cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Voltage-activated Ca2+ channels and ionotropic GABA receptors localized at axon terminals of mammalian retinal bipolar cells

A preparation of isolated presynaptic terminals of rat retinal rod bipolar cells was developed. Patch-clamp recordings were performed on the isolated terminal to determine the type(s) of voltage-activated Ca2+ channels and the contribution of GABA(A) and GABA(C) receptor-mediated currents localized in the terminal region. Both low-voltage-activated (LVA) and high-voltage-activated (HVA) Ca2+ currents, with properties similar to those found in intact cell recordings, were observed in the isolated terminal recordings. Consistent with previous studies, the HVA Ca2+ currents are L-type since the currents were blocked by low micromolar concentrations of nimodipine and potentiated by BayK 8644. Also, both GABA(A) and GABA(C) receptor-mediated currents were observed in the isolated terminal. The current density of GABA(C) receptors in the terminal was more than three times higher than that in the soma. In contrast, the current density of GABA(A) currents between the terminal and the soma was not significantly different. Assessed by 100 microM GABA, the contributions of GABA(A) and GABA(C) receptors to the total GABA-mediated currents at the terminal were comparable. This study directly demonstrates the localization of LVA Ca2+ channels at the axon terminal of mammalian rod bipolar cells, suggesting that LVA Ca2+ channels may play a role in bipolar cell transmitter release. Results of this study also support the notion that both types of ionotropic GABA receptors regulate synaptic transmission in mammalian rod bipolar cells. In addition, this study reports for the first time the feasibility of direct patch-clamp recordings of isolated axon terminals of mammalian retinal bipolar cells. The isolated presynaptic terminal preparation of mammalian retinal bipolar cells could be a valuable system for the study of transmitter release in the central nervous system (CNS).
8-Br-cAMP inhibits the transient expression of firefly luciferase

Abstract The genes for firefly luciferase and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) were used as reporter genes to explore the activation of heterologous promoters by 8-Br-cAMP. Cells were transfected with a CAT gene/tyrosine hydroxylase promoter, which contains a cAMP response element. Extracts from cells treated with 8-Br-cAMP had 340% more enzyme activity than untreated cells. In contrast, treated cells transfected with a tyrosine hydroxylase/luciferase construct had 30% less activity than control cells. Simian virus and rous sarcoma virus promoters/luciferase constructs also had lower activities in cells treated with 8-Br-cAMP than untreated cells. The inhibition of luciferase enzyme activity by cAMP appears to be posttranscriptional since both luciferase and CAT RNA levels were similarly increased in cells treated with 8-Br-cAMP or 1-methyl-3-isobutylmethylxanthine. The lower level of luciferase activity was not due to simple allosteric inhibition. We conclude that constructs using the firefly luciferase as a reporter gene are unsuitable for studying the effects of cAMP on the regulation of promoters.
Outcomes of open versus closed treatment of mandibular subcondylar fractures.

Abstract Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the long-term treatment results of open reduction and rigid internal fixation (ORIF) with closed reduction and maxillomandibular fixation (CRMMF) for subcondylar fractures when guided by specific indications and contraindications. Patients and Methods: A protocol for the treatment of condylar process fractures was developed that included absolute and relative indications and contraindications as well as a technique regimen. To evaluate the results of this protocol, 10 patients treated with CRMMF and 10 treated by ORIF were recalled after a minimum of 6 months and examined for gender, race, diagnosis, age at injury, time since operation, and cause of the fracture. Each group was assessed by 2 blinded investigators for maximum interincisal opening, right lateral excursion, left lateral excursion, protrusive movement, deviation on opening, scar perception, motor function, sensory perception, contour perception, occlusion, and perception of pain. Nonparametric data were compared for statistical significance with a chi-square analysis and parametric data with an independent samples t -test ( P Results: No statistically significant differences existed between the ORIF and CRMMF groups for gender, race, diagnosis, or cause. Moreover, no differences existed for age at injury, maximum interincisal opening, right lateral excursion, left lateral excursion, protrusive movement, deviation on opening, or occlusion. Differences were noted between groups for time since operation, scar perception, and perception of pain. Using the protocol outlined, there were no differences between the ORIF and CRMMF groups for ranges of motion, occlusion, contour, and motor or sensory function. The ORIF group was associated with perceptible scars. The CRMMF group was associated with chronic pain. Conclusions: Using a treatment protocol, there were few differences in outcomes between patients treated with CRMMF and ORIF for subcondylar fractures. © 2001 American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
Tutorial - Group Technology

The Group Technology tutorial consists of a tutorial and a discussion. The tutorial objectives are to provide the participants with an overview of Group Technology - its meaning, ramifications, and opportunities offered. Group Technology is the realization that “many problems are similar, and that by grouping similar problems, a single solution can be found to a set of problems, thus saving time and effort”.In this tutorial I will discuss fundamentals of Group Technology, its meaning, benefits, application areas, and selected case studies. I will also use one or more videotapes to demonstrate the impact of Group Technology on engineering/manufacturing operations.
Chronic pediatric inflammatory diseases: Effects on bone

