cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrophysiological actions of phencyclidine in hippocampal slices from the rat

The electrophysiological effects of phencyclidine were examined in the CA region of slice preparations of the hippocampus of the rat. The only direct effects of phencyclidine on monosynaptic transmission in the Schaffer collateral/commissural input to the CA region were local anesthetic-like actions, that were observed at concentration greater than or equal to 50 microM, and were characterized by decreases in the amplitude of both orthodromically- and antidromically-evoked potentials. However, phencyclidine, at concentrations greater than 0.5 microM, increased the apparent sensitivity of slices to perfusion with norepinephrine (NE), such that a previously subthreshold concentration of NE significantly increased the magnitude of the population spike response through an action at beta-adrenergic receptors. This action of phencyclidine appears to reflect its ability to block the high affinity uptake of NE into nerve terminals in the slice preparation. Because these responses were observed at concentrations of phencyclidine which are found in the brains of abusers of phencyclidine, they may play a significant role in the overall neuropharmacological response to phencyclidine.
Researchers Writing for the Public

Science for All The Popularization of Science in Early Twentieth-Century Britain by Peter J. Bowler University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2009. 351 pp. $45, £31. ISBN 9780226068633. Bowler argues that despite the professionalization of their disciplines, through the middle of the 20th century British scientists remained very active in writing about their work for general readers.
Phenotype definition for genetic studies

A difficulty in the interpretation of the reliability/stability of a lifetime diagnosis of mental disorders is the lack of a theoretical perspective. A model expressed in terms of the three unknowns-sensitivity, specificity and true base rate — is problematic due to the lack of a “gold standard”, so that only two of these unknowns can be estimated. We extend this model to allow for clinical covariates that increase the likelihood that a positive case at Time 1 will be positive at Time 2. Under the assumption that all observed cases are true cases at the highest covariate values, we obtain a direct estimate of the sensitivity, so that all unknowns can be estimated. Moreover, we then calculate the likelihood that an observed case with given covariate levels is in fact a true case. The implications of diagnostic error for the fitting of genetic models are given. These methods are applied to stability data collected as part of the NIMH Psychobiology of Depression Program. A total of 1,629 relatives have been assessed with interviews separated by a 6-year interval. A logistic function was used to model the stability in relatives with an initial lifetime diagnosis of affective disorders. We discuss the use of these techniques in genetic models to increase information by defining an ordinal phenotype, use multiple assessments to minimize the impact of diagnostic error and increase the heritability, and utilize clinical covariates to model the certainty of diagnosis.
Learned Helplessness in Chickens (Gallus gallus): Evidence for Attentional Bias

Abstract The behavioral effects of exposure to uncontrollable events include motivational, associative, physiological, and attentional components. The learned helplessness hypothesis states that exposure to uncontrollable events results in an organism learning that its behavior and the outcomes of its behavior are independent. Research has indicated that the manner in which subjects exposed to uncontrollable events process information, and subsequently how they respond, is skewed, with a disposition to focus attention on external, rather than internal, relevant and irrelevant cues. The experiment was designed to determine if the alteration in attentional processing generalized across species and on an unlearned behavior, tonic immobility (TI). Subjects were pretreated in one of the components of a learned helplessness triadic design and tested under varying external conditions that have been shown to modify the TI response. Exposure to uncontrollable events directly modified the duration of TI. Additionally, exposure to uncontrollable events directly influenced the effect of external stimuli on measures of TI. The results indicate that the attentional bias caused by exposure to uncontrollable events can be generalized to other non-rodent species, and that this attentional bias influences both learned and unlearned behaviors.
APPLYING POLITICAL GENERATIONS TO THE STUDY OF POLITICAL BEHAVIOR: A COHORT ANALYSIS

In this article cohort analysis is used to study the impact of generations on changes in political behavior and to distinguish the effects of generations from those due to aging. Four variables from Survey Research Center polls conducted between 1952 and 1968 are examined. A generation effect is found to influence opinions on aid to education, but isolationism shows a generation effect and life-cycle (aging) effect predominating at different times. The expected importance of the life cycle for voter turnout is supported, but neither effect is found to influence party identification substantially. Dr. Klecka is Director of the Behavioral Sciences Laboratory and Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Cincinnati. This article was written while he was a Visiting Assistant Professor at Northwestern University.
The effect of Acetobacter sp. and a sulfate-reducing bacterial consortium from ethanol fuel environments on fatigue crack propagation in pipeline and storage tank steels

This paper evaluates the effects of microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) on fatigue-crack growth of candidate materials useful in expanding bio-ethanol usage, including a storage-tank steel (ASTM A36) and two pipeline steels (API 5L X52 and X70). The microbiological species sampled and cultivated from an ethanol fuel production stream are responsible for both acetic acid and hydrogen sulfide production that lead to significant increases in fatigue-crack growth rate across a wide range of stress-intensity-factor amplitudes (ΔK). The mechanism for increased fatigue damage is hydrogen uptake through adsorption into the steel, which embrittles material ahead of the growing fatigue crack.
Foot-terrain interaction for a prototype silicon micro-robot

