cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiple Temperature-Sensitive Spots Innervated by Single Nerve Fibers

Electrophysiological recordings were made from single nerve fibers which were specifically responsive to temperature changes of the skin of monkeys. Previous reports indicated that the receptive area on the skin of such preparations was a single small spot less than 1 millimeter in diameter. However, we found that the activity in a single thermally sensitive fiber increased when any one of eight individual spots on the skin was cooled. In other preparations two to six spots, each less than 1 millimeter in diameter, appeared to be innervated by a single fiber. The neural activity resulting from the cooling of one or several of these spots summed, and we suggest that this summation may be the neural analog of areal summation of thermal stimuli reported in psychophysical measurements.
Ultrasonic tomography based on perturbation solutions of the wave equation

Abstract A method that includes diffraction effects is introduced for the tomographic reconstruction of the ultrasonic velocity distribution of an object. The reconstruction is in the spatial frequency domain and is based on two perturbation approximations to the wave equation. The two perturbation methods, small perturbation and smooth perturbation, are discussed with respect to their regions of validity. Examples of two-dimensional reconstructions based on simulated data are presented and the results discussed.
Simple Approximate Physical Orbitals for G W Quasiparticle Calculations

Generating unoccupied orbitals within density functional theory (DFT) for use in GW calculations of quasiparticle energies becomes prohibitive for large systems. We show that, without any loss of accuracy, the unoccupied orbitals may be replaced by a set of simple approximate physical orbitals made from appropriately prepared plane waves and localized basis DFT orbitals that represent the continuum and resonant states of the system, respectively. This approach allows for accurate quasiparticle calculations using only a very small number of unoccupied DFT orbitals, resulting in an order of magnitude gain in speed.
Quantifying the value of AMPA membership services.

Abstract Introduction The purpose of this study was to quantify the value of current and future Air Medical Physician Association (AMPA) membership services. Methods Three-hundred-ninety-eight AMPA members were contacted by e-mail to participate in ranking AMPA membership services by a perceived numeric value (10 = highest to 1 = lowest), using a web-based survey. Results One-hundred-eighteen AMPA members completed the survey. The percentage of respondents having attended the conference and their AMPA-related Conference ranked-value scores were as follows: Air Medical Transport Conference (AMTC), 43%, 9.6 ± 1.9; AirMed International Conference, 9%, 7.8 ± 4.2; AMTC Pre-conference, 65%, 7.6 ± 2.5; Critical Care Transport Medicine Conference (CCTMC), 47%, 6.6 ± 2.6; CCTMC Pre-conference, 37%, 6.6 ± 2.6; the Association of Air Medical Services (AAMS) Mid-Year Conference, 6%, 6.4 ± 4.9; and General Membership meeting, 63%, 5.6 ± 2.4. Current AMPA Benefit/Service ranked-value scores were as follows: textbook, 8.4 ± 1.8; voice for physicians, 8.0 ± 2.3; position papers, 7.9 ± 1.8; Air Medical Journal subscription, 7.8 ± 2.1; networking with others, 7.7 ± 2.4; newsletter, 7.3 ± 1.9; means to enhance professional credibility, 7.1 ± 2.5; web site, 7.0 ± 2.1; voice on Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS), 7.0 ± 2.7; continuing medical education (CME) credits, 6.6 ± 3.0; conference discounts, 6.4 ± 2.9; and curriculum vitae builder, 4.9 ± 2.9. Future AMPA Benefits/Services ranked-value scores were as follows: evidence-based guidelines, 8.6 ± 1.7; transport database, 7.7 ± 2.1; malpractice repository, 7.6 ± 2.2; DVD lectures, 7.4 ± 2.0; medical director certification, 7.2 ± 2.9; lobbying, 7.1 ± 2.4; photo library, 6.4 ± 2.3; salary and benefits surveys, 6.4 ± 2.6; speaker's bureau, 6.2 ± 2.4; and consulting service list, 6.2 ± 2.4. Conclusion This AMPA survey was useful in prioritizing membership services.
Did Coal Miners “Owe Their Souls to the Company Store”? Theory and Evidence from the Early 1900s

Although coal companies may have tried to exploit a local-store monopoly, company-store prices in nonunion areas were appreciably limited by competition from other stores and mines in the same labor market. Company stores persisted in part by lowering transactions costs. Prices at company stores were generally similar to those at nearby independent stores, and higher wages may have compensated for higher store prices at isolated mines. Conditions varied, however, with labor-market tightness. Miners were generally not in debt to the store, nor paid entirely in scrip. Scrip was an advance on payday, when miners received cash.
Dispersion of Mineral Colloids in Soils using Cation Exchange Resins

THE techniques for particle size distribution analysis of soils which have gained general acceptance are those which include a pre-treatment with an oxidizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide1 or sodium hypobromite2 to destroy, as completely as possible, the organic materials present. It is customary also, where hydrogen peroxide has been used, to add a peptizing or dispersing agent, usually in the form of a soluble salt such as sodium metaphosphate3, before the oxidized soil material is shaken in water suspension to obtain separation of the mineral particles. However, for a realistic investigation of the processes of dispersion and aggregation in soils, a method is required which results in complete separation of the mineral particles without the destruction or irreversible alteration of any organic materials present and without degradation of the mineral colloids4. These requirements preclude the use of bases or soluble salts, since those which are efficient dispersing agents invariably dissolve soil constituents, and the materials solubilized can be lost from the system along with the added chemicals if desalting is attempted. These stringent requirements led to the development of the method of dispersion described here.
Isolation and structural properties of cytoplasmic glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase from rat liver.

