cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Model-based coupled denoising and segmentation of medical images

We present a new model-based framework for coupled segmentation and de-noising of medical images. The segmentation and de-noising steps are coupled through a discrete formulation of the total variation de-noising problem in a restricted setting such that each pixel in the image has its de-noised intensity level selected from a drastically reduced set of intensities. By creating such a reduced set of intensity levels, in which each intensity level represent the intensity across a region to be segmented, the intensity value for each de-noised pixel will be forced to assume a value in this limited set; by associating all pixels with the same de-noised value as a single region, image segmentation is naturally achieved. We derive two formulations corresponding to two noise models: additive white Gaussian and multiplicative Rayleigh. We furthermore show that the proposed framework enables globally optimal foreground/background segmentation of images with Rayleigh distributed noise.
Assessing Real Estate Volatility

Several approaches to assessing the volatility of private market or direct real estate as an asset class are illustrated in this article. These approaches yield reasonably consistent estimates, falling in a range of 6.5%-9.0% annualized standard deviation of total return for a diversified portfolio of unleveraged, core properties. The estimates take into account the lack of statistical independence from quarter to quarter that is characteristic of private market real estate returns. The estimates provide useful guidance for quantifying the risk of direct real estate for purposes of evaluating real estate9s potential role in a multi-asset class portfolio. In addition, the empirical estimates have intuitive appeal: they lie between investment-grade bonds and large-cap stocks.
A study of home-based services for families of adolescents

Adolescents and their families present some of the most difficult challenges for family-centered, home-based service providers. A study of 51 families of adolescents, who received services from one rural home-based program was conducted in order to describe the characteristics distinguishing families in which placement was averted from families in which placement was not. Content analysis of case records indicated group differences on severity and type of adolescent behavior, family functioning, and families' follow-up with discharge recommendations. Gender differences in placement rates were also noted. Implications for the provision of family-centered, home-based services to families of adolescents were discussed.
Unsteady Computations of Abrupt Wing Stall Using Detached-Eddy Simulation

Unsteady computational fluid dynamics calculations are presented of the abrupt wing stall phenomenon on the preproduction F/A-18E using detached-eddy simulation. Detached-eddy simulation combines the efficiency of a Reynolds-averaged turbulence model near the wall with the fidelity of large-eddy simulation in separated regions. Because it uses large-eddy simulation in the separated regions, it is capable of predicting the unsteady motions associated with separated flows. Detached-Eddy Simulation has been applied to predict the unsteady shock motion present on the F/A-18E at transonic speeds over several angles of attack. Solution-based grid adaption is used on unstructured grids to improve the resolution in the separated region
Nicotine and clozapine effects on attentional performance impaired by the NMDA antagonist dizocilpine in female rats

Cognitive impairment is very prevalent in schizophrenia and is currently undertreated in most patients. Attentional deficit is one of the hallmark symptoms of schizophrenia. Antipsychotic drugs, which can be quite effective in combating hallucinations are often ineffective in reducing cognitive impairment and can potentiate cognitive impairment. Previously, we found that the antipsychotic drug clozapine impaired, while nicotine improved, the accuracy of rats performing a visual signal detection attentional task in normal rats. For the current study, in a model of cognitive impairment of schizophrenia with the NMDA antagonist dizocilpine (0.05 mg/kg), we examined the effects of clozapine and nicotine on significantly impaired attentional hit accuracy. This dizocilpine-induced impairment was significantly (p<0.05) reversed by either clozapine (1.25 mg/kg) or nicotine (0.025 mg/kg). Interestingly, when clozapine and nicotine were given together, they blocked each other's beneficial effects. When the effective doses of 1.25 mg/kg clozapine and 0.025 mg/kg nicotine were given together the combination no longer significantly reversed the dizocilpine-induced hit-accuracy impairment. Given that the great majority of people with schizophrenia smoke, the potential beneficial effects of clozapine on attentional function may be largely blocked by self-administered nicotine. In addition, there are promising results concerning the development of nicotinic treatments to reverse cognitive deficits including attentional impairment. This is supported in the current study by the reversal of the dizocilpine-induced attentional impairment by nicotine. However, in schizophrenia the efficacy of nicotinic treatments may be limited by co-treatment with antipsychotic drugs like clozapine. It will be important to determine which of the complex effects of clozapine and nicotine are key in reversing attentional impairment and how they block each other's effects for the development of therapy to combat the attentional impairment of schizophrenia.
Revision of marginal probability assessments

Sets of experts are frequently called upon to assess the occurrance probability of uncertain events. Often, the events being assessed are structurally interrelated, levying constraints on the assessements. However, expert panels frequently violate those constraints, resulting in internally inconsistent probability assessments. Based on a formulation of coherence due to de Finetti, we investigate methods for optimally modifying expert assessments to match structural constraints on the joint probability distribution over the set of events.
Free radical theory of ageing: Applications

