cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
GABA receptor control of parasympathetic outflow to heart: characterization and brainstem localization

Blockade of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor function by direct microinjection of the GABA receptor antagonist bicuculline into the nucleus ambiguus of the brainstem produced a marked, dose-related depression of heart rate and blood pressure which was mediated by the vagus nerve. This effect was not obtained in other regions of the brainstem and was reversed by the GABA receptor agonist muscimol. These data indicate that the nucleus ambiguus may be the site of a GABA receptor-mediated inhibition of vagal outflow.
Automaticity in motor sequence learning does not impair response inhibition

We examined the relationship between automaticity and response inhibition in the serial reaction time (SRT) task to test the common assertion that automatic behavior is ballistic. Participants trained for 3 h on the SRT, using blocks of a second-order conditional sequence interleaved with random blocks. Automaticity was measured using a concurrent secondary letter-counting task. Response inhibition was measured using a stop-signal task. RTs decreased with training, with a greater decrease for sequenced versus random blocks. Training correlated with a decreased RT cost to performing the secondary task concurrently with the SRT, indicating the development of automaticity. Crucially, there was no change in the ability to inhibit responses at the end of training, even in individuals who showed no dual-task interference. These results demonstrate that the ability to inhibit a motor response does not decrease with automaticity, suggesting that some aspects of automatic behavior are not ballistic.
Correlation of optical emission and pressure generated upon ignition of fully-dense nanocomposite thermite powders

Abstract Ignition was studied experimentally for four nanocomposite materials prepared by Arrested Reactive Milling (2Al·3CuO, 2.35Al·Bi 2 O 3 , 4Al·Fe 2 O 3 , and 8Al·MoO 3 ). Thin layers of the prepared powders were coated on an electrically heated Ni–Cr filament and ignited at heating rates between 200 and 17,000 K/s in a miniature vacuum chamber. The ignition was monitored based on both photodiode and pressure transducer signals recorded simultaneously. Ignition temperatures were found to be weakly dependent of the heating rate and similar for all thermites (in the range of ∼800–950 K) except for that using Bi 2 O 3 as an oxidizer, which ignited at lower temperatures. Both maximum pressure and the rate of pressure rise ( dP / dt ) decreased with increasing heating rate. The onsets of pressure pulses produced by ignited thermites occurred prior to those of the respective emission pulses, with the effect increasing at higher heating rates. It was observed that 2.35Al·Bi 2 O 3 did not ignite at heating rates above 5000 K/s in vacuum, while it readily ignited when heated in air. A qualitatively similar observation was made for 8Al·MoO 3 , which could not be ignited in vacuum when heating rates reached 13,000 K/s. The results are interpreted to suggest that the low-temperature redox reactions occurring prior to ignition modify the oxidizers, making them less stable and prone to rapid decomposition upon further heating. Ignition, triggered by a change in transport properties of the growing interfacial Al 2 O 3 layer is not directly affected by the oxygen release from the decomposing oxides. Both oxygen release and growth of the interfacial Al 2 O 3 layer are directly affected by the rates of low-temperature redox reactions preceding ignition.
One more visitation: A louder call for caution

Rosenthal's critique of Grieger's paper embodies many of the problems that much of the literature on the teacher expectancy effect does. Positive data are selectively emphasized, negative data are explained as “simply an unusual coincidence,” and statistical significance is confused with practical significance. This paper clarifies several of Rosenthal's statistical and design misunderstandings.
Use of a Deformable Atlas to Identify Cryptic Critical Structures in the Treatment of Glioblastoma Multiforme

Dose constraints for traditional neural critical structures (e.g. optic chiasm, brain stem) are a standard component of planning radiation therapy to the central nervous system. Increasingly, investigators are becoming interested in accounting for the dose delivered to other non-target neural structures (e.g. hippocampi), which are not easily identified on axial imaging. In this pilot study, a commercially available digital atlas was used to identify cryptic neural structures (hippocampus, optic radiations, and visual cortices) in 6 patients who received intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) as part of multimodal management of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The patient's original IMRT plans were re-optimized, with avoidance parameters for the newly identified critical structures. Re-optimization was able to reduce both mean and maximum dose to the volumes of interest, with a more pronounced effect for contralateral structures. Mean dose was reduced by 11% and 3% to contralateral and ipsilateral structures, respectively, with comparable reduction in maximum dose of 10% and 2%, respectively. Importantly, target coverage was not compromised, with an average change in coverage of 0.2%. Overall, our results demonstrate the feasibility of incorporating tools for cryptic critical structure identification into the treatment planning process for GBM.
Uniform beam distributions at the target of the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory’s beam line

