cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Brain fiber tract plasticity in experimental spinal cord injury: Diffusion tensor imaging

Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and immunohistochemistry were performed in spinal cord injured rats to understand the basis for activation of multiple regions in the brain observed in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies. The measured fractional anisotropy (FA), a scalar measure of diffusion anisotropy, along the region encompassing corticospinal tracts (CST) indicates significant differences between control and injured groups in the 3 to 4 mm area posterior to bregma that correspond to internal capsule and cerebral peduncle. Additionally, DTI-based tractography in injured animals showed increased number of fibers that extend towards the cortex terminating in the regions that were activated in fMRI. Both the internal capsule and cerebral peduncle demonstrated an increase in GFAP-immunoreactivity compared to control animals. GAP-43 expression also indicates plasticity in the internal capsule. These studies suggest that the previously observed multiple regions of activation in spinal cord injury are, at least in part, due to the formation of new fibers.
Automated Optimization in high-performance liquid chromatography

Abstract The development and optimization of liquid chromatographic (l.c.) separations has traditionally required an ill-defined mix of experience, intuition and guesswork. Even today, as systematic optimization schemes for separation become available, many workers in chromatography remain dedicaetd to the trial-and-error approach. Chemometric principles are, however, being more frequently applied to all aspects of l.c., especially in the area of rational and automated separation optimization. In this review of automated optimization, the definition of the separation problem, the description of the attainment of a solution and the experimental methods for obtaining that solution are considered.
A Materials Science-Based Approach to Characterizing Fire Resistive Materials

While ASTM E119-07a is commonly employed to establish a fire rating for a fire resistive material (FRM)/steel assembly, the test method provides little quantitative information on either the thermophysical or adhesion properties of the FRM, beyond indicating that they are sufficient to achieve the measured rating. As part of the Building and Fire Research Laboratory (BFRL) Structural Performance Under Multi-hazards program, a materials science-based approach is being applied to develop new methodologies and test methods for characterizing these complex dynamic materials. These quantitative characterizations can then be used as inputs to thermal/mechanical performance models and also for obtaining a better understanding of how these materials perform their intended role and how they could be improved. Thermophysical properties that must be characterized as a function of temperature include density, heat capacity, thermal conductivity, and heats of reactions and phase changes. For example, for high temperature thermal conductivity, a new measurement technique based on the use of a slug calorimeter has been developed and standardized in the ASTM E37 Thermal Measurements committee. In addition to adequate thermophysical properties, adhesion properties are critical to ensure that the FRM continues to protect its substrate during a fire exposure. Research on developing new test methods for both laboratory and field evaluations of adhesion will be presented. Like thermal properties, adhesion has also been observed to be strongly influenced by exposure to elevated temperatures. Finally, capabilities developed at NIST to obtain quantitative descriptions of the three-dimensional microstructures of FRMs and relate them to thermal properties such as thermal conductivity will be demonstrated. Much of this research has been completed as part of the ongoing NIST/industry consortium on “Performance Assessment and Optimization of Fire Resistive Materials.”
Genome shuffling leads to rapid phenotypic improvement in bacteria

For millennia, selective breeding, on the basis of biparental mating, has led to the successful improvement of plants and animals to meet societal needs1. At a molecular level, DNA shuffling mimics, yet accelerates, evolutionary processes, and allows the breeding and improvement of individual genes and subgenomic DNA fragments. We describe here whole-genome shuffling; a process that combines the advantage of multi-parental crossing allowed by DNA shuffling with the recombination of entire genomes normally associated with conventional breeding. We show that recursive genomic recombination within a population of bacteria can efficiently generate combinatorial libraries of new strains. When applied to a population of phenotypically selected bacteria, many of these new strains show marked improvements in the selected phenotype. We demonstrate the use of this approach through the rapid improvement of tylosin production from Streptomyces fradiae. This approach has the potential to facilitate cell and metabolic engineering and provide a non-recombinant alternative to the rapid production of improved organisms.
Phase transitions in QCD as tunneling through singular barriers

Abstract We show that the phase transitions of QCD, chiral symmetry breaking and confinement, can be interpreted physically as tunneling through (infrared) singular barriers. The appearance of monopoles in QCD and the properties of massless fermions in a meron field are discussed in the context of this interpretation.
Experimental study of abrasion characteristics for critical sliding components for use in hydrokinetic devices

Hydrokinetic devices have lately reemerged as a promising solution for harnessing energy from renewable sources such as rivers, tidal currents, or artificial channels. This paper describes a customized test flume that is capable of conducting tribological related experiments on sliding components (bearing, shaft, and generator seals) commonly used in hydrokinetic devices. Often while deployed, wear on bearing, shaft, and seal assemblies introduces undesirable clearances between contacting surfaces, which potentially can affect the performance of hydrokinetic devices. In order to investigate wear occurring specifically in bearing-shaft assemblies under conditions similar to those expected in the field, a flume was developed. The flume has the ability to recreate the hydrodynamic, salinity, sedimentary, and mechanical loading similar to field deployment. The wear rate data collected after 60 h of clear-water tests on four different types of bearings is presented. In addition, an approach is described whereby the coefficient of friction occurring within the bearing assemblies is estimated as a function of applied load.
Depression in old age.

