cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Input and output signals in a model neural system: the regulation of melatonin production in the pineal gland.

The production of melatonin has been studied using organ cultures of pineal glands incubated with methionine-methyl-3H. Melatonin-O-methyl-3H was extracted from cultured pineal glands and incubation media, and the activity of N-acetyltransferase was measured. This is the first of two enzymes necessary for the conversion of serotonin to melatonin in the pineal. The treatment of pineal glands with norepinephrine or dibutyryl cyclic AMP increased the release of melatonin-O-methyl-3H into the incubation media and the concentration of melatonin-O-methyl-3H in the glands. These treatments also resulted in the stimulation of N-acetyltransferase, as compared to untreated glands. The transduction of neural information to biochemical, signals which regulate the melatonin pathway appears to involve the release of norepinephrine, which stimulates N-acetyltransferase activity through an adenyl cyclase-cyclic AMP mechanism, as evidenced by these and other studies discussed. In the present study the effects of harmine were studied. This hallucinogen is known to inhibit monoamine oxidase and stimulate melatonin production. Harmine was observed to stimulate N-acetyltransferase. This observation raises the possibility that an important action of this psychotropic drug may be on mechanisms which convert neural activity into biochemical events.
Histologic observation of soft tissue responses to implanted, multifaceted particles and discs of hydroxylapatite

The effects on soft tissue of short- and long-term implants of ceramic hydroxylapatite (durapatite) are reported. In rats, after one week and one, six, and 12 months of subcutaneous implantation of hydroxylapatite in multifaceted particle and disc form, neither particles nor discs had resulted in any microscopically remarkable inflammation. In beagle dogs, after subcutaneous implantation of hydroxylapatite as multifaceted particles and as discs for seven and 24 days, nine months, and two and six years, no implant migration was observed. Encapsulation of paricles and discs of increasing thickness was seen throughout the six years of observation. Except for a few isolated macrophages seen within the connective tissue stroma at seven and 24 days, no evidence of inflammation was found. In tissue sections taken at six months from beagle dogs in which multifaceted particles had been placed subperiosteally beneath the gingiva, dense connective tissue was observed adjacent to and surrounding the individual particles. These results show that hydroxylapatite implanted subcutaneously in rats and dogs produces little or no inflammatory response and is compatible with tissue irrespective of the shape of the implant.
On lower valent thorium chlorides in fused chloride salts

Abstract Emf data on cells of the types Th/KCl-LiCl-ThCl 4 //KCl-LiCl-AgCl/Ag and Th/KCl-LiCl-ThCl 4 /ThZn 8.5 , Zn have been obtained in order to evaluate the valence state of thorium chloride in the fused salts. These data show that the valence of thorium is 4+. Literature data on the thermodynamic properties of ThOCl 2 are summarized, and a relationship developed for the standard free energy of formation for this compound. It is shown that some of the literature data on the existence of lower valent thorium chlorides in fused salt can be explained on the basis of contamination by ThO 2 whilst other evidence, based on the slope of emf data composition plots, can be misleading if the composition dependence of the activity coefficient of ThCl 4 is not taken into account.
The spectral norm of a nonnegative matrix

Abstract Given a matrix A=[aij], define ‖A‖=[‖aij‖]. Let ⦀ · ⦀2 denote the spectral norm. We show that for any matrix A ⦀‖A‖⦀ 2 =min{r 1 (B)c 1 (C):B∘C=A} and show that under mild conditions the minimizers in (1) are essentially unique and are related to the left and right singular vectors of A in a simple way. We also show that ⦀A⦀2⩽⦀‖A‖⦀2 and determine the case of equality.
Issues on feature-based editing and interrogation of solid models

Abstract Operations that create additive or subtractive volume features, such as bosses or slots, simplify the computer aided design of mechanical parts. Surface features, whether extracted automatically or selected interactively, group functionally related boundary elements, and thus provide an expedient interface between CAD systems and analysis or manufacturing applications. Despite much progress in CAD, design remains an iterative process and involves error-prone modifications of previous solutions. Features should in principle offer a high level vocabulary for characterizing errors and for specifying how they should be corrected. This paper points out the semantic ambiguities of simplistic feature-based commands for editing models. It recommends procedural models for editing volume features, and corrective volumes for editing surface features. It shows how space decomposition techniques and CSG expressions based on active zones reduce the cost of executing an editing command. Error detection may be automated by supporting intentional features, which correspond to the desired characteristics of the model, and by endowing them with domain dependent validity criteria expressed in terms of associated geometric elements. The paper demonstrates that validity may be tested by simply interrogating a mixed-dimensional geometric structure which is used to represent not only the model, but also the interactions between the geometric elements associated with intentional features.
Multivessel coronary artery bypass surgery without cardiopulmonary bypass.

