cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neurobiology: memories of a fruitfly.

Despite its tiny size, the fruitfly brain is staggeringly intricate. So teasing apart how it remembers things — even a simple line pattern — is a daunting task. Progress is being made, thanks to genetic innovations. Like humans, Drosophila fruit flies recognize and remember visual landmarks, and they recognize patterns (such as vertical or oblique bars) independently of where they are projected on the retina at first encounter. In an experiment using genetic manipulation and a fruit-fly flight simulator, the nerve cells required for these feats of visual memory have been identified for the first time in an insect. Two groups of about 20 neurons are found in two narrow strata in the ‘fan-shaped body’, the largest component of the central complex that is characteristic of the arthropod brain. The main role of the central complex was thought to be to integrate information in the two brain hemispheres; this new study is the first to attribute well defined behavioural functions to this brain region.
Trends in the Prevalence, Awareness, Treatment, and Control of Hypertension in the Adult US Population: Data From the Health Examination Surveys, 1960 to 1991

The objective of this study was to describe secular trends in the distribution of blood pressure and prevalence of hypertension in US adults and changes in rates of awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension. The study design comprised nationally representative cross-sectional surveys with both an in-person interview and a medical examination that included blood pressure measurement. Between 6530 and 13,645 adults, aged 18 through 74 years, were examined in each of four separate national surveys during 1960-1962, 1971-1974, 1976-1980, and 1988-1991. Protocols for blood pressure measurement varied significantly across the surveys and are presented in detail. Between the first (1971-1974) and second (1976-1980) National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES I and NHANES II, respectively), age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension at > or = 160/95 mm Hg remained stable at approximately 20%. In NHANES III (1988-1991), it was 14.2%. Age-adjusted prevalence at > or = 140/90 mm Hg peaked at 36.3% in NHANES I and declined to 20.4% in NHANES III. Age-specific prevalence rates have decreased for every age-sex-race subgroup except for black men aged 50 and older. Age-adjusted mean systolic pressures declined progressively from 131 mm Hg at the NHANES I examination to 119 mm Hg at the NHANES III examination. The mean systolic and diastolic pressures of every sex-race subgroup declined between NHANES II and III (3 to 6 mm Hg systolic, 6 to 9 mm Hg diastolic). During the interval between NHANES II and III, the threshold for defining hypertension was changed from 160/95 to 140/90 mm Hg.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The Immune System as a Sensor of the Metabolic State

Mammals possess a remarkable ability to maintain and defend a constant internal milieu against diverse environmental threats. Unsurprisingly, the two systems tasked with these duties, metabolism and immunity, have evolved to share a common modular architecture that allows extensive bidirectional communication and coordination. Indeed, recent observations have highlighted numerous functionally critical immune regulatory modules located within diverse metabolic circuits. In this review, we discuss the architectural commonality between immunity and metabolism and highlight how these two primordially disparate systems leverage shared regulatory axes to coordinate metabolic physiology under conditions of normality and chronic overnutrition. Such an integrated perspective both advances our understanding of basic physiology and highlights potential opportunities for therapeutic intervention in metabolic dysfunction.
Intravenous amitriptyline in pediatrics

Abstract Oral amitriptyline has been used as an analgesic in a wide range of pain settings. Despite long-term availability of a parenteral form, the few reports about this formulation have been limited to pharmacokinetic studies in normal volunteers, trials in depressed patients, and analyses of electroencephalogram (EEG) activation. We restrospectively reviewed our experience using intravenous (IV) amitriptyline at Children's Hospital, Boston and at Children's Hospital at Stanford. Eight children (aged 5–16.6 years), who were unable to tolerate medications by the oral route, received IV amitriptyline for a variety of indications, including neuropathic pain, depression, sleep disturbance, and as an adjuvant agent for opioid analgesia. One patient experienced an extrapyramidal reaction temporally related to the administration of IV amitriptyline, which was successfully managed with diphenkydramine. Further prospective, controlled studies are needed to further assess the safety, efficacy and tolerability of this novel use of amitriptyline.
Muscle disease in progressive systemic sclerosis. diagnostic and therapeutic considerations

Upon careful examination, 23 of 24 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) were found to have abnormalities of muscle. Nineteen patients presented a homogenous pattern of muscle abnormalities, which untreated was associated with a stable course ("simple myopathy"). Three patients demonstrated inflammatory muscle disease indistinguishable from polymyositis while a fourth patient developed marked weakness associated with a generalized neuropathic process. Muscle enzymes, electromyogram, and muscle biopsy permitted distinction among the different muscle disorders, a distinction that could have prognostic and therapeutic importance.
Improving BP Control with Combined Renin-Angiotensin System Blockade and Thiazide Diuretics in Hypertensive Patients with Diabetes Mellitus or Kidney Disease