Cytoplasmic, NAD-linked l -glycerol-3-P dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.8) was shown to exist as a single major isoenzymic from in the livers of 120–200-g rats when fresh homogenates were examined by polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing. The enzyme was isolated in apparently homogenous form and the amino acid composition established. The molecular weight estimated by gel filtration was 63.000±6,000.
Two symptoms pathognomonic for congenital central communication disorders in children

Summary This paper suggests that (1) failure to make expected responses to sound irrespective of intensity level and (2) total absence of consistent vocalizations with communicative intent in a child old enough to have speech are symptoms pathognomonic for central communication disorders in children. Popular misconceptions about these symptoms are presented, and methods useful in identifying the symptoms during a routine pediatric examination are discussed. The need for early and accurate diagnosis is noted.
The atomic transition probabilities of argon—A continuing challenge to plasma spectroscopy

Abstract Determinations of the atomic transition probabilities for prominent spectral lines of Ar I and II are classical cases for testing the capabilities of the emission spectroscopy method. Despite numerous attempts to measure these data accurately, differences of about 30–40% remain in the numerical results, and the available material actually suggests two scales for the transition probabilities, differing by about 30%, as has been pointed out repeatedly. A critical analysis of all emission experiments undertaken in this study is able to remove these differences satisfactorily. A single transition probability value with an error estimated of only ±5% is established for a typical Ar I transition; however, discrepancies for the Ar II data are not removed and remain as a challenge to future experiments.
Effects of sliding velocity on the coefficients of friction in a model orthodontic system

Abstract Four arch wire alloy products were evaluated against 400- or 600-grit finished stainless steel contact flats at 34°C under prevailing atmospheric conditions. Six relative velocities (10, 1.0, 0.1, 5 × 10 −2 , 5 × 10 −3 , and 5 × 10 −4 mm/min) were evaluated as many as three times each in order to simulate a range of sliding motion which approaches the mean rate of tooth motion—that of 2.3 × 10 −5 mm/min. Measurements of the static and kinetic coefficients of friction were rather invariant for the stainless steel and nickel titanium arch wire products. In contrast, a slight increase and a definite decrease of both coefficients occurred for the cobalt-chromium and the beta-titanium arch wire products, respectively. On the presumption that tooth motion routinely occurs over a wide range of sliding rates, the stainless steel couple produced the lowest and the most consistent coefficients of friction, whereas the betatitanium wire on stainless steel flats produced the highest and the most erratic coefficients of friction. These observations should prevail whenever the film layer of saliva breaks down at, for example, the contact points of arch wire and bracket wings.
Completion of hot dry rock geothermal well systems

In the hot-dry-rock (HDR) concept of extracting geothermal energy, a manmade geothermal reservoir is created by drilling a deep hole into relatively impermeable hot rocks, creating a large surface area for heat transfer by hydraulic fracturing, then drilling a second hole to intersect the fracture to complete the closed circulation loop. The completion of HDR geothermal wells presents cementing problems that are unique. The casing string may be subjected to temperature stress cycles representing differential temperatures of up to 455 F (235 C). Experience has shown that the conventional high-temperature completion cement formulation of class A or B Portland cement, stabilized with 40% silica sand, does not withstand these cyclic stresses. Investigations and tests are being conducted to determine other Portland cement formulations. This study describes (1) the performance history of casing cement for the existing FE-1 injection well, (2) the proposed cementing plan for the FE-2 injection well presently being drilled, and (3) the completion system being tested in EE-1 for expanded use in EE-2.
FUNCTIONALIZED CELLULOSE FIBERS FOR DEWATERING AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS

Paper drying accounts for nearly 80% of the energy used in the papermaking process. This is due to the high energy requirements for the process of drying by vaporization. Because the cost-effectiveness of the various physical means of dewatering far exceeds that of thermal drying, significant energy savings can be expected if the physical dewatering effectiveness is improved. To that end, a novel method of enhancing the physical dewatering process that involves the addition of hydrophobic fibers to the pulp furnish is described and evaluated. Freeness and water retention measurements indicate that the addition of hydrophobic fibers at even a few weight percent may have a significant impact on the freeness and water retention properties of the furnish and therefore a significant improvement in the effectiveness of the physical dewatering of webs made using the hydrophobically tailored furnish material.
Drainage effects on stream nitrate-N and hydrology in south-central Minnesota (USA).

