cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A dynamic discretization method for reliability inference in Dynamic Bayesian Networks

Abstract The material and modeling parameters that drive structural reliability analysis for marine structures are subject to a significant uncertainty. This is especially true when time-dependent degradation mechanisms such as structural fatigue cracking are considered. Through inspection and monitoring, information such as crack location and size can be obtained to improve these parameters and the corresponding reliability estimates. Dynamic Bayesian Networks (DBNs) are a powerful and flexible tool to model dynamic system behavior and update reliability and uncertainty analysis with life cycle data for problems such as fatigue cracking. However, a central challenge in using DBNs is the need to discretize certain types of continuous random variables to perform network inference while still accurately tracking low-probability failure events. Most existing discretization methods focus on getting the overall shape of the distribution correct, with less emphasis on the tail region. Therefore, a novel scheme is presented specifically to estimate the likelihood of low-probability failure events. The scheme is an iterative algorithm which dynamically partitions the discretization intervals at each iteration. Through applications to two stochastic crack-growth example problems, the algorithm is shown to be robust and accurate. Comparisons are presented between the proposed approach and existing methods for the discretization problem.
Host factors dictate control of viral replication in two HIV-1 controller/chronic progressor transmission pairs

Viremic controllers and elite controllers/suppressors maintain control over HIV-1 replication. Some studies have suggested that control is a result of infection with a defective viral strain, while others suggested host immune factors have a key role. Here we document two HIV-1 transmission pairs: one consisting of a patient with progressive disease and an individual who became an elite suppressor, and the second consisting of a patient with progressive disease and a viremic controller. In contrast to another elite suppressor transmission pair, virus isolated from all patients was fully competent. These data suggest that some viremic controllers and elite suppressors are infected with HIV-1 isolates that replicate vigorously in vitro and are able to cause progressive disease in vivo. These data suggest that host factors have a dominant role in the control of HIV-1 infection, thus it may be possible to control fully pathogenic HIV-1 isolates with therapeutic vaccination.
Non-Destructive Screening for Thermal Second Breakdown

The feasibility of developing nondestructive screening techniques to determine the second breakdown vulnerability of semiconductor devices at submicrosecond pulse conditions has been demonstrated. In addition, it has been shownl that second breakdown can be nondestructively initiated under certain current limiting conditions without causing degradation in device operating characteristics or device second breakdown vulnerability level to subsequent pulses of electrical energy. A low energy current impulse damage mechanism at second breakdown initiation has also been observed. The experimental investigations were performed using 1N4148 diodes fabricated with various junction areas and a fixed diffusion depth. The complete results of this work are documented in Reference 1.
Anatomy and biomechanics of the forearm interosseous membrane.

Purpose To examine the anatomy and function of the forearm interosseous membrane by exploring the anatomical insertions of the central band (CB) on the radius and the ulna and by quantifying the length of the intact ligament and replacement grafts located at the original CB attachment sites and alternative locations. Methods Eight fresh cadaver forearms were supinated and pronated and the wrist was extended and flexed while the motion between the distal radius and ulna were recorded. The length of the CB was computed for the intact CB as well for several alternative graft orientations and positions. Results The maximum length of the CB did not significantly change among different wrist motions. However, with the wrist in a static neutral position, the CB length was significantly shorter in forearm supination than in neutral. During active forearm rotation when CB replacement grafts were positioned distal or proximal to the original CB site, yet still parallel to it, each had a similar trend to be longer in neutral than in supination. If a graft was more transversely oriented, the computed CB length would be 1.6 mm shorter in supination than in neutral. Conclusions These results support tensioning a CB graft with the forearm in supination if the goal is to maximize graft tension and to maintain the native 22° angle for a CB graft between the radius and ulna. The results also suggest that the CB graft can probably be located slightly distal or slightly proximal to its original attachment sites. Clinical relevance Reconstruction of the interosseous membrane has been hampered by a lack of understanding of its length changes with forearm or wrist motion. These results provide a starting point in helping clinicians understand how to more precisely reconstruct this ligament in an anatomical manner.
USE OF NONVERBAL TESTS TO SCREEN FOR WRITING DYSFLUENCY IN SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN

Writing fluency, the ability to write rapidly and easily, is critical for the timely completion of written assignments in the classroom. Children who possess basic writing skills and have an ability to communicate ideas are often penalized for slowness in completing written tasks. The present study used frequently administered nonverbal tasks to predict performance on the Writing Fluency subtest of the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement--Revised for 146 subjects from 6 to 16 years old. A stepwise-regression analysis indicated the Coding subtest of the WISC--R, Beery Developmental Test of Visual Motor Integration, the Grooved Pegboard, and gender accounted for 32% of the variance. Logistic regression suggested cut-off scores falling one standard deviation below the mean on Coding and Beery's visuomotor test would signal need for further evaluation of writing dysfluency, particularly for boys.
Neogene stratigraphy of the submerged U.S. Atlantic margin