Most hypertensive patients will require more than one antihypertensive drug to lower BP below target levels. The combination of diuretics with renin-angiotensin system (RAS) antagonists offers several advantages to include additive BP-lowering efficacy and enhanced reductions in urinary protein excretion. Thiazide diuretics are associated with metabolic complications that are particularly evident when used in high doses. When used in combination with RAS blockade, metabolic complications such as hypokalemia are minimized. The avoidance of hypokalemia has been linked to less thiazide-induced glucose intolerance. Patient persistence on therapy is dependent on well tolerated drug combinations.
A report on the conference proceedings

On March 19 and 20. 1984, the University of Oklahoma Libraries and the University of Oklahoma Foundation sponsored a national conference focusing on current issues and problems in acquisitions. Seven papers were presented by a panel of librarians and vendor representatives. Topics addressed included: approval plans from a library and vendor perspective, approval programs and collection development, evaluation of vendor performance, and guidelines for the evaluation of automated acquisitions systems. Sul H. Lee, Dean of Libraries at the University of Oklahoma, opened the conference, introduced the speakers, and provided concluding remarks. There were 67 conference attendees from 20 states and Canada. Noreen S. Alldredge, Dean of Libraries at Montana State University, presented the program’s first paper. “The Preparation of Guidelines for Evaluating Performance of Vendors for In-Print Monographs.” Alldredge, who is Chair of ALA’s Collection Management and Development Committee, began with a review of the progress made by the Committee in developing guidelines for evaluating vendor performance. At ALA’s 198 I Midwinter Conference, a subcommittee was created and charged with the task of developing a set of guidelines for vendor evaluation. The subcommittee is presently in the midst of its sixth draft of the guidelines; this draft will be available for review at ALA’s 1984 Annual Conference. Alldredge expects the final version to be published in late 1984 or early 1985. Alldredge announced that it was not her intention to present the guidelines point-by-point to the conference attendees; rather, she preferred to discuss the “whats, whys, and hows” of conducting a vendor evaluation. Alldredge encouraged librarians to look upon libraries as “businesses with profit and loss dimensions” and to examine the motivation of each party in the library-vendor relationship: the library will use a vendor because of the service provided; the vendor performs the service for the purpose of profit. Alldredge noted that prior to the 1970s scarce attention was paid in the literature to vendor performance. What few articles appeared offered subjective analysis and/or dealt principally with approval plan performance. Also, very little can be found in the pre-1970s literature about the vendor’s perspective. The impulse to
Religious Dogmatism and Peak Experiences: A Test of Maslow's Hypothesis:

Maslow (1964) hypothesized a negative relationship between adherence to conventional religious beliefs and the ability to experience peak moments. T o test this hypothesis, a sample of 110 male and female students from a southern urban, state-supported university were administered a Religious Dogma Scale (Fagan & Breed, 1970) and asked to report peak experiences. Ss, given a description of peak experiences which had been modified from Maslow's instructions, were asked to describe two such experiences, if they had had them. The two authors separately rated the validity of the experiences on a scale ranging from 0 to 10. The two scores were then pooled for a score of 0 to 20. Correlation between raters' judgments was .84. Twenty-one Ss did not write descriptions and thus were not included.
Processing of chromogranin A by bovine parathyroid secretory granules: production and secretion of N-terminal fragments.

Chromogranin A (CgA) is a glycoprotein located in the secretory granules of multiple neuroendocrine tissues, including the parathyroid gland. Although the function of CgA is not known, a role has been proposed for CgA as a prohormone for biologically active peptides. Using 3H-CgA as a substrate for bovine parathyroid secretory granule extracts, we demonstrate a precursor product relationship between intact CgA and multiple N-terminal fragments of CgA. N-terminal CgA fragments of mol wt 24, 26, and 33 k are generated in a time dependent manner in the presence of bovine parathyroid secretory granule enzymes. The generation of the 33 kilodalton (kDa) N-terminal CgA fragment is calcium dependent. In the presence of EDTA, intermediate CgA fragments of mol wt 36 and 45 are generated. The effect of EDTA is reversible with added calcium. Based on immunodetection on Western blots, the 26 kDa N-terminal fragment of CgA is secreted by bovine parathyroid cells in a time and calcium-dependent manner in parallel with P...
Current and future perspectives on antithrombotic therapy of acute myocardial infarction

Randomised trials of coronary artery patency and mortality support the routine use of antithrombotic therapy in all patients with suspected acute myocardial infarction. At present, it is unclear whether antiplatelet therapy with aspirin alone will sujice or the addition of anticoagulation with either heparin or the newer specific thrombin inhibitor, hirudin, will confer a net benefit. The ongoing rundomised trials, such as GUSTO-2 and TIMI-9, will provide relevant information on the use of aspirin plus heparin or aspirin plus hirudin in patients treated with thrombolytic therapy. The First American Study of Infarct Survival (ASIS-1) will provide data which are relevant to the large population of patients who, in the United States, do not receive thrombolytic therapy. When these data become available it will be possible for clinicians to make rational individual decisions and policy-makers to formulate guidelines concerning optimal antithrombotic therapy in myocardial infarction.
Remote sensing of surface solar irradiance with corrections for 3-D cloud effects

