cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sports Medicine Considerations for the Paralympic Athlete

Increased participation and expanded public interest in the Paralympic Games underline the growing importance of competitive sports opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Injury surveillance is increasingly recognized as a key element of sports medicine research, and recent work has suggested that rates of injury, anatomic location of injury, and associated illness may in fact differ in athletes with disabilities. A greater understanding of the patterns of injury and illness for athletes with disabilities has important clinical implications for rehabilitation and sports medicine physicians. This review summarizes commonly observed musculoskeletal injuries that affect athletes with disabilities, including athletes using sports wheelchairs for competition, athletes with amputations, athletes with cerebral palsy, and athletes with visual impairment. Medical issues that may affect athletes with disabilities include autonomic dysreflexia, complications of neurogenic bowel and bladder, impaired thermoregulation, and skin breakdown. As a growing number of athletes with disabilities participate in sports activities, physicians must develop an increased understanding and expertise in treating and preventing injuries in these athletes.
A new bistable electroactive polymer for prolonged cycle lifetime of refreshable Braille displays

ABSTRACT: Bistable electroactive polymers (BSEP) amalgamating electrically induced large-strain actuation and shape memory effect present a unique opportunity for refreshable Braille displays. A new BSEP material with long-chain crosslinkers to achieve prolonged cycle lifetime of refreshable Braille displays is reported here. The modulus of the BSEP material decreases by more than three orders of magnitude from a rigid, plastic state to a rubbery state when heated above the polymer’s glass transition temperature. In its rubbery state, the polymer film can be electrically actuated to buckle convexly when a high voltage is applied across a circular active area. Modifying the concentration of long-chain crosslinkers in the polymer allows not only for fine-tuning of the polymer’s glass transition temperature and elasticity in the rubbery state, but also enhancement of the actuation stability. For a raised height of 0.4 mm by a Braille dot with a 1.3 mm diameter, actuation can be repeated over 2000 cycles at 70°C in the rubbery state. The actuated dome shape can be fixed by cooling the polymer below the glass transition temperature. This refreshable rigid-to-rigid actuation simultaneously provides large-strain actuation and large force support. Devices capable of displaying Braille characters over a page-size area consisting of 324 Braille cells have been fabricated.
A Commercial Field-Programmable Dense eFUSE Array Memory with 99.999% Sense Yield for 45nm SOI CMOS

This paper describes a second-generation one-time programmable read-only memory (OTPROM) that provides these features through a balanced bitline, resistor pull-up, differential sense amp with a programmable reference.
Learning From Recruitment Challenges: Barriers to Diagnosis, Treatment, and Research Participation for Latinos With Symptoms of Alzheimer's Disease

This article discusses barriers to diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and concomitantly to participation in AD research as elicited from 29 potential Latino participants who ultimately did not enroll in a study evaluating a caregiver intervention. Nearly half of all individuals contacting the researcher about the intervention study failed to meet criteria stipulating an existing AD diagnosis. Barriers to obtaining a diagnosis include lack of knowledge about AD, perceptions of memory loss as normal aging, and structural barriers to accessing care. A quarter of caregivers contacting the researcher felt too overwhelmed to participate. Many of these barriers have been previously identified as challenges to treatment, suggesting this is not just a methodological research problem, but inextricably tied to larger issues of AD knowledge and service accessibility. Engaging Latino communities equitably in the assessment of needs and the process of addressing them, thus ensuring the validity and applicability of the research and findings, is important both for increasing this group's participation in relevant studies and for addressing existing health disparities.
Effects of removal and regeneration of the suprapharyngeal ganglion on learning, retention, extinction and negative movements in the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris L.

Abstract Effects of removal and regeneration of the suprapharyngeal ganglion on learning, retention, extinction and negative movements of Lumbricus terrestris were studied in a T maze with electrical punishment and a sandpaper cue at the incorrect side and a dark goal box at the correct side. Learning, retention and negative movements at the choice point were not affected by ganglionectomy or regeneration. Extinction was prolonged, and negative reactions to the sandpaper were increased, by ganglionectomy after training. Negative movements in the maze stem were decreased by ganglionectomy under both learning and extinction conditions, and increased abruptly after 30–50 days of postoperative training. Reactivity to shock decreased when ganglionectomy followed, but not when it preceded, learning. Frequency of correct turns was the only measure clearly changed by learning. Negative movements at the choice point tended to decrease, but inconsistently during learning. There was no evidence that discrimination of sandpaper contributed to learning. Ten trials per day produced fatigue but was not detrimental to health or vigor.
Dielectric Loss in Microstrip Lines (Short Papers)

A new technique is presented for calculating dielectric loss in microstrip lines. Numerical results for several different substrates are included. These are compared with other available results and experimental data.
Key Issues in Addressing the Comorbidity of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Pediatric Epilepsy