: We are increasingly becoming a society of older people. The most prevalent emotional disturbance in this group is depression. Its management is an urgent concern to professionals in the mental health field. A review is presented of the clinical management of depression in old age in the special out-patient setting of an Affective Disorders Clinic. Sociologic, psychologic, and biologic factors as they affect the aging process are discussed in the frame of a developmental approach to aging. Illustrative clinical material shows the value of this approach in the assessment and management of depression in the aged.
Piecewise polynomial expansions

Complete, orthonormal systems of piecewise polynomial functions are constructed from the Walshlike systems.
Domain-dependent modulation of PDGFRβ by ganglioside GM1

The regulation of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) is important in several cellular events, including proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Gangliosides are sialic acid-containing glycosphingolipids that can regulate RTK activity. The addition of ganglioside GM1 to the medium of Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts inhibits both platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of PDGF receptor β (PDGFRβ) and receptor-mediated endocytosis. However, GM1 did not affect PDGF-mediated receptor phosphorylation, neuritogenesis, or endocytosis in PC12 cells stably transfected with the gene for PDGFRβ. The ability of GM1 to modulate PDGFRβ in 3T3 cells but not in transfected PC12 cells indicates a cell context-dependent response. We hypothesized that this inhibition of PDGFRβ by GM1 must map to one or more domains of the receptor. Thus, a chimeric receptor was created that possessed the extracellular and transmembrane domains of the nerve growth factor (NGF) receptor TrkA and the cytoplasmic domain of PDGFRβ (TTβ). In 3T3 cells transfected with the TTβ construct, GM1 did not inhibit NGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the chimeric receptor or of Erk1/2 in this cell line. GM1 still inhibited PDGF-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of endogenous PDGFRβ and of Erk1/2 in Swiss TTβ cells. Thus, the cytoplasmic domain of PDGFRβ is not required for GM1-dependent inhibition of PDGFRβ in 3T3 cells. This suggests that the inhibition of PDGFRβ by GM1 in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts maps to either the extracellular and/or transmembrane domain of PDGFRβ.
Fetoplacental transport and utilization of amino acids in IUGR — a review

Amino acids have multiple functions in fetoplacental development. The supply of amino acids to the fetus involves active transport across and metabolism within the trophoblast. Transport occurs through various amino acid transport systems located on both the maternal and fetal facing membranes, many of which have now been documented to be present in rat, sheep and human placentas. The capacity of the placenta to supply amino acids to the fetus develops during pregnancy through alterations in such factors as surface area and specific time-dependent transport system expression. In intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), placental surface area and amino acid uptakes are decreased in human and experimental animal models. In an ovine model of IUGR, produced by hyperthermia-induced placental insufficiency (PI-IUGR), umbilical oxygen and essential amino acid uptake rates are significantly reduced in the most severe cases in concert with decreased fetal growth. These changes indicate that severe IUGR is likely associated with a shift in amino acid transport capacity and metabolic pathways within the fetoplacental unit. After transport across the trophoblast in normal conditions, amino acids are actively incorporated into tissue proteins or oxidized. In the sheep IUGR fetus, however, which is hypoxic, hypoglycemic and hypoinsulinemic, there appear to be net effluxes of amino acids from the liver and skeletal muscle, suggesting changes in amino acid metabolism. Potential changes may be occurring in the insulin/IGF-I signaling pathway that includes decreased production and/or activation of specific signaling proteins leading to a reduced protein synthesis in fetal tissues. Such observations in the placental insufficiency model of IUGR indicate that the combination of decreased fetoplacental amino acid uptake and disrupted insulin/IGF signaling in liver and muscle account for decreased fetal growth in IUGR.
Demographic similarity to the work group: A longitudinal study of managers at the early career stage

A sample of 141 Canadian business school graduates responded to questionnaires at 3, 9 and 14 months after beginning full-time jobs. Their job experiences including challenge, work group fit, supervisor support, and mentorship were measured along with organizational commitment, turnover, and promotion. There was little evidence of treatment discrimination against the female and minority members of the sample. However, dissimilarity to one's work group in terms of age, education, and lifestyle meant lower job challenge and poorer work group fit. In contrast, being dissimilar in terms of gender meant greater challenge, and, if the manager was male, greater likelihood of promotion. Being dissimilar in terms of culture was not associated with any of the job experiences. Relationships between the early experiences and organizational commitment were strongest for those who were most dissimilar in terms of gender, whereas relationships between the experiences and turnover were strongest for those who were most dissimilar in terms of age, education, and lifestyle.
Trying to remodel the children and youth service system: Observations about barriers and opportunities