Errors in delivering a uniformly distributed radiation dose to biological and material samples exposed to charged particle beams are a significant problem for experimenters. In this paper, we discuss data collected on the uniform beam distributions produced for NASA's Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), using a method that was conceived theoretically and tested experimentally at BNL. This method [N. Tsoupas et al., Nucl. Sci. Eng. 126, 71 (1997)] of generating uniform beam distributions on a plane normal to the beam's direction relies only on magnetically focusing the transported beam; no collimation of the beam is required or any other type of interaction of the beam with materials other than the target material. The method compares favorably with alternative methods of producing such distributions, and it can be applied to the entire energy spectrum of charged particle beams that are delivered to the NSRL's experiments by the Booster for the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron at BNL.
Individual LCR hypersensitive sites cooperate to generate an open chromatin domain spanning the human β‐globin locus

Background The human β-globin locus control region (LCR) is composed of five DNase I hypersensitive (HS) sites located 5′ to the multiple genes it regulates. The LCR has been shown to comprise, among other essential properties, an activity that is required for generating a chromatin structure which renders the entire β-globin gene locus accessible to exogenous nucleases. This nuclease-sensitive state is generally believed to be reflective of the chromatin environment that is permissive for transcriptional activation of the globin genes. Results Here we show, in mice bearing intact YAC transgenes that encompass the whole human β-globin locus, that the deletion of individual core LCR HS sites negatively affects the ability of the LCR to confer this open chromatin conformation throughout the locus, and when analysed in concert with the effect that these same mutations have on transcription, the data show that the chromatin opening activity is a necessary, but not sufficient, prerequisite for globin gene expression. The results also show that after deletion of individual hypersensitive sites, the mutated LCR is no longer able to provide an accessible chromatin environment that is independent from the site of YAC transgene integration. Conclusions These experiments provide further evidence for the hypothesis that the HS sites must act cooperatively to fulfil the multiple functions that are attributable to the LCR.
Lessons Learned from an Interdisciplinary Writing Course: Implications for Student Writing in Psychology.

I discuss writing techniques and assessment methods and their use in Communication, the interdisciplinary writing course I teach. The writing techniques are freewriting, small-group work, and peer tutoring. The assessment methods include commentary on written assignments by more than one faculty evaluator, peer feedback, and optional versus mandatory rewriting. I then recommend applications for these writing techniques and assessment methods in psychology courses.
A Computationally Simple Bayesian Method for Estimation of Heterogeneous Within-Herd Phenotypic Variances

Abstract Heterogeneous variance among subclasses of the data (e.g., herds) is a potential source of bias in livestock genetic evaluation. The BLUP method can account for such heterogeneity if variance components within each subclass are known; unfortunately, information within a particular subclass is generally insufficient to estimate variances or variance components accurately. Procedures based on empirical Bayes methods and structural models for variance components have been derived but are not yet computationally feasible on a large scale. Therefore, computationally simpler approximations based on phenotypic variances have been proposed and utilized, but these lack, so far, theoretical support. In this study, a Bayesian procedure for combining within- and across-subclass phenotypic variances is presented, and a numerical example is given. This method offers the computational simplicity of other approximate procedures based on phenotypic variances, but it also possesses a stronger theoretical justification. In a simulation study involving an average of approximately 1.6million observations in 44,000 region-herd-year-parity subclasses, the Bayesian method compared favorably with other currently available methods for combining within- and across-subclass phenotypic variances.
Distance-Dependent Electron Transfer in Tethered Assemblies of CdS Quantum Dots and TiO2 Nanoparticles

We have characterized electron injection from photoexcited CdS quantum dots (QDs) to TiO2 nanoparticles as a function of the interparticle separation within molecularly linked assemblies. CdS QDs were tethered to TiO2 nanoparticles through bifunctional mercaptoalkanoic acids (MAAs). Electron injection and interfacial charge recombination were characterized by steady-state emission quenching, nanosecond time-resolved emission, and nanosecond transient absorption. The electron injection yield decreased with increasing MAA chain length and interparticle separation. Electron injection occurred on multiple timescales. A fast component (<10−8 s) accounted for the majority of injection, while the remainder occurred on the microsecond time scale. We attribute the multiexponential injection kinetics to electron transfer from a range of conduction-band and trap states. Interfacial charge recombination occurred on the microsecond time scale, and the kinetics were independent of the MAA chain length. Our findings rev...
Breast cancer sentinel lymph node identification rates: the influence of radiocolloid mapping, case volume, and the place of the procedure.

We hypothesized that high-volume surgeons performing sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy at an academic medical center (AMC) would have the same identification rates at suburban surgical centers (SSCs). Twenty-one surgeons performed 1199 SLN biopsies in 1187 clinically node-negative patients with an intraoperative gamma probe (IOGP) plus blue dye (at AMC) or blue dye alone (at SSCs). Demographic, radiologic, and pathological data were analyzed by generalized estimating equations logistic regression models. Four surgeons (group 1) performed 877 procedures (361, 247, 152, and 117 cases each), 426 with and 451 without IOGP. Seventeen surgeons (group 2) performed 322 procedures (2–92 cases each), 173 with and 149 without IOGP. Group 1 found 411 SLNs (96.5%) with and 419 (92.9%) without IOGP (P = .024). Group 2 found 163 (94.2%) with and 117 (78.5%) without IOGP (P < .0001). The odds of finding the SLN was 2.9 times higher with IOGP (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.8, 4.7; P < .001) and 2.7 times higher by group 1 than group 2 surgeons (95% CI, 1.7, 4.3; P < .001), controlling for tumor size and surgery type. High-volume surgeons identified more SLNs with IOGP (at the AMC) than without (at the SSCs). They also were more efficient than low-volume surgeons when blue dye alone was used. Low-volume surgeons were almost as efficient as high-volume surgeons when they used IOGP. Optimal identification of SLNs requires nuclear medicine facilities.
Breast self-examination: The effects of personalized prompts on practice frequency