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common comorbidity of epilepsy encountered by clinicians. However, relatively little information is available to guide optimal diagnostic and treatment strategies. Differentiating ADHD from effects of epilepsy requires careful history taking and emphasis upon characteristic symptoms and course of illness. Rating scales for ADHD are well validated and may aid clinical management. Use of antiepileptic drugs may cause cognitive or behavioral side effects yet may improve behavior in some cases. Historically, clinicians have been hesitant to treat ADHD comorbidity for fear of lowering the seizure threshold. However, an aggregate of recent evidence now suggests that stimulants may be well tolerated and effective for ADHD comorbid with epilepsy. Studies that further clarify pathophysiology and treatment outcomes are needed in order to enhance clinical efficacy and quality of life for this population.
In situ IR study of transient CO2 reforming of CH4 over Rh/Al2O3

The CO2−CH4 reaction on Rh/Al2O3 was studied by in situ infrared spectroscopy coupled with pulse and step transient techniques. Steady-state isotopic 13CO transient studies at 773 K and 0.1 MPa show that the formation of gaseous 13CO2 closely follows that of linear 13CO, indicating that linear CO is an active adsorbate. Pulsing CH4 into CO2 flow and step switching from He to CO2/CH4 flow showed that the formation of H2 led that of CO, revealing that the first step of the reaction sequence is the decomposition of CH4 into *CHx species and hydrogen. Hydrogen activated adsorbed CO2 to produce linear CO. The linear CO was found to be the major species on Rh/Al2O3 during the reaction by in situ infrared spectroscopy. The accumulation of the linear CO on Rh0 sites revealed that the surface of Rh crystallites on Al2O3 remained in a reduced state throughout the study. The O2 pulse into CO2/CH4 resulted in (i) a total oxidation of CH4 to CO2 and H2O and then (ii) a net increase in the formation of the desired prod...
More than scratching the surface: mitogen receptors as transcription factors?

Abstract Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) are a large family of transmembrane receptors that stimulate several responses including differentiation, proliferation and generation of extracellular matrix. To initiate these responses, RTK activate a variety of signaling pathways at the intracellular cell surface upon binding of ligand. Recent studies demonstrate that, in addition to stimulating effectors at the plasma membrane, the C-terminal domain of the epidermal growth factor receptor and ErbB-4 receptor translocate into the nucleus. Interestingly, localization to the nucleus might be crucial to the growth response of these receptors.
Effects of Terramycin Antibiotic and Apistan Acaricide on Colonies of Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Infested with Varroa jacobsoni (Parasitiformes: Varroidae)

The effects of the antibiotic Terramycin and the acaricide Apistan were tested on colonies of honey bees, Apis mellifera L., infested with the parasitic mite Varroa jacobsoni Oudemans. Interest in antibiotics stems from the possibility that V. jacobsoni vectors pathogens. Each of 20 colonies randomly received 1 of 4 treatments : (1) 7 applications (28.3 g, 198.1 g total) of a standard Terramycin and powdered sucrose mixture, (2) 2 Apistan strips, (3) Terramycin and Apistan, or (4) no treatment as an experimental control. Terramycin increased the body weight of hive bees of mixed ages and of newly emerged adult bees. Apistan increased the body weight of hive bees of mixed ages, maintained colony population size during a period of apiary-wide decline, decreased the number of V. jacobsoni per newly emerged bee, and decreased the incidence of misshapen newly emerged bees. Overall, the effects of Terramycin antibiotic and Apistan acaricide on V. jacobsoni-infested colonies were favorable or neutral, and no interactions between the 2 products were detected.
Thermodynamic limits of crystallization and the prediction of glass formation tendency

We have calculated the T{sub 0} curves for several Al-rare-earth binary alloys to assess the importance of the transport-based resistance to crystallization in the overall glass formation process and the general effectiveness of thermodynamic prediction of glass-forming ability. Our results show that the experimentally observed glass-forming compositions for Al-(Ce, Gd, Ho, Nd, Y, Dy) alloys strongly correlate with the composition range bounded by the T{sub 0} curves associated with the relevant crystalline phases. This indicates that sluggish material transport, together with the tendency for clustering and other types of ordering at medium-range scale, is a key factor governing glass formation in these systems.
Species-specific effects of bombesin on gastric emptying and neurohypophyseal secretion

Previous reports have demonstrated that systemic injection of cholecystokinin (CCK) in rats produces dose-related decreases in food intake, increases in neurohypophyseal secretion of oxytocin (OT), and decreases in gastric emptying. The present studies determined whether systemic injection of bombesin (BBS), another peptide that potently reduces food intake in rats, had similar effects on OT secretion and gastric emptying. Although BBS produces a dose-dependent inhibition of food intake, even very high doses did not significantly affect plasma OT levels and only slightly decreased rates of gastric emptying. Consequently, despite their similar inhibitory effects on food intake, BBS does not appear to activate the same network of central nervous system pathways as does CCK in rats. However, parallel studies in monkeys demonstrated that systemic injection of BBS was effective in stimulating neurohypophyseal secretion of vasopressin rather than OT, in a pattern both qualitatively and quantitatively analogous to the effects of CCK in this species. Together with previous findings that BBS more potently inhibits gastric emptying in primates than in rats, these results therefore also suggest the presence of significant species differences in the central mechanisms by which BBS acts to reduce food intake.
Shiver me timbers: pulsatile contractility in model tissues