Abstract Background: There is limited experience with complete myocardial revascularization on a beating heart. Using a mechanical stabilization system, we sought to determine if complete coronary revascularization is feasible without cardiopulmonary bypass and what the short-term clinical outcome would be. Methods: From February through September 1998, 26 patients underwent complete myocardial revascularization with Medtronics Octopus Tissue Stabilization System. Mean age for the group was 62 ± 7 years (range 48 to 78 years); 11% had prior interventions. Mean preoperative ejection fraction was 49% ± 14% (range 20% to 66%); 38% of operations were performed urgently. The mean number of vessels grafted was 3.0 ± 0.9 (range 1 to 5 grafts/patient). In 96% of patients, at least one arterial graft was used. Fifteen percent of patients had 2 or more arterial grafts. In 58% of patients, a branch of circumflex coronary artery was bypassed. Results: The median time to extubation was 2 hours (range 0 to 37 hours). None of the patients had perioperative myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, or renal failure requiring dialysis. The 30-day survival rate was 100%. Angiographic follow-up was not available. At a mean follow-up period of 3.8 ± 2.9 months, all patients remained free of angina and none has required cardiac reintervention. Conclusions: Complete myocardial revascularization on a beating heart can be achieved with the currently available stabilization systems and is associated with low perioperative complications and satisfactory short-term clinical outcomes. The long-term outcomes and graft patency remain to be determined. (Am Heart J 1999;138:983-6.)
Ototoxicity of Ethanol in the Tympanic Cleft in Animals

This work was andertaken to study the oto-loxicity of topically applied ethanol in quantitative terms. limg guinea pigs. ethanol was administel-ed (1) on the roand window for 10 min. (2) instilled in the middle ear c;ivity for 14 hours. and (3) perfused into the cochlear canal (into the scala tympani) at the rate of 10 μl/min for 10 min. Cochlear microphonics from the electrode on the roand window were recorded. The critical concentration (the maximum dilution ratio) of the ethanol that appears io be ototoxic in the experimental condition mentioned above was determined to be (1) 50 %. (2) 10%. (3) 0.1 % respectively. Using chinchillas. the effect of ethanol with round window application on the Endocochlear Potential (EP) was studied. Simultaneous recording of EP from the 1st and 3rd turn of the cochlea showed a more marked decline in EP in the 1st turn. 70 % ethanol caused an irreveseible. plateauing decline in EP. while 35 % ethanol caused a reversible decline in EP.
The role of menu titles as a navigational aid in hierarchical menus

A between-subjects experiment was conducted to determine the effects of the presence/absence of menu titles on the search time and the number of incorrect choices made when navigating a hierarchical menu structure. Subjects were required to search for a randomly selected target item in a four level, three choices per level (43) menu structure. Subjects in the experimental group had titles for each sub-menu screen. Titles reflected the path traversed from the previous sub-menu screens. Control group subjects did not have titles displayed. While subjects in the experimental group did not search at a statistically significant faster rate, as the depth of the search (level) increased they did search with greater accuracy than those in the control group.
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) does not affect ethanol-reinforced responding in binge-drinking, nondependent rats.

Abstract The central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) has been implicated as having a significant role in mediating alcohol-drinking behavior. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) has been investigated as a potential pharmacotherapeutic due to its ability to attenuate ethanol intake, particularly when administered into the CeA. Previous research suggests, though the evidence is somewhat conflicting, that the efficacy of NPY is contingent upon genetic background and/or prior history of ethanol dependence in rats. However, studies looking at the effects of NPY in nonselected animals lacking a history of ethanol dependence have two factors that could impact the interpretation of the results: ethanol history/selection AND relatively low baseline ethanol intakes as compared to ethanol-dependent and/or genetically selected controls. The purpose of the present study was to generate higher baseline ethanol intakes upon which to examine the effects of NPY on ethanol and sucrose drinking in nonselected rats using a binge drinking model. Long Evans rats were trained to complete a single response requirement resulting in access to either 2% sucrose (Sucrose Group) or 2% sucrose/10% ethanol (Ethanol Group) for a 20-min drinking session. On treatment days, rats were bilaterally microinjected into the CeA with aCSF or one of three doses of NPY (0.25 μg, 0.50 μg, or 1.00 μg/.5 μL). Subjects in the Ethanol Group were consuming an average of 1.2 g/kg of ethanol (yielding BELs of ~ 90 mg%) during the 20 min access period following aCSF treatments. The results revealed that NPY had no effect on either sucrose or ethanol consumption or on appetitive responding (latency to respond). Overall, the findings indicate that even a history of binge-like ethanol consumption is not sufficient to recruit CeA NPY activity, and are consistent with previous studies showing that the role of NPY in regulating ethanol reinforcement in the CeA may be contingent upon a prior history of ethanol dependence.
Optical Interconnects in Exascale Supercomputers

Full-text article is not available. Optical interconnects, heavily used in today’s petascale supercomputers, will become pervasive at the exascale during this decade. The technological and economic challenges for interconnects will be reviewed, along with the technologies that can meet them.
Modeling of Flow Around a Cylinder Over a Scoured Bed

