cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hemispheric interaction, metacontrol, and mnemonic processing in split-brain macaques.

Abstract These experiments explored the interactions remaining between the cerebral hemispheres in two split-brain macaques. The ‘split’ was earlier confirmed by showing that one hemisphere was incapable of identifying visual images seen by the other. The critical tests for residual interactions were intermingled with control trials in a continuous recognition task. These tests were of two kinds: ‘parallel processing’, to determine how simultaneous viewing by both hemispheres affected subsequent recognition by one of them alone; and ‘conflict’, where opposite responses were demanded from the two hemispheres, thus assessing the issue of metacontrol. Two types of stimuli were also employed: ART, in which each hemisphere saw essentially the same image; and BIPARTITE, in which images were entirely different for each hemisphere. Since, with either type of stimulus, performance was best when viewed by both hemispheres at both encoding and retrieval, ‘parallel processing’ was highly efficient. However, when both hemispheres viewed initially and only one was subsequently queried, performance was significantly worse than when each hemisphere acted alone on each occasion. It is thus reasoned that when both hemisphere view together, the resultant memory trace somehow reflects the bilaterality, a conclusion concordant with observations of Marcel on blindsight. Processing different images (BIPARTITE) was somewhat more disruptive in this regard than if the same image was viewed by each hemisphere. This was particularly true in the conflict situation, where for one hemisphere the item seen was NEW and for the other it was OLD. A response of ‘OLD’ was, at first, consistently rewarded. When this well-established protocol was changed, the hemispheres in each animal were gradually able to revise their joint behavior. This, together with the effect of disparate images, and the deficiency evoked when the animals were forced to recognize unilaterally an image first viewed under bilateral conditions, all manifest considerable, and complex, interaction between the hemispheres despite absence of the forebrain commissures. The superior colliculus seems a likely focal point for such interhemispheric effects.
The Epidermal Growth Factor/cAMP-Inducible EctoCa2+-ATPase of Human Hepatoma Li-7A Cells Is Similar to Rat Liver EctoATPase/Hepatocyte Cell Adhesion Molecule (Cell-CAM 105)

Human hepatoma Li-7A cells exhibit two cell surface ATPase (ectoATPase) activities distinguishable by their different biochemical properties. The activity of the minor ectoATPase, ectoCa(2+)-ATPase, is enhanced severalfold when Li-7A cells are treated simultaneously by epidermal growth factor (EGF) and cAMP elevating agents (Knowles, A. F., 1990, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 283, 114-119). Here we report that the human ectoCa(2+)-ATPase is biochemically similar to the major rat hepatocyte ectoATPase/cell adhesion molecule (cell-CAM 105) with respect to response to divalent ions and sulfhydryl reagents. Furthermore, the binding of rat liver ectoATPase antibody increased markedly in EGF/cholera toxin/hydrocortisone-treated Li-7A cells compared to untreated cells. Western blot analysis revealed cross-reactivity of the antibody with a 125-kDa protein. Partial purification of ectoCa(2+)-ATPase from EGF/cholera toxin/hydrocortisone-treated Li-7A cells confirmed that enrichment of the 125-kDa protein correlated with an increase in ATPase activity. We conclude that EGF and increased levels of cAMP lead to increased synthesis of the ectoCa(2+)-ATPase in Li-7A cells. The present demonstration of similarity between the ectoCa(2+)-ATPase and a rat liver cell adhesion molecule, cell-CAM 105, contributes significantly to an understanding of the implication of down-regulation of ectoCa(2+)-ATPase during hepatocyte-hepatoma transformation.
Incorporating statistical topic information in relevance feedback

Most of the relevance feedback algorithms only use document terms as feedback (local features) in order to update the query and re-rank the documents to show to the user. This approach is limited by the terms of those documents without any global context. We propose to use statistical topic modeling techniques in relevance feedback to incorporate a better estimate of context by including global information about the document. This is particularly helpful for difficult queries where learning the context from the interactions with the user is crucial. We propose to use the topic mixture information obtained to characterize the documents and learn their topics. Then, we rank documents incorporating positive and negative feedback by fitting a latent distribution for each class of documents online and combining all the features using Bayesian Logistic Regression. We show results using the OHSUMED dataset for 3 different variants and obtain higher performance, up to 12.5% in Mean Average Precision (MAP).
Physical factors affecting absorbed dose to the skin from cobalt-60 gamma rays and 25-MV x rays.

When there is an absence of scattering material adjacent to the skin on the exit side of a megavoltage beam the dose to the skin is less than would be calculated using depth dose tables or isodose distributions measured in ''semi-infinite'' phantoms. Ionization measurements using a thin-window parallel-plate chamber show that the dose at 4 mg/cm/sup 2/ from the exit surface is 14% to 16% less for cobalt-60 gamma rays and about 8% less for 25-MV x rays compared to the dose with full backscatter. As the angle of incidence increases the skin dose increases due to radiation scattered toward the surface. A method for the calculation of skin doses from tangential therapy beams is described.
Stimulus duration and partial report performance.