Research on dynamics of micro devices indicates that contact forces are complex in a micro-scale environment. Previous work tried to identify how small-scale forces numerically affect a walking micro system, using a similar structure to a micro-robot leg and a simple analytical model for system dynamics. This paper extends that work by focusing on further experimental testing and simulation studies on a prototype micro-robot. Evaluation of experimental data indicates that characteristics of the ground, such as material properties and static charge on the surface should be also considered in understanding foot-terrain interaction. This leads to modifications to the former foot-terrain interaction algorithm. The refined analytical model is validated through experimental comparison.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
A Method for the Estimation of the Interface Temperature in Ultrasonic Joining

Ultrasonic joining of copper foil to 1100 aluminum sheet at nominal joining temperatures of 298 K to 413 K (25 °C to 140 °C) for 1.25 second caused significant copper diffusion into the aluminum sheet, indicating very high diffusivity (D) values of 1.54 × 10−13 to 2.22 × 10−13 m2/s. The D values reflect high excess vacancy concentrations caused by the rapid plastic deformation in the joining surfaces. A method is presented to estimate the actual values of interface temperature from the diffusion data and expected values of vacancy concentrations. The estimated values of interface temperature were about 390 to 410 deg below the equilibrium melting point of aluminum, and in agreement with reported experimental values.
Pattern of variation of zooplankton assemblages under the influence of river runoffs: a study case along the Apulian marine coastal waters (southern Italy, Mediterranean Sea)

The distribution and composition of zooplankton assemblages was investigated along the Apulian marine–coastal area (Mediterranean Sea) in the time period between January 2008 and February 2010. Zooplankton samples were collected monthly from 15 monitoring stations located in two sub-basins, namely, the southern Adriatic (11 stations) and the northern Ionian (4 stations). Results indicated a strong influence of river runoffs on zooplankton assemblages in terms of an increase in the abundance of tolerant species and a reduction of overall richness and diversity of species. Compared with the Ionian, in the Adriatic stations, zooplankton standing stocks showed higher abundances. Results also suggest that the zooplankton can be considered a useful biological indicator of water quality for the Apulian coastal waters and could be used in environmental monitoring programs.
The Pikes Peak batholith, Colorado front range, and a model for the origin of the gabbro—anorthosite—syenite—potassic granite suite

Abstract This study of the Pikes Peak batholith includes the mineralogy and petrology of quartz syenite at West Creek and of fayalite-bearing and fayalite-free biotite granite near Mount Rosa; major element chemistry of the batholith; comparisons with similar postorogenic, intracratonic, sodic to potassic intrusives; and genesis of the batholith. The batholith is elongate in plan, 50 by 100 km, composite, and generally subalkalic. It was emplaced at shallow depth 1,040 m. y. ago, sharply transects its walls and may have breached its roof. Biotite granite and biotite—hornblende granite are predominant; quartz syenite, fayalite granite and riebeckite granite are present in minor amounts. Fayalite-bearing and fayalite-free quartz syenite, fayalite-biotite granite and riebeckite granite show a well-defined sodic differentiation trend; the less sodic fayalite-free granites exhibit a broader compositional range and no sharp trends. Crystallization was largely at PH2O All types of syenite and granite contain 5–6% K2O through a range of SiO2 of 63–76%. Average Na2O percentages in quartz syenite are 6.2, fayalite granite 4.2, and fayalite-free granite 3.3 MgO contents are low, 0.03–0.4%; FeO averages 1.9–2.5%. FeO/Fe2O3 ratios are high. Fluorine ranges from 0.3 to 0.6%. The Pikes Peak intrusives are similar in mode of emplacement, composition, and probably genesis to rapakivi intrusives of Finland, the Younger Granites of Nigeria, Cape Ann Granite and Beverly Syenite, Mass., and syenite of Kungnat, Greenland, among others — allowing for different levels of erosion. A suite that includes gabbro or basalt, anorthosite, quartz syenite, fayalite granite, riebeckite granite, and biotite and/or hornblende granites is of worldwide occurrence. A model is proposed in which mantle-derived, convecting alkali olivine basaltic magma first reacts with K2O-poor lower crust of granulite facies to produce magma of quartz syenitic composition. The syenitic liquid in turn reacts with granodioritic to granitic intermediate crust of amphibolite facies to produce the predominant fayalite-free biotite and biotite-hornblende granites of the batholith. This reaction of magma and roof involves both partial melting and the reconstitution and precipitation of refractory phases, as Bowen proposed. Intermediate liquids include MgO-depleted and Na2O-enriched gabbro, which precipitated anorthosite, and alkali diorite. The heat source is the basaltic magma; the heat required for partial melting of the roof is supplied largely by heats of crystallization of phases that settle out of the liquid — mostly olivine, clinopyroxene and plagioclase.
Some physical and psychological effects produced by selective delays of the envelope of narrow bands of noise