The hydrodynamics around a static horizontal cylinder and five static scoured bed profiles subjected to steady flow were simulated using a CFD model, FLOW-3D. Both a two-equation k-ϵ model and a Smagorinsky LES turbulence closure scheme were evaluated. The mean horizontal and vertical velocity estimates of both turbulence models show reasonable agreement with the data. Wake characteristics such as the reattachment point and vortex shedding were examined. The reattachment point for the k-ϵ closure scheme was consistent with the observations. However, the vortex shedding induced by the LES closure scheme resulted in a considerably larger and unsteady reattachment point. In all profiles, the size and strength of the eddies formed by the LES closure scheme were found to be grid dependent. The k-ϵ model was found to be grid dependent for the vortex shedding process.
A cost-effective projection model for basic and continuous surgical care in India

Global surgery opportunities for United States surgical residents: a plea for centralization Mary M Knudson, MD, FACS, Margaret Tarpley, MLS, Catherine J Juillard, MD, MPH, Patricia J Numann, MD, FACS Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN and the State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY and San Francisco General Hospital and University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Apertureless Near-Field Scanning Optical Microscopy of Single Molecules

Single molecules within poly(vinyl alcohol) film are studied in a confocal, vacuum apertureless near-field scanning optical microscope. Fluorescence images show asymmetry, attributed to interference between evanescent and probe fields, combined with the direction of one-dimensional absorption dipole of the molecule. A model for the evanescent and probe excitation fields qualitatively reproduces many observed features of molecule fluorescence images. In the experiment we measured up to 7.3 times fluorescence enhancement and ∼30 nm fluorescence resolution.
Pilot-point based multi-objective calibration in a surface–subsurface distributed hydrological model

Abstract In this study, a fully-coupled surface–subsurface, distributed, physics-based hydrological model was calibrated using the pilot-point method. A minimum variance field rule was included in the objective function to regularize the extensive calibration exercise that included 74 parameters (72 associated with pilot points and two spatially-invariant channel parameters). Because the overland and vadose zone systems are not in permanent hydrological connection, the information contained in the observation points may not be accessible by the pilot points at all times, rendering them insensitive to the observations and hindering the calibration process. An analysis of the spatial and temporal variability of parameter sensitivities was done to explore how the information contained in local observations spreads from the observation points to the pilot points, where parameter values are identified. The results show that the channel flow time series is valuable to identify the parameters at all pilot-point ...
Twenty-year follow-up of patients with permanently bonded mandibular canine-to-canine retainers

Introduction: Many orthodontists believe permanent retention is the only way to maintain ideal tooth alignment after treatment. Fixed bonded retainers are now routinely left in place for many years, even decades. The purpose of this study was to examine the health effects and effectiveness of very long-term retention. Methods: Sixty patients who had had bonded canine-to-canine retainers placed a minimum of 20 years previously were recalled. Results: Forty-five still had the retainers still in place, and, of these, only 1 had an irregularity index score >2 mm. In this group, the retainers of 28 patients had never broken, and the retainers were repaired once for 8 patients and more than once for 9. The other 15 patients had had their retainers removed outside the orthodontic practice 5 to 25 years previously. In 13 of these patients, the irregularity index score was >3 mm, and 5 of them had scores >4 mm. Gingival index scores for all teeth from first molar to first molar in both arches demonstrated no detrimental effects to the mandibular anterior gingiva from leaving these retainers in place, and the mean score for the maxillary incisor area was better in the patients with a retained mandibular retainer, suggesting better hygiene in the group with retainers. Conclusion: Long-term retention of mandibular incisor alignment is acceptable to most patients and quite compatible with periodontal health.
A randomized comparison of surgical procedures for infantile esotropia.

In a prospective, randomized, masked study we compared the treatment of infantile esotropia using bilateral medial rectus muscle recessions of a graded amount from the insertion to standard 10.5-mm recession from the corneoscleral limbus. of the patients undergoing recession of the medial recti muscles 10.5 mm from the corneoscleral limbus, 33 of 39 (84%) achieved a final ocular alignment within 10 prism diopters of straight with one operation, compared to 26 of 41 (63%) of the patients undergoing a graded recession from the insertion. The difference was significant (.01
The Nonlinear Elastic Behavior of Open-Cell Foams

A constitutive model for the nonlinear elastic behavior of isotropic low-density open-cell foams with three-dimensional structure is formulated in terms of a strain energy function. The theory is based on micromechanical analysis of an idealized tetrahedral unit cell of arbitrary orientation that contains four half-struts joining at equal angles
Factors affecting plant diversity during post-fire recovery and succession of mediterranean-climate shrublands in California, USA