Cells self-assemble and differentiate to form functional structures. This theme is ubiquitous throughout multicellular life and happens all along an organism's lifespan, from embryogenesis to tissue maintenance in a mature adult. Understanding how cells interact to form functional structures is a fundamental challenge in biology and biophysics; characterizing and targeting interactions such that they can be used for regenerative or therapeutic purposes is a major goal in bioengineering and medicine. In PNAS, Guevorkian et al. (1) study a multicellular aggregate that serves as a model tissue. Through experiments and analytical and numerical modeling, they find that small clusters of cells can respond to an externally imposed stretching force by pulsed contractions, which they dub “shivering” (1). The pulsatile nature of this response results from a threshold value of deformation required to trigger contractility; if the applied deformation is appropriately sized, contraction can reduce the deformation such that it then falls below the threshold value, causing the contraction to stop and then restart if the deformation continues. This active thresholded response constitutes an important potential class of interaction for sensitively shaping tissues.
A recursive singularity-robust Jacobian generalized inverse

An operator form of a scale-invariant singularity-robust generalized inverse of the Jacobian, J /spl epsiv/ R/sup mxn/, for a serial-chain n-link manipulator is developed. This allows the direct computation of a solution to the resolved-rate problem /spl beta/(0)=J/spl theta//spl dot/ via an O(n) recursive algorithm. There is no restriction on the number of links or the dimension, m/spl les/6, of the end-effector velocity vector. The generalized inverse requires knowledge of the mass and inertia properties of the manipulator links. However its use is central to the problem of solving closed chain forward dynamics and computing velocity changes due to inelastic collision between a manipulator end-effector and the environment.
XPDC2-R/spl theta/: a two dimensional electrostatic PIC code

Summary form only given, as follows. A two dimensional particle-in-cell simulation has been written using a cylindrical R-/spl theta/ Poisson field solver. The simulator is capable of simulating coaxial structures with and without a central conductor. In the presence of a central conductor, an external circuit consisting of V,I sources and R-L-C elements, can be self-consistently simulated with the plasma equations. The simulation model includes the PIC-MCC package to model collisions between charged particles and neutral species. The field solve in the /spl theta/ direction can be done using finite-difference or Fourier transforms. The simulator is currently being used to study the Diocotron and Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities. The ability to generate movies to study time-varying phenomenon will be discussed. In addition, comparisons with theory and 1D models will also be presented.
Reliability of Systems with Limited Repairs

Reliability is the probability that a system functions according to specifications over a given period of time. During this period, system specifications may allow failures and repairs to occur. This paper considers systems with specifications which limit the repair process. Such systems place a limitation on either the repair duration or the number of repairs. For example, a system controlling a real-time process may go down, be repaired, and continue proper control as long as the repair duration does not exceed a specified bound. Otherwise, the system fails. We model and analyze systems with three different types of limited repairs: 1) Bounded repair time, 2) Bounded cumulative repair time, and 3) Bounded number of repairs. Examples of such models exist in real-time process control, shock models, transaction processing, and maintenance models. For each of the three types of systems with limited repairs, we derive the distributions and the mean values of the system lifetime, the cumulative operational time, and the largest continuous operational time before a complete system failure. We also consider the execution of a task on such systems. The task is preempted upon the occurence of a failure, and is resumed or repeated after repair. The probability of completion of a task with a given work requirement in the three limited downtime scenarios is derived. We study the effect of preemptive-resume versus preemptive-repeat failures on the probability of task completion.
Tremor varies as a function of the temporal regularity of deep brain stimulation

The frequency of stimulation is one of the primary factors determining the effectiveness of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in relieving tremor. DBS efficacy, however, may depend not only on the average frequency of stimulation, but also on the temporal pattern of stimulation. We conducted intraoperative measurements of the effect of temporally irregular DBS (nonconstant interpulse intervals) on tremor. As the coefficient of variation of irregular high frequency DBS trains increased, they became less effective at reducing tremor (mixed effects regression model, P<0.04).These data provide evidence that the effects of DBS are dependent not only on the average frequency of DBS, but also on the regularity of the temporal spacing of DBS pulses.
Looking for Law in All the Wrong Places? Foreign Law and Support for the U.S. Supreme Court