Abstract One can construct narrow bands of noise that contain delays of either the envelope, the phase, or the carrier separately or in combination. Delayed and undelayed noises will have identical spectra if, and only if, both the envelope and the phase undergo delays of the same magnitude. To study lateralization of these signals, an acoustic pointing task was employed in which listeners varied the interaural intensitive disparity of a narrow band of noise (the pointer) so that it matched the position of a second, experimenter-controlled stimulus (the target) which contained symmetric interaural delays of only the envelope. Targets were narrow bands of noise with center frequencies chosen at octave intervals between about 500 Hz and about 4000 Hz. The smallest bandwidth was 100 Hz and the largest was 800 Hz. For high-frequency stimuli, delays of only the envelope of a narrow band of noise appear to mediate lateralization which is greatest for bands centered near 2000 Hz. For low frequencies, delays larger than 800 μs were required to produce acoustic images appreciably away from the midline. These findings confirm the notion that listeners are sensitive to interaural temporal disparities in the envelopes of high-frequency, complex stimuli.
Peroxidation of lipid from normal and paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria erythrocytes.

PREVIOUS investigations in this laboratory demonstrated that in vivo red cell damage in animals and humans during exposure to oxygen under high pressure was associated with peroxidation of erythrocyte unsaturated fatty acids1,2.
Gender-matched normal values of transient ischemic dilation (TID) index in attenuation corrected (AC) and non-corrected rest-exercise stress sestamibi myocardial perfusion imaging

Abstract Objectives: To determine gender-matched normal values of TID index using attenuation corrected (AC) and non AC rest/exercise stress Tc-99m sestamibi myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging (MPI) in patients with low likelihood of CAD. Methods: 75 patients (33 females (F) and 42 males (M)) with Results: Mean and standard deviation (SD) TID values and normal limits (NL) (Mean + 2SD) are shown below for each population. No significant differences in TID were found between AC and non-AC studies whether genders were combined or separated. Importantly, a trend was found in non-AC studies with females having a higher NL TID than males. This trend became statistically significant in the AC studies. ;*>p AC TID Non AC TID ALL M F ALL M F Mean 0.97 0.95 1.01 0.98 0.97 1.00 SD 0.14 0.12 0.15 0.12 0.10 0.15 NL 1.25 1.18;*> 1.31;*> 1.23 1.17 1.30 Conclusions: Attenuation correction does not change the normal TID value compared to conventional non-AC studies. A significantly higher normal TID value was found in attenuation corrected females compared to AC males. Diagnosticians should be aware of these results when using TID as a marker of extensive ischemia considering that previous normal values of TID have not been gender-matched and generated from heavily weighted male populations.
Transmission of Salmonid Whirling Disease by Birds Fed Trout Infected with Myxosoma cerebralis

Mallard ducks, Anas platyrhynchos and a black crested night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax were fed trout infected with Myxosoma cerebralis (HOFER) in 2 separate experiments. Feces from the birds were deposited in troughs containing M. cerebralis-free mud as well as in 1 trough without mud. Spore suspensions were also added directly to mud in 1 trough and to another without mud. Susceptible rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri, developed whirling disease in all troughs containing mud contaminated with M. cerebralis but remained free of infection when exposed to M. cerebralis in troughs without mud. This demonstrates the possibility of bird transmission of the organism causing whirling disease to previously non-contaminated waters.
Stabilization of Lateral Motion in Passive Dynamic Walking

Passive dynamic walking refers to a class of bipedal machines that are able to walk down a gentle slope with no external control or energy input. The legs swing naturally as pendula, and conservation of angular momentum governs the contact of the swing foot with the ground. Previous machines have been limited to planar motions. We extend the planar motions to allow for tilting side to side (roll motion). Passive walking cycles exist, but the roll motion is unstable, resembling that of an inverted pendulum. The instability is due to mismatching of roll velocity with the ground contact conditions. Several strategies are presented for stabilizing this motion, of which the quasi-static control of step width is determined to be both simple and efficient.
Associations Between Mindfulness and Implicit Cognition and Self-Reported Affect

Theory suggests that mindful individuals exhibit enhanced attentional processing (e.g., attentional control) and that they maintain a detached perspective to problematic stimuli. For smokers, smoking and affective stimuli are problematic stimuli when they try to quit. In this cross-sectional study, smokers (n = 158) completed 3 modified Stroop tasks (to assess attentional control), 3 Implicit Association Tests (IATs; to assess detached perspective), and a battery of self-report assessments. Degree of mindfulness was negatively associated (P < .05) with self-reported negative affect, perceived stress, and depressive symptom severity, and positively associated (P < .05) with positive affect. Degree of mindfulness was not associated with the ability to disengage attention from smoking or affective stimuli. On the depression IAT, more mindful participants exhibited a more negative IAT effect, suggesting that they may have developed a detached perspective to depression-related stimuli. Theoretical and clinical implications of the data are discussed.
Validation tool for the earth radiation budget experiment (ERBE) nonscanner data product