Abstract Ageing is the accumulation of changes that increase the risk of death. Ageing changes can be attributed to development, genetic defects, the environment, disease, and the inborn ageing process. The major contributors of ageing changes after age 28 in the developed countries are endogenous chemical reactions, which, collectively, exponentially increase the chance of disease and death with advancing age. These reactions constitute the “inborn ageing process”. This process is the major risk factor for disease and death of the 98–99% of cohorts still alive at age 28 in the developed countries, where living conditions are near optimum. In these countries average life expectancies at birth (ALE-B) range from 76–79 years, 6–9 years less than the limit of about 85 years imposed by ageing. The Free Radical Theory of Ageing (FRTA) postulates that ageing changes are caused by free radical reactions. This theory suggests the possibility that measures to decrease the rate of initiation and /or the chain length of free radical reactions may, at least in some cases, decrease the rate of reactions which produce ageing changes without significantly depressing those involved in maintenance and function. Many studies support this possibility. Applications of the FRTA have been fruitful. For example, it is a useful guide to the efforts to increase the life span, and it provides plausible explanations for ageing phenomena, (for example, the association of disease with age as well as insight into pathogenesis, the gender gap, the association between events in early life and late onset disease, and the shortening of telomeres with cell division). Further, it is reasonable to expect on the basis of animal and epidemiological studies, that the increasing population-wide use of antioxidant supplements and ingestion of foods high in antioxidant capacity over the past 40 years have helped to increase the functional life span in the U.S.A. by contributing significantly to the decline in “free radical diseases”, to increases in the fraction of elderly in the population, and to the decline in chronic disability in this group.
In vitro trophic action of ACTH and insulin upon adrenocortical enzymes of the squaliform elasmobranch Ginglymostoma cirratum (Bonnaterre).

Abstract Until recently the existence of a functional pituitary-adrenocortical axis in the elasmobranch fishes has been the subject of conflicting reports. The evidence strongly supports a functional axis in the rajiforms but little such evidence is present in the case of the squaliforms. The effects of ACTH and insulin upon dehydrogenases and diaphorases in organ cultured adrenocortical tissue of the squaliform elasmobranch ( Ginglymostoma cirratum B.) revealed four types of enzymic response to hormone treatment. The type I reaction was increased enzymic activity with ACTH, insulin having no effect (16β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase). The type II response was increased enzymic activity with ACTH, which was augmented by insulin (3β-hydroxysteroid, glucose-6-phosphate, and lactate dehydrogenases). The type III reaction was reduced enzymic activity with ACTH, insulin having no effect (NADPH diaphorase). The type IV reaction was decreased enzymic activity inversely related to ACTH dose (NADH diaphorase). The results support the concept of a functional pituitary-adrenocortical axis present in the squaliforms. Further, multihormonal actions on elasmobranch adrenocortical tissue are indicated.
Microstructurally optimized heat treatment for melt-processed, Ag clad Bi2Sr2CaCu2Oy tape step-solidification melt processing

Abstract We have studied the behavior of (Sr 1− x Ca x )CuO 2 (1:1) and the development of Bi 2 Sr 2 CaCu 2 O y (2212) alignment during melt processing of silver-clad 2212 tapes in air in the critical temperature region of 870-860°C. We found that remnant 1:1 grains can be reduced in size with extended annealing just below 865°C. The highest 2212 alignment was achieved by annealing just below the 2212 solidus temperature (870°C). An alignment mechanism based on grain growth of fortuitously aligned, plate-like 2212 grains within a mostly two-dimensional environment (opportunistic grain growth) was proposed to explain the high degree of alignment that can develop in melt-processed tape. Based on the microstructural data obtained from this study, a heat treatment that uses step-wise cooling (step solidification) was developed yielding a microstructure consisting of highly aligned 2212 and small 1:1 grains.
Conformational analysis of four β‐methylphenylalanine stereoisomers in a bioactive peptide by z‐filtered relay NMR spectroscopy

The rotamer populations around the C-α—C-β bond of amino acid residues with one β-proton can be calculated from homonuclear and heteronuclear vicinal coupling constants. The measurement of long-range heteronuclear coupling constants, however, suffers from the inherent low sensitivity of the heteronuclear multiple bond experiments. In this paper it is demonstrated that z-filtered homonuclear and heteronuclear relay spectroscopy provides a sensitive and accurate means for the evaluation of conformationally important vicinal coupling constants. Side-chain conformations of the four stereoisomers of β-methylphenylalanine residues in synthetic octapeptide analogues of CCK-8 were derived from the measured coupling constants. This information is not easily available from conformational analysis based on simple steric considerations.
Effects of ifenprodil, a polyamine site NMDA receptor antagonist, on reperfusion injury after transient focal cerebral ischemia

