cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Shear‐induced diffusion of red blood cells measured with dynamic light scattering‐optical coherence tomography

Quantitative measurements of intravascular microscopic dynamics, such as absolute blood flow velocity, shear stress and the diffusion coefficient of red blood cells (RBCs), are fundamental in understanding the blood flow behavior within the microcirculation, and for understanding why diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) measurements of blood flow are dominantly sensitive to the diffusive motion of RBCs. Dynamic light scattering-optical coherence tomography (DLS-OCT) takes the advantages of using DLS to measure particle flow and diffusion within an OCT resolution-constrained three-dimensional volume, enabling the simultaneous measurements of absolute RBC velocity and diffusion coefficient with high spatial resolution. In this work, we applied DLS-OCT to measure both RBC velocity and the shear-induced diffusion coefficient within penetrating venules of the somatosensory cortex of anesthetized mice. Blood flow laminar profile measurements indicate a blunted laminar flow profile and the degree of blunting decreases with increasing vessel diameter. The measured shear-induced diffusion coefficient was proportional to the flow shear rate with a magnitude of ~0.1 to 0.5 × 10−6 mm2. These results provide important experimental support for the recent theoretical explanation for why DCS is dominantly sensitive to RBC diffusive motion.
First-year Student Pharmacists' Spirituality and Perceptions Regarding the Role of Spirituality in Pharmacy Education.

Objective: To measure student pharmacists’ spirituality utilizing validated survey instruments and to determine perceptions regarding the anticipated role of spirituality in academic course work and professional practice.Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study. The survey was offered to all first-year student pharmacists during the first week of the fall semester (2012-2015). Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze data.Results: A total of 580 students (98%) participated. The majority of students reported having each of the spiritual experiences on most days of the week or more frequently (58% to 89% based on individual item). Furthermore, 57% of students anticipate that matters of spirituality would be significant components of academic course work and 75% anticipate they would be incorporated into eventual professional practice settings. These perceptions were positively correlated to measures of spirituality and religiosity.Conclusion: These findings suggest that facu...
Effort and neuropsychological performance in HIV-infected individuals on stable combination antiretroviral therapy

The expression of cognitive symptoms associated with HIV varies over time and across individuals. This pattern may reflect transient contextual factors, including the degree of effort exerted by individuals undergoing cognitive testing. The present study examined whether effort corresponds to the expression of persistent HIV-related cognitive impairment among individuals receiving combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). HIV+ individuals (n = 111) averaged 48.2 (14.9) years of age and 13.0 (2.7) years of education and HIV− individuals (n = 92) averaged 34.9 (17.2) years of age and 13.5 (1.9) years of education. Participants completed a neuropsychological battery and a clinically validated measure of effort (Test of Memory Malingering, trial 1). Results revealed that the vast majority of HIV+ (85%) and HIV− (89%) individuals performed above published guidelines for adequate effort. Furthermore, the expression of cognitive impairment in HIV was not related to effort performance. The results were unchanged when examining HIV+ individuals with and without viral suppression. Finally, disability and disability-seeking status, and a proxy measure of apathy did not correspond to effort levels in HIV+ individuals. These findings suggest that variability in the expression of cognitive impairment in the cART era is unlikely to represent overt effort failures or other confounds unrelated to the disease. Persistent cognitive impairment in HIV likely represents historical and/or ongoing disease mechanisms despite otherwise successful treatment.
On the detection of transitive clusters in undirected networks

A network cluster is defined as a set of nodes with ‘strong’ within group ties and ‘weak’ between group ties. Most clustering methods focus on finding groups of ‘densely connected’ nodes, w...
Effects of Anesthetic Drugs on Spinal Cord Monitoring: An Update

The plan of this brief paper is to do the following: A. Summarize the material presented at the 1984 meeting in Erlangen, including some impressions of the consensus (and/or lack thereof) in the discussion periods. B. Review some of the major papers (and abstracts) appearing since the time of preparation for the 1984 meeting. C. Synthesize the above in a general status of the current “state-of-the-art,” including the major limitations. D. Present preliminary data on a possible change in our recommended anesthetic plan (i.e., one of several possible alternates when signals seem depressed by the usual drugs). E. Speculate on directions of future developments in anesthetic plans for spinal cord monitoring (SCM), including possible relationship to current emerging theories of general anesthesia.
Congenital Choanal Atresia Repair: An Analysis of Adverse Perioperative Events:

ObjectivesTo identify risk factors and determine the perioperative morbidity of infants undergoing congenital choanal atresia (CCA) repair.Study DesignRetrospective analysis of the ACS-NSQIP-P data...
Millennium Development Goal 4, Children's Health and Implementation Challenges in Africa: Does A Human Rights Based Appoach Suffice?