This paper investigates the effect of stimulus duration on partial report performance. Two experiments showed that variations in stimulus duration from 50 to 500 msec had little or no effect on partial report accuracy, decay, or error patterns. These results contrast with previous research demonstrating that increasing stimulus duration decreases visible persistence duration. Our findings thus provide support for the argument (Coltheart, 1980) that informational persistence (knowledge about the visual properties of a stimulus) is a separate phenomenon from visible persistence (the phenomenal persistence of a stimulus), and suggest that the traditional view of iconic memory, which conflates these two forms of persistence, is incorrect. Furthermore, our results indicate that informational persistence is not merely a function of unnaturally brief stimulus exposures, but exists even after exposure durations as long as 500 msec. Possible mechanisms of informational persistence, as well as its potential role in everyday perception, are discussed.
The transfer of current through skin and muscle during electrical stimulation with sine, square, Russian and interferential waveforms

Electrical stimulation is a commonly used modality for both athletic training and physical therapy. However, there are limited objective data available to determine the waveform which provides the maximum muscle strength as well as minimizing pain. In the present investigation, two groups of subjects were examined. Group 1 was composed of six males and four females and group 2 was composed of three male and three female subjects. The first series of experiments investigated muscle strength with stimulation at currents of 20, 40 and 60 milliamps using sine, square, Russian and interferential waveforms evaluating strength production and pain as outcomes. The second phase of experiments compared the effect of the different waveforms on current dispersion in surface versus deep muscle electrodes with these same waveforms. The results of the experiments showed that sine wave stimulation produced significantly greater muscle strength and significantly less pain than square wave, Russian or interferential stimulation at that same current. The most painful stimulation was square wave. Strength production was greatest with sine wave and least with Russian and interferential. An explanation of these findings may be the filtering effect of the fat layer separating skin from muscle. The highly conductive muscle and skin dermal layers would form the plates of a capacitor separated by the subcutaneous fat layer providing an RC filter. This filtering effect, while allowing sine wave stimulation to pass to the muscle, reduced power transfer in square wave, Russian and interferential stimulation is observed.
Development of an In Vitro Porcine Aorta Model to Study the Stability of Stent Grafts in Motor Vehicle Accidents

Endovascular stent grafts for the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms have become increasingly utilized and yet their locational stability in moderate chest trauma is unknown. A high speed impact system was developed to study the stability of aortic endovascular stent grafts in vitro. A straight segment of porcine descending aorta with stent graft was constrained in a custom-made transparent urethane casing. The specimen was tested in a novel impact system at an anterior inclination of 45 deg and an average deceleration of 55 G, which represented a frontal automobile crash. Due to the shock of the impact, which was shown to be below the threshold of aortic injury, the stent graft moved 0.6 mm longitudinally. This result was repeatable. The presented experimental model may be helpful in developing future grafts to withstand moderate shocks experienced in motor vehicle accidents or other dynamic loadings of the chest.
Comparing techniques for estimating flame temperature of prescribed fires

A variety of techniques that estimate temperature and/or heat output during fires are available. We assessed the predictive ability of metal and tile pyrometers, calorimeters of different sizes, and fuel consumption to time-temperature metrics derived from thick and thin thermocouples at 140 points distributed over 9 management-scale burns in a longleaf pine forest in the southeastern US. While all of these devices underestimate maximum flame temperatures, we found several to be useful for characterizing other metrics of fire behavior. While the degree to which thermocouples underestimated maximum temperatures was based on thickness, metrics derived from thermocouple data that integrated time and temperature minimized this discrepancy between thin and thick thermocouples. Thermocouples also provided the most detailed spatial and temporal data of the devices tested. Pyrometers underestimated maximum temperatures relative to thermocouples, but due to their low cost, can be useful for examining spatial variation in temperature during fires. Use of calorimeters is disadvantageous given their lack of precision and high labor cost. Simple fire behavior observations taken during burns and indicators of fire severity observed post-burn were inexpensive to estimate and revealed useful differences among fires. Due to the wide variation among these techniques in cost, labor, accuracy, and level of detail of results, their suitability for a particular project will vary according to research objectives and available resources. Researchers should ensure that the fire behavior parameter measured has a logical relationship to the effect of interest, is measured at an appropriate level of detail, and is reported with attention to the limitations of the measuring devices used.
Suppression of EGFRvIII-mediated proliferation and tumorigenesis of breast cancer cells by ribozyme