✓ Polyamines and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are both thought to play an important role in secondary neuronal injury after cerebral ischemia. Ifenprodil, known as a noncompetitive inhibitor of polyamine sites at the NMDA receptor, was studied after transient focal cerebral ischemia occurred. Spontaneously hypertensive male rats, each weighing between 250 and 350 g, underwent 3 hours of tandem middle cerebral artery (MCA) and common carotid artery occlusion followed by reperfusion for a period of 3 hours or 21 hours. Intravenous ifenprodil (10 µg/kg/minute) or saline infusion was started immediately after the onset of MCA occlusion and continued throughout the ischemic period. Physiological parameters including blood pressure, blood gas levels, blood glucose, hemoglobin, and rectal and temporal muscle temperatures were monitored. Six rats from each group were evaluated at 6 hours postocclusion for brain water content, an indicator of brain edema, and Evans blue dye extravasation for blood-brain b...
Managing raw material in supply chains

Abstract In this paper, we explore how firms can manage their raw material sourcing better by developing appropriate sourcing relationships with their raw material suppliers. We detail three empirical case studies of firms explaining their different raw material sourcing strategies: (a) firms can adopt a hands-off approach to raw material management, (b) firms can supply raw material directly to their suppliers, and this may be beneficial for some agents in the supply chain, and (c) firms can bring their component suppliers together, and the resulting cooperation between suppliers can be beneficial for supply chain. We then analytically model the three raw material scenarios encountered in our empirical work, examine the resulting profits along the supply chain, and extend the results to a competitive buyer scenario. Overall, our results show that active management of raw material sourcing can add value to supply chains.
Novel Coordinate System and Rotation Transformations for Antenna Applications

ABSTRACT General coordinate system transformations and rotation transformations for antenna, applications are presented in a novel coherent and unified fashion. In coordinate system transformations, the Cartesian transformation matrix (CTM) is used to relate the representations of a vector in two Cartesian coordinate systems. Useful CTMs such as the Cartesian–spherical transformation and the Eulerian transformation are formulated based on three elementary CTMs. In rotation transformations, the rotation transformation matrix (RTM) is used to describe the rotation of an object, which may be a point, a vector, a coordinate system, or any physical entity. The relationship between the representations of an RTM in different Cartesian coordinate systems art: developed. Three examples: (i) Scanning dual–reflector antennas, (ii) Map generation for satellite antennas, and (iii) Coordinate systems for antenna measurement (EL–over–AZ and AZ–OVER–EL) are given to demonstrate the versatility of the combined application...
PLATYSIPHONIA DECUMBENS SP. NOV., A NEW MEMBER OF THE SARCOMENIA GROUP (RHODOPHYTA) FROM WASHINGTON

A new species, Platysiphonia decumbens, belonging to the Sarcomenia group (Rhodophyta, Ceramiales), is described from Puget Sound, Washington. Reproductive thalli are described and illustrated, and the growth of this alga in culture is correlated with observations made on field material. The limits of the genus Platysiphonia Borgesen are broadened to include this species. The relationship of Platysiphonia to Sarcomenia Sonder is discussed.
Atomic structures of defects at GaSe/Si(111) heterointerfaces studied by scanning tunneling microscopy

The gallium-selenide (GaSe)/silicon (Si) heterointerface provides an excellent model system to investigate the role of defects in heterointerface formation between elemental and polar semiconductors. The first bilayer of GaSe on Si(111) exhibits negligible intermixing, high chemical stability, and no lateral surface reconstruction. In situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) was used to perform a planar investigation of the GaSe-Si heterointerface structure. In addition to large regions of a uniform, hexagonal $1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1$ structure, STM revealed various point, line, and planar defects, including clustered point defects, orientational domains and their boundaries, and Ga terminated regions (Ga/Si) in the interface layer. A model atomic structure of the orientational domains and their boundaries is deduced from polarity-dependent atomically resolved STM images: Se atoms are located at ${T}_{4}$ sites for rotated domains (RD's) instead of ${H}_{3}$ sites for normal domains. Formation mechanisms of orientational domains and the domain boundaries together with Ga/Si is discussed in terms of growth conditions and surface dipole moments around defects. It is also shown that high growth temperature reduces formation of RD's, which might in turn enable the growth of single-domain epitaxial GaSe films. Plan-view information about interface defects is key to understanding nucleation, growth kinetics and the resulting electronic structures of the overlayer.
Single-Chip Multiple-Frequency ALN MEMS Filters Based on Contour-Mode Piezoelectric Resonators

This paper reports experimental results on a new class of single-chip multiple-frequency (up to 236 MHz) filters that are based on low motional resistance contour-mode aluminum nitride piezoelectric micromechanical resonators. Rectangular plates and rings are made out of an aluminum nitride layer sandwiched between a bottom platinum electrode and a top aluminum electrode. For the first time, these devices have been electrically cascaded to yield high performance, low insertion loss (as low as 4 dB at 93MHz), and large rejection (27 dB at 236 MHz) micromechanical bandpass filters. This novel technology could revolutionize wireless communication systems by allowing cofabrication of multiple frequency filters on the same chip, potentially reducing form factors and manufacturing costs. In addition, these filters require terminations (1 kOmega termination is used at 236 MHz) that can be realized with on-chip inductors and capacitors, enabling their direct interface with standard 50-Omega systems
Abnormal Lamellar Body Formation in SP-B Deficient Mice |[bull]| 308