In children, chronic inflammatory diseases present a significant challenge to long-term skeletal health. These conditions are often associated with poor appetite and suboptimal overall nutrition, altered nutrient utilization, delayed puberty, inactivity, and reduced muscle mass, all of which can alter bone metabolism. In addition, bone cell activity is susceptible to the effects of the immune response that characterizes these diseases. Moreover, drugs used to treat these maladies, notably glucocorticoids, may have negative effects on bone formation and on linear growth in developing children. As a result, predicted peak bone mass may not be achieved, and fracture risk may be increased in the short term or in the future. Studies using primarily dual energy X-ray absorptiometry have documented that deficits in bone mass are common in these diseases. However, there are wide variations in the prevalence of low bone mass, largely due to differences in the characteristics of each study population. Recent studies provide insight into the pathogenesis of decreased bone mass in these conditions. In this paper we will provide an overview of the effects of chronic inflammatory conditions on bone mass in children. We will also present relevant data from adult patients, when pediatric data are scant or not available.
Antiretroviral prophylaxis and the risk of cleft lip and palate: preliminary signal detection in the food and drug administration's adverse events reporting system database.

Objective: Antiretroviral prophylaxis has been found to be effective in preventing vertical HIV transmission to the offspring of infected mothers. Because medicine and the art of public health require benefits to outweigh any plausible risks, our study aimed to explore and quantify preliminary associations between antiretroviral medications and clefting. Methods: We analyzed 5 years of available data from the Food and Drug Administration's Adverse Events Reporting System (Medwatch program) and calculated reporting odds ratios (RORs) and their associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The medications with the highest effects were efavirenz with an ROR of 196 (95% CI, 86 to 447), lamivudine with an ROR of 60.2 (95% CI, 14.25 to 148), the combination abacavir sulfate/lamivudine/zidovudine with an ROR of 59.3, and nelfinavir with and ROR of 50.5, followed by nevirapine, lopinavir/ritonavir, and lamivudine/zidovudine. Conclusion: Given the multifactorial etiology of cleft lip and palate, further stud...
Rapid regulation of a cyclic AMP-specific phosphodiesterase (PDE IV) by forskolin and isoproterenol in LRM55 astroglial cells☆

Abstract Elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) levels by incubation of intact LRM55 astroglial cells with 0.1 mM forskolin or 0.1 μM isoproterenol (IPR) caused a rapid increase in soluble cAMP phospho-diesterase (PDE) activity. Activation did not require de novo protein synthesis and reached a maximum of ⩾100% increase over basal PDE activity after 15 min of treatment. The increase in activity was recovered in a single peak (peak 3) following DEAE chromatography; the other two peaks separated by this procedure showed no change. Peak 3 had all the characteristics of PDE IV: it was sensitive to rolipram, was insensitive to CI-930 and cyclic GMP (cGMP), had a high affinity for cAMP ( K m ∼- 4 μM), and had a very low affinity for cGMP ( K m > 100 μM). Forskolin treatment resulted in an increase of the V max of peak 3 without affecting its K m . In vitro treatment of peak 3 with the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A increased activity, whereas treatment with alkaline phosphatase decreased activity. The rapid activation of this specific PDE in response to forskolin and IPR represents a novel regulation of PDE IV by a mechanism that seems to involve its phosphorylation by a cAMP-dependent protein kinase.
Consensus conference. Medical treatment of peptic ulcer disease. Practice guidelines. Practice Parameters Committee of the American College of Gastroenterology

Objective To integrate the realization that peptic ulcer most commonly reflects infection with Helicobacter pylori or use of aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) into a disease management approach. Participants Guidelines were outlined by the author and presented for review to the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Practice Parameters Committee, selected by the president of the ACG, and a panel of experts in peptic ulcer, selected by the committee. Evidence and consensus process These guidelines were formulated following extensive review of the literature obtained by MEDLINE search and presented for detailed review and revision to unpublicized committee meetings on three occasions and to experts by mail. These recommendations are an official statement of the ACG and have been approved by the American Gastroenterological Association and the American Society for Gastroenterological Endoscopy. Firm recommendations are discriminated from reasonable suppositions pending definitive data. Conclusions Since cure of H. pylori infection decreases recurrence rates and facilitates healing, antibiotic therapy is indicated for all H. pylori-infected ulcer patients. No optimal, simple antibiotic regimen has yet emerged. Simultaneous conventional ulcer therapy is recommended to facilitate symptom relief and healing. For refractory ulcers, only maximal acid inhibition offers advantage over continued conventional therapy; cure of H. pylori infection is likely to facilitate healing of refractory ulcers. Only with complicated or refractory ulcers should conventional maintenance therapy be continued, at least until successful H. pylori eradication is confirmed. A search for NSAID use is indicated for all ulcer patients. For NSAID-associated ulcers these drugs should be discontinued if possible and H. pylori, if present, should be cured.
A procedure for dealing with multiple objectives in cell formation decisions

