cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Role of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers in the prevention of progression of renal disease

Systemic hypertension is common in patients with acute as well as with chronic renal diseases. Hypertension is an important factor that contributes to the progression of renal failure. Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death and disability in patients with chronic renal failure and in those receiving renal replacement therapy. The prevalence of hypertensive nephropathy remains unabated. Hypertension and chronic renal failure are closely interlinked and govern the morbidity and mortality in patients afflicted by these conditions. There is considerable hope that effective control of hypertension may retard the progression of renal disease. Although mere control of hypertension is of paramount importance, specific pharmacologic approaches may offer certain important renal advantages. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, by the virtue of their intrarenal effects, exert favorable consequences on the kidney function (and structure, to some extent), particulary in patients with diabetic nephropathy and hypertension. Both experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated the renoprotective effects of ACE inhibitors; these drugs slow down the progression of renal disease independent of their antihypertensive actions. More recently, angiotensin-receptor blockers have been shown to exert similar glomerular effects as ACE inhibitors. Preliminary clinical data also suggest a possible role for angiotensinreceptor blockers in the prevention of progression of renal failure. Therapeutic agents that inhibit the reninangiotensin axis hold considerable promise in the management of patients with renal disease by slowing down the rate of decline in renal function.
The Los Alamos Sferic Array: A research tool for lightning investigations

[1] Since 1998 the Los Alamos Sferic Array (LASA) has recorded electric field change signals from lightning in support of radio frequency (RF) and optical observations by the Fast On-orbit Recording of Transient Events (FORTE) satellite. By “sferic” (a colloquial abbreviation for “atmospheric”), we refer to a remote measurement of the transient electric field produced by a lightning flash. LASA consisted of five stations in New Mexico in 1998 and was expanded to 11 stations in New Mexico, Texas, Florida, and Nebraska in 1999. During the 2 years of operation described in this paper, the remote stations acquired triggered 8- or 16-ms duration, 12-bit waveforms and GPS-based sferic time tags 24 hours per day year-round. Source locations were determined daily using differential time of arrival techniques, and the waveforms from all geolocated events were transferred to Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), where they have been archived for further analysis, including event classification and characterization. We evaluated LASA location accuracy by comparing temporally coincident (occurring within 100 μs) LASA and National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN) event locations. Approximately one half of the locations agreed to within 2 km, with better agreement for events that occurred within the confines of LASA subarrays in New Mexico and Florida. Of the ∼900,000 events located by the sferic array in 1998 and 1999, nearly 13,000 produced distinctive narrow bipolar field change pulses resembling those previously identified as intracloud discharges.
Preoperative intensity-modulated radiotherapy and chemotherapy for locally advanced vulvar carcinoma.

Abstract Objective. Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a rapidly maturing technology that allows delivery of radiation dose in a more conformal manner by varying the radiation beams spatially or temporally. The purpose of the study was to assess the clinical outcome in patients with locally-advanced vulvar cancers treated using preoperative chemotherapy with IMRT. Methods. Eighteen patients with stage II–IVA cancer were treated with a modified GOG schema using 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and cisplatin with twice-daily (BID) IMRT during the first and last weeks of treatment. Surgery was planned for 6–8 weeks post-treatment. Results. The median follow-up time was 22 months (2–60 months). Fourteen patients had surgery performed with pathological complete response (pCR) in 9 (64%) patients and partial response (pPR) in 5 patients. There were no recurrences in the 9 patients who achieved pCR whereas 3/5 with pPR had local recurrence ( p =0.027). Four patients did not have surgery: one patient died a week after treatment while 2 of the remaining 3 patients had local recurrences. Acute desquamative skin reactions in the vulva and perineum were seen in all patients. Three of the 14 patients who had surgery had prolonged wound complications requiring debridement. No patients had radiation-related acute or late toxicity of grade=3. The 2-year cause specific and overall survivals were 75% and 70% respectively. Conclusion. Preoperative chemotherapy and IMRT were well tolerated with good clinical response and early clinical outcome. Pathological complete response predicts better outcomes. Prospective clinical trials with sufficient patient numbers and follow-up are needed to determine the true impact of IMRT in these patients.
PROMPTING PATRON SAFETY BELT USE AT A RESTAURANT

A reversal (ABABAB) design was used to assess the effects of a verbal prompt on safety belt use of restaurant patrons. A verbal prompt delivered by employees at the exit door resulted in an average increase of 20 percent in safety belt use by drivers leaving the restaurant. A previous study provided this type of antecedent immediately before supermarket patrons entered their vehicles. This effort demonstrates the effects of a verbal prompt with greater latency between the prompt and target response.
Effect of antimalarial drug primaquine and its derivatives on the ionization potential of hemoglobin: a QM/MM study