That the state of children’s health in Africa is abysmal is incontrovertible. Proof, if there is need for one, is the perennial underperformance of the vast majority of countries in the region in key dimensions of children’s health and wellbeing. Nonetheless, the point of interest in health policy literature is not on the underperformance per se but on the underlying causes and possible antidotes – a reason Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 4 (on reducing child mortality) holds special significance for countries in the region. This paper advances scholarship in this very critical area by projecting human rights as holding the key that could unlock the suffocating stranglehold ill-health irrepressibly wields over the lives of millions of children in Africa. * LLB (NAU, Nigeria), LLM (Notre Dame), MIL (Lund), LLM (Toronto), MA (Louisville, Kentucky), SJD (Loyola, Chicago). Volume 11, Issue 2 Loyola University Chicago International Law Review 103 351-lfi_11-2 S heet N o. 18 S de B 062/2014 1338:49 35138-lfi_11-2 Sheet No. 18 Side B 06/12/2014 13:38:49
Integrated stepped alcohol treatment for patients with HIV and liver disease: A randomized trial.

Abstract Background There is no known safe level of alcohol use among patients with HIV and liver disease. We examined the effectiveness of integrated stepped alcohol treatment (ISAT) on alcohol use, HIV, and liver outcomes among patients with HIV and liver disease. Methods In this multi-site, randomized trial conducted between January 28, 2013 through July 15, 2016, we enrolled 95 patients with HIV and liver disease [defined as having active hepatitis C infection or FIB-4 score > 1.45]. ISAT (n = 49) involved: Step 1- Brief Negotiated Interview with telephone booster, Step 2- Motivational Enhancement Therapy, and Step 3- Addiction Physician Management. Treatment as usual (TAU) (n = 46) involved receipt of a health handout plus routine care. Analyses were conducted based on intention to treat. Results Among ISAT participants, 55% advanced to Step 2, among whom 70% advanced to Step 3. Participants randomized to ISAT and TAU increased abstinence (primary outcome) over time. Abstinence rates were non-significantly higher by self-report (38% vs. 23%, adjusted odds ratio [AOR] [95% CI] = 2.6 [0.8, 9.0]) and phosphatidylethanol (43% vs. 32%, AOR [95% CI] = 1.8 [0.5, 6.3] among those randomized to ISAT vs. TAU at week 24. VACS Index scores (AMD [95% CI] = 1.1 [−3.2, 5.5]) and the proportion with an undetectable HIV viral load (AOR [95% CI] = 0.3 [0.1, 1.3]) did not differ by group at week 24 (p values >0.05). ISAT had non-significantly lower FIB-4 scores (adjusted mean difference [AMD] [95% CI] = −0.2 [−0.9, 0.5]), ALT (AMD [95% CI] = −7 [−20, 7]) and AST (AMD [95% CI] = −4 [−15, 7]) at week 24 compared to TAU. Conclusion ISAT is feasible and potentially effective at enhancing delivery of evidence-based alcohol treatment to promote alcohol abstinence and improve liver biomarkers among patients with HIV and liver disease.
Potential Influence of Climate on Ugandan Aquaculture

Climate defines the viability of an area for aquaculture at the macro-scale (extensive) level as it dictates water temperature and water quantity in a location that in turn affects fish productivity. Temperature and rainfall data from 1980 to 2016 were analyzed and compared among the different regions of Uganda (Central, Eastern, Northern, and Western) using the Seasonal Mann Kendall Times Series and the 12-month Standard Precipitation Index (SPI). These data were used in the computation of monthly water requirements of the different regions. A positive upward temperature trend for all regions except the Eastern region (p = 0.4222, tau b = 0.027) showed increase of aquaculture production the future. The 12-month SPI showed all regions having near normal SPI (-0.99 to 0.99) but with the Central region having highest SPI and the western region with the lowest SPI. The Central region had the lowest monthly water requirement compared to other regions which was attributed to lower temperatures and lower evaporation rates compared to others. Overall, potential climate effects on aquaculture are not a major issue in the country if climate smart strategies are adopted. That is; water harvesting during the rainy seasons for use in drier periods and planning of the fish production cycle so that the period of water deficit coincides with fish harvest or pond preparation.
Controlling the Cleavage of Carbon-Carbon Bonds To Generate α,α-Difluorobenzyl Carbanions for the Construction of Difluoromethylbenzenes.

Controlling the cleavage of carbon–carbon bonds during a chemical reaction is a substantial challenge; however, synthetic methods that accomplish this objective produce valuable and often unexplore...
Does Gender Matter? Using Social Equity, Diversity, and Bureaucratic Representation to Examine Police–Pedestrian Encounters in Seattle, Washington

This article considers the extent to which the gender of police officers affects the likelihood that a pedestrian will be frisked following a Terry stop. Theories of social equity, organizational d...
National trends in U.S. emergency department visits for chief complaint of hypertension (2006-15).