Abstract A procedure for dealing with multiple objectives in cell formation decisions is proposed. Theoretical foundations from multiobjective decision making have been utilized to provide a framework for the study. The purpose of the study is to develop a procedure that provides managers with a means of developing multiple objective cell formation decisions as an alternative to intractable integer programming models. We use a best of random seeds heuristic to generate a large number of alternatives. Nondominated solution theory is used to develop a list of potentially useful alternatives. Finally, preference cone theory is used to aid decision maker selection from these nondominated alternatives. Each of these three technologies have been developed elsewhere. This study considers aspects of applying these technologies to cell formation decisions. The procedure and its theoretical underpinnings are explained step-by-step and illustrated in a four-objective, four-cell, 24-machine, and 50-part cell formation problem. The example contains 12 nondominated solutions and requires only four pairwise comparisons of nondominated solutions by a decision maker before convergence to the preferred solution. Computer processing requirements are not burdensome, and decision maker participation is expected to be efficient.
Chemical and physical factors associated with yellow perch abundance in Great Lakes coastal wetlands: patterns within and among wetland types

Great Lakes coastal wetlands provide important spawning and nursery habitat as well as abundant food resources for yellow perch (Perca flavescens). We examined multiple years of fyke-net data from wetlands along Lakes Huron and Michigan to describe yellow perch distribution in drowned river mouth (DRM) and coastal fringing systems. Principal components analysis and multi-response permutation procedures indicated that DRM wetlands (yellow perch CPUE = 0.2) were eutrophic systems that often exhibit high temperatures and periods of hypoxia, whereas coastal fringing wetlands (yellow perch CPUE = 32.1) were less productive. Among the coastal fringing systems, Saginaw Bay (Lake Huron), displayed characteristics of being more productive and had more yellow perch. Most yellow perch captured in Saginaw Bay were age-0, suggesting that it was an important nursery habitat. Among DRM ecosystems, we found that the downstream lake macrohabitats contained more yellow perch than upstream wetlands; however, there was no significant difference in abiotic characteristics to explain the higher catches in lakes. We hypothesize that yellow perch were more prevalent in wetlands with intermediate productivity during summer because these systems provide abundant food resources without the harsh conditions associated with highly eutrophic wetlands.
Clonal Groups of Penicillin-Nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae in Baltimore, Maryland: a Population-Based, Molecular Epidemiologic Study

Few data are available on the molecular subtypes of all penicillin-nonsusceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae (PNSP) from a defined population base. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), serotyping, and antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed for all available invasive PNSP isolates for which the penicillin (MIC) was > or =0.1 microg/ml from Baltimore, Md., during 1995-1996 (n = 143). The dendrogram analysis of PFGE patterns included 32 distinct clonal groups. Six major clonal groups included two-thirds of the PNSP strains. Major clonal groups 2, 3, 4, and 6 strains were genetically related to four previously described international clones and were all multidrug resistant. Major clonal group 3 was genetically related to the Tennessee(23F)-4 clone and contained all four strains for which the penicillin MIC was 8 microg/ml. Most of the clonal group 1 and 5 strains had intermediate susceptibility to penicillin and were rarely multidrug resistant. The latter clonal groups represent two previously undescribed penicillin-intermediate pneumococcal clones. Clonal group homogeneity was greater for serotype 9V, 19A, and 23F strains than for serotype 6A, 6B, 14, and 19F strains. The classification of PNSP strains into clonal groups is essential for future population-based epidemiologic studies of PNSP.
Crack shielding and material deterioration in damaged materials: an antiplane shear fracture problem

A simple damage evolution model is proposed for a quasibrittle material in the framework of continuum damage mechanics. The model is used to obtain a closed form solution for a mode-III stationary crack under small scale damage conditions. It is found that the crack tip stress intensity factor is reduced, i.e., the crack is shielded by the damage. However, this shielding effect is completely offset by the material deterioration caused by the damage. It also holds for steady state crack growth. When the most effective shielding is reached for the stationary crack, the zone dominated by the stress intensity factor shrinks to the crack tip. The results for the antiplane shear problem should shed some light on the in- plane fracture problem.
Microstructure of cold fracture sections as an indication of changes in properties of injection‐molded nylon polymers