From their perspective as participant observers, the authors discuss the initial phase of an attempt to remodel the child/family mental health service delivery system. Conceptualizing families as being at varying levels of risk for dismemberment is seen as: (a) providing a politically viable terminology, (b) permitting each agency to develop a continuum of services tailored to its mandate and clientele, and (c) facilitating legislative efforts to analyze simultaneously the budgets of all those state agencies with major responsibilities for children's services. A planning team endorsed cooperative planning between a state-level coordinating council and individual locales. Cultural communities were invited to participate in a manner paralleling the planning role of local communities. A model for a free standing case management entity is proposed. The concept of empowerment is discussed as a criterion for multi-level outcome evaluation. Language: en
Rapid estimation of 4DCT motion-artifact severity based on 1D breathing-surrogate periodicity

Purpose: Motion artifacts are common in patient four-dimensional computed tomography (4DCT) images, leading to an ill-defined tumor volume with large variations for radiotherapy treatment and a poor foundation with low imaging fidelity for studying respiratory motion. The authors developed a method to estimate 4DCT image quality by establishing a correlation between the severity of motion artifacts in 4DCT images and the periodicity of the corresponding 1D respiratory waveform (1DRW) used for phase binning in 4DCT reconstruction. Methods: Discrete Fourier transformation (DFT) was applied to analyze 1DRW periodicity. The breathing periodicity index (BPI) was defined as the sum of the largest five Fourier coefficients, ranging from 0 to 1. Distortional motion artifacts (excluding blurring) of cine-scan 4DCT at the junctions of adjacent couch positions around the diaphragm were classified in three categories: incomplete, overlapping, and duplicate anatomies. To quantify these artifacts, discontinuity of the diaphragm at the junctions was measured in distance and averaged along six directions in three orthogonal views. Artifacts per junction (APJ) across the entire diaphragm were calculated in each breathing phase and phase-averaged , defined as motion-artifact severity (MAS), was obtained for each patient. To make MAS independent of patient-specific motion amplitude, two new MAS quantities were defined: MAS D is normalized to the maximum diaphragmatic displacement and MAS V is normalized to the mean diaphragmatic velocity (the breathing period was obtained from DFT analysis of 1DRW). Twenty-six patients’ free-breathing 4DCT images and corresponding 1DRW data were studied. APJ ¯ Results: Higher APJ values were found around midventilation and full inhalation while the lowest APJ values were around full exhalation. The distribution of MAS is close to Poisson distribution with a mean of 2.2 mm. The BPI among the 26 patients was calculated with a value ranging from 0.25 to 0.93. The DFT calculation was within 3 s per 1DRW. Correlations were found between 1DRW periodicity and 4DCT artifact severity: −0.71 for MAS D and −0.73 for MAS V . A BPI greater than 0.85 in a 1DRW suggests minimal motion artifacts in the corresponding 4DCT images. Conclusions: The breathing periodicity index and motion-artifact severity index are introduced to assess the relationship between 1DRW and 4DCT. A correlation between 1DRW periodicity and 4DCT artifact severity has been established. The 1DRW periodicity provides a rapid means to estimate 4DCT image quality. The rapid 1DRW analysis and the correlative relationship can be applied prospectively to identify irregular breathers as candidates for breath coaching prior to 4DCT scan and retrospectively to select high-quality 4DCT images for clinical motion-management research.
Demographic Characteristics and Estimated Prevalence of Fontan-Associated Plastic Bronchitis

Plastic bronchitis (PB) is a poorly understood disease that can complicate any underlying pulmonary disease. However, it appears to most often occur in patients with surgically palliated congenital heart disease, particularly after the Fontan procedure. Few data exist about the prevalence and etiology of PB in this population. In an effort to establish data about prevalence, we conducted a retrospective study of an existing Fontan surgery database (n = 654) comprised of data, including sex, age at date of surgery, alive/dead status, New York Heart Association classification at last follow-up, right-ventricular end-diastolic pressure and pulmonary artery pressure before Fontan surgery, and the presence of a Fontan fenestration. An initial medical record review of 173 patients in the database who were followed at the University of Michigan identified seven patients with PB resulting in an estimated prevalence of 4 %. Subsequently, 14 % of 211 surveyed patients reported that they presently expectorate mucus or fibrin plugs (casts). Demographic and clinical variables did not differ between patients with or without possible PB. Collectively, these findings suggest that Fontan patients presently with PB may range from 4 to 14 %, indicating potential under-diagnosis of the disease. There were no remarkable physical or hemodynamic indicators that differentiated patients with or without possible PB. These data also highlight the need for more elaborate, prospective studies to improve our understanding of PB pathogenesis so that more definitive diagnostic criteria for this devastating disease can be established and its prevalence more accurately determined.
The Smith ‘heat’: Alfred E. Smith and the “catholic” issue

