cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Solution and upscaling of compositional and immiscible displacements in composite media

The scale of heterogeneities in reservoirs is often smaller than the grid size used in large-scale reservoir simulations. Relative permeabilities have the foremost effect on fluid flow and small-scale fractional flow must be upscaled to the grid size in flow simulations. Thus, systems with fractional flow heterogeneities, i.e. relative permeability variations, have to be solved and effective relative permeability functions determined. In this paper, benchmark analytical solutions are developed for a system consisting of two media in series where each medium is characterized with a different set of relative permeabilities, residual saturations and porosities. The analytical solutions show a significant discontinuity in the saturation and concentration profiles at the interface of the two media. Numerical results using several weighting schemes are compared against the analytical solutions for two-phase immiscible and partially miscible systems. It is shown that single-point upstream weighting requires about 100 grid blocks to capture the discontinuity at the interface, whereas third-order TVD weighting requires much fewer. Lastly, the validity of the JBN method and harmonic averaging for determination of effective relative permeabilities and overall pressure drop is tested. Both the JBN method and harmonic averaging cannot reproduce the pressure drop across the composite media prior to water breakthrough.
CXCR7 expression disrupts endothelial cell homeostasis and causes ligand-dependent invasion

The homeostatic function of endothelial cells (EC) is critical for a number of physiological processes including vascular integrity, immunity, and wound healing. Indeed, vascular abnormalities resulting from EC dysfunction contribute to the development and spread of malignancies. The alternative SDF-1/CXCL12 receptor CXCR7 is frequently and specifically highly expressed in tumor-associated vessels. In this study, we investigate whether CXCR7 contributes to vascular dysfunction by specifically examining the effect of CXCR7 expression on EC barrier function and motility. We demonstrate that CXCR7 expression in EC results in redistribution of CD31/PECAM-1 and loss of contact inhibition. Moreover, CXCR7+ EC are deficient in barrier formation. We show that CXCR7-mediated motility has no influence on angiogenesis but contributes to another motile process, the invasion of CXCR7+ EC into ligand-rich niches. These results identify CXCR7 as a novel manipulator of EC barrier function via alteration of PECAM-1 homophilic junctions. As such, aberrant expression of CXCR7 in the vasculature has the potential to disrupt vascular homeostasis and could contribute to vascular dysfunction in cancer systems.
An Optical Technique for the Large-Scale Graphene Recognition and Quality Control

We describe a fast and efficient method for recognition and quality control of the large-area graphene layers based on image processing algorithms. Results show that our technique is accurate and has potential for industrial applications.
Teaching Phonological Awareness and Metacognitive Strategies to Children with Reading Difficulties: A comparison of two instructional methods

This paper describes an applied training study which investigated the differential effects of two instructional methods on the reading performance of primary school children with reading difficulties. Sixty five children aged 7-10 participated. Twenty five children were assigned to each of two experimental groups: direct instruction in phonological awareness and the alphabetic principle, or the same direct instruction in phonological awareness in conjunction with training in specific metalinguistic concepts and metacognitive strategies. Fifteen children were selected as controls. Reading performance from baseline was measured within a pretest, posttest, and delayed posttest experimental design. Data and results are presented on 60 children owing to attrition. Results showed that direct instruction in phonological awareness improved the reading performance of children with reading difficulties over time. However, direct instruction in phonological awareness in conjunction with explicit training in specific...
Approaches to the Primary Prevention of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder in the Military: A Review of the Stress Control Literature

ABSTRACTNumerous studies are underway, using data collected from clinical studies and data collected from surveys of combat troops, to determine the most efficacious treatment options for those diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In contrast, little is known about the effectiveness of predeployment training in preventing or mitigating the impact of combat-related stressors on the development of PTSD. We conducted a comprehensive review of literature pertaining to primary prevention efforts to stem the advent of PTSD and other combat and operational stress injuries in military populations using databases from the peer-reviewed literature as well as online searches and colleague referrals. Results show that, as with treatment for PTSD, the most promising preventive approaches appear to utilize exposure strategies, especially those in conjunction with education and stress reduction skills training.
Have air pollutant emissions converged among U.S. regions? Evidence from unit root tests

Previous studies of income distribution have found evidence indicating that incomes across U.S. regions have converged, supporting the prediction of the neoclassical growth model. A potential shortcoming in these studies is that only one measure of well-being is considered-a measure of wealth linked to incomes or production. This paper examines whether income convergence was accompanied by air pollutant emission convergence. Results from unit root tests provide some evidence that indicators of environmental quality have converged across U.S. regions during the 1929-1994 period.
Lipid bilayer preparations of membrane proteins for oriented and magic-angle spinning solid-state NMR samples