EGFRvIII is a tumor specific, ligand-independent, constitutively active variant of the epidermal growth factor receptor. Its expression has been detected in many human malignancies including breast cancer. No detectable level of EGFRvIII has, however, been observed in adult tissues, including normal breast tissues. These unique features of the EGFRvIII make it an excellent target for biologically based therapies. We have designed and generated a tumor specific ribozyme targeted to EGFRvIII. This specific EGFRvIII ribozyme is able to effectively cleave EGFRvIII mRNA under physiological conditions in a cell-free system, but does not cleave wild-type EGFR and other EGF-family receptors. While expressing this EGFRvIII-ribozyme in breast cancer cells, EGFRvIII-ribozyme is capable of downregulating endogenous EGFRvIII expression at the mRNA and protein levels. Inhibition of proliferation was observed in EGFRvIII-ribozyme transfectants. In addition, downregulation of EGFRvIII in breast cancer cells significantly inhibited tumor growth in athymic nude mice. Furthermore, this ribozyme has no effect on EGF-family receptor expression or the proliferation of breast cancer cells, which do not express EGFRvIII but express wild-type EGFR and other EGF-family receptors. These results suggest that we have generated a tumor-specific, biologically functional ribozyme and further demonstrate that EGFRvIII plays a significant role in breast cancer cell proliferation. The ultimate goal of this approach is to provide a potential treatment for breast cancer by specifically targeting this receptor.
Renewable elastomers based on blends of maleated polypropylene and plasticized starch

Most recent developments in polymers from renewable resources have focused on thermoplastics, whereas there has been no comparable development of plastics with elastomeric properties. Here we evaluate the possibility of developing renewable elastomers based on starch. Potato starch plasticized with glycerol (called plas- ticized starch, or PLS) was melt-blended with small quan- tities (5 wt % or 15 wt%) of maleated polypropylene (MAPP). The maleic anhydride groups of the polypropyl- ene are expected to react with the hydroxy groups of starch under melt blending conditions. The resulting blends of MAPP and PLS were characterized by mechani- cal testing, SEM, DMA, and DSC. SEM, solubility and ad- hesion tests indicate that the blends are two-phase materials, in which the continuous phase PLS is physically crosslinked by polypropylene domains. The materials showed rubbery properties as judged by a low glass tran- sition temperature (�� 50 � C independent of polypropylene content), and a wide rubbery plateau in DMA experiments that extended from room temperature to as high as 170 � C. The tensile properties are also characteristic of elastomers. However, slow aging due to starch crystallization, and extraction of glycerol upon water exposure remain two challenges that must be overcome before the materials can be used as practical elastomers. V C 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 116: 1775-1781, 2010
Siderophilin metal coordination. III: Crystal structures of the cobalt(III), gallium(III), and copper(II) complexes of ethylenebis(O-hydroxyphenyl)glycine]

[Co(H 2 O) 6 ] [Co(EHPG)] 2 •4H 2 O(1) (EHPG-ethylene bis-[(θ-hydroxyphenyl) glycine]) cristallise dans P2 1 /n avec Z=2; affinement jusqu'a R=0,025. [Mg[H 2 O) 6 ] [Ga(EHPG)] 2 •3H 2 O (2) cristallise dans C2/c avec Z=4; affinement jusqu'a R=0,033•Na 2 [Cu(EHPG)]•5,5H 2 O cristallise dans Pbcn avec Z=8; affinement jusqu'a R=0,052
The influence of reversible trianionic pincer OCO3−μ-oxo CrIV dimer formation ([CrIV]2(μ-O)) and donor ligands in oxygen-atom-transfer (OAT)

The oxygen-atom-transfer (OAT) from [tBuOCO]CrV(O)(THF) (2) (where tBuOCO = [2,6-C6H3(6-tBuC6H3O)2]3−, THF = tetrahydrofuran) to triphenylphosphine (PPh3) in THF produces [tBuOCO]CrIII(THF)3 (1) and triphenylphosphine oxide (OPPh3) at a rate of 69.5(±1.9) M−1s−1 (22 °C). Identical rate constants were attained when acetonitrile (MeCN) and dichloromethane/THF (CH2Cl2/THF) were used as solvents. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) data shows that the six-coordinate complex, [tBuOCO]CrV(O)(THF)2 (2a) forms upon addition of THF to 2, suggesting 2a as the active OAT species in THF. Similarly, addition of OPPh3 has no influence on the rate of OAT, but the addition of triphenylphosphorus ylide (CH2PPh3) to form [tBuOCO]CrV(O)(CH2PPh3) (4) prevents OAT to PPh3. In CH2Cl2, a [CrIV]2(μ-O) intermediate forms during the OAT from 2 to PPh3. The OAT from {[tBuOCO]CrIV(THF)}2(μ-O) (3) to PPh3 reveals a zero-order dependence in PPh3 indicating the dimer must first dissociate prior to OAT. The decay of 3versus time does not follow first-order kinetics due to the formation of a [tBuOCO]CrIII(THF) species (5) that inhibits the dissociation of 3. The change in concentration of 3versus time during OAT was simulated to obtain approximate rate constants.
Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography for Target Delineation in Head and Neck Cancers