Abstract Objectives Hypertension is one of the most common chronic illnesses among adults in the United States. While poor hypertension control is a risk factor for many emergent conditions, asymptomatic hypertension is rarely an emergency. Despite this, patients may present to the emergency department (ED) with a chief complaint of hypertension, and there may be significant variability in the management of these patients. Our objective was to characterize national trends in ED visits for chief complaint of hypertension between 2006 and 2015. Methods We used the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS) from 2006 to 2015 to examine ED visits for chief complaint of hypertension. We examined trends in demographics, diagnostic resource utilization, and clinical management of these patients. Results Between 2006 and 2015, visits with hypertension as the primary chief complaint represented 0.6% of all ED visits, or 6,215,787 national-level ED visits. Of these, 63.9% received a primary diagnosis of hypertension. While there was no significant growth in these visits over the study period, 79.3% of visits received any form of diagnostic testing, with 35.5% of patients receiving an antihypertensive medication. Increasing blood pressure and non-white race were associated with increased odds of receiving antihypertensive medications. Conclusions Despite clinical policies and guidelines recommending against routine diagnostic testing for asymptomatic hypertension, roughly 4 out of 5 ED visits received diagnostic testing, and more than 1 out of 3 received medications. These visits may represent an opportunity for improvement to reduce overutilization, as well as for innovative approaches as EDs expand their role in care coordination across settings.
The growth of brightest cluster galaxies and intracluster light over the past 10 billion years

We constrain the evolution of the brightest cluster galaxy plus intracluster light (BCG+ICL) using an ensemble of 42 galaxy groups and clusters that span redshifts of z = 0.05-1.75 and masses of $M_{500,c}=2\times10^{13}-10^{15}$ M$_\odot$ Specifically, we measure the relationship between the BCG+ICL stellar mass $M_\star$ and $M_{500,c}$ at projected radii 10 < r < 100 kpc for three different epochs. At intermediate redshift (z = 0.40), where we have the best data, we find $M_\star\propto M_{500,c}^{0.48\pm0.06}$. Fixing the exponent of this power law for all redshifts, we constrain the normalization of this relation to be $2.08\pm0.21$ times higher at z = 0.40 than at high redshift (z = 1.55). We find no change in the relation from intermediate to low redshift (z = 0.10). In other words, for fixed $M_{500,c}$, $M_\star$ at 10 < r < 100 kpc increases from z = 1.55 to z = 0.40 and not significantly thereafter. Theoretical models predict that the physical mass growth of the cluster from z = 1.5 to z = 0 within $r_{500,c}$ is a factor of 1.4, excluding evolution due to definition of $r_{500,c}$. We find that $M_\star$ within the central 100 kpc increases by a factor of 3.8 over the same period. Thus, the growth of $M_\star$ in this central region is more than a factor of two greater than the physical mass growth of the cluster as a whole. Furthermore, the concentration of the BCG+ICL stellar mass, defined by the ratio of stellar mass within 10 kpc to the total stellar mass within 100 kpc, decreases with increasing $M_{500,c}$ at all redshift. We interpret this result as evidence for inside-out growth of the BCG+ICL over the past ten Gyrs, with stellar mass assembly occuring at larger radii at later times.
Femoral Component and Patella

The first resurfacing component for the distal femur developed in the 1950s, the Massachusetts General Hospital femoral condyles, was a close replica of the anatomic geometry. In contrast, the first two cemented metal femoral components of an artificial knee, invented in the late 1960s and early 1970s, were far from anatomic. The first was Gunston’s hemi-disc which fitted into a slot cut into each femoral condyle. The second was Freeman and Swanson’s hemi-roller which fitted over the flat resected surface of the distal femur. This idea of using straight bone cuts for fitting the femoral component was a simple but a major step forward. After 1970, many different femoral component designs emerged, with and without a patella flange, some geometrically simplified. The Ewald and Seedhom knees, being shells of the exact anatomic surfaces, were not easy to fit surgically, while manufacture was difficult and expensive. Other designs were of a simplified shape, with straight facets for bone fitting and with geometrically defined surfaces. These designs included the Townley, and the Total Condylar designed by Walker, Insall, and Ranawat. By then it was realized that an integral patella flange was required on the femoral component. This led to the invention of a resurfacing component for the patella itself. It was found that a dome-shaped patella “button” was the most practical shape which allowed for tilting and motions in multiple directions without edge loading.
Seasonal variability in a nascent population of a non-indigenous colonial ascidian ( Didemnum vexillum ) near Winchester Bay, Oregon

The non-indigenous colonial tunicate Didemnum vexillum plagues many shellfish aquaculture operations around the world by smothering crop and gear and displacing juvenile bivalves. There are two populations of D. vexillum in Oregon, but little is known regarding their spatial extent, seasonal dynamics, annual variability, reproductive biology, or ecology. SCUBA divers monitored the seasonal variation and spatial extent of the nascent D. vexillum population in its current foothold at Umpqua Aquaculture, a longline oyster farm adjacent to Winchester Bay, Oregon. From May 2011 to November 2016, divers performed biannual subtidal surveys to measure the cover of D. vexillum on anchor lines. We found that this population of D. vexillum exhibited extensive fluctuation in colony during this period, especially between fall and spring. With one exception, cover was greater in the fall than the spring, though this fluctuation cannot be explained by our proxies for salinity or temperature. Seasonally, on average, D. vexillum covered the greatest proportion of line between 5.5 and 6.0 m depth in both the spring (37.5 ± 18.8%) and fall (45.1 ± 16.1%). During individual surveys, the depth of maximum percent D. vexillum cover was more variable, spanning ~ 4.5–6.5 m depth. Overall, we document a net increase in D. vexillum cover at Umpqua Aquaculture between the first and last surveys during the 5-year period. This study is the first published multi-year analysis of D. vexillum in Oregon and represents the longest continuous monitoring period of an in situ population of D. vexillum to date.
Quality of care for patients with SLE: data from the American College of Rheumatology's RISE registry