Abstract Thirty boreholes and several hundred sea-floor samples provide a detailed but incomplete record of Neogene strata and depositional environments along the submerged part of the United States Atlantic margin. Three major sedimentary basins, the Blake Plateau Basin, the Baltimore Canyon Trough, and the Georges Bank Basin, contain Neogene sedimentary prisms as thick as 1200 m, comprising bathyal marine to nonmarine strata. Middle Miocene rocks compose the most widely represented and thickest unit (> 600 m in the Baltimore Canyon Trough). Calcareous microfossils provide excellent biostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental indicators except in some sparsely fossilferous shallow-water intervals and where shallow-water diatomaceous assemblages predominate. However, in outer sublittoral assemblages of the Blake Plateau Basin and Baltimore Canyon Trough, the co-occurrence of abundant diatoms, radiolarians, and planktic foraminifera provide an excellent opportunity for intercalibration of biozones. Preliminary correlations between chronostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental interpretations indicate a close association of depositional sequences with sea-level fluctuations, but some local exception persist.
A comparison of receptive field and tracer coupling size of horizontal cells in the rabbit retina

The large receptive fields of retinal horizontal cells are thought to reflect extensive electrical coupling via gap junctions. It was shown recently that the biotinylated tracers, biocytin and Neurobiotin, provide remarkable images of coupling between many types of retinal neuron, including horizontal cells. Further, these demonstrations of tracer coupling between horizontal cells rivaled the size of their receptive fields, suggesting that the pattern of tracer coupling may provide some index of the extent of electrical coupling. We studied this question by comparing the receptive field and tracer coupling size of dark-adapted horizontal cells recorded in the superfused, isolated retina-eyecup of the rabbit. Both the edge-to-edge receptive field and space constants (lambda) were computed for each cell using a long, narrow slit of light displaced across the retinal surface. Cells were subsequently labeled by iontophoretic injection of Neurobiotin. The axonless A-type horizontal cells showed extensive, homologous tracer coupling in groups greater than 1000 covering distances averaging about 2 mm. The axon-bearing B-type horizontal cells were less extensively tracer coupled, showing homologous coupling of the somatic endings in groups of about 100 cells spanning approximately 400 microns and a separate homologous coupling of the axon terminal endings covering only about 275 microns. Moreover, we observed a remarkable, linear relationship between the size of the receptive fields of each of the three horizontal cell endings and the magnitude of their tracer coupling. Our findings suggest that the extent of tracer coupling provides a strong, linear index of the magnitude of electrical current flow, as derived from receptive-field measures, across groups of coupled horizontal cells. These data thus provide the first direct evidence that the receptive-field size of horizontal cells is related to the extent of their coupling via gap junctions.
Application of a coloration etching method to the study of microstructures in primary and eutectic solidification in cast irons

Cast iron is a very old material with a his- tory dating back several thousand years [1, 2], and it is still widely used around the world today. It is essentially that an Fe- C-Si alloy always contains the minor ele- ments S and P and, often, alloying ele- ments such as Mn and Cr. The metallurgy of cast iron is extremely complex because a wide variety of factors influence its phase transformation. Like other metallic mate- rials with a eutectic, cast iron undergoes primary- and eutectic-phase solidification. Each of the processes is comprised of two stages, nucleation and growth, which can be controlled through alloy composition and solidification conditions, such as in- oculation [3-5] and casting methods [6]. A tremendous amount of research has been performed on every aspect of cast iron during the last century. Among dif- ferent techniques used in the research and production of cast iron, metallography plays perhaps the most important role in the control of product properties and qual- ity as well as in the analysis of failure. The basic microstructural constituents in cast iron are graphite, cementite, austenite, fer- rite, pearlite, martensite, etc. Detailed analysis of the microstructure usually re- quires a fully polished specimen and the use of an etching method. There are some common etchants for ferrous alloys that can be applied for different purposes. For example, A1-7 is used for macroetching, Nital is used for general purpose etching, and Stead's reagent is used for revealing eutectic cells in gray iron and persulfate for darkening the matrix to outline carbides [7]. The overall microstructure in cast iron can be very complex, with many different structures mingled together. For example, when a hypoeutectic gray iron sample is quenched into cold water during the eu- tectic reaction, the resulting microstructure is a combination of primary austenite den- drites, which transform into martensite during quenching, and a eutectic product, eutectic austenite plus graphite, which is surrounded by quenched metastable eu- tectic product, eutectic austenite plus iron carbide. It is very difficult to differentiate between the various structures using the common etching methods. In particular, it is difficult to distinguish the primary aus- tenite from the eutectic austenite. Thus, there is a need to develop better etching methods. Ruff and Wallace [8] used a metallo- graphic approach to examine microstruc- tures of cast iron in a study of the influence of different graphite types and austenitic dendrites on the mechanical properties of gray cast iron. The techniques included ex- amining unetched samples to evaluate graphite morphology, heat treating sam- ples to reveal the structure of the primary austenite dendrites, using a paint counting system to measure the relative amounts of pearlite, ferrite and iron carbide, and ap- plying Stead's reagent to reveal the eutectic cell structure. 329
Optical control of electron and nuclear states