Excessive nitrate-N in south-central Minnesota ditches and streams is related to land-use change, and may be contributing to the development of the zone of hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. Intensive land-use (agricultural management) has progressively increased as subsurface drainage has improved crop productivity over the past 25 years. We have examined water at varying scales for δ18O, and nitrate-N concentrations. Additionally, analysis of annual peak flows, and channel geomorphic features provided a measure of hydrologic change. Laboratory and field results indicate that agricultural drainage has influenced riverine source waters, concentrations of nitrate-N, channel dimensions and hydrology in the Blue Earth River (BER) Basin. At the mouth of the BER shallow ground water comprises the largest source water component. The highest nitrate-N concentrations in the BER and tributaries typically occurred in May and June and ranged from 7–34 mg L-1. Peak flows for the 1.01-2-yr recurrence intervals increased by 20-to-206% over the past 25 years.Geomorphic data suggest that small channels (ditches) were entrenched by design, whereas, natural channels incised. Increased frequent peak flows in the BER have created laterally confined channels that are disconnected from an accessible riparian corridor. Frequent access to a functioning riparian zone is important for denitrification.
Live attenuated influenza vaccine strains elicit a greater innate immune response than antigenically-matched seasonal influenza viruses during infection of human nasal epithelial cell cultures

Influenza viruses are global pathogens that infect approximately 10-20% of the world's population each year. Vaccines, including the live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), are the best defense against influenza infections. The LAIV is a novel vaccine that actively replicates in the human nasal epithelium and elicits both mucosal and systemic protective immune responses. The differences in replication and innate immune responses following infection of human nasal epithelium with influenza seasonal wild type (WT) and LAIV viruses remain unknown. Using a model of primary differentiated human nasal epithelial cell (hNECs) cultures, we compared influenza WT and antigenically-matched cold adapted (CA) LAIV virus replication and the subsequent innate immune response including host cellular pattern recognition protein expression, host innate immune gene expression, secreted pro-inflammatory cytokine production, and intracellular viral RNA levels. Growth curves comparing virus replication between WT and LAIV strains revealed significantly less infectious virus production during LAIV compared with WT infection. Despite this disparity in infectious virus production the LAIV strains elicited a more robust innate immune response with increased expression of RIG-I, TLR-3, IFNβ, STAT-1, IRF-7, MxA, and IP-10. There were no differences in cytotoxicity between hNEC cultures infected with WT and LAIV strains as measured by basolateral levels of LDH. Elevated levels of intracellular viral RNA during LAIV as compared with WT virus infection of hNEC cultures at 33°C may explain the augmented innate immune response via the up-regulation of pattern recognition receptors and down-stream type I IFN expression. Taken together our results suggest that the decreased replication of LAIV strains in human nasal epithelial cells is associated with a robust innate immune response that differs from infection with seasonal influenza viruses, limits LAIV shedding and plays a role in the silent clinical phenotype seen in human LAIV inoculation.
Functional or Operator Representation of Numerical Heat and Mass Transport Models

A numerical-computational procedure is described to determine a multidimensional functional or an operator for the representation of the computational results of a numerical transport code. The procedure is called numerical transport code functionalization (NTCF). Numerical transport codes represent a family of engineering software to solve, for example, heat conduction problems in solids using ANSYS (a multiphysics software package by ANSYS, Inc.), heat and moisture transport problems in porous media using NUFT (Non-equilibrium, Unsaturated-saturated Flows and Transport—porous-media transport code, developed by John Nitao at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory), or laminar or turbulent flow and transport problems using FLUENT (a software package by Fluent, Inc.), a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model. The NTCF procedure is developed to determine a model for the representation of the code for a variety of time-dependent input functions. Coupled solution of multiphysics problems often require repeated, iterative calculations for the same model domain and with the same code, but with different boundary condition functions. The NTCF technique allows for reducing the number of runs with the original numerical code to the number of runs necessary for NTCF model identification. The NTCF procedure is applied for the solution of coupled heat and moisture transport problems at Yucca Mountain, NV. The NTCF method and the supporting software is a key element of MULTIFLUX (by University of Nevada, Reno), a coupled thermohydrologic-ventilation model and software. Numerical tests as well as applications for Yucca Mountain, NV are presented using both linear and nonlinear NTCF models. The performance of the NTCF method is demonstrated both in accuracy and modeling acceleration.
Electron-transfer transitions during the collision of O2, N2, NO and CO with their respective ions

Abstract An improved theory of electron transfer absorption is proposed. The possibility of such absorption during the collision of ion-molecule pairs is discussed and frequencies for the O2O2+, O2O2−, NONO−, COCO+ and N2N2+ pairs are estimated. Oscillator strengths are also estimated for the O2O2+ pair.
The Nature and Transport of the Fine-Grained Component of Swift Creek Landslide, Northwest Washington