Plant community diversity, measured as species richness, is typically highest in the early post-fire years in California shrublands. However, this generalization is overly simplistic and the present study demonstrates that diversity is determined by a complex of temporal and spatial effects. Ninety sites distributed across southern California were studied for 5 years after a series of fires. Characteristics of the disturbance event, in this case fire severity, can alter post-fire diversity, both decreasing and increasing diversity, depending on life form. Spatial variability in resource availability is an important factor explaining patterns of diversity, and there is a complex interaction between landscape features and life form. Temporal variability in resource availability affects diversity, and the diversity peak in the immediate post-fire year (or two) appears to be driven by factors different from subsequent diversity peaks. Early post-fire diversity is influenced by life-history specialization, illustrated by species that spend the bulk of their life cycle as a dormant seed bank, which is then triggered to germinate by fire. Resource fluctuations, precipitation in particular, may be associated with subsequent post-fire diversity peaks. These later peaks in diversity comprise a flora that is compositionally different from the immediate post-fire flora, and their presence may be due to mass effects from population expansion of local populations in adjacent burned areas.
Effects of Ozone on the Colloidal Stability and Aggregation of Particles Coated with Natural Organic Matter

Adsorption of natural organic matter (NOM) onto particles contributes to their colloidal stability and inhibits coagulation in water treatment. Ozone has been shown to assist in the destabilization of particles during water treatment by several hypothesized mechanisms. The goal of this research was to study the effects of ozone on NOM-coated particles in model (synthetic) waters to determine prevailing mechanisms and to quantify the effects of different variables. The experimental system included particles, aqueous phase NOM in equilibrium with particle phase (sorbed) NOM, and a background solution chemistry reflecting pH, ionic strength, and potentially influential ions (e.g., calcium, bicarbonate). Particle stability was assessed through electrophoretic mobility measurements while particle aggregation was assessed through use of a collision efficiency factor (α) under fluid shear mixing conditions. Changes in molecular weight, acidity, and complexation capacity of NOM (aqueous and mineral-bound) with ca...
Relationships between Environmental Factors and Pathogenic Vibrios in the Northern Gulf of Mexico

Although autochthonous vibrio densities are known to be influenced by water temperature and salinity, little is understood about other environmental factors associated with their abundance and distribution. Densities of culturable Vibrio vulnificus containing vvh (V. vulnificus hemolysin gene) and V. parahaemolyticus containing tlh (thermolabile hemolysin gene, ubiquitous in V. parahaemolyticus), tdh (thermostable direct hemolysin gene, V. parahaemolyticus pathogenicity factor), and trh (tdh-related hemolysin gene, V. parahaemolyticus pathogenicity factor) were measured in coastal waters of Mississippi and Alabama. Over a 19-month sampling period, vibrio densities in water, oysters, and sediment varied significantly with sea surface temperature (SST). On average, tdh-to-tlh ratios were significantly higher than trh-to-tlh ratios in water and oysters but not in sediment. Although tlh densities were lower than vvh densities in water and in oysters, the opposite was true in sediment. Regression analysis indicated that SST had a significant association with vvh and tlh densities in water and oysters, while salinity was significantly related to vibrio densities in the water column. Chlorophyll a levels in the water were correlated significantly with vvh in sediment and oysters and with pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus (tdh and trh) in the water column. Furthermore, turbidity was a significant predictor of V. parahaemolyticus density in all sample types (water, oyster, and sediment), and its role in predicting the risk of V. parahaemolyticus illness may be more important than previously realized. This study identified (i) culturable vibrios in winter sediment samples, (ii) niche-based differences in the abundance of vibrios, and (iii) predictive signatures resulting from correlations between environmental parameters and vibrio densities.
The difficulty of integrating land trusts in land use planning

Abstract We examine land-owning organizations’ choice of strategy for steering spatial development. There are two highly visible strategies to influence land use. The first one, acquisition, is direct; it consists of either gaining outright ownership of the land, or various forms of partial title, including conservation easements. The second one, regulation, is indirect; it relies on the legal instruments of public policy, in particular land use planning, to influence the behavior of landowners. Often linking these two strategies in a coherent way is a challenge. On the one hand, local authorities are empowered by the law to plan for conservation, but they are not well equipped to do so (lack of capacity, expertise, political will). On the other hand, many small conservation NGOs are active at the micro level with little concern for supra-local considerations. Focusing on an important private conservation effort in Southern Quebec, this article seeks to better understand land-owning organizations’ position toward land use planning. It shows how conservation NGOs, which rely on property rights to influence land use, position themselves within the broader regulatory context and attempt to coordinate their action at a regional scale in order to complement their acquisition strategy.
Coping skills training for youths with diabetes on intensive therapy.