Abstract Surface solar irradiance ( I SFC ) can be inferred from satellite-observed radiance with retrieval algorithms based on the independent pixel approximation (IPA). As the spatial resolution of satellite sensors increases, the effects from spatially inhomogeneous cloud fields become more important. Clouds affect the distribution of radiation in a region larger than the resolution of an individual pixel and IPA is no longer justified. The objective of this study is to identify effects of clouds and find corrections for IPA to compensate for these effects. For this purpose, cloud fields are generated with the mesoscale model MM5 at high resolution. A shallow and a convective cloud field are then used as input for a 3-D Monte Carlo radiation model that computes the radiance distribution at the top of the atmosphere and at the surface. Surface irradiance is computed from the upwelling radiance with a method that simulates IPA retrieval. The retrieved irradiance is compared against the one computed with the 3-D model. Two effects of clouds are related to the solar and viewing geometry, noted as a shift of the apparent position of clouds and their shadows. Another cloud effect is the diffusion of radiation: Scattering removes part of the radiation from an atmospheric column and distributes it to neighboring columns. Corrections for these effects are suggested, which can improve the IPA-based retrieval of I SFC . All corrections depend upon the cloud altitude, which may be difficult to obtain in operational applications. A sensitivity analysis suggests that a coarse estimate of the cloud top altitude is sufficient for the corrections.
Genetic ancestry and the relationship of cigarette smoking to lung function and per cent emphysema in four race/ethnic groups: a cross-sectional study

Background Cigarette smoking is the major cause of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and emphysema. Recent studies suggest that susceptibility to cigarette smoke may vary by race/ethnicity; however, they were generally small and relied on self-reported race/ethnicity. Objective To test the hypothesis that relationships of smoking to lung function and per cent emphysema differ by genetic ancestry and self-reported race/ethnicity among Caucasians, African-Americans, Hispanics and Chinese-Americans. Design Cross-sectional population-based study of adults age 45–84 years in the USA. Measurements Principal components of genetic ancestry and continental ancestry estimated from one million genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphisms; pack-years of smoking; spirometry measured for 3344 participants; and per cent emphysema on computed tomography for 8224 participants. Results The prevalence of ever-smoking was: Caucasians, 57.6%; African-Americans, 56.4%; Hispanics, 46.7%; and Chinese-Americans, 26.8%. Every 10 pack-years was associated with −0.73% (95% CI −0.90% to −0.56%) decrement in the forced expiratory volume in 1 s to forced vital capacity (FEV 1 to FVC) and a 0.23% (95% CI 0.08% to 0.38%) increase in per cent emphysema. There was no evidence that relationships of pack-years to the FEV 1 to FVC, airflow obstruction and per cent emphysema varied by genetic ancestry (all p>0.10), self-reported race/ethnicity (all p>0.10) or, among African-Americans, African ancestry. There were small differences in relationships of pack-years to the FEV 1 among male Chinese-Americans and to the FEV 1 to FVC ratio with African and Native American ancestry among male Hispanics only. Conclusions In this large cohort, there was little to no evidence that the associations of smoking to lung function and per cent emphysema differed by genetic ancestry or self-reported race/ethnicity.
Reactive Oxygen Species Mediate Mitogenic Growth Factor Signaling Pathways in Human Leiomyoma Smooth Muscle Cells

Uterine leiomyomas are benign uterine tumors characterized by extracellular matrix remodeling, increased collagen deposition, and increased smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) producing NADPH oxidase complex has been shown to be involved in the signaling pathways of several growth factors, cytokines, and vasoactive agents that stimulate proliferation of a variety of cell types. Our objective was to test the hypothesis that ROS derived from NADPH oxidase is a necessary component of the MAP kinase mitogenic pathway activated by platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in leiomyoma SMCs (LSMCs). Primary cell cultures of LSMCs were used as our experimental model. Our results showed that stimulation of these cells with PDGF or EGF caused a marked increase in intracellular ROS production and that the NADPH oxidase inhibitor, DPI, blocks ROS production. In addition, inhibition of ROS production by NADPH oxidase inhibitors blocked, in a dose-dependent manner, the EGF- and PDGF-induced increase in [(3)H]thymidine incorporation by LSMCs. Furthermore, an exogenous source of ROS, hydrogen peroxide, was sufficient to stimulate [(3)H]thymidine incorporation in LSMCs but did not affect COL1A2 and COL3A1 mRNA levels. Inhibition of the NADPH oxidase complex decreased PDGF-induced MAPK1/MAPK3 activation, whereas exogenous hydrogen peroxide induced MAPK1/MAPK3 activation. This article is the first report suggesting the presence of the NADPH oxidase system and its importance in mitogenic signaling pathways in LSMCs. The necessity of NADPH oxidase-derived ROS for EGF and PDGF signaling pathways leading to cell proliferation points to another potential therapeutic target for treatment and/or prevention of uterine leiomyomas.
Precipitation and Damaging Floods: Trends in the United States, 1932-97

