cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Transient cultural influences on infant mortality: Fire-Horse daughters in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: Parental investment theory suggests that the quality and quantity of parental care depends, in part, on assessments of whether offspring will survive and yield grandchildren. Consistent with this theory, we hypothesize that parental perception that a birth cohort will have low reproductive success coincides with higher than expected infant mortality in the cohort. We test this hypothesis in industrialized Japan in 1966 when cultural aversion to females born in the astrological year of the Fire-Horse may have jeopardized the life of female infants. METHODS: We applied time-series methods to cohort infant mortality data for Japan, from 1947 to 1976, to test whether female infant mortality in 1966 rose above levels expected from history, male infant mortality, and fertility. Methods control for the secular decline in infant mortality as well as other temporal patterns that could induce spurious associations. RESULTS: Findings support the hypothesis in that female infant mortality rises by 1.1 deaths per 1,000 live births above expected levels (coefficient = 0.0011; standard error = 0.0005; P = 0.03). The result indicates an excess of 721 female infant deaths statistically attributable to the Fire-Horse year. Findings remain robust to control for male infant mortality and the secular decline in mortality over the test period. CONCLUSIONS: The discovery of a predictable, acute increase in female infant mortality during the Fire-Horse year supports the relevance of parental investment theory to developed countries. Results should encourage further research on the health sequelae of abrupt, population-level shifts in culture. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Language: en
Work in progress: Making Room: Creating design spaces for design practice

This work investigates affordances of co-working, collaboratory spaces in support of engineering design student design teams. A framework for establishing such spaces is presented adapting a set of design axioms: design is a social activity, preserve ambiguity and all design is redesign. Student reflections are used to illustrate these design principles and example spaces are described in brief.
Pressure investigation of the new Kondo lattice systems Ce3Sn, Ce3In and Ce3Al

Abstract The compounds Ce 3 Sn, Ce 3 In and Ce 3 Al are characterized by a small energy scale that is reflected in the magnetic susceptibility and temperature dependent electrical resistance. We have investigated the effect of hydrostatic pressure on their electrical resistance and find a response that is typical of Kondo lattice behavior. In addition, both Ce 3 In and Ce 3 Al undergo a phase transition induced by pressure which, in the case of Ce 3 Al, is reminiscent of the γ-α transition in cerium.
Removal of endogenous lactates via the peritoneum in experimental lactic acidosis

Peritoneal dialysis was used in experimental lactic acidosis caused by hypoxia for the removal of endogenous lactate. Two types of dialysis fluid, with and without vasodilator sodium nitroprusside, added intraperitoneally were used. The addition of sodium nitroprusside increased peritoneal the clearance of lactate as did an alkaline dialysis fluid containing bicarbonate. The highest clearance values were observed when alkaline dialysis fluid was used together with sodium nitroprusside.
Surface dissolution kinetics of dental hard tissue irradiated over a fluence range of 1 to 8 J/cm2

Previous studies have demonstrated that carbon dioxide (CO2) laser treatment of dental enamel can inhibit subsequent sub-surface caries-like progression. Irradiation of dental enamel by specific wavelengths and fluences of CO2 laser light alters the chemical composition of the crystals, decomposing the carbonate component. The present study examined the effects of fluence and number of pulses on the surface dissolution kinetics of dental enamel following laser irradiation of the surface. The initial dissolution rate of dental enamel (5 by 5 mm blocks) in pH 4.5 acetate buffer was determined after laser irradiation by a pulsed CO2 laser at 9.3 micrometer, with a pulse duration of 100 microseconds, and 0-25 pulses per spot, with fluences of 0-8 J/cm2. Maximum inhibition of dissolution occurred at fluences of 3-5 J/cm2 coinciding with maximum carbonate loss, but the beneficial effect was negated at higher fluences as the surface chemistry changed. Irradiation by more than 5 pulses produced minimal further benefit.
Droplet Electrospray Nebulization for Particle Beam Lc-Ms

A new interface for particle beam liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (PB-LC-MS) was developed based on a droplet electrospray nebulizer (DESN). The DESN produced relatively monodisperse droplet aerosols of approximately 100 μm diameter. An efficient aerosol desolvation and transport system was also designed to optimize analyte mass transport efficiency. The DESN and desolvation system was coupled to an ion trap mass spectrometer via a three stage momentum separator (DESN-PB-LC-ITMS). The DESN provided several advantages over other nebulization techniques for PB-LC-MS. First, the resultant larger particles provided a high mass transport efficiency of analytes through the momentum separator, which resulted in a significant improvement of the sensitivity and calibration linearity of PB-LC-MS. Detection limits (3σ) ranging from 5.6 to 5.8 pg/μL were obtained for the tested compounds. Secondly, the lower dispersity of larger aerosols provided a better control of particle beam formation and significantly i...
SRC: facilitating efficient parallelization of information storage and retrieval on large data sets