Optical-pump THz-probe time-domain spectroscopy is applied to the study of carrier dynamics in oriented Ge and Si/Ge core/shell nanowires. We discuss the extraction of various relaxation processes, including intraband, interband, and momentum scattering, as well as the possibility for observing indirect exciton formation.
Concurrent Subspace Optimization of Mixed Continuous/Discrete Systems

An extension of the method of Concurrent Subspace Optimization (CSSO) has been developed to accomodate mixed continuous/discrete design problems. The mixed CSSO framework employs artificial neural networks to provide approximations to the design space, which are the means of coordinating design decisions in the individual disciplines. This approach is applied to a nonhierarchic test problem which contains continuous and discrete design variables. The results demonstrate that the mixed CSSO framework is able to locate optimal designs and did reduce the number of the complete system analyses required by conventional optimization techniques. Computational resources remain a concern, however, due to the large number of contributing (disciplinary) analyses required to perform mixed optimization at the discipline level. Results demonstrate that the database of design information assembled during CSSO can be exploited to enhance the efficiency of subsequent runs, even if the requirements of the system design problem are altered.
The ribonuclease III site flanking 23S sequences in the 30S ribosomal precursor RNA of E. coli

Abstract The DNA sequence of the 23S-5S rRNA intergenic region has been determined for two ribosomal RNA operons in E. coli. The spacer in both rrnX and rrnD ∗ is 92 bp long; the sequences are identical except for two heterogeneities. 130 bp at the 3′ end of the 23S rRNA gene have also been sequenced. We observe that a region surrounding the 3′ end of 23S is complementary to sequences surrounding the 5′ end of the gene. This complementarity predicts a giant stem and loop structure closed by an almost perfectly double-stranded helix of 28 bp that includes both termini of mature 23S rRNA. Moreover, we find that this helix can be extended after a brief interruption to include a substantial number of additional residues from the two spacer regions flanking the 23S gene; interestingly, the extended structure involves sequences that are conserved in the distal portion of the two different types of 16S–23S spacer region—those containing tRNA 1B Ala and tRNA 1 Ile , and those with tRNA 2 Glu . We have also analyzed the ends of the precursor 23S RNA (23S III ) produced by in vitro RNAase III cleavage of the 30S pre-rRNA. The terminal sequences of 23S III appear in the 28 bp helical region, several nucleotides beyond the 23S mature ends. Thus we propose that residues separated by the 2900 nucleotides of 23S rRNA come together to form a processing site for RNAase III in the ribosomal RNA precursor molecule.
Willingness to pay for professional services

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to build a model to help understand consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for professional services. In this paper, professional services are services where, in general, consumers have the choice of doing the work themselves or outsourcing them such as apparel care, landscaping and tax forms preparation.Design/methodology/approach – The paper proposes a regression model to predict WTP. The model includes a set of independent behavioral variables such as subjective knowledge, job anxiety, enjoyment and appreciation of leisure activities. Data from two cross‐sectional surveys completed by 488 and 479 consumers are used to test the proposed model.Findings – The findings support the importance of behavioral variables as determinants of consumers' WTP for professional services.Practical implications – Understanding which behavioral variables predict consumers' WTP for professional services provides insightful implications. The findings imply that, to increase WTP for pro...
Plasmodium gallinaceum: Vaccination in chickens

Abstract Inoculation into chicken embryos of chick erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium gallinaceum (the infected erythrocytes having been obtained from chicks inoculated with sporozoites) produced parasitemias of such low magnitude that it was impossible to continue embryo passages of this malaria. Inoculation of massive doses of parasites (20 × 10 6 ) produced levels of infections in recipient embryos sufficient to maintain continued passages. Marked morphological changes in parasites were noted as well as loss of virulence. Well over 100 embryo passages were required to restore the parasite to its usual virulence and morphology. When chicks were given subcutaneous injections of this embryo-adapted strain of malaria at an optimum dosage of 25 × 10 4 parasites/g body weight, the resultant parasitemia was too low for accurate counting, but all animals so treated were completely refractory to challenge with blood parasites. Although protection was complete in chicks vaccinated with parasites from the 13th passage in embryos, vaccinating dosages produced levels of parasitemia too high to be judged adequate for a vaccine. After 24 embryo passages attenuation of the parasite and immunity to challenge on the part of the host were complete.
Peptide and amine modulation of the Limulus heart: A simple neural network and its target tissue

The Limulus heart consists of a relatively simple neural network, the cardiac ganglion, and its target tissue, cardiac muscle. The large size and exceptional in vitro viability of this system has made it relatively easy to extract, purify, and identify endogenous compounds which alter cardiac function. These agents included peptides, such as protolin and Limulus chromatophorotropic factor, and amines such as dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, octopamine, and serotonin. The accessibility and simple organization of the cardiac ganglion has also permitted clear identification of the sites of action of these amines and peptides. The Limulus heart is thus a very favorable system for studying peptide and amine neurohormones at the network, cellular and molecular levels.
Effect of inorganic and organic forms of selenium supplementation on development of larval Heliothis virescens

