cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrophysiological differences between Purkinje cells in organotypic and granuloprival cerebellar cultures.

Abstract Organotypic cerebellar cultures derived from newborn mice were exposed to cytosine arabinoside for the first five days in vitro to destroy granule cells and functionally compromise glia. Such granuloprival cultures undergo a circuit reorganization featured by Purkinje cells sprouting recurrent axon collaterals that hyperinnervate other Purkinje cells. Intracellular recordings were used to compare the electrophysiological properties of Purkinje cells in granuloprival cultures to those of Purkinje cells in standard cultures. Purkinje cells in granuloprival cultures have similar membrane potentials to those of Purkinje cells in standard cultures, but have a lower input resistance. A reduced input resistance could affect the effectiveness of inhibitory synaptic input. Intracellular recordings from Purkinje cells of standard cerebellar cultures between 13 and 21 days in vitro exhibit spike activity consisting of a mixture of complex and simple spikes. The complex spikes contain a fast rising action potential followed by a depolarizing potential on which a plateau and several spike-like components are superimposed. This type of activity has been observed in mature Purkinje cells in vivo and in vitro . By contrast, at resting membrane potential Purkinje cells in granuloprival cultures have simple spike activity reminiscent of the type of activity seen in immature Purkinje cells, while at hyperpolarized potentials they generate complex spikes. These observations indicate differences in the expression of intrinsic electrophysiological properties underlying complex spike generation between Purkinje cells of organotypic and granuloprival cerebellar cultures. Our results illustrate the considerable plasticity of Purkinje cells in the presence of altered neuronal circuitry. In the absence of normal excitatory input, their spontaneous activity is regulated by intrinsic membrane properties.
Pancakelike Ising domains and charge-ordered superlattice domains in LuFe 2 O 4

We report magnetic and superlattice imaging of ferrimagnetic bilayered ${\text{LuFe}}_{2}{\text{O}}_{4}$ with strong uniaxial magnetic anisotropy. Magnetization reversal is imaged in magnetic fields up to 8 T at several temperatures below ${T}_{N}$ $(\ensuremath{\sim}230\text{ }\text{K})$ and charge-ordered superlattice domains are imaged at 92 K. We observed random packing of irregular pancakelike magnetic domains $(\ensuremath{\sim}100\text{ }\text{nm}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}30\text{ }\text{nm})$ and charge-ordered superlattice domains with similar shape $(\ensuremath{\sim}30\text{ }\text{nm}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}6\text{ }\text{nm})$. The magnetic domain structure shows a strong memory effect in magnetization reversal. Our results are consistent with a spin-charge cross-coupling mechanism in ${\text{LuFe}}_{2}{\text{O}}_{4}$.
Call directionality and its behavioural significance in male northern elephant seals, Mirounga angustirostris

Animals often produce sounds that are focused in a particular direction relative to the caller’s orientation. Although many studies have suggested ways in which directional signal design might have behavioural significance among vocally interacting individuals, there are few direct tests using experimental approaches. During the breeding season and while fasting on land, male northern elephant seals produce airborne threat calls during dyadic interactions when competing for mating opportunities. In this study, we investigated the directional cues of these calls and tested hypotheses regarding directional signalling with respect to the behaviour of receivers during vocally mediated male agonistic interactions. We then determined effects of vocal directionality on receiver responses using an acoustic playback approach. We found that male calls had substantial directionality, particularly at higher frequencies (>1000 Hz). Subordinate males responded more strongly by retreating when the caller faced the receiver compared to when the caller was at a right angle or faced away. We also found a significant difference in responses to playback sequences with different call directivity patterns. Males displayed significantly more negative phonotaxis (i.e. moved away) in response to playbacks that simulated a caller oriented towards them compared to when playbacks simulated a caller oriented away from them. These results suggest that the directionality of threat calls provides important information about the auditory scene and spatial orientation of conspecifics and that this trait, along with the receiver’s ability to extract this information, may have evolved as a consequence of its effect on the breeding success and fitness of the individual.
Isolation and in vitro characterization of temperature-sensitive mutants of the bacteriophage f1 gene V protein

Abstract In vivo selections were used to isolate 43 temperature-sensitive gene V mutants of the bacteriophage f1 from a collection of mutants constructed by saturation mutagenesis of the gene. The sites of temperature-sensitive substitutions are found in both the β-sheets and the turns of the protein, and some sites are exposed to the solvent while others are not. Thirteen of the variant proteins were purified and characterized to evaluate their free energy changes upon unfolding and their affinities for single-stranded DNA, and eight were tested for their tendencies to aggregate at 42 °C. Each of the three temperature-sensitive mutants at buried sites and six of ten at surface sites had free energy changes of unfolding substantially lower (less stabilizing) than the wild-type at 25 °C. A seventh mutant at a surface site had a substantially altered unfolding transition and its free energy of unfolding was not estimated. The affinities of the mutant proteins for single-stranded DNA varied considerably, but two mutants at a surface site, Lys69, had much weaker binding to single-stranded DNA than any of the other mutants, while two mutants at another surface site, Glu30, had the highest DNA-binding affinities. The wild-type gene V protein is stable at 42°C, but six of the eight mutants tested aggregated within a few minutes and the remaining two aggregated within 30 minutes at this temperature. Overall, each of the temperature-sensitive proteins tested had a tendency to aggregate at 42 °C, and most also had either a low free energy of unfolding (at 25°C), or weak DNA binding. We suggest that any of these properties can lead to a temperature-sensitive gene V phenotype.
Regulatory Challenges in Manufacturing of Pancreatic Islets