The purpose of this work is to develop a lock-free hash table that allows a large number of threads to concurrently insert, modify, or retrieve information. Lock-free or non-blocking designs alleviate the problems traditionally associated with lock-based designs, such as bottlenecks and thread safety. Using standard atomic operations provided by the hardware, the design is portable and therefore, applicable to embedded systems and supercomputers such as the Cray XMT. Real-world applications range from search-indexing to computer vision. Having written and tested the core functionality of the hash table, we plan to perform a formal validation using model checkers.
Effect of ricin on biosynthesis of myeloma protein (IgA) and general cellular proteins in MOPC-315 cells

Ricin, a phyto-toxin from the seeds of Ricinus communis, preferentially inhibits synthesis of myeloma protein by MOPC-315 cells as compared to the synthesis of general proteins. In contrast, cycloheximide inhibited equally both myeloma protein synthesis as well as general protein synthesis. These results suggest that proteins synthesized near or on cell membranes are more sensitive to Ricin which binds to the acceptor molecule on the plasma membrane.
Pancreatic amylase in chickens fed on soya-bean diets.

1. The action of raw and heated soya beans on pancreatic function was studied by measuring the amylase activity of the pancreases and intestinal contents of intact chickens and of chickens with ileostomies at fasting and after eating, before and after adaptation to heated and raw soya-bean diets, with a methionine supplement and without. 2. The concentration of amylase in the pancreases of 8-week-old chickens eating raw soya-bean diets was lower than that of those eating heated soya-bean diets. These chickens were deficient in methionine; supplementation of the raw soya-bean diet with methionine greatly increased the levels of amylase in the pancreases of such chickens; supplementation of the heated soya-bean diet with methionine increased the levels of amylase in pancreases to a smaller extent. 3. Methionine was less effective in increasing the amylase levels of the pancreases of 11-week-old chickens eating raw soya-bean diets, since at this age the deficiency of methionine was much less pronounced. 4. More amylase activity was found in intestinal contents of chickens eating raw soya-bean diets than in those eating heated soya-bean diets. 5. In vitro studies showed that fractions prepared from raw soya beans, all containing high levels of trypsin inhibitors, stabilized amylase activity despite the active proteolysis of other protein substrates in the same amylase-containing mixtures. 6. CaCl 2 stabilized amylase activity in vitro in unactivated and activated pancreatic juice as such, and after additions of raw soya beans or their fractions before and after autoclaving. 7. The increased levels of amylase found in the intestinal contents of the chickens eating raw soya beans may represent greater secretion of amylase activity by the pancreas, stabilization of amylase activity by the raw soya bean, or both factors. Interpretation of measurements of amylase activity in the intestinal contents of chickens eating heated or raw soya beans is uncertain. 8. The bearing of this work on current views of the nutritional value of raw and heated soya beans is discussed.
Investigation of fatigue crack initiation in Ti-6Al-4V during tensile-tensile fatigue

Fatigue crack initiation in Ti-6Al-4V has been investigated in high cycle fatigue (HCF) and low cycle fatigue (LCF) regimes at stress ratio R=0.1 using the replication technique. In all four tested α/β microstructures, the crack was initiated by fracture of equiaxed alpha grain. Fractured alpha grains are seen on the fracture surface as flat facets with features characteristics of cleavage fracture. In the regime of low stress amplitudes and in the absence of reverse loading, cleavage fracture contributes to crack initiation and early stages of crack growth in Ti-6Al-4V. This mechanism is discussed in relation to the anomalous mean stress fatigue behavior exhibited by this alloy.
Anatomy of the Trachea, Carina, and Bronchi

This article summarizes the pertinent points of tracheal and bronchial anatomy, including the relationships to surrounding structures. Tracheal and bronchial anatomy is essential knowledge for the thoracic surgeon, and an understanding of the anatomic relationships surrounding the airway is crucial to the safe performance of many thoracic surgical procedures.
Systemic angiotensin II alters intrinsic heart rate through central mechanisms

Angiotensin II (ang II)-induced increases in intrinsic heart rate (IHR), and the resulting tachycardia, may contribute to development of renal hypertension. Whether circulating ang II affects the cardiac pacemaker through peripheral mechanisms or through actions in the central nervous system (CNS) has not been directly tested. These studies determined the role of a central site of ang II action, the tissue surrounding the anteroventral third ventricle (AV3V), in increased IHR induced by systemic ang II. Blood pressure and heart rate were measured in male rats with lesions of the AV3V region and in control-operated animals during i.v. infusion (3 h) of ang II, norepinephrine, or vehicle. IHR was evaluated at the end of the infusion period. Systemic ang II increased blood pressure equally in both experimental groups. However, heart rate was reduced only in animals with AV3V lesions. Furthermore, ang II increased IHR only in control-operated rats. Changes in blood pressure, heart rate, and IHR in response to norepinephrine infusion were similar between animals with AV3V lesions and control-operated rats. These data demonstrate that systemic ang II mediates IHR through actions in the CNS, specifically the AV3V region.
Effect of slow display on stack-mode reading of volumetric image datasets using an anthropomorphic observer