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) measures the three radiant energy components (incident Solar, reflected, and emitted) of the Earth-Atmosphere System. This experiment employs four Earth-viewing nonscanning active cavity type radiometers on each the NASA Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS), and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's NOAA-9 and NOAA-10 spacecraft. The NOAA-9 and the NOAA-10 spacecraft are in Sun-synchronous polar orbits while the low-inclination orbit of the ERBS spacecraft precesses in local solar time. Two of the radiometers are total channels which measure radiation in the wavelength region of 0.2 to > 50 micrometers, while the other two radiometers are shortwave channels which measure the solar reflected energy in the spectral band of 0.2 to < 5 micrometers. A validation technique based on normalized measurements of independent nonscanning radiometers on different platforms observing the same geographical scene at the same time is described in this paper. This technique was applied to 1985, 1986, and 1987 measurements from the ERBS, NOAA-9, and NOAA-10 spacecraft to determine abrupt changes in the radiometric calibration procedure. The results for three years are presented.
FATIGUE IN EARLY PREGNANCY: An Exploratory Study

The experience of fatigue in early pregnancy was studied, using a general model of fatigue as the conceptual framework. A convenience sample of 30 women, age 20-35 years, who were at less than 20 weeks' gestation and without health problems were included in the study. Physiologic, psychological, and environmental factors were measured and related to the occurrence and intensity of fatigue. Pearson correlations and content analysis were used to analyze the data. Results showed that a large portion of the sample (90%) experienced fatigue and that this fatigue had a significant impact on their ability to maintain personal and social activities. Significant correlations were observed between fatigue and the physiologic variables of nausea and feeling tired upon awakening from sleep. There was no significant relationship between fatigue and environmental variables such as number of hours worked or the number of children living in the home. In addition, significant correlations were observed between fatigue and psychological variables that included depression, anger, anxiety, and confusion. These data suggest that fatigue is a significant problem for pregnant women and is not relieved by rest. These data further suggest that the fatigue may be related to other physiologic changes, perhaps hormonal, that mediate physiologic and psychological variables, including fatigue.
Analysis of direction-tuning curves of neurons in the turtle's accessory optic system.

Visual-movement sensitivity of neurons in the turtle’s accessory optic system was investigated. Neuronal responses to stimulus direction and speed were analyzed to determine whether they reflect processing by a one-dimensional encoder of visual motion or whether they indicate directional integration of presynaptic direction-sensitive responses whose maximal-response directions are distributed. Both of these mechanisms make predictions about the functional relationship between stimulus direction and response. The responses of single units in the basal optic nucleus to visual stimulation in different directions were described by both cosine and wrapped normal fitting functions. The wrapped normal function (a Gaussian curve mapped onto a circle) performed at least as well as the cosine function and described directional tuning curves of varying widths. Unlike cosines, the addition of two wrapped normals could describe multi-lobed directional data. Next, it was demonstrated that these neurons did not encode visual motion projected onto a single, spatial axis. Responses to the projected speed along the maximal-response direction were systematically lower than responses to the actual speed along that direction. Thus, for speeds above 1°/s, neuronal response varies with respect to direction but not speed. Summation of presynaptic direction-sensitive responses with distributed maximal-response directions (referred to as directional integration) is discussed as a means of accounting for these results.
Maternal caffeine administration and cerebral oxygenation in near-term fetal sheep

The authors test the null hypothesis that maternal caffeine administration will not significantly alter fetal cerebral oxygenation. The authors measured fetal arterial blood gases, cortical tissue O(2) tension (tPO(2)), sagittal sinus blood gases, and laser Doppler cerebral blood flow in response to a 30-minute caffeine infusion (400 mg intravenously) into 7 near-term pregnant ewes, and they calculated fractional O(2) extraction and relative cerebral metabolic rate for O(2) (CMRO(2)). Following maternal caffeine infusion, both fetal cortical tPO(2) and sagittal sinus (HbO(2)) decreased significantly, from 10.7 +/- 0.9 to 6.8 +/- 1.1 Torr and from 46% +/- 2% to 37% +/- 6%, respectively. This was associated with significant 20% to 30% increases in fractional O(2) extraction and CMRO( 2). Fetal arterial blood gas values did not change significantly. In conclusion, maternal caffeine administration significantly decreases cerebral oxygenation without affecting systemic oxygenation in fetal sheep. The authors speculate that for a fetus that may be otherwise compromised, this increase in CMRO(2) with decreased cortical tPO(2) could present a problem.
Priority discarding of speech in integrated packet networks

The authors discuss the control of short-term congestion, which is referred to as overload, in integrated packet networks (IPNs) containing a mix of data, speech, and possibly other types of signals. A system model is proposed that assigns a delivery priority to each packet (speech or otherwise) at the transmitter and discards speech packets according to delivery priority at any point in the network in response to overload. This model attempts to minimize per-packet processing at networks nodes. The research described is guided by two principles for IPN design: minimal per-packet processing and flexibility due to signal structure. The quality of the received speech is maintained by classifying speech segments according to their structure and coding them in a way that ensures ease of lost-packet regeneration at the receiver. The results of an experiment are reported that confirmed the general validity of this model from the standpoint of transmitter and receiver processing and subjective quality. >
Spontaneous and Amphetamine-Evoked Release of Cerebellar Noradrenaline After Sensorimotor Cortex Contusion: An In Vivo Microdialysis Study in the Awake Rat