This essay explores Alfred E. Smith's 1928 apologetic address delivered in response to arguments that a Catholic should not be president. This analysis indicates that Smith's speech failed for three reasons: 1) a lack of audience identification, 2) a failure to create an apologetic interface with the charges made, and 3) an over reliance on kategoria as an apologetic means. Smith's failure is useful to further understanding of John F. Kennedy's success in 1960 on the same issue.
Augmented Renal Clearance of Vancomycin and Levetiracetam in a Traumatic Brain Injury Patient

Background Increased creatinine clearance and subsequent elevated antimicrobial clearance is evident in many traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients due to augmented renal clearance (ARC). Little is known about the effects of ARC on other renally-eliminated medications, such as the anti-epileptic drug levetiracetam.
Electron stimulated desorption of Xe, Kr, and Ar

Abstract Electron stimulated desorption cross sections have been measured for Xe, Kr, and Ar overlayers on the Ag(111) surface. The Xe cross section is less than 10 −4 A 2 ; the Kr cross section is strongly temperature dependent, rising from 0.1 A 2 at 10 K to 0.18 A 2 at 50 K; the Ar cross section is 4 A 2 and temperature independent. These results are rationalized using a model of the stimulated desorption similar to that proposed by Antoniewicz [Phys. Rev. B21 (1980) 3811], in which an atom is ionized by the incident beam, accelerates towards its image and is neutralized, desorbing only if the kinetic energy gained is greater than the neutral atom binding energy at the neutralization position. Fitting these data requires an exceedingly rapid dependence of the neutralization on distance for these slow ions. Rather than the effect of the mass on the ion velocity, the most important effect in determining the diverse behavior of the different gases is that the equilibrium position for the heavier gases is farther up the overlap repulsive potential and so in a region of more rapid neutralization. The model identifies several contributions to the isotope effect, predicting it to be temperature dependent. The results are extremely sensitive to the anharmonicity of the holding potential.
Psychophysical and saccadic information about direction for briefly presented visual targets

Abstract For saccades, the difference between desired and actual eye movement (constant error), as well as the variability in amplitude on repeated trials (variable error), presumably represent a combination of errors in processing target position (sensory error) and errors in execution (motor error). To examine whether the saccadic system uses the same information about target position as visual perception, subjects made saccades to and psychophysical judgments about the location of targets presented for 17–200 msec. Mean saccadic amplitude markedly decreased and inter-trial variability increased when saccadic targets were presented briefly and followed by a spatial mask. Judged target position (from psychophysical vernier and bisection tasks) also shifted to lesser eccentricities and was more variable. Although qualitatively alike, changes with duration in saccadic constant errors were larger than could be accounted for by the psychophysical results, suggesting similar but separate processing of position information for the saccadic and perceptual systems. Differences in the sizes of collicular receptive fields that preferentially respond to targets at short and long durations can account qualitatively for the observed changes in saccadic amplitude as well as the common occurrence of saccadic undershoots.
Compressive loading on bone surfaces from muscular contraction: an in vivo study in the miniature pig, Sus scrofa.

Several authors have speculated that muscles contracting adjacent to bony surfaces may cause compressive loads against the bone and thus influence skull development. This study was undertaken to evaluate the premise of this argument. A flat, semiconductor pressure transducer was surgically placed on bony surfaces beneath muscle attachments. Pressures were recorded during normal mastication (n = 7) and while overlying muscles were stimulated in anesthetized pigs (n = 15). The transducer was highly specific; no pressure was recorded in quiescent or passively stretched muscles or when other muscles were stimulated. Contraction of the overlying muscles exerted high normal loads on the bone, always exceeding systolic blood pressure (16 kPa). Temporal fossa pressure during mastication followed temporalis electromyographic (EMG) signals with a lag period approximating the twitch contraction time. When three different sites were compared in anesthetized animals, compressive load was highest on the temporal fossa (111.4 ± 56.5 kPa, n = 15), intermediate on the mandibular angle (58.4 ± 28.3 kPa, n = 4), and lowest on the medial side of the zygomatic arch (37.2 ± 19.7 kPa, n = 15). Pressure amplitudes were not related to body size or relative muscle size. Muscle complexity and compartmental constraints did appear to influence pressure. Disruption of the external aponeurosis of the masseter decreased pressure on the mandibular angle by 45%, confirming the importance of tendinous constraint in determining pressure production. Thus, contracting muscles exert substantial but site-specific compressive loads on adjacent bone surfaces. J. Morphol. 238:71–80, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effect of oxygen and pentachlorophenol on the induction lag of photosynthesis in Chlamydomonas reinhardi

Abstract Following dark anaerobic incubation Chlamydomonas reinhardi exhibit a pronounced induction lag in photosynthesis; in contrast, dark aerobic incubation caused only a minimal induction lag. Addition of a low concentration of the uncoupler, pentachlorophenol (PCP), to respiring cells in darkness extended the induction period. Far red light preillumination partially overcame the induction lag resulting from dark anaerobic treatment or uncoupling with PCP in aerobic medium. The induction lag in photosynthesis is explained in terms of intracellular energy reserve and its effects on the level of phosphorylated intermediates of the Calvin cycle e.g., RuDP, in the dark. Further, evidence is presented which demonstrates that: (a) PCP, at concentrations below 10 μ m , preferentially uncouples oxidative phosphorylation in vivo and (b) photophosphorylation, both in in vivo and in vitro , is much more resistant.
Improving traditional intention-to-treat analyses: a new approach.