Active-matrix liquid crystal displays (LCDs) are becoming widely used in medical imaging applications. With the increasing volume of CT images to be interpreted per day, the ability of showing a fast sequence of images in stack mode is preferable for a medical display. Slow temporal response of LCD display can compromise the image quality/fidelity when the images are browsed in a fast sequence. In this paper, we report on the effect of the LCD response time at different image browsing speeds based on the performance of a contrast-sensitive channelized-Hotelling observer. A correlated stack of simulated cluster lumpy background images with a signal present in some of the images was used. The effect of different browsing speeds is calculated with LCD temporal response measurements established in our previous work. The image set is then analyzed by the model observer, which has been shown to predict human detection performance in non-Gaussian lumpy backgrounds. This allows us to quantify the effect of slow temporal response of medical liquid crystal displays on the performance of the anthropomorphic observer. Slow temporal response of the display device greatly affects the lesion contrast and observer performance. This methodology, after validation with human observers, could be used to set limits for the rendering speed of large volumetric image datasets (from CT, MR, or tomosynthesis) read in stack-mode.
The Theatrical Event: Dynamics of Performance and Perception . By Willmar Sauter. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press, 2000; pp. 272, illustrations. $42.50 hardcover.

Since theatre emerged as an academic discipline, scholars and artists have argued over how to define it. These debates have had various motivations: the desire to capture the full dimensions of their object of study, the search for appropriate methods of analysis, and the fight for intellectual ground in academic power struggles. The increasingly popular term “performance,” which arose out of dissatisfaction with the narrow aesthetic and cultural limits that the concept of “theatre” seems to impose, has been likewise much debated (as demonstrated in Marvin Carlson's 1996 survey).
Automatic classification of amplitude, frequency, and phase shift keyed signals in the Wavelet Domain

In this study, automatic recognition of digitally modulated signals is investigated using the Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT) in conjunction with techniques typically used in pattern recognition. In particular, the method of template matching is used. The templates used for the Automatic Modulation Recognition (AMR) process are determined based on the features, i.e., fractal patterns in the scalograms, of specific modulation schemes as they appear in the Wavelet Domain (WD). The digital modulation schemes considered include both binary and quaternary Amplitude (ASK) and Frequency Shift Keying (FSK), as well as M-ary Phase Shift Keying (MPSK) signals, where M=2, 4, and 8. The modulated signals used in this study have been corrupted by Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) resulting in Signal-to-Noise Ratios (SNRs) in the range of −5 dB to 10 dB. Through the use of Monte Carlo computer simulations, it has been determined that the average overall correct classification rate for M-ary PSK signals was 99.1%; 98.9% for BASK and 4-ASK signals; and 90.4% for BFSK and 4-FSK signals over the range of SNR values.
Synthesis and Pharmacological Evaluation of Novel Octahydro-1H-pyrido[1,2-a]pyrazine as μ-Opioid Receptor Antagonists

To better understand structural requirements for a μ ligand of the trans-3,4-dimethyl-4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)piperidine class to interact with the μ opioid receptor, we have described in the previous a...
Non-linear dynamical system approach to behavior modeling

We present a dynamic systems approach to modeling and generating low-level behaviors for autonomous agents. Such behaviors include real-time target tracking and obstacle avoidance in time-varying environments. The novelty of the method lies on the integration of distinct non-linear dynamic systems to model the agent's interaction with the environment. An angular velocity control dynamic system guides the agent's direction angle, while another dynamic system selects the environmental input that will be used in the control system. The agent interacts with the environment through its knowledge of the position of stationary and moving objects. In our system agents automatically avoid stationary and moving obstacles to reach the desired target(s). This approach allows us to prove the stability conditions that result in a principled methodology for the computation of the system's dynamic parameters. We present a variety of real-time simulations that illustrate the power of our approach.
Reliability and Factorial Validity of Computer Attitude Scales

As computer-related programs are introduced into school curricula, it is helpful to evaluate student attitudes which may affect the success of such programs. This study, involving 155 eighth-through twelfth-grade students, examines the reliability and factorial validity of the Computer Attitude Scale and its three subscales (Computer Liking, Computer Confidence, and Computer Anxiety). The data suggest that this instrument is an effective, reliable, and convenient means of measuring student attitudes toward learning about and using computers.
The effect of MADD on drinking–driving activities: an empirical study

Since its establishment in 1980, MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) has been instrumental in directing our nation's attention to the problems associated with drinking and driving activities. Through its legislative lobbying efforts, educational and victim support activities, MADD strives to increase the expected costs and reduce the expected benefits of driving under the influence of alcohol. The object of this paper is to develop and estimate a model which assesses the consequences of MADD's efforts on the incidence of drinking and driving. Using extensive data collected in California, a simultaneous equations model is estimated. The results suggest that MADD does have a deterrent effect upon the incidence of alcohol related accidents. Moreover, the effect is found to be stronger for alcohol related accidents with a non-fatal injury relative to those with a fatality.
The purification and partial characterization of phospholipase A2, a secretory protein of rabbit parotid gland.