Selenium (Se) is an essential micronutrient for vertebrates though little is known about the effects on insects. Herbivorous insect larvae acquire Se from plant tissues in the inorganic form of sodium selenate and sodium selenite, and in the organic form of selenoamino acids, selenomethionine, and selenocystine. In this study, we document the effects of dietary supplementation with sodium selenite, sodium selenate, selenocystine, selenomethionine, and selenized yeast on the developmental rate of Heliothis virescens (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). Larvae tolerated high levels of Se (500 μg g -1 Se) as sodium selenate and to a lesser extent as selenocystine. Lower levels of sodium selenite (>1 μg g -1 Se) caused increased mortality, reduced rates of pupation, more pupal/adult intermediates, and reduced adult emergence. Selenomethionine proved toxic to larvae at levels above 25 μg g -1 Se, significantly delaying pupation and raising mortality. Provision of Se as selenized yeast, which contains primarily selenomethionine, was also extremely detrimental to larval development and survival. The results indicate that the impact of dietary Se supplement for insects may differ from vertebrates.
The Influence of Dicumarol upon Blood Clotting Time and Blood Loss of Young Chickens

Abstract THE blood loss of slaughtered poultry is of great concern to both the poultry processor and the consumer. The blood remaining in the vascular system of dressed and cut up poultry is unattractive to the consumer. Blood retained in the carcass also lowers the quality and grade of the product. Newell and Shaffner (1950) observed that the total loss of blood during the bleeding operation was 35 percent to 50 percent of the total blood volume. Davis and Cole (1954) found that when birds were beheaded or a single artery cut, the flow of blood was slower at the end of 20 seconds than from those birds which were debrained and both carotid arteries cut or from birds that were stunned and a single artery cut or from chickens that were stunned and both arteries cut. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of an anticoagulant upon …
The detection and differentiation of foot-and-mouth disease viruses using solid-phase nucleic acid hybridization

Thirteen complementary DNA (cDNA) probes were used to detect the presence of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) RNA extracted from cell cultures. When labelled with 32P, these probes enabled the detection of 1 pg of FMDV-RNA, or 1 virus copy per cell. Two FMDV A12 probes that coded for the leader, structural protein VP1 region and part of the polymerase gene respectively, showed no hybridization with other closely related picornaviruses. Differentiation between FMDV serotypes A, O and C was possible, using cDNA probes from individual serotypes that corresponded to structural protein VP1.
Transcription factor accessibility and histone acetylation of the progesterone receptor gene differs between parental MCF-7 cells and a subline that has lost progesterone receptor expression

Abstract The human progesterone receptor ( PgR ) gene has a complex promoter that produces alternate mRNAs encoding the PgRA (94 kDa) and PgRB (120 kDa) protein isoforms. Expression of PgR is induced by estradiol (E 2 ) in the breast, reproductive tract and many cell lines despite the lack of a classical estrogen responsive element (ERE) in the promoter regions. We employed chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) to analyze the sites of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and Sp1 occupancy of the PgR promoters in vivo. We also assessed the functional relevance of histone acetylation levels on the accessibility of transcription factors to the promoter and subsequent hormone-induced transcription. We utilized MCF-7 human breast cancer cells that express PgR in response to E 2 and the MCF-7 derived C4 cell strain that has lost PgR expression as a model system. We found that promoter-wide levels of histone acetylation were not decreased in C4 cells, but that access was partially blocked for Sp1 and completely blocked for ERα. The basal level of histone acetylation at six localized regions of the promoter did show some differences between cell lines, but it did not correlate with transcription factor binding. Furthermore, we found only a modest and highly localized change in histone acetylation levels in response to E 2 at only one of three sites of ERα binding in MCF-7 cells. This was at the B1 site at the distal 5′ end of the promoter. This site also showed a significant decrease in basal histone acetylation in C4 compared to MCF-7 cells. We speculate that the histone acetylation level at this site may be a marker for chromatin structure that affects the access of transcription factors to the whole promoter.
Do Surgical Trials Meet the Scientific Standards for Clinical Trials

Unlike medications, the dissemination of surgical procedures into practice is not regulated. Before marketing, pharmaceutical products are required to be shown safe and efficacious in comparative clinical trials which utilize bias-reducing strategies designed to reduce the distortion of estimates of treatment effect by predispositions towards the investigational intervention or control. Unless an investigational device is involved, the corresponding process for surgical innovations is usually unregulated and therefore may not be based upon adequate evidence. Given these differences, we sought to evaluate the state of clinical research on invasive procedures. We conducted a systematic review of publications from 1999–2008 that reported the results of studies evaluating the effects of invasive therapeutic procedures, focusing on trials which appeared to influence practice. Our objective was to determine what proportion of studies evaluating surgical procedures use a comparative clinical trial design and methods to control bias. This paper reports our results and raises concerns about the methodological, and therefore the ethical, quality of clinical research used to justify the implementation of surgical procedures into practice.
From individual to population: the minimum alveolar concentration curve.