Objective Although multiple national quality measures focus on the management and safety of rheumatoid arthritis, few measures address the care of patients with SLE. We applied a group of quality measures relevant to the care of SLE patients and used the ACR's RISE registry to assess nationwide variations in care. Methods Data derived from RISE and included patients with ≥2 visits with SLE codes ≥30 days apart in 2017-2018. We calculated performance on 5 quality measures: renal disease screening; blood pressure assessment and management; hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) prescribing; safe dosing for HCQ; and prolonged glucocorticoid use at doses > 7.5 mg/day. We reported performance on these measures at the practice level. We used logistic regression to assess independent predictors of performance after adjusting for sociodemographic and utilization factors. Results We included 27,567 unique patients from 186 practices; 91.7% were female, 48% white, with mean age 53.5±15.2 years. Few patients had adequate screening for the development of renal manifestations (39.5%). Although blood pressure assessment was common (94.4%), a meaningful fraction had untreated hypertension (17.7%). Many received HCQ (71.5%), but only 62% at doses ≤ 5.0 mg/kg/day. Some received at least moderate-dose steroids for ≥ 90 days (18.5%). We observed significant practice variation on every measure. Conclusion We found potential gaps in care for patients with SLE across the U.S. Although some performance variation may be explained by differences in disease severity, dramatic differences suggest that developing quality measures to address important health care processes in SLE may improve care.
Size-temperature equivalence in tensile deformation of metallic glass

Abstract Tensile fracture of irradiation-free metallic glass specimens with diameters ranging from 100 nm to 500 μm is investigated at different temperatures. A gradual change in fracture morphology from vein-pattern to completely smooth fracture surface to necking is observed with decreasing sample size and testing temperature. The size-temperature equivalence in the entire length scale can be described by considering the thermal effects in shear localization of metallic glasses. We construct an empirical model based on the shear band heating and velocity formulations to qualitatively describe the size and temperature effects on the fracture morphology. Our results suggest that the widely reported size-dependent transition from shear-localized to homogeneous flow in metallic glasses is fundamentally different from the high temperature homogeneous viscous flow. The plastic deformation in nanoscale samples is spatially localized in embryonic shear bands, which never mature to the propagation stage due to lack of heat content.
Determinants of the choice of exchange rate regimes in six Central American countries : an empirical analysis

This paper examines whether decisions about the appropriate exchange rate regime in six Central American countries were based on longer-run economic fundamentals or on the confluence of historical and political circumstances. To uncover any actual relationship both across countries and across time, we estimate several probit and multinomial logit models of exchange rate regime choice with data spanning the period 1974-2001. We find that theoretical long-run determinants, such as trade openness, export share with the major trading partner, economic size, and per capita income, are adequate, but not robust, predictors of exchange rate regime choice. However, we were not able to establish a statistically significant association between the terms of trade fluctuations or capital account openness and a particular regime in any specification using our sample.
Dental microfracture detection using wavelet features and machine learning

Microfractures (cracks) are the third most common cause of tooth loss in industrialized countries. If they are not detected early, they continue to progress until the tooth is lost. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been used to detect microfractures, but has had very limited success. We propose an algorithm to detect cracked teeth that pairs high resolution (hr) CBCT scans with advanced image analysis and machine learning. First, microfractures were simulated in extracted human teeth (n=22). hr-CBCT and microCT scans of the fractured and control teeth (n=14) were obtained. Wavelet pyramid construction was used to generate a phase image of the Fourier transformed scan which were fed to a U-Net deep learning architecture that localizes the orientation and extent of the crack which yields slice-wise probability maps that indicate the presence of microfractures. We then examine the ratio of high-probability voxels to total tooth volume to determine the likelihood of cracks per tooth. In microCT and hr-CBCT scans, fractured teeth have higher numbers of such voxels compared to control teeth. The proposed analytical framework provides a novel way to quantify the structural breakdown of teeth, that was not possible before. Future work will expand our machine learning framework to 3D volumes, improve our feature extraction in hr-CBCT and clinically validate this model. Early detection of microfractures will lead to more appropriate treatment and longer tooth retention.
Optimal Onsite Microgrid Design for Net-Zero Energy Operation in Manufacturing Industry

Abstract Developing an economic net-zero energy infrastructure for the manufacturing industry can play a critical role to achieve the goal of affordable, reliable, and sustainable clean energy paradigm for the next generation. However, it is quite challenging to develop such an infrastructure due to the uncertain demand of the manufacturing system, intermittent electricity generation from the renewable sources, time of use (TOU) pricing of electricity, and integrated operational planning for the long-term planning horizon. In this paper, a mixed-integer non-linear programming (MINLP) model is developed to economically design an onsite microgrid system considering the critical conditions and achieve a net-zero energy operation planning for the manufacturing industry. A linearization strategy is adopted to obtain the optimal design of the microgrid and the utilization of the resources. A numerical case study is conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the model.
Evaluating the Effect of Poor Contrast Ratio in Simulated Sensor-Based Vision Systems on Performance