Solid-state NMR spectroscopy has been used successfully for characterizing the structure and dynamics of membrane proteins as well as their interactions with other proteins in lipid bilayers. Such an environment is often necessary for achieving native-like structures. Sample preparation is the key to this success. Here we present a detailed description of a robust protocol that results in high-quality membrane protein samples for both magic-angle spinning and oriented-sample solid-state NMR. The procedure is demonstrated using two proteins: CrgA (two transmembrane helices) and Rv1861 (three transmembrane helices), both from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The success of this procedure relies on two points. First, for samples for both types of NMR experiment, the reconstitution of the protein from a detergent environment to an environment in which it is incorporated into liposomes results in 'complete' removal of detergent. Second, for the oriented samples, proper dehydration followed by rehydration of the proteoliposomes is essential. By using this protocol, proteoliposome samples for magic-angle spinning NMR and uniformly aligned samples (orientational mosaicity of <1°) for oriented-sample NMR can be obtained within 10 d.
Ozone in seawater and Lake Water: A reversible reservoir

Observations made at sea and examination of global ozone monitoring data from oceanic sites indicate that ozone mixing ratios over the sea surface often increase with increasing wind speed. However, the slope of the increase approaches zero at wind speeds above about 6 m/sec (13 kts). Subsequent laboratory experiments confirmed that ozone can be purged from any seawater sample whether freshly collected, stored, or from depth. Samples of Lake Michigan water are purged of ozone in less time than seawater and its capacity is less than that of seawater. The rate of evolution of ozone is increased by altering the pH, changing the ionic strength by the addition of salts or by evaporation. These results suggest that a significant portion of tropospheric boundary layer ozone mixing ratios could be maintained by a reversible equilibrium with the ocean and lake surfaces.
Infrared characterization of catalyst surfaces using beam deflection spectroscopy

Abstract The new technique of infrared (IR) photothermal beam deflection spectroscopy (PBDS) is outlined and measurements of IR spectra of solids over the range 3950 - 450 cm −1 made with an interferometer coupled with a detector which senses the photothermal effect by the deflection of a He/Ne laser beam are described. PDS is a general technique and requires no sample preparation. All that is needed is a simple device to hold the sample at the IR focus. The sample must have a flat spot about 2 mm in diameter accessible to the IR and laser beams. As no sample cells per se are needed, the solid to be examined can be very large, so that selected areas on an entire catalyst pellet can be examined. IR spectra can also be recorded of adsorbed species at sub-monolayer coverage and, significantly, this can be done under the rigorously controlled conditions normal to surface studies. Adsorbents and catalysts which scatter and/or absorb IR strongly can be studied, e.g. catalysts with high metal contents, carbons and chars, and carbon-supported metal catalysts. Such materials would be impossible to examine by the conventional IR transmission/absorption techniques. Examples are given, such as spectra of CO chemisorbed on 50 wt.% Ni on carbon and of surface species on silica in a spectral region normally not accessible to IR spectroscopy.
Phenologically-structured predator-prey dynamics with temperature dependence.

Studies document the fact that temperature changes strongly affect interactions in many consumer-resource systems through altered, or shifted, phenologies. The mistiming of events, such as migration or emergence times, or the contraction or expansion of development times can upset the normal synchronization and lead to increased or decreased predation events. In this paper, we formulate a continuous time, phenologically-structured model of predator-prey interactions that is driven by temperature variations. It is particularly applicable to arthropod interactions because their development rates are so strongly temperature related. The model takes the form of a system of partial differential-integral equations for the species’ population densities in development-time variables. In special cases, the model is analytically tractable and we find a closed-form solution. By calculating density variations under different temperature regimes, the model gives a quantitative method for assessing the effects of global temperature change on consumer-resource interactions.
Visual Field Defects and the Prognosis of Stroke Patients

The prognosis of stroke patients is related to the presence or absence of homonymous hemianopia at time of admission to a stroke center. Two hundred thirty-four patients were followed for an average of 15 months. In patients with nonhemorrhagic strokes in the middle cerebral artery territory the presence of a dense homonymous hemianopia lasting for more than 24 hours, together with any degree of motor, sensory or speech defect, seemed to affect adversely the potential for rehabilitation and survival. Data were insufficient to draw similar conclusions with other types of cerebrovascular lesions. The pertinent literature is briefly reviewed.
Beyond Bootstraps: A Rural, Midwestern Health Care Organization’s Response to Employee Depression

Depression is one of the most prevalent and costly employee health issues in American business and industry. Despite the high costs—both human and economic—associated with depression and the availa...
A Comparison of Two Methods for Predicting Emissions From Aircraft Gas Turbine Combustors