References to foreign legal judgments in several recent Supreme Court decisions have given rise to substantial legal and political controversy. While those debates have largely focused on normative matters, we utilize an experimental design that presents media portrayals of Court decisions to assess the possible implications of this issue for the Court and its legitimacy with the public. Our results suggest that, should the Court continue to utilize this practice, it could result in some erosion of public support for the Court as an institution. Further, we find that this effect has the potential to be particularly powerful in structuring the opinions of citizens who are less knowledgeable about government and the Court.
Amb-EM: a SNP-based prediction of HLA alleles using ambiguous HLA data

The Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genes are some of the most studied genes on the genome. This is due to their importance in bone marrow and solid organ transplantation, as well as their strong associations with many autoimmune, infectious, and inflammatory diseases. As such, they can be a highly valuable asset to clinicians and researchers for elucidating biological mechanism that may drive those diseases. The extraordinary genetic polymorphism that exists in this region makes it very challenging to type. Therefore, several approaches were proposed for prediction of HLA genes from widely available genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data sets in the attempt to reduce cost and utilize existing data. These methods use SNPs and high-resolution training HLA data to build models for prediction of HLA genes in new samples. However, most of the existing HLA data sets are not available in high-resolution (exact allele assignment) but contain allelic ambiguities (inexact allele assignments). This is a result of existing typing methodologies not always being able to distinguish between several possible alleles at a given gene and produce ambiguous allele as a result. Current approaches for prediction of HLA genes from SNP data do not accommodate learning from ambiguous HLA data and, as such, miss the potential for an increased sample size and consequently improvements in prediction performance. In this paper, we propose Amb-EM, a novel algorithm for SNP-based prediction of HLA genes that utilizes ambiguities in the HLA data and predicts high-resolution alleles using ambiguous HLA alleles for building the model. Additionally, we measure the impact that the uncertainty in the training data has on the prediction accuracy, and evaluate it on a real world data set. Our results show that the prediction from ambiguous HLA data outperforms the alternative approach which first imputes the ambiguous data into high-resolution HLA alleles and uses it to build the model.
Fermentation of cottonseed and other feedstuffs in cattle rumen fluid

Bovine rumen fluid was fermented anaerobically over 48 h with cottonseed, corn, alfalfa, or a mixture of these substrates in anaerobic mineral buffer. Samples taken at different incubation times were derivatized with n-butanol and subjected to gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy. No unusual fermentation end-products from the cottonseed substrate were detected. Cottonseed supported rumen fermentation at levels comparable to those of the other substrates. Major components were usually found in the decreasing order of acetate, propionate, butyrate, and valerate, although acetate and propionate concentrations decreased late in the alfalfa and mixed-feed fermentations, eventually allowing butyrate concentrations to exceed those of propionate. As expected, lactate was produced in high concentrations when corn was fermented. The minor components 2-methylpropionate, 2-and 3-methylbutyrate, phenylacetate, phenylpropionate, and caproate also accumulated, with their relative concentrations varying with the substrate. Succinate was produced in substantial amounts only when corn and alfalfa were fermented; it did not accumulate when cottonseed was the substrate. Samples containing cottonseed were derivatized and subjected to reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, revealing that gossypol concentrations did not change during fermentation.
Seismic Qualification by Testing for Electrical and Active Mechanical Equipment to be Installed in Hard-Rock High Frequency Sites

All electric and active mechanical equipment important to safety must be seismically qualified by either analysis, testing, or a combination of both. The general requirements for seismic qualification of electric and active mechanical equipment in nuclear power plants are delineated in Appendix S to Title 10, Part 50, of the Code of Federal Regulations (10 CFR Part 50), item 52.47(20) of 10 CFR 52.47, and Appendix A to 10 CFR Part 100. The staff at the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has recognized that the Certified Design Ground Motion may be exceeded by the site-specific ground motion. The exceedances are generally in the high-frequency range for the Central and Eastern US sites. For equipment seismic qualification consideration, the exceedances must be addressed at both the ground level and the floor level where the equipment is located. Thus, the in-structure response spectra at some locations may exceed those in-structure response spectra generated by the certified seismic design response spectra. The U.S. nuclear industry and the NRC have initiated activities to address this issue. Two scenarios that revealed themselves during the review activities of the design certification and combined license applications for new reactors will be expounded upon in the paper. In Case I, equipment seismic qualification has been approved for a certified design and equipment is to be installed at a hard-rock high frequency (HRHF) site with certified seismic design response spectra (CSDRS) exceeded by the Ground Motion Response Spectra (GMRS) of the hard-rock site. In Case II, equipment seismic qualification has not been approved for a design certification and there is an application with GMRS exceeding the not-yet-approved CSDRS. In the paper, the staff will begin the discussion with the regulatory requirements for seismic qualification of electric and mechanical equipment. The focus of the paper is to identify the staff concern and illustrate the resolution between the NRC staff and an applicant on the seismic qualification of equipment by testing, in particular for equipment to be installed in hard-rock high frequency sites, to meet the regulatory requirements.
HIV Infection in Infants, Children, and Adolescents