Extreme sedimentation in Swift Creek, located in the Cascades foothills in NW Washington (48°55′N, 122°16′W), results from erosion of the oversteepened, unvegetated toe of a large (55 hectares) active landslide. Deposition of landslide-derived sediment has necessitated costly mitigation projects in the channel including annual dredging and temporary sediment traps in an attempt to reduce the risk of flooding and damage to man-made structures downstream. This study attempts to understand the process of sediment production along with the corresponding erosion rates of the sediment source to help with the development of mitigation plans and construction of optimal sediment reservoirs. The bedload and suspended sediment in the creek are a direct result of the weathering process of the serpentinitic bedrock underlying the landslide. The serpentinite does not weather to smectite clay, as previously thought. Instead, it weathers to asbestiform chrysotile with minor amounts of chlorite, illite and hydrotalcite, all of which occur in clay seeps on the unvegetated surface of the landslide. The chrysotile fibers average 2 µm in length and make up at least 50%, by volume, of the suspended load transported in Swift Creek. This study does not address the environmental or health implications of the asbestiform chrysotile transport or deposition. During the sampled time between February 2005 and February 2006, 127 discrete suspended sediment samples were collected and discharge was measured 66 times. The suspended sediment concentrations ranged from 0·02 g L−1 to 41·6 g L−1 and the discharge ranged from 0·0 m3 s−1 to 0·5 m3 s−1. A nonlinear functional model estimated the total suspended sediment flux from detailed precipitation records and discrete suspended sediment concentration and discharge measurements to be 910 t km−2 yr−1. When the suspended sediment flux is coupled with estimates of downstream deposition of coarse sediment, the estimated erosion rate for the entire Swift Creek landslide is 158 mm yr−1. The majority of the material entering Swift Creek is presumed to originate on the unvegetated toe of the landslide, for which the erosion rate is thus approximately 1 m yr−1. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
B physics at DØ

An overview of progress in B physics studies with the DO Detector at the Fermilab Tevatron is presented, based on approximately 114 pb–1 of Run II data. Results on the performance of the upgrade DO tracking system are shown. Signals for many exclusive B±, B0 d , and B s decay modes are shown, along with preliminary results for b-hadron lifetimes and b-quark production cross sections.
Diabetic muscle infarction: an underappreciated cause of a painful swollen extremity. Evaluation with magnetic resonance imaging.

Diabetic muscle infarction (DMI) is a rarely reported complication of diabetes mellitus and usually occurs in patients with poorly controlled diabetes and/or significant end-organ complications. It is not unusual for these patients to undergo extensive work-up and treatment for thrombophlebitis, myositis, or vasculitis when DMI is not initially considered. We report the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose DMI on three occasions in two patients. We believe MRI should be considered early in the evaluation of diabetic patients with unexplained localized complaints in an extremity. In compatible clinical situations, MRI may lead to a swift diagnosis of DMI while excluding conditions requiring specific therapy. In addition, when the presentation is atypical, MRI may help focus further evaluation, i.e., localize which muscle to biopsy.
Inspiring and Training Students for Social Action: Renewing a Needed Tradition

In social work, it is believed that certain knowledge and skills are learned more effectively through experience than through didactic classroom content. Members of the faculty of a school of social work have developed a Social Action Day to reinforce curriculum and translate into practice material about advocacy and ethical responsibilities for social action; show the breadth of social work practice; and enhance the school's sense of community. The authors share their experience to inspire other social work faculty, so that they are better able to foster student interest and passion for political action that may generate social change.
Practical considerations of moisture in baled biomass feedstocks

Background: The biomass industry requires low-cost, moisture-tolerant storage solutions to preserve herbaceous feedstocks. Methodology: We examined moisture movement in storage and identified patterns of migration, as well as their impacts on moisture measurement and dry matter recovery. Baled corn stover and energy sorghum were stored outdoors in uncovered, tarp-covered or wrapped stacks, and sampled to measure moisture and dry matter losses. Results: Interpolation between sampling locations showed clear patterns of moisture accumulation and redeposition. Exposure, orientation and contact with barriers caused the greatest amount of moisture heterogeneity within stacks. Although the bulk moisture content remained in the range suitable for aerobic stability, regions of high moisture supported microbial activity, resulting in dry matter loss. Conclusion: Stack configuration, orientation and coverage methods improve moisture management and dry matter preservation.
Correlations Between a Dedicated Orthopaedic Complications Grading System and Early Adverse Outcomes in Joint Arthroplasty

Background Reliable classification of postoperative complications is important for quality improvement efforts. In 2014, The Knee Society proposed a grading system for complications after TKA, but to our knowledge, a relationship between complication grades and surgical outcomes has not yet been established.
Outline for a causal model of traffic conflicts and crashes

Road crashes tend to be infrequent but with nontrivial consequences, leading to a long-running interest in identifying surrogate events, such as traffic conflicts, that can support a timely recognition and correction of safety deficiencies. Although a variety of possible surrogates have been suggested, questions remain regarding how crashes and surrogates are related. Using recent developments in causal analysis we propose a simple model which represents crashes and conflicts as resulting from interactions between initiating conditions and evasive actions, and then use this model to identify relationships between these types of events. Our first set of results expresses the probability of a crash as a mixture of probabilities over different sets of initiating conditions, where the mixing probabilities are governed by the evasive action. Our second set of results considers situations where sampling is restricted to non-crash events, and gives conditions where these truncated probabilities can serve as proxies for crash probabilities. We then illustrate how trajectory-based reconstruction can be used to classify initiating events with respect to severity, and to estimate a proxy for the crash probability from a set of incompletely observed non-crash events.
Antibiotic stewardship programs: Overcoming barriers to successful implementation