The present study evaluated the efficacy of personalized, face-to-face contacts at the workplace for promoting regular breast self-examination (BSE). Following participation in a BSE training workshop, subjects ( N =151) were randomly assigned in clusters of work units to one of two experimental conditions: personal contact or control. For 6 months, both groups received mailed prompts biweekly. The personal contact group additionally received biweekly visits at work from one of the project staff, which included a reminder to practice BSE and feedback on the previous month's compliance. Results indicated that, overall, the compliance rate of the personal contact group was significantly higher relative to the compliance rate of the control group. However, BSE practice over time was not maintained. The results are discussed with emphases on the cost-intensity of the intervention and the temporal pattern of BSE performance.
SHOCK TUBE MEASUREMENTS OF ISO-OCTANE IGNITION TIMES AND OH CONCENTRATION TIME HISTORIES

Abstract Ignition delay times and OH radical concentration profiles were measured in toluene/O 2 /Ar mixtures behind reflected shock waves. Initial reflected shock conditions spanned 1400–2000 K and 1.5–5.0 atm, with equivalence ratios of 0.5–1.875 and toluene concentrations of 0.025–0.5%. OH time histories were monitored using narrow-linewidth ring dye laser absorption of the well-characterized R 1 (5) line of the OH A–X (0, 0) band at 306.7 nm. Ignition time data were extracted from the OH traces and were found to compare very well with measurements using sidewall pressure. These new data are in agreement with the recent measurements of Burcat et al. [NASA TM-87312, 1986], but not with the measurements of Pitz et al. [Second Joint Meeting, US Sections of the Combustion Institute, Paper 253, 2001] or Burcat et al. [Combust. Flame 36 (1979)]. The results of this study were compared to three detailed kinetic models: Pitz et al. [Second Joint Meeting, US Sections of the Combustion Institute, Paper 253, 2001], Dagaut et al.[Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 4 (2002)], and Lindstedt and Maurice [Combust. Sci. Technol. 120 (1996)]. The ability of the mechanisms to predict the measured ignition time data and OH concentration profiles was analyzed. Suggestions to improve model performance have been made, and key reactions that need to be studied further have been identified. This work has yielded the first quantitative measurements of OH time histories during toluene oxidation, and hence provides a critical data set useful for evaluating and refining comprehensive mechanisms on toluene oxidation.
The Effect of Perceived Security on Consumers' Intent to Use: Satisfaction and Loyalty to M-Commerce in China

M-commerce as a special form of e-commerce has grown rapidly both in developed and developing countries. New advancements in its underlying technology have increased the functionality of m-commerce. However, they also present potential security risks. Security issues have been a top concern for m-commerce management. In spite of the benefits m-commerce could bring, new security and privacy risks, in particular to the wireless medium and devices, abound in m-commerce applications. With the largest mobile market, China has seen the most rapid growth in the development of mobile communications in the world. This study investigates the relationship between consumers' perceived m-commerce security and their behavior regarding intent to use, satisfaction and loyalty to m-commerce in China. A research framework was developed and tested together with research hypotheses through a cross-sectional large scaled survey. The results showed that the consumers' perceived m-commerce security has a statistically significant effect on consumers' intent to use, satisfaction and loyalty to m-commerce in China.
The potential uses of a computer animated film in the analysis of geographical patterns of traffic crashes

Abstract If one looks at research in progress regarding the phenomenon of traffic crashes, it can be seen that little of this work relates to the analysis of geographic patterns of traffic crashes. The geographic approach involves the analysis of patterns of data in a two dimensional spatial domain utilizing points and lines as primitives. Broadly speaking, the approaches which are applicable here are distributional, residual and cluster analyses in one and two dimensions. The purpose of a computer animated film is to display the object(s) of analysis in a dynamic temporal setting. Scientific applications of this technique are beginning to see use in a large variety of areas since it is often far easier to display complicated spatiotemporal processes than to describe them either verbally or in mathematical terms. Uses of such a tool in a geographical setting are fundamentally twofold. Initially the film can be used as a cognitive device to aid the research person in perceiving the spatiotemporal dynamics of the process as represented by the patterns. Secondly, the film may be used as an heuristic device to aid in suggesting hypotheses which later may be tested in the data. An example of this approach is a film which displays traffic crashes occurring in Washtenaw County, Michigan during the years of 1968–1970. Two scenes are displayed, collapsed real time and a composite week each representing different temporal frequencies as defined by the sampling theorem. Both scenes prove useful as a cognitive and hypothesis formulating device. The film is in color and of seven minutes duration.
Chemical Variations Among L-Group Chondrites, II. Chemical Distinctions Between L3 and LL3 Chondrites