This paper discusses the development and comparison of two emissions modeling methods for predicting NOx and CO emissions from aircraft gas turbine combustors. We compare an empirical and a physics-based approach. The objective is to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the methods for predicting the emissions of current and potential future gas turbine engines for the purpose of assessing design tradeoffs and interdependencies in a policy-making setting. The empirical method is based on a P3 -T3 approach using polynomial fits to certification data. The physics-based method is developed using high-level combustor design parameters and ideal reactors. The predictive capability of each method is assessed by comparing model estimates of NOx and CO emissions to certification data from three different industry combustors.
Discrepancies Between Academic Achievement and Intellectual Ability in Higher-Functioning School-Aged Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Academic achievement patterns and their relationships with intellectual ability, social abilities, and problem behavior are described in a sample of 30 higher-functioning, 9-year-old children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Both social abilities and problem behavior have been found to be predictive of academic achievement in typically developing children but this has not been well studied in children with ASD. Participants were tested for academic achievement and intellectual ability at age 9. Problem behaviors were assessed through parent report and social functioning through teacher report at age 6 and 9. Significant discrepancies between children's actual academic achievement and their expected achievement based on their intellectual ability were found in 27 of 30 (90%) children. Both lower than expected and higher than expected achievement was observed. Children with improved social skills at age 6 demonstrated higher levels of academic achievement, specifically word reading, at age 9. No relationship was found between children's level of problem behavior and level of academic achievement. These results suggest that the large majority of higher-functioning children with ASD show discrepancies between actual achievement levels and levels predicted by their intellectual ability. In some cases, children are achieving higher than expected, whereas in others, they are achieving lower than expected. Improved social abilities may contribute to academic achievement. Future studies should further explore factors that can promote strong academic achievement, including studies that examine whether intervention to improve social functioning can support academic achievement in children with ASD.
Non-invasive study of transport in open quantum dot structures

Abstract We discuss the response of a non-locally coupled quantum point contact to the transport properties of a quantum dot. With both structures biased in the tunneling regime, this setup allows for the detection of single-electron charging. We show here that non-local measurements may be used to detect features of the transport through open quantum dots, although the response of the detector to changes in the dot conductance is found to be very much more complicated than that exhibited by tunnel-coupled dots.
Modes of occurrence of uranium in carbonaceous uranium deposits: Characterization of uranium in a south Texas (U.S.A.) lignite

Abstract Investigations on the nature of the association between U and carbonaceous material in south Texas lignite-sandstone ore bodies and other uraniferous bioliths have been reviewed. A strong correlation between the organic, in particular, humic material and U enrichment appears to exist. Geochemical evidence indicates that in the case of many deposits the emplacement of U occurred when groundwater containing dissolved uranyl complexes came into contact with the organic material in carbonaceous sediments. Attempts to identify the particular forms in which U occurs have met with infrequent success. The presence of specific, U-containing minerals, e.g. uraninite or coffinite, has been confirmed only in a few cases. In a majority of the cases U is present in a finely dispersed state which makes the discrimination between mineralized uranium and U present as true organic compounds very difficult. New experimental results on the modes of occurrence of U in a Jackson lignite (Karnes County, south Texas) are presented. The distribution of U in the density separates suggests that the mode of occurrence of this element varies. The concentration of U in the humic acids is nearly half that in the parent lignite even after several re-precipitations followed by dialyses. The humic acids have been separated into three molecular weight fractions (110,000, 24,000 and 7,000 daltons) by gel filtration chromatography. They have also been separated into five molecular weight fractions (range: > 100,000 to 100,000). The exceptions are Mo and Al, 60–67% of which are recovered in the M.W.
SOME MEASUREMENTS IN THE SELF PRESERVING JET

The axisymmetric turbulent incompressible and isothermal jet was investigated by use of linearized constant-temperature hot-wire anemometers. It was established that the jet was truly self-preserving some 70 diameters downstream of the nozzle and most of the measurements were made in excess of this distance. The quantities measured include mean velocity, turbulence stresses, intermittency, skewness and flatness factors, correlations, scales, low-frequency spectra and convection velocity. The r.m.s. values of the various velocity fluctuations differ from those measured previously as a result of lack of self-preservation and insufficient frequency range in the instrumentation of the previous investigations. It appears that Taylor's hypothesis is not applicable to this flow, but the use of convection velocity of the appropriate scale for the transformation from temporal to spatial quantities appears appropriate. The energy balance was calculated from the various measured quantities and the result is quite different from the recent measurements of Sami (1967), which were obtained twenty diameters downstream from the nozzle. In light of these measurements some previous hypotheses about the turbulent structure and the transport phenomena are discussed. Some of the quantities were obtained by two or more different methods, and their relative merits and accuracy are assessed.
A fast algorithm for the longest-common-subsequence problem☆

Abstract In this paper, a fast algorithm for the longest-common-subsequence problem is presented which runs in O((p + n)log n), time where p is the total number of pairs of matched positions between the strings. Thus, the average performance of this algorithm is much better than those of the quadratic algorithms proposed earlier and takes only a linear amount of space.
Preparation of Graduate Students as Classroom Teachers and Supervisors in Applied and Research Settings