Radiation and concurrent chemoradiation are essential in the treatment of head and neck cancers because they allow a potentially curative organ preservation approach in a manner that greatly affects quality of life. Greater doses of radiation to areas of gross disease have invariably led to greater loco-regional control. Radiation delivery has undergone great strides, especially in the era of intensity-modulated radiotherapy and related technologies. With the ability to sculpt out areas of higher and lower doses of radiation to millimeter accuracy, the role of imaging to better direct the radiation beam to its target via improved localization has become an issue of great promise. The use of 18 F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (PET) with computed tomography (CT) as a means of noninvasively staging many head and neck cancers has become increasingly popular. With its role as a functional assay of tumor metabolic activity, it is often used in conjunction with physical examination and other imaging modalities to determine levels of nodal metastases as well as the site of head and neck involvement. Several groups have used images derived from PET/CT to outline areas of gross disease to receive definitive doses of radiotherapy. Generally, no statistically significant difference exists in the volumes delineated on CT alone versus PET/CT. However, in the studied populations there is often important and significant wide individual variability. The tumors on PET/CT are either larger or smaller than tumors outlined on CT scan only, in the majority of patients. Although areas of controversy include threshold definition and image resolution, the utility of a functional assay in defining target volume helps determine areas to receive higher doses of radiation in cancers of the head and neck. Exciting new functional modalities are emerging to image other parameters including tumor hypoxia, which presents a new target with the same challenges in target delineation as PET/CT.
On Approximability of Boolean Formula Minimization

For a Boolean function $$f:\left\{ {0,1} \right\}^n \to \left\{ {0,1} \right\}$$ given by a Boolean formula (or a binary circuit) S we discuss the problem of building a Boolean formula (binary circuit) of minimal size, which computes the function g equivalent to $$f$$ , or ∈-equivalent to $$f$$ , i.e., $$Pr_{x \in \left\{ {0,1} \right\}^n } \left\{ {g\left( x \right) \ne f\left( x \right)} \right\} \leqslant \varepsilon $$ . In this paper we prove that if P ≠ NP then this problem can not be approximated with a “good” approximation ratio by a polynomial time algorithm.
Reduction in fiber damage thresholds due to static fatigue

For a number of years we have been investigating laser-induced damage mechanisms that can occur during the transmission of Q-switched, Nd/YAG laser pulses through fused silica fibers. We have found that fiber end-face characteristics, laser characteristics, and aspects of the laser-to-fiber injection typically determine dominant damage mechanisms. However, an additional damage process has been observed occasionally at internal sites where fibers were experiencing significant local stresses due to fixturing or to bends in the fiber path. A transmission reduction prior to damage was typically not measureable at these sites. Damage would not always occur during initial testing, but sometimes occurred later in time at laser levels that previously had been transmitted without damage. In these cases the time at stress appeared to be more important than the number of transmitted shots prior to damage. A possible relation between internal damage thresholds at stressed sites and the total time under stress is suggested by the fact that silica fibers experience static fatigue processes. These processes involve the slow growth of local defects under tensile stress at rates that depend upon environmental conditions. Defects reaching sufficient size and having appropriate location could be sites for reduced laser-induced damage thresholds. This possibility could have important implications for high-power fiber transmission systems that must satisfy extended lifetime requirements. The needs of the telecommunications industry have motivated extensive studies into initial fiber defect characteristics and their likely growth mechanisms. The present work used the understanding developed in these studies to guide a preliminary experimental investigation into the possibility that static fatigue processes can affect damage thresholds. The experiments used a laser injection and fiber routing configuration that produced significantly elevated fluences within fiber core regions under tensile stress. In one set of experiments, internal damage thresholds were determined in available fiber samples that had been assembled in stress-imposing fixtures for periods up to 24 months. A decline in mean thresholds with time was observed, although measured values showed significant scatter. In order to establish initial strength and fatigue properties for these fibers, a number of additional samples were used to generate time-to-failure data at various stress levels. Based on these results, other fiber samples were subjected to conditions that greatly accelerated fatigue processes. Internal damage thresholds were then measured in these fibers and compared to thresholds measured in fresh fibers. Conclusive comparisons were frustrated by sample-to-sample and lot-to-lot variations in fiber defects.
A model of response to the stress of involuntary job loss

Abstract The increase in downsizings and company closings over the past decade have been accompanied by an increase in the research of job loss. We present a model of response to involuntary job loss which is based on the stress, appraisal, and coping theory presented by Lazarus and Folkman (1984). A main purpose of this model is to integrate previous research on job loss. Specifically, this model discusses coping resources, forms of cognitive appraisal, coping strategies, and both immediate and long-term outcomes that have been examined in previous studies. Additionally, we discuss how this model provides guidance for future research about job loss.
Maastricht, security and integration theory

(1995). Maastricht, security and integration theory. European Security: Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 546-570.
Does the Exchange Rate Matter to Agricultural Bilateral Trade between Canada and the U.S.