We used quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics calculations to test if antimalarial primaquine (PQ) and its derivatives aid the conversion of hemoglobin to methemoglobin by binding to hemoglobin and merely lowering hemoglobin's ionization potential (IP). Our results showed that PQ and its derivatives do not significantly lower the hemoglobin IP, disproving the hypothesis.
MedCat: A Framework for High Level Conceptualization of Medical Notes

In this paper we introduce a new framework called MedCat to delineate and demonstrate an approach for projecting representations of concept-derived content in clinical notes into a new categorization space to reduce dimensionality and noise in the data. Constructing MedCat framework required several steps including manual annotation, knowledge base expansion using MetaMap, concept category construction, automated annotation using NLP to generate a bag of concepts, and finally concept conversion to higher level abstracted categories. The framework was applied to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) clinical notes for evaluation. A random sample of PTSD clinical note content was automatically recategorized into six PTSD treatment categories using MedCat. Using existing annotations from PTSD notes that were categorized by content experts into treatment categories as the reference standard, the sensitivity of the framework in detecting the treatment categories was greater than 90%. The results suggest that representations of concept-derived content when categorized by relevance features can be used to reliably understand and summarize clinical notes.
Dentin Sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) and Dentin

The revolution in genetics disclosed the types of malformations that occur when expression of a particular gene is lost. In the case of tooth dentin, mutations in the two genes encoding typeIcollagen cause osteogenesis imperfecta, a bone condition that often includes dentin malformations. Besides collagen, there are a number of non-collagenous proteins in dentin. Among the genes encoding the dentin non-collagenous proteins, only mutations in DSPP (dentin sialophosphoprotein) cause inherited dental malformations. DSPP mutations cause dentinogenesis imperfecta typesII and III, and dentin dysplasia typeII. DSPP is the most abundant non-collagenous protein in dentin. DSPP protein is necessary for proper dentin formation, and understanding its structure and function should yield important insights into how dentin forms and biomineralization is controlled. DSPP is expressed and secreted by odontoblasts, the cells that make tooth dentin and that also maintain cell processes extending into the mineralized tissue. Following its secretion, DSPP is cleaved into smaller pieces by multiple extracellular proteases. For the last five years I have devoted myself to characterizing DSPP-derived proteins. DSPP is cleaved by proteases into three main parts: dentin sialoprotein (DSP), dentin glycoprotein (DGP), and dentin phosphoprotein (DPP). We have learned that DSP is a proteoglycan that forms covalent dimers, DGP is a phosphorylated glycoprotein, and DPP is a highly phosphorylated intrinsically disordered protein that shows extensive length polymorphisms due to the genetic heterogeneity of its coding region.
Preparing to practice and manage: A program for educating orthodontic residents in practice management.

Abstract The purpose of this article is to describe how the integration of practice management principles into orthodontic graduate programs can help young practitioners avoid many of the mistakes commonly made in developing an orthodontic practice and to provide guidelines and resources for starting off in the right direction. This article also describes how practice management education was integrated as one of the 4 principal components of contemporary orthodontic education at a California university. Specific goals, concepts, and components of a comprehensive practice management program are outlined. A structured practice management curriculum can provide opportunities for residents and alumni to learn some of the latest developments and techniques in orthodontic practice management. (Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2001;120:2-8)
A Case Study of Spectral Signature Detection in Multimodal and Outlier-Contaminated Scenes

Mapping localized spectral features in complex scenes demands sensitive and robust detection algorithms. This letter investigates two aspects of large images that can harm matched filter (MF) detection performance. First, multimodal backgrounds may violate normality assumptions. Second, outlier features can trigger false detections due to large projections onto the target vector. We review two state-of-the-art methods designed to resolve these issues. The background clustering of Funk models multimodal backgrounds, and the mixture-tuned (MT) MF of Boardman and Kruse addresses outliers. We demonstrate that combining the two methods has additional performance benefits. An MT cluster MF shows effective performance on simulated and airborne data sets. We demonstrate target detection scenarios that evidence multimodality, outliers, and their combination. These experiments explore the performance of the component algorithms and the practical circumstances that can favor a combined approach.
Detailed Fatigue Checks Based on a Local Monitoring Concept