This article reports a survey of 447 graduate psychology programs in the United States and Canada concerning preparation of graduate students for classroom teaching and supervising the work of othe...
Effect of hygrothermal environment on the bending of PMC laminates under large deflection

The effects of hygrothermal conditions on the large-deflection behavior of fiber-reinforced polymer matrix composite laminates have been studied. Cylindrical bending of laminates under in-plane and transverse loadings is analyzed using the von Karman plate theory. A cross-plied symmetric laminate is chosen as an example. The results presented show the effects of expansional strains due to moisture. Results of a similar nature are expected under thermally induced expansion strains also. The formulation is quite general as it can be used for the hygrothermo-mechanical loading of PMCs as well as for the thermo-mechanical loading of MMCs, and fiber and matrix properties may be considered to be transversely isotropic.
Effect of rotation on radial dopant segregation in microgravity floating-zone crystal growth

Abstract Computer simulation was conducted to study the effect of rotation on radial dopant segregation in floating-zone crystal growth under microgravity. Heat transfer, fluid flow and mass transfer in the melt zone were considered simultaneously, with the surface tension gradients along the free surface of the melt and the centrifugal force induced by rotation as the driving forces for fluid flow. The growth front, feed front and free surface were calculated, these interfaces being nonisothermal and having nonuniform dopant concentrations. The most common case where the dopant has a segregation ratio k0
CHRONIC PHENOBARBITAL ADMINISTRATION DURING INFANCY: EFFECTS UPON BRAIN DEVELOPMENT IN RATS

Recent studies in our laboratory have revealed that phenobarbital retards early brain growth. In these experiments the effect of chronic phenobarbital administration upon brain development was evaluated under isocaloric conditions of nutrient intake. Chronic intragastric cannulas were installed in 4 day old Wistar rat pups. From day 5 through day 18, these animals received daily subcutaneous injections of 60mg/kg of phenobarbital (n=15) or of the vehicle alone (n=12). An initial period of sedation was observed which gradually disappeared throughout the course of the experiment. On day 19, the animals were weighed and sacrificed. There were no significant differences in body weights between phenobarbital treated and control groups. There was a 12% reduction in brain weight of the phenobarbital treated animals compared to controls (p < .001). DNA, RNA, protein, and cholesterol contents in the experimental animals were significantly lowered in cerebrum. The cerebellum of these animals was affected to a lesser extent but also exhibited growth retardation. These data indicate that chronic phenobarbital administration in the pre-weanling rat selectively retards brain development.
Defining Dispositions: Wading Through Murky Waters

Abstract Efforts to professionalize teaching have coincided with a shift in teacher education programs. Recent requirements of accrediting bodies have resulted in initiatives to assess dispositions in addition to knowledge and skills. However, for such assessment to maintain construct validity, it is imperative first to develop some common understandings about the nature of dispositions and then to explore how teacher education should be addressing them. This paper explores dispositions from both a conceptual and a practical perspective. Dispositions are described as a point of convergence, representing a filter through which thinking and behaviors related to teaching are framed, and a point of inception, from which knowledge and behaviors emanate. This dispositional filter encompasses the teacher s awareness, inclination, and ability to reflect. Teacher education programs can foster dispositions by helping teacher candidates engage in self‐exploration of their personal theories and identify their own val...
Fighting for the Forests Grassroots Resistance to Mining in Northern Ecuador

The history of a grassroots struggle against proposed mining projects in the Ecuadorian community of Junin reveals the centrality to its development of a “colono mentality” augmented by the conscie...
IMAGINE Africa: Providing internet to the developing world

Access to the internet advances many facets of life including education, economic development, and health care quality. Africa is the least connected region in the world. As of 2008, only 5 percent of its population has access to the internet. IMAGINE Africa (IMplementing A Global Internet NEtwork) is a system design study for providing access to these unconnected areas. This system consists of geostationary assets along with easily deployed ground stations to quickly and efficiently provide internet access to the rural population of Africa. In addition to being cost effective, it is also implementable today. This paper provides a description of a roll-out plan for internet access, the system architecture, and the design of an easily deployable ground station.
Engineering for Ecological, Sociological, and Economic Compatibility

Industrial societies have evolved under the influence of a political-economic reward system and a technological revolution that literally views the environment as infinite in its waste absorbing capabilities, if not in resource producing capability as well. As such they are not ecologically feasible in the long term. It is precisely their inconsistencies with the laws of material and energy balance under the pressures of an expanding human population that are generating the environmental crisis. The thesis of this paper is that man, as a dominating species on the surface of the earth, must learn to engineer the developments of industry, agriculture, and human habitats, giving explicit consideration to the effects of these developments on the environment. Environmental components are viewed as conceptually similar to industrial production processes, having many possible alternative uses. Since alternative uses are often mutually exclusive, the choice of use is critical. Some of the ecological and sociological considerations implicit in the problems of choice are demonstrated herein along with some of the problems of economic regulation.
Comparisons of the development of auditory brainstem response latencies between cats and humans