Background: Posaconazole is given prophylactically because of prolonged neutropenia and the risk of systemic fungal infections. Posaconazole usage increased in a private hospital Bone Marrow Transplant Unit (BMT) following a Candida parapsilosis outbreak in theGauteng region. Thewardpharmacist noticed lowPosaconazole compliance. Posaconazole is an oral formulation. Patients have severe mucositis, diarrheoa, nausea, vomiting and/or no gastric absorption. Fatty meals improve absorption. Taste is a problem and patients refused themedication. Patients preparing for theatermiss oral doses.In a pilot studywith 8 non-compliant patients, 5 patients [62,5%] cultured C parapsilosis Methods & Materials: During January and February 2013 the ward pharmacist recorded the compliance of patients within the BMTU. Patients using Posaconazole for longer than 1 week were included in the study. The number of doses missed was compared to the number of doses that shouldhavebeen takenby thepatient andconverted into a compliance percentage. Patients are compliant when Posaconazolewas takenmore than 90% of the time and non-compliantwhen they were more than 10% non-compliant. Change was implemented and the compliance was monitored from July 2013 to September 2013. Changes made to improve patient compliance: • Change dosing regimen QID to TDS • Only AML and ALLO transplant patients •Anti-fungal treatment changedwhenpatient is non-compliant • Anti-fungal treatment changed in ICU setting • Compliance monitored by pharmacist • Training by pharmacist for nursing staff on o Dosing o Absorption with food in collaboration with dietitians o Medication interactions The results from the two periods were compared. Results: N=28 for Jan-Feb 2013. -18/28 patients showed less than 90% compliance -64.3% non-compliant -Non-compliant patients took medication 14.1% of the time. N=26 for July to September 2013. -2/26 patients showed less than 90% compliance -7.6% non-compliant -Non-compliant patients took medication 77.5% of the time. Conclusion:During 2012 43 patientswere diagnosedwith Candida parapsilosis candidaemia compared to 11 patients diagnosed from Jan to Sep 2013. Improving compliance to posaconazole is critical for effective prophylaxis. Pharmacists can play an important role in supporting improved compliance.
Radiative conductivity in the Earth’s lower mantle

Iron in crustal and mantle minerals adopts several possible oxidation states: this has implications for biogeochemical processes, oxygenation of the atmosphere and the oxidation state of the mantle. In the deep Earth, iron in silicate perovskite, (Mg(0.9)Fe(0.1))SiO(3), and ferropericlase, (Mg(0.85)Fe(0.15))O, influences the thermal conductivity of the lower mantle and therefore heat flux from the core. Little is known, however, about the effect of iron oxidation states on transport properties. Here we show that the radiative component of thermal conductivity in the dominant silicate perovskite material of Earth's lower mantle is controlled by the amount of ferric iron, Fe(3+). We obtained the optical absorption spectra of silicate perovskite and ferropericlase at pressures up to 133 GPa, corresponding to pressures at the core-mantle boundary. Absorption spectra of ferropericlase up to 800 K and 60 GPa exhibit minimal temperature dependence. The results on silicate perovskite show that optical absorption in the visible and near-infrared spectral range is dominated by O-Fe(3+) charge transfer and Fe(3+)-Fe(2+) intervalence transitions, whereas a contribution from the Fe(2+) crystal-field transitions is substantially smaller. The estimated pressure-dependent radiative conductivity, k(rad), from these data is 2-5 times lower than previously inferred from model extrapolations, with implications for the evolution of the mantle, such as generation and stability of thermo-chemical plumes in the lower mantle.
The relationship of metal binding to the biological activities of phenethylbiguanide

Phenethylbiguanide has been found to form metal complexes with divalent copper and nickel; on the basis of infrared absorption spectra and on theoretical considerations, a revised structure for the metal complexes of biguanides is proposed. Antimicrobial activities of phenethylbiguanide are not affected by divalent copper and nickel but are significantly depressed by iron. The relationship of these findings to the biological mechanisms of action of the compound is discussed.
Demyelinization induced in the brains of monkeys by means of fast neutrons; pathogenesis of the lesion and comparison with the lesions of multiple sclerosis and Schilder's disease.

Demyelinization was regularly conspicuous in the white matter of the rostral portions of the brains of 6 monkeys sacrificed 14 to 22 months after exposure of the ocular regions to 850 r.e.p. of 14 mev. neutron radiation and it was not present in the brain of a monkey 2 months after radiation under identical conditions; or in those of 5 non-radiated animals serving as controls. In early lesions, the individual myelin sheaths were varicose and fragmented, while the neurons, axons, and glial cells remained normal in appearance. With the passage of time, the degeneration of myelin became more marked and in later stages was accompanied by a degeneration of the axis cylinders, a proliferation of astrocytes and microglia, and minor cytological changes in the oligodendroglia, the whole process occurring essentially without inflammation or notable changes in the cerebral or meningeal blood vessels. The findings show that neutron radiation has the property of destroying myelin in the living animal and inducing changes that are notably similar in their pathogenesis to those that characterize disseminated encephalomyelitis in human beings.
Asymptotic properties of sample quantiles from a finite population