The Detailed Fatigue Calculation (DFC) of nuclear power plant components is part of the three staged approach to lifetime assessment and lifetime management of the AREVA Fatigue Concept (AFC). It is applied for fatigue relevant components showing high usage factors by application of the Simplified Fatigue Evaluation (SFE) and/or the Fast Fatigue Evaluation (FFE), e.g. the preceding stages of the AFC. The quality of the fatigue lifetime assessment essentially depends on one hand on the fatigue model assumptions and on the other hand on the load data as the basic input. In the case of nuclear power plant components thermal transient loading is most fatigue relevant.The issue of qualified determination of the real operating loads is crucial and closely connected to the fatigue monitoring strategy to be applied in the plant. As regards fatigue monitoring, two possible basic approaches are practiced: global and local concepts.The first mentioned relies on signals from the standard plant instrumentation in connection with transfer functions whereas the second one requires additional measurement sections at fatigue relevant locations. As a compensation to the additional instrumentation effort, the application of a local fatigue monitoring strategy paves the way of delivering continuously (at a frequency of 1 Hz) realistic load data. Disposal of these data constitutes the first step within the flowchart of fatigue assessment. The according methods of qualified processing of these data are discussed in detail. The processing of arbitrary operational load sequences and the derivation of representative model transients are essential steps. Appropriate cycle counting approaches and the consideration of Environmentally Assisted Fatigue (EAF) by way of Fen-factors are addressed in this context.Within the fatigue evaluation model the appropriate consideration of cyclic plasticity effects and the identification of fatigue damaging events are central modules. Plasticity correction is equally proposed in a staged approach by the application of established and more advanced Ke-factors within the simplified elasto-plastic analysis, the application of direct methods (such as the simplified theory of yield zones) and the general elasto-plastic analysis based on appropriate material models.These three stages are characterized by increasing calculation effort and (usually) decreasing degree of conservatism. Their application is case dependent. Additionally, the general elasto-plastic analysis entails a cycle-by-cycle ratcheting check based on an appropriate material model as part of the detailed fatigue check (not elaborated in detail in this paper).The application of the integrated AFC approach is explained by way of a representative example.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Giant uterine leiomyomata.

Objective To present the case of a patient with giant uterine leiomyomata and review literature pertinent to the subject. Design Case report and literature review. Setting A major university, tertiary-care hospital. Patient(s) One patient, with said pathology, who gave informed consent for exploratory laparotomy, total abdominal hysterectomy, and bilateral salpingo-ophorectomy. Intervention(s) Exploratory laparotomy, total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-ophorectomy, reoperation with abdominal washout, and hemostatsis for hemoperitoneum. Main Outcome Measure(s) Not applicable. Result(s) Not applicable. Conclusion(s) Those with giant uterine leiomyomata are a very unique and tiny subset of the millions of women with fibroids. They should be treated similarly to older, more critically ill patients. Their optimal surgical management requires the careful attention to considerations and techniques not common to the typical myomectomy or hysterectomy.
Simultaneous determination of sulfite, sulfate, and hydroxymethanesulfonate in atmospheric waters by ion-pair HPLC technique

Abstract A reversed-phase ion-pair HPLC with indirect photometric detection for the simultaneous determination of sulfite, sulfate, hydroxymethanesulfonate (HMS), and other inorganic anions in atmospheric water has been developed. Separations were accomplished in less than 10 min in a cetylpyridinium-coated C 18 column with 0.5 mM potassium hydrogen phthalate–0.015% triethanolamine–3% methanol at pH 7.9 as mobile phase. Quantitation was carried out by the peak area method, with detection limits in the pmol range. UV light absorption responses were linear over a wide concentration range from several hundred μmoles to the detection limits of each anion. The application of the method provides a rapid and efficient technique for the quantitative determination of sulfur and other inorganic species in atmospheric liquids.
Disruption of the meprin α and β genes in mice alters homeostasis of monocytes and natural killer cells

Meprin metalloproteases are implicated in inflammatory bowel disease, which involves dysfunction of immune cells. However, the roles of meprins in the immune and hematological system remain uncharacterized. In this report, we demonstrate that meprins were expressed in the hematological system, and meprin α/β null (α –/– /β –/– ) mice had decreased prevalence of resident monocytes and natural killer (NK) cells in blood, with a concomitant accumulation of inflammatory monocytes and NK cells in bone marrow. In contrast, T and B lymphocytes were not affected by meprin deficiency. In response to acute inflammation induced by intraperitoneal injection of thioglycollate, meprin–deficient mice exhibited higher body temperature than wild–type mice, which was correlated with retention of inflammatory monocytes, but persistent low prevalence of NK cells in blood. These results indicate that meprin metalloproteases play important roles in the homeostasis of monocytes and NK cells, and possibly are involved in egress of these two type cells from bone marrow and homing to the periphery. Our findings are the first report to demonstrate that metalloproteases affect homeostasis of leukocytes, which have important implications for understanding physiology of and pathogenesis in the hematological system.
195 EVALUATION OF NONINVASIVELY MEASURED HEMOGLOBIN OXYGEN SATURATION IN NEONATES

We compared hemoglobin-oxygen saturation measured noninvasively (NSO2) to spectrophotometrically determined hemoglobin-oxygen saturations (SO2) in 26 neonates. One-hundred forty-one paired measurements were made in patients ranging from 710 to 2890 gm. Noninvasive measurements were made using a Nelcor N-100 pulse oximeter. This microprocessor-controlled device provides a continuous display of NSO2, determined by the absorption of two light wave lengths during arterial pulsation. The light sensor was placed over the wrist, foot, or ankle. Arterial oxygen saturations were obtained from umbilical arterial catheters or by post-ductal arterial sampling. SO2 was determined with an IL282 co-oximeter. The range of NSO2 was 63–100%; SO2 values ranged from 8–100%. The average difference between NSO2 and SO2 was +3.23%. Twelve arterial specimens from 3 patients had SO2 <60%: the average difference between NSO2 and SO2 was +30%. When all values were compared by linear regression analysis, r = 0.85. We conclude that this noninvasive technique is reliable for measurement of hemoglobin-oxygenation saturation. At very low levels of SO2, noninvasive measurements were always higher than actual arterial values. These differences are likely due to a combination of physiologic and measurement artifacts. Further study in cyanotic patients may resolve this problem.
Indexing in Brazil