Developmental changes in the peak latencies of auditory brainstem responses (ABR) recorded from humans and kittens were compared to test the hypothesis that developmental time courses among mammals are the same when appropriately normalized. Response latencies were computed as the difference from adult latency and conceptional ages were represented as percentages relative to the age that ABR wave latencies achieved a criterion value within 0.2 ms of asymptotic latency (i.e., adulthood). An underlying assumption of this exercise is that far-field response latency is an appropriate index of overall 'auditory development'. Results of this analysis suggest that developmental changes in latency of responses arising within the auditory periphery are similar between humans and cats, when appropriately normalized, and that more central changes show less correspondence. Consequently, absolute time course differences for specific developmental parameters must be considered and caution should be exercised when extrapolating results acquired from one species to the other.
Deep optical sectioning in turbid media with dual-axes confocal microscopy: towards in vivo optical biopsy

Towards developing dual-axes confocal microscopy for gastrointestinal disease detection, we quantitatively investigate the optical-sectioning ability of this technology through reflectance experiments in a tissue phantom, and also obtain deep fluorescence image sections of tissue specimens.
Biodefense research and the U.S. regulatory structure whither nonhuman primate moral standing

Biodefense and emerging infectious disease animal research aims to avoid or ameliorate human disease and suffering arising from the natural outbreak or intentional deployment of some of the world's most dreaded pathogens. Research to develop medical countermeasures to these diseases faces a difficult challenge since the products usually cannot be tested for efficacy in human beings. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Animal Rule may be increasingly used to overcome this challenge by allowing researchers to translate animal data into medical countermeasures without human subject efficacy testing. Yet the Animal Rule also has significant implications for increased intensive nonhuman primate research. We argue that despite the common belief that nonhuman primates have a fairly high level of moral standing and the protections for animals that are crucial to the U.S. regulations guiding animal research, the Animal Rule specifically and the regulations generally raise serious problems for the attribution of moral standing to nonhuman primates. We argue, however, that the burden of proof is on a position denying all moral standing to nonhuman primates and compare the implications of the U.S. regulatory structure in this regard with some recent developments in the European Union.
Photogeneration of solitons in t r a n s − ( CH ) x : The reversed spin-charge relation of the photoexcitations

High-sensitivity ESR studies of $trans\ensuremath{-}{(\mathrm{CH})}_{x}$ have been carried out during photoexcitation with $\ensuremath{\hbar}\ensuremath{\omega}g{E}_{g}$. The results set an upper limit on the number of photoinduced unpaired spins, which is more than 2 orders of magnitude smaller than the number of charged excitations photogenerated under the same experimental conditions. We conclude that the charged photoexcitations are spinless and therefore have the reversed spin-charge relation of solitons. The photogeneration branching ratio, neutral solitons to charged solitons, is less than ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}2}$.
AGGREGATION BEHAVIOR OF COBALT(II), NICKEL(II), AND COPPER(II) BIS(2-ETHYLHEXYL) PHOSPHATE COMPLEXES IN n-HEPTANE

ABSTRACT The solution behavior of divalent transition metal-bis(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate (M(DEHP)2, M = cobalt, nickel or copper) complexes in n-heptane have been investigated by vapor pressure osmometry, viscometry and dynamic light scattering. Co(DEHP)2 complexes tend to form large macromolecular species with a mean aggregation number Nagg as large as 225, and the size of the macromolecular species decreases with increasing Co(DEHP)2 concentration. In contrast, Cu(DEHP)2 complexes tend to form small macromolecular species Nagg = 4-8 which increase in size with increasing Cu(DEHP)2 concentration. On the other hand, Ni(DEHP)2 complexes (and Ni(DEHP)2-2H2O complexes when the molar ratio of H2O
Isolation and properties of mitochondrial RNA from yeast.

Abstract A purification procedure for the isolation of mitochondrial RNA from yeast is described. Three major components with S values of 23, 16, and 4S were found, as well as two minor components of 11S, and (occasionally) 30S. These values for the two rRNA components are lower than those for their cytoplasmic counterparts isolated and analyzed under comparable conditions. During release from glucose repression the cells incorporate labeled uracil most rapidly into the 11S component; the rate of incorporation is faster during early derepression than during mid-derepression. Although uracil is incorporated into both mitochondrial and cytoplasmic RNA during this stage, the specific radioactivity of the former is three times higher. These results are interpreted in the light that mit-RNA represents a different entity from cyt-RNA.
A phosphotyrosyl-protein phosphatase activity associated with acid phosphatase from human prostate gland