Background. Drop-out, often accompanied by treatment non-compliance, is common in psychiatric trials. Methodologists have criticized the use of a traditional intention-to-treat (ITT) approach in such cases, and have proposed alternative methods. We set out to describe and assess methods for estimation of a treatment effect when the trial is ‘broken’. Method. We describe a stratified method of moments (SMOM) estimator that assesses treatment effects on subjects who are willing to comply with all the treatments under study. A simulation study and a re-analysis of data from an antipsychotics trial are used to compare SMOM to ITT, as-treated, and adequate estimators. Results. The new estimator retains good statistical properties under different levels of non-compliance and drop-out mechanisms. The re-analysis indicates that SMOM yields more precise results. Conclusions. Although the traditional ITT approach provides a valid method to estimate treatment effects, it can be biased in the presence of treatment non-compliance and drop-out. It is critical that researchers move beyond traditional approaches when trials are broken. A key first step is to consider non-compliance and drop-out as two independent phenomena, tracking and reporting rates separately.
Alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in Leishmania tarentolae.

SYNOPSIS. Culture stages (promastigotes) of Leishmania tarentolae were tested for alanine aminotransferase (E.C.2.6.1.2) and aspartate aminotransferase (E.C.2.6.1.1.). Neither enzyme was detected in crude cell extracts. After starch block electrophoresis, however, both transaminase activities were found in proteins migrating toward the anode. Only one species of each enzyme was found. Using coupled enzyme assay systems, the following physical and kinetic properties were seen: 1) aspartate aminotransferase was inhibited by α-ketoglutarate concentrations above 1.68 × 10−2 M and alanine aminotransferase was inhibited by concentrations higher than 1.34 × 10−2 M; 2) the Michaelis constant (Km[α-ketoglutarate]) was 5.4 × 10−4 M for aspartate aminotransferase and 3.0 × 10−4 M for alanine aminotransferase; 3) maximum activity was found at ˜pH 8.5 (broad range between pH 7.75–9.0) for aspartate aminotransferase whereas maximum activity for alanine aminotransferase was ˜pH 7.2 (range between pH 7.0–7.5); 4) both enzymes lost half of their activity after 4 days at 8 C; 5) aspartate aminotransferase was most active at 35 C and completely inactivated at 59.5 C, alanine aminotransferase exhibited maximum activity at 29.5 C and was completely inactivated at 61 C; and 6) neither enzyme showed enhanced activity with added pyridoxal phosphate.
Cytochalasin D-induced increase in actin synthesis and content in a variety of cell types.

Abstract Treatment of a variety of mesenchymal cells (normal and transformed rat fibroblasts, bovine aortic endothelial cells, rabbit smooth muscle cells), exhibiting different cytoskeletal organizations and derived from several species, with doses of cytochalasin D (CD, 2–6 μM for 20 h) sufficient to induce cytoskeletal rearrangement and altered cellular morphology results in an increase in the relative content and rate of synthesis of actin. These data extend our previous findings for HEp-2 cells to other cell types and provide further evidence for our hypothesis that the CD-induced cytoskeletal reorganization triggers stimulation of actin synthesis and the resulting increase in actin content.
Wind Measurement and Archival under the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS): User Concerns and Opportunity for Improvement

The National Weather Service, as a part of its modernization effort, is implementing the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS). Much discussion has occurred about various aspects of ASOS versus the current system of manual and automated observations. Based upon a study of the ASOS specifications and an informal survey of potential ASOS wind data users, defects of the wind sampling and archival strategy chosen for ASOS are discussed in terms of their impact on various user groups. Limitations include: (1) hourly observation average periods that do not conform to international recommendations for wind reporting made by the World Meteorological Organization, (2) no regular archival of high-resolution data-potentially valuable research data are destroyed if not identified within a 12-h period, and (3) no emergency power for operation in severe weather conditions. An alternative sampling and archiving strategy is recommended that benefits a wider cross section of users, without detracting from aviation and forecast service requirements, at a cost of less than 1 % of the original ASOS portion of the weather service modernization budget.
Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial of pirenzepine in patients with gastroesophageal reflux.