Microdialysis sampling combined with HPLC was used to assess spontaneous and d-amphetamine (AMPH)-evoked release of noradrenaline (NA) in the cerebellum 1 day after probe implantation and 1 day after contusion of the right sensorimotor cortex (SMCX) in rats. In normal controls the mean +/- SEM basal NA release was 10.08 +/- 0.97 pg in the left cerebellar hemisphere and 8.21 +/- 1.17 pg in the right hemisphere 22-24 h after probe implantation. The average +/- SEM NA release in a 3-h period after administration of AMPH (2 mg/kg, i.p.) increased to 453 +/- 47.35 pg in the left and to 402 +/- 49.95 pg in the right cerebellar hemisphere. NA release (range of 413-951% increase over baseline) was maximal 20-40 min postdrug, returned to basal levels within 5 h, and remained unchanged for the 22-24-h postdrug measurement period. Animals with a focal SMCX contusion had a marked depression of both spontaneous and AMPH-evoked NA release. Mean +/- SEM basal NA release was 4.84 +/- 1.09 pg in the left and 4.95 +/- 0.43 pg in the right cerebellar hemisphere from 22 to 24 h postinjury, with NA levels increasing to 259 +/- 75.44 and 219 +/- 23.45 pg in the respective hemispheres over a 3-h period after AMPH. The maximal AMPH-induced increase in NA release ranged from 522 to 1,088% of basal levels in contused rats, with NA release returning to predrug levels within 5 h and remaining depressed for at least 48 h postinjury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Density of States Curve for Nickel

A density of states curve for the $d$ bands in nickel is presented. This curve is an extension over the entire energy range of the $d$ bands of the density of states curve for nickel already computed by Fletcher and Wohlfarth. The matrix of the interaction of the $d$ states with the periodic potential is exactly the same as was used by Fletcher and Wohlfarth.
Constraint propagation, relational arithmetic in AI systems and mathematical programs

This paper explores the interrelationships between methods developed in mathematical programming to discover the structure of constraint (feasibility) sets and constraint propagation over networks used by some AI systems to perform inferences about quantities. It is shown that some constraint set problems in mathematical programming are equivalent to inferencing problems for constraint networks with interval labels. This makes the inference and query capabilities associated with AI systems that use logic programming, directly accessible to mathematical programming systems. On the other hand, traditional and newer methods which mathematical programming uses to obtain information about its associated feasibility set can be used to determine the propagation of constraints in a network of nodes of an AI system. When viewed from this point of view, AI problems can access additional mathematical programming analytical tools including new ways to incorporate qualitative data into constraint sets via interval and fuzzy arithmetic.
MR Angiography in the Preoperative Evaluation of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: A Preliminary Study

Purpose The ability of magnetic resonance (MR) angiography to depict visceral and renal vessels was evaluated in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Patients and Methods MR sequences (sagittal Tl-weighted, two-dimensional coronal, and three-dimensional axial time-of-flight) were compared in a prospective blinded fashion with conventional angiograms obtained preoperatively in 23 patients with AAAs. Results were correlated with surgical findings when available. Results Operative aortic clamp site was correctly predicted with conventional angiography in 95% of patients and with MR angiography in 86% ( P > .1). Aneurysm neck measurements obtained with the two modalities were within 1 cm in 91% of cases. With conventional angiography as the standard of reference, 96% of all renal arteries were identified on MR angiograms but 36% of accessory arteries were missed. MR angiography enabled identification of patients who had at least one renal artery stenosis greater than 50% with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 89%. For identifying individual renal artery, celiac artery, and superior mesenteric artery stenoses of similar severity, the sensitivity and specificity were 67% and in excess of 96%, respectively. The celiac artery could not be evaluated in one case. Conclusion The results of this small study suggest that the role of MR angiography in the preoperative evaluation of AAA warrants further investigation.
Effects of Increasing Dietary Protein on Nutrient Utilization in Heifers