Abstract After reviewing the distortions which inflation brought about in Brazil, the authors describe the indexing system which was introduced during the sixties to prevent such distortions and to build up a capital market. There follows an analysis of the impact of indexing on various types of savings instruments, on the distribution of credit and on the balance of payments. The last section of the paper deals with the effects of indexing on inflation, resource allocation, income distribution and the collection of adequate data.
Mom knows best: the universality of maternal microbial transmission.

Summary The sterile womb paradigm is an enduring premise in biology that human infants are born sterile. Recent studies suggest that infants incorporate an initial microbiome before birth and receive copious supplementation of maternal microbes through birth and breastfeeding. Moreover, evidence for microbial maternal transmission is increasingly widespread across animals. This collective knowledge compels a paradigm shift—one in which maternal transmission of microbes advances from a taxonomically specialized phenomenon to a universal one in animals. It also engenders fresh views on the assembly of the microbiome, its role in animal evolution, and applications to human health and disease.
Molecular dynamics simulations of the lithium coordination environment in phosphate glasses

A molecular dynamics (MD) study of the lithium ultraphosphate glass series, xLi{sub 2}O{center_dot}(1{minus}x)P{sub 2}O{sub 5} (0 {le} x < 0.5) was used to investigate the changes in the Li environment with increasing modifier concentration. The results from the MD simulations indicate that no major structural variations in the Li coordination environment are observed. Changes in the type of oxygen coordinated to the modifier are observed and correlate with the T{sub g} minimum. Additionally, changes in the number of shared phosphorus vertices are observed with increasing modifier concentration, in support of recent models involving the role of the modifier in the extended range structure of phosphate glasses. Empirical calculations of the {sup 6}Li NMR chemical shifts directly from the MD simulation structures is also reported and compared to recent experimental solid-state NMR results.
Professionals' Judgments of Peer Interaction Interventions: A Survey of Members of the Division for Early Childhood:

We surveyed a sample of the membership of the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) with the Social Interaction Program Features Questionnaire-Revised (SI...
Dermatologic surgery and the pregnant patient

background. Because of concerns about potential harm to the mother or fetus, dermatologic surgeons are frequently hesitant to perform cutaneous surgery on pregnant patients. objective. To review the relevant physiologic changes during pregnancy, appropriate preparation for and timing of procedures, and drug safety. methods. A literature review was performed of dermatologic and nondermatologic journals discussing physiology, surgery, and drug safety in the pregnant patient. results. Special positioning is required for the pregnant patient during surgery. Low doses of most local anesthetics with epinephrine as well as nitrous oxide less than 50% are safe to use during pregnancy. Sedatives and opioids are potential teratogens and should be avoided. Safe antibiotics to use during skin surgery in pregnancy include penicillins, cephalosporins, and nonestolate erythromycin. If necessary, lymph node dissections under general anesthesia in the pregnant melanoma patient should occur during the second trimester. conclusion. With appropriate preparation, safe and successful cutaneous surgery can be performed on the pregnant patient.
Nanophase Iron Phosphate, Iron Arsenate, Iron Vanadate, and Iron Molybdate Minerals Synthesized within the Protein Cage of Ferritin

Nanoparticles of iron phosphate, iron arsenate, iron molybdate, and iron vanadate were synthesized within the 8 nm interior of ferritin. The synthesis involved reacting Fe(II) with ferritin in a buffered solution at pH 7.4 in the presence of phosphate, arsenate, vanadate, or molybdate. O2 was used as the oxidant to deposit the Fe(III) mineral inside ferritin. The rate of iron incorporation into ferritin was stimulated when oxo-anions were present. The simultaneous deposition of both iron and the oxo-anion was confirmed by elemental analysis and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The ferritin samples containing iron and one of the oxo-anions possessed different UV/vis spectra depending on the anion used during mineral formation. TEM analysis showed mineral cores with approximately 8 nm mineral particles consistent with the formation of mineral phases inside ferritin.
Linking soil organic matter dynamics and erosion‐induced terrestrial carbon sequestration at different landform positions