Purpose of review The concept of minimum alveolar concentration is central to the study of inhalational anesthetics. The minimum alveolar concentration curve is a population concentration-response curve that describes the relationship between anesthetic concentration and oblation of the movement response to painful stimuli. Two features of the minimum alveolar concentration curve, the anesthetic concentration that immobilizes 50% of patients and the steep slope of the curve, may contain useful mechanistic information. There is some dispute, however, about the interpretation of this information. This review examines hypotheses about the shape of the minimum alveolar concentration curve, and recent theoretical and experimental approaches to the question. Recent findings The major determining factor for the slope of a quantal, population concentration-response curve is individual variability. The slope of the underlying in-vitro concentration-response curves contributes as well. At the molecular level, in-vitro curves are not steep. The integration of molecular signals that occurs in cells and neuronal circuits can result in steep in-vitro curves, due to multiple molecular targets, amplification and co-operativity. Summary The shape of the minimum alveolar concentration curve has not provided any unambiguous clues about the sites or mechanisms of general anesthesia; however, the universality of anesthetic-induced immobility suggests some future research directions.
Interacting effects of estrogen, progesterone and catecholamines on rat uterine cyclic AMP and glycogen phosphorylase.

Abstract Ovariectomized rats were treated with estrogen, progesterone or a combination of estrogen plus progesterone. Rats were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital and uteri were frozen in situ , uterine extracts were prepared and assayed for cyclic AMP and phosphorylase. Uterine cyclic AMP levels were highest in estrogen treated uteri and were significantly reduced when estrogen was withdrawn for two days. Addition of progesterone to the estrogen regimen for two days or changing from estrogen to progesterone for two days produced results comparable to those obtained when estrogen was withdrawn. Similar experiments were done except that 30 seconds before tissue freezing epinephrine was injected intravenously. Both cyclic AMP and glycogen phosphorylase increased markedly in response to epinephrine. The magnitude of the responses were greatest in the uteri pretreated with estrogen. The magnitudes of both the cyclic AMP and phosphorylase responses were significantly reduced by withdrawing estrogen for two days, by adding progesterone to the estrogen treatment or by changing to progesterone from estrogen. Isoproterenol-stimulated cyclic AMP responses were affected by the steroid state of the uterus in the same way as the epinephrine responses.
Mechanism of the movements of the atrioventricular valves

Abstract Ventricular pressure, ventricular diameter, atrial pressure, the pressure gradient across the A-V valve, and intraventricular heart sounds were recorded. The mechanisms producing closing and opening of the A-V valve were analyzed. There were two producing A-V valve closure. (1) Atrial contraction normally produces presystolic closure of the A-V valve. A wave-like atrial contraction propagates a pressure front toward the ventricle. This reversed the polarity of the pressure difference across the A-V valve causing a negative difference in A-V pressure as high as 9.5 cm. H 2 O and A-V valve closure. (2) When atrial contraction was abolished the A-V valve was closed by ventricular contraction and was associated with regurgitation. The A-V valve opens when the elastic forces producing rapid ventricular relaxation caused the ventricular pressure to fall suddenly below atrial pressure.
Stereoselectivity in the metal-complex catalyzed hydrolysis of amino acid esters—IV rate studies

Abstract The study of the stereoselective hydrolysis of enantiomers of histidine methyl ester in the presence of an optically active catalyst has been extended to include lysine, glutamic acid, and glycine incorporated into the catalyst. Hydrolytic studies have also been conducted on methyl esters of methionine, lysine, and aspartic acid in the presence of a variety of optically active [Ni(amino acid)]+ catalysts. The dependence of the rates of hydrolysis of the amino acid esters on ester structure, catalyst structure, and “effective charge” of the catalyst is discussed. A temperature dependence study of stereoselective effects on the rates of hydrolysis of methyl histidinate has been carried out, that demonstrates the importance of coordination of the ester moiety in producing these effects. The observed kinetic and thermodynamic stereoselectivities are discussed in terms of specific structures for the complexes that give rise to these efforts.
Effects of Cadmium on Contractility and Calcium Concentration in Isolated Heart Muscle