New chemical analyses of the Krymka and Manych chondrites and a review of data for other low-iron type 3 chondrites show that the ratio of metallic to total iron varies widely in LL3 chondrites and is an imperfect basis for distinguishing between these meteorites and L3 chondrites. More reliable chemical criteria — total Fe/Mg and Ni/Mg ratios, and Fe-S relationships — indicate that Krymka, Manych, Carraweena and Bishunpur are LL3 chondrites rather than samples of an iron-poor subgroup of the L-group.
A rose by any other name: Maintaining the name and highlighting the uniqueness of psychology as a health care profession.

In this article, we reply to the comments made by Holden and Levant (preceding articles). While we agree with their goals of expanding the scope of practice of psychology, standardizing training, and educating the public and other health care professionals about the field of clinical psychology, we do not agree that changing the discipline's name to “psychological physician” is a necessary or sufficient means to these ends. We outline the bases for our disagreement with the name change proposal and provide other proposals for reaching the goals set forth by Holden and Levant.
Leisure Constraints in Six Chinese Cities

The purpose of this study is to describe leisure constraints as perceived by residents of the Chinese cities Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Qingdao, Chengdu, and Shenzhen. Rather than relying on lists of leisure constraints developed in other contexts, we used the common ethnographic technique of free listing, which allows informants to indicate what they perceive as constraints on their leisure. A second sample of informants rated the importance of 37 constraints determined through the free listing procedure. Constraints in these cities can be categorized, based on their perceived importance, into eight distinct types. These relate to several demographic and sociographic variables.
Universal GFR determination based on two time points during plasma iohexol disappearance

An optimal measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) should minimize the number of blood draws, and reduce procedural invasiveness and the burden to study personnel and cost, without sacrificing accuracy. Equations have been proposed to calculate GFR from the slow compartment separately for adults and children. To develop a universal equation, we used 1347 GFR measurements from two diverse groups consisting of 527 men in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study and 514 children in the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children cohort. Both studies used nearly identical two-compartment (fast and slow) protocols to measure GFR. To estimate the fast component from markers of body size and of the slow component, we used standard linear regression methods with the log-transformed fast area as the dependent variable. The fast area could be accurately estimated from body surface area by a simple parameter (6.4/body surface area) with no residual dependence on the slow area or other markers of body size. Our equation measures only the slow iohexol plasma disappearance curve with as few as two time points and was normalized to 1.73m 2 body surface area. It is of the form: GFR=slowGFR/[1+0.12(slowGFR/100)]. In a random sample utilizing a third of the patients for validation, there was excellent agreement between the calculated and measured GFR with low root mean square errors being 4.6 and 1.5ml/min per 1.73m 2 for adults and children, respectively. Thus, our proposed simple equation, developed in a combined patient group with a broad range of GFRs, may be applied universally and is independent of the injected amount of iohexol.
Comparison of mild vs severe pressure overload on the enzymatic activity of myosin in the canine ventricles.

Abstract Mild pulmonic stenosis, performed in dogs by banding the pulmonary artery, elevated right ventricular peak systolic pressure to 60% above the control; this resulted in an elevation in right ventricular K+ and Ca2+ activated myosin ATPase activities which peaked (35% above normal) in enzymatic Vmax values by 5 weeks postoperatively. In contrast, severe pulmonic stenosis produced by the inflatable Jacobson cuff, elevating right ventricular peak systolic pressure to 300% above the control, did not produce an increase in myosin enzymatic ATPase Vmax values. The first significant deviation from normal myosin ATPase activity was detected after 5 weeks of severe pulmonic stenosis; at this time right ventricular myosin enzymatic Vmax values were depressed significantly from those of normal values by 12%. ( NH 4 + activated myosin Vmax value remained normal). Likewise mild aortic stenosis, induced by banding the ascending aorta, forcing a transaortic pressure gradient of 25 mm Hg, caused a 15% elevation in left ventricular myosin ATPase activities by 5 weeks after operation; myosin enzymatic Vmax values decreased to normal values by 12 weeks after surgery. Severe aortic stenosis, brought about by creating a transaortic pressure gradient of 55 mm Hg, never caused an elevation in left ventricular myosin enzymatic Vmax values, but caused a 15% decrease in K+ and Ca2+ activated myosin by 5 weeks after operation and a decrease to 28% below normal by 12 weeks of pressure overload.
Lattice-parameter dependence of ferromagnetism in bcc and fcc iron

