cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiple metabotropic glutamate receptors regulate hippocampal function

Selective activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors with trans-1-amino-1, 3-cyclopentanedicarboxylic acid (trans-ACPD) stimulates phosphoinositide hydrolysis and elicits three major physiological responses in area CA1 of the hippocampus. These include direct excitation of pyramidal cells, blockade of synaptic inhibition, and decreased transmission at the Schaffer collateral-CA1 pyramidal cell synapse. Physiological effects of trans-ACPD are thought to be mediated by activation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis. However, it is now clear that multiple metabotropic glutamate receptor subtypes exist, some of which are not coupled to phosphoinositide hydrolysis. Thus, we performed a series of studies aimed at determining whether the physiological effects of trans-ACPD in the hippocampus are mediated by activation of the predominant phosphoinositide hydrolysis-linked glutamate receptor. We report that L-2-amino-3-phosphonopropionic acid (L-AP3), an antagonist of trans-ACPD-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis, does not inhibit the physiological effects of trans-ACPD in area CA1 at concentrations that maximally inhibit trans-ACPD-stimulated phosphoinositide hydrolysis in this region. Furthermore, 1S, 3S-ACPD activates the phosphoinositide hydrolysis-linked glutamate receptor but does not reduce evoked field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in area CA1. However, we report that the physiological effects of 1R, 3S- and 1S, 3R-ACPD are consistent with the hypothesis that these effects are mediated by activation of a metabotropic glutamate receptor. Thus, our data are consistent with the hypothesis that the physiological effects of trans-ACPD in area CA1 of the hippocampus are mediated by metabotropic glutamate receptors that are distinct from the AP3-sensitive phosphoinositide hydrolysis-linked glutamate receptor. © 1992 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Monte Carlo studies of percolation phenomena for a simple cubic lattice

The site-percolation problem on a simple cubic lattice is studied by the Monte Carlo method. By combining results for periodic lattices of different sizes through the use of finite-size scaling theory, good estimates were obtained for p/sub c/ (0.3115 +- 0.0005), ..beta.. (0.41 +- 0.01), ..gamma.. (1.6 +- 0.1), and nu (0.8 +- 0.1). These results are consistent with other studies. The shape of the clusters is also studied. The average ''surface area'' for clusters of size k is found to be close to its maximal value for the low-concentration region as well as for the critical region. The percentage of particles in clusters of different sizes k is found to have an exponential tail for large values of k for p p/sub c/ there is too much scatter in the data to draw firm conclusions about the size distribution.
Gross-Kohnen-Zagier theorem for higher weight forms

We calculate the height pairing between higher weight Heegner cycles associated to distinct imaginary quadratic fields. Under the positive definiteness hypothesis of the height pairing we prove a Gross-Kohnen-Zagier theorem for higher weight modular forms.
Steroid-protein interaction: from past to present.

Summary In this review, the association between biologically active compounds and proteins is seen in the light of axioms expressed by Paracelsus and Paul Ehrlich long ago, and the physiological significance of the interactions is pointed out. Of the various types of proteins that form noncovalent complexes with steroid hormones, only the serum proteins will be discussed. Recent results, obtained in several laboratories, on the physicochemical properties of the human corticosteroid-binding globulin (CBG, transcortin) makes this glycoprotein perhaps the best known one among the steroid-binding serum proteins. Influence of pH on stability of the complexes, kinetics of the associations and their significance, as well as thermodynamic parameters of complex formation are being discussed. Characteristics of the binding sites are deduced from specificity studies. Influence of the entrance of hydrophilic or hydrophobic substituents into the steroid molecule illuminates the difference between typically hydrophobic binders such as the progesterone-inding globulin (PBG) of the pregnant guinea-pig and typically hydrophilic binders such as CBG. Complete elucidation of the steroid-binding proteins awaits the determination of the amino acid sequence and the X-ray crystallographic analysis of the steroid-protein complex.
On the measurement of multi-component T2 relaxation in cartilage by MR spectroscopy and imaging.

Abstract The multicomponent T 2 relaxation in bovine nasal cartilage (BNC) was investigated by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy using the Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill (CPMG) sequence and microscopic magnetic resonance imaging (μMRI) method using a CPMG-SE imaging sequence. All experimental data were analyzed by the non-negative least square (NNLS) procedure. Only one T 2 component was found in BNC by both experimental methods (about 113 and 170 ms before and after being enzymatically digested by trypsin). Several experimental and specimen-related factors were investigated in this study, and it was found that some of them could produce artificial multi-component T 2 , including the use of the standard MSME imaging sequence at certain imaging gradients.
Short-term memory in the stumptail macaque: Effect of physical restraint of behavior on performance☆

Abstract Short-term memory in the stumptail macaque (M. speciosa) was investigated by employing a delayed matching from sample task. The importance of hypothesized “incompatible” responses (grooming, moving around the testing compartment) during delay intervals was evaluated under conditions of free movement and physical restraint in a primate chair. Percent correct responses at each delay indicated no significant differences between the two conditions. The resulting short-term memory curves were similar in form to those found in human experiments where interpolated activity prevents rehearsal during retention intervals.
Extrapolative Simulation of Neighborhood Networks based on Population Spatial Distribution: Do they Predict Crime?