[1] Recently, the potential for terrestrial carbon (C) sequestration by soil erosion and deposition has received increased interest. Erosion and deposition constitute a sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide relative to a preerosional state or a noneroding scenario, if the posterosion watershed C balance is increased due to (1) partial replacement of eroded C by new photosynthate in the eroded site; and (2) preservation from decomposition of at least some eroded soil organic carbon (SOC) arriving in depositional settings. Little is known, however, about differences in C dynamics at different erosional and depositional landform positions within the same eroding system. We determined the contribution of different landform positions to erosion-induced terrestrial C sequestration by measuring rates of net primary productivity (NPP), replacement of eroded C, and decomposition of organic matter (OM) at four categorically different landform positions within a naturally eroding toposequence in northern California. We found that eroded C is replaced by NPP 15 times over in the summit of the site studied and 5 times over in the slope. Profile-averaged, long-term rate constant for SOM decomposition was 2 to 14 times slower in the depositional settings compared with that in eroding slopes. As a result, the inventory of C in the depositional settings was 2 to 3 times larger than that of the eroding positions. Owing to both C replacement at eroding sites and reduced rates of OM decomposition in depositional sites, soil erosion constitutes a C sink from the atmosphere at our study site.
Analysis of Co-planar phased array coupling using finite element domain decomposition

This paper proposes a finite element domain decomposition (FEDD) numerical algorithm to investigate coupling between co-planar arrays. The proposed FEDD has been very successful in analyzing large phased arrays by exploiting repetitions in the structure. That ability can lead to low computational costs even for array co-site problems since repetition can be exploited in the array elements as well as the mounting structure itself. Furthermore, FEDD provides a full-wave solution versatile enough to handle general geometries and materials. To illustrate FEDD's merit, this paper presents a comparison of simulated and measured coupling results for co-planar phased arrays including lossy dielectric material.
Blood disposition and urinary excretion kinetics of methazolamide following oral administration to human subjects

The pharmacokinetic disposition of methazolamide (MTZ) was studied in five healthy volunteers following administration of a single oral dose. Drug concentrations in blood, plasma, and urine were measured by HPLC. Over the range of plasma concentrations observed in vivo, MTZ free fraction (measured by ultrafiltration) was 0.28. Being a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, MTZ would be expected to distribute into, and be sequestered by, red blood cells. For this reason, MTZ disposition was characterized utilizing blood concentrations as the reference. Using a two-compartment model, a series of differential equations were simultaneously fitted to blood concentrations and urinary excretion data generating estimates for k10 (0.035 +/- 0.019 h(-1)), k12 (0.200 +/- 0.036 h(-1)), k21 (0.077 +/- 0.046 h(-1)), k(a) (0.304 +/- 0.064 h(-1)), Vc (1.1 +/- 0.18 L) and f(r) (fraction excreted renally, 0.61 +/- 0.14). Total blood clearance was 0.037 +/- 0.020 L h(-1). The model estimate of elimination half-life (126 +/- 61 h) was consistent with drug binding to a high affinity carbonic anhydrase isozyme in the erythocyte. Estimates of MTZ renal clearance and renal excretion ratio were 0.021 +/- 0.010 L h(-1) and 0.16 +/- 0.06, respectively. Overall, the prolonged elimination of MTZ from the blood is the result of extensive erythrocyte distribution and tubular reabsorption by the kidney.
Extreme Pyrexia and Rapid Death Due to Staphylococcus aureus Infection: Analysis of 2 Cases

We describe unusual Staphylococcus aureus infections in 2 patients. The infections were characterized by extreme pyrexia and rapid death. Both causative organisms produced a deletion mutant form of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 and variant enterotoxin C, which may have caused pyrexia and death.
Coherent Backscatter Enhances Reflection Confocal Microscopy

When thin optically transparent specimens are grown on reflective substrates, contrast in reflection confocal microscopy is markedly enhanced. This enhanced contrast allows for the visualization of the thin filopodia and organelles contained within the neuritic processes of PC12 cells in culture. The characteristics of this contrast enhancement suggest that it arises because of interference between light scattered from the specimen and coherently backscattered illumination reflected off the substrate. This technique provides a method for visualizing living cells or other similarly transparent objects on opaque substrates in a nondestructive manner.
Correlation of two anthocyanin quantification methods: HPLC and spectrophotometric methods

Abstract The pH differential method and HPLC are commonly used methods by researchers and the food industry for quantifying anthocyanins in a sample. This study was conducted to establish a relationship between the two analytical methods. Seven juice samples containing an array of different individual anthocyanins were analyzed by pH differential and HPLC (two different columns and mobile phase conditions). In general, total anthocyanins were greater when expressed as malvidin-glucoside than as cyanidin-glucoside, despite the method used. This paper demonstrates the high correlation (R ⩾ 0.925, p ⩽ 0.05) between the pH differential method and HPLC (both systems) when determining the amount of anthocyanins found in samples. For laboratories that do not have the capability for HPLC analysis, the pH differential is a simple and economical method to determine total anthocyanins. This study also demonstrates the importance of reporting the standard used to express the values. There is still a need for both methods and certified anthocyanin standards.
A stochastic investment model for a survival conscious firm applied to shrimp fishing