A muscarinic receptor subtype 1 (M1) antagonist, pirenzepine, recently has been shown to be relatively free of the usual anticholinergic side effects on esophageal smooth muscle and thus has been implicated for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, the effect of pirenzepine on GERD remains to be defined. Thirteen patients who demonstrated GERD in a baseline 24-hr ambulatory intraesophageal pH monitoring study were randomized in a double-blind crossover fashion to receive pirenzepine and placebo. An ambulatory 24-hr intraesophageal pH monitor was used to assess reduction in reflux (esophageal pH 5 min. A significant effect for pirenzepine was seen for episodes >5 min (t=2.61, P=0.023) and a trend towards significance was seen for total (upright and supine positions combined) percent time of reflux (t=2.13, P=0.055). Although not statistically significant, pirenzepine consistently showed greater reduction in all parameters of reflux tested. A greater reduction in percent time of reflux in supine vs upright positions (pirenzepine: 58.9% vs 21.4%; placebo: 43.6% vs 7.3%) may be clinically important in prevention of esophageal injury due to reflux in the recumbent position. Pirenzepine may provide a unique alternative for some GERD patients who may be refractory to other therapies of GERD.
Performance Comparison Between a Head-Worn Display System and a Head-Up Display for Low Visibility Commercial Operations

Research, development, test, and evaluation of flight deck interface technologies is being conducted by NASA to proactively identify, develop, and mature tools, methods, and technologies for improving overall aircraft safety of new and legacy vehicles operating in Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). Under the Vehicle Systems Safety Technologies (VSST) project in the Aviation Safety Program, one specific area of research is the use of small Head-Worn Displays (HWDs) as an equivalent display to a Head-Up Display (HUD). Title 14 of the US Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 91.175 describes a possible operational credit which can be obtained with airplane equipage of a HUD or an "equivalent" display combined with Enhanced Vision (EV). If successful, a HWD may provide the same safety and operational benefits as current HUD-equipped aircraft but for significantly more aircraft in which HUD installation is neither practical nor possible. A simulation experiment was conducted to evaluate if the HWD, coupled with a head-tracker, can provide an equivalent display to a HUD. Comparative testing was performed in the Research Flight Deck (RFD) Cockpit Motion Facility (CMF) full mission, motion-based simulator at NASA Langley. Twelve airline crews conducted approach and landing, taxi, and departure operations during low visibility operations (1000' Runway Visual Range (RVR), 300' RVR) at Memphis International Airport (Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) identifier: KMEM). The results showed that there were no statistical differences in the crews performance in terms of touchdown and takeoff. Further, there were no statistical differences between the HUD and HWD in pilots' responses to questionnaires.
Supporting crisis response with dynamic procedure aids

Checklist usage can increase performance in complex, high-risk domains. While paper checklists are valuable, they are static, slow to access, and show both too much and too little information. We introduce Dynamic Procedure Aids to address four key problems in checklist usage: ready access to aids, rapid assimilation of content, professional acceptance, and limited attention. To understand their efficacy for crisis response, we created the dpAid software system. Its design arose through a multi-year participation in medical crisis response training featuring realistic team simulations. A study comparing Dynamic Procedure Aids, paper, and no aid, found that participants with Dynamic Procedure Aids performed significantly better than with paper or no aid. This study introduces the narrative simulation paradigm for comparatively assessing expert procedural performance through a score-and-correct approach.
Scientific Instruments in Space Exploration

The path is a long one between the conception of a scientific instrument for space exploration and the goal of obtaining scientific measurements from space, from the moon, or from the atmosphere or the surface of a planet. These instruments must be designed to meet the scientific objectives under adverse environmental conditions and within the constraints of a complex spacecraft system. The limitations of weight, power, telemetry, integnation, and reliability must be assessed and appropriately dealt with in the design, development, fabrication, testing, and calibration of the instrument. The instrument must operate satisfactorily in a vacuum-thermal environment for long periods after having been subjected to extreme shock and vibration during the launch amd injection sequences. To successfully fly a scientific instrument in space is an achievement involving a considerable number of man-years and dollars. Such an effort and expenditure of funds must be properly compensated through the attainment of scientific information. If billions of dollars are to be expended on the exploration of interplanetary space and of the moon and the planets, every possible effort must be made to see that this money is profitably spent. (auth)
Kinship and network: A cognitive model of interaction

Abstract This research utilizes aspects of informants' cognition of their kinship relations to generate a hypothetical model of mobilizations of kinsmen for the accomplishment of tasks. Informants produced rankings of the relative strengths of expected norm fulfillment with respect to various kinsmen. These rankings were then scaled. The correlations among the resulting scales were factor analyzed to reveal clusters of kinsmen. These clusters reflect general levels of normative expectation of the kinsmen and, thus, their relative likelihood of recruitment in mobilizations.
Regulation of body volume by the peripheral nervous system of the terrestrial slug Ariolimax columbianus