The mechanical properties of injection-molded nylon 66, nylon 610, and nylon 6 can be altered significantly by steaming or heat-aging treatments which do not-appear to be severe enough to cause density changes which would suggest much of a shift in the ratio of crystalline to mesomorphic polymer. However, some electron microscopy studies have demonstrated that such treatments are reflected markedly in the microstructure of fracture patterns on test bars broken at −40°C. The greater the change in microstructure, the greater was the residual effect of thermal or steam aging on the shear modulus and damping characteristics of the polymer. In general, dry annealing promoted embrittlement, particularly at low temperatures. Residual effects of steaming enhanced embrittlement at −40 and 100°C. but promoted softening at room temperature. The relative stability of room-temperature properties to dry annealing was greatest for nylon 66, and to steaming for nylon 6.
Picosecond photoemission probing of integrated circuits: capabilities limitations, and applications

The capabilities and limitations of the novel photoemission probing technique for signal measurements on internal nodes of VLSI integrated circuits are reviewed with respect to the range of possible applications of this method. Aspects such as voltage sensitivity, time resolution, minimum accessible feature size, sensitivity to perturbation effects, and impact on the circuit under test are considered. It is concluded that the especially high voltage sensitivity of this new method opens the field of diagnostics of circuits with ultrafast devices but partly low signal repetition rates, which is not accessible by other means. Such chips include, for example, complex logic chips and special telecommunication chips.
A survey on securing the virtual cloud

The paper presents a survey and analysis of the current security measures implemented in cloud computing and the hypervisors that support it. The viability of an efficient virtualization layer has led to an explosive growth in the cloud computing industry, exemplified by Amazon’s Elastic Cloud, Apple’s iCloud, and Google’s Cloud Platform. However, the growth of any sector in computing often leads to increased security risks. This paper explores these risks and the evolution of mitigation techniques in open source cloud computing. Unlike uniprocessor security, the use of a large number of nearly identical processors acts as a vulnerability amplifier: a single vulnerability being replicated thousands of times throughout the computing infrastructure. Currently, the community is employing a diverse set of techniques in response to the perceived risk. These include malware prevention and detection, secure virtual machine managers, and cloud resilience. Unfortunately, this approach results in a disjoint response based more on detection of known threats rather than mitigation of new or zero-day threats, which are often left undetected. An alternative way forward is to address this issue by leveraging the strengths from each technique in combination with a focus on increasing attacker workload. This approach would make malicious operation time consuming and deny persistence on mission time-scales. It could be accomplished by incorporating migration, non-determinism, and resilience into the fabric of virtualization.
Learning to compete, compromise, and cooperate in repeated general-sum games

Learning algorithms often obtain relatively low average payoffs in repeated general-sum games between other learning agents due to a focus on myopic best-response and one-shot Nash equilibrium (NE) strategies. A less myopic approach places focus on NEs of the repeated game, which suggests that (at the least) a learning agent should possess two properties. First, an agent should never learn to play a strategy that produces average payoffs less than the minimax value of the game. Second, an agent should learn to cooperate/compromise when beneficial. No learning algorithm from the literature is known to possess both of these properties. We present a reinforcement learning algorithm (M-Qubed) that provably satisfies the first property and empirically displays (in self play) the second property in a wide range of games.
The relative benefits of learning by teaching and teaching expectancy

Abstract The purpose of this study was to explore the hypothesis that learning is enhanced through the act of teaching others. Specifically, two experiments aimed to disentangle the relative effects of teaching expectancy (i.e., preparing to teach) and actually teaching (i.e., explaining to others for instructional purposes) on learning. Some participants studied a lesson on the Doppler Effect without the expectation of later teaching the material and then took a comprehension test on the material (control group). Other students studied the same lesson with instructions that they would later teach the material; of those expecting to teach, some participants actually taught the material by presenting a brief video-recorded lecture before being tested (teaching group), whereas others only prepared to teach before being tested (preparation group). Results of Experiment 1 indicated that both the preparation group and teaching group significantly outperformed the control group on an immediate comprehension test (Teaching vs. Control: d = 0.82; Preparation vs. Control: d = 0.59). However, when the same test was given following a one-week delay (Experiment 2), only the teaching group significantly outperformed the control group (Teaching vs. Control: d = 0.79; Preparation vs. Control: d = 0.24). Overall, these findings suggest that when students actually teach the content of a lesson, they develop a deeper and more persistent understanding of the material than from solely preparing to teach.
Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis for the Treatment of Symptomatic Deep Vein Thrombosis

To the Editor: We read with interest the recently published monograph by Kearon1 describing the natural progression and clinical treatment of venous thromboembolism, including deep vein thrombosis (DVT). In addition to noting that anticoagulation is the standard of care for symptomatic venous thromboembolism, Kearon reports that systemic thrombolytic therapy accelerates the rate of lysis of DVT. However, the author fails to discuss more recent findings suggesting that catheter-directed thrombolysis offers a more successful route of administration for thrombolytic agents such as streptokinase (SK), urokinase (UK), and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA). The author refers to an overview of 8 randomized trials conducted between 1968 and 1990, in which the various authors conclude that moderate or marked thrombolysis occurred in 63% of …
Supplementary Parenting in the Kibbutz Childrearing System