At the present time, transplantation of pancreatic islet cells is considered an experimental therapy for a selected cohort of patients with type 1 diabetes, and is conducted under an Investigational New Drug (IND) application. Encouraging results of the Edmonton Protocol published in the year 2000 sparked a renewed interest in clinical transplantation of allogeneic islets, triggering a large number of IND applications for phase I clinical trials. Promising results reported by a number of centers since then prompted the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to consider the possibility of licensing allogeneic islets as a therapeutic treatment for patients with type 1 diabetes. However, prior to licensure, issues such as safety, purity, efficacy, and potency of the islet product must be addressed. This is complicated by the intricate nature of pancreatic islets and limited characterization prior to transplantation. In this context, control of the manufacturing process plays a critical role in the definition of the final product. Despite significant progress made in standardization of the donor organ preservation methods, reagents used, and characterization assays performed to qualify an islet cell product, control of the isolation process remains a challenge. Within the scope of the FDA regulations, islet cells meet the definition of a biologic product, somatic cell therapy, and a drug. In addition, AABB standards that address cellular therapy products apply to manufacturing facilities accredited by this organization. Control of the source material, isolation process, and final product are critical issues that must be addressed in the context of FDA and other relevant regulations applicable to islet cell products.
Marine Ice Sheet Collapse Potentially Under Way for the Thwaites Glacier Basin, West Antarctica

Resting atop a deep marine basin, the West Antarctic Ice Sheet has long been considered prone to instability. Using a numerical model, we investigated the sensitivity of Thwaites Glacier to ocean melt and whether its unstable retreat is already under way. Our model reproduces observed losses when forced with ocean melt comparable to estimates. Simulated losses are moderate ( 1 mm per year of sea-level rise) collapse in the different simulations within the range of 200 to 900 years.
Induction of mucosal immune responses and protection against enteric viruses: rotavirus infection of gnotobiotic pigs as a model.

Enteric viruses are a major cause of diarrhea in animals and humans. Among them, rotaviruses are one of the most important causes of diarrhea in young animals and human infants. A lack of understanding of mechanisms to induce intestinal immunity and the correlates of protective immunity in neonates has impaired development of safe and effective vaccines against enteric viruses. Studies of candidate vaccines using an adult mouse model of subclinical enteric viral infections often do not predict vaccine efficacy against disease evaluated in neonatal large animals. A series of studies have been conducted using a neonatal gnotobiotic pig model of rotavirus infection and diarrhea to identify correlates of protective immunity and to evaluate traditional and novel vaccine approaches for the induction of mucosal immune responses and protection to enteric viruses. Gnotobiotic pigs recovered from infection with virulent Wa human rotavirus (HRV) (mimic natural infection) had high numbers of intestinal IgA rotavirus-specific primary antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) and memory B-cells (to recall antigen) measured by ELISPOT assay, which correlated with complete protection against rotavirus challenge. Most short-term IgA memory B-cells were resident in the ileum, the major site of rotavirus replication. Spleen, not the bone marrow, was the major resident site for longer-term IgG memory B-cells. Candidate rotavirus vaccines evaluated in pigs for their ability to induce intestinal or systemic ASC and protection against rotavirus infection and diarrhea included attenuated live virus, inactivated virus, and baculovirus-expressed double-layered rotavirus-like particles (2/6-VLPs). In combination with those candidate vaccines, various adjuvants, delivery systems, and immunization routes were tested, including incomplete Freund's adjuvant for i.m. immunization, and a mutant Escherichia coli heat labile enterotoxin R192G (mLT) for i.n. immunization. It was shown that orally administered replicating vaccines were most effective for priming for intestinal IgA ASC and memory B-cell responses, but i.n. administered non-replicating 2/6-VLPs plus mLT were effective as booster vaccines. We conclude that protective immunity depends on the magnitude, location, viral protein-specificity, and isotype of the antibody responses induced by vaccination. Therefore highly effective enteric viral vaccines should: (i) induce sufficient levels of intestinal IgA antibodies; (ii) include viral antigens that induce neutralizing antibodies; and (iii) require the use of effective mucosal adjuvants or antigen delivery systems for non-replicating oral or i.n. vaccines.
A potential moderating role of stress in the association of disease activity and psychological status among patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Summary.-This study investigated the role of perceived daily stress as a potential moderator in the relation between a set of predictors (disease activity, education, pain) and psychological status (anxiety, depression) of 31 patients with rheumatold arthritis. Psychological measures served as dependent variables in hierarchcal regression analyses testing for potential interaction effects of dady stress upon relat~onsh~ps between predictors and dependent measures. No predictors predicted directly scores on depression and anxiety; however, dady stress hrecdy predicted scores on depression and anxiety, even after having separately controlled for each of the predictors. Increased disease activity had significantly stronger associations with increased psychological morbidity only among patients reporting high scores on daily stress, suggesting a potential moderating role for stress.
Improving Outcomes and Transporting Evidence-Based Treatments for Youth and Families with Serious Clinical Problems