Using [32P]P-Tyr-IgG and [32P]P-Tyr-casein phosphorylated by pp60v-src as substrates, studies on the phosphotyrosyl-protein phosphatase activity in human prostate gland indicate that it is associated with prostatic acid phosphatase. Evidence to support this conclusion include the following: (a) these two enzymatic activities co-purify to apparent homogeneity; (b) they co-migrated on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, ion-exchange and gel filtration chromatographies; (c) the exhibit identical thermostability; and (d) the phosphotyrosyl-protein phosphatase activity is sensitive to inhibition by p-nitrophenyl phosphate and by several classical inhibitors of prostatic acid phosphatase including l(+)-tartrate, molybdate, vanadate and NaF. The purified enzyme exhibits high specificity towards phosphotyrosyl-proteins with little activity towards several phosphoseryl-proteins and phosphothreonyl-proteins examined. The present findings indicate that prostatic acid phosphatase may function in vivo as a phosphotyrosyl-protein phosphatase.
Markerless identification of key events in gait cycle using image flow

Gait analysis has been an interesting area of research for several decades. In this paper, we propose image-flow-based methods to compute the motion and velocities of different body segments automatically, using a single inexpensive video camera. We then identify and extract different events of the gait cycle (double-support, mid-swing, toe-off and heel-strike) from video images. Experiments were conducted in which four walking subjects were captured from the sagittal plane. Automatic segmentation was performed to isolate the moving body from the background. The head excursion and the shank motion were then computed to identify the key frames corresponding to different events in the gait cycle. Our approach does not require calibrated cameras or special markers to capture movement. We have also compared our method with the Optotrak 3D motion capture system and found our results in good agreement with the Optotrak results. The development of our method has potential use in the markerless and unencumbered video capture of human locomotion. Monitoring gait in homes and communities provides a useful application for the aged and the disabled. Our method could potentially be used as an assessment tool to determine gait symmetry or to establish the normal gait pattern of an individual.
Factors Influencing Profitability of Jersey and Holstein Lactations

Abstract Dairy Herd Improvement Association production records and farm records on clinical mastitis treatment from 1617 Holstein and Jersey cows calving between July 1980 and July 1983 on one farm in north Florida were used to evaluate the profitability of 2414 lactations. The investigation demonstrates the use of a profit function to determine the relative importance of factors influencing profitability of lactations of different breed, parity and season of calving. It serves to indicate changes that would yield the greatest financial reward by identifying major inherent economic strengths and weaknesses. Breed, parity, and season of calving accounted for less than 10% of the variation in profit per lactation. Holstein lactations were more profitable than Jersey lactations except for parity 4 lactations and for cows calving between January and June when no significant breed differences were apparent. Milk yield was the single most important determinant of profitability in Jersey lactations, regardless of parity or season of calving. Days of mastitis treatment explained more of the variation in profit per lactation than did milk yield for Holstein lactations calving between January and March and for Holstein lactations of parity greater than 4. Mastitis costs were a maximum of 8.2% of total costs for Holstein lactations of parity 6.
Analysis of intermolecular RNA-RNA recombination by rubella virus

To investigate whether rubella virus (RUB) undergoes intermolecular RNA-RNA recombination, cells were cotransfected with pairs of in vitro transcripts from genomic cDNA plasmid vectors engineered to contain nonoverlapping deletions: the replicative transcript maintained the 5'-proximal nonstructural (NS) ORF (which contained the replicase, making it RNA replication competent), had a deletion in the 3'-proximal structural protein (SP) ORF, and maintained the 3' end of the genome, including the putative 3' cis-acting elements (CSE), while the nonreplicative transcript consisted of the 3' half of the genome including the SP-ORF and 3' CSE. Cotransfection yielded plaque-forming virus that synthesized the standard genomic and subgenomic RNAs and thus was generated by RNA-RNA recombination. Using transcripts tagged with a 3'-terminal deletion, it was found that recombinants contained the 3' end derived from the replicative strand, indicating a cis-preference for initiation of negative-strand synthesis. In cotransfections in which the replicative transcript lacked the 3' CSE, recombination occurred, albeit at lower efficiency, indicating that initiation in trans from the NS-ORF can occur. The 3' CSE was sufficient as a nonreplicative transcript, showing that it can serve as a promoter for negative-strand RNA synthesis. While deletion mutagenesis showed that the presence of the junction untranslated region (J-UTR) between the ORFs appeared to be necessary on both transcripts for recombination in this region of the genome, analysis with transcripts tagged with restriction sites showed that the J-UTR was not a hot spot for recombination compared to neighboring regions in both ORFs. Sequence analysis of recombinants revealed that both precise (homologous) and imprecise recombination (aberrant, homologous resulting in duplications) occurred; however, imprecise recombination only involved the J-UTR or the 3' end of the NS-ORF and the J-UTR (maintaining the NS-ORF), indicating selection pressure against duplications in other regions of the genome.
The outcome of surgical management of type A aortic dissection.