Compared with many species in the animal kingdom, human beings arrive into the world rather ill-equipped to face its demands and requirements. It has been observed that evolution has endowed us with a large brain—with great potential. However, we have to “pay a price” for this gift. The price is the long period of dependence, following birth, during which we have to acquire the necessary skills for coping with the human, social, physical realities which we encounter. This period of dependence involves caretakers, parents and supplementary parents, who protect, guide, and teach the developing human being; they gradually aid in the development of independence and adult status in the community and society.
Stability of heterogeneous slotted ALOHA networks

I. Lee and J.A. Silvester (1982) previously presented an iterative model for the throughput/delay performance of slotted ALOHA networks. This work was refined and extended by J.A. Silvester et al. (1989). In that paper, the authors presented results for various configurations, including single- and multi-hop for homogeneous and heterogeneous traffic requirements and network parameters. The authors investigate the stability issues for these networks in more detail using both exact analysis and the approximate model described by Silvester et al. The exact stability behavior of infinite buffer, homogeneous fully connected and ring networks is analyzed. The conditions for these networks to be stable, unstable, or overloaded are found. Specifically, an unstable network has two equilibrium points where one is locally stable and the other is unstable. The utility of the approximate model for stability analysis of heterogeneous networks is also demonstrated. >
Patterns of blood use in Connecticut.

Blood use patterns were studied in a setting essentially free of the constraints of shortage, high-cost, nonreplace-ment penalties, and high hepatitis risk. Connecticut's hospitals used an average of 0.299 unit of blood per patient discharge in 1978. Interhospital variation was great, with large hospitals using more blood per discharge. The percentages of blood ordered by individual hospitals as red blood cells ranged from 38.9 to 96.2 per cent. Frozen red blood cells were ordered in greater proportion by large hospitals. Relative plasma use was greater in large hospitals, ranging from 0.003 to 0.232 unit per unit of blood. Hospital outdating ranged from 0.1 to 21.3 per cent, with large hospitals outdating proportionately less. Such striking variations suggest that habits and personal preferences may determine the pattern of a hospital's blood use, and, therefore, the costs of blood provision. Statewide from 1971 to 1978, red blood cell ordering increased from 13.8 to 63 per cent of total blood order. Plasma use has increased from 0.025 to 0.130 unit per unit of blood. Blood use per patient discharge has also increased, but more slowly.
A Comparative Study of Bing Web N-gram Language Models for Web Search and Natural Language Processing

This paper presents a comparative study of the recently released Microsoft Web N-gram Language Models (MWNLM) on three web search and natural language processing tasks: search query spelling correction, query reformulation, and statistical machine translation. MWNLM, as well as the corresponding web services, called Microsoft Web N-gram Services, are much more accessible and easier to use than the previously released text corpora used for large language model training, including the LDC English Gigaword corpus and the Google Web 1T N-gram corpus, because the Microsoft Web N-gram Services provide the access to the smoothed n-gram probabilities based on a set of language models trained from the different text fields from the web documents as well as search queries. Our results show that MWNLM outperform the n-gram models trained on the Gigaword corpus and the Google Web 1T N-gram corpus on all the three tasks. In particular, the significant improvements on search query spelling correction and search query reformulation, resulting from MWNLM, demonstrate the benefit of training multiple language models on different portions of web data and search queries in a principled way with zero count cutoff.
Energy exchange in an array of vertical-axis wind turbines

We analyze the flow field within an array of 18 counter-rotating, vertical-axis wind turbines (VAWTs), with an emphasis on the fluxes of mean and turbulence kinetic energy. The turbine wakes and the recovery of the mean wind speed between the turbine rows are derived from measurements of the velocity field using a portable meteorological tower with seven, vertically-staggered, three-component ultrasonic anemometers. The data provide insight to the blockage effect of both the individual turbine pairs within the array and the turbine array as a whole. The horizontal and planform kinetic energy fluxes into the turbine array are analyzed, and various models for the roughness length of the turbine array are compared. A high planform kinetic energy flux is measured for the VAWT array, which facilitates rapid flow recovery in the wake region behind the turbine pairs. Flow velocities return to 95% of the upwind value within six rotor diameters downwind from each turbine pair. This is less than half the recovery distance behind a typical horizontal-axis wind turbine (HAWT). The observed high level of the planform kinetic energy flux is correlated with higher relative roughness lengths for the VAWT array as compared to HAWT farms. This result is especially relevant for large wind farms with horizontal dimensions comparable to the height of the atmospheric boundary layer. As shown in recent work and confirmed here, the planform kinetic energy flux can be the dominant source of energy in such large-scale wind farms.
On secure multi-channel communication systems