Congenital surfactant associated protein B deficiency is now a recognized clinical and pathological entity. In order to better understand the pathogenesis of the pulmonary disorder, we have studied fetal FVBN mice which are homozygous for the deletion (-/-), heterozygous (+/-), or wild Type (+/+) at 15.5 days, 16.5 days and 17-17.5 days gestation, using transmission electron microscopy. This is the first report of an SP-B knockout in a genetic background other than Swiss black mice. SP-B +/- males were crossed with FVBN wild type females for 9 generations. At 15.5 days, the 3 genotypes were nearly identical in their phenotypes. Lipid membranes appeared near the epithelial basement membrane of pre-Type II cells in pools of monoparticulate glycogen(MG). These membranes were often surrounded by what appeared to be pools of neutral lipid or lipid droplets appeared nearby. Lipid droplets were also numerous in lipocytes beneath the basement membrane. Multivesicular bodies(MVBs) were numerous, often intimately associated with Golgi apparatus, and distant from the MG pools. At 16.5 days, the +/- and the +/+ animals showed similar changes with recognizable lamellar body lipid whorls on the edges or outside the MG pools. MVBs were often immediately adjacent to lamellae in the form of crescents or were incorporated as dense cores. By 17-17.5 days, fully developed lamellar bodies were present in Type II cells of +/+ and +/- animals and exocytosis was seen with lipid in airways. In contrast, the -/- animals at 16.5 days no longer had membranous strands of lipid, but lipid appeared as large dense particles within a membrane bound structure which also contained what appeared to be isolated membranes of MVBs. These large structures seemed to be coalescing in some cases and were outside the MG pools. By 17-17.5 days, the -/- structures appeared further developed as MVB membranes incorporated with dense lipid remnants into the abnormal lamellar bodies. We speculate that the lipid that forms normal lamellar bodies does not arise from MVB membranes, but from lipid transferred to Type II cells. MVBs arise from Golgi apparatus and are incorporated into developing lamellae, presumably supplying the surfactant associated proteins. SP-B deficient mice, however, cannot form proper lamellae as lipid strands, and MVB membranes which are incorporated with the lipid are fragmented and exocytosis does not appear to occur normally.
IC-P2-077: Amyloid deposition related to cortical thinning

blind to group status. Scans were then segmented into separate tissue classes using an adaptive fuzzy C-means algorithm. Volumes of gray matter and white matter tissue as well as total brain volume were calculated. Results: At both Time 1 and Time 2, the high-risk sample showed significantly smaller white matter volumes (Time 1 p 0.05, Time 2 p 0.04). Change across the time points, however, did not significantly differ between groups (control -50ccm, high-risk -53.28ccm). Conclusions: While the similar rate of white matter loss across groups may reflect aging, this would not provide an explanation for the initial significantly smaller white matter volume seen in the high-risk group. Further study will be needed to more fully understand the significance of reduced white matter volume as it relates to AD.
Minimalism and the Value of Truth

Minimalists generally see themselves as engaged in a descriptive project. They maintain that they can explain everything we want to say about truth without appealing to anything other than the T-schema, i.e., the idea that the proposition that p is true iff p. I argue that despite recent claims to the contrary, minimalists cannot explain one important belief many people have about truth, namely, that truth is good. If that is so, then minimalism, and possibly deflationism as a whole, must be rejected or recast as a profoundly revisionary project.
“Maturational” globin switching in primary primitive erythroid cells

Mammals have 2 distinct erythroid lineages. The primitive erythroid lineage originates in the yolk sac and generates a cohort of large erythroblasts that terminally differentiate in the bloodstream. The definitive erythroid lineage generates smaller enucleated erythrocytes that become the predominant cell in fetal and postnatal circulation. These lineages also have distinct globin expression patterns. Our studies in primary murine primitive erythroid cells indicate that βH1 is the predominant β-globin transcript in the early yolk sac. Thus, unlike the human, murine β-globin genes are not up-regulated in the order of their chromosomal arrangement. As primitive erythroblasts mature from proerythroblasts to reticulocytes, they undergo a βH1- to ϵy-globin switch, up-regulate adult β1- and β2-globins, and down-regulate ζ-globin. These changes in transcript levels correlate with changes in RNA polymerase II density at their promoters and transcribed regions. Furthermore, the ϵy- and βH1-globin genes in primitive erythroblasts reside within a single large hyperacetylated domain. These data suggest that this “maturational” βH1- to ϵy-globin switch is dynamically regulated at the transcriptional level. Globin switching during ontogeny is due not only to the sequential appearance of primitive and definitive lineages but also to changes in globin expression as primitive erythroblasts mature in the bloodstream.
Mediating perceived parenting styles–test anxiety relationships: Academic procrastination and maladaptive perfectionism