1. Sandra K. Burchett, MD, MS* 2. Philip A. Pizzo† 1. *Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School; Clinical Director, Infectious Disease Division, Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 2. †Carl and Elizabeth Naumann Professor of Pediatrics and of Microbiology and Immunology; Dean, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA After completing this article, readers should be able to: 1. Describe the changing epidemiology of perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission and delineate effective interventions to reduce the rate of mother-to-child transmission. 2. Compare the clinical manifestations of HIV infection by age of presentation. 3. Describe the most appropriate diagnostic tests for HIV infection by patient age. 4. Describe the principles of antiretroviral treatment and classes of drugs. Pediatric HIV infection can present in neonates, children, or adolescents. The number of cases of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) among children in the United States is decreasing because of increased success in preventing perinatal transmission as well as the availability of effective treatments. Prompt diagnosis and adherence to effective treatments are critical to changing the face of HIV infection from a fatal disease to a chronic, manageable infection. Sadly, pediatric HIV/AIDS in the developing world is essentially unchecked, with almost 600,000 new infections in children younger than 15 years of age in 2002. HIV defines a chronic RNA virus infection in the host. When opportunistic or other unusual or persistent infections have occurred or when the CD4+ lymphocyte count is less than 200 cells in persons older than age 12 years, a patient is defined as having AIDS. Opportunistic infections are caused by organisms in the environment that usually do not cause harm to persons who have intact immune systems, but can be the basis of serious or even fatal infection in those who have compromised immune systems. HIV enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a test performed on serum to detect antibodies against HIV antigens. If the ELISA results are positive, a Western blot is performed to identify individual antibodies to HIV antigens. A patient may have a positive ELISA result, but a negative Western blot result: This patient does not have HIV infection. Anyone older …
Rate-distortion analysis for light field coding and streaming

Abstract A theoretical framework to analyze the rate-distortion performance of a light field coding and streaming system is proposed. This framework takes into account the statistical properties of the light field images, the accuracy of the geometry information used in disparity compensation, and the prediction dependency structure or transform used to exploit correlation among views. Using this framework, the effect that various parameters have on compression efficiency is studied. The framework reveals that the efficiency gains from more accurate geometry, increase as correlation between images increases. The coding gains due to prediction suggested by the framework match those observed from experimental results. This framework is also used to study the performance of light field streaming by deriving a view-trajectory-dependent rate-distortion function. Simulation results show that the streaming results depend both the prediction structure and the viewing trajectory. For instance, independent coding of images gives the best streaming performance for certain view trajectories. These and other trends described by the simulation results agree qualitatively with actual experimental streaming results.
Laryngotracheal reconstruction with thyroid cartilage grafting

A technique to surgically manage neonatal subglottic stenosis is described in this report. Our extubation and decannulation rate in 17 patients who have undergone this procedure has been higher than that with the anterior cricoid split procedure. Early accidental extubation has not been problematic; this complication has been a difficulty with the anterior cricoid split procedure. The indications of this technique are being expanded to address subglottic pathology in olden children and for posterior cricoid augmentation.
FtsH11 protease plays a critical role in Arabidopsis thermotolerance

Summary Plants, as sessile organisms, employ multiple mechanisms to adapt to the seasonal and daily temperature fluctuations associated with their habitats. Here, we provide genetic and physiological evidence that the FtsH11 protease of Arabidopsis contributes to the overall tolerance of the plant to elevated temperatures. To identify the various mechanisms of thermotolerance in plants, we isolated a series of Arabidopsis thaliana thermo-sensitive mutants (atts) that fail to acquire thermotolerance after pre-conditioning at 38� C. Two allelic mutants, atts244 and atts405, were found to be both highly susceptible to moderately elevated temperatures and defective in acquired thermotolerance. The growth and development of the mutant plants at all stages examined were arrested after exposure to temperatures above 30� C, which are permissive conditions for wildtype plants. The affected gene in atts244 was identified through map-based cloning and encodes a chloroplast targeted FtsH protease, FtsH11. The Arabidopsis genome contains 12 predicted FtsH protease genes, with all previously characterized FtsH genes playing roles in the alleviation of light stress through the degradation of unassembled thylakoid membrane proteins and photodamaged photosystem II D1 protein. Photosynthetic capability, as measured by chlorophyll content (chl a/b ratios) and PSII quantum yield, is greatly reduced in the leaves of FtsH11 mutants when exposed to the moderately high temperature of 30� C. Under high light conditions, however, FtsH11 mutants and wild-type plants showed no significant difference in photosynthesis capacity. Our results support a direct role for the A. thaliana FtsH11-encoded protease in thermotolerance, a function previously reported for bacterial and yeast FtsH proteases but not for those from plants.
Approximate solution of the trust region problem by minimization over two-dimensional subspaces