BackgroundType A aortic dissection is a serious and fatal condition.MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated the outcome following repair of ascending aortic dissection in a contemporary cohort of 108 patients with a mean age of 59.5 ± 13.8 years, who were treated between 2006 and 2011. Most patients were male (70, 65%).ResultsCirculatory arrest with a mean duration of 22 ± 16 min was performed in 42 (38.9%) patients. Perioperative mortality was 15.7% (n = 17). Univariate analysis showed that cardiopulmonary bypass time (p = 0.0006), age >60 years (p = 0.028), cardiogenic shock at presentation (p = 0.02), New York Heart Association class II–IV (p = 0.038), hemopericardium (p = 0.0035), and preoperative cerebrovascular accident (p = 0.02) were predictors of mortality. Multivariate analysis indicated that age >60 years (odds ratio 7.7, 95% confidence interval: 1.52–38.96, p = 0.0136), preoperative cerebrovascular accident (odds ratio 25.2, 95% confidence interval: 2.45–258.9, p = 0.0066), hemopericardium (odds r...
Error analysis of fully discrete mixed finite element schemes for 3-D Maxwell’s equations in dispersive media

Abstract We consider the time dependent Maxwell’s equations in dispersive media in a bounded three-dimensional (3-D) domain. Fully discrete mixed finite element methods are developed for three most popular dispersive media models: i.e., the isotropic cold plasma, the one-pole Debye medium and the two-pole Lorentz medium. Optimal error estimates are proved for those three dispersive media under the assumption that the solutions are smooth enough. Numerical results justifying our analysis are provided. We believe that this is the first error analysis carried out for fully discrete mixed finite element methods for solving 3-D Maxwell’s equations in dispersive media.
Influence of acute hypoxia on Z-line width of cardiac muscle

Abstract Isolated guinea pig papillary muscles were exposed to 30 min of acute hypoxia. The preparations were then fixed for electron microscopy. The width of 435 control and 386 hypoxic Z-lines were measured. No statistical difference occurred between the two groups. We conclude, contrary to a recent report, that 30 min of acute hypoxia does not alter the Z-line width in heart muscle.
Rapid hippocampal network adaptation to recurring synchronous activity – a role for calcineurin

Neuronal networks are thought to gradually adapt to altered neuronal activity over many hours and days. For instance, when activity is increased by suppressing synaptic inhibition, excitatory synaptic transmission is reduced. The underlying compensatory cellular and molecular mechanisms are thought to contribute in important ways to maintaining normal network operations. Seizures, due to their massive and highly synchronised discharging, probably challenge the adaptive properties of neurons, especially when seizures are frequent and intense - a condition common in early childhood. In the experiments reported here, we used rat and mice hippocampal slice cultures to explore the effects that recurring seizure-like activity has on the developing hippocampus. We found that developing networks adapted rapidly to recurring synchronised activity in that the duration of seizure-like events was reduced by 42% after 4 h of activity. At the same time, the frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents in pyramidal cells, the expression of biochemical biomarkers for glutamatergic synapses and the branching of pyramidal cell dendrites were all dramatically reduced. Experiments also showed that the reduction in N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunits and postsynaptic density protein 95 expression were N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-dependent. To explore calcium signaling mechanisms in network adaptation, we tested inhibitors of calcineurin, a protein phosphatase known to play roles in synaptic plasticity and activity-dependent dendrite remodeling. We found that FK506 was able to prevent all of the electrophysiological, biochemical, and anatomical changes produced by synchronised network activity. Our results show that hippocampal pyramidal cells and their networks adapt rapidly to intense synchronised activity and that calcineurin play an important role in the underlying processes.
Alosetron: an effective treatment for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

Serotonin (5-HT) is one of the key mediators of gut motility, secretion and sensation. Most 5-HT is localized in the gastrointestinal tract. Particularly important for gut function and regulation are the 5-HT1P, 5-HT3 and 5-HT4 receptors. These receptors have been the focus of research evaluating the pathophysiologic mechanisms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) as well as targets for the development of novel agents to treat irritable bowel syndrome. Alosetron is one of three 5-HT3 antagonists currently available. The other two, ondansetron and granisetron, are primarily used in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Alosetron, which slows gut transit, has been approved for the treatment of severe diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D) in women. This review will examine the common, yet therapeutically challenging, disorder IBS, as well as the role of alosetron in the treatment of IBS-D.
Optimization of current leads for superconducting systems