The poor relationship between what climatologists, hydrologists, and other physical scientists call floods, and those floods that actually cause damage to life or property, has limited what can be reliably said about the causes of observed trends in damaging floods. It further limits what can be said about future impacts of floods on society based on predicted changes in the global hydrological cycle. This paper presents a conceptual framework for the systematic assessment of the factors that condition observed trends in flood damage. Using the framework, it assesses the role that variability in precipitation has in damaging flooding in the United States at national and regional levels. Three different measures of flood damage—absolute, per capita, and per unit wealth—each lead to different conclusions about the nature of the flood problem. At a national level, of the 10 precipitation measures examined in this study, the ones most closely related to flood damage are the number of 2-day heavy rainfall events and the number of wet days. Heavy rainfall events are defined relative to a measure of average rainfall in each area, not as absolute thresholds. The study indicates that the growth in recent decades in total damage is related to both climate factors and societal factors: increased damage is associated with increased precipitation and with increasing population and wealth. At the regional level, this study reports a stronger relationship between precipitation measures and flood damage, and indicates that different measures of precipitation are most closely related to damage in different regions. This study suggests that climate plays an important, but by no means determining, role in the growth in damaging floods in the United States in recent decades.
Three-dimensional post-exposure modeling and its applications

A three-dimension post-exposure bake (PEB) simulator (STORM3D) is described with improved algorithms for effectively simulating chemically-amplified resists (CAR) on desktop computers. A new FEM algorithm that is based on variable elimination is presented and shown to reduce the simulation time by roughly a factor of four. A dramatic increase in the size of problems that can be treated with limited memory is demonstrated by the use of a frontal method. Results for latent images of the deprotection concentration are presented for T-topping and footing in the presence of pre-diffused contaminants in elbow patterns. A methodology is suggested for estimating diffusion parameters through simulation interpretation of the cross-shape profile from a sequential double exposure of orthogonal lines. The sensitivity of the methodology is illustrated through comparing corner shapes for UVIIHS and APEX-E. The improvements in STORM3D allow 9,000 node 3D problems to be simulated in about one hour for 60s PEB on a 700Mhz Dec-alpha with 256M memory.
The Unchanging Incidence and Case-Fatality of Stroke in the 1990s A Population-Based Study

Background and Purpose— Many advances were made in stroke prevention strategies during the 1990s, and yet temporal trends in stroke incidence and case-fatality have not been reported in the United ...
Strong coupling QCD and the nucleus

Abstract At low momentum transfer the QCD strong-coupling constant is large, and the expectations based on the strong coupling expansion (in low orders) may provide a valid guide to the strong interaction physics of nuclei. I employ the strong coupling expansion (SCQCD) and argue that quark exchange effects (without interaction) are absent or suppressed. Furthermore flux-tube rearrangements seem small, and QCD string breaking effects resemble meson emission from hadrons. Thus SCQCD seems to reproduce the qualitative features of the meson-baryon picture of low momentum transfer conventional nuclear physics.
Impacts from Mosquito Control-induced Sulphur Mobilization in a Cape Cod Estuary

Insect control programmes sometimes include environmental modification techniques such as diking and drainage. The impacts of such techniques are not often known or assessed. As a telling example having wide implications, we present an analysis of impacts in a small estuary which has been subjected to both diking and ditching—primarily for mosquito control.The major impacts stem from katteklei formation. Desiccated salt-marsh sediments produce acidified leachates which result from oxidation of pyrites. Lowered pH and high (acid-mobilized) aluminium concentrations both surpass levels that are known to be toxic to aquatic fauna. Fish and invertebrate communities in the basin are impoverished, and important commercial species such as American Eels and Alewives are heavily decimated. The acid-tolerant mosquito Aedes cantator thrives, however. Thus a natural system of substantial economic and aesthetic value has been inadvertently devastated through application of unnecessarily harsh as well as, in this case, ineffective mosquito control methods. Their use should be re-evaluated for similar impacts wherever such application has been carried out or is being contemplated.
Intralipid Enhances α1-Adrenergic Receptor–Mediated Pressor Sensitivity