The trust region problem, minimization of a quadratic function subject to a spherical trust region constraint, occurs in many optimization algorithms. In a previous paper, the authors introduced an inexpensive approximate solution technique for this problem that involves the solution of a two-dimensional trust region problem. They showed that using this approximation in an unconstrained optimization algorithm leads to the same theoretical global and local convergence properties as are obtained using the exact solution to the trust region problem. This paper reports computational results showing that the two-dimensional minimization approach gives nearly optimal reductions in then-dimension quadratic model over a wide range of test cases. We also show that there is very little difference, in efficiency and reliability, between using the approximate or exact trust region step in solving standard test problems for unconstrained optimization. These results may encourage the application of similar approximate trust region techniques in other contexts.
A digital feedback system for orbit stabilization

We are reporting on the design and preliminary results of a prototype digital feedback system for the storage rings at the NSLS. The system will use a nonlinear eigenvector decomposition algorithm. It will have a wide dynamic range and will be able to correct noise in the orbit over a bandwidth in excess of 60 Hz. A Motorola-167 CPU board is used to sample the PUE's at a minimum rate of 200 Hz and an HP-742rt board is used to read the sampled signals and to generate a correction signal for the orbit correctors. >
Anomalous drain voltage dependence in bias temperature instability measurements on high-κ field effect transistors

Abstract We find that changes in threshold voltage induced by negative bias temperature stressing of p-channel field effect transistors with HfSiON gate dielectrics are modulated by the drain voltage, in measurements wherein the drain current is measured during stressing. This effect is not observed in SiO2 gate devices. Short channel effects are excluded as explanations, leading us to conclude that positive charge in the dielectric stack is laterally mobile and is conducted out of the insulator via the drain. Further, a simple qualitative model of charging kinetics allows us to extract the density of interface states as a function of time, and shows that these defects build in time, reaching numbers on the order of 1011 cm−2 after hundreds of seconds.
Correlation betweenJ c and screw dislocation density in sputtered YBa2Cu3O7-? films

Electric transport properties of sputtered YBa2Cu3O7−δ films were studied as a function of screw dislocation density, ranging from 5·107 cm−2 to 1.3·109 cm−2 as determined at the film surface. A correlation was found between the number of screw dislocations and the critical current density (J c ). Films with higher screw dislocation densities have higher critical current densities and a slower drop ofJ c as a function of applied magnetic fieldH.
Retracted Stylets in Nymphs of the Asian Citrus Psyllid are Held Externally Against the Clypeus by a Special Paired Organ Not Found in the Adults

Differences in ultrastructure of the mouthparts in nymphs and adults of the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), vector of the bacterium associated with citrus huanglongbing disease, were studied using scanning electron microscopy. The number of sensilla on the labial tip in nymphs was greater than that in adults. Furthermore, during the resting (non-feeding) periods, the retracted/looped stylets in the adults are hidden inside a bag called the crumena, whereas the fully or partially retracted stylets in nymphs are externally visible between the clypeus and 2 large projections, not found in the adults, at the base of the labium. These projections, that we called ‘stylet-holding organ’, were found also in nymphs of the melaleuca psyllid, Boreioglycaspis melaleuca, retracted/looped stylets. Se utilizo el metodo de ecografia microscopica electronica con el fin de determinar la ultraestructura del aparato bucal de las ninfas y adultos del psilido Asiatico de los citricos Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Psyllidae), el cual es el vector de la bacteria asociada con la enfermedad de ‘huanglonbing’. El numero de sensilla en la punta del labio en las ninfas fue mayor que el encontrado en los adultos. Mas aun, durante periodos de descanso (sin alimentarse) del insecto, los estiletes del adulto estan escondidos/encorvados en una bolsa llamada crumena, mientras que los estiletes de las ninfas estan completamente o medio escondidos/encorvados y pueden ser vistos externamente entre el clypeo y dos proyecciones grandes. Estas proyecciones no se encuentran en la base del labio de los adultos. Estas proyecciones que nosotros llamamos ‘organo de soporte del estilete’, fueron encontradas tambien en los estiletes escondidos/encorvados de las ninfas del psilido de la melaleuca, Boreioglycaspis melaleuca. View this article in BioOne
Is Resurgent Na+ Current an Alpha-Subunit-Specific Property? Maybe Not. Focus on “Sodium Currents in Subthalamic Nucleus Neurons From Nav1.6-Null Mice”