An optimized current lead in the context of this paper is one cooled by many baffles which intercept heat at fixed refrigerated stages. The helium boil-off-gas from the lead does not cool the leads but is totally utilized via heat exchangers in the refrigeration cycle. Discrete cooling without gaseous heat exchange has the advantage of eliminating the possibility of voltage breakdown in gas near the input leads. A method is presented to optimize a baffle system of fixed temperature shields to intercept heat conducted into a dewar through and generated by the current lead. The refrigeration power required for 1,2,3...n shields is compared with that required for an infinite number of shields, which is the absolute minimum power, P_{\min} , and is given by P_{\min} = 2I\sqrt{T_{H}} \int\min{T_{C}}\max{T_{H}}\sqrt{\frac{\rho k (T_{H}-T)}{T^{3}}}dT , where T C and T H are the cold and hot-end temperatures, ρ is the resistivity, k is the thermal conductivity and I is the transport current. The value P_{\min}/I depends on ρ and k of the material and end point temperatures. Also given is the lead optimization procedure for the case of a load current which is constantly changing with time in some prescribed way. Similar optimization of gas cooled leads with respect to minimizing refrigeration power is given.
Sleep in Children and Adolescents with Behavioral and Emotional Disorders

The interface between sleep problems and psychiatric disorders represents an extremely important dimension of child and adolescent mental health. This article concentrates on two primary areas: sleep and emotional disorders (where the largest number of studies have been conducted), and sleep in behavioral disorders (focusing on attention disorders and clinical problems with aggression). This is followed by a brief consideration of sleep in several other psychiatric disorders. Also described is a multicomponent behavioral treatment aimed at improving sleep and sleep-wake schedules in children and adolescents, and the rationale and relevance of this intervention to a wide range of youth with sleep problems and affective or behavioral symptoms that might be attributable to (or exacerbated by) insufficient sleep is provided.
Preproenkephalin mRNA is expressed by C1 and non-C1 barosensitive bulbospinal neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla of the rat.

The autonomic regions of the thoracolumbar spinal cord receive a dense enkephalinergic (ENK) innervation from supraspinal sources, including the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM). In the present study, we sought to determine whether the barosensitive bulbospinal (BSBS) neurons of the RVLM express preproenkephalin (PPE) mRNA. After injection of Fluoro-Gold (FG) into the upper thoracic spinal cord, neurons with PPE mRNA (PPE(+) neurons) were retrogradely labeled throughout the ventrolateral medulla. At the most rostral RVLM level, 29% of bulbospinal PPE+ cells were tyrosine hydroxylase-immunoreactive (TH-ir) and the latter constituted 19.4% of the bulbospinal TH-ir cells. We determined whether the bulbospinal PPE(+) RVLM neurons are barosensitive in two ways. First, we examined Fos production by FG-labeled RVLM neurons after 2 hours of hydralazine-induced hypotension (to 73 +/- 2 mm Hg) in conscious rats. Hydralazine (10 mg/kg i.v.) increased the number of Fos-ir neurons by two- to eightfold at all levels of the ventrolateral medulla examined. In the RVLM, 54% of bulbospinal PPE(+) neurons were Fos-ir, whereas such cells were more rarely found at caudal ventrolateral medullary levels. Second, we recorded individual BSBS RVLM units extracellularly in anesthetized rats and filled them juxtacellularly with biotinamide. Most biotinamide-filled neurons were PPE(+) (10 of 17), and the PPE(+) BSBS cells had a faster axonal conduction velocity than those without PPE mRNA (4.2 vs. 0.67 m/sec). Four of the 10 PPE(+) BSBS RVLM neurons were TH-ir. In summary, PPE mRNA is predominantly expressed by RVLM BSBS neurons with lightly myelinated spinal axons. PPE mRNA is present in most noncatecholaminergic BSBS neurons and also in approximately 20% of the bulbospinal C1 neurons. BSBS RVLM neurons most likely provide a major ENK input to sympathetic preganglionic neurons and PPE mRNA is the first identified positive phenotype of the non-C1 BSBS RVLM neurons.
Utility of the minnesota multiphasic personality inventory personality disorder scales with adolescent psychiatric inpatients

Personality disorders play an important role in the treatment of many adult psychiatric disorders. Current research has begun to examine the role of personality disorders in adolescent psychopathology. Unfortunately, there is limited research available to document the reliability and validity of personality disorder assessment measures for use with adolescent psychiatric patients. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) Personality Disorder Scales have shown adequate psychometric properties with adult samples, but have not been tested using adolescents. The present study was designed to examine the utility of the MMPI Personality Disorder Scales with 217 adolescent psychiatric inpatients. A multivariate analysis of variance revealed males scored significantly higher than females on the schizoid, narcissistic, and antisocial scales, a pattern that has been found in adult psychiatric patients. Also, the MMPI Personality Disorder Scales correlated in patterns consistent with research on adult samples. In addition, the MMPI Personality Disorder Scales were meaningfully correlated with the Tridimensional Personality Questionnaire. However, factor analysis revealed a different factor structure than that found with adults. The similarities between adolescent and adult data suggest that the assessment of personality disorders in adolescents may provide useful clinical information on the development of personality disorders.