The isometrically arranged kitten heart papillary muscle was used to study the depressant actions of cadmium ion (Cd/sup 2 +/) on heart muscle function. Although the Cd/sup 2 +/- induced decreases in papillary muscle tension development were dose dependent, peak tension was restored to pretreatment control only after the termination of 1 ..mu..M, but not 10 or 100 ..mu..M Cd/sup 2 +/ exposure. The Schild plot suggested that Cd/sup 2 +/ and Ca/sup 2 +/ are competitive antagonists but two additional observations indicated that noncompetitive mechanisms are also involved: (a) the contour of the tension twitch from the Cd/sup 2 +/ -depressed muscle could not be restored to pre-cadmium control by increasing extracellular Ca/sup 2 +/ concentration, and (b) the contraction pattern after a reduction in external Ca/sup 2 +/ concentration from 2.0 to 0.5 mM differed from that after exposure to 25 ..mu..M Cd/sup 2 +/, even though both treatments depressed peak tension development by 80%. When the coronary-perfused rabbit heart was employed, left ventricular Ca concentration was not affected by perfusion with 100 ..mu..M Cd/sup 2 +/ even though mechanical function was obliterated by this dose. In conclusion the mechanisms of action of Cd/sup 2 +/ are complexmore » and do not appear to involve the displacement of Ca from the cardiac cell.« less
Long-term outcome of antireflux surgery in patients with Barrett's esophagus.

Objective To assess the long-term outcome of antireflux surgery in patients with Barrett's esophagus. Summary background data The prevalence of Barrett's esophagus is increasing, and its treatment is problematic. Antireflux surgery has the potential to stop reflux and induce a quiescent mucosa. Its long-term outcome, however, has recently been challenged with reports of poor control of reflux and the inability to prevent progression to cancer. Methods The outcome of antireflux surgery was studied in 97 patients with Barrett's esophagus. Follow-up was complete in 88% (85/97) at a median of 5 years. Fifty-nine had long-segment and 26 short-segment Barrett's. Patients with intestinal metaplasia of the cardia were excluded. Fifty patients underwent a laparoscopic procedure, 20 a transthoracic procedure, and 3 abdominal Nissen operations. Nine had a Collis-Belsey procedure and three had other partial wraps. Outcome measures included relief of reflux symptoms (all), patients' perception of the result (all), upper endoscopy and histology (n = 79), and postoperative 24-hour pH monitoring (n = 21). Results At a median follow-up of 5 years, reflux symptoms were absent in 67 of 85 patients (79%). Eighteen (20%) developed recurrent symptoms; four had returned to taking daily acid-suppression medication. Seven patients underwent a secondary repair and were asymptomatic, increasing the eventual successful outcome to 87%. Recurrent symptoms were most common in patients undergoing Collis-Belsey (33%) and laparoscopic Nissen (26%) procedures and least common after a transthoracic Nissen operation (5%). The results of postoperative 24-hour pH monitoring were normal in 17 of 21 (81%). Recurrent hiatal hernias were detected in 17 of 79 patients studied; 6 were asymptomatic. Seventy-seven percent of the patients considered themselves cured, 22% considered their condition to be improved, and 97% were satisfied. Low-grade dysplasia regressed to nondysplastic Barrett's in 7 of 16 (44%), and intestinal metaplasia regressed to cardiac mucosa in 9 of 63 (14%). Low-grade dysplasia developed in 4 of 63 (6%) patients. No patient developed high-grade dysplasia or cancer in 410 patient-years of follow-up. Conclusions After antireflux surgery, most patients with Barrett's enjoy long-lasting relief of reflux symptoms, and nearly all patients consider themselves cured or improved. Mild symptoms recur in one fifth. Importantly, dysplasia regressed in nearly half of the patients in whom it was present before surgery, intestinal metaplasia disappeared in 14% of patients, and high-grade dysplasia and adenocarcinoma were prevented in all.
Discovery of tetrahydroisoquinoline (THIQ) derivatives as potent and orally bioavailable LFA-1/ICAM-1 antagonists

This letter describes the discovery of a novel series of tetrahydroisoquinoline (THIQ)-derived small molecules that potently inhibit both human T-cell migration and super-antigen induced T-cell activation through disruption of the binding of integrin LFA-1 to its receptor, ICAM-1. In addition to excellent in vitro potency, 6q shows good pharmacokinetic properties and its ethyl ester (6t) demonstrates good oral bioavailability in both mouse and rat. Either intravenous administration of 6q or oral administration of its ethyl ester (6t) produced a significant reduction of neutrophil migration in a thioglycollate-induced murine peritonitis model.
Urinary undiversion: Use in management of radiation induced bladder fistula

Abstract Urinary undiversion was attempted and successful in two patients. The indication for prior diversion in both patients was extensive bladder fistula following pelvic radiation for cancer of the uterine cervix. Function of the urinary system has been essentially normal in both patients during the follow-up period of 6 months to 2.5 years. Review of the literature relevant to reconstruction of the urinary system in adults following previous ileal conduit formation revealed very scanty data, particularly after pelvic radiation. Reported methods are described. Although the experience is limited, ileocystostomy with undiversion of the ileal conduit after pelvic radiation appears not only feasible, but very rewarding for selected highly motivated patients.
ortho-Tetraaryls as helical building blocks: a study of structure, theory, electrochemistry, and optical properties