This study examines the effects of the Canada–U.S. exchange rate on bilateral trade of agricultural goods between the two countries and on U.S. farm income. Special attention is given to agricultural trade between the two countries under the Canada–U.S. Free Trade Agreement (CUSTA). This study utilizes two time series models: the vector error correction model (VECM) and the vector moving average model (VMA) with quarterly time series data from 1983 to 2000. It is found that the exchange rate has a significant impact on U.S. agricultural trade with Canada, but the impact on U.S. agricultural price and income is insignificant. The exchange rate between the two currencies is found to be weakly exogenous in the U.S. agricultural sector, which answers a fundamental question about the role of the exchange rate in Canada–U.S. bilateral trade for agricultural products. In addition, the results point to a significant, though minimal, effect on bilateral trade due to CUSTA. Les auteurs examinent les effets du taux de change canado-americain sur les echanges de produits agricoles entre les deux pays et sur le revenu des producteurs americains. Ils accordent une attention particuliere au commerce agricole dans le contexte de l'Accord de libre-echange nordam ericain (ALENA). L'etude repose sur deux modeles - le modele vectoriel de correction de l'erreur (VECM) et le modele vectoriel de la moyenne mobile (VMA) - auxquels on applique une serie chronologique de donnees trimestrielles, de 1983 a 2000. On constate que le taux de change a une incidence sensible sur les echanges de produits agricoles entre les Etats-Unis et le Canada, mais n'a qu'un impact negligeable sur le prix des produits et sur le revenu des producteurs aux Etats-Unis. Le taux de change entre les deux pays est faiblement exogene pour l'agriculture americaine, ce qui repond a la question fondamentale concernant son role sur les echanges canado-americains de produits agricoles. Les resultats indiquent aussi une incidence minime mais significative sur le commerce bilateral en raison de l'ALENA.
Diaphroase activity and variants in normal adults and newborns.

Summary. Red cell NADH-dependent methaemoglobin reductase (diaphorase) activity was estimated in 126 normal healthy adults and 556 newborns of the three major racial groups in Malaysia. The mean enzyme activity in adults was 3.34 units/mg Hb (SD ± 0.63) and in newborns 1.75 u/mg Hb (SD ± 0.48). The difference between the two means is statistically highly significant. Indians, both adults and infants had the lowest mean enzyme activity. Mean activity in a group of newborns whose birth weights were 2.7 kg or more was significantly higher than in a group with lower birth weights. Sixteen newborns had enzyme activity of less than 1 u/mg Hb. Two of them each had one parent whose enzyme level was also very low. Both parents of three others had normal enzyme activity. The lower limit of normal in newborns seemed to overlap with that found in subjects with hereditary methaemoglobin reductase deficiency. One newborn with an extremely low enzyme level had methaemoglobinaemia, but its genetic nature could not be proved because the parents were not available for study. Examination of 108 adults and 527 newborns for diaphorase electrophoretic variants revealed two different and unusual phenotypes in a few Chinese and Indians. Family studies showed that they are genetically determined.
The self-assembly of a macroion with anisotropic surface charge density distribution

A macroion, having anisotropic surface charge density distribution, shows unique self-assembly behaviour in polar solvents. Regular “blackberry”-like assemblies form in methanol–water mixtures due to counter-ion mediated attraction and the strong contribution of hydrogen bonding. However, rod-like assemblies form in acetone–water mixtures as the charge inhomogeneity effect overcomes the non-directional hydrogen bonding.
Churg-Strauss syndrome

Summary Churg-Strauss syndrome is a rare diffuse vasculitis that is almost invariably accompanied by severe asthma. Although overall prognosis is good, and treatment with prednisone alone or in combination with immunosuppressive drugs is usually successful, severe asthma typically persists. Diffuse organ involvement of Churg-Strauss syndrome, especially cardiovascular and rare involvement of the CNS and renal system, suggests a poorer prognosis than usual, and can be fatal. The cause of Churg-Strauss syndrome is unknown, but its characteristic histological findings and association with asthma distinguish it from other vasculitides. Controversy surrounds the use of asthma drugs—especially antileukotrienes—and development of the disorder. We review the epidemiological evidence for an association of drug treatment with Churg-Strauss syndrome, the diverse diagnostic and pathological criteria for this syndrome, and treatment options.
Developmental change in the function of movement systems: transition of the pectoral fins between respiratory and locomotor roles in zebrafish.

An animal may experience strikingly different functional demands on its body’s systems through development. One way of meeting those demands is with temporary, stage-specific adaptations. This strategy requires the animal to develop appropriate morphological states or physiological pathways that address transient functional demands as well as processes that transition morphology, physiology, and function to that of the mature form. Recent research on ray-finned (actinopterygian) fishes is a developmental transition in function of the pectoral fin, thereby providing an opportunity to examine how an organism copes with changes in the roles of its morphology between stages of its life history. As larvae, zebrafish alternate their pectoral fins in coordination with the body axis during slow swimming. The movements of their fins do not appear to contribute to the production of thrust or to stability but instead exchange fluid near the body for cutaneous respiration. The morphology of the larval fin includes a simple stage-specific endoskeletal disc overlaid by fan-shaped adductor and abductor muscles. In contrast, the musculoskeletal system of the mature fin consists of a suite of muscles and bones. Fins are extended laterally during slow swimming of the adult, without the distinct, high-amplitude left-right fin alternation of the larval fin. The morphological and functional transition of the pectoral fin occurs through juvenile development. Early in this period, at about 3 weeks post-fertilization, the gills take over respiratory function, presumably freeing the fins for other roles. Kinematic data suggest that the loss of respiratory function does not lead to a rapid switch in patterns of fin movement but rather that both morphology and movement transition gradually through the juvenile stage of development. Studies relating structure to function often focus on stable systems that are arguably well adapted for the roles they play. Examining how animals navigate transitional periods, when the link of structure to function may be less taut, provides insight both into how animals contend with such change and into the developmental pressures that shape mature form and function.
Spine ultrasonography: interventions and diagnostics