In this paper, we first review a recently proposed framework for secure communications, namely broadcast channel with confidential and public messages (BCCP). We then generalize the framework to secret key enhanced secure communication and derive the rate-equivocation region for such system. The secret key enhanced framework is further applied to a general multichannel communication systems where any one of the channels is subject to wiretapping. Optimal rate confidentiality tradeoff is obtained for a two channel case and the result generalizes naturally to more than two channels. The developed methodology can be extended to a network setting.
Race and Hemorrhage in Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformations.

he ability to determine the rupture risk of an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) (either initial or subseT quent rupture) is a key factor for the clinician who counsels these patients and makes treatment recommendations. The low prevalence of AVMs in the general population, estimated at 0.01%, has made natural history studies of these lesions challenging and limited. The majority of important natural history studies have either evaluated a homogenous, intransient patient population or a patient cohort referred to a regional tertiary referral center with the inherent biases of both these approaches. Despite heterogeneous results when comparing individual studies, what we have gathered from these studies is that the annual rupture risk of most AVMs is likely between 2% and 4%, with previous rupture likely increasing this risk. Further evidence is suggestive, but not conclusive, that deep-seated AVMs, deep venous drainage, and the presence of associated aneurysms may also increase risk of bleed (4). Relatively few studies have elucidated a strong association between AVM hemorrhage and patient demographic factors.
Determination of the Vapor Density of Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP) Using a Gas Chromatography Headspace Technique

Using a GC headspace measurement technique, the vapor pressure of TATP was determined over the temperature range 12 to 608C. As a check on the experimental method, TNT vapor pressure was likewise computed. Values for TNT are in excellent agreement with previous published ones. For TATP the vapor pressure was found to be ~ 7 Pa at ambient conditions. This value translates to a factor of 10 4 more molecules of TATP in air than TNT at room temperature. The dependence of TATP vapor pressure on temperature can be described by the equation log10P(Pa) ¼ 19.791 � 5708/T(K). Its heat of sublimation has been calculated as 109 kJ/mol.
Adaptive Wavelets for Characterizing Magnetic Flux Leakage Signals From Pipeline Inspection

Natural gas transmission pipelines are commonly inspected using magnetic flux leakage (MFL) method for detecting cracks and corrosion in the pipewall. Traditionally the MFL data obtained is processed to estimate an equivalent length (L), width (W), and depth (D) of defects. This information is then used to predict the maximum safe operating pressure (MAOP). In order to obtain a more accurate estimate for the MAOP, it is necessary to invert the MFL signal in terms of the full three-dimensional (3-D) depth profile of defects. This paper proposes a novel iterative method of inversion using adaptive wavelets and radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) that can efficiently reduce the data dimensionality and predict the full 3-D depth profile. Initials results obtained using simulated data are presented
Bone mineral density and stroke.

Background and Purpose— We sought to assess the long-term predictive usefulness of bone mineral density (BMD) for stroke incidence and stroke mortality. Methods— The First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data were obtained from a nationally representative sample of noninstitutionalized civilians. A cohort of 3402 white and black subjects 45 through 74 years of age at baseline (1971 to 1975) was observed through 1992. Hospital records and death certificates were used to identify a total of 416 new stroke cases. Results— Results were evaluated to determine the relative risk (RR) for stroke per 1-SD decrease in BMD, after controlling for age at baseline, smoking status, alcohol consumption, history of diabetes, history of heart disease, education, body mass index, recreational physical activity, and blood pressure medication. In Cox proportional-hazards analyses, incidence of stroke was not associated with a decrease in BMD in any of the 3 race-sex groups: white men (RR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.86 t...
A Robust Approach Toward Recognizing Valid Arterial-Blood-Pressure Pulses

We propose a projection method based on singular value decomposition (SVD) to validate arterial blood pressure (ABP) signal in order to avoid artifacts and noise in subsequent processing. The projection has been done on 567 validated ABP beats collected from 51 patients hospitalized in University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center. Then, we compare the performance of the proposed projection method with that of a previously developed algorithm, signal abnormality index (SAI), which is a value- and trend-based approach, and has shown to be effective in cleaning the ABP waveforms. The testing dataset consists of 1336 ten-second ABP segments (18 472 ABP beats) of both valid and invalid pulses selected randomly from multiparameter intelligent monitoring for intensive care II database. The proposed projection approach that validates the signal based on the shape of the waveform achieves a true positive rate (TPR) of 99.06%, 5.43% higher than that of the SAI, and a false positive rate (FPR) of 7.69%, 17.38% lower than that of SAI. Integration of some of the SAI-value-based abnormality conditions to the validation process of SVD-based method can further improve the performance by reducing the FPR to 3.92%, while keeping the TPR at the high rate of 99.05%.
Placing the Adoptive Self

[A]doption law and practices are guided by enormous cultural changes in the composition and the meaning of family. As families become increasingly blended outside the context of adoption - with combinations of blood relatives, step-relatives, de facto relatives, and ex-relatives sitting down together for Thanksgiving dinner as a matter of course - birth families and adoptive families knowing one another may not seem so very strange or threatening at all. There will simply be an expectation across communities that ordinary families will be mixed and multiple. With that in mind, we should hesitate before establishing embeddedness as the source of mother's authority over her child's placement. It is a concept that only sounds cozy in great part because it simplifies the relational complexities of the world in which we live.
Las inteligencias y la evaluación: Interrogantes y tendencias actuales.