(ortho)-3,3′-Diphenyl-2,2′-bithiophene is shown to exhibit a solid-state helical conformation that is consistent with MMFF predictions of structure. The optical, electronic, and conformational properties of this compound are examined, and the results are commensurate with a helical building block capable of exhibiting redox-induced conformational changes along the long molecular axis. Such a property demonstrates promise for this tetramer to function as building block for a spring-like electromechanical actuator.
Post-Carboniferous tectonics in the Anadarko Basin, Oklahoma: Evidence from side-looking radar imagery

The Anadarko Basin of western Oklahoma is a WNW-ESE elongated trough filled with of Paleozoic sediments. Most models call for tectonic activity to end in Pennsylvanian times. NASA Shuttle Imaging Radar revealed a distinctive and very straight lineament set extending virtually the entire length of the Anadarko Basin. The lineaments cut across the relatively flat-lying Permian units exposed at the surface. The character of these lineaments is seen most obviously as a tonal variation. Major streams, including the Washita and Little Washita rivers, appear to be controlled by the location of the lineaments. Subsurface data indicate the lineaments may be the updip expression of a buried major fault system, the Mountain View fault. Two principal conclusions arise from this analysis: (1) the complex Mountain View Fault system appears to extend southeast to join the Reagan, Sulphur, and/or Mill Creek faults of the Arbuckle Mountains, and (2) this fault system has been reactivated in Permian or younger times.
A Bidirectional Two-Axis Electrostatic MEMS Positioning System

We report on the design, fabrication, and testing of a bidirectional two-axis MEMS positioning system that is used to move a stage. Sandia National Laboratories' MEMS foundry process was utilized for the fabrication of the device; this process incorporates five layers of polysilicon and four sacrificial layers of silicon dioxide. The positioning assembly consists of a pin and slotted-arm arrangement, wherein the pin is constrained between the slotted arms and the positioning of the pin is achieved by identical electrostatic drives on both axes. The electrostatic drives consist of a comb drive interfaced with a compliant-mechanism-based distance multiplier. The stage is connected to a cantilever arm extending from the positioning pin. The crosstalk between the X- and Y-axes was less than 0.3 ?m through displacements of ~30 ?m in both X- and Y-directions. The displacement shows a quadratic relationship with the applied voltage.
Exploring Academic Salaries in a Comparative Context

In 2007, the Boston College Center for International Higher Education (CIHE) launched an exploratory project attempting to do just that collecting and comparing salary data (in World Bank PPP dollars) from 15 countries and one territory. We looked at target countries' relative positions on the Human Development Index (HDI) of the United Nations Development Program for comparative analysis. In terms of salary progressions over the course of a career, our data show that faculty in wealthier, more developed countries tend to enjoy greater potential for salary growth with some exceptions. Comparing faculty salaries to average per capitaincome estimates indicates that the academic profession pays well in many parts of the developing world. Given this simple reality, faculty salaries stand out as a subtle but important consideration in any national development conversation and in the race for international relevance.
Enabling GSM/GPRS/EDGE EVM testing on low cost multi-site testers

The key motivation for this work is to enable the use of low cost multi-site testers that exhibit both high transmit test stability and high throughput suitable for massive production of a 2/2.75G GSM/EDGE multi-mode cellular single-chip radio. Due to stringent performance compliance test requirements, transmitter (TX) testing consumes more time on expensive automated test equipment (ATE) and therefore it is critical to develop cost efficient multi-site test schemes, which can exploit parallelism to achieve production testing cost goals. This paper illustrates our low-cost self-contained test methods for both GSM phase trajectory error (PTE) and EDGE TX error vector magnitude (EVM) testing in a TX. We compare our test results with those of the R&S vector signal analyzer (VSA) to demonstrate the achieved test accuracy. Current production solutions allow us to simultaneously test and process up to eight devices using multi-site hardware with eight ATE RF receiver cores. Through scaling and careful hardware/software co-design we are able to realize a sixteen site solution using a combination of serial capture and parallel processing scheme.
HPV vaccine: implications for nurses and patients.

In June 2006 the approval and recommendation of a human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine that can prevent most cervical cancers piqued interest generated much media attention and raised questions. As a result many young women parents and others want to know more about this vaccine. This article will help nurses understand and communicate about issues surrounding the vaccine. HPVs are a family of more than 100 virus types that cause such problems as common warts plantar warts skin cancers anal and genital warts recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (a rare benign infection of type HPV 6 or 11 that passes from mothers to infants during childbirth) head and neck cancers genital cancers (vagina vulva penile) and cervical cancer. Approximately 40 types of HPV infect the mucosal epithelium whereas 60 types are cutaneous. More than half of sexually active women and men will be infected with one or more types of HPV in their lifetime and some reports indicate that 80 percent of women will have anHPV infection by 50 years of age. Young women and men between 15 and 24 years of age account for half of the infections. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States. Its estimated that 20 million people are currently infected and 6.2 million will be newly infected each year. (excerpt)
Ovulatory Surges of Human CG Prevent Hormone-Induced Granulosa Cell Tumor Formation Leading to the Identification of Tumor-Associated Changes in the Transcriptome