SUMMARY Ultrasound-guided procedures are well established and utilized in the regional anesthesia and radiology practice. Conversely, there have been considerable difficulties in implementation of ultrasound in pain medicine. Ultrasonography has to compete with the more established modalities such as fluoroscopy and computed tomography; however, ultrasound has the advantage of radiation safety and point-of care imaging. It also allows direct visualization of tissue planes, blood vessels and nerves. Ultrasound-guided spine interventions are technically feasible and reasonably accurate when validated with conventional radiological modalities. Epidural, zygapophysial joint and caudal injection techniques have been published. The main pitfall of the ultrasound-guided spinal procedures lies in the inability to diagnose intravascular injections. Future technological improvements will help to solve this problem. Diagnostic spinal sonography may also contribute to the practice of medicine helping in the clinical ...
Strategic Responses to New Technologies and Their Impact on Firm Performance

Abstract Modern corporations must adopt and assimilate new technologies to build and sustain competitive advantage. The authors develop a theoretical framework to understand the relationships among (1) strategic responses to new technologies, (2) organizational resources, and (3) firm performance. Specifically, they theorize that a strategic response can be categorized according to the dimensions of magnitude, domain, and speed, and they conceptualize organizational resources as tangible and intangible. The authors operationalize this framework for the adoption of the Internet by traditional store-based retailers, for which they posit strategic responses as the speed of (1) adopting the Internet as a communications channel, (2) adopting the Internet as a sales channel, and (3) forming e-alliances. In addition, they use resource slack to represent organizational resources. Results from nine years (1992–2000) of data on 106 firms establish the influence of strategic responses on firm performance (i.e., mark...
Remote arteriolar dilations caused by methacholine: a role for CGRP sensory nerves?

Remote vasodilation caused by arteriolar microapplication of acetylcholine cannot be completely attributed to passive cell-cell communication of a hyperpolarizing signal. The present study was unde...
Organizing a Model Base of Linear Programming Models Using Analogical Processes

This paper describes the role of cognitive psychology in developing model-formulation skills. The cognitive psychology description of analogy construction to a representation of the model-formulation process includes both a problem template and a model template. This research includes the design and prototype implementation of a knowledge-based system that uses analogical reasoning to assist modelers as they build linear programs. Incorporated into the design is a library of models and problems that link those models to their potential uses. This design uses a taxonomy based on deep and situational knowledge to link a problem description with a formulation. This taxonomy begins to address the skills needed for various levels of mathematical modeling. © 1996 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Coordination of voluntary and stimulus-driven attentional control in human cortex

Visual attention may be voluntarily directed to particular locations or features (voluntary control), or it may be captured by salient stimuli, such as the abrupt appearance of a new perceptual object (stimulus-driven control). Most often, however, the deployment of attention is the result of a dynamic interplay between voluntary attentional control settings (e.g., based on prior knowledge about a target's location or color) and the degree to which stimuli in the visual scene match these voluntary control settings. Consequently, nontarget items in the scene that share a defining feature with the target of visual search can capture attention, a phenomenon termed contingent attentional capture. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to show that attentional capture by target-colored distractors is accompanied by increased cortical activity in corresponding regions of retinotopically organized visual cortex. Concurrent activation in the temporoparietal junction and ventral frontal cortex suggests that these regions coordinate voluntary and stimulus-driven attentional control settings to determine which stimuli effectively compete for attention.
Extraordinary transmission of a thick film with a periodic structure consisting of strongly dispersive materials

Enhanced reflections and transmissions by slabs of periodic structures with strongly dispersive materials have recently received significant attention because of their unusual physical phenomena and potential engineering applications. To simulate such phenomena for design prototyping with high efficiency, a spectral element method is developed to calculate the electromagnetic fields in a slab of periodic three-dimensional photonic crystal consisting of dispersive or nondispersive materials. The method of moments with the spectral-domain periodic Green’s function is used to truncate the computational domain above and below the photonic crystal slabs. The accuracy of the method is verified. The method is used to calculate the scattering properties of an array of air holes in a dispersive metallic film in optical frequencies. The surface plasmon polariton and local surface plasmon modes are identified, with excellent correlation with experimental results.
The Control of Breathing in COPD