Abstract We investigated perceived authoritarian and authoritative parenting styles in mothers and fathers, academic procrastination, maladaptive perfectionism, and both affective and cognitive test anxieties using self-reports of 206 undergraduates (women = 160; men = 46). Supporting study hypotheses, academic procrastination and maladaptive perfectionism concurrently mediated the positive relationship between perceived authoritarian fathering and both affective and cognitive test anxieties, but only maladaptive perfectionism mediated the positive relationship between perceived authoritarian mothering and both affective and cognitive test anxieties. Conversely, supporting study hypotheses, academic procrastination and maladaptive perfectionism concurrently mediated the inverse relationship between perceived authoritative parenting (in mothers and fathers separately) and both affective and cognitive test anxieties. Our study added to the literature by establishing academic procrastination and maladaptive perfectionism as concurrent mediators in the relationships between perceived parenting styles and test anxiety, except for perceived authoritarian mothering. These findings could improve academic success and retention efforts among vulnerable undergraduates.
Speech Variation and the Study of Indian Civilization1

the spread of features within a speech area. Furthermore, historically oriented structural linguists confine their research to historical linguistics or internal language history, the formal reconstruction of hypothetical parent varieties from a series of distinct languages or dialects, in contrast to external language history, the study of linguistic change in relation to the social currents which affect it. The great body of 19th and 20th century research on speech variation within single speech communities has as yet evoked little interest among either structural linguists or social scientists in the United States. Yet, much of this work is of central relevance for the studies of complex civilizations or "intermediate societies" as they have recently been termed (Casagrande 1959), which are becoming more and more common in modern anthropology. In contrast to many modern American linguists who, because of their concern with methodology, have often found it difficult to communicate with other students of culture, dialectologists-and especially those trained in the European tradition-tend to think of themselves primarily as cultural geographers, folklorists, or social historians. They regard linguistic analysis not as an end in itself but rather pursue it for the information it provides about the history and culture of a region. Thus, of the earlier work, the investigations of the German scholars Fischer, Haag, and Wrede have produced convincing evidence for the relationship between present-day dialect isoglosses and certain
A long-term bridge performance monitoring program

The state of the practice of bridge inspection and bridge management in the United States is briefly discussed. This practice has many limitations. The most significant limitation is that the data collected is based solely upon visual inspection, augmented with limited mechanical methods such as hammer sounding or prying. Visual inspection is highly variable, subjective and inherently unable to detect invisible deterioration, damage or distress. There are many types of damage and deterioration that need to be detected and measured that are beyond the capabilities of visual inspection. Bridge performance also needs to be measured. The FHWA and many others have conducted research and development in technologies that can help meet these needs. Several examples illustrating the application of this technology for the long term monitoring of bridges are described. While the summary is not comprehensive it demonstrates that technology exists to meet the needs identified. Future directions and further application of bridge monitoring technology are also briefly discussed.
Altering the time cycle of heat treatment by quenched-ln vacancies

The role of quenched-in vacancies in altering the time cycle of heat treatment is best exemplified by the process of formation of Guinier-Preston zones. Phase decomposition can be dramatically accelerated by enhanced solute diffusion which results from the high vacancy supersaturation quenched-in attendant to heat treatment. A review is presented of this field from the earliest work through recent developments. Important contributions, principally of a conceptual nature, have come about from quenching studies on pure metals. Impurity additions to these pure metals, as well as to high-purity binary alloys, have led to an understanding of the vacancy-solute binding energy and to the way in which this binding can affect zone formation. The interrelated diffusion of vacancies and of vacancy-solute pairs introduces coupled processes which are complex and need to be considered in a thorough analysis of the problem. Recent theoretical and experimental approaches are examined.
Roles of manganese and iron in the regulation of the biosynthesis of manganese-superoxide dismutase in Escherichia coli

Aerobic life-style offers both benefits and risks to living cells. The major risk comes from the formation of reactive oxygen intermediates (i.e. superoxide radical, O2-; hydrogen peroxide, H2O2; and hydroxyl radical, OH.) during normal oxygen metabolism. However, living cells are able to cope with oxygen toxicity by virtue of a unique set of antioxidant enzymes that scavenge O2- and H2O2, and prevent the formation OH.. Superoxide dismutases (SODs; EC 1.15.1.1) are metalloenzymes essential for aerobic survival. Escherichia coli contains two forms of this enzyme: an iron-containing enzyme (FeSOD) and a manganese-containing enzyme (MnSOD). In E. coli, MnSOD biosynthesis is under rigorous control. The enzyme is induced in response to a variety of environmental stress conditions including exposure to oxygen, redox cycling compounds such as paraquat which exacerbate the level of intracellular superoxide radicals, iron chelation (i.e. iron deprivation), and oxidants. A model for the regulation of the MnSOD has been proposed in which the MnSOD gene (sodA) is negatively regulated at the level of transcription by an iron-containing redox-sensitive repressor protein. The effect of iron-chelation most probably results in removal of the iron necessary for repressor activity. Recent studies have shown that sodA expression is regulated by three iron-dependent regulatory proteins, Fur (ferric uptake regulation), Fnr (fumarate nitrate regulation) and SoxR (superoxide regulon), and by the ArcA/ArcB (aerobic respiration control) system. The potential Fur-, Fnr- and ArcA-binding sites in the sodA promoter region have been identified by using different cis-acting regulatory mutations that caused anaerobic derepression of the gene.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
First stool in the preterm, low-birth-weight infant