In this paper we consider the problem of estimating quantiles of a finite population of size N on the basis of a finite sample of size n selected without replacement. We prove the asymptotic normality of the sample quantile and show that the scaled variance of the sample quantile converges to the asymptotic variance under a slight moment condition. We also consider the performance of the bootstrap in this case, and find that the usual (Efron’s) bootstrap method fails to be consistent, but a suitably modified version of the bootstrapped quantile converges to the same asymptotic distribution as the sample quantile. Consistency of the modified bootstrap variance estimate is also proved under the same moment conditions.
A pilot study of functional Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (fCBT) for schizophrenia

Background: The feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a novel cognitive behavioral treatment for decreasing psychotic symptoms and improving social functioning was evaluated in a pilot study. This represents the first treatment outcome study of CBT for psychosis with a manualized, active comparison condition. Methods: Thirty outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, depressed type with residual psychotic symptoms were randomly assigned to either 16 weekly sessions of functional cognitive behavioral therapy (fCBT) or psychoeducation (PE) with assessments conducted at baseline and post-treatment by blind evaluators. Results: Attrition was only 7% and did not differ between fCBTand PE, indicating good tolerability of both treatments. For this sample with persistent symptoms, between groups effects were not significantly different, but within group effect sizes indicated greater treatment benefit for fCBT on positive symptoms, particularly for the PSYRATS voices subscale. Conclusion: The results suggest that fCBT is well tolerated and holds promise for reducing persistent positive symptoms. D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Temporal and spatial requirements of Smoothened in ventral midbrain neuronal development

Several studies have indicated that Sonic hedgehog (Shh) regulates the expansion of dopaminergic (DA) progenitors and the subsequent generation of mature DA neurons. This prevailing view has been based primarily on in vitro culture results, and the exact in vivo function of Shh signaling in the patterning and neurogenesis of the ventral midbrain (vMB) remains unclear. We characterized the transcriptional codes for the vMB progenitor domains, and correlated them with the expression patterns of Shh signaling effectors, including Shh, Smoothened, Patched, Gli1, Gli2 and Gli3. While Shh and its downstream effectors showed robust expression in the neurogenic niche for DA progenitors at embryonic day (E)8 to E8.5, their expression shifted to the lateral domains from E9.5 to E12.5. Consistent with this dynamic change, conditional mutants with region-specific removal of the Shh receptor Smoothened in the vMB progenitors (Shh-Cre;Smo fl/fl ) showed a transient reduction in DA progenitors and DA neurons at E10.5, but had more profound defects in neurons derived from the more lateral domains, including those in the red nucleus, oculomotor nucleus, and raphe nuclei. Conversely, constitutive activation of Smoothened signaling in vMB (Shh-Cre;SmoM2) showed transient expansion of the same progenitor population. To further characterize the nature of Shh-Smoothened signaling in vMB, we examined the BAT-GAL reporter and the expression of Wnt1 in vMB, and found that the antagonistic effects of Shh and Wnt signaling critically regulate the development of DA progenitors and DA neurons. These results highlight previously unrecognized effects of Shh-Smoothened signaling in the region-specific neurogenesis within the vMB.
Multi-Item, Multi-Facility Supply Chain Planning: Models, Complexities, and Algorithms

We propose a planning model for products manufactured across multiple manufacturing facilities sharing similar production capabilities. The need for cross-facility capacity management is most evident in high-tech industries that have capital-intensive equipment and a short technology life cycle. We propose a multicommodity flow network model where each commodity represents a product and the network structure represents manufacturing facilities in the supply chain capable of producing the products. We analyze in depth the product-level (single-commodity, multi-facility) subproblem when the capacity constraints are relaxed. We prove that even the general-cost version of this uncapacitated subproblem is NP-complete. We show that there exists an optimization algorithm that is polynomial in the number of facilities, but exponential in the number of periods. We further show that under special cost structures the shortest-path algorithm could achieve optimality. We analyze cases when the optimal solution does not correspond to a source-to-sink path, thus the shortest path algorithm would fail. To solve the overall (multicommodity) planning problem we develop a Lagrangean decomposition scheme, which separates the planning decisions into a resource subproblem, and a number of product-level subproblems. The Lagrangean multipliers are updated iteratively using a subgradient search algorithm. Through extensive computational testing, we show that the shortest path algorithm serves as an effective heuristic for the product-level subproblem (a mixed integer program), yielding high quality solutions with only a fraction (roughly 2%) of the computer time.
Repair of transposition of the great arteries with total anomalous pulmonary venous return

A 13-year-old Haitian girl presented with complex congenital heart disease consisting of transposition of the great arteries with total anomalous venous return. The patient exhibited clinical findings of long-standing congestive heart failure and cyanosis. She underwent complete repair with resolution of her symptoms.
Reconstructing Twentieth-Century Sea Surface Temperature Variability in the Southwest Pacific: A Replication Study Using Multiple Coral Sr/Ca Records from New Caledonia