Abstract Phospholipase A 2 (EC 3.1.1.4), a soluble enzyme present in secretion granule lysates and in the discharged secretion of rabbit parotid gland, has been purified by gel filtration. The enzyme preparations obtained from both lysates and secretion have been found to have identical amino acid compositions, amino terminal residues (Asx), isoelectric points (10.2) and electrophoretic behavior in polyacrylamide gels. The reduced and alkylated protein yields a single band upon electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate; the mobility corresponds to an apparent molecular weight of 16 000. The enzyme is capable of action on phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE),phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol. Activity has been examined using as substrate sonicated vesicles consisting of PC and PE. Rates of hydrolysis have been determined by densitometry of lysophosphatides resolved and charred on thin-layer chromatograms. This approach has been used to follow enzyme purification, to indicate the preferential hydrolysis (approx. 2-fold) of PE vs. PC and to demonstrate that enzyme purified from granule lysates and discharged secretion shows the same heat stability and activity profile as a function of pH. A highly specific Ca 2+ requirement for activity also has been identified for substances organized as phospholipid bilayers; the apparent inactivity of this enzyme within a Ca 2+ -containing storage organelle, the secretion granule, presents an interesting problem for future investigation.
Novel insights through the integration of structural and functional genomics data with protein networks

Abstract In recent years, major advances in genomics, proteomics, macromolecular structure determination, and the computational resources capable of processing and disseminating the large volumes of data generated by each have played major roles in advancing a more systems-oriented appreciation of biological organization. One product of systems biology has been the delineation of graph models for describing genome-wide protein–protein interaction networks. The network organization and topology which emerges in such models may be used to address fundamental questions in an array of cellular processes, as well as biological features intrinsic to the constituent proteins (or “nodes”) themselves. However, graph models alone constitute an abstraction which neglects the underlying biological and physical reality that the network’s nodes and edges are highly heterogeneous entities. Here, we explore some of the advantages of introducing a protein structural dimension to such models, as the marriage of conventional network representations with macromolecular structural data helps to place static node and edge constructs in a biologically more meaningful context. We emphasize that 3D protein structures constitute a valuable conceptual and predictive framework by discussing examples of the insights provided, such as enabling in silico predictions of protein–protein interactions, providing rational and compelling classification schemes for network elements, as well as revealing interesting intrinsic differences between distinct node types, such as disorder and evolutionary features, which may then be rationalized in light of their respective functions within networks.
A theory of the thermodynamic behavior of nonelectrolyte solutions. VI. Critical miscibility of polymer solutions

Maron's theory of the thermodynamics of nonelectrolyte solutions has been applied to the condition of critical miscibility in polymer solutions on the basis of an interaction parameter μ linearly dependent on the volume fraction v2, i.e., μ=μ°+σ°v2. The results yield expressions for μc, μc°, σc°and (μc° − σc°) at the point of critical miscibility which are related to the molar volume ratio, the critical volume v, and effective volume factors. For the limit of infinite molecular weight these equations yield σc°= 1/6, (μc° − σc°) = 1/2 and μc= μc°=2/3. These results differ from the χc=1/2 predicted by the Flory-Huggins theory on the basis of an interaction parameter χ independent of concentration.
Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome

Abstract Background Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is an underappreciated and poorly understood cause of thunderclap headache (TCH). Although self-limited in the majority of patients, incidence is increasing, with presentations overlapping considerably with life-threatening conditions, such as aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and stroke. In addition, radiographic findings seen in RCVS are also present in primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS). Misdiagnosis of RCVS might subject patients to unnecessary invasive testing and immunosuppressive therapy. Furthermore, the recommended treatment of glucocorticoids used in PACNS can be harmful in RCVS. RCVS is not a benign condition, as patients can have ischemic or hemorrhagic complications leading to persistent neurologic deficits and even death. Current treatments, guided only by expert consensus, have no proven effect on these complications, which argues the need for accurate identification of patients with RCVS and prospective studies to validate treatment and inform prognoses. Case Report We describe a previously healthy male who presented to the emergency department after 2 episodes of TCH and angiography consistent with RCVS. Why Should An Emergency Physician Be Aware of This? RCVS is a common but underappreciated cause of TCH. The likelihood of misdiagnosing RCVS following the accepted diagnostic algorithm of acute headache in the emergency department is high due to a lack of clinical awareness and common features shared with other headache syndromes. Emergency department physicians must broaden the differential in patients presenting to the emergency department with TCH to include RCVS and be familiar with the accepted treatments and appropriate follow-up.
On Eigenvalues Related to Finite Poincaré Planes

LetFqbe a finite field withqelements (qodd). Fix a nonsquare element ? ?Fq:Hq=Fq(?) ?Fq= {x+y?|x,y? 0 ?Fq} is called a finite Poincare plane (FPP). The graph structure can be defined on an FPP. This paper studies eigenvalues of the adjacency matrix of an FPP and the distribution of eigenvalues of adjacency matrices of all FPPs.
Mediterranean (Cooley's) anemia in a youth ofnineteen years observed since early childhood