The age at passage of the first stool was noted in 180 preterm, low-birth-weight infants. Fifty-seven per cent had their first stool by 12 hours and 80 per cent by 24 hours of age. There was no relationship among birth weight, gestational age, Apgar scores, or age at first feeding and age at first stool.
Is the vacuum extractor really the instrument of first choice

This study was a retrospective analysis of the pattern of usage of both the forceps and vacuum extractor as well as the neonatal outcome on all the instrumental deliveries conducted in 1995 at the Kandang Kerbau Hospital, Singapore. There were a total of 927 forceps deliveries and 495 vacuum extractions but neonatal data was available for only 481 forceps and 255 vacuum extractor babies. (There were 2 neonatal units which accepted admissions on alternate days; all of the data were collected from 1 of the units only). Demographic data were comparable in most aspects except that vacuum deliveries were significantly associated with higher parity and shorter labours. There was a trend towards using the vacuum extractor in less difficult cases. Almost all the instrumental deliveries were conducted by specialists. Birth trauma was significantly more likely to occur with the vacuum extractor. Almost all the deliveries were conducted with similar expertise in both groups, yet the use of the vacuum extractor resulted in more birth trauma even in the presence of 'easier' cases. This may suggest an inherent risk in using the vacuum extractor.
Developmental potentialities of blastema cell nuclei of the Mexican Axolotl.

During amphibian limb regeneration, differentiated cells contribute to the formation of a blastema. Cells once incorporated into the blastema are identical in their morphological appearances. This investigation is a test of the developmental potentialities of blastema cell nuclei as revealed by means of nuclear transplantation. When blastula cell nuclei are injected into enucleated eggs, approximately 80–90% of the test eggs cleave. Over half of the cleaved eggs form regular blastulae. Of the regular blastuae 60% form post-neurula embryos. The initial experiment with regenerating cells involved the ijection of two to three blastema cell nuclei from a seven-day-old regenerate into test eggs. The blastema cells were obtained from a white Axolotl (dd) and the test eggs were laid by a dark Axolotl (Dd). Of some 35 eggs injected, five partial and two regular blastulae were obtained. One of the regular blastulae was sacrificed after 24 hours of development, and part of its tissue was grafted on an embryo of the genetic composition DD. When the host started to develop its pigmentation, the graft developed as a white patch, thus indicating the genetic nature of the graft was that of transplanted blastema cell nucleus. Subsequently single blastema cell nuclei from seven- to sixteen-day-old regenerates were injected into test eggs. Blastema cell nuclei of eight-day-old regenerates were injected into test eggs. Blastema cell nuclei of eight-day-old regenerates were able to promote development of post neurula embryos.
Evaporative Printing of Organic Materials at Ambient Pressure using a Micromachined Printhead

We present a MEMS-enabled technique for evaporative printing of organic materials which doesn't require a vacuum ambient, has a fast printing rate (1 kHz), and can be scaled up to an array of individually addressable nozzles. By depositing the materials directly from the gas phase, without liquid phase coming in contact with the substrate, we aim at avoiding the limitations encountered when ink-jet printing organic materials. The MEMS printhead comports an array of 2 micron pores and an integrated thin film platinum heater on a silicon membrane for local evaporation of the materials. This printhead was used, together with ink-jet technology for the delivery of material to the pores, to print molecular organic semiconductors. Our technique enables printing of organic optoelectronics over large areas, and is thus a critical element in the realization of large-area, high-speed, and low-cost printing of optoelectronics.
Minimizing network cost in all-optical networks

The problem of minimizing the total network cost of an optical network topology by efficient selection of switching sites, size of optical switches, and optical links is investigated in this paper. The problem investigated is NP—hard. Therefore, we develop an efficient heuristic to approximate the solution in polynomial time. A mixed integer quadratic programming (MIQP) formulation of the problem is also presented to find the optimal network cost and compute the efficiency of the heuristic. The total network cost calculated by the heuristic in the experiments is within 19% of its optimal value. Moreover, the total network cost in half of the test problems is within 6% of its optimal value. The heuristic solves the problem with 20 node topologies in less than a second. However, the commercial optimization software can not solve any problem with more than 10 nodes even in two weeks.
Mappings of Fields Based on Nominations.