I) ual drives affect breathing: chemical drives arising from the activity of central and peripheral chemoreceptors link ventilation with metabolic changes in the body; and nonchemical drives originating from mechanoreceptors located mainly in the thorax monitor the performance of the chest bellows and allow respiratory motor output to be adjusted as performance varies. Major subgroups of these nonchemical receptors are located in the airways and lung parenchyma and in the respiratory muscles. The afferent fibers of these receptors are carried in the vagi and spinal nerves. Ventilation, the conventionally employed index of respiratory output, may be depressed when the mechanical performance of the chest is impaired even if the respiratory controller is normal. However, in the past few years, new measurements of respiratory output have been developed, such as occlusion pressure (the isometric force developed by the inspiratory muscles contracting against an occluded airway) and respiratory muscle EMG. Both methods are less likely to be directly affected by physical factors such as changing airway resistance which can alter ventilatory measurements. With these improved techniques of evaluating the efferent activity of the respiratory controller, we are better able to appreciate the effects of various inputs to the respiratory neurons, discern differences in their action, and evaluate their potential importance during breathing in patients and normal subjects.”
Human Cd4+ T Lymphocytes Consistently Respond to the Latent Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigen Ebna1

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-encoded nuclear antigen EBNA1 is critical for the persistence of the viral episome in replicating EBV-transformed human B cells. Therefore, all EBV-induced tumors express this foreign antigen. However, EBNA1 is invisible to CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes because its Gly/Ala repeat domain prevents proteasome-dependent processing for presentation on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I. We now describe that CD4+ T cells from healthy adults are primed to EBNA1. In fact, among latent EBV antigens that stimulate CD4+ T cells, EBNA1 is preferentially recognized. We present evidence that the CD4+ response may provide a protective role, including interferon γ secretion and direct cytolysis after encounter of transformed B lymphocyte cell lines (B-LCLs). Dendritic cells (DCs) process EBNA1 from purified protein and from MHC class II–mismatched, EBNA1-expressing cells including B-LCLs. In contrast, B-LCLs and Burkitt's lymphoma lines likely present EBNA1 after endogenous processing, as their capacity to cross-present from exogenous sources is weak or undetectable. By limiting dilution, there is a tight correlation between the capacity of CD4+ T cell lines to recognize autologous B-LCL–expressing EBNA1 and DCs that have captured EBNA1. Therefore, CD4+ T cells can respond to the EBNA1 protein that is crucial for EBV persistence. We suggest that this immune response is initiated in vivo by DCs that present EBV-infected B cells, and that EBNA1-specific CD4+ T cell immunity be enhanced to prevent and treat EBV-associated malignancies.
Stochastic Projection-Factoring Method Based on Piecewise Stationary Renewal Processes for Mid-and Long-Term Traffic Flow Modeling and Forecasting

Forecasting traffic over a long period of time is of considerable interest and usefulness, but accurate forecasting is very difficult. Traditional projection and factoring methods for mid-and long-term cumulative traffic forecasting are deterministic and only provide a point prediction without specifying a statistical measure of prediction reliability. This paper constructs a stochastic projection and factoring method by casting long-term traffic volume counts into an integrated and rigorous framework of a more refined structural time series component model with piecewise stationary renewal processes capturing time-of-day, day-of-week, monthly, and yearly variations. By doing so, the new method roots itself in a solid theoretical foundation and generates two advantages. First, it results in a more accurate point prediction of cumulative traffic by taking into account the time-of-day traffic count variation in the modeling of unobservable future long-term traffic flow at temporary count stations or at a site under investigation as a mixture of piecewise stationary renewal processes with different means and variances. Second, it allows an interval prediction to be estimated by incorporating uncertainty into the modeling and forecasting process.
Tracking of a reflective target using infrared measurements and laser illumination

A missile target tracker is designed using a filter/correlator (with adaptive target shape identification) based on FLIR sensor measurements to track the center-of-intensity of the hardbody/plume combination, and another filter using Doppler and/or speckle information in the return from a low-power laser illuminator to estimate the offset between the intensity centroid and the hardbody center-of-mass. The Doppler information is shown to yield smaller bias and error variance from the tracker than the speckle information. Performance of trackers based on just Doppler or both Doppler and speckle information from the laser return is portrayed as a function of important parameters in the tracking environment. >
Effect of sex steroids and insulin on dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate production by hepatoma G2 cells.