Summary In two generations of a family consisting of five individuals, there were two patients with typical Mediterranean anemia, while the blood of the remainder revealed distinctive red cell abnormalities. One of the patients was a youth now 19 years of age who has been under observation since 4 years of age. Transfusions were required to combat the anemia in childhood. He still presents the classical, clinical, hematologic, and roentgenographic evidence of Mediterranean anemia. In spite of chronic anemia he has without splenectomy or other recent treatment developed normally, participates in all activities, and has shown no undue susceptibility to infection. He exemplifies the type of patient with Mediterranean anemia of moderate severity who is asymptomatic until after infancy and who reaches adult life after the blood dyserasia has become arrested at a level compatible with well-being. This case adds to the increasing evidence that Mediterranean anemia may exist in other forms than that of the better-known severe and rapidly progressive type in which there is a fatal outcome before puberty. A younger brother, now 8 years of age, also has Mediterranean anemia comparable in severity with that of his older brother. The remaining members of the family include the parents and a son, 17 years of age. They appear to be clinically well and in none is the spleen palpable. Roentgenographic changes are absent in the parents, but in the son a zone of trabeculation and osteoporosis is present in the proximal portion of one ulna, a lesion which is also present in both affected brothers. Despite minimal anemia, the blood in each member of the family showed various abnormalities, and of these basophilic stippling and hypochromic macrocytes were the most common features. With the exception of the mother, the red cells of every member of this family were resistant to hemolysis in hypotonic saline solutions. The blood abnormalities in the three apparently healthy individualscharacterize them as carriers of this disease. The carrier may be detected by examination of the blood smear, by the fragility test, and by skeletal changes. Basophilic stippling, hypochromic macrocytes, and increased resistance of the red cells to hemolysis constitute important hematologic features and may be present with little or no anemia. It was pointed out in the text that the term carrier is employed in alimited genetic sense to describe the asymptomatic case. Available evidence indicates that the inheritance of this disease is direct from parent to child and the chances of transmitting it are alike in the asymptomatic as in the well-established case. The occurrence of typical Mediterranean anemia in two individualsin one family and of anemia of varying degrees in the others lends weight to the hypothesis that these blood disorders represent manifestations of a single disease.
A Mimetic Finite-difference Method For Acoustic-wave Modeling On Arbitrary Meshes

Accurate modeling of wave propagation and scattering in media containing fine structures and sharp interfaces with complex shapes is a challenging task. We introduce a mimetic finite-difference method for modeling acoustic-wave propagation in complex media. This method incorporates fundamental physical principles in the discretization of the acoustic-wave equation. The free surface boundary conditions are naturally embedded into the scheme. Unstructured polygonal meshes are used to represent complex shapes of interfaces, irregular and fine inclusions, and complex surface topography. Locally refined meshes can be employed in regions with different wave speeds. We numerically demonstrate that the new method can accurately simulate complex wave phenomena.
Radical Prostatectomy Findings in Patients in Whom Active Surveillance of Prostate Cancer Fails

Purpose: Little data are available on radical prostatectomy findings in men who experience disease progression following active surveillance.Materials and Methods: A total of 470 men in our active surveillance program underwent annual repeat needle biopsies to look for progression defined as any Gleason pattern grade 4/5, more than 50% cancer on any core or cancer in more than 2 cores. Slides were available for review in 48 of 51 radical prostatectomies with progression.Results: The average time between the first prostate biopsy and radical prostatectomy was 29.5 months (range 13 to 70), with 44% and 75% of the patients showing progression by the second and third biopsy, respectively. There were 31 (65%) organ confined cases, of which 25 (52%) were Gleason score 6. Of 48 cases 17 (35%) had extraprostatic extension, 3 had seminal vesicle/lymph node involvement and 7 (15%) had positive margins. Mean total tumor volume was 1.3 cm3 (range 0.02 to 10.8). Of the 48 tumors 13 (27%) were potentially clinically in...
Counterproductive transcriptional and translational regulation of elongation factor 1-α synthesis during early development in sea urchins

We have isolated a cDNA clone encoding elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1-alpha) and used probes prepared from this cDNA to measure levels of EF1-alpha transcripts during early development. We also determined the fraction of EF1-alpha transcripts in polysomes during this time period. Following the blastula stage there is a sharp increase in the amount of EF1-alpha mRNA. This pattern of accumulation is similar to other previously described sea urchin mRNAs. However, while the level of EF1-alpha mRNA is increasing, the fraction of EF1-alpha mRNA in polysomes decreases. Thus, there is an apparently counter-productive decrease in efficiency of recruitment into polysomes occurring concurrently with an increase in the overall amount of EF1-alpha mRNA.
Percutaneous Access for Enteral Nutrition

Enteral feeding is the preferred method of feeding in the presence of a functional gastrointestinal tract. Percutaneous enteral feeding tubes are indicated in patients requiring long-term (>4-6 weeks) enteral access. Percutaneous gastrostomy, gastrojejunostomy, and direct jejunostomy placement are safe and effective by either endoscopic or radiologic means. Both endoscopic and radiologic methods are preferred over surgical placement due to decreased cost, complications, and morbidity. In most situations, either can be performed depending on local expertise and availability. In certain clinical situations, endoscopic or radiologic approaches may be preferred. The indications, techniques, and relative advantages/disadvantages of endoscopic and radiologic percutaneous access for enteral nutrition are reviewed.
On spirality in the intestinal wall.