A series of self-consistent-band calculations have been performed for a ferromagnetic state of iron in both the bcc and fcc structures. The dependence of the magnetic moment per atom on the lattice parameter was obtained. The linear combination of Gaussian orbitals method was employed in conjunction with a local-density exchange-correlation potential. An explanation is given for the abrupt increase in the magnetic moment in the fcc case near ${r}_{s}=2.7$ in terms of behavior of the band structure.
Chiral purity determination of tobacco alkaloids and nicotine‐like compounds by 1H NMR spectroscopy in the presence of 1,1′‐binaphthyl‐2,2′‐diylphosphoric acid

The enantiomeric purity of several tobacco alkaloids and nicotine-like compounds was determined using 1H NMR (300 MHz) spectroscopy in the presence of (-)-(R)-1,1′binaphthyl-2,2′-diylphosphoric acid (BNPPA) as a chiral complexing agent. The most significant signal splitting resulting from diastereoisomeric complexation are seen for chemical shifts in the proximity of the pyridinyl nitrogen. Chemical shift data exclude any contribution of the pyrrolidinyl protons to chiral recognition, but when the pyrrolidine ring is replaced by a piperidine ring, i.e., for compounds such as rac-anabasine and rac-anatabine, non-equivalence between enantiomers was observed for protons close to the piperidine ring. A new approach for the preparation of the pure (-)-(S)-and (+)-(R)-enantiomers of nornicotine, a tobacco alkaloid and metabolite of nicotine, was developed. The optically pure enantiomers thus obtained were used to establish the minimum sensitivity of the NMR spectroscopic method of chiral analysis. These findings provide a new, general, and facile method for the determination of enantiomeric purity of tobacco alkaloids and nicotine-like compounds. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Change in Level of Positive Mental Health as a Predictor of Future Risk of Mental Illness.

Objectives. We sought to describe the prevalence of mental health and illness, the stability of both diagnoses over time, and whether changes in mental health level predicted mental illness in a cohort group.Methods. In 2009, we analyzed data from the 1995 and 2005 Midlife in the United States cross-sectional surveys (n = 1723), which measured positive mental health and 12-month mental disorders of major depressive episode, panic, and generalized anxiety disorders.Results. Population prevalence of any of 3 mental disorders and levels of mental health appeared stable but were dynamic at the individual level. Fifty-two percent of the 17.5% of respondents with any mental illness in 2005 were new cases; one half of those languishing in 1995 improved in 2005, and one half of those flourishing in 1995 declined in 2005. Change in mental health was strongly predictive of prevalence and incidence (operationalized as a new, not necessarily a first, episode) of mental illness in 2005.Conclusions. Gains in mental hea...
BloomUnit: declarative testing for distributed programs

We present BloomUnit, a testing framework for distributed programs written in the Bloom language. BloomUnit allows developers to write declarative test specifications that describe the input/output behavior of a software module. Test specifications are expressed as Bloom queries over (distributed) execution traces of the program under test. To allow execution traces to be produced automatically, BloomUnit synthesizes program inputs that satisfy user-provided constraints. For a given input, BloomUnit systematically explores the space of possible network message reorderings. BloomUnit searches this space efficiently by exploiting program semantics to ignore "uninteresting" message schedules.We illustrate the utility of BloomUnit by demonstrating an incremental process by which a programmer might provide and refine a set of queries and constraints until they define a rich set of correctness tests for a distributed system.
A Design Utility Manager: the ADAM Planning Engine

In this paper we present a software package which manages the digital design process using a planning paradigm. Under this paradigm design is seen as a process in which abstract models of operators are applied to abstract models of design states in a simulated or planning space, until a sequence of operators has been constructed to completion. The hypothetical design represented by the terminal state is then estimated. Either the planning is then repeated, or the sequence, or plan, is then executed, or carried out, in an execution space. This execution is monitored for violation of expectations; if violations occur, control is returned to the planner. The knowledge base of the planner is populated with register transfer level (RTL) concepts, and it can be populated with other knowledge sets. The planner forms part of the USC ADAM (Advanced Design AutoMation) system.
New rule(r)s for FRET.

The author acknowledges scientific visual communicator Kate Baldwin for providing the illustration in Fig. 1Fig. 1.The author acknowledges funding by the Human Frontiers Science Program and the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, under award No. R00NS073797.The content is solely the responsibility of the author and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
Risk factors for venous thrombosis in medical inpatients: validation of a thrombosis risk score.