The purpose of this study was to determine if a behavioral intervention (coping skills training ZCST]) combined with intensive diabetes management can improve the metabolic control and quality of life in adolescents who are implementing intensive therapy. A total of 77 youths (age range, 12.5–20 years) who were beginning intensive insulin therapy were randomly assigned to one of two groups: intensive management with CST or without CST. CST consists of a series of small group efforts designed to teach problem solving skills and communication. Data were collected preintervention and at 3 and 6 months post-intervention by using established clinical and psychosocial indicators. Randomization produced equivalent groups. After 6 months, subjects who received CST had better metabolic control ( F = 3.89, p = .02) and better general self-efficacy ( F = 4.54, p = 0.01). They reported less negative impact of diabetes on their quality of life ( F = 4.55, p = .01) and had fewer worries about diabetes ( F = 3.82, p = .02). Thus, nurses may find CST useful in assisting youths with diabetes to achieve metabolic and quality of life goals.
Accounting Information Systems Research Opportunities Using Personality Type Theory and the Myers‐Briggs Type Indicator

The cognitive science paradigm, with its computational and information processing models of the human mind, dominates much of current accounting information systems (AIS) research. While these models aid our understanding of cognition, it is unclear how much of the mind they explain. Personality type theory (PTT) is one supplement to cognitive science. PTT is especially useful for AIS researchers because an extensively tested and validated psychometric instrument based on PTT, the Myers‐Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), is available for use in practice and research. We provide an overview of PTT and the MBTI and discuss how AIS researchers can use PTT to complement and extend current research initiatives. We highlight opportunities for PTT‐based AIS research by posing research questions, the investigation of which contributes to the AIS literature.
Treatment with modafinil and escitalopram, alone and in combination, on cocaine-induced effects: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled human laboratory study.

Background Concurrent administration of dopamine and serotonin reuptake inhibitors reduces cocaine self-administration in monkeys. Consonant with this, clinical trials assessing modafinil and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors alone show some efficacy as potential pharmacotherapies for cocaine dependence. We hypothesized that combining modafinil with escitalopram would attenuate the euphoric effects of cocaine to a greater degree than modafinil alone.
Quantitative Investigation of the Role of SeqA in Escherichia Coli Chromosome Segregation

Although many bacterial species possess a set of par genes responsible for chromosome segregation, Escherichia coli and a number of other gram-negative bacteria appear to be missing the canonical par genes. Nevertheless, these bacteria do possess a unique set of genes that are found only in species that lack the canonical partitioning system, suggesting that a subset of these genes may have superseded their function. Among this subset is the DNA-binding protein SeqA, already known to play a central role in the regulation of DNA replication. Combining high-throughput fluorescence microscopy and automated image analysis, we are investigating the role of SeqA in segregation by two complementary approaches: (1) characterizing correlated dynamics of SeqA and the origin of replication by simultaneous visualization of SeqA and oriC localization throughout the segregation process in hundreds of independent cells, and (2) quantitative analysis of chromosome dynamics in a SeqA mutant to estimate the magnitude of the biasing forces during the segregation process with and without SeqA. We believe this quantitative imaging-based approach will provide new insights into the segregation process in E. coli which has so far thwarted traditional genetic approaches.
ATM-dependent Dissociation of B55 Regulatory Subunit from Nuclear PP2A in Response to Ionizing Radiation

Ionizing radiation (IR) is known to activate multiple cell cycle checkpoints that are thought to enhance the ability of cells to respond to DNA damage. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) has been implicated in IR-induced activation of checkpoints; therefore, Jurkat cells were exposed to an activating dose of IR or sham treatment as control, and nuclear extracts were analyzed for PP2A by Mono Q anion exchange chromatography and microcystin affinity chromatography. PP2A exists in eukaryotic cells both as a heterodimer consisting of a 65-kDa scaffolding subunit (A) plus a 36-kDa catalytic subunit (C) and as ABC heterotrimers, containing one of a variety of regulatory (B) subunits. Here we show that IR produces a transient and reversible reduction in the amount of nuclear AB55C heterotrimer without affecting the AB'C heterotrimer or AC heterodimer. In ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM)-deficient cells the amount of nuclear PP2A heterotrimer relative to heterodimer was not reduced by radiation, but the radiation response was restored by transfection of these cells with plasmids encoding ATM. Wortmannin, an inhibitor of kinases such as phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, also prevented the IR-induced reduction in nuclear PP2A heterotrimer. The changes in nuclear PP2A occurred without a noticeable difference in the carboxyl-terminal methylation of the C subunit, which is known to influence association with B subunits. We conclude a novel ATM-dependent mechanism is regulating association of B55 subunits with nuclear PP2A in response to IR.
The Craniocaudal Extension of Posterolateral Approaches and Their Combination: A Quantitative Anatomic and Clinical Analysis