An operational stochastic capacity expansion model for a survival conscious firm is developed and applied to shrimp fishing in which the entrepreneur evaluates all the information known to him at the time of decision. The results show the effect of survival considerations on the growth in net worth of a firm making sequential and irreversible purchases of physical capital with uncertain future yields. The survival model is applied to shrimp fishing on the Texas Gulf Coast and the reults are compared with those of a simple model in which survival is not considered. Bankruptcy could clearly result from use of the simple model; survival of the firm is guaranteed by use of the survival model.
Observations on thermoregulation in the western slender glass lizard, Ophisaurus attenuatus attenuatus (Sauria: Anguidae)

Based upon thermocouple implantation, thermal preferenda and voluntary maxima for the head and body were studied in three individuals of Ophisaurus attenuatus attenuatus collected in Texas. Calculated grouped data for the head and body mean preferred temperature were 31.2°C (range 29.O° -34.7°C) and 31.8°C (range 30.3° -34.5°C) respectively. Gaping or panting were found to be absent in the O. a. attenuatus examined in this study.
Parametric interactions in a dielectric medium with second-harmonic space-time pump modulation

Dispersion diagrams are given for the parametric coupling between the space-time harmonics of an electromagnetic wave propagating in an infinite dielectric medium whose dielectric constant is modulated by a high-intensity pump wave containing two harmonics. The effect of the amplitude and the phase of the second harmonic of the pump wave on the parametric growth process is studied. Both stable and temporally unstable interactions are considered.
Comparison of finite-difference and Fourier-transform solutions of the parabolic wave equation with emphasis on integrated-optics applications

The solution of the scalar wave equation in the parabolic approximation is considered through the finite-difference and the Fourier-transform (i.e., beam propagation method) techniques. Examples are taken from the field of integrated optics and include propagation in straight, tapered, Y-branched, and coupled waveguides. A comparison of numerical results obtained by the two methods is presented, and a comparison with other analytical or numerical methods is also given. In the numerous cases studied it is shown that the finite-difference method yields a large, order-of-magnitude range improvement in accuracy or computational speed when compared with the Fourier-transform method.
Free fatty acids and insulin secretion in humans

Acute increases in plasma levels of long-chain fatty acids raise plasma insulin levels by stimulating insulin secretion or by decreasing insulin clearance. In normal subjects, long-term elevations of fatty acids also stimulate insulin secretion. In fact, they increase insulin precisely to the degree needed to compensate for the fatty acid-induced insulin resistance. In contrast, in individuals who are genetically predisposed to develop type 2 diabetes (prediabetic subjects), the free fatty acid (FFA) stimulation of insulin secretion is not sufficient to fully compensate for the FFA-induced insulin resistance. Therefore, obesity, if associated with elevated fatty acid levels, may lead to hyperglycemia in prediabetic but not in normal individuals.
Model and Prototype Research on Fish Ladders

Description of 3 major fishway installations operated by Corps of Engineers, 2 more under construction, and several in planning stage; results of studies to determine most efficient solutions; laboratory studies on scale models and also on full scale models of fish ladders; details of fishways at McNary dam and Ice Harbor dam.
Compact Modeling of a PD SOI MESFET for Wide Temperature Designs

A compact model for the partially-depleted (PD) silicon-on-insulator (SOI) metal semiconductor field effect transistor (MESFET) is presented. The absence of a gate-oxide makes the SOI MESFET extremely robust, able to withstand high voltages, and useful for extreme environment electronics. The device has been fabricated using a standard CMOS process. In contrast to SOI MOSFETs and GaAs MESFETs, the source-substrate voltage has a significant impact on the channel current. In this work a model has been developed that includes the effect of the buried-oxide on the performance of the MESFET. The model has been verified for a wide temperature range of -180degC to 150degC. A behavioral model has been included to model the breakdown voltage. The core DC and RF models have been adapted from the commercially available Triquint's own model (TOM3) MESFET model. A measurement-based approach is used to develop a 4-terminal device model. The charge-based approach, using S-parameter measurements was used to develop the capacitance model. We also propose a wide-temperature compensation technique by source-voltage modulation
Chest wall and rib irradiation and toxicities of early-stage lung cancer patients treated with CyberKnife stereotactic body radiotherapy

ABSTRACT Aim: The aim of the study is to evaluate the chest wall and rib toxicities in primary lung cancer patients treated with CyberKnife-based stereotactic body radiotherapy. Materials & methods: In this study, data were collected from the 118 patients, of which 25 patients who had longer follow-up (mean: 21.9 months) were considered. Studied parameters were maximum point dose, doses to 1–100 cm3 of chest wall and 1–10 cm3 of ribs. Results: Three patients developed chest wall pain (grade I). 25 studied patients, on average, received 27.7 Gy to 30 cm3 of chest wall and 50.4 Gy to 1 cm3 of rib. Nine patients had more than 30 Gy dose to 30 cm3 of chest wall. No rib bone fracture was found. Conclusion: No correlations of chest wall pain and volume of irradiation were found.
Solar thematic maps for space weather operations