(2008). Improving Outcomes and Transporting Evidence-Based Treatments for Youth and Families with Serious Clinical Problems. Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse: Vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 1-10.
Mentors for adolescents in foster care

Significant numbers of adolescents in foster placement plan to live independently following discharge. Mentoring is increasingly being used as a support service to assist older foster youths to make the transition to adult living. A survey of 29 child welfare programs indicate that a variety of mentoring models are in use. The main models are transitional Life Skills Mentors, Cultural-Empowerment Mentors, and Corporate-Business Mentors. Mentoring connects foster wards with a cross-section of community citizens who provide a bridge to higher education and employment, and serve as a resource for transitional problem-solving. Information is needed on the impacts of mentor-mentee matches and efforts to sustain mentor-mentee relationships.
Is there a support vector machine hiding in the dentate gyrus

Abstract The dentate gyrus has physiological and related behavioral properties suggesting that it implements functions within the hippocampus partially associated with sensory pattern recognition. A top-down dentate gyrus model is defined in terms of an idealized support vector machine pattern recognizer constructed from spiking neurons. The resulting construction offers parallels with dentate gyrus morphology and offers explanation of some of its unique properties, in particular, the mossy fiber pathway and its connection with CA3 pyramidal cells. Derived learning rules suggest properties of the mossy fibers that might be tested experimentally.
Effects of Intrastriatal Kainic Acid Injection on [3H]Dopamine Metabolism in Rat Striatal Slices: Evidence for Postsynaptic Glial Cell Metabolism by Both the Type A and B Forms of Monoamine Oxidase

: Intrastriatal injections of kainic acid (KA) were utilized to investigate the cellular localization of postsynaptic dopamine (DA) metabolism by type A and B monoamine oxidase (MAO) in rat striatum. At 2 days postinjection, maximal degeneration of cholinergic and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurons was observed and found to be associated with a significant decrease in both type A and B MAO activity. However, over the next 8-day period, when only the process of gliosis appeared to be occurring, a selective return to control of type B MAO activity was seen. When the metabolism of [3H]DA (10−7M) was examined in 8-day KA-lesioned rat striatal slices, an increase in [3H]dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and [3H]homovanillic acid (HVA) formation was observed. The KA-induced elevation of [3H]DOPAC formation (but not [3H]HVA) was abolished by the DA neuronal uptake inhibitor nomifensine. This is consistent with earlier findings suggesting that HVA is formed exclusively within sites external to DA neurons. Experiments with clorgyline and/or deprenyl revealed that the relative roles of type A and B MAO in striatal DA deamination remained unchanged following KA (90% deamination by type A MAO) even though total deamination was substantially enhanced. At high concentrations of [3H]DA (10−5M), deamination by type B MAO could be increased to 30% of the total MAO activity; however, this was observed in both control and KA-lesioned striata. These results suggest that KA-sensitive neurons contain type A and/or type B MAO. Moreover, whereas these neurons may metabolize DA, a major portion of postsynaptic DA deamination appears to occur within glial sites of rat striatal tissue. Furthermore, glial cells would appear to contain functionally important quantities of both type A and B MAO.
Cross‐polarization for quadrupolar nuclei—proton to molybdenum‐95

High-field, 95Mo, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of (NH4)6Mo7O24 · 4H2O and (Bu4N)2Mo2O7 were obtained using solid-echo techniques together with 1H cross-polarization and dipolar decoupling. The results show that reliable second-order powder line shapes can be obtained with excellent cross-polarization enhancements of 66–86% of maximum theoretical enhancement. The lower than maximum enhancements are due to the relatively long TIS values, which are similar in magnitude to the TH1ρ values. Experiments were performed which reveal the dynamics involved in the cross-polarization process, including measurement of the cross-relaxation time constant and the 1H and 95Mo rotating-frame spin-lattice relaxation times. It was found that the principal relaxation process causing low gain in the observed signal was the 1H T1ρ, which was found to be on the order of 23–24 ms. The experimental results obtained indicate that selective cross-polarization dynamics occur in molybdenum cluster species with inequivalent molybdenum sites. The 95Mo rotating-frame spin-lattice relaxation rate is long in comparison with the other relaxation processes, making molybdenum a good cross-polarization candidate but precluding the use of multiple contact cross-polarization.
Effect of Parathion on Liver Microsomal Enzyme Activities Induced by Organochlorine Pesticides and Drugs in Female Rats