Responses to mechanical and chemical stimulation have been studied in an in vitro preparation of the body wall of the land slug Ariolimax columbianus. This preparation (posterior chamber, PC) is separated from the head ganglia and therefore has only peripheral nervous control. The volume contained within the PC (normally filled with viscera and hemolymph) is determined by 1) contraction or relaxation of muscle cells, causing exchange of fluid between the PC and the attached manometer that controls pressure within the PC; 2) secretion by epithelial channel cells moving fluid from inside the PC to the outside across the epithelial surface. The PC maintained at constant internal pressure responded to mechanical stimulation (at ca. 1 Hz) of the epithelium with a brief burst of secretion. Prolonged (45 minutes) stretch of the body wall by maintenance at 11 torr or above resulted in intermittent pulses of secretion and muscle contraction. At very high pressure muscle contraction was suppressed, and secretion volumes were huge, gradually restoring the volume of the PC to its initial value (autoregulation). When PCs were immersed in fluid containing garlic extract, skin receptors responded, initiating secretion comparable to the effects of mechanical stimulation in both amount and duration. Other chemicals (including capsaicine, cysteic acid, and geraniol) known to be aversive to pulmonates in vivo did not activate the secretory response.
A Market Efficiency Study of Used Car Reliability and Prices

This study explores the relationship between price and reliability in the used car market. Some of the measurement concerns, expressed by others in price-quality studies of new products, are absent because of the choice of the secondary data sources from which the relationships were derived. The finding that depreciation is independent of reliability performance raises a number of public policy issues regarding the information efficiency of the used car market.
An approximate analysis of a cyclic server queue with limited service and reservations

In this paper, we examine a queueing problem motivated by the pipeline polling protocol in satellite communications. The model is an extension of the cyclic queueing system withM-limited service. In this service mechanism, each queue, after receiving service on cyclej, makes a reservation for its service requirement in cyclej + 1. The main contribution to queueing theory is that we propose an approximation for the queue length and sojourn-time distributions for this discipline. Most approximate studies on cyclic queues, which have been considered before, examine the means only. Our method is an iterative one, which we prove to be convergent by using stochastic dominance arguments. We examine the performance of our algorithm by comparing it to simulations and show that the results are very good.
Long-term efficacy of leptin replacement in patients with Dunnigan-type familial partial lipodystrophy

The Dunnigan-type familial partial lipodystrophy (FPLD) is characterized by a variable loss of fat from the extremities and trunk and excess subcutaneous fat in the chin and supraclavicular area. Associated metabolic abnormalities include hypoleptinemia, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia. Our goal was to observe changes in metabolic parameters for patients with FPLD on long-term leptin replacement and to compare the metabolic characteristics seen in FPLD with those seen in generalized lipodystrophy (GL) from our previous studies. This was an open-label study of 6 patients with FPLD receiving maximal doses of oral antidiabetic and lipid-lowering medications at baseline. Recombinant leptin was given through twice-daily subcutaneous injections at a maximal dose of 0.08 mg/kg per day over 12 months to simulate normal to high normal physiologic levels. Triglycerides were reduced by 65% at 4 months (749 ± 331 to 260 ± 58 mg/dL) and significantly reduced at 12 months for 5 patients (433 ± 125 to 247 ± 69 mg/dL; P = .03). Total cholesterol also decreased (280 ± 49 to 231 ± 41 mg/dL; P = .01). Insulin sensitivity and fasting glucose levels (190 ± 26 to 151 ± 15 mg/dL; P < .01) improved. Glucose tolerance and glycosylated hemoglobin levels (8.4% ± 0.6% to 8.0% ± 0.4%; P = .07) did not change. As shown in patients with GL, patients with FPLD have improvement in triglycerides, fasting glucose, and insulin sensitivity with leptin replacement. In contrast to the patients with GL, the patients with FPLD are older, have higher leptin levels, and notably lower insulin secretion for a similar degree of hyperglycemia. Low-dose recombinant methionyl human leptin for patients with FPLD has an important role in improving triglycerides, beyond that of available lipid-lowering agents. In improving glycemic control, normalization of glucose tolerance in hypoinsulinemic patients with FPLD requires insulin and leptin therapy. This is the first study to examine the effects of long-term leptin replacement in patients with FPLD.
Anticoccidial Action of Monensin in Turkey Poults

Abstract Monensin was effective within the range 60–100 p.p.m. in control of coccidiosis in turkey poults in a series of laboratory experiments. Under conditions of heavy infections with Eimeria meleagrimitis and E. adenoides, 100 p.p.m. of monesin was significantly more effective than 60 p.p.m. in protecting weight gains. When light or moderate infections with E. meleagrimitis, E. adenoides and E. gallopavonis were used, there were no signficant differences among monesin-medicated treatments. In all instances the monensin-medicated treatments gained significantly more weight than noninfected, nonmedicated controls, when measured at 7 days post-inoculation. Similarly, oocyst passage was reduced, feed conversion was protected and mortality was controlled in monensin-treated poults.
Decentered Gaussian beams