Objective To test the hypothesis that DHEAS production from DHEA occurs in hepatic cells and that this production is augmented by the presence of sex steroids or insulin. Design In vitro prospective experiment. Setting Academic medical center. Intervention(s) Hepatoma G2 cells cultured in media supplemented with [1] DHEA (10 −5 mol/L) only, [2] DHEA (10 −5 mol/L) + T (10 −6 mol/L), [3] DHEA (10 −5 mol/L) + E 2 (10 −6 mol/L), [4] DHEA (10 −5 mol/L) + dihydrotestosterone (10 −6 mol/L), [5] DHEA (10 −5 mol/L) + insulin (10 ng/mL), or [6] DHEA (10 −5 mol/L) + insulin (100 ng/mL). Main Outcome Measure(s) Levels of DHEAS in the media were measured at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours after adding treatments at time-point 0. Result(s) Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate was first detected in the hepatoma G2 cell culture media at 12 hours of incubation. The cumulative production rate of DHEAS increased linearly until 72 hours of incubation. When compared with the effect of treatment with DHEA only, treatment with DHEA plus T, dihydrotestosterone, or E 2 delayed the cumulative DHEAS production; alternatively, the addition of insulin did not alter DHEAS production. Conclusion(s) These data suggest that although hepatic cells have the ability of converting DHEA to DHEAS, neither sex steroids nor insulin results in the increased hepatic production of DHEAS.
Insurance Coverage of Puberty Blocker Therapies for Transgender Youth.

* Abbreviations: FDA — : US Food and Drug Administration GnRH — : gonadotropin-releasing hormone PAG — : pediatric and adolescent gynecology referral service PES — : pediatric endocrinology service Appropriate medical intervention along with an affirming environment has been shown to result in improved health outcomes for transgender and gender-nonconforming people.1,2 Youth whose natural pubertal development would be detrimental to their psychological and general well-being can be treated with “puberty blockers” to prevent irreversible phenotypic changes. In our experience, the most effective medications are the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist leuprolide injections (Lupron; AbbVie, Chicago, IL) or histrelin subcutaneous implant (Supprelin, Vantas; Endo Pharmaceuticals, Malvern, PA), and these have been recommended in both the Endocrine Society Guidelines and the World Professional Organization for Transgender Health Standards of Care.3,4 The safety and efficacy of these regimens have been reported in several populations.2,5 GnRH agonist pharmacotherapy can cost thousands of dollars per month. As a result, articles both in the media and in medical literature discuss the difficulty of obtaining insurance coverage for GnRH analogs used for this indication. As Dr Norman Spack stated, “Many, if not most, young adolescent American transgender patients who are deemed appropriate candidates for the recommended medical intervention . . . are unable to obtain the treatment due to insurance denial”; he estimated that insurance had covered blockers for $6000, … Address correspondence to Elyse Pine-Twaddell, 1111 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD 21201. E-mail: epine{at}chasebrexton.org
Evaluation of brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), troponin levels, and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in older adults with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL)

e19506 Background: Troponin and BNP are markers that rise acutely during myocardial injury and cardiac dysfunction, respectively. Doxorubicin (Dox) is an effective drug for treatment of DLBCL, in t...
LOOSE BODIES IN JOINTS AND BURSAE DUE TO SYNOVIAL OSTEOCHONDROMATOSIS

1. Osteochondromatosis of the synovial membrane is one of the causes of osteocartilaginous loose bodies in the joints, and probably the sole cause of the bodies in the bursae and tendon sheaths. 2. We believe that the condition should be classified as a benign neoplasm. Trauma is a secondary factor. 3. One of our cases was associated with a malignant chondrosarcoma in the lower end of the femur. No malignancy was discovered in the knee-joint. 4. Removal of all the bodies relieves the patient in the majority of instances. We have not found amputation or resection necessary for synovial osteochondromatosis.
Compliance with fecal occult blood test screening among low-income medical outpatients: a randomized controlled trial using a videotaped intervention.

Background Morbidity and mortality from colorectal cancer (CRC) are heightened among the socioeconomically disadvantaged. Method A randomized controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of a videotaped intervention using peer educators as well as a health professional to increase compliance with fecal occult blood test (FOBT) screening. Participants were 160 older individuals attending a medical outpatient clinic. Compliance with FOBT use was the dependent measure. Demographic variables, family history of CRC, viewing the videotape, perceived risk, self-efficacy, physician recommendation, knowledge about CRC screening, and intent to use the FOBT were independent measures. Results Approximately 41% of participants complied with FOBT screening. Significant relationships were found between intent and family history of CRC, viewing the video, perceived risk, self-efficacy, and CRC knowledge. However, none of these variables was significantly related to compliance with FOBT use. Conclusions Although modest compliance rates were shown for both experimental and control groups, their compliance did not differ significantly. Further investigation of the impact of a video as part of an enhanced intervention program should be considered.
Partnerships Among Lebanese Nonprofit Organizations Assessing the Impact on Human Resource Capacity

This article investigates the impacts of partnerships on three aspects of nonprofits’ human resources capacity—paid staff, volunteers, and the professional development of staff of nonprofit organizations. Analysis of the seemingly unrelated regressions (SUR) suggests that partnerships may yield some human capacity improvements, that is, increasing the number of staff and opportunities for their professional development. The number of volunteers is not affected by partnerships but rather by other financial resources. The main implication of this research is that partnerships should be formed on the basis of their comparative advantages and focused on identifying suitable partners and cultivating these relations rather than collaborating with more organizations.