Methods of stripping did not demonstrate a significant spiral course of fibers within longitudinal muscle coats of the jejuno-ileum of the dog, cat, hog or man. Similar lack of spirality also characterized the large intestine of the dog. The presence of taeniae in the hog and man, and the extremely thin layer of muscle between them, permitted only the demonstration of directly longitudinal muscle in taeniae. Bands of muscle stripped from circular coats of the small intestine of the dog and hog came off overwhelmingly in complete rings. Stripping of the human intestine did not yield complete rings; breakage at anastomoses with the adjoining muscle sheet may indicate oblique bands that link up a fiber system, essentially circular, into a functionally spiral system. Bands stripped from circular coats of the large intestine of the dog came off overwhelmingly as circles. The taeniae of the hog and man prevent obtaining complete strips. Stripping of the submucosal stratum of the small intestine of the dog and man, and of the large intestine of the dog, revealed a latticed tube. Its fibers intersect in double spirals, coursing at angles of approximately 45° to the longitudinal axis of the intestine.
The Hubbard Tank as an Adjunct to Drainage in Overwhelming Intra-abdominal Sepsis

• Open drainage of the peritoneal cavity for severe intraabdominal sepsis has been gaining popularity. We had a patient whose overwhelming intra-abdominal infection did not respond to open drainage but was controlled by frequent immersion in a Hubbard tank. Use of the Hubbard tank should be considered in patients with uncontrolled intra-abdominal infection refractory to standard therapy. ( Arch Surg 1983;118:989)
The Menstrual Cycle A Biological Marker of General Health in Adolescents

Menstruation is the cyclic, orderly sloughing of the uterine lining on account of the interactions of hormones produced by the hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovaries. There is a tendency among parents and clinicians to view oligo-amenorrhea as a normal variant in the teen years. In fact, the 95th percentile for the time interval between cycles is 90 days. Thus, it is abnormal for an adolescent to be amenorrheic for greater than 3 months, even in the early gynecologic years. Identification of abnormal menstrual patterns throughout adolescence may permit early identification of potential health concerns for adulthood. Few problems in gynecologic endocrinology are as complex or challenging to the clinician as amenorrhea. However, thorough evaluation of menstrual cycle disorders in adolescence provides a window of opportunity for early diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis. Here we discuss a systematic approach to the evaluation and treatment of amenorrhea in adolescents who do not have androgen excess. There is strong evidence that estrogen deficiency is a risk factor for later development of osteoporosis and hip fracture. Delay in the evaluation and treatment of disordered menses in some cases may contribute to reduced bone density. Both patients and clinicians need to view the ovary as an important endocrine organ that helps maintain health, especially bone health.
A Neural Network Based Sensor Validation Scheme for Heavy-Duty Diesel Engines

This paper presents the design of a complete sensor fault detection, isolation, and accommodation (SFDIA) scheme for heavy-duty diesel engines without physical redundancy in the sensor capabilities. The analytical redundancy in the available measurements is exploited by two different banks of neural approximators that are used for the identification of the nonlinear input/output relationships of the engine system. The first set of approximators is used to evaluate the residual signals needed for fault isolation. The second set is used-following the failure detection and isolation-to provide a replacement for the signal originating from the faulty sensor. The SFDIA scheme is explained with details, and its performance is evaluated through a set of simulations in which failures are injected on measured signals. The experimental data from this study have been acquired using a test vehicle appositely instrumented to measure several engine parameters. The measurements were performed on a specific set of routes, which included a combination of highway and city driving patterns.
Reduction of CDP-diacylglycerol Synthase Activity Results in the Excretion of Inositol by Saccharomyces cerevisiae

A yeast mutant, cdg1, was isolated on the basis of an inositol excretion phenotype. This mutant exhibited pleiotropic deficiencies in phospholipid biosynthesis, including reduced levels of CDP-diacylglycerol (DAG) synthase activity (Klig, L. S., Homann, M. J., Kohlwein, S. D., Kelley, M. J., Henry, S. A., and Carman, G. M. (1988) J. Bacteriol. 170, 1878-1886). In this study we present evidence that the molecular basis for the inositol excretion phenotype is a G305/A305 point mutation (Cys102→ Tyr substitution) within the CDS1 gene (encodes CDP-DAG synthase) of this mutant. Expression of CDP-DAG synthase activity from a plasmid-borne copy of the CDS1 gene in the cdg1 mutant was not down-regulated, and this expression also corrected the inositol excretion phenotype. Introduction of the above mutated gene (CDS1*) controlled by its endogenous promoter on a single copy plasmid into a cds1-null background reconstituted a transformant with the cdg1 phenotype, including reduced CDP-DAG synthase activity, elevated phosphatidylserine synthase activity, and inositol excretion into the growth medium. Expression of CDS1* in a single copy in the cdg1 mutant raised CDP-DAG synthase activity from 15 to 30% of derepressed wild-type yeast levels but still did not correct the inositol excretion phenotype. CDP-DAG synthase activity was not regulated in response to precursors of phospholipid biosynthesis in the cdg1 mutant either with or without a trans copy of the CDS1* gene. An open reading frame was identified 5′ to the CDS1 locus, YBR0314, which also resulted in inositol excretion when present in trans in multiple copies.
Quantitative and qualitative information in computations