+During the past quarter century Na channels have slowly but steadily revealed their kinetic complexity and diversity. Far beyond the one-trick pony of the Hodgkin-Huxley Na channel that rapidly activates and inactivates to produce action potentials, Na channels continue to display an ever-increasing variety of kinetic properties such as persistence, slow-inactivation, and most recently “resurgence.” Resurgent current flows when an open-channel block is relieved by rapid repolarization from positive potentials. Resurgent current immediately after an action potential may promote firing of a subsequent spike not only because of the inward current itself, but also because the flow of this current is associated with a more rapid recovery from inactivation (Raman and Bean 2001). Resurgent currents were first described in Purkinje cells where they improve high-frequency firing (Raman and Bean 1997). More recently, resurgent currents have also been implicated in rhythmic firing of neurons in the subthalamic nucleus, an area gaining importance in the treatment of end-stage Parkinson’s syndromes (Do and Bean 2003). Few neurons throughout the brain, however, are known to display resurgent currents, suggesting that these currents are carried by a select subset of Na channels. Compelling evidence that this subset corresponds to one particular Na channel subunit is the finding that Purkinje cells lacking Nav1.6 alpha subunits (med mutant) do not display resurgent currents. However, under conditions of artificially induced slowing of inactivation by beta-pompilidotoxin, the remaining Na channels could be made to produce a resurgent current (Grieco and Raman 2004). The report by Do and Bean (this issue, p. 726 –733) sheds further light on this story. By identifying resurgent current in subthalamic nucleus neurons from mice lacking the Nav1.6 alpha subunits, they demonstrate that resurgent current is not a property unique to Nav1.6 subunits. Do and Bean’s findings suggest instead that some form of modulation or an association with an auxiliary subunit, rather than the specific alpha subunit, is critical for the production of resurgent current. Such an association would need to produce a secondary inactivation to compete with classical fast inactivation. Whatever the nature of this putative element, different classes of neurons may rely on different Na channel alpha-subunits to produce resurgent currents. Resurgent currents may indeed represent a more ubiquitous determinant of cell-specific firing than we now appreciate.
How does the plasma membrane participate in cellular signaling by receptors for immunoglobulin E

Abstract Accumulating evidence strongly supports the view that the plasma membrane participates in transmembrane signaling by IgE-receptors (IgE–FceRI) through the formation of lipid-based domains, also known as rafts. Ongoing biochemical and biophysical experiments investigate the composition, structure, and dynamics of the corresponding membrane components and how these are related to functional coupling between FceRI and Lyn tyrosine kinase to initiate signaling in mast cells.
A Fourier Series Neural Network and Its Application to System Identification

A distinctive neural network architecture, called the Fourier Series Neural Network (FSNN), is developed with particular consideration for applications in the area of system identification and control. This paper focuses on the theory of the FSNN and its application to system identification. This neural network is based on the topological structure of the multiple Fourier series, and is shown to be free of local minima. The global stability of the FSNN learning dynamics is guaranteed using the Delta learning rule. This paper demonstrates that the trained FSNN model approximates the Fourier series representation of an identified system with the network state weights approximating the coefficients of the Fourier series. This feature enables the FSNN to estimate the frequency spectrum of an unknown system, making the FSNN a powerful tool for controller design or on-line adaptive tuning based on system frequency response. The capabilities of the FSNN are demonstrated for linear and nonlinear systems by applying the FSNN to estimate the amplitude and phase spectrums of a second order linear transfer function and to model nonlinear inverse robot kinematics. These evaluations indicate that the FSNN modeling technique is applicable to both linear and nonlinear systems with multi-inputs and multi-outputs.
Pulmonary and hemodynamic changes during laparoscopy - Are they important?

SINCE THE FIRST DESCRIPTION of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in human beings in 1985, laparoscopic surgery has revolutionized general surgery. Despite early skeptics, laparoscopic surgery flourished because of benefits such as less postoperative discomfort, shorter hospitalization, and faster return to normal activity. As surgeons became comfortable with laparoscopic surgery, operations evolved from cholecystectomy to include other organs within the abdominal cavity. It now has a role in either the diagnosis and/or treatment of diseases involving virtually every intra-abdominal organ. Early clinical experience testified that this type of surgery was physiologically different. Are these differences beneficial or detrimental? This question led to the research summarized in this review. Both animal models and human studies have contributed to this young—but important—body of translational research. As surgeons began their investigations into the physiologic differences between laparoscopic and open surgery, they drew upon the earlier work of gynecologists. Gynecologists used laparoscopy long before general surgeons adopted it, and they demonstrated significant physiologic consequences with this different approach to surgery. For instance, in women undergoing laparoscopic tubal sterilization, Motew et al1 in 1973 showed that with intra-abdominal pressures above 20 mm Hg there were decreases in central venous pressure, systolic blood pressure, and cardiac output (CO). However, tubal sterilization and other gynecologic operations studied were shorter and less complex than today’s general surgery laparoscopic procedures. In addition, the gynecology patients were generally younger and healthier than today’s general surgery patient population. The biology of laparoscopic surgery continues to be investigated. An emerging body of data addresses the hemodynamic, respiratory, immunologic, and stress response consequences of the new mode of surgery. This review focuses on data in human beings pertaining to the hemodynamic and respiratory consequences of laparoscopy and their clinical importance.
Transparency and Distressed Sales under Asymmetric Information