Sensor-based vision systems enable approaches to altitudes closer to the runway in low visibility conditions. These systems utilize imaging sensors capable of providing forward vision of the runway and the resulting imagery is displayed on a head-up display. Previous studies were primarily limited to nominal cases. Off-nominal cases assessments are limited only to display failures. The sensors integrated to these systems have known limitations and can produce degraded display output with respect to atmospheric conditions. An evaluation is conducted to assess the potential human factors implications of a simulated display of poor sensor output, operationalized as a difference in contrast ratio of the display output for simulated approach and landing operations. Pilots fly six different approach and landing scenarios in a simulator for two visibility levels and three levels of display information quality (none, poor, and good display output). Measures of performance include approach and landing performance, attention allocation, workload, and decision-making. The experiment results indicate that landing performance and decision making are negatively impacted by poor display output, while there is no evidence of an impact on workload or situation awareness.
Evaluation of Hospitalized Patient Outcomes in COVID-19 Infection for Continued versus Discontinued Use of Preadmission Antiplatelet Regimen.

ObjectiveIn SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection, it is unclear if continuation of preadmission antiplatelet regimens upon hospitalization will improve hypercoagulability outcomes.MethodsThis retrospect...
Design of a novel length extension vibratory gyroscope

In this paper, we introduce a novel design length extension vibratory gyroscope to detect the angular velocity rotation about z-axis. The proposed gyroscope is a new type of a gyroscope which utilizes a length extension mode as a driving mode and a flexure mode as a sensing mode to detect the Coriolis force generated by the rotation of the system. The gyroscope was designed and gyro-characteristics were simulated using COMSOL, finite element method (FEM) software. Quartz and langatate crystals are used for gyroscopes and compared. The driving frequencies and sensing frequencies of each gyroscope are obtained by optimizing the geometries of the each gyroscope using eigenfrequency analyses. Frequency response analyses were performed to simulate the gyro-characteristics of the gyroscopes which subjected to the angular velocity about z-axis. The results show that the length extension gyroscope can be used as a gyro-sensor. Moreover, we find that langatate crystals are more suitable materials for higher precision piezoelectric gyro-sensors than quartz crystal.
Rules v. Constraints

Certain assumptions about the nature of phonology must be considered, even lacking agreement on which assumptions to make. First and foremost, deciding whether phonology is based on rules or constraints, or a mix of the two, requires having objectively expressible statements of phonologies within different frameworks whose consequences can be compared. Therefore the theories must have a definite form, that is, they must be formalized. The entities which make up a phonological grammar should be expressions, which are finite sequences of elements taken from a specified set, and combined by rules of construction that define well-formed statements of rule or constraint. The value of formalism is its power to make objectively-interpretable statements about the phonology which can be checked against fact. To evaluate rules versus constraints as models, we should then consult the formalisms of the theories, to see whether one theory better passes the test of empirical and aesthetic adequacy. Problems in this area are not trivial; certain theories of constraints or rules are severely under-formalized so that it is hard to know what predictions the theory makes; and a number of theories are under-applied in the sense that it is impossible to determine from examples how particular phenomena would be analyzed. Assuming that we are comparing formal theories, we must resolve questions about the scope of phonology, including how much of “phonetics” or “morphology” is phonology, and whether all facts bearing on phonology are the responsibility of the theory. Generative phonology traditionally encompases a broad range of processes which might be considered phonetic (allophonic) or morphological (rules with lexical or morphological conditions), but the edges of phonology may also be contracted for theoretical purposes, viz. restrictiveness. Thus Webb (1974: 127) excludes metathesis from phonology, stating that “synchronic metathesis is not a phonological process. In the residual cases of metathesis, the rule is always
Well-graded families of fuzzy sets

The paper lays down a mathematical foundation for developing cubical token systems in a fuzzy environment. The concept of a well-graded family of fuzzy sets is introduced and main properties of these families are established.
Guidelines for noninvasive ventilation in acute respiratory failure

Background The term non-invasive ventilation (NIV) refers to the application of artificial ventilation without any conduit access to the airways i.e., without an endotracheal or tracheostomy tube. Recently, NIV has assumed a prominent role in the management of acute respiratory failure. By avoiding endotracheal intubation, NIV prevents complications associated with invasive ventilation like airway problems, nosocomial pneumonia (21%) and sinusitis (5-25%).
Electronics for DLP/sup TM/ technology based projection systems

Digital Light Processing/sup TM/ (DLP/sup TM/) projection technology, based on the Digital Micromirror Device/sup TM/ light modulator is currently used in a wide variety of display applications to create high quality imagery. In this paper we present an overview of the electronics architecture of a DLP/sup TM/ technology based projector. Descriptions of the DMD/sup TM/ modulator drive methods and data formatting electronics are presented, as well as a brief summary of the video and graphics processing architectures.
Sustained Activation of Hippocampal Lp-Type Voltage-Gated Calcium Channels by Tetanic Stimulation