The past 50 years have produced multiple advances, as well as strong controversies, regarding the structure, nature, and basic traits of the concept of intelligence. They also originated a number of new cognitive tests based on these theories. In a very competitive market, that tries to go global, two dissimilar tendencies can be presently observed: traditional tests are updated and made more comprehensive, vs. emphasis is placed on cross battery sub-test integration. Similarly, in response to the increasing demand for multicultural assessments, two tendencies predominate: the translation and adaptation of existing tests, vs. the creation of new non- verbal instruments. Some suggestions on how to integrate these varios contributions into the clinical practice are included.
Mechanistic Insights into Metal Lewis Acid-Mediated Catalytic Transfer Hydrogenation of Furfural to 2-Methylfuran

Biomass conversion to fuels and chemicals provides sustainability, but the highly oxygenated nature of a large fraction of biomass-derived molecules requires removal of the excess oxygen and partial hydrogenation in the upgrade, typically met by hydrodeoxygenation processes. Catalytic transfer hydrogenation is a general approach in accomplishing this with renewable organic hydrogen donors, but mechanistic understanding is currently lacking. Here, we elucidate the molecular level reaction pathway of converting hemicellulose-derived furfural to 2-methylfuran on a bifunctional Ru/RuOx/C catalyst using isopropyl alcohol as the hydrogen donor via a combination of isotopic labeling and kinetic studies. Hydrogenation of the carbonyl group of furfural to furfuryl alcohol proceeds through a Lewis acid-mediated intermolecular hydride transfer and hydrogenolysis of furfuryl alcohol occurs mainly via ring-activation involving both metal and Lewis acid sites. Our results show that the bifunctional nature of the cataly...
Transforming growth factor-β2 induces synthesis and secretion of endothelin-1 in human trabecular meshwork cells.

Purpose Analysis of aqueous humor from patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) revealed marked increases in the content of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). We determined the consequences of TGF-β signaling on ET-1 expression and secretion by human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells. Methods Primary or transformed (NTM5 and GTM3) human TM cells conditioned in serum-free media were incubated in the absence or presence of TGF-β1 or -β2. Relative changes in preproendothelin (ppET)-1 mRNA content and secreted ET-1 peptide were quantified by real-time PCR and ELISA, respectively. In some experiments, TGF-β or ET-1 receptor antagonists, or Rho G-protein inhibitors, were evaluated for effects on TGF-β signaling. Filamentous actin organization was visualized by phalloidin. Results Primary or transformed human TM cells cultured in the presence of TGF-β1 or -β2 exhibit a marked (>8-fold) increase in ppET-1 mRNA content compared to vehicle controls. Coincubation with SB-505124, an inhibitor of TGFβRI/ALK-5 signaling, prevented TGF-β-mediated ppET-1 mRNA expression. In contrast, coincubation with ET(A) (BQ-123) or ET(B) (BQ-788) receptor antagonists had no effect on TGF-β-mediated ppET-1 mRNA expression. TGF-β1 and -β2 each elicited a robust (>7-fold) secretion of ET-1 while enhancing stress fiber organization. Inhibition of Rho signaling attenuated TGF-β-mediated increases in ppET-1 mRNA content, ET-1 secretion, and stress fiber organization. Conclusions TGF-β, signaling through the TGFβRI/ALK-5 receptor, elicits marked increases in ET-1 mRNA content and ET-1 secretion from cultured primary or transformed human TM cells. Elevated levels of TGF-β2 present in AH of POAG patients may elevate intraocular pressure, in part, by eliciting aberrant Rho G-protein dependent cell contraction, and increasing ET-1 synthesis and secretion, in human TM cells.
Measles and central nervous system disease. A critical appraisal.

This ia a summary and review of the Workshop, which points out that there is sufficient evidence to relate SSPE to a measles virus. This evidence is both direct-virus isolation- and indirect-immunological data. However the pathogenic process responsible for SSPE has not yet been elucidated. In the case of multiple sclerosis the evidence of the etiologic role of measles virus is only indirect and not as firm as in SSPE. Both diseases have stimulated investigations of the biology of the measles virus or provided ideas for studies in the future.
He Died in the Snow.