In this paper two notions of information content for the characteristic sequences of sets are compared. One is the minimal-program complexity of the sequences and represents a quantitative information content, and the other is the degree of unsolvability of the underlying set and represents a qualitative information content. The major conclusion from this work is that with few exceptions these measures of information content are unrelated. Various tradeoffs between these measures are also demonstrated.
Hematologic Reactions to Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors

The National Registry of Drug-Induced Ocular Side Effects has received 79 case reports of suspected hematopoietic toxicity caused by carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Twenty-six of these suspected cases (32%) resulted in death secondary to aplastic anemia, thrombocytopenia, or agranulocytosis. In 54 of these 79, adverse reactions (68%) occurred during the first six months of therapy. The National Registry of Drug-Induced Ocular Side Effects, Oregon Health Sciences University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Rd., Portland, OR 97201, welcomes reports of suspected carbonic anhydrase inhibitor-induced hemopoietic reactions.
Presence of free, sulfate and glucuronide conjugated 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) in human brain, cerebrospinal fluid and plasma

Abstract The concentration of the free, glucuronide and the sulfate conjugated forms of 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) were measured in human plasma, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain by mass fragmentography. All three forms of MHPG were detected in the media analyzed. Free MHPG was found to be the predominant form in both the brain and the CSF. The sulfate conjugate of MHPG constitutes about 15% of the total MHPG in the CSF while in the brain the percentage varies between 30% in the hypothalamus and cortex and 80% in the substantia nigra. The concentration of the glucuronide conjugate of MHPG measured in the brain and CSF represents about 5% of the total MHPG concentration. In the plasma free MHPG and its glucuronide and sulfate conjugates are present in about equal concentrations. The relative concentrations of the three forms of MHPG measured in plasma, CSF and brain were compared with their concentrations in the urine from previously published results 9 . From this comparison the diagnostic significance of each of the three forms of MHPG in the clinical assessment of central norepinephrine metabolism is discussed.
Diffusion of Diaspora Enfranchisement Norms A Multinational Study

States have increasingly granted voting rights to their citizens overseas. Traditional accounts of franchise extension suggest that governments’ motivations are either political (new voters are expected to support the incumbent government) or, in the case of citizens abroad, materialist (a fortified link to migrants encourages remittance flows). Although these factors doubtless matter, they overlook the tendency for liberal norms to diffuse through the international system, as competition with and learning from neighbors motivate the adoption of relevant policies and institutions. We use large-N cross-national hazard models to examine whether a similar pattern holds for diaspora enfranchisement and find that neighbors’ recent enactment of overseas voting nearly doubles the chance that a country will enfranchise its own diaspora. This suggests a role for international norms in determining national voting policies.
A network model and algorithm for the analysis and estimation of financial flow of funds

This paper presents a network model of financial flow of funds accounting which can be used to calculate reconciled values of all outstanding financial instruments, tangible assets, and net worth. The model captures the accounting identities which must hold and permits the estimation of sector holdings of both assets and liabilities, as well as total outstanding instrument volumes. A decomposition algorithm is then developed which resolves the network problem into simpler subproblems proach of which can then be solved exactly and in closed form. A theoretical analysis of the algorithm is also given. Finally, the algorithm is applied to a dataset derived from the Federal Reserve Board data for 1989. The balanced dataset can then be used as a baseline for an empirical general equilibrium model.
Pod Yield Response of Two Runner Peanut Cultivars to Seeding Rate and Irrigation1

Abstract Yield responses of two runner peanut cultivars, GK-7 and Southern Runner (SR), to reduced seeding rates and irrigation were evaluated in 1992 and 1993. The cultivars were planted in single...
Intrinsic cytosolic calcium buffering properties of single rat cardiac myocytes