The molecular heterogeneity of voltage-gated calcium channels is mirrored by extensive biophysical diversity. Subtype-selective antagonists have been used to place different kinds of calcium channels in functional categories. Dihydropyridine (DHP) antagonists have been used, for example, to implicate L-type calcium channels in the induction of NMDA receptor-independent forms of synaptic plasticity. DHPs, however, do not discriminate between the recently identified Lp and Ls subtypes of L-type calcium channel. The different properties of the two kinds of L-type channels suggest that they may have different functional roles. Ls channels are comparable with cardiac L-type channels, whereas Lp channels show low-threshold voltage-dependent potentiation. To clarify the potential roles of Lp and Ls channels in the induction of synaptic plasticity, we studied the responses of these channels to trains of action potentials. The frequency and duration of the trains were chosen to mimic the stimuli used to induce changes in synaptic strength. Cell-attached single-channel recordings from cultured hippocampal neurons revealed that both Lp and Ls channels responded to these trains, but only Lp channels showed persistent activation that outlasted the train. The magnitude of Lp channel activity increased with increasing action potential frequency and train duration. Stimuli that reproduced the postsynaptic response to action potential trains were also examined, and Lp channels were found to show much greater responses than were Ls channels. These results suggest that the Lp channel may play a critical role in the induction of long-lasting changes in synaptic strength.
Structural analysis of glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchors.

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the methods employed for identifying and characterizing members of glycosylated phosphoinositides family defined by the sequence EtN-PO 4 -6Man α 1-2Man α 1-6Man α 1-4GlcN α 1-6- myo- inositol-1–PO 4 -lipid. A variety of techniques can be used to determine whether a protein is glycosylphosphatidylinositols (GPIs) anchored. In many cases GPI-anchored proteins can be selectively released into the culture medium on treatment of intact cells with bacterial phosphatidylinositol (PI)-specific phospholipases C. If specific antibodies are available, loss of a particular protein from the cell surface can be monitored by fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS) analysis. Another approach commonly used to identify GPI-anchored proteins involves detergent partitioning with Triton X-114. If cell extracts are subjected to Triton X-114 phase separation, GPI-anchored proteins will partition into the detergent phase. Other techniques for identifying GPI-anchored proteins involve hydrophobic interaction chromatography, nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, in conjunction with phospholipase treatment, and detection of the cross-reacting determinant (CRD) by sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) and Western blotting after PI–phospholipases C (PI–PLC) treatment. Metabolic labeling with [ 3 H]ethanolamine is particularly useful in identifying GPI structures because metabolic conversion of the precursor is limited and few molecules other than GPIs are labeled.
The Benefits of Reducing Exposure to Waste Disposal Sites: A Hedonic Housing Value Approach

A large detailed data set is used to examine the relationship between housing prices and several environmental quality indicators representing air, water, and land influences. Our primary concern i...
A method for improving equations of state near the critical point

Abstract Accurate nonanalytic equations of state have been developed for pentane and carbon dioxide for use as reference equations in the critical region. This was done using a method originated by Fox which transforms any analytic equation of state into a nonanalytic equation of state. For this study, a 32 constant analytic BWR equation of state developed by Jacobson and Stewart was transformed into a nonanalytic equation of state. The nonanalytic equation of state is more accurate in the critical region for the prediction of the PVT properties of carbon dioxide than is a Schmidt-Wagner analytic equation of state developed at the National Bureau of Standards. The nonanalytic equation of state is slightly less accurate over the whole PVT surface than the Schmidt-Wagner equation of state, but the predicted nonanalytic surface makes a smooth transition into the classical region. This is an improvement over the scaled fundamental equation of state which breaks down at a small distance away from the critical point.
Theory of the rooftop resonator: resonant frequencies and eigenpolarizations

The eigenpolarizations and resonant frequencies are derived for a circular dielectric waveguide resonator (EH11 mode) terminated by perfectly reflecting metallic rooftop mirrors. It is demonstrated that, in the far-IR region, circularly polarized helical standing waves result from an arbitrary angular misalignment of the rooftop creases. Further, the right and left circularly polarized modes have different resonant frequencies.
High-frequency 1.3 um InGaAsP semi-insulating buried crescent lasers for analog applications

The fabrication and performance of high-speed and low relative intensity noise (RIN) 1.3 micrometers InGaAsP semi-insulating buried crescent (SIBC) Fabry-Perot (FP) lasers with Zn- doped active layers are reported. These SIBC lasers have a 3-dB modulation bandwidth of 19 GHz for pulsed operation and 16 GHz for cw operation, and a RIN below -150 dB/Hz for biased current at 120 mA. This is the highest modulation bandwidth yet reported for InGaAsP lasers with semi-insulating current blocking layers.
Manual rotation of the fetal occiput: Predictors of success and delivery