Summary. Background/objectives: The occurrence of and risk factors for venous thrombosis (VT) complicating hospital admission in unselected medical inpatients have not been widely studied. Patients and methods: In a 400-bed teaching hospital we identified all cases of VT complicating hospital admission between September 2000 and September 2002 using discharge codes and chart review. Controls were randomly selected adult inpatients frequency matched to cases for medical service. Results: The incidence of VT complicating hospital admission was 7.6 per 1000 admissions. On average, VT was diagnosed on the fifth hospital day. The median age of the 65 cases and 123 controls was 68 years and 45% were men. Cases had a 4-fold higher death rate than controls [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.9, 8.8]. At admission, trauma within 3 months, leg edema, pneumonia, platelet count > 350 × 103 mm−3 and certain cancers were associated with risk of VT. Age, body mass index, and acute myocardial infarction were not associated with VT risk. One of three published VT risk models was able to risk stratify patients and was associated with a 2.6-fold increased risk of VT (95% CI 1.3, 5.5). Use of VT prophylaxis did not differ in cases and controls; prophylaxis was used < 1/3 of hospital days in 52% of patients. Conclusions: VT was common among medical inpatients. Of the risk factors identified, elevated platelet count has not been previously reported. Only one of three published risk scores was associated with risk of inpatient VT. Future study should improve upon risk prediction models for in-hospital VT among medical patients.
Frequency of Adverse Clinical Events in the 12 Months Following Successful Intracoronary Stent Placement in Patients Treated With Aspirin and Ticlopidine (Without Warfarin)

Abstract Little is known about the frequency of adverse events in the year following stent placement in patients treated with aspirin and ticlopidine, without warfarin. We analyzed the first such 234 consecutive patients treated at our hospital between October 1994 and December 1995. Their mean age was 62 ± 12 years; 40% had had a prior myocardial infarction, 22% had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery, and 65% had multivessel disease. The indication for stent placement was dissection or abrupt closure in 24% of patients and suboptimal balloon angioplasty results in 14%; placement was elective in 62% of patients. Three hundred forty-five coronary segments were treated in the 234 patients; 305 stents (1.3 stents/patient) were placed. Palmaz-Schatz coronary stents (75%), Gianturco-Roubin stents (21%), and Johnson & Johnson biliary stents (4%) were used. Mean nominal stent size was 3.4 ± 0.4 mm. High-pressure inflations (≥14 atm, mean 17 ± 2) were performed in all patients. The mean residual stenosis was 3 ± 5% by visual estimate. Intravascular ultrasound was utilized to facilitate stent placement in 53% of patients. Mean follow-up was 1.6 ± 0.5 years. There were no deaths, Q-wave myocardial infarctions, coronary artery bypass operations, or repeat angioplasty procedures required during the remainder of the hospitalization or in 30 days after stent placement; stent thrombosis did not occur. Kaplan-Meier analysis of adverse events in the 6 months following the procedure revealed a mortality rate of 0.9%; the rate of myocardial infarction (Q-wave or non–Q-wave) was 1.3%. Bypass surgery was performed in 0.9% and angioplasty for in-stent restenosis was performed in 9.5% of patients. Any 1 of these events occurred in 11.7% of patients in the 6 months after the procedure. The corresponding event rates at 1 year were 1.3%, 2.2%, 3.5%, and 12.2%, respectively; any 1 of these events occurred in 16.5% of patients. In patients receiving intracoronary stents of varying designs followed by high-pressure postdeployment inflations in whom an excellent visual angiographic result is achieved, antithrombotic therapy with aspirin and ticlopidine is associated with a very low frequency of adverse cardiovascular events in the 12 months following the procedure regardless of the indication for stent placement.
Macroalgal Mats in a Eutrophic Estuary Obscure Visual Foraging Cues and Increase Variability in Prey Availability for Some Shorebirds

Conservation of habitat for flagship species, such as birds, aids in the protection of biodiversity in critical ecosystems. Extensive mats of macroalgae stimulated by nutrient input to estuaries threaten critical successes in conservation made by legislation that reduces habitat destruction. Macroalgae can cover intertidal mudflats that are key foraging grounds for obligate visual foragers such as black-bellied plovers (Pluvialis squatarola), as well as foragers that routinely switch from visual to tactile foraging such as least sandpipers (Calidris minutilla), western sandpipers (Calidris mauri), and willets (Tringa semipalmata), and predominately tactile foragers such as marbled godwits (Limosa fedoa). We hypothesized that macroalgae would affect shorebirds directly by altering foraging behavior and indirectly by reducing prey availability. Mats reduced visual foraging (pecking) for sandpipers and marbled godwits and caused them to probe more often. Willets spent overall less time foraging than sandpipers and marbled godwits and did not alter their foraging strategy due to macroalgae. While foraging, black-bellied plovers, marbled godwits, and willets avoided macroalgae while sandpipers did not select between habitat types. This suggests macroalgae may have negative effects on plovers, marbled godwits, and willets by reducing foraging area but that sandpipers may utilize both macroalgae and bare sediments. Macroalgal mats indirectly influenced shorebirds by enhancing variability in prey availability across the mudflat landscape. By quantifying avoidance of or preference for mats, foraging behavior, and variation in prey availability, we showed that macroalgae have differential effects across shorebird foraging guilds.
Persistence of heterotypical synapses in transplanted cerebellar cultures in the absence of functional glia