Four prepubertal Holstein heifers, average age 146.0 +/- 3.6 d and 152.8 +/- 8.6 kg of body weight (BW), fitted with rumen cannulae were used to evaluate increasing levels of dietary protein with a constant metabolizable energy intake on rumen ammonia N concentrations, N balance, total tract apparent digestibility, and urinary excretion of purine derivatives in a 4 x 4 Latin square design with 20 d periods. Heifers were fed dietary crude protein levels (CP) of 11.9, 16.7, 18.1, and 20.1% CP with similar amounts of metabolizable energy (ME) (2.6 Mcal per kg of dry matter) at 2.0% BW as dry matter intake. Resulting protein to ME ratios (CP:ME) were 45.0, 63.3, 69.4, and 77.3 g of dietary CP per Mcal of ME. Rumen ammonia N and plasma urea nitrogen increased as CP level increased. Rumen pH, volatile fatty acids, and the acetate-to-propionate ratio were not affected with increasing CP levels. Greater urinary N excretion resulted in an increase in total N excretion with increasing CP levels. Apparent dry matter digestibility was similar for all diets, while apparent total tract N digestibility was lowest for the 11.9% CP level. Microbial N calculated from urinary excretion of purine derivatives increased with increasing CP levels. Holstein heifers between 153 and 196 kg consuming a diet at 2.0% BW as dry matter intake containing a CP level of 16.7% achieved a better synergistic relationship of dietary protein to energy (CP:ME of 63.3 g of CP per Mcal of ME) than the diets lower or higher in CP that were studied.
The role of lifestyle changes in the management of chronic liver disease

The prevalence of obesity worldwide has dramatically increased during the last three decades. With obesity comes a variety of adverse health outcomes which are grouped under the umbrella of metabolic syndrome. The liver in particular seems to be significantly impacted by fat deposition in the presence of obesity. In this article we discuss several liver conditions which are directly affected by overweight and obese status, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic infection with hepatitis C virus and post-liver transplant status. The deleterious effects of obesity on liver disease and overall health can be significantly impacted by a culture that fosters sustained nutritional improvement and regular physical activity. Here we summarize the current evidence supporting non-pharmacological, lifestyle interventions that lead to weight reduction, improved physical activity and better nutrition as part of the management and treatment of these liver conditions.
MBE Growth and Characterization of HgCdTe Heterostructures

HgCdTe heterostructures consisting of a thin n-type widegap (250 meV or 5 itμ}m cutoff) layer deposited on an n-type narrowgap (100–125 meV or 10–13 μm cutoff) layer offer the promise of very high performance metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) photocapacitors for long wavelength infrared (LWIR) detection. Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) is a candidate growth technology for these two layer films due to its fine control in composition, thickness and doping concentration. The critical materials issues are reducing the defect content associated with twins in the grown layers, achieving low net donor concentrations in the widegap layer, and avoiding the formation of misfit dislocations at the HgCdTe heterointerface. This paper will report on our recent progress in these directions.
Hypo-fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (HF-SRT) for peri-optic pituitary adenomas – Early results of a novel experience

Background/Objective To report our early experience with a novel Hypo-fractionated Stereotactic Radiotherapy (HF-SRT) regimen in the treatment of pituitary adenomas located in close proximity to the optic apparatus. Methods Twelve patients were treated using HF-SRT— total doses of 35-40 Gy in 7-10 fractions (4-5 Gy/fx). Sixty seven percent received 40 Gy in 10 fractions. Doses were prescribed to the 80-95% isodose line when the technique was cone-based, and to 85-95% of the Planning Target Volume (PTV) when IMRT-based. The end-points were visual function preservation, and local control as defined by follow-up MRI and/or biochemical control. Results Median age was 44.5 years. Sixty seven percent (8/12) had secretory adenomas. Median tumor volume as 5.8 cc. Median follow-up was 18.5 months. Mean marginal tumor dose was 42.7 Gy. Mean minimum distance from the optic chiasm was 2.3 mm. Mean maximum dose to the optic apparatus was 36 Gy. Visual improvement/stabilization rate was 87.5% (7/8). Radiological local control rate was 92% (11/12), CR in 25% (3/12), PR in 33% (4/12), SD in 33% (4/12), and PD in 8% (1/12). Endocrinological response was seen in all patients with abnormal hormone levels prior to therapy (8/8). Acute toxicity included headaches (42%) and nausea (8%). One patient with a previous history of pituitary hemorrhage suffered an episode of pituitary apoplexy 2 months after HF-SRT. Another patient with history of prior full dose conventional radiotherapy 2.5 years prior to HF-SRT, developed dissection and thrombosis of the right internal carotid artery. Conclusions Early results of HF-SRT (4-5 Gy/fx) in 7-10 fractions show comparable radiological and endocrinological tumor control to conventionally fractionated radiotherapy or single fraction SRS, with excellent visual preservation. Longer follow-up is needed to ascertain efficacy and long term toxicity of this technique.
Steady state free radical budgets and ozone photochemistry during TOPSE

[1] A steady state model, constrained by a number of measured quantities, was used to derive peroxy radical levels for the conditions of the Tropospheric Ozone Production about the Spring Equinox (TOPSE) campaign. The analysis is made using data collected aboard the NCAR/NSF C-130 aircraft from February through May 2000 at latitudes from 40° to 85°N, and at altitudes from the surface to 7.6 km. HO2 + RO2 radical concentrations were measured during the experiment, which are compared with model results over the domain of the study showing good agreement on the average. Average measurement/model ratios are 1.04 (σ = 0.73) and 0.96 (σ = 0.52) for the MLB and HLB, respectively. Budgets of total peroxy radical levels as well as of individual free radical members were constructed, which reveal interesting differences compared to studies at lower latitudes. The midlatitude part of the study region is a significant net source of ozone, while the high latitudes constitute a small net sink leading to the hypothesis that transport from the middle latitudes can explain the observed increase in ozone in the high latitudes. Radical reservoir species concentrations are modeled and compared with the observations. For most conditions, the model does a good job of reproducing the formaldehyde observations, but the peroxide observations are significantly less than steady state for this study. Photostationary state (PSS) derived total peroxy radical levels and NO/NO2 ratios are compared with the measurements and the model; PSS-derived results are higher than observations or the steady state model at low NO concentrations.
CaseMan: A Case Management Tool for CFD Applications