[1] Coral-based climate reconstructions typically have not used multiple cores from a region to capture and replicate a climate signal largely because of concerns of coral conservation, analytical expense, and time constraints. Coral Sr/Ca reproducibility through the twentieth century was investigated using three intracolony and three intercolony coral records from the reefs offshore of Amedee Island, New Caledonia. Different sampling resolutions were examined in coral Sr/Ca (fortnightly and monthly) and δ18O (fortnightly, monthly, and seasonally) as well as similar scale subsampling of the daily in situ sea surface temperature (SST) record. The mean coral Sr/Ca, δ18O, and SST values do not change as a function of sampling resolution. The coral Sr/Ca signal is highly reproducible; the average absolute offset between coeval monthly Sr/Ca determinations between any two coral time series is 0.035 ± 0.026 mmol/mol (1σ) (∼0.65°C), which is less than twice the analytical precision of the coral Sr/Ca measurements. The stack average of the monthly coral Sr/Ca variations and monthly anomalies are significantly correlated with monthly in situ SST (1967–1992; r = −0.96 and −0.64, respectively; p < 0.05; and n = 302) and 1° grid monthly SST data product (1900–1999; r = −0.95 and −0.56, respectively; p < 0.05; and n = 1198). The coral Sr/Ca–SST reconstruction exhibits interannual and decadal- timescale fluctuations that exceed those observed in the gridded SST record, which may reflect true differences between SST at a shallow reef site and those averaged over a 1° grid box or inadequacies in the methodology used to create the gridded SST product when few observations are available. A warming trend of ∼0.6°C is observed in the twentieth century coral Sr/Ca–SST record.
A Model for Assessing the Value of Warehouse Risk-Pooling: Risk-Pooling Over Outside-Supplier Leadtimes

This paper constructs and analyzes a multi-location inventory model to examine the value of warehouse risk-pooling in high service-level systems. Specifically, risk-pooling over the outside-supplier leadtime is examined. Two alternative systems of N identical retailers are formulated. In System 1, each retailer operates independently: retailers receive goods directly from an outside supplier after a fixed leadtime Ls + Ltr, where Ls is the outside supplier's own e.g., manufacturing leadtime and Ltr is the transportation/receiving leadtime to the retailers. In System 2, the system order is shipped to a warehouse, arriving after a fixed leadtime Ls + Ltw, where Ltw is the transportation/receiving leadtime to the warehouse. Upon receipt of the goods, the warehouse allocates and ships units to the retailers to equalize their inventory positions. The warehouse does not hold inventory. Allocation and reshipment in System 2 requires a fixed leadtime of Lpw + Ltr time periods, where Lpw is the allocation and repackaging leadtime at the warehouse. Hence, System 2 pools risk over the outside supplier leadtime, but at the cost of: 1 increased overall leadtime to the retailers; and 2 an 'internal' pipeline inventory holding cost. Our analysis asks the question: given equal required service-levels and equal safety stock holding cost plus pipeline inventory cost for System 2, how large can System 2's extra leadtimes Ltw, Lpw be? Our analysis concludes that pipeline inventory-holding cost significantly influences the overall value of these breakeven leadtimes. Specifically, when pipeline inventory holding costs can somehow be ignored, the corresponding breakeven leadtimes can be quite large. However, if these costs cannot be avoided, then the corresponding breakeven leadtimes are significantly reduced. Managerial interpretations are provided.
Resource allocation varies with parental sex and brood size in the asynchronously hatching green-rumped parrotlet ( Forpus passerinus )

When eggs hatch asynchronously, offspring arising from last-hatched eggs often exhibit a competitive disadvantage compared with their older, larger nestmates. Strong sibling competition might result in a pattern of resource allocation favoring larger nestlings, but active food allocation towards smaller offspring may compensate for the negative effects of asynchronous hatching. We examined patterns of resource allocation by green-rumped parrotlet parents to small and large broods under control and food-supplemented conditions. There was no difference between parents and among brood sizes in visit rate or number of feeds delivered, although females spent marginally more time in the nest than males. Both male and female parents preferentially fed offspring that had a higher begging effort than the remainder of the brood. Mean begging levels did not differ between small and large broods, but smaller offspring begged more than their older nestmates in large broods. Male parents fed small offspring less often in both brood sizes. Female parents fed offspring evenly in small broods, while in large broods they fed smaller offspring more frequently, with the exception of the very last hatched individual. These data suggest male parrotlets exhibit a feeding preference for larger offspring—possibly arising from the outcome of sibling competition—but that females practice active food allocation, particularly in larger brood sizes. These differential patterns of resource allocation between the sexes are consistent with other studies of parrots and may reflect some level of female compensation for the limitations imposed on smaller offspring by hatching asynchrony.
Cytokinins in the ball gall of Solidago altissima and in the gall forming larvae of Eurosta solidaginis.