Objective The purpose of the study was to define predictors of successful rotation and rate of cesarean delivery after manual rotation of the fetal occiput from occiput posterior or transverse position. Study design A retrospective cohort study comprised patients who underwent a trial of manual rotation of the fetal occiput from occiput posterior or occiput transverse position. Successful rotation was defined as delivery in the occiput anterior position. We examined maternal, fetal, and labor characteristics as predictors of both fetal position at delivery and cesarean delivery. Results Multiparity (odds ratio, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.5-3.8) and maternal age P 35 years, labor induction, and epidural usage were associated with higher rates of cesarean delivery. Conclusion After successful manual rotation of the fetal occiput, women had lower cesarean delivery rates than women with unsuccessful rotations. Multiparity and maternal age of
Line narrowing in a symmetry broken laser

Abstract The power spectral density of a laser subjected to a symmetry breaking injected signal is calculated via the quantum noise operator approach. The resulting spectrum is sharpened in a manner reminiscent of the line narrowing which occurs in the Lamb-Mossbauer effect. It is further noted that these considerations are potentially of interest in producing high intensity fields in small focal volumes.
Perioperative predictors of colonic ischemia after ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm

Abstract Purpose: Colonic ischemia and colonic resection occur frequently after ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA). The purpose of this study was to identify the perioperative risk factors that might help to determine earlier in the postoperative period which patients are at risk for colonic ischemia and colonic resection. Methods: The medical records of the 43 patients who underwent repair of rAAA from January 1989 to November 1997 were reviewed. The data were reviewed for the following factors: acidosis, pressor agents, lactate levels, guaiac status, cardiac index, coagulopathy, early postoperative bowel movement, the lowest intraoperative pH level, the temperature at the conclusion of the case, the location and duration of aortic cross clamping, the amount of fluid boluses administered after surgery, the amount of packed red blood cells administered during the case, and the average systolic blood pressure at admission and during surgery. Univariate analysis was performed with Fisher exact test, χ 2 test, and Student t test. Multivariate analyses also were performed with the variables that were found to be significant on the univariate analysis. Results: Thirteen of the 43 patients (30.2%) had colonic ischemia, and seven of the 13 underwent colonic resection (53.8%). The overall mortality rate was 51.2% (22/43)—five of the deaths were intraoperative and excluded from the study. In a comparison of the patients who had colonic ischemia with those who did not, statistically significant differences were found in the following variables: average systolic blood pressure at admission 90 mm Hg or less, hypotension of more than 30 minutes' duration, temperature less than 35°C, pH less than 7.3, fluid boluses administered after surgery 5 L or more, and packed red blood cells 6 units or more. Multivariate analysis indicated that the number of these variables present correlated significantly with the positive predicted probability of colonic ischemia occurring. No patient with two factors or fewer had an ischemic bowel, and the positive predictive probability of colonic ischemia for those patients with six factors was 80%. Conclusion: The results of this study show that: (1) colonic ischemia after rAAA may be predicted with the presence of two or more specific perioperative factors, (2) the lack of a guaiac-positive bowel movement may be misleading for the early diagnosis of colonic ischemia, and (3) more than 50% of the patients with colonic ischemia will require a colonic resection. We recommend that any patient with rAAA with more than two perioperative factors undergo sigmoidoscopy every 12 hours after surgery for 48 hours to rule out colonic ischemia without waiting for early or guaiac-positive bowel movement. (J Vasc Surg 1999;29:40-7.)
The thermal conductivity of Kapton HN between 0.5 and 5 K

Abstract The thermal conductivity of Kapton HN is measured for temperatures between 0.5 and 5 K. The temperature rise across two different Kapton–Stycast 1266 stacks is measured for a known heat transfer rate. These two measurements, combined with the geometry of the stacks, are then used to infer the bulk thermal conductivity of the Kapton. The measured conductivity was found to fit to a power law of the form k =4.638×10 −5 T 0.5678 W/cm K, where T is in Kelvins.
Dynamics of superradiant emission

Abstract We derive and solve the non-linear equation which determines the time dependent energy loss from a superradiant system of N atoms.
A new mechanism of RhoA ubiquitination and degradation: roles of SCF(FBXL19) E3 ligase and Erk2.

RhoA is a small GTPase multifunctional protein that regulates cell proliferation and cytoskeletal reorganization. Regulation of its protein stability plays an important role in its biological functions. We have shown that a Skp1-Cul1-F-box (SCF) FBXL19 E3 ubiquitin ligase targets Rac1, a related member of the Rho family for ubiquitination and degradation. Here, SCFFBXL19 mediates RhoA ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation in lung epithelial cells. Ectopically expressed FBXL19 decreased RhoA wild type, active, and inactive forms. Cellular depletion of FBXL19 increased RhoA protein levels and extended its half-life. FBXL19 bound the small GTPase in the cytoplasm leading to RhoA ubiquitination at Lys135. A RhoAK135R mutant protein was resistant to SCFFBXL19-mediated ubiquitination and degradation and exhibited a longer lifespan. Protein kinase Erk2-mediated phosphorylation of RhoA was both sufficient and required for SCFFBXL19-mediated RhoA ubiquitination and degradation. Thus, SCFFBXL19 targets RhoA for its disposal, a process regulated by Erk2. Ectopically expressed FBXL19 reduced phosphorylation of p27 and cell proliferation, a process mediated by RhoA. Further, FBXL19 cellular expression diminished lysophosphatidic acid (LPA)-induced phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC) and stress fiber formation. Hence, SCFFBXL19 functions as a RhoA antagonist during cell proliferation and cytoskeleton rearrangement. These results provide the first evidence of an F-box protein targeting RhoA thereby modulating its cellular lifespan that impacts cell proliferation and cytoskeleton rearrangement.
Effect of dietary fiber on bioavailability of zinc and copper and histology in rats