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe quantitatively the properties of the posterolateral approaches and their combination. METHODS: Six silicone-injected cadaveric heads were dissected bilaterally. Quantitative data were generated with the Optotrak 3020 system (Northern Digital, Waterloo, Canada) and Surgiscope (Elekta Instruments, Inc., Atlanta, GA), including key anatomic points on the skull base and brainstem. All parameters were measured after the basic retrosigmoid craniectomy and then after combination with a basic far-lateral extension. The clinical results of 20 patients who underwent a combined retrosigmoid and far-lateral approach were reviewed. RESULTS: The change in accessibility to the lower clivus was greatest after the far-lateral extension (mean change, 43.62 ± 10.98 mm 2 ; P=.001). Accessibility to the constant landmarks, Meckel's cave, internal auditory meatus, and jugular foramen did not change significantly between the 2 approaches (P > .05). The greatest change in accessibility to soft tissue between the 2 approaches was to the lower brainstem (mean change, 33.88 ± 5.25 mm 2 ; P = .0001). Total removal was achieved in 75% of the cases. The average postoperative Glasgow Outcome Scale score of patients who underwent the combined retrosigmoid and far-lateral approach improved significantly, compared with the preoperative scores. CONCLUSION: The combination of the far-lateral and simple retrosigmoid approaches significantly increases the petroclival working area and access to the cranial nerves. However, risk of injury to neurovascular structures and time needed to extend the craniotomy must be weighed against the increased working area and angles of attack.
Age-related influence of contingencies on a saccade task

Adolescence is characterized by increased risk-taking and sensation-seeking, presumably brought about by developmental changes within reward-mediating brain circuits. A better understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying reward-seeking during adolescence can have critical implications for the development of strategies to enhance adolescent performance in potentially dangerous situations. Yet little research has investigated the influence of age on the modulation of behavior by incentives with neuroscience-based methods. A monetary reward antisaccade task (the RST) was used with 23 healthy adolescents and 30 healthy adults. Performance accuracy, latency and peak velocity of saccade responses (prosaccades and antisaccades) were analyzed. Performance accuracy across all groups was improved by incentives (obtain reward, avoid punishment) for both, prosaccades and antisaccades. However, modulation of antisaccade errors (direction errors) by incentives differed between groups: adolescents modulated saccade latency and peak velocity depending on contingencies, with incentives aligning their performance to that of adults; adults did not show a modulation by incentives. These findings suggest that incentives modulate a global measure of performance (percent direction errors) in adults and adolescents, and exert a more powerful influence on the control of incorrect motor responses in adolescents than in adults. These findings suggest that this task can be used in neuroimaging studies as a probe of the influence of incentives on cognitive control from a developmental perspective as well as in health and disease.
An Infant Nation: Childhood Studies and Early America

The child, it has been said, is the last acceptable “other.” While minority scholarship has made us aware of the injustice and inaccuracy of infantilizing colonized and marginalized people, we have only begun to look with a critical eye at the narratives of sentimentality, emotionality, and inferiority attached to children. This article traces at the prevalence of the child-as-symbol in early American literature and culture in order to elucidate the stubborn stereotypes attached to children – and the study of children – and to introduce the groundbreaking work that has begun to analyze the complex cultural work performed by the American child. Finally, I argue that attending to the vulnerability and dependence of childhood offers the opportunity to rethink the fictive assumption that any one of us can fully occupy the position of the self-reliant, wholly independent subject.
Insulin and Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 Modulation of Glucose Transport in Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells: Implication of GLUT-4 in the Vasculature

Insulin modulates many physiological processes in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) such as contractility, proliferation, and ion homeostasis. However, hormonal modulation of glucose transport has not been explored in pure populations of these cells. This study demonstrates that insulin and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) increase glucose transport in a7r5 clonal and freshly prepared Sprague-Dawley aortic (SDa) VSMC. In a7r5 cells, physiologic (10(-12) to 10(-9) mol/L) insulin concentrations increase transport by 8% to 15%, whereas supraphysiologic concentrations (10(-9) to 10(-6) mol/L) increase transport by up to 60% (P < .05 v no increase over all concentrations tested). In SDa cells, insulin was more potent, displaying maximum transport stimulation of 70% at 10(-8) mol/L (P < .05 v a7r5 cells). Insulin regulation of glucose transport occurs by a protein synthesis-independent pathway as 10 mumol/L cycloheximide was without effect. Insulin produces these effects within 20 min of treatment, and cytochalasin B (10 mumol/L) inhibits both basal and insulin-stimulated glucose transport by 93% and 96%, respectively. Stimulation of insulin receptors alone, with 2.5 pg/mL insulin receptor-specific antibody, stimulates glucose transport by 20%, suggesting transport can be stimulated by an IGF-1 receptor independent mechanism. However, IGF-1 is a more potent stimulator of transport in both cell lines studied, with maximal stimulation (10(-8) mol/L IGF-1) of 60% and 80% in a7r5 and SDa cells, respectively (P < .05 v 10(-8) mol/L insulin in both cell lines). Insulin stimulation of glucose transport is specific for [D+]-glucose; [L-]-glucose does not compete for transport.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A Parallel hp-Multigrid Solver for Three-Dimensional Discontinuous Galerkin Discretizations of the Euler Equations