We analyze price transparency in a dynamic market with private information and interdependent values. Uninformed buyers compete inter- and intra-temporarily for a good sold by an informed seller suffering a liquidity shock. We contrast public versus private price offers. With two opportunities to trade, all equilibria with private offers have more trade than any equilibrium with public offers; under some additional conditions, we show Pareto dominance of the private-offers equilibria. If a failure to trade by the deadline results in an efficiency loss, public offers can induce a market breakdown before the deadline, while trade never stops with private offers.
Age‐Related Alterations in Reactivity of Cerebral Arterioles: Role of Oxidative Stress

Objective: Our goal was to identify the role of oxidative stress via activation of NAD(P)H oxidase in cerebrovascular dysfunction in aged rats.Methods: We examined the reactivity of cerebral arterioles in adult and aged Fisher-344 rats to endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-dependent (acetylcholine and adenosine diphosphate [ADP]) and-independent (nitroglycerin) agonists before and during application of tempol, apocynin, and diphenyleneiodonium chloride (DPI). We used Western blot to examine subunits of NAD(P)H oxidase, eNOS, and superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) in cerebral microvessels and parietal cortex. Finally, we measured superoxide production by cortex tissue in adult and aged rats.Results: Acetylcholine-and ADP-induced, but not nitroglycerin-induced, dilatation of cerebral arterioles was impaired in aged compared to adult rats. While tempol, apocynin, and DPI did not alter responses in adults, they alleviated impaired eNOS-dependent vasodilatation in aged rats, without influencing responses to ni...
Private Organizations, Public Purposes: Nonprofits and Their Archives

From the time of the Revolution onward, Americans have used nonprofit organizations for purposes most European nations assign to the state. Indeed initially, as Oscar Handlin and Mary F. Handlin demonstrated in their classic study of state economic policy, American legislators and courts drew an uncertain distinction between public, government agencies and what later came to be seen as private corporations, whether for-profit or nonprofit. In the case of nonprofit organizations, the distinction remains unclear. The Dartmouth College case (1819) went far to establish the autonomy of private charitable trusts, but it did not end the American practice of assigning state powers to nonprofit organizations; as Daniel Webster put it in his brief, Dartmouth was "a private charity" controlled by private trustees: "the use being public, in no way diminishes their legal estate in the property." The powers granted the private United States Sanitary Commission by the surgeon general during the Civil War found counterparts of a sort in the mail-policing authority granted by federal postal authorities to Anthony Comstock and other agents of the Society for the Suppression of Vice and the authority over children assigned by nineteenth-century states to private orphanages and humane societies. The phenomenon continues to this day, for example, in the delegation of arrest powers by the city of Cleveland, Ohio, to security officers employed by such private, nonprofit,
Aging as a modulator of respiratory sinus arrhythmia.

Aging is associated with an accentuated shift toward sympathetic outflow. Evidence suggests that sympathetic and vagal-cardiac activity change reciprocally. If this hypothesis is correct, then aging would result in an attenuation of vagal-cardiac activity. The current cross-sectional investigation assessed the relationship between aging, vagal-cardiac activity, and arteriolar compliance (AC). Respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) and finger plethysmography, noninvasive measures of vagal-cardiac activity and arteriolar compliance, respectively, were made on 70 normotensive male subjects (age range 15-81 years). Both RSA and AC decreased with age (r = .71 and .89, respectively, p < .001). Analysis of variance revealed significant differences between the six decade groups for RSA and AC (p < .05). These findings support the notion that there is an age-related loss of vagal-cardiac activity that could be partly explained by the loss of arteriolar compliance. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that there is autonomic nervous system compensation of cardiovascular function in response to an age-related decrease in arteriolar compliance in a normotensive population.
Pseudocolus Fusiformis, New to North Carolina

(1976). Pseudocolus Fusiformis, New to North Carolina. Mycologia: Vol. 68, No. 6, pp. 1235-1239.
Nonlinear Structural Dynamics Using FE Methods

Nonlinear Structural Dynamics Using FE Methods emphasises fundamental mechanics principles and outlines a modern approach to understanding structural dynamics. This will be useful to practising engineers but also students who will find advanced topics presented in an accessible manner. The book successfully presents the fundamentals of structural dynamics and infuses them with finite element (FE) methods. First, the author establishes and develops mechanics principles that are basic enough to form the foundations of FE methods. Second, the book presents specific computer procedures to implement FE methods so that general problems can be 'solved' - that is, responses can be produced given the loads, initial conditions and so on. Finally, the book introduces methods of analyses to leverage and expand the FE solutions.
Esthetics and Classification

Contrary to the seemingly bookkeping character of the concept of classification, the subject is deeply tied to esthetics. This is explicated and illustrated with a detailed example.