He disappeared in the dead of winter:The brooks were frozen, the airports almost deserted,And snow disfigured the public statues;The mercury sank in the mouth of the dying day.What instruments we h...
Theoretical Considerations for Reprogramming Multicellular Systems

Engineering complex biological systems is fundamentally different from engineering nonliving systems. Multicellular living systems exhibit multistability, the coexistence of multiple stable attractors which arise from gene regulatory networks, encode the discrete cell types and collectively establish a ‘rugged’ potential-like landscape. While robustness of one attractor is the chief concern in engineering, the relevant dynamics in multicellular systems operates in the regime of frequent transitions among the attractors, corresponding to cell-type switching in development and in artificial cell reprogramming. This entails a more general formalism. Here we present a mathematical framework for constructing the quasi-potential landscape which relates the attractor to each other, derived from the decomposition of the vector field given by the ODEs which describe the dynamics of the gene networks. The rate for a transition between attractors and its ‘least action path’ are computed based on the Freidlin-Wentzell large deviation theory. These theoretical concepts provide the tools for rational design of gene network manipulations to steer cell fates for regenerative medicine instead of using trial-and-errors approaches.
Super-Resolution Imaging and Plasmonics.

This review describes the growing partnership between super-resolution imaging and plasmonics, by describing the various ways in which the two topics mutually benefit one another to enhance our understanding of the nanoscale world. First, localization-based super-resolution imaging strategies, where molecules are modulated between emissive and nonemissive states and their emission localized, are applied to plasmonic nanoparticle substrates, revealing the hidden shape of the nanoparticles while also mapping local electromagnetic field enhancements and reactivity patterns on their surface. However, these results must be interpreted carefully due to localization errors induced by the interaction between metallic substrates and single fluorophores. Second, plasmonic nanoparticles are explored as image contrast agents for both superlocalization and super-resolution imaging, offering benefits such as high photostability, large signal-to-noise, and distance-dependent spectral features but presenting challenges f...
Evaluation of patient preparedness for surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

Background Patient preparedness for pelvic reconstructive surgery has important implications for patient satisfaction and the perception of improvement after surgery. The ideal method in which to optimally prepare patients for surgery has not been determined. Objective The objective of the study was to evaluate the impact of a preoperative patient education video on patient preparedness prior to sacrocolpopexy as measured by a preoperative preparedness questionnaire. Study Design We performed a single-blind, randomized, stratified clinical trial at a single academic center evaluating the use of a preoperative patient education video as an adjunct to preoperative counseling on patient preparedness. Eligible patients presenting for their preoperative appointment prior to undergoing pelvic reconstructive surgery were randomized to watch a preoperative video vs usual care. Preoperative questionnaires assessing patient preparedness, understanding, perception of time, and actual time spent with a health care team were administered at the end of this visit. The primary outcome was patient preparedness for pelvic reconstructive surgery as measured by a preoperative preparedness questionnaire. Secondary outcomes included actual time spent during the physician-patient encounter, perception of time spent with the health care team, and identification of patient factors associated with patient preparedness. Results Of the total 100 recruited patients, 52 were randomized to the video group and 48 to the usual-care group. The use of the video did not increase overall patient preparedness (71.1% with video vs 68.8% usual care, P = .79) prior to surgery. The use of the video did not decrease the amount of time spent during the physician-patient encounter (16.9 ± 5.6 min vs 17.1 ± 5.4 min, P = .87). There was a significant association between patient preparedness and perception that the health care team spent sufficient time with the patient (89.5% vs 10.5%; P P = .47). Those with a history of a previous surgery (82.1% vs 33.3%, P = .002) and those with more significant apical prolapse (0.6 ± 4.6 vs –1.6 ± 3.9, P = .05) were more likely to report feeling prepared for surgery. Conclusion The majority of patients undergoing pelvic surgery at our institution felt prepared prior to undergoing surgery. The use of preoperative education video did not increase overall patient preparedness for surgery. Greater preparedness was associated with patient perception of how much time the health care team spent with the patient but not actual time spent.
Mere Membership in Racially Diverse Groups Reduces Conformity

Three studies assessed the impact of White individuals’ mere membership in racially diverse or homogeneous groups on conformity. In Study 1, White participants were randomly assigned to four-person...
Access for all? Beach access and equity in the Detroit metropolitan area

Beaches are a unique type of recreation setting, offering a variety of water- and land-based opportunities that can meet residents’ diverse and complex recreation needs. Providing and improving equ...
Ability, Responsibility, and Global Justice

Many have argued that we have a moral obligation to assist others in need, but given the scope of global suffering, how far does this obligation extend? According to one traditional philosophical view, the obligation to help others is limited by our ability to help them, or by the principle that “ought implies can.” This view is primarily defended on the grounds that it is a core principle of commonsense moral psychology. This paper reviews findings from experimental philosophy in cognitive science demonstrating that “ought implies can” is rejected by moral psychology. Researchers find that moral obligations are ascribed to agents who cannot fulfill them, suggesting that moral requirements do sometimes extend beyond what we are able to do. This research furthers our understanding of moral obligation, identifies an important need for further cross-cultural work in moral psychology, and demonstrates a way in which scientific experimentation can be applied to improve upon the conceptual analysis of important philosophical concepts in normative ethics.