Abstract —The dyslipidemia in obese hypertensive persons may contribute to their increased vascular α-adrenergic receptor reactivity and tone. To further examine this notion, we conducted 2 studies of pressor sensitivity to phenylephrine, an α 1 -adrenergic receptor agonist, in lean normotensive subjects. In the first study (n=6), pressor responses to phenylephrine were obtained before and during a saline and heparin infusion. On another day, pressor reactivity to phenylephrine was measured before and during infusion of 20% Intralipid at 0.5 mL · m −2 · min −1 with heparin at 1000 U/h to increase lipoprotein lipase activity and raise nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs). In the second study (n=8), baseline reactivity to phenylephrine was obtained on 2 separate days and repeated after raising NEFAs and triglycerides either with 0.8 mL · m −2 · min −1 of 20% Intralipid alone or together with heparin. The infusion of saline and heparin did not significantly change plasma NEFAs from baseline (516±90 versus 512±108 μmol/L, respectively; P =NS) or the dose of phenylephrine required to raise mean blood pressure by 20 mm Hg ([PD 20PE ]; 1.00±0.14 versus 0.95±0.10 μg · kg −1 · min −1 , respectively, P =NS). Intralipid at 0.5 mL · m −2 · min −1 with heparin raised plasma NEFAs to 793±30 μmol/L per liter ( P 20PE from 1.01±0.10 to 0.80±0.09 μg · kg −1 · min −1 ( P P P 20PE . Across all study conditions, changes in levels of triglycerides and NEFAs correlated with changes in mean arterial pressure responses to phenylephrine, especially at the 0.4-μg · kg −1 · min −1 infusion rate of phenylephrine ( r =0.64, P r =0.54, P 1 -adrenoceptor–mediated pressor sensitivity. The findings suggest that lipid abnormalities in obese hypertensives, which include elevated NEFAs and triglycerides, contribute to greater vascular α 1 -adrenergic reactivity.
Knowledge Support in Software Process Tailoring

A software process is a set of activities needed to transform a user's requirements into a software system. Using a well-defined process is a widely recognized approach to increasing quality and productivity in software development. Building software processes from scratch each time would create high risks and overhead. Therefore, they are often created by tailoring existing processes and standards. Reusing software processes and knowledge embedded in the processes can significantly improve effectiveness and efficiency of software development. In this research, I investigate whether knowledge can improve effectiveness and efficiency of process tailoring and what kind of knowledge can help most in process tailoring. Two types of knowledge are examined, i.e., generalized and contextualized knowledge.
Adsorption sites of Te on Si(0 0 1)

Abstract Using multiple surface science techniques, we have investigated the structure of 0.3–1 Te monolayers adsorbed on Si(0 0 1). X-ray standing waves, low-energy electron diffraction, temperature-programmed desorption, and Auger electron spectroscopy show a relatively poorly-ordered surface. The disorder is due to two nearly degenerate Te adsorption sites, which tends to double the periodicity along one direction of the surface and reduces adatom/substrate mismatch by slightly increasing the separation of adjacent Te atoms. High-temperature anneals around 575 °C increase the degree of local and long-range order, while leaving the average local structure unchanged. Our findings are consistent with recent ab initio molecular dynamics simulations but not with experimental studies wherein surfaces were prepared by desorption of CdTe films.
Usefulness of immunohistochemical diagnosis of streptococcus pneumoniae in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded specimens compared with culture and gram stain techniques.

Streptococcus pneumoniae is the most frequent cause of pneumonia and meningitis. Because S pneumoniae can colonize the upper respiratory tract and antibiotic treatment may inhibit growth, culture-based diagnosis can be problematic. An immunohistochemical assay using a polyclonal antibody against pneumococci was used to test formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 46 patients for whom bacterial culture results were available. Samples from 26 patients demonstrated pneumococcal antigens in areas of pneumonia, meningitis, or osteomyelitis or within circulating inflammatory cells. Various specimens from 18 patients grew S pneumoniae, whereas 8 had cultures that grew mixed bacteria or had no growth but were polymerase chain reaction–positive for the S pneumoniae ltyA gene. Pneumococcal antigens were not present in 20 cases (7 grew Streptococcus pyogenes; 9, Staphylococcus aureus; and 4, Haemophilus influenzae ). Compared with culture, the immunohistochemical assay showed 100% sensitivity and 71% specificity. Immunohistochemical analysis has the diagnostic advantage of correlating host inflammatory reaction with presence of pneumococci.
A mixed effects model for the analysis of repeated measures cross-over studies.

A mixed effects model is developed for cross-over trials in which the response is measured repeatedly within each time period. Relative to previous work on repeated measures cross-overs, the methodology synthesizes two important features. First, our procedure eliminates preliminary testing for carry-over, defined loosely as the component of a response that is due to treatment in the preceding period. This is achieved by generalizing the methodology to cross-over designs in which preliminary testing for carry-over is unnecessary. We focus largely on 'simple' carry-over, that is, carry-over that lasts for exactly one period and is independent of the treatment administered in the period in which the carry-over occurs. However, we also illustrate a modification of the procedure for a repeated measures cross-over design which uses a more complicated model of carry-over. Second, the model allows both the between- and within-subject variance to differ among treatments. Conditions are described wherein closed-form (CF) solutions to the variance components as well as closed-form hypothesis tests of the treatment differences exist. Flexibility in the model is illustrated with an example in which inference based on the CF likelihood-based estimates of the variance, and estimates formed using an iterative routine (PROC MIXED) are compared.
The Fourth Annual 2008 MLSP competition

For the Fourth Annual 2008 Machine Learning for Signal Processing competition entrants were asked to develop a machine learning algorithm that maximizes the rate of return by trading (buying, selling, shorting, or covering) stocks over a six-month time period. Each entrant began with a (fictional) $100,000 USD. Both the training and the test set include the daily price and volume for a total of 2929 stocks that are traded in American stock markets and a total of 41 monthly indices. Stock valuations are based on real (historical) stock prices. This year there were 5 algorithms submitted. The highest annual rate of return of an astonishing 150% was obtained by Peng and Ji of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute/Shanghai Maritime University team.
The 25 years of neomycin.