A generalization of the Gaussian beam is obtained by introducing a complex-valued shift in the transverse dimension. The resulting beam has a Gaussian intensity distribution with width varying as an ordinary Gaussian beam, but whose peak traces an inclined linear trajectory. The wave fronts are displaced laterally in a sheared fashion. This generalized beam preserves its form after passing through arbitrary paraxial optical components, even if they are decentered. The peak-intensity line is modified by such systems as if it were a ray.
TSV Stress Testing and Modeling for 3D IC Applications

The stress investigation on through-silicon vias (TSVs) is important for 3D IC development. This work summarizes the stress measurement and modeling results for TSVs based on the use of micro-Raman Spectroscopy, which can be used to determine the material, process and design of TSVs. More importantly, this study can provide an important guideline for the reliability analysis of the TSV-based 3D IC.
Extended fractal analysis for texture classification and segmentation

The Hurst parameter for two-dimensional (2-D) fractional Brownian motion (fBm) provides a single number that completely characterizes isotropic textured surfaces whose roughness is scale-invariant. Extended self-similar (ESS) processes were previously introduced in order to provide a generalization of fBm. These new processes are described by a number of multiscale Hurst parameters. In contrast to the single Hurst parameter, the extended parameters are able to characterize a greater variety of natural textures where the roughness of these textures is not necessarily scale-invariant. In this work, we evaluate the effectiveness of multiscale Hurst parameters as features for texture classification and segmentation. For texture classification, the performance of the generalized Hurst features is compared to traditional Hurst and Gabor features. Our experiments show that classification accuracy for the generalized Hurst and Gabor features are comparable even though the generalized Hurst features lower the dimensionality by a factor of five. Next, the segmentation accuracy using generalized and standard Hurst features is evaluated on images of texture mosaics. For these experiments, the performance is evaluated with and without supplemental contrast and average grayscale features. Finally, we investigate the effectiveness of the Hurst features to segment real synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery.
The weathering of oil after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill: insights from the chemical composition of the oil from the sea surface, salt marshes and sediments

The oil released during the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill may have both short- and long-time impacts on the northern Gulf of Mexico ecosystems. An understanding of how the composition and concentration of the oil are altered by weathering, including chemical, physical and biological processes, is needed to evaluate the oil toxicity and impact on the ecosystem in the northern Gulf of Mexico. This study examined petroleum hydrocarbons in oil mousse collected from the sea surface and salt marshes, and in oil deposited in sediments adjacent to the wellhead after the DWH oil spill. Oil mousses were collected at two stations (OSS and CT, located 130 and 85 km away from the wellhead, respectively) in May 2010, and two sediment samples from stations SG and SC, within 6 km of the wellhead, in May 2011. We also collected oil mousse from salt marshes at Marsh Point (MP), Mississippi, 186 km away from the wellhead in July 2010. In these samples, n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), alkylated PAHs, BTEX (collective name of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and p-, m-, and o-xylenes), C3-benzenes and trace metals were measured to examine how the oil was altered chemically. The chemical analysis indicates that the oil mousses underwent different degrees of weathering with the pattern of OSS < CT < MP. This pattern is consistent with the projected oil mousse movement from the accident site to salt marshes. Also, the contents of trace metals Al, V, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Co, Cu, As and Pb in the oil mousse generally increased along the way to the salt marshes, indicating that these trace metals were perhaps aggregated into the oil mousse during the transport. Petroleum hydrocarbon data reveal that the oil deposited in sediments underwent only light to moderate degradation one year after the DWH oil spill, as supported by the presence of short-chained n-alkanes (C10–C 15), BTEX and C 3-benzenes. The weathering of oil in sediment may result from biological degradation and dissolution, evidenced by the preferential loss of mid-chained n-alkanes C16–C 27, lower ratios of n-C 17/Pr and n-C 18/Ph , and preferential loss of PAHs relative to alkylated PAHs.
Habituation of the Blink Reflex in Normals and Schizophrenic Patients

The present study demonstrates an impairment of habituation in schizophrenic patients on a measure of defensive responding to startling stimuli. The blink reflex component of human startle in response to 116dB(A) tones (40 msec, 1000 Hz) was monitored and distinguished from voluntary eyeblinks by a computer. With a background noise level of 70dB(A), 121 tones were given at varied intervals averaging 15 sec. All three groups tested, 25 presumed normals, 20 psychiatric patient controls and 22 schizophrenic patients, exhibited similar responses to the first several stimuli. However, while normals and patient controls exhibited roughly 70% decrements in response amplitudes across trials, schizophrenic patients habituated by less than 50%. An unexpected finding was that the latency-to-peak values for normals and controls were non-monotonically related to both trial number and response amplitudes. That is, latencies first increased and then decreased as the same stimulus was repeated. As with amplitude habituation, this phenomenon was also delayed in the schizophrenic patients. The results indicate that schizophrenic patients have abnormal habituation of defensive responses to exteroceptive stimuli. Possible links between abnormal habituation and symptom formation in schizophrenia are discussed.