A combined h and p multigrid solution strategy is developed for high-order Discontinuous Galerkin discretizations of the three-dimensional Euler equations. This solver is used to compute inviscid compressible flow over realistic three-dimensional aerodynamic configurations, and the performance of the solver in terms of convergence efficiency and parallel scalability is investigated. The hp multigrid solver is found to deliver nearly optimal convergence rates, which are insensitive to the discretization order p, and to the mesh resolution h. The solver is also shown to scale well on massively parallel computer architectures, demonstrating good scalability up to 2008 processors of the NASA Columbia Supercomputer.
Single-molecule imaging in live bacteria cells

Bacteria, such as Escherichia coli and Caulobacter crescentus, are the most studied and perhaps best-understood organisms in biology. The advances in understanding of living systems gained from these organisms are immense. Application of single-molecule techniques in bacteria have presented unique difficulties owing to their small size and highly curved form. The aim of this review is to show advances made in single-molecule imaging in bacteria over the past 10 years, and to look to the future where the combination of implementing such high-precision techniques in well-characterized and controllable model systems such as E. coli could lead to a greater understanding of fundamental biological questions inaccessible through classic ensemble methods.
Bitter Harvest: The South Carolina Low Country in Historical Perspective

The factors responsible for the South Carolina Low Country's rapid economic rise in the eigthteenth century and for the area's subsequent lapse into stagnation and decline are described and analyzed. The conclusion is that the rise and fall of the Low Country grew out of the white settlers' early economic commitment to the production of plantation staples with bound labor. The Low Country was locked into a pattern of economic development that required a high demand for low country staples. When demand for low country staples abated, the area faced economic ruin. IN April 1670 an elderly Puritan named William Sayle led a small band of Englishmen from the frigate Carolina to the eerie lowland the Kiawah Indians called home. With this act, permanent European settlement in the South Carolina Low Country began.' Nowhere in North America did such a discomfiting society emerge. For my purpose the fact that no area planted by Europeans in North America experienced such an impressive economic rise and descent is most important. After a tentative period of adjustment which lasted for several decades, the low country economy performed extraordinarily well through most of the eighteenth century. On the eve of the American Revolution the inhabitants of the area were by many standards the wealthiest population in British North America, if not the entire world. This position did not last long beyond the turn of the nineteenth century. The low country economy declined slowly between 1820 and the Civil War. After the cessation of formal hostilities between North and South, the area lapsed into absolute decline for a decade or two, perhaps longer. By 1900 the South Carolina Low Country was arguably the poorest part of the poorest census region in the United States and, generally speaking, remains poor today.2
A Distributed Memory Unstructured Gauss-Seidel Algorithm for Multigrid Smoothers

Gauss-Seidel is a popular multigrid smoother as it is provably optimal on structured grids and exhibits superior performance on unstructured grids. Gauss-Seidel is not used to our knowledge on distributed memory machines as it is not obvious how to parallelize it effectively. We, among others, have found that Krylov solvers preconditioned with Jacobi, block Jacobi or overlapped Schwarz are effective on unstructured problems. Gauss-Seidel does however have some attractive properties, namely: fast convergence, no global communication (ie, no dot products) and fewer flops per iteration as one can incorporate an initial guess naturally. This paper discusses an algorithm for parallelizing Gauss-Seidel for distributed memory computers for use as a multigrid smoother and compares its performance with preconditioned conjugate gradients on unstructured linear elasticity problems with up to 76 million degrees of freedom.
Landscape fragmentation affects responses of avian communities to climate change

Forecasting the consequences of climate change is contingent upon our understanding of the relationship between biodiversity patterns and climatic variability. While the impacts of climate change on individual species have been well-documented, there is a paucity of studies on climate-mediated changes in community dynamics. Our objectives were to investigate the relationship between temporal turnover in avian biodiversity and changes in climatic conditions and to assess the role of landscape fragmentation in affecting this relationship. We hypothesized that community turnover would be highest in regions experiencing the most pronounced changes in climate and that these patterns would be reduced in human-dominated landscapes. To test this hypothesis, we quantified temporal turnover in avian communities over a 20-year period using data from the New York State Breeding Atlases collected during 1980–1985 and 2000–2005. We applied Bayesian spatially varying intercept models to evaluate the relationship between temporal turnover and temporal trends in climatic conditions and landscape fragmentation. We found that models including interaction terms between climate change and landscape fragmentation were superior to models without the interaction terms, suggesting that the relationship between avian community turnover and changes in climatic conditions was affected by the level of landscape fragmentation. Specifically, we found weaker associations between temporal turnover and climatic change in regions with prevalent habitat fragmentation. We suggest that avian communities in fragmented landscapes are more robust to climate change than communities found in contiguous habitats because they are comprised of species with wider thermal niches and thus are less susceptible to shifts in climatic variability. We conclude that highly fragmented regions are likely to undergo less pronounced changes in composition and structure of faunal communities as a result of climate change, whereas those changes are likely to be greater in contiguous and unfragmented habitats.
Morphology Of Silicon Oxides On Silicon Carbide