AbstractThe year 1974 marked the 20th anniversary of the dedication of the Institute of Microbiology of Rutgers University and the official changing of its name to The Waksman Institute of Microbiology. It was also the expiration date of the U.S. Patent No. 2,799,620, “Neomycin and Process of Preparation,” granted in 1957 to Dr. Selman A. Waksman and to me and assigned to the Rutgers Research and Educational Foundation. Nineteen seventy-four also marked the 25th year following the announcement of the discovery of neomycin, but the tale of neomycin goes further back in time.
Measuring binge eating in adolescents: Adolescent and parent versions of the questionnaire of eating and weight patterns

Objective This study investigated the psychometric properties of an adolescent version of the Questionnaire of Eating and Weight Patterns (QEWP-A). Method Male and female adolescents between 10–18 years completed the QEWP-A and measures of depression and eating attitudes. Height and weight were also measured. Parents completed a parental version (QEWP-P) that was referenced to their children. Adolescent and parent responses to the QEWP were independently categorized into no diagnosis (ND), nonclinical binge eating (NCB), and binge eating disorder (BED) groups. Results Adolescent and parental agreement over the diagnostic categories was as follows: 81.6% for ND, 15.5% for NCB, and 25% for BED with an overall kappa of .19. Adolescents with BED had significantly higher levels of depression than the other two groups with NCB being higher than ND. For eating attitudes, BED adolescents were more deviant than the other two groups who did not differ from one another. Discussion The QEWP-A displayed adequate concurrent validity. The low overall agreement between adolescents and their parents was influenced by high and low base rates in the NCB and BED categories, respectively. This lack of agreement is consistent with other behavioral problems such as depression. The data suggest that parental perceptions of eating problems approximate those of their children when no problem is present. However, parents are not as likely to be aware of eating difficulties when they actually exist. © 1999 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Eat Disord 26: 301–314, 1999.
Impact of Increased Access and Price on Household Water Use in Urban Bolivia

Using the 1994 Bolivian Integrated Household Survey, this study analyzes the equity implications of urban water sector reform including both increased water prices and increased access to piped water. Household water expenditures are examined by income decile, and low-income households are found to spend a higher percentage of income on water than high-income households. However, households purchasing from private water vendors could benefit from obtaining piped water, because regression analysis shows that on average, these households spend more on water than those with piped water inside their buildings or yards. This differential was the greatest in the city of Cochabamba, which also had the largest percentage of households purchasing from private water vendors. To understand the equity impact of water reform, the effects on both prereform users of piped water and those without access to piped water must be considered.
When an interaction is both opaque and transparent: the paradox of fed counterfeeding

Opaque interactions have long been recognised as a challenge for Optimality Theory. We show that although there has been considerable effort to bring opacity into the scope of Optimality Theory, some types of process interactions are still problematic for the theory. Based on data from Tundra Nenets, we present and analyse a case of fed counterfeeding in which a process A feeds a process B, and B counterfeeds A. We argue that such interactions present a challenge to Optimality Theory with Candidate Chains (OT-CC; McCarthy 2007) since the two interactions impose contradictory ranking requirements. We propose an extension of the theory that does not abandon its main assumptions and that makes fed counterfeeding analysable in OT-CC. This extension is based on the assumption that constraints can make reference to the position specified in a previous step in the derivation.
115?kHz tuning repetition rate ultrahigh-speed wavelength-swept semiconductor laser

We demonstrate an ultrahigh-speed wavelength-swept semiconductor laser using a polygon-based wavelength scanning filter. With a polygon rotational speed of 900 revolutions per second, a continuous wavelength tuning rate of 9200 nm/ms and a tuning repetition rate of 115 kHz were achieved. The wavelength tuning range of the laser was 80 nm centered at 1325 nm, and the average polarized output power was 23 mW.
Equilibrium pricing in a (partial) search market: The shopbot paradox

Abstract Price competition is explored when consumers costlessly learn product prices but not ancillary fees and have greater disutility to paying these fees. There is a unique symmetric Nash equilibrium price between the competitive (Bertrand) and monopoly (Diamond) prices.
Hua Loo-Keng

The final plenary address at ICME IV was given by Hua Loo-Keng, Vice President of Academia Sinica and the dominant mathematics figure in the People’s Republic of China. Hua is best known in the West for important work in the theory of numbers—the archetype of pure mathematics—and in the East for work in popularizing applications of mathematics among the peasants. Although Hua spent some years in the United States after the end of WW II, he returned to China in order to apply mathematics to help raise the standard of living of the Chinese people, “because I came from the poorer class myself.” In the last 20 years he has travelled to 23 of China’s 30 provinces, lecturing to millions of factory workers and farmers on ways in which simple mathematics can make their work more productive.
Hematuria and the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