Intracellular passive Ca2+, buffering was measured in voltage-clamped rat ventricular myocytes. Cells were loaded with indo-1 (K+ salt) to an estimated cytosolic concentration of 44 +/- 5 microM (Mean +/- SEM, n = 5), and accessible cell volume was estimated to be 24.5 +/- 3.6 pl. Ca2+ transport by the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca-ATPase and sarcolemmal Na-Ca exchange was inhibited by treatment with thapsigargin and Na-free solutions, respectively. Extracellular [Ca2+] was maintained at 10 mM and, in some experiments, the mitochondrial uncoupler "1799" was used to assess the degree of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. To perform single cell titrations, intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) was increased progressively by a train of depolarizing voltage clamp pulses from -40 to +10 mV. The total Ca2+ gain with each pulse was calculated by integration of the Ca current and then analyzed as a function of the rapid change in [Ca2+]i during the pulse. In the range of [Ca2+]i from 0.1 to 2 microM, overall cell buffering was well described as a single lumped Michaelis-Menten type species with an apparent dissociation constant, KD, of of 0.63 +/- 0.07 microM (n = 5) and a binding capacity, Bmax, of 162 +/- 15 mumol/l cell H2O. Correction for buffering attributable to cytosolic indo-1 gives intrinsic cytosolic Ca2+ buffering parameters of KD = 0.96 +/- 0.18 microM and Bmax = 123 +/- 18 mumol/l cell H2O. The fast Ca2+ buffering measured in this manner agrees reasonably with the characteristics of known rapid Ca buffers (e.g., troponin C, calmodulin, and SR Ca-ATPase), but is only about half of the total Ca2+ buffering measured at equilibrium. Inclusion of slow Ca buffers such as the Ca/Mg sites on troponin C and myosin can account for the differences between fast Ca2+ buffering in phase with the Ca current measured in the present experiments and equilibrium Ca2+ buffering. The present data indicate that a rapid rise of [Ca2+]i from 0.1 to 1 microM during a contraction requires approximately 50 microM Ca2+ to be added to the cytosol.
Power spectra observed in laser scattering from moving, polydisperse particle systems in flames—I. Theory

Abstract Theoretical expressions are derived for the photocurrent power spectra observed with laser scattering from moving, polydisperse particle systems. The analysis refers to self-beating of scattered radiation (to which we refer as the homodyne spectrum) and beating between the laser beams scattered in the same direction from two, equally-intense incident laser beams which arrive at symmetrical angles with respect to the scattering direction (to which we refer as an example of heterodyne spectroscopy or, more briefly, as the heterodyne spectrum). When we use a spherically-symmetric Gaussian distribution for the illumination intensity in the coherence volume (scattering region), we obtain a Voigt profile for the photocurrent power spectrum in the general case. We have used the theoretical relations derived for moving systems in order to estimate the maximum values of the particle diameters which are measurable for Stokes-Einstein diffusion when radiation is scattered from He-Ne or Ar-ion lasers.
Real-time PCR detection of Listeria monocytogenes in infant formula and lettuce following macrophage-based isolation and enrichment.

Aims To develop a rapid detection procedure for Listeria monocytogenes in infant formula and lettuce using a macrophage-based enrichment protocol and real-time PCR. Methods and Results A macrophage cell culture system was employed for the isolation and enrichment of L. monocytogenes from infant formula and lettuce for subsequent identification using real-time PCR. Macrophage monolayers were exposed to infant formula and lettuce contaminated with a serial dilution series of L. monocytogenes. As few as approx. 10 CFU ml−1 or g−1 of L. monocytogenes were detected in infant formula and lettuce after 16 h postinfection by real-time PCR. Internal positive PCR controls were utilized to eliminate the possibility of false-negative results. Co-inoculation with Listeria innocua did not reduce the L. monocytogenes detection sensitivity. Intracellular L. monocytogenes could also be isolated on Listeria selective media from infected macrophage lysates for subsequent confirmation. Conclusions The detection method is highly sensitive and specific for L. monocytogenes in infant formula and lettuce and establishes a rapid identification time of 20 and 48 h for presumptive and confirmatory identification, respectively. Significance and Impact of the Study The method is a promising alternative to many currently used q-PCR detection methods which employ traditional selective media for enrichment of contaminated food samples. Macrophage enrichment of L. monocytogenes eliminates PCR inhibitory food elements and contaminating food microflora which produce cleaner samples that increase the rapidity and sensitivity of detection.
Effects of Upgraded Child Restraint Law Designed to Increase Booster Seat Use in New York

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to examine the association between the New York State (NYS) upgraded child restraint law (UCRL) implemented in 2005 and the traffic injury rate among 4- to 6-year-old children in New York State. METHODS: A before/after comparison study of population-based, traffic injury rates for 4- to 6-year-old children, using 0- to 3-year-old children as a comparison group, was performed. The effects of UCRL on injury rates among 0- to 3-year-old and 4- to 6-year-old motor vehicle passengers were estimated by using monthly injury count data from the NYS Department of Motor Vehicles Accident Information System. RESULTS: Children 4 to 6 years of age experienced an 18% reduction in traffic injury rate (adjusted rate ratio [aRR]: 0.82 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.79–0.85]) after UCRL implementation, whereas the injury rate for children 0 to 3 years of age, who were not directly affected by the UCRL, did not change appreciably (aRR: 0.95 [95% CI: 0.90–0.99]). In Poisson regression analysis, the aRR for injury for 4- to 6-year-old children was 1.06 (95% CI: 0.92–1.22]) with adjustment for monthly child restraint use rates, which reveals that the significant reduction in the injury rate among 4- to 6-year-old children was mainly attributable to the 72% increase in the child restraint use rate after UCRL implementation (from 29% before UCRL implementation to 50% after implementation). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study comparing traffic injury rates for booster seat–aged children before and after implementation of the booster seat law in a single state.