Effects on hepatic microsomal enzyme activity in rats was investigated following administration of one oral dose of parathion plus one oral dose of an organochlorine pesticide or drug. (Doses approx. 25% of LD 50). Enzyme systems studied: O-demethylase (I) (Netter and Seidel); O-dearylase (II) (Neal and DuBois); N-demethylase (III) (LaDu et al.); azo-reductase (IV) (Fouts et al.), and nitroreductase (V) (Fouts and Brodie).
Adaptive Model Predictive Control for Vehicle Braking Assist System Design

In this paper, an adaptive model predictive control scheme is designed for speed control of heavy vehicles. The controller coordinates use of compression brakes and friction brakes on downhill slopes. Moreover the model predictive controller takes the actuator constraints into account. It is shown that accurate estimate of mass is necessary for safe and comfortable operation in closed-loop. Also knowledge of the road grade improves the results further by contributing in feedforward control. Therefore a recursive least square scheme with forgetting is used in parallel with the controller to update the estimates of mass and road grade. The mass and grade estimates converged to their actual values when rich excitations were provided. As a result the adaptation improved the closed-loop performance.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Biologic versus Mechanical Valve Replacement of the Pulmonary Valve After Multiple Reconstructions of the RVOT Tract

The pulmonary valve is the most common heart valve repaired and replaced in the treatment of congenital heart disease. Valve-bearing extracardiac conduits from the pulmonary ventricle to the pulmonary artery have allowed for the surgical treatment of many complex congenital defects. The surgical controversy for reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) for the past 30 years has been primarily focused on which biologic valve to use when valve insertion is indicated. Replacement of the pulmonary valvewithamechanicalvalvehasrecentlybeenadvocatedfor a subset of older children and adults rather than using a biologic substitute. In the discussion to follow we hope to convince the reader that continued use of a biologic pulmonary valve is indicated in all but a handful of older patients who require anticoagulation for other reasons. Aortic and later pulmonary homografts (PH) were the first valved conduits to be introduced to treat complex congenital heart disease. Until recently, PH have remained the most frequent choice for RVOT reconstruction in infants and children when a conduit was required. At our institution more than500RVOTreconstructionsusingavalveofvarioustypes
First-passage-time exponent for higher-order random walks: using Lévy flights.

We present a heuristic derivation of the first-passage-time exponent for the integral of a random walk [Y. G. Sinai, Theor. Math. Phys. 90, 219 (1992)]. Building on this derivation, we construct an estimation scheme to understand the first-passage-time exponent for the integral of the integral of a random walk, which is numerically observed to be $0.220\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.001.$ We discuss the implications of this estimation scheme for the $n\mathrm{th}$ integral of a random walk. For completeness, we also address the $n=\ensuremath{\infty}$ case. Finally, we explore an application of these processes to an extended, elastic object being pulled through a random potential by a uniform applied force. In so doing, we demonstrate a time reparametrization freedom in the Langevin equation that maps nonlinear stochastic processes into linear ones.
(Re) Visioning the Ethnographic Site: Interpretive Ethnography as a Method of Pedagogical Reflexivity and Scholarly Production:

This article uses and advocates the use of interpretive ethnography as a method of pedagogical reflexivity and scholarly production. Specifically, it seeks to further the discussion of the classroom as a cultural site that places the teacher as both participant and observer in the intense cultural negotiation of lived experience, curriculum, and politics of education. Using the constructive metaphor of pedagogy as drag, the project also suggests that similar to drag (and the performance of gender), pedagogy is about what teachers reveal and what they conceal in the classroom and why. To that extent, the article uses a series of reflective poetic excursions on the nature and experience of viewing and discussing the performance of drag. These excursions take the author away from the formal construct of the classroom but always bring him back to the constructed nature of pedagogy as drag, blurring the boundaries between place and space.
Diffusion in the CuSn binary system: application to Nb3Sn composites

Non-parabolic growth of intermediate phases in CuSn binary diffusion couples has been observed at 220° C. The deviation from parabolic behaviour may be attributed to grain boundary diffusion. Diffusion coefficients for both the∈-(Cu3Sn) andη-(Cu6Sn5) phases are typically of the order of 2×10−11 cm2 sec−1, and are in general agreement with other published values.
Orthogonal polynomial-based nonlinear adaptive filters

For certain types of signals, such as white Gaussian signals, the Volterra series can be fully represented by orthogonal polynomials. With an orthogonal polynomial representation, all the nonlinear terms become statistically orthogonal with respect to each other. This allows less computationally complex adaptive algorithms to be developed for adaptive Volterra filters based on the orthogonal polynomial structure.
Release of aminoacyl transfer ribonucleic acid from transfer ribonucleic acid synthetase studied by rapid molecular sieve chromatography