Abstract Neonatal mouse cerebellar cultures depleted of granule cells and functional glia by exposure to cytosine arabinoside were transplanted with either granule cells and glia or with granule cells in the absence of functional glia. Myelination was evident in cultures transplanted with granule cells and glia, excess sprouted cortical neurites were reduced, Purkinje cells acquired astrocytic sheaths and had a near normal complement of axosomatic synapses, and homotypical parallel fiber-Purkinje cell dendritic spine synapses were present in a 2.4:1 ratio to heterotypical recurrent axon collateral-Purkinje cell dendritic spine synapses. Cultures transplanted with granule cells were not myelinated, sprouted cortical neurites were not reduced, Purkinje cells lacked astrocytic sheaths and their somata remained hyperinnervated, and the ratio of homotypical to heterotypical dendritic spine synapses was 1.4:1. In the absence of functional glia there was a greater persistence of heterotypical recurrent axon collateral-Purkinje cell dendritic spine synapses. These results are consistent with a previously described astrocytic role in the regulation of axosomatic synapse density on glially ensheathed neurons, and suggest astrocytic participation in the reduction of heterotypical axospinous synapses. Astrocyte-mediated synapse reduction may be an important mechanism for circuit reorganization after transplantation or during development.
BCG in management of transitional cell carcinoma invasive to prostate

Transitional cell carcinoma invading the prostate is a difficult problem to manage. Transurethral resection of the bladder neck followed by intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) is one suggested option.
Determination of volume loss and element mobility patterns associated with the development of the Copper Basin fault, Picacho State Recreation Area, SE California, USA

Abstract The fault zone architectural elements of the Copper Basin fault include a fault core, inner damage zone, and outer damage zone. Utilizing Yb as a reference frame element, significant elemental mass changes were documented across all three architectural zones, with the greatest change in the fault core. Porosity and volumetric strain both increase toward the principal slip surface reaching a maximum in the inner damage zone and then dropping significantly in the fault core. In the damage zone and unaffected wall rocks, smectite is the most prominent clay species, whereas illite dominates the fault core suggesting that temperatures may have reached ∼100–150 °C or more during the production of the fault core. A number of studies have interpreted similar mass changes and clay mineral reactions to indicate high water/rock ratios. Such interpretations imply that during rupture, permeability increased within the fault core allowing it to act as a pathway for hot, chemically reactive fluids. Then during and after rupture, CO2 and SiO2 rich fluids moved into the inner and outer damage zones where calcite and quartz precipitation healed the fractured and permeable rock.
Management of symptomatic malignant melanoma of the gastrointestinal tract.

Background: Melanoma metastatic to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is asymptomatic or presents with pain, bleeding, or obstruction. To determine whether surgery influences outcomes, we reviewed our experience with this patient population. Methods: Medical records of patients with metastatic melanoma to the GI tract were reviewed. Patients were divided into four groups, i.e., complete resection, partial debulking, unresectable, or unexplored. Analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Fifty patients with melanoma metastatic to the GI tract were identified (40 men and 10 women; mean age, 44 years). Presenting symptoms included pain (62%), bleeding (28%), and obstruction (18%). Diagnosis was confirmed using contrast studies (38%), endoscopy (20%), or computed tomography (30%). Thirty-six patients (61%) underwent a total of 39 operations. Seventeen patients underwent complete resection, whereas 14 underwent partial debulking. Five patients had unresectable lesions, and 14 patients did not undergo exploration because of medical contraindications. The operative mortality rate was 2.5% (1 of 39). The mean survival times for the unexplored and unresected groups were similar (4.1 months). Patients who underwent partial resection exhibited a longer mean survival time (8.9 months) than did patients in the unresected group (P < .001). The complete-resection group demonstrated a mean survival time of 23.5 months, which was significantly longer than that for patients who underwent less than complete resection (P < .0001). Conclusions: Metastatic melanoma to the GI tract can result in significant morbidity and death. Surgical resection can be performed safely. Patients for whom all sites of disease are completely resected experience significant improvements in survival times, compared with patients who undergo less than complete resection. For selected patients, surgical treatment of metastatic melanoma involving the GI tract is appropriate therapy.
TWO-DIMENSIONAL THEORY OF THE FEL AMPLIFIER FOR PULSED ELECTRON BEAMS

We present a two-dimensional nonlinear self-consistent theory on the free electron laser (FEL) amplifier for a pulsed electron beam, where the pulse length is short compared with the length of the wiggler. The theory includes all available efficiency enhancement schemes.
P22 morphogenesis. I: Catalytic scaffolding protein in capsid assembly.