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has become a crucial tool to predict and analyze flow field within a domain. When engineers understand the complex flow patterns, reliable results can be provided. However, accuracy improvement, confidence development, throughput increase, and cost reduction are the four key challenges to CFD. Solution throughput in the generation of aerodynamics, propulsion, and fluid dynamics simulations that involve parametric and sensitivity studies of design and analysis must be significantly improved. Such parametric and sensitivity studies require a large number of CFD simulation runs. However, preparing and managing such a large number of CFD simulation jobs is a challenging problem even for experienced users; compounded by the complexity of running these simulations with different cluster environments on the Department of Defense (DoD) High Performance Computing (HPC) systems. Moreover, different groups of users may prefer a different CFD solver that requires a different input file format and outputs solutions in various flavors.
Humble inquiry: the gentle art of asking instead of telling

Although this book is not written about action learning, Humble inquiry: the gentle art of asking instead of telling is perhaps one of the most valuable books an action learning professional could ...
Influence functions and robust Bayes and empirical Bayes small area estimation

We introduce new robust small area estimation procedures based on area-level models. We first find influence functions corresponding to each individual area-level observation by measuring the divergence between the posterior density functions of regression coefficients with and without that observation. Next, based on these influence functions, properly standardized, we propose some new robust Bayes and empirical Bayes small area estimators. The mean squared errors and estimated mean squared errors of these estimators are also found. A small simulation study compares the performance of the robust and the regular empirical Bayes estimators. When the model variance is larger than the sample variance, the proposed robust empirical Bayes estimators are superior.
FTSite: High accuracy detection of ligand binding sites on unbound protein structures

Motivation: Binding site identification is a classical problem that is important for a range of applications, including the structure-based prediction of function, the elucidation of functional relationships among proteins, protein engineering and drug design. We describe an accurate method of binding site identification, namely FTSite. This method is based on experimental evidence that ligand binding sites also bind small organic molecules of various shapes and polarity. The FTSite algorithm does not rely on any evolutionary or statistical information, but achieves near experimental accuracy: it is capable of identifying the binding sites in over 94% of apo proteins from established test sets that have been used to evaluate many other binding site prediction methods. Availability: FTSite is freely available as a web-based server at
Interatomic potentials and solvation parameters from protein engineering data for buried residues

Van der Waals (vdW) interaction energies between different atom types, energies of hydrogen bonds (H-bonds), and atomic solvation parameters (ASPs) have been derived from the published thermodynamic stabilities of 106 mutants with available crystal structures by use of an originally designed model for the calculation of free-energy differences. The set of mutants included substitutions of uncharged, inflexible, water-inaccessible residues in alpha-helices and beta-sheets of T4, human, and hen lysozymes and HI ribonuclease. The determined energies of vdW interactions and H-bonds were smaller than in molecular mechanics and followed the "like dissolves like" rule, as expected in condensed media but not in vacuum. The depths of modified Lennard-Jones potentials were -0.34, -0.12, and -0.06 kcal/mole for similar atom types (polar-polar, aromatic-aromatic, and aliphatic-aliphatic interactions, respectively) and -0.10, -0.08, -0.06, -0.02, and nearly 0 kcal/mole for different types (sulfur-polar, sulfur-aromatic, sulfur-aliphatic, aliphatic-aromatic, and carbon-polar, respectively), whereas the depths of H-bond potentials were -1.5 to -1.8 kcal/mole. The obtained solvation parameters, that is, transfer energies from water to the protein interior, were 19, 7, -1, -21, and -66 cal/moleA(2) for aliphatic carbon, aromatic carbon, sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen, respectively, which is close to the cyclohexane scale for aliphatic and aromatic groups but intermediate between octanol and cyclohexane for others. An analysis of additional replacements at the water-protein interface indicates that vdW interactions between protein atoms are reduced when they occur across water.
Friend or foe: the effect of implicit trustworthiness judgments in social decision-making.