Abstract Complex of Ile-tRNA Ile and isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase (IRS) was isolated by rapid chromatography on a Bio-Gel P-100 column at 4°C. By incubating the complex in the presence of excess unacylated tRNA Ile prior to chromatography, it is possible to qualitatively measure the rate of exchange of Ile-tRNA Ile with tRNA Ile on the enzyme. The rate of exchange is markedly accelerated by isoleucine and isoleucinyl-AMP, but not by ATP. These results confirm previously published findings that the rate of release of newly synthesized Ile-tRNA Ile from IRS is very slow in the absence of isoleucine or isoleucyl-AMP, but that the release is greatly enhanced by these ligands. The rapid chromatography procedure thus provides a very direct and straightforward means for measuring the dynamics of a proteinnucleic acid interaction.
Genomic Heterogeneity and Ecological Speciation within One Subspecies of Bacillus subtilis

ABSTRACT Closely related bacterial genomes usually differ in gene content, suggesting that nearly every strain in nature may be ecologically unique. We have tested this hypothesis by sequencing the genomes of extremely close relatives within a recognized taxon and analyzing the genomes for evidence of ecological distinctness. We compared the genomes of four Death Valley isolates plus the laboratory strain W23, all previously classified as Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii and hypothesized through multilocus analysis to be members of the same ecotype (an ecologically homogeneous population), named putative ecotype 15 (PE15). These strains showed a history of positive selection on amino acid sequences in 38 genes. Each of the strains was under a different regimen of positive selection, suggesting that each strain is ecologically unique and represents a distinct ecological speciation event. The rate of speciation appears to be much faster than can be resolved with multilocus sequencing. Each PE15 strain contained unique genes known to confer a function for bacteria. Remarkably, no unique gene conferred a metabolic system or subsystem function that was not already present in all the PE15 strains sampled. Thus, the origin of ecotypes within this clade shows no evidence of qualitative divergence in the set of resources utilized. Ecotype formation within this clade is consistent with the nanoniche model of bacterial speciation, in which ecotypes use the same set of resources but in different proportions, and genetic cohesion extends beyond a single ecotype to the set of ecotypes utilizing the same resources.
Statistical mechanics of dense plasmas: numerical simulation and theory

Recent Monte Carlo calculations from Paris and from Livermore for dense one and two component plasmas have led to systematic and accurate results for the thermodynamic properties of dense Coulombic fluids. This talk will summarize the results of these numerical experiments, and the simple analytic expressions for the equation of state and other thermodynamic functions that have been obtained. The thermal energy for the one component plasma has a simple power law dependence on temperature that is identical to Monte Carlo results on strongly coupled fluids governed by l/r/sup n/ potentials. A universal model for fluids governed by simple repulsive forces is suggested. For two component plasmas the ion-sphere model is shown to accurately reproduce the Monte Carlo data for the static portion of the energy. Electron screening is included using the Lindhard dielectric function and linear response theory. Free energy expressions have been constructed for one and two component plasmas that allow easy computation of all thermodynamic functions.
Actinomycotic Brain Abscess and Subdural Empyema of Odontogenic Origin: Case Report and Review of the Literature

v a Actinomyces are gram-positive, nonacid-fast, branching filamentous prokaryotic microorganisms with anaerobic or microaerophilic requirements. Actinoyces species are part of the normal flora of the ropharyngeal cavity, specifically concentrated in he tonsillar crypts, the surface of carious teeth, and he gingival pocket. Actinomycosis is rarely a athologic concern because of the organism’s low irulence and does not appear to be an opportunistic isease because there is no specific predisposition oward immunocompromised individuals. Diect trauma, tooth extraction, root canal therapy, and eriodontal or periapical abscesses compromise the ntegrity of the oral mucosa and are believed to be the ost common mechanisms of pathogenesis. The principal bacteria in humans is Actinomyces israelii, a normal inhabitant of the oral cavity. Other members of the Actinomycetaceae family that are involved in human pathogenesis include A viscosus (40%), A naeslundii (5%), A odontolyticus (2%), and A meyeri (1%). Cervicofacial actinomycosis presnts as a chronic suppurative infection that typically gnores traditional fascial planes and is associated ith multiple fistulae tracts. The granulation-type leions harbor colonies of actinomyces and other baceria and promote a significant inflammatory response n the surrounding tissues. If the disease follows a ong-term course, the inflammation leads to fibrosis nd scar tissue formation, which in turn decreases xygen perfusion and creates an anaerobic environ-
Risk assessment in cardiovascular disease: from traditional risk factors to genomics