About 250 molecules of the 42,000 molecular weight gene 8 product catalyze the polymerization of the major phage coat protein into a precursor shell temporarily containing both proteins. The resulting prohead appears to be a shell structure with the P8, or scaffolding protein, on the inside, and the coat protein on the outside. In concert with DNA condensation inside the shell, all 250 scaffolding molecules exit from the prohead, without proteolytic cleavage. These molecules then recycle and catalyze the formation of more proheads from newly synthesized coat protein. Such proteins, which catalyze assembly by temporarily associating with an intermediate stage, may represent a general mechanism of macromolecular assembly.
Probing attractive forces at the nanoscale using higher-harmonic dynamic force microscopy

We systematically investigate higher harmonics in the vibration spectrum of scanning force microscope cantilevers operating in the attractive regime. We show that (a) the magnitudes of the higher-harmonic signals in the vibration spectrum should be directly correlated to the local van der Waals forces for systems without significant electrostatic interactions and (b) the higher-harmonic resonances are much sharper than the fundamental harmonic. Consequently, and unlike the case of the tapping mode operation, contrast in the amplitudes of the higher harmonics over a scanned sample with small electrostatic forces reflects changes in specific chemical composition. Dynamic force-distance curves and higher-harmonic images are presented to demonstrate contrast between biological macromolecules deposited on a mica substrate. The results suggest that the systematic measurement of higher harmonics in the attractive regime can lead to highly sensitive techniques to map the chemical composition over heterogeneous samples.
Detailed recording of spontaneous rapid events

The Rockefeller University, New York, New York 10021 Events such as barpresses or licks, which may occur at any time during the day, are often clustered into bouts. The internal structure of such bouts can be recorded using an AM tape recorder, running the tape recorder only while bouts are in progress, and can later be analyzed off-line on a digital computer.
Multiple-profile homogeneous image combination: Application to phase-cycled SSFP and multicoil imaging

Signal inhomogeneities in MRI often appear as multiplicative weightings due to various factors such as field-inhomogeneity dependencies for steady-state free precession (SSFP) imaging or receiver sensitivities for coil arrays. These signal inhomogeneities can be reduced by combining multiple data sets with different weights. A sum-of-squares combination is typically employed due to its simplicity and near-optimal signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). However, this combination may lead to residual signal inhomogeneity. Alternatively, an optimal linear combination of the data can be performed if the weightings for individual data sets are estimated accurately. We propose a non-linear combination to improve image-based estimates of the individual weightings. The signal homogeneity can be significantly increased without compromising SNR. The improved performance of the method is demonstrated for SSFP banding artifact reduction and multi-coil (phased-array and parallel) image reconstructions.
A sensitive defense: salt and cystic fibrosis.

New evidence implicates salt-sensitive, natural antibiotics in lung mucosal defenses and may explain how a defective chloride channel leads to lung infections.
Osmotic changes of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles during Ca2+ uptake.

The ATP-dependent accumulation of Ca2+ by sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles at 37° C reaches a peak after approximately 100 sec. The Ca2+-loading level then declines until a steady-state level is reached which is 20% less than the peak value. This spontaneous release of Ca2+ is enhanced by inclusion of maleate in the Ca2+ uptake medium. Increasing the extravesicular osmolarity by the addition of sucrose to the Ca2+ uptake medium prevents spontaneous Ca2+ release and increases the steady-state Ca2+-loading capacity of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles. Swelling of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles during Ca2+ uptake in medium containing sucrose is indicated by changes in the light-scattering intensity. These experiments indicate that the capacity of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles to accumulate Ca2+ is limited by the osmotic gradient generated by the increase in intravesicular Ca2+. Swelling of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles during Ca2+ uptake causes spontaneous Ca2+ release.
Full-waveform inversion of multicomponent data for horizontally layered VTI media

Although full-waveform inversion (FWI) has shown significant promise in reconstructing heterogeneous velocity fields, most existing methodologies are limited to acoustic models. We extend FWI to multicomponent (PP and PS) data from anisotropic media, with the current implementation limited to a stack of horizontal, homogeneous VTI (transversely isotropic with a vertical symmetry axis) layers. The algorithm is designed to estimatethe interval vertical P-andS-wavevelocities(VP0 and VS0) and Thomsen parameters e and δ from long-spread PP and PSV reflections. The forward-modeling operator is based on the anisotropic reflectivity technique, and the inversion is performed in the time domain using the gradient (Gauss-Newton) method. We employ nonhyperbolic semblance analysis and Dix-type equations to build the initial model. To identify the medium parameters constrained by the data, we perform eigenvalue/eigenvector decomposition of the approximate Hessian matrix for a VTI layer embedded between isotropic media. Analysis of the eigenvectors shows that the parameters VP0, VS0, e ,a ndδ (density is assumed to be known) can be resolved not only by joint inversion of PP and PS data, but also with PP reflections alone. Although the inversion becomes more stable with increasing spreadlength-todepth (X∕Z) ratio, the parameters of the three-layer model are constrained even by PP data acquired on conventional spreads (X∕Z ¼ 1). For multilayered VTI media, the sensitivity of the objective function tothe interval parameters decreaseswithdepth. Still, it is possible to resolve VP0, VS0, e ,a ndδ for the deeper layers using PP-waves,if the ratioX∕Z for the bottom ofthe layer reaches two. Mode-converted waves provide useful additional constraints for FWI, which become essential for smaller spreads. The insights gained here by examining horizontally layered models should help guide the inversion for heterogeneous TI media.