[1] Thematic maps are arrays of labels, or “themes,” associated with discrete locations in space and time. Borrowing heavily from the terrestrial remote sensing discipline, a numerical technique based on Bayes' theorem captures operational expertise in the form of trained theme statistics, then uses this to automatically assign labels to solar image pixels. Ultimately, regular thematic maps of the solar corona will be generated from high-cadence, high-resolution SUVI images, the solar ultraviolet imager slated to fly on NOAA's next-generation GOES-R series of satellites starting ∼2016. These thematic maps will not only provide quicker, more consistent synoptic views of the sun for space weather forecasters, but digital thematic pixel masks (e.g., coronal hole, active region, flare, etc.), necessary for a new generation of operational solar data products, will be generated. This paper presents the mathematical underpinnings of our thematic mapper, as well as some practical algorithmic considerations. Then, using images from the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Advanced Imaging Array (AIA) as test data, it presents results from validation experiments designed to ascertain the robustness of the technique with respect to differing expert opinions and changing solar conditions.
The forgotten ones? The validity of Consideration and Initiating Structure in leadership research

This study provided a meta-analysis of the relationship of the Ohio State leadership behaviors— Consideration and Initiating Structure—with leadership. Overall, 163 independent correlations for Consideration and 159 correlations for Initiating Structure were analyzed. Results revealed that both Consideration (.48) and Initiating Structure (.29) have moderately strong, nonzero relations with leadership outcomes. Consideration was more strongly related to follower satisfaction (leader satisfaction, job satisfaction), motivation, and leader effectiveness, and Initiating Structure was slightly more strongly related to leader job performance and group– organization performance. Validities did vary by leadership measure, but in most cases validities generalized regardless of the measure used. Overall, the results provide important support for the validity of Initiating Structure and Consideration in leadership research.
Fungal Infections of the Perivesical Space

We describe 3 patients with fungal infection in the perivesical space who manifested lower abdominal pain and urinary tract symptomatology. Imaging studies demonstrated perivesical abnormalities. Urine culture was positive for fungus in only 1 patients. Management required surgical exploration, drainage, debridement of necrotic tissue and in 1 patient partial bladder resection. Systemic antifungal therapy was administered postoperatively. All patients had a successful outcome.
Accurate heat capacity measurements on powdered samples using a Quantum Design physical property measurement system

Abstract We have evaluated the accuracy of the heat capacity option of a Quantum Design physical property measurement system (PPMS) by measuring the heat capacity of various types of conducting and insulating samples over the temperature range from (2 to 300) K. In particular, the accuracy of measurements on a copper pellet was determined to be ±2% for 2 K
Slow Down and Survive: Enigmatic Immunoregulation by BTLA and HVEM

B and T lymphocyte associated (BTLA) is an Ig domain superfamily protein with cytoplasmic immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motifs. Its ligand, herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM), is a tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member. The unique interaction between BTLA and HVEM allows for a system of bidirectional signaling that must be appropriately regulated to balance the outcome of the immune response. HVEM engagement of BTLA produces inhibitory signals through SH2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 1 (Shp-1) and Shp-2 association, whereas BTLA engagement of HVEM produces proinflammatory signals via activation of NF-kappaB. The BTLA-HVEM interaction is intriguing and quite complex given that HVEM has four other ligands that also influence immune responses, the conventional TNF ligand LIGHT and lymphotoxin alpha, as well as herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D and the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-linked Ig domain protein CD160. BTLA-HVEM interactions have been shown to regulate responses in several pathogen and autoimmune settings, but our understanding of this complex system of interactions is certainly incomplete. Recent findings of spontaneous inflammation in BTLA-deficient mice may provide an important clue.
Military Sexual Assault: An Ongoing and Prevalent Problem

Despite the fact that military sexual trauma (MST) is an ongoing and prevalent problem, it is a crime that is often under-reported because of biases inherent to the military machine, as well as being difficult to treat due to ineffective or inaccessible services. This article discusses the history and current prevalence rates of MST as well as possible factors contributing to the issue. Current legislation is discussed that, if passed, would help to identify current needs and bring education, prevention, treatment, and access to care to effective levels within the military.
SEASONAL RESPONSE OF FOLLICLES IN THE OVARIES OF THE BAT MYOTIS GRISESCENS TO PREGNANCY URINE GONADOTROPHIN

INTRODUCTION THE ovarian response to gonadotrophin depends upon the state of the ovary as well as upon the nature of the hormone and its method of administration. Previous studies (Guthrie and Jeffers, 1938) indicated that bats of the genus Myotis were useful for ovarian studies. Since bats have an annual estrous cycle and mature but a single ovum each year, factors conditioning follicular growth can be more easily distinguished than in polyestrous animals in which overlapping of phases occurs in the ovaries. Cytological studies of ovaries of normal bats throughout the estrous cycle have demonstrated variations in the total number of follicles and, of more significance, variations in the volume of the follicle-oocyte system (Guthrie, Jeffers, and Smith, 1951). The present paper considers the responsiveness of the ovary to PU gonadotrophin at various stages of the estrous cycle.
Keynote talk I: Syntax-guided synthesis