In addition to the traditional Framingham risk factors, candidate markers for cardiovascular disease are being proposed and their number continues to grow. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein has been validated as a risk factor for both primary and secondary cardiovascular events. Most other protein markers, however, remain incompletely validated. Molecular analysis of the genetic loci associated with monogenic disorders may help to identify polymorphisms that underlie major polygenic disorders, such as essential hypertension. Genomics and proteomics have accelerated the discovery of novel genes, gene expression patterns, proteins and single nucleotide polymorphisms as predictors of disease outcome and drug response, but their validation and characterization in clinical studies remain a challenge. Studies such as The ONgoing Telmisartan Alone and in combination with Ramipril Global Endpoint Trial (ONTARGET) Trial Programme are addressing this issue by collecting large numbers of samples for mass pharmacogenomic analysis. In conclusion, novel disease markers and risk factors promise to have a radical impact on cardiovascular medicine in the long term, but their adoption into clinical practice is dependent on widespread validation in patient populations, ease of measurement and extensive physician education.
Emerging temporality: past tense and temporal/aspectual markers in Spanish-speaking children's intra-conversational narratives

This study describes how young Spanish-speaking children become gradually more adept at encoding temporality using grammar and discourse skills in intra-conversational narratives. The research involved parallel case studies of two Spanish-speaking children followed longitudinally from ages two to three. Type/token frequencies of verb tense, temporal/aspectual markers and narrative components were analyzed to explore interrelationships among grammatical and discourse skills. Children progressed from scattered unsystematic means of encoding temporality to mastering a basic linguistic system that included devices to mark location of events, temporal relations and aspectual meanings. The consolidation of perfective past tense to express narrative events marked a crucial developmental point which preceded an explosion of additional verb tenses and temporal markers. The value of spontaneous language data, and the need to study grammar and discourse simultaneously to construct a comprehensive developmental picture are highlighted. Results are discussed in relation to theoretical proposals on the development of temporality.
In defense of pseudorandom sample selection

Generation of random numbers is a critical component of existing post-election auditing techniques. Recent work has largely discouraged the use of all pseudo-random number generators, including cryptographically secure pseudorandom number generators (CSPRNGs), for this purpose, instead recommending the sole use of observable physical techniques. In particular, simple dice rolling has received a great deal of positive attention [4, 6, 9]. The typical justification for this recommendation is that those less comfortable with mathematics prefer a simple, observable technique. This paper takes a contrary view. Simple, observable techniques like dice rolling are not necessarily robust against sleight of hand and other forms of fraud, and attempts to harden them against fraud can dramatically increase their complexity. With simple dice rolling, we know of no techniques that provide citizens with a reasonable means of verifying that fraud did not occur during the roll process. CSPRNGs, used properly, can be simple, robust, and verifiable, and they allow for the use of auditing techniques that might otherwise be impractical. While we understand initial skepticism towards this option, we argue that appropriate use of CSPRNGs would strengthen audit security.
Gadolinium prevents high airway pressure-induced permeability increases in isolated rat lungs

To determine the initial signaling event in the vascular permeability increase after high airway pressure injury, we compared groups of lungs ventilated at different peak inflation pressures (PIPs)...
Towards truly integrated photonic and electronic computing

The long heralded transition of photonic technology from a rack to rack interconnect to an integral part of the system architecture is underway. Silicon photonics, where the optical communications devices are fabricated using the same materials and processes as CMOS logic, will allow 3D or monolithically integrated devices to be created, minimizing the overhead for moving between the electronic and photonic domains. System architects will then be free to exploit the unique characteristics of photonic communications such as broadband switching and distance independence. Photonic interconnects are very sensitive to the performance of connectors, and so may favor architectures where redundancy and reconfiguration are used in preference to replacement.
Noise variance for rounded two's complement product quantization

The Halyo-McAlpine discrete model for product quantization is reconstructed using an error variable set having an even number of members. It is shown in this case that the noise variance associated with a continuous model becomes an upper rather than a lower bound on the variance of the product quantization noise. The modified error set is shown to be more consistent with binary data formats such as two's complement.
Management of prehypertension.

A 58-year-old woman is evaluated by her primary care physician, her gynecologist, or at employee health. On 2 separate occasions, duplicate seated blood pressure (BP) measurements average 132/84 mm Hg. She is informed that she has “prehypertension.” At her last check-up in 2002, she had a similar reading but was told she had normal BP. The BP category “prehypertension” was first introduced by the Seventh Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure (JNC-7) in 2003, replacing former categories of “high-normal” and “above-optimal” BP.1 The rationale for redefining this category was to emphasize the excess risk associated with BP in this range and to focus increased clinical and public health attention on prevention. Management of prehypertension by lowering BP into a more optimal range can be expected to lower risk. The risks associated with prehypertension are in part related to the tendency of BP to increase with age in industrialized societies. Thus, prehypertension is a precursor of clinical hypertension and consequently of the cardiovascular disease (CVD) and renal risks associated with elevated BP (ie, SBP ≥140 or DBP ≥90 mm Hg). In addition, the relationship between BP and CVD risk is continuous over the whole range of BP, and therefore, prehypertension itself is associated with BP-related morbidity and mortality. Thus, the goals of treating prehypertension are to prevent hypertension and to reduce the excess CVD risk associated with BP in this preclinical range. Although treatment of prehypertension is primarily nonpharmacological lifestyle change, redefining this range of BP also serves to emphasize the role of health care providers in its management. The terms “high-normal” or “above-optimal” BP in previous JNC reports might have implied in the past that appropriate action should originate in the public health or the lay public sectors, but the label “prehypertension” …
Black-box construction of a more than non-malleable CCA1 encryption scheme from plaintext awareness