Abstract Objectives Previous criminological scholarship has posited that network ties among neighborhood residents may impact crime rates, but has done little to consider the specific ways in which network structure may enhance or inhibit criminal activity. A lack of data on social ties has arguably led to this state of affairs. We propose to avoid this limitation by demonstrating a novel approach of extrapolatively simulating network ties and constructing structural network measures to assess their effect on neighborhood crime rates. Methods We first spatially locate the households of a city into their constituent blocks. Then, we employ spatial interaction functions based on prior empirical work and simulate a network of social ties among these residents. From this simulated network, we compute network statistics that more appropriately capture the notions of cohesion and information diffusion that underlie theories of networks and crime. Results We show that these network statistics are robust predictors of the levels of crime in five separate cities (above standard controls) at the very micro geographic level of blocks and block groups. Conclusions We conclude by considering extensions of the approach that account for homophily in the formation of network ties.
Synthesis of Some Analogs of the Methyl α-Glycoside of the Presumed Antigenic Determinant of the O-Specific Polysaccharide of Vibrio cholerae O:1, Serotype Ogawa

Abstract The following analogs of the title determinant, methyl 4,6-dideoxy-4-(3-deoxy-L-glycero-tetronamido)-2-O-methyl-α-D-mannopyranoside, have been prepared: methyl 3,4,6-trideoxy-4-(3-deoxy-L-glycero-tetronamido)-2-O-methyl-α-D-mannopyranoside, methyl 4,6-dideoxy-4-(4-hy droxybutyramido)-2-O-methyl-α-D-mannopyranoside, methyl 4,6-dideoxy-4-(3,4-dideoxy-L-glycero-tetronamido)-2-O-methyl-1-a-D-mannopyranoside, methyl 4,6-dideoxy-4-(3-deoxy-D-glycero-tetronamido)-2-O-methyl-α-D- mannopyranoside, methyl 4,6-dideoxy-4-(2-deoxy-L-glycero-tetronamido)-2-O-methyl-α-D- mannopyranoside, methyl 4-acetamido-4,6-dideoxy-2-O-methyl-α-D-mannopyranoside, methyl 4,6-dideoxy-4-(3-deoxy-L-glycero-tetronamido)-2-O-ethyl-α-D-mannopyranoside, and methyl 4,6-dideoxy-4-(3-deoxy-L-glycero-tetronamido)-2-O-propyl-α-D- mannopyranoside.
The tertiary phase of rennin action on αs- and β-caseins.

Casein, whole α s -casein and β-casein were incubated for 3 and 14 h with crystalline rennin, at pH 6·60 and 36 °C, both in phosphate buffer and in milk dialysate. Products obtained from both systems, comprising 30–83% calciumsensitive (Ca s ) components, gave similar patterns on starch gel electrophoresis. Whole casein and whole α s -casein were not so soluble in milk dialysate as in phosphate buffer. No significant differences in composition were observed between the Ca s and the calcium-insensitive (Ca 1 ) products from the same source. The α s1 -component of the Ca s product from rennin-treated whole α s -casein had faster gel mobility in comparison to the α s1 -component in the Ca s product from untreated whole α s -casein. Also, α s1 -casein yielded one faster-moving degradation product, while α s2,3,4 appeared unaltered after 14h. The Ca s product of rennintreated β-casein also had faster mobility than untreated β-casein and yielded one faster degradation product and several minor ones of slower mobility. Arginine was the only N -terminal amino acid found in the Ca s product of both rennin-treated and untreated α s - and β-caseins. The arginine content increased from 3·48 and 4·98 moles/10 5 g to 5·12 and 6·38 moles/10 5 g in the Ca s products from rennin-treated β-and α s -caseins, respectively.
Electrophoretic deposition and sintering of thin/thick PZT films

Abstract Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is a simple, rapid, and low cost method for forming dense lead zirconate titanate (PZT) films down to 5 μm from particulate precursors. The three main steps of this process are: (1) formation of a charged suspension of the starting PZT powder; (2) deposition of the powder particles on an electrode under the influence of a dc electric field; and (3) fluxing and constrained sintering of the resulting particulate deposit at 900°C to form a dense continuous film. A 10 μm film formed using this process exhibited a polarization hysteresis equivalent to that of a bulk sample formed from the same starting powder, with a remnant polarization of 33 μC cm−2.
Effects of Calcium-Loading on Egg Production in Ring-Necked Pheasants

Abstract Ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) are able to store dietary calcium as medullary bone, which they may mobilize for future eggshell synthesis. We define this mechanism as calcium-loading. Previous experiments on pheasants conducted to document the importance of calcium in limiting distribution did not account for calcium-loading. We hypothesized that calcium-loading could override experimental calcium treatments of the diet. We measured egg production, egg characteristics, and femoral mineral content for pheasants that were not calcium-loaded on 7 diets differing in calcium from 0.2% to 4.5% and compared these results to a similar study on calcium-loaded pheasants. We predicted that calcium-loaded pheasants would produce more eggs than those that were not calcium-loaded. We also predicted that there would be no significant difference between femur ash fractions in non–calcium-loaded pheasants, but that the ash fraction in calcium-loaded pheasants would differ significantly between the be...
Code green: a new design imperative for healthcare facilities.