The human face appears to play a key role in signaling social intentions and usually people form reliable and strong impressions on the basis of someone’s facial appearance. Therefore, facial signals could have a substantial influence on how people evaluate and behave towards another person in a social interaction, such as an interactive risky decision-making game. Indeed, there is a growing body of evidence that demonstrates that social behavior plays a crucial role in human decision-making. Although previous research has demonstrated that explicit social information about one’s partner can influence decision-making behavior, such as knowledge about the partner’s moral status, much less is known about how implicit facial social cues affect strategic decision-making. One particular social cue that may be especially important in assessing how to interact with a partner is facial trustworthiness, a rapid, implicit assessment of the likelihood that the partner will reciprocate a generous gesture. In this experiment, we tested the hypothesis that implicit processing of trustworthiness is related to the degree to which participants cooperate with previously unknown partners. Participants played a Trust Game with 79 hypothetical partners who were previously rated on subjective trustworthiness. In each game, participants made a decision about how much to trust their partner, as measured by how much money they invested with that partner, with no guarantee of return. As predicted, people invested more money in partners who were subjectively rated as more trustworthy, despite no objective relationship between these factors. Moreover, the relationship between the amount of money offered seemed to be stronger for trustworthy faces as compared to untrustworthy faces. Overall, these data indicate that the perceived trustworthiness is a strong and important social cue that influences decision-making.
Clinical results of intraoperative radiation therapy for patients with locally recurrent and advanced tumors having colorectal involvement.

Abstract Background Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) may be useful in the treatment of patients who have a locally advanced primary and recurrent abdominopelvic neoplasm with colorectal involvement. Methods A retrospective review of colorectal cancer patients treated since 1999 with IORT using the Mobetron device. Results Forty patients underwent colectomy or proctectomy with IORT. All patients had evidence of local extension to contiguous structures and based on preoperative staging were deemed by the operating surgeon as being likely to have incomplete resection. IORT was selected as an alternative to sacrectomy or exenteration for an expected close margin in 10 patients. Mean survival was 35 ± 26 months, and 1 patient had local recurrence. Conclusions The introduction of IORT has allowed a selective treatment approach to locally advanced primary and recurrent neoplasms, which traditionally would have been deemed unresectable. Using IORT, extended resections may be avoided in selected high-risk patients with low risk of local recurrence and minimal morbidity.
Simultaneous liver-kidney versus liver transplantation alone in patients with end-stage liver disease and kidney dysfunction not on dialysis.

Abstract Background Since implementation of the Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD), the number of simultaneous liver-kidney transplantations (SLKT) has increased in the United States. However, predictors and survival benefit of SLKT compared to liver transplantation alone (LTA) are not well defined. Methods Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network data of patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) Results The study cohort comprised 5443 patients; 262 (5%) underwent SLKT and 5181 (95%) underwent LTA. Adjusting for potential confounders, patients who underwent SLKT were 34% less likely to die after liver transplantation than those who underwent LTA (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.66, P = .012) and 33% less likely to have liver graft failure than those who underwent LTA (HR = 0.67, P = .010). Among those who underwent SLKT, 1-, 3-, and 5-year kidney graft survival probabilities were 88%, 80%, and 77%, respectively. Black race and diabetes were associated with a higher likelihood of SLKT versus LTA; female sex, a higher eGFR, and higher MELD score reduced the likelihood of SLKT. Conclusions Among those with ESLD and kidney dysfunction not on dialysis, post–liver transplant patient and liver graft survivals of patients who underwent SLKT were superior to those of patients who underwent LTA. Whether this reflects differences in the two groups that could not be adjusted in survival models or a specific effect of kidney dysfunction cannot be established.
Adaptive solution space projection in conjunction with finite-element eigenfunction expansion for fast and robust wideband simulation of microwave devices

The eigenfunction expansion technique has been successfully applied to analyze various waveguide discontinuity problems, in which all of the ports are homogeneous and only TE and TM modes need to be taken into account. Modal solutions at each port are used as a boundary condition for the purposes of truncating a computational domain and exciting a port. In this paper an inhomogeneous port boundary conditions will be systematically derived by means of the eigenfunction expansion technique and incorporated into the functional, which will be discretized and solved using the finite element method with high-order interpolatory vector basis functions.
The t(14;18) and bcl-2 Expression Are Present in a Subset of Primary Cutaneous Follicular Lymphoma Association With Lower Grade

According to the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer classification, primary cutaneous follicle center cell lymphoma is not associated with the t(14;18)(q32;q21) and only rarely expresses bcl-2 protein. To further investigate this issue, we evaluated a series of 20 patients (14 men, 6 women) with primary cutaneous follicular lymphoma (PCFL). The presenting skin lesion was located in the head and neck region in 16 of 20 patients. Most cases were grade 2 (6/20) or grade 3 (13/20), and all had a follicular architecture. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated bcl-2 expression in 8 cases (40%), and expression was inversely related to the grade. Of 7 grade 1 or 2 cases, 5 (71%) were positive, whereas only 3 (23%) of 13 grade 3 cases were positive for bcl-2. Clonal immunoglobulin heavy chain gene rearrangements were detected in 9 (45%) of 20 cases. In 4 (20%) of 20 cases, we identified the major breakpoint of the t(14;18) by polymerase chain reaction, 3 of which were grade 1 or 2. We conclude that bcl-2 protein expression and the t(14;18) are present in a subset of PCFL, particularly in lower grade cases.