We construct a Non-Malleable Chosen Ciphertext Attack NM-CCA1 encryption scheme from any encryption scheme that is also plaintext aware and weakly simulatable. We believe this is the first construction of a NM-CCA1 scheme that follows strictly from encryption schemes with seemingly weaker or incomparable security definitions to NM-CCA1.Previously, the statistical Plaintext Awareness #1 PA1 notion was only known to imply CCA1. Our result is therefore novel because unlike the case of Chosen Plaintext Attack CPA and Chosen Chiphertext Attack CCA2, it is unknown whether a CCA1 scheme can be transformed into an NM-CCA1 scheme. Additionally, we show both the Damgard Elgamal Scheme DEG [in: CRYPTO, J. Feigenbaum, ed., Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 576, Springer, 1991, pp. 445--456] and the Cramer--Shoup Lite Scheme CS-Lite [SIAM J. Comput. 331 2003, 167--226] are weakly simulatable under the DDH assumption. Since both are known to be statistical Plaintext Aware 1 PA1 under the Diffie--Hellman Knowledge DHK assumption, they instantiate our scheme securely.Furthermore, in response to a question posed by Matsuda and Matsuura [in: Public Key Cryptography, D. Catalano, N. Fazio, R. Gennaro and A. Nicolosi, eds, Lecture Notes in Computer Science, Vol. 6571, Springer, 2011, pp. 246--264], we define cNM-CCA1-security in which an NM-CCA1-adversary is permitted to ask a c≥1 number of parallel queries after receiving the challenge ciphertext. We extend our construction to yield a cNM-CCA1 scheme for any constant c. All of our constructions are black-box.
Factorial Design of Experiments in Ceramics, l

A factorial design of experiment is one in which a variable is evaluated at all levels of all other variables. This type of experiment was applied to the unit operations in body preparation and forming by extrusion. Drying and firing unit operations were not considered, and the variance due to these operations was minimized by duplication. The variables or factors were (1) particle-size distribution at three levels, (2) water of plasticity at two levels, (3) entrapped air at two levels, and (4) two replications. Analysis of variance was used to determine the significant effects. It was found that 95%. 0f the total variance of the drying shrinkage was accounted for by the particle-size distribution, water of plasticity, and two interactions; 95% of the total variance of the dry modulus of rupture was accounted for by particle-size distribution, water of plasticity, entrapped air, and two interactions; 52% of the total variance of the firing shrinkage was accounted for by the particle-size distribution; 87% of the total variance of the fired modulus of rupture was accounted for by the particle-size distribution, water of plasticity, entrapped air, and three interactions. Since a tunnel kiln makes it possible to control the firing operation closely and with no changes in composition, close control of the particle-size distribution, water of plasticity, and entrapped air should make it possible to produce more uniform ware. The slope constants for the factors were also determined which show the most efficient path leading to the development of optimum conditions necessary for maximizing a desired property.
Documentation of Health Risks and Health Promotion Counseling by Emergency Department Nurse Practitioners and Physicians

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine medical record documentation of health risk factors and health promotion discharge counseling by nurse practitioners and physicians practicing in an emergency department in the U.S. midwest. Methods: In this two-group comparative study researchers examined random-stratified medical records 305 nonacute ambulatory patients for selected health risk factors, including smoking, alcohol use, elevated blood pressure, obesity, and dental caries. Results: Fifty-nine percent of this sample of relatively young adults (mean age = 33) had one or more health-risk factors. According to medical record documentation, only 22% of these adults, with nonacute problems, received health promotion counseling. Multivariate analyses indicated that nurse practitioners were slightly more likely to provide smoking cessation counseling than were physicians. Conclusions: Many opportunities for identification of health risks and follow-up counseling, as recommended in Healthy People 2000 and by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, were not documented. To meet the new goals of Healthy People 2010, health care providers in all settings should identify health risk factors and document health promotion counseling during every patient encounter.
Impact of a novel education curriculum on surgical training within an academic training program.

