales. While the subthalamic nucleus is not necessary for generating or transmitting these slow oscillations, it is involved in DA agonist-induced modulation of mean firing rate, oscillatory period, and internuclear phase relationship. These data further support a role for DA in modulating coherent oscillatory activity in the basal ganglia, and for the subthalamic nucleus in shaping the effects of DA receptor stimulation on basal ganglia output.
Extraterrestrial Effects of Cosmic Rays

So far only interactions of cosmic rays with terrestrial matter have been investigated. If cosmic rays are present in interstellar and intergalactic space, they produce physical changes on extraterrestrial objects also. The question therefore arises if such changes are observable. The following considerations make it probable that this question is to be answered in the affirmative.
Influence of relative humidity on the photochemistry of DNA films.

Abstract 1. 1. Films of DNA were equilibrated at various relative humidities and then were irradiated with ultraviolet light at 25° so that changes in their photochemistry might be correlated with known conformational changes. 2. 2. Above 65% relative humidity the photochemical behavior of the films was the same as that in solution, with pyrimidine dimers, but few if any spore photoproducts, being formed. 3. 3. Below 65% relative humidity there was a 2-fold reduction in the yield of thymine dimers and a concomitant increase in the yield of spore photoproducts. 4. 4. These photochemical changes are consistent with the known conformational change in DNA films from the B form to a disorganized form as the relative humidity is reduced.
Monitoring Estrogen Compounds in Wastewater Recycling Systems

The presence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in treated wastewater is gaining attention due to their potential environmental impact. An analytical method was developed to quantify estrogen compounds in samples from a concentrated wastewater matrix typical of water recycling systems used in space. The method employed conventional HPLC with UV detection. Solid phase extraction (SPE) was used to isolate the compounds of interest from wastewater. Spike-recovery tests in clean and wastewater matrices were used to test the extraction process. The results of these experiments suggest that deconjugation is the most predominant reaction occurring in the systems, as effluent concentrations of free estrogens typically exceeded influent concentrations. Despite the long retention times of the system or the near infinite solids retention time, free estrogens were not removed from graywater representative of space waste streams. For a closed-loop wastewater treatment system, these compounds may accumulate to levels requiring other removal mechanisms (i.e., reverse osmosis).
The Impact of Flexible Automation on Business Strategy and Organizational Structure

This article presents a framework for explaining the technology-strategy-structure relationship in the context of the current trends toward flexible automation. By linking technology choices directly to a firm's external environment and by invoking the concept of “fit,” the framework places technology and strategy in a reciprocal relationship. The framework is used as a basis for examining the specific linkages arising from flexible automation and the posited relationship of this automation with strategy and structure. A set of research propositions is offered suggesting that superior performance can result when strategy and structure are congruent with the competencies and constraints of the firm's technological choice.
Sequence-based detection of mutations in cadherin 1 to determine the prevalence of germline mutations in patients with invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast.

Background Loss of cadherin 1 (CDH1) expression, which is normally involved in cell adhesion and maintenance of tissue architecture, is a hallmark of invasive lobular carcinoma (ILCA). Because hereditary cancers may require different risk reduction, counseling and treatment options than sporadic cancer, it is critical to determine the prevalence of germline CDH1 mutations in patients with ILCA.
Orienting micro-scale parts with squeeze and roll primitives

Orienting parts that measure only a few micrometers in diameter introduces several challenges that need not be considered at the macro-scale. First, there are several kinds of sticking effects due to Van der Waals forces and static electricity which complicate hand-off motions and release of a part. Second, the degrees of freedom of micromanipulators are limited. The paper proposes a pair of manipulation primitives and a complete algorithm that addresses these challenges. We show that a sequence of these two manipulation primitives can uniquely orient any asymmetric part while maintaining contact without sensing. This allows us to apply the same plan to many (identical) parts simultaneously. For asymmetric parts we can find a plan of length O(n) in O(n) time that orients the part, where n is the number of vertices.
Simulation: Fast Prototyping of a Goal-Oriented Simulation Environment System

Developpement d'une approche alternative pour le processus de simulation, proposant une automatisation de plusieurs phases du cycle de developpement. L'objectif du systeme d'environnement pour la simulation proposee est d'exploiter les liens entre la simulation et l'intelligence artificielle
Distributed kalman filtering based on severely quantized WSN data

This paper deals with recursive random parameter or state estimation for use in distributed tracking applications implemented with a wireless sensor network (WSN). Bandwidth and energy limitations encountered with WSNs, motivate quantization of individual sensor observations before their digital transmission to the fusion center, where tracking is to be performed. Recent results investigating the intertwining between quantization and batch parameter estimation with WSNs, hint that quantization to a single bit per sensor may lead to a small penalty in state estimation variance. Relying on a dynamical model, we derive a Kalman-like filter (KF) based on what we term "sign-differential" quantization, and establish that for all cases of practical interest, its asymptotic variance comes surprisingly close to the asymptotic variance of the clairvoyant minimum mean-square error KF state estimator which is based on the original (analog) observations. In a nutshell, this paper establishes the rather unexpected result that tracking with a WSN can simply rely on sensor observations quantized to a single bit
Husbands caring for demented wives: Sequelae of loss of wife as a support:

Epidemiological data suggest that men benefit more from marriage than women, and suffer more from widowhood. When older mens' wives have progressive dementia it may be especially difficult for husbands. Twenty-one husbands caring for a wife with progressive dementia were compared with age, sex, and education-matched married peers on the role of their wives as supports, general social support available to them and requested of them, as well as distress measures. Caregiving husbands were less likely to list their wives as a significant support source and reported feeling lonely more often. On average, caregivers reported one fewer social support network member and were significantly more distressed than their non-caring counterparts. No differences were found between caregiving and control husbands on the frequency of contacts with network members, closeness to members, and frequency of making or receiving requests for support. Caregiver distress was correlated with patient impairment, but not duration of c...
A Study of Wavenumber Integration Techiques

A detailed study is made of the Bouchon (1981) trapezoidal integration rule for evaluation of Sommerfeld integrals. A problem with non-propagating arrivals is found with integrands involving the zero order Bessel function. A mid-point rectangular integration rule is offered as a imperfect way to reduce this error. To test numerical evaluation of Hankel transforms, the Haskell (1963) wholespace solution is reformulated, and examples are given of the analytic, Bouchon numerical integration and mid-point numerical integration of the eight dislocation and two explosion Green’s functions.
Plasma Adiponectin, Clinical Factors, and Patient Outcomes during the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Objective: Adiponectin (APN) is an anti-inflammatory hormone derived from adipose tissue that attenuates acute lung injury in rodents. In this study, we investigated the association between circulating APN and outcomes among patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study using data and plasma samples from participants in the multicenter ARDS Network Fluid and Catheter Treatment Trial. Results: Plasma APN concentrations were measured in 816 (81.6%) trial participants at baseline and in 568 (56.8%) subjects at both baseline and day 7 after enrollment. Clinical factors associated with baseline APN levels in multivariable-adjusted models included sex, body mass index, past medical history of cirrhosis, and central venous pressure (model R 2 =9.7%). We did not observe an association between baseline APN and either severity of illness (APACHE III) or extent of lung injury (Lung Injury Score). Among patients who received right heart catheterization (n=384), baseline APN was inversely related to mean pulmonary artery pressure (b= 20.015, R 2 1.5%, p=0.02); however, this association did not persist in multivariable models (b= 20.009, R 2 0.5%, p=0.20). Neither baseline APN levels [HR per quartile1.04 (95% CI 0.91–1.18), p=0.61], nor change in APN level from baseline to day 7 [HR 1.04 (95% CI 0.89–1.23), p=0.62)] were associated with 60 day mortality in Cox proportional hazards regression models. However, subgroup analysis identified an association between APN and mortality among patients who developed ARDS from extra-pulmonary etiologies [HR per quartile 1.31 (95% CI 1.08–1.57)]. APN levels did not correlate with mortality among patients developing ARDS in association with direct pulmonary injury [HR 0.96 (95% CI 0.83–1.13)], pinteraction=0.016. Conclusions: Plasma APN levels did not correlate with disease severity or mortality in a large cohort of patients with ARDS. However, higher APN levels were associated with increased mortality among patients developing ARDS from extrapulmonary etiologies.
Selfing in Paramecium aurelia, syngen 5: Persistent instability of mating type expression†

One class of caryonides in stock 210, syngen 5 of P. aurelia, designated mc S, was found to be a persistent selfer. Cells of complementary mating type (IX and X) regularly appeared in cultures of the selfer caryonides. Type IX and type X cells arose independently of each other as mating reactivity began in the cultures. While the type X cells remained type X during their period of sexual reactivity, the type IX cells in some cases changed to type X. This unidirectional change of mating type in single cells occurred within an hour. Cell division was not required for the change. Under certain conditions, the expression of type IX was suppressed and cultures of mc S caryonides contained solely type X cells. Similar unidirectional changes of mating type (from odd to even) occur in other syngens of P. aurelia. In these cases, as well as in those species of ciliates where persistent selfing occurs, variable gene activity seems the most likely explanation for the unstable mating type expression.
Regulatory ATPase sites of cytoplasmic dynein affect processivity and force generation.

The heavy chain of cytoplasmic dynein contains four nucleotide-binding domains referred to as AAA1–AAA4, with the first domain (AAA1) being the main ATP hydrolytic site. Although previous studies have proposed regulatory roles for AAA3 and AAA4, the role of ATP hydrolysis at these sites remains elusive. Here, we have analyzed the single molecule motility properties of yeast cytoplasmic dynein mutants bearing mutations that prevent ATP hydrolysis at AAA3 or AAA4. Both mutants remain processive, but the AAA4 mutant exhibits a surprising increase in processivity due to its tighter affinity for microtubules. In addition to changes in motility characteristics, AAA3 and AAA4 mutants produce less maximal force than wild-type dynein. These results indicate that the nucleotide binding state at AAA3 and AAA4 can allosterically modulate microtubule binding affinity and affect dynein processivity and force production.