The classical formulation of the program-synthesis problem is to find a program that meets a correctness specification given as a logical formula. Recent work on program synthesis and program optimization illustrates many potential benefits of allowing the user to supplement the logical specification with a syntactic template that constrains the space of allowed implementations. The formulation of the syntax-guided synthesis problem (SyGuS) is aimed at standardizing the core computational problem common to these proposals in a logical framework [1]. The input to the SyGuS problem consists of a background theory, a semantic correctness specification for the desired program given by a logical formula, and a syntactic set of candidate implementations given by a grammar. The computational problem then is to find an implementation from the set of candidate expressions so that it satisfies the specification in the given theory. In this talk, we first describe how a wide range of problems such as automatic synthesis of loop invariants, program optimization, learning programs from examples, and program sketching, can be formalized as SyGuS instances. We then describe three different instantiations of the counter-example-guided-inductive-synthesis (CEGIS) strategy for solving the SyGuS problem. Finally, we discuss our efforts over the past two years on defining the standardized interchange format built on top of SMT-LIB, repository of benchmarks from diverse applications, organization of the annual competition, SyGuS-COMP, of solvers, and experimental evaluation of solution strategies. More information about our project is available at www.sygus.org. This research is supported by the NSF Expeditions in Computing project ExCAPE (award CCF 1138996).
Vibrational Echo Correlation Spectroscopy

Multidimensional vibrational echo correlation spectroscopy with full phase resolution is used to measure hydrogen bond dynamics in water and methanol. The OD hydroxyl stretches of methanol-OD oligomers in CCl4 and HOD inH2O are studied using the shortest mid-IR pulses ( 400 cm-1) spectrum of the 0-1 and 1-2 vibrational transitions. Hydrogen bond population dynamics are extricated with exceptional detail in MeOD oligomers because the different hydrogen-bonded species are spectrally distinct. The experimental results along with detailed calculations indicate the strongest hydrogen bonds are selectively broken through a non-equilibrium relaxation pathway following vibrational relaxation of the hydroxyl stretch. Following hydrogen bond breaking, the broken MeOD oligomers retain a detailed structural memory of the prior intact hydrogen bond network. The correlation spectra are also a sensitive probe of the structural fluctuations in water and provide a stringent test of water models that are widely used in simulations of aqueous systems. The analysis of the 2D band shapes demonstrates that different hydrogen-bonded species are subject to distinct (wavelength-dependent) ultrafast (∼ 100 fs) local fluctuations and essentially identical slower (0.4 ps and ∼ 2 ps) structural rearrangements. Observation of wavelength-dependent dynamics demonstrates that standard theoretical approaches assuming Gaussian fluctuations cannot adequately describe water dynamics.
Re-Visioning Religious Studies: A Call to Come Home

This is a look at the rise and development of religious studies in the United States, at the terms and implications of its “charter,” and then at current models and perennial phobias (theologizing being an example of the latter). There follows a plea for people working in religious studies to complete the hermeneutical circle, to return to the essence, to explore and act out the religious wager. The paper closes with a glimpse at two possible roles for such a revisioned venture: symbol repository for the university, seminary for an expanded and critical civil religion.
Opposing effects of traumatic brain injury on excitatory synaptic function in the lateral amygdala in the absence and presence of preinjury stress

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a leading cause of death and disability among young adults and is highly prevalent among recently deployed military personnel. Survivors of TBI often experience cognitive and emotional deficits, suggesting that long-term effects of injury may disrupt neuronal function in critical brain regions, including the amygdala, which is involved in emotion and fear memory. Amygdala hyperexcitability has been reported in both TBI and posttraumatic stress disorder patients, yet little is known regarding the effects of combined stress and TBI on amygdala structure and function at the neuronal level. The present study seeks to determine how the long-term effects of preinjury foot-shock stress and TBI interact to influence synaptic plasticity in the lateral amygdala (LA) of adult male C57BL/6J mice by using whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology 2-3 months postinjury. In the absence of stress, TBI resulted in a significant increase in membrane excitability and spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) in LA pyramidal-like neurons. Foot-shock stress in the absence of TBI also resulted in increased sEPSC activity. In contrast, when preinjury stress and TBI occurred in combination, sEPSC activity was significantly decreased compared with either condition alone. There were no significant differences in inhibitory activity or total dendritic length among any of the treatment groups. These results demonstrate that stress and TBI may be contributing to amygdala hyperexcitability via different mechanisms and that these pathways may counterbalance each other with respect to long-term pathophysiology in the LA.