The network of colleagues is sampled in seven scientific specialties. Using researchers as points and a measure of similarity based on conominations, we are able to map the fields. The analysis assumes that the more frequently two researchers are nominated together, the more closely they are related. The resulting map places highly conominated researchers close together. We are able to identify subareas within the fields. A conomination analysis explicates the structure of the invisible colleges by sampling the network of colleagues. A comparison of conomination and cocitation analysis for information science indicates that the citatory behavior of authors corresponds to a high degree with the social structure of science.
Reducing medication administration errors in learning disability nursing

It is essential that people with a learning disability and mental disorder receive the appropriate medicines in order to promote both their physical and mental health. However, medication administration errors (MAEs) are relatively frequent occurrences, and can have serious consequences. There is mixed evidence as to whether they can be reduced through a two-nurse administration system. Two-nurse administration is relatively expensive, but could be more cost-effective if the second administrator were a specially trained health care assistant (HCA) rather than a registered nurse. Such a system may also be more practicable in areas where only one registered nurse is available. This paper describes the evaluation of the introduction of an HCA observer into the medicines administration process utilising a before and after audit design. There was a significant fall in the MAE rate 9 months after the introduction of an observer, from 2.92% to 0.85% of all prescribed doses.
Effect of acclimation temperature on the acute stress response in juvenile Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua L., and haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus L.

Juvenile Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) and haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus L.) were subjected to 30 s air exposure stressors following acclimation to 4, 10 and 14 and 4, 8 and 14°C respectively. Both species responded to the stressor with increases in plasma cortisol at all temperatures tested. At 14°C cortisol levels peaked within 1 h post-stressor, and returned to pre-stressor levels within 24 h. In contrast, at 4°C, peak cortisol levels were not attained until 6 h post-stressor in haddock and remained elevated beyond 24 h in both species. The rate of plasma glucose accumulation was greater at higher temperatures in both species and no increase was seen at 4°C. Lysozyme activity in cod, in response to the stressor, was lower than the values reported for some other species and increased slightly at 14°C. The results show that cod and haddock acclimated to different temperatures respond to common, acute stressors in a manner similar to other teleosts.
NFATc3-Induced Reductions in Voltage-Gated K+ Currents After Myocardial Infarction

Reductions in voltage-activated K+ (Kv) currents may underlie arrhythmias after myocardial infarction (MI). We investigated the role of beta-adrenergic signaling and the calcineurin/NFAT pathway in mediating the reductions in Kv currents observed after MI in mouse ventricular myocytes. Kv currents were produced by the summation of 3 distinct currents: I(to), I(Kslow1), and I(Kslow2). At 48 hours after MI, we found a 4-fold increase in NFAT activity, which coincided with a decrease in the amplitudes of I(to), I(Kslow1), and I(Kslow2). Consistent with this, mRNA and protein levels of Kv1.5, 2.1, 4.2, and 4.3, which underlie I(Kslow1), I(Kslow2), and I(to), were decreased after MI. Administration of the beta-blocker metoprolol prevented the activation of NFAT and the reductions in I(to), I(Kslow1), and I(Kslow2) after MI. Cyclosporine, an inhibitor of calcineurin, also prevented the reductions in these currents after MI. Importantly, Kv currents did not change after MI in ventricular myocytes from NFATc3 knockout mice. Conversely, chronic beta-adrenergic stimulation or expression of an activated NFATc3 decreased Kv currents to a similar extent as MI. Taken together, these data indicate that NFATc3 plays an essential role in the signaling pathway leading to reduced I(to), I(Kslow1), and I(Kslow2) after MI. We propose that increased beta-adrenergic signaling after MI activates calcineurin and NFATc3, which decreases I(to), I(Kslow1), and I(Kslow2) via a reduction in Kv1.5, Kv2.1, Kv4.2, and Kv4.3 expression.
Factors driving bottom salinity variability in the Chesapeake Bay

The long-term variability of bottom salinity in the Chesapeake Bay is examined using observations from 1985 to 2004. Simple linear regression analysis based on annual mean data shows that the bottom salinity is significantly correlated with both the Susquehanna River discharge and the Gulf Stream (GS) index, which represents shelf and slope water salinity. This suggests that local forcings as well as external processes affect the variation of bottom salinity on interannual to decadal time scales. Empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis is used to extract patterns among 21 sampling stations along the bay. The first seven EOF modes explain approximately 85% of total variance, and consequently they are combined to represent the variability of bottom salinity anomaly in the bay. The wavelet transform of the bottom salinity anomaly reveals significant areas centered at the periods of 2 and 7.5 years, which is consistent with the results from Fourier spectral analysis. The significant powers in the bottom salinity anomaly exhibit spectral correspondences to the wavelet power spectra of both the river discharge and the GS index, suggesting possible connections between them. Wavelet coherence is employed to determine whether relationship in power spectra between two time series is statistically significant. Our results clearly demonstrate that the interannual variability of the bottom salinity is forced by the freshwater discharge, and the quasi-decadal variability is associated with shelf-slope water condition through horizontal exchange. No evidence is found to indicate that there is influence of the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the variability of the river discharge, but the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) may be related to it at decadal or longer time scales.
Using metaphors as modifiers: children's production of metaphoric compounds