The development of high power devices based on silicon carbide requires a more complete understanding of the oxide formation process and interface characteristics. By using an integrated UHV system, samples were cleaned and oxides deposited in situ. The approach of the oxide formation process was to form the initial insulator, a few angstroms thick, and then deposit an oxide. Various deposition techniques are used in the oxide growth process; both thermal and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition were employed with two different precursors (oxygen and nitrous oxide), and the results were compared with thermal oxidation. The morphology of each of the deposited oxides was compared to the bare substrate and the thermal oxide wafers. This study focuses on the morphology of the different deposition processes using AFM. Examination of the morphology of the initial insulator growth process and the oxide deposition process gives insight into the physical characteristics of the silicon dioxide deposited on silicon carbide. The RMS values of the initial insulator formation and the control wafers are 0.93 and 0.95 nm respectively. Meanwhile, the RMS values for PECVD (200–400°C) and thermal CVD (400–600°C for oxygen-silane and 800–1000°C for nitrous oxide-silane) range from 1.43 to 1.93 nm.
Development of a Hopfield network for solving integral equations

The authors present a novel strategy for solving integral equations using a Hopfield type network. The major advantage of this strategy is the guaranteed convergence to the globally optimum solution ensured by the causality property of the network and the continuous nature of the feedback to each node. The algorithm consists of deriving the two function minimization equations, one for the energy function of the network and the other for the least squares solution of the discretized integral equation with appropriate regularization conditions. By comparing similar terms of the two equations the circuit parameters of the network are estimated. The network is then simulated for obtaining the solution of the integral equation. Initial simulation results are presented. >
Packet scheduling for multiple description video streaming in multipoint-to-point networks

This paper presents a client-driven rate-distortion optimized packet scheduling algorithm for streaming multiple description (MD) encoded video, where the descriptions are distributed among different video-on-demand servers. Previously, multiple description coding (MDC) has been proposed to provide reliable video communication within a content delivery network, where the main goal was to imitate path diversity by using multiple servers concurrently. Although this approach can alleviate the severe effects of bursty packet losses, transmitting video packets in a time-sensitive and network-adaptive manner is fundamental to the success of MD streaming. Hence, in this paper we propose a packet scheduling algorithm that maximizes the quality of the video rendered at the client under the given rate constraints. This algorithm jointly considers the timeliness requirements of the streaming application, dependency structure of the streamed video, network conditions as well as the error-resiliency features of MDC.
A Comparison of the Physical and Intellectual Development of Black Children With and Without Sickle-Cell ell Trait

Sickle-cell trait, a condition present in 7% to 9% of the United States Black population, is usually considered to be a clinically benign condition. However, there is increasing evidence to indicate the contrary, that is, the clinical pathophysiology is variable, ranging from a benign condition in most cases to a relatively few cases of severe pathological involvement. Physical and intellectual growth measures were taken on 19 children with sickle-cell trait (12 boys and 7 girls) from a large study of Black same-sex twin pairs from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and compared to measures taken of a sample of normal Black children from 155 monozygotic and dizygotic same-sex twin pairs. Sickle-cell trait carriers were found to weigh less, have smaller upper arm circumference, lesser skinfold thickness, and showed less mature skeletal age, differing significantly from normal children. Sickle-cell carriers tended to score lower on four of five intellectual measures, scoring one fifth to one third of a standard deviation lower than normal children.
Effects of shock frequency reduction on avoidance responding in the pigeon

Using Herrnstein and Hineline’s shock-reduction paradigm, the postshock probability was increased, while the postresponse probability was held constant. Pigeons depressed a treadle which reduced the probability of shock. As the postshock probability increased, the response rate increased and the animals spent less time on the postshock program. The response rate was highest and the length of time between a shock and an effective response was lowest when the difference between postshock and postresponse probabilities was greatest. These results generally confirm the Herrnstein and Hineline results and indicate that their findings can be generalized to pigeons.
Screening the receptorome.

The term ‘receptorome’ is now being used to describe receptors, ion channels and transporters in the human genome that are potential drug targets. These proteins comprise a considerable fraction of...
Doing the Job Well: An Investigation of Pro-Social Rule Breaking

This article introduces and explores the construct of pro-social rule breaking. Pro-social rule breaking is rooted in a desire to promote the welfare of the organization or one of its stakeholders. The first two studies used interview data to identify three primary types of pro-social rule breaking: rule breaking to perform one’s responsibilities more efficiently, rule breaking to help a subordinate or colleague, and rule breaking to provide good customer service. A third study used a scenario-based laboratory experiment. It found that the likelihood of pro-social rule breaking was positively related to job autonomy, coworker behavior, and risk-taking propensity.