ummary • The identities and concentrations of cytokinins in goldenrod ball galls, normal goldenrod stems, and in the gall-forming larvae of the tephritid fly Eurosta solidaginis were determined in order to gain insight into the mechanism of ball gall formation on Solidago altissima. • Zeatin, zeatin riboside, isopentenyladenine, and isopentenyladenosine were identified and quantified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry in ball galls, goldenrod stems, and in larvae of E. solidaginis. • Concentrations of the four cytokinins were higher in gall tissues than in stem tissues when expressed on a weight per stem length basis but not when expressed on a weight per weight basis. Isopentenyladenine was the most abundant cytokinin in larvae from developing galls and in larvae from fully formed galls exhibiting ‘green islands’. In first instar larvae, isopentenyladenine was present at a much higher concentration (c. 50 fold) than in control stem tissues. • The presence of an E. solidaginis larva results in higher cytokinin amounts in a given length of stem than are found in its absence. Larvae of E. solidaginis may act as point sources of isopentenyladenine in developing ball galls. Abbreviations BHT, butylated hydroxytoluene; DMSO, dimethylsulphoxide; DMSO−, dimethylsulphoxide anion; GC-MS, gas chromatography mass spectrometry; HPLC, high pressure liquid chromatography; iP, isopentenyladenine; iPA, isopentenyladenosine; Me-dHZ, methyl-dihydrozeatin; Me-dHZR, methyl-dihydrozeatin riboside; Me-iP, methyl-isopentenyladenine; Me-iPA, methyl-isopentenyladenosine; Me-Z, methyl-zeatin; Me-ZOG, methyl-zeatin-O-glucoside; Me-ZR, methyl-zeatin riboside; Me-ZROG, methyl-zeatin riboside-O-glucoside; m/z, mass to charge ratio; PVPP, polyvinylpolypyrrolidone; SIM, selected ion monitoring; TEAB, triethylammonium bicarbonate; Z, zeatin; ZR, zeatin riboside.
STRUCTURAL FEATURES OF THE EPITHELIO-MESENCHYMAL INTERFACE OF RAT DUODENAL MUCOSA DURING DEVELOPMENT

In fetal rats 5–7 days before birth, the duodenal epithelium is separated from mesenchymal cells by a well-defined basal lamina. By 3–4 days before birth, when small rudimentary villi are first seen, direct contact between epithelial and mesenchymal cells occurs by means of epithelial cell cytoplasmic processes which project through gaps in the basal lamina into the lamina propria. At contact sites, the epithelial and mesenchymal cell plasma membranes were less than 100 A apart but membrane fusion was not seen. In number and size these epithelial cell processes increase strikingly during the last 2 days of gestation, and they persist in large numbers until 7–10 days after birth. Thereafter, they decrease gradually in both number and size until 3–4 wk after birth, when the morphology of the epithelio-mesenchymal interface resembles that seen in adult rats, i.e., there are only rare epithelial cell processes which penetrate deeply into the lamina propria. The presence of a large number of epithelio-mesenchymal contact sites during the period of rapid growth and differentiation of duodenal mucosa may reflect epithelio-mesenchymal cell interactions which may facilitate the maturation of the duodenal mucosa.
Diameter, girth and cut vertices of the graph of equivalence classes of zero-divisors

We explore the properties of 0E.R/, the graph of equivalence classes of zerodivisors of a commutative Noetherian ring R. We determine the possible combinations of diameter and girth for the zero-divisor graph0.R/ and the equivalence class graph0E.R/, and examine properties of cut-vertices of0E.R/.
Stem cells and the evolving notion of cellular identity

Stem cells are but one class of the myriad types of cells within an organism. With potential to self-renew and capacity to differentiate, stem cells play essential roles at multiple stages of development. In the early embryo, pluripotent stem cells represent progenitors for all tissues while later in development, tissue-restricted stem cells give rise to cells with highly specialized functions. As best understood in the blood, skin and gut, stem cells are the seeds that sustain tissue homeostasis and regeneration, while in other tissues like the muscle, liver, kidney and lung, various stem or progenitor cells play facultative roles in tissue repair and response to injury. Here, I will provide a brief perspective on the evolving notion of cellular identity and how reprogramming and transcription factor-mediated conversions of one cell type into another have fundamentally altered our assumptions about the stability of cell identity, with profound long-term implications for biomedical research and regenerative medicine.
An Introgression Analysis of Quantitative Trait Loci That Contribute to a Morphological Difference Between Drosophila simulans and D. mauritiana

Drosophila simulans and D. mauritiana differ markedly in morphology of the posterior lobe, a male-specific genitalic structure. Both size and shape of the lobe can be quantified by a morphometric variable, PC1, derived from principal components and Fourier analyses. The genetic architecture of the species difference in PC1 was investigated previously by composite interval mapping, which revealed largely additive inheritance, with a minimum of eight quantitative trait loci (QTL) affecting the trait. This analysis was extended by introgression of marked segments of the mauritiana third chromosome into a simulans background by repeated backcrossing. The two types of experiment are consistent in suggesting that several QTL on the third chromosome may have effects in the range of 10-15% of the parental difference and that all or nearly all QTL have effects in the same direction. Since the parental difference is large (30.4 environmental standard deviations), effects of this magnitude can produce alternative homozygotes with little overlap in phenotype. However, these estimates may not reflect the effects of individual loci, since each interval or introgressed segment may contain multiple QTL. The consistent direction of allelic effects suggests a history of directional selection on the posterior lobe.