Although much research has investigated children's use of metaphoric language, methodological concerns raise questions about the conclusions, and it remains unclear whether preschoolers can produce metaphors. These studies employed a new methodology to test children's ability to produce metaphors incorporated into metaphoric compounds. In two studies, 59 children aged 2:8-4:3, 63 children aged 4:4-6:1, and 34 adults participated in elicited production tasks. In Study 1, subjects in the COMPOUND condition corrected a puppet's incorrect compound labels for pictures that had metaphoric resemblances to other objects (e.g. 'leaf-bug' for a bug shaped like a stick). Subjects in the NONMETAPHORIC condition heard incorrect compounds describing pictures without obvious metaphoric resemblance (e.g. 'leaf-bug' for a round black beetle). Children in the REVERSAL condition heard compounds with nouns reversed (e.g. 'bug-leaf' for the stick-bug) to discover whether children distinguished between the literal and metaphoric labels. Study 2 provided an additional test of children's metaphoric-literal distinction. Results showed that children as young as 3:0 produced intentional, appropriate metaphors incorporated into compound nouns when the stimuli and puppet's labels primed recognition of metaphoric similarity and compound production. Moreover, children showed evidence of a distinction between literal and metaphoric labels. The data show that preschool children have an early ability to use metaphoric language but that significant developmental change occurs between the ages of 3:0 and 5:0 as well as beyond 5:0. Additionally, metaphoric language in preschoolers is not limited to single-word renamings.
Viscoelastic properties of the ferret brain measured in vivo at multiple frequencies by magnetic resonance elastography

Characterization of the dynamic mechanical behavior of brain tissue is essential for understanding and simulating the mechanisms of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Changes in mechanical properties may also reflect changes in the brain due to aging or disease. In this study, we used magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) to measure the viscoelastic properties of ferret brain tissue in vivo. Threedimensional (3D) displacement fields were acquired during wave propagation in the brain induced by harmonic excitation of the skull at 400 Hz, 600 Hz and 800 Hz. Shear waves with wavelengths in the order of millimeters were clearly visible in the displacement field, in strain fields, and in the curl of displacement field (which contains no contributions from longitudinal waves). Viscoelastic parameters (storage and loss moduli) governing dynamic shear deformation were estimated in gray and white matter for these excitation frequencies. To characterize the reproducibility of measurements, two ferrets were studied on three different dates each. Estimated viscoelastic properties of white matter in the ferret brain were generally similar to those of gray matter and consistent between animals and scan dates. In both tissue types G 0 increased from approximately 3 kPa at 400 Hz to 7 kPa at 800 Hz and G 00
Conditioned Whisking in the Rat

The rat's mystacial vibrissae are active during exploratory and discriminative behaviors, with individual vibrissae serving as elements in a receptive array scanned across object surfaces. To facilitate neurobehavioral analysis of this sensorimotor system, we have developed an experimental paradigm that confines vibrissa movements to a defined physical location, makes possible on-line monitoring of “whisking” activity, and brings such activity under associative control using operant conditioning procedures. Rats were secured, and movements of an identified bilaterally homologous pair of vibrissae (right and left gamma straddlers) were detected by laser-based photodetectors. Subjects were maintained on a water deprivation schedule, and whisker movements were monitored during adaptation to the test situation and after the clipping of other vibrissae on both sides of the snout. Rats were reinforced with water delivery for emitting vibrissa movements in the presence of a conditioned stimulus (tone) whose pres...
Analysis of terahertz detection with a 2D hot‐electron quantum well detector

The operation of a previously proposed terahertz (THZ) detector is formulated in detail . The detector is based on the hot-elec- tron effect of the 2D electron gas (2DEG) in the quantum well (QW) of a GaAs/ AIGaAs heterostructure . The interaction between the THz radia- tion and the 2DEG, the current enhancement due to hot -electron effect, and the noise performance of the detector are analyzed . m 2003 Wiley Periodi- 4.5-nm-thick GaAs QWs doped n = IO" cm-3 and 30-nm undoped Al0 3GaO.7As barriers. The MQW is sandwiched between n = loll cm-3 GaAs layers to which contacts were provided. The detector was tested at 10 GHz using a waveguide to couple microwave energy to the sample. It was found that, as long as there is a non-zero component of the electric field lying in the layer plane, thermionic current is enhanced due to the radiation, Al- though X-band microwave was used in the preliminary experi- ments, it was suggested that radiation could be detected up to It) THz. The basic setup for the above-mentioned experiment is shown
Preserving the spoken word: six issues in search of a digital solution

How can we digitize the spoken word in a way that maximizes its usefulness and accessibility over as long a period as possible? This editorial lists six issues: copyright and ownership; selection at both the collection and contents level; conversion, formats, and analog input; segmentation and structuring; metadata at both the bibliographic and contents level; and maintenance and refreshing.