Abstract Effects of prolonged use of dietary fiber on the absorption of zinc and copper were determined. In addition, differences in histopathology of small intestine, liver and kidney were evaluated. Four groups of rats were fed semipurified diets containing no fiber (C) 7.5% of either pectin (P,) guar meal (G.) or carrot (Ca). Radioisotopes with short half lives ( 69m Zn and 64 Cu) were used to measure absorption and endogenous losses of zinc and copper. Fiber did not adversely affect (P 65 Zn as a tracer. The 65 Zn content of the intestinal tissues and liver was higher (P
Predictions of Bedforms in Tidal Inlets and River Mouths

Abstract : The long-term goals of the study are to model and measure bedforms in tidal inlets and river mouths. Specifically, the goals are: 1) to use an existing self-organization model to predict multiple scales of bedform formation, growth and migration in combined steady, tidal and wave-driven flows, 2) to compare model predictions with measurements (from both the literature and from a tidal inlet/river mouth experiment), 3) to test the hypothesis that subaqueous bedforms will grow indefinitely for a given set of conditions and that different scales of bedforms will occur simultaneously because of this continuous growth, and 4) to incorporate this bedform model into community modeling systems (eg CSDMS) to improve modeling of flow, sediment transport and morphology change in river mouths and tidal inlets.
A model for merging vascular surgery and interventional radiology: Clinical and economical implications

Abstract Background: The traditional separation of vascular surgery and interventional radiology into distinct units is associated with inefficiencies in patient care, practice management, and training. Traditional departmental politics, discrepant clinical backgrounds and philosophies, fear of decreasing remuneration, and basic differences in education, training, and practice have all rendered mergers difficult. Methods: We have implemented a model that incorporates all the clinical, fiscal, and educational activities of the 2 former entities into a single unit. A 5-physician vascular surgery group, its noninvasive laboratory, and a 3-physician interventional radiology group were unified. The revenue was deposited into a single account from which all the expenses were paid. The net income of the joint unit was apportioned on a predetermined pro rata basis, with scaled percentages for each practitioner. In an effort to separate clinical decision making from economic pressures, the individual physician remuneration was not on the basis of productivity. Clinical volume, gross revenue, and remuneration were compared with the 12-month period that immediately preceded the merger and contrasted to the previous 3-year historical trend (HT). Results: The number of vascular surgical procedures fell after the merger (–9.3%; HT, +4.7%). By contrast, the number of interventional radiology procedures rose (+56.1%; HT, +15.2%), as did the number of noninvasive testing (+9.2%; HT, +3.5%). In concordance with the number of procedures, the gross revenue of vascular surgery fell (–23.7%; HT, +1.1%) and that of interventional radiology rose (+53.5%; HT, +46.0%). The increased efficiencies allowed the total expenses of the 2 units to fall (–13.2%; HT, +7.5%), and, despite the reduced revenue, the vascular surgeon remuneration was preserved (+0.7%; HT, –3.9%) and the radiology remuneration rose (+22.3%; HT, +8.3%). The merger allowed the vascular surgery fellows to actively participate in 26 interventional cases per month and the interventional radiology fellows to actively participate in 8 open surgical cases per month. Conclusion: The merger of vascular surgery and interventional radiology resulted in a decrease in the surgical procedures and revenue, with a corresponding increase in the interventional radiology procedures and revenue. Despite these effects, the physician remuneration increased as a result of the improved efficiencies in practice management and the reduction in expenses. The merger of the 2 units excludes the economic pressures from clinical decision making and appears to be warranted on the basis of the fiscal and educational benefits that are achieved. (J Vasc Surg 1998;28:1006-13.)
Applications of operator semigroups to Fourier analysis

Of concern are semigroups of linear norm one operators on Hilbert space of the form (discrete case)T={Tn/n=0,1,2,...} or (continuous case)T={T(t)/t=≥0}. Using ergodic theory and Hilbert-Schmidt operators, the Cesaro limits (asn→∞) of |〈Tnf,f〉|2, |〈T(n)f,f〉|2 are computed (withn∈ℤ+ orn∈ℤ+). Specializing the Hilbert space to beL2(T,μ) (discrete case) orL2(ℝ,μ) (continuous case) where μ is a Borel probability measure on the circle group or the line, the Cesaro limit of\(\left| {\hat \mu (n)} \right|^2 \) (asn→±∞, with,n∈ℤ orn∈ℝ) is obtained and interpreted. Extensions toTM, and ℝM are given. Finally, we discuss recent operator theoretic extensions from a Hilbert to a Banach space context.