Background The training of the 21st century surgeon has become increasingly complex with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) core competency requirements and work-hour restrictions. Herein we report the two-year results of a novel problem-based learning education module at a large academic surgery program. Methods All data were prospectively collected from 2004 to 2006 on all categorical residents in the department of surgery (n = 42). Analysis was performed to identify any correlation between class attendance and American Board of Surgery In-Service Training Exam (ABSITE) score performance (percentile change). All data were reported as a mean with a standard error of the mean. Categorical variables were analyzed using a paired Student’s t-test. A bivariate correlation was calculated using Spearman’s ρ correlation. Results When comparing the 2004 scores (pre-program) to 2006 scores, there was significant score improvement (P ≤ 0.05), with a mean increase of 8% on ABSITE scores across all classes. Furthermore, from 2005 to 2006, the mean ABSITE score was stable for all classes with no significant decrease (P = 0.34). Of note, the PGY-4 class had a significant improvement of 15% (P ≤ 0.05). Bivariate analysis demonstrated a slight trend toward a significant relationship between class attendance and ABSITE score improvement, however, this did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.15). Conclusion A problem-based learning (PBL) based education program can successfully meet the educational goals of a surgical training program. Furthermore, this program has demonstrated consistent results with maintenance of score improvements through a two-year period.
ON THE NUMBER AND NATURE OF COMMON FACTORS EXTRACTED BY THE EIGENVALUE-ONE RULE USING BMDP VS SPSSX '

Given nuances in the computer programs, unwary researchers performing a common factor analysis on the same set of data can be expected to arrive at very different conclusions regarding the number and nature of extracted factors if they use the BMDP, as opposed to the SPSSx (or SAS), statistical software package. This is illustrated using six well-known empirical data sets from the psychology literature.
On the effects of seasonality on soil water balance and plant growth

[1] The partitioning of rainfall into evapotranspiration, runoff, and deep infiltration in seasonally dry climates is influenced by strong temporal variability in rainfall and potential evapotranspiration at the intra-annual scale, which cannot be captured by conventional steady state water balance models. Guided by dimensional analysis and using simplified stochastic soil moisture models, we develop analytical expressions describing the annual partitioning of rainfall into evapotranspiration and deep percolation/runoff in seasonally dry, surface water dependent landscapes. We discuss the related changes to Budyko's curve under different seasonality scenarios, showing that an increase in seasonal rainfall and potential evapotranspiration variability as well as dry season length can lead to a decrease in the annual evapotranspiration ratio. In addition, our model shows that although increased soil water storage can compensate for the decrease in evapotranspiration due to climate seasonality, this effect is more marked in drier climates (higher annual dryness index) compared to wetter climates. Finally, the coupling of the soil moisture model to a minimalist plant growth model shows that in seasonally dry climates, a maximum in biomass is to be expected for a wet season of optimal length, for which the limitations imposed by both water availability and growth duration are at a minimum.
Writing Parodies Across the Curriculum

A parody is a literary or musical work in which the style of an author or work is closely imitated for comic effect or in ridicule. The author describes and reports on an instructional lesson that was designed and implemented to help students write parodies across the curriculum.
Neutrophils play a critical role in development of LPS-induced airway disease

We investigated the role of neutrophils in the development of endotoxin-induced airway disease via systemic neutrophil depletion of C3H/HeBFeJ mice and coincident inhalation challenge with lipopoly...
Epidemiological profile of Road Traffic Accidents reporting at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Garhwal Region of Uttarakhand

Introduction: Accidents occur not only due to ignorance but also due to carelessness, thoughtlessness and over confidence. Human, vehicle and environmental factors play roles before, during and after a trauma event. Accidents, therefore, can best studied in terms of agent, host and environmental factors and epidemiologically classified into time, place and person distribution. Objective: To know the epidemiology of Road Traffic Injuries as seen in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Himalayan Hospital. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was done among patients of RTA admitted at a Tertiary Care Centre. A pretested semi-structured interview schedule was used to collect necessary information regarding the time, place and the person involved in the accident. Descriptive statistics for continuous variables and frequency, percentage for categorical variables were determined. Results: There was a marked male preponderance (83.24%) with maximum involvement of younger age groups. Most of the accidents had taken place in the evening hours (6 pm -12 midnight). Accidents were equally distributed throughout the year. Conclusion: Majority of the patients of RTI belonged to 21 to 30 years age group. Males out-numbered females victims.
Gas-Phase Chemistry of Pulsed n-Hexane Discharge

Many types of carbon films are being investigated for use in many different applications for their electrical, mechanical, and optical properties. Organic based plasmas are beginning to be used for the production of a wide variety of novel film stacks. The use of these stacks can range from sensor to dielectrics for flexible electronics to biocompatible surfaces. Knowledge of how these films actually grow is largely unknown. In light of this, we have performed Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to the study of hexane plasmas. We use this diagnostic to identify different plasma-produced daughter species produced from n-hexane. For example, we observe the creation of methane, ethylene, and acetylene. From this we develop a likely dissociation model for the parent gas.