Granulosa cell tumors comprise approximately 10% of ovarian tumors and, although rare, are clinically important due to their potential for malignancy and recurrence. Although their morphological features have been carefully described, the global changes in gene expression associated with their formation remain undetermined. To initiate this characterization, we used a transgenic mouse model in which granulosa cell tumors occur with 100% penetrance in CF-1 mice that harbor a novel transgene encoding a chimeric LHβ subunit. When this transgene is expressed in other strains of mice, including (C57BL/6♀ × CF-1♂,Tg) F1 hybrids, luteomas develop even though levels of LH remain high. This dichotomous response permits a longitudinal comparison of global changes in transcriptomes uniquely associated with either granulosa cell tumors or luteomas. Herein we report numerous changes in the transcriptome, including a decrease in LH receptor mRNA and increases in several mRNAs that encode secreted proteins previously as...
Responsive design for household surveys: tools for actively controlling survey errors and costs

Summary. Over the past few years surveys have expanded to new populations, have incorporated measurement of new and more complex substantive issues and have adopted new data collection tools. At the same time there has been a growing reluctance among many household populations to participate in surveys. These factors have combined to present survey designers and survey researchers with increased uncertainty about the performance of any given survey design at any particular point in time. This uncertainty has, in turn, challenged the survey practitioner’s ability to control the cost of data collection and quality of resulting statistics. The development of computer-assisted methods for data collection has provided survey researchers with tools to capture a variety of process data (‘paradata’) that can be used to inform cost–quality trade-off decisions in realtime. The ability to monitor continually the streams of process data and survey data creates the opportunity to alter the design during the course of data collection to improve survey cost efficiency and to achieve more precise, less biased estimates. We label such surveys as ‘responsive designs’. The paper defines responsive design and uses examples to illustrate the responsive use of paradata to guide mid-survey decisions affecting the non-response, measurement and sampling variance properties of resulting statistics.
Pancreatic fine needle aspiration: to do or not to do?

The aspiration of a pancreatic mass can provide tissue for the diagnosis of a malignancy. Traditionally, computed tomography (CT) and trans-abdominal ultrasonography (US) have been used to guide the aspiration of a pancreatic mass. Recently, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has been introduced as an alternative to CT/US guidance because of superior imaging of the pancreas achieved by EUS. The most common technique for tissue acquisition from a pancreatic mass is fine needle aspiration (FNA). The use of a small gauge needle for aspiration cytology of the pancreas has increased the safety and ease of FNA compared to the traditional core tissue biopsy using large gauge needles. The tissue obtained during FNA is evaluated with cytological techniques whereas core tissue specimens are processed for histology. The request for a tissue diagnosis of a pancreatic lesion may originate from a number of specialists caring for the patient. The primary care physician may request a tissue diagnosis in order to aid the patient and family in decision-making. The oncologist often requires a tissue diagnosis in order to provide chemotherapy. The surgeon may need a diagnosis for surgical planning. Lastly, the patient may request a biopsy in order to increase the certainty of a diagnosis. In this presentation, we will review the various techniques for obtaining tissue from a pancreatic lesion and evaluate the advantages and disadvantages. The most common indication for a pancreatic ‘biopsy’ is the need for the documentation of a malignancy in a patient with a malignantappearing pancreatic mass. In patients who are not operative candidates, a large pancreatic mass can be accessed with either cross-sectional imaging, US, or EUS. A tissue diagnosis is particularly important in patients who will be treated with chemotherapy. The cytological analysis of aspirated cytological material can readily differentiate between adenocarcinoma, islet cell malignancies, metastasis to the pancreas, and inflammatory lesions [1]. The result of a pancreatic ‘biopsy’ in operative candidates is important factor in the planning of surgery [2]. For example, the surgical approach to islet cell tumors is often quite different than adenocarcinomas. A more compelling indication for a pancreatic mass ‘biopsy’ is the finding of an atypical pancreatic mass on imaging. The differential diagnosis of an atypical pancreatic mass is often quite wide and includes adenocarcinoma, islet cell tumor, pancreatic metastasis, focal chronic pancreatitis, and cystadenomas. The surgical approach as well as the overall management of the patient will often be altered depending on the results of the pancreatic ‘biopsy’. For example, the management of a serous cystadenoma is quite different than an islet cell tumor.
WORKSPACE OF DIGITAL HUMAN LOWER EXTREMITIES

This paper presents an applicable formula for determining the workspace of digital human lower extremities. The digital human model has over 100 degrees of freedom (DOF): 94 in the upper body, 14 in the lower extremities, 5 in the neck, 4 in the eyes, and 25 for each hand. The Jacobian row rank deficiency criteria are implemented to determine the singular surfaces that finally form the workspace. The use of this digital human model for determining workspace offers several advantages over direct measurement: (1) the workspace can be visualized in real-time based on offline computation, (2) the workspace can be used for the ergonomic design of products in the virtual prototyping stage, and (3) the calculated workspace includes complete information about the envelope and inside characteristics.