Nearly $200 billion of healthcare construction is expected by the year 2015, and the need for nurse leadership in the design of new healthcare facilities is more critical than ever to ensure optimal work environments for providers and healing environments for patients and families. This bimonthly department expands nurse leaders' knowledge and competencies in health facility design and enables them to lead in design efforts. In this article, the author discusses Code Green and the roles that nurses can assume in providing leadership in creating sustainable healthcare designs.
The emergence of compartmental organization in olfactory bulb glomeruli during postnatal development

The olfactory bulb glomerulus is a discrete and heterogeneous neuropil where olfactory receptor cell axons synapse with dendrites of mitral, tufted, and periglomerular neurons. To understand better the maturation of glomeruli and the spatiotemporal interactions that occur during postnatal development, we employed confocal microscopy and markers for immature and mature olfactory receptor cell axons in parallel with a marker for synaptic structure in maturing glomeruli. Sprague-Dawley rats at postnatal days 1, 6, 12, and 18 were processed for single- and double-label immunocytochemistry for olfactory marker protein (OMP), growth-associated protein (GAP-43), and synaptophysin. Mature or adult-like subcompartmental organization within the glomerulus emerged by postnatal day 12. Earlier in development immature axons entered the core of the glomerulus and moved to the periphery as they matured. However, beginning around 12 days postnatal, immature axons distributed in the periphery and moved toward the core as they matured. This change in the trajectories of axons into glomeruli suggests that different rules may be followed in establishing versus maintaining glomeruli. Double labeling with OMP and synaptophysin demonstrated strong colocalization compared with GAP-43 and synaptophysin, which showed much less colocalization, consistent with the notion that OMP is associated with more mature axons. J. Comp. Neurol. 422:297–311, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A Mixture Neural Net For Multispectral Imaging Spectrometer Processing

Each spatial region viewed by an imaging spectrometer contains various elements in a mixture. The elements present and the amount of each are to be determined. A neural net solution is considered. Initial optical neural net hardware is described. The first simulations on the component requirements of a neural net are considered. The pseudoinverse solution is shown to not suffice, i.e. a neural net solution is required.
Integrodifference models for persistence in fragmented habitats

Integrodifference models of growth and dispersal are analyzed on finite domains to investigate the effects of emigration, local growth dynamics and habitat heterogeneity on population persistence. We derive the bifurcation structure for a range of population dynamics and present an approximation that allows straighforward calculation of the equilibrium populations in terms of local growth dynamics and dispersal success rates. We show how population persistence in a heterogeneous environment depends on the scale of the heterogeneity relative to the organism's characteristic dispersal distance. When organisms tend to disperse only a short distance, population persistence is dominated by local conditions in high quality patches, but when dispersal distance is relatively large, poor quality habitat exerts a greater influence.
Rare coronary anomaly: common origin of major coronary arteries from the right sinus of Valsalva and a small ramus branch originating from the left sinus of Valsalva.

We present a clinical case where coronary computed-tomography angiogram (CTA) findings on admission had crucial role for clinical diagnosis and management of the patient. A 67-year-old woman with no prior history of coronary artery disease (CAD) was admitted with chest pain and dyspnea for past several weeks. Her initial electrocardiogram and cardiac biomarkers were unremarkable. She was referred for a coronary CTA to rule obstructive CAD as a reason for her symptoms. The coronary CTA showed a common origin of all three major epicardial arteries from right sinus of Valsalva forming a trifurcation, and a small ramus intermedius branch originating from left sinus of Valsalva. The right coronary artery gave rise to the left circumflex artery which had a retroaortic course, and the left anterior descending artery demonstrated an interarterial course (highrisk variant). There was an occlusion of the mid right coronary artery, with associated inferior wall motion abnormality and borderline reduced left ventricular systolic function (Fig. 1). These findings were confirmed on invasive coronary arteriography (Fig. 2, Video 1–4). The patient subsequently underwent coronary artery bypass surgery with a saphenous venous graft to posterior descending artery, and a left internal mammary arterial graft to left anterior descending artery. At 9-month follow-up, the patient denied angina or dyspnea and was doing well.
A Taxonomy and Visual Notation for Modeling Globally Distributed Requirements Engineering Projects

This paper presents a visual modeling notation for use in planning globally distributed requirements engineering projects. An underlying meta-model defines the elements of the modeling language, including site locations, stakeholder roles, communication flows, critical documents, and supporting tools and repositories. The modeling notation is motivated through the findings of eight in-depth interviews with requirements analysts who had worked on requirements elicitation, analysis, and specification tasks in globally distributed projects. We illustrate the modeling notation with examples drawn from telecommunications, video