We reviewed 116 consecutive adults hospitalized for hematuria (92 with gross and 24 with microscopic hematuria). The cause of hematuria (that is neoplasia, stones, infection and inflammation) was recognized in approximately 79 per cent of the 116 patients (group 1), while 21 per cent (group 2) had idiopathic hematuria. Review of drug history in these 2 groups revealed that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were used in 1 per cent of the patients in group 1 compared to 54 per cent in group 2. To confirm these findings we reviewed a control group of 60 patients without hematuria hospitalized for benign prostatic hyperplasia and followup of bladder tumors, and found a 3.3 per cent prevalence of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These findings implicate nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use as a potential cause of idiopathic hematuria.
Validation of the English-language version of 5-item Oral Health Impact Profile.

Purpose The Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) is currently the most widely used oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) instrument. The study validated the English-language 5-item OHIP by investigating its psychometric properties of dimensionality, reliability, and validity in the adult general population.
Does the Supreme Court's Current Doctrine of Stare Decisis Require Adherence to the Supreme Court's Current Doctrine of Stare Decisis

This Article asks whether a fair application of the Supreme Court's current doctrine of stare decisis to the Supreme Court's current doctrine of stare decisis would counsel in favor of adhering to current doctrine or departing from it. Professor Paulsen argues that the paradoxical answer is that current doctrine of precedent suggests that current doctrine of precedent disserves all of the doctrine's supposed policy justifications. Accordingly, the Court's current doctrine of stare decisis may and should be overruled - according to the Court's current doctrine of stare decisis.
Provenance-based belief

Provenance has been touted as a basis to establish trust in data. Intuitively, belief in a hypothesis should depend on how much one trusts the relevant data. However, current proposals to assess trust based solely on provenance are insufficient for rigourous decision making. We describe a model of provenance and belief that is necessary and sufficient to incorporate "trust in the data" in a way that supports normative inference. The model is based on the observation that provenance can be viewed as a causal structure which can be used to compute belief from assessments of the accuracy of sources and transformations that produced relevant data. In our model, data sources are like sensors with associated conditional probability tables. Provenance identifies dependencies among sensors. Together, this information allows construction of causal networks that can be used to compute the belief in a state of the world based on observation of data. This model formalizes the role of source accuracy, and provides a method for formally assessing belief that uses only information in the provenance store, not the contents of the data.
Predictors of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt Revision in Patients with Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.

Objective Few studies have focused on predictive factors of ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt revision in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). This study aims to determine whether comorbidities and baseline symptoms are associated with the need for shunt revision. Methods A retrospective review of patients with iNPH treated with VP shunts by the senior author from 1993 to 2013 was conducted. Demographics and baseline symptoms were compared between patients with and without shunt revision. The need for revision, total number of revisions, and time to first revision were examined. Statistical analysis was performed using simple logistic, linear, and Poisson regression, and a multivariate analysis was performed. Results A total of 347 patients with iNPH who received VP shunts were included. One hundred patients (28.8%) required shunt revision, with an average of 1.38 ± 0.76 revisions per patient. Mean time to revision was 19.2 ± 31.7 months. Gait and cognitive symptoms were associated with fewer revisions (incidence rate ratio, 0.45 and 0.67; P = 0.03 and 0.004, respectively). Headaches and urinary incontinence showed a greater time to revision (32.0 and 12.0 months; P = 0.014 and Conclusions Preoperative symptoms, such as headaches, gait instability, cognitive decline, and urinary incontinence, were significantly correlated with number of revisions and time to first revision. These factors should be considered during the initial counseling of prognosis for patients with iNPH receiving VP shunts.
A gender-aware framework for the daytime detection of obstructive sleep apnea

Sleep is an activity that is necessary for our survival. While the body may be still during sleep, the brain is actively progressing through repeating cycles of light and deep sleep whose purpose is physical and mental recovery and regeneration. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a sleep disorder in which breathing is frequently and repeatedly stopped during sleep. OSA severely interrupts the normal sleep cycle and the regeneration work associated with it and can thus result in detrimental health consequences. OSA, with all the adverse health effects associated with it, places a significant burden on the US healthcare system. Polysomnography (PSG) - the gold standard OSA diagnostic test - is an overnight sleep test that monitors the biophysiological changes that occur during sleep. The test is notorious for its intrusiveness, discomfort, prohibitive cost, and scarcity - all reasons contributing to OSA being a severely underdiagnosed sleep disorder. In this paper, we propose a system that can serve as an early-stage OSA diagnostic tool that can non-intrusively, affordably and accurately screen patients for the disorder before proceeding with a full-night PSG. Unlike existing tools, our solution is gender-aware and does not rely on detecting apneic events in the data to make a diagnosis; rather, it is designed to trigger brain responses that are indicative of the disorder. Our tool can therefore make diagnoses even while patients are awake and breathing normally. The system was tested in a pilot study of 21 patients and our preliminary results show an average accuracy of 96.25%.
Quantifying dislocation microstructure evolution and cyclic hardening in fatigued face-centered cubic single crystals

Abstract Discrete dislocation dynamics simulations were performed to investigate the dislocation microstructure evolution and cyclic hardening during the early stages of fatigue loading in nickel single crystals. The effects of the crystal size and initial dislocation densities on both the mechanical response and the evolution of dislocation microstructure were quantified. Crystals having an initial dislocation density of 1012 m−2 and diameter less than 2.0 μ m do not show any dislocation density multiplication or cyclic hardening. In contrast, crystals having the same initial dislocation density and diameters larger than 2.0 μ m show a significant dislocation density accumulation in the form of dislocation cell-like structures, even after only a few number of loading cycles. This dislocation density accumulation was also accompanied by considerable cyclic hardening. The dislocation cell size and its wall thickness increase with increasing crystal size. With increasing dislocation density the critical crystal size, at which dislocation cell-structures form, decreases. The information theoretic entropy is utilized as a metric to quantify the extent of dislocation patterning and the formation and evolution of dislocation cell structures over time. Cross-slip was found to play a dominant role in the dislocation cell-structure formation. Further insights on the mechanisms contributing to the observed behavior are presented and discussed.
Ovipositional Behavior of Lygus hesperus on Two Cotton Genotypes

Glanded (Gl) and glandless (gl) isolines of Acala 4–42–77 cotton, differing in the presence and absence of epidermal glands containing allelochemicals, were compared for ovipositional preference by Lygus hesperus Knight (Hemiptera: Miridae). No statistical difference was found in the number of eggs laid on Gl or gl cottons. Both no-choice and free-choice tests showed nearly identical results. L. hesperus preferred to oviposit on the leaf, which contained 68 to 97% of all eggs deposited. The leaf petiole, particularly the pulvinus, contained 64 to 80% of all eggs deposited. The apical third of the plant contained significantly more eggs than did the lower portions.
Effect of nano-SiO_2 on mechanical properties of epoxy resin adhesive

Nano SiO 2 was directly mixed with epoxy resin and the effect on mechanial properties of epoxy adhesive was studied by means of shear,tensile and uneven tear tests,and the microstructure of the epoxy adhesive was studied by SEM.Results show that nano particle is well dispersed in the system and the mechanical properties of adhesive are improved efficiently.But when nano SiO 2 content is too high,the mechanical properties of adhesive drop because nano SiO 2 has the tendency of aggregation.
51 NEUTROPHIL GELATINASE-ASSOCIATED LIPOCALIN AND INTERLEUKIN-18: EARLY, SEQUENTIAL, PREDICTIVE BIOMARKERS OF ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY AFTER CARDIAC SURGERY.

Purpose Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The lack of early biomarkers for AKI has impaired our ability to intervene in a timely manner. In the present study, we tested whether urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and interleukin-18 (IL-18) can be combined as predictive biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of AKI following CPB. Methods Serial urine samples were analyzed by ELISA for IL-18 and NGAL in 20 patients who developed AKI (defined as a 50% or greater increase in serum creatinine after CPB) and 35 controls (age-, race-, and gender-matched patients who did not develop AKI after CPB). Exclusion criteria included preexisting renal insufficiency and nephrotoxin use. Results Using serum creatinine, AKI was detected only 48-72 hours after CPB. In contrast, NGAL increased 25-fold within 2 hours and declined after 6 hours of CPB (Lancet, 2005). Urine IL-18 increased at 4-6 hours after CPB, peaked at over 25-fold at 12 hours, and remained markedly elevated up to 48 hours after CPB. Also, on multivariate analysis, both IL-18 and NGAL were independently associated with number of days in AKI. Conclusions Our results indicate that urinary NGAL and IL-18 are increased in tandem after CPB. The combination of these biomarkers may allow for the reliable early diagnosis and prognosis of AKI at all times after CPB, much prior to the rise in serum creatinine.
Teaching Project Planning with No Project

This paper describes a technique for teaching students about project estimating, planning and tracking in courses where there is no student project. The technique involves treating the course itself as the project. The technique is particularly useful in project management courses offered via distance education (for which team projects are not always feasible but where learning how to plan, estimate and track is fundamental). It has also proven useful for reinforcing planning and management skills with other software engineering courses.
Determination of Filtration Fraction Using the Gamma Scintillation Camera

AbstractA simple technique for determining effective renal plasma flow, filtration fraction and filtration rate is described. The determination depends upon the use of 131iodine labeled hippuran and 99mtechnetium labeled iron ascorbate or Sn diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid. The filtration fraction is determined by dividing the corrected uptake for the technetium compound by the corrected uptake for radiohippuran. The uptake is simply determined by the 1 to 2-minute count over the kidneys with background subtraction and taking into account the amount injected. The technique is simple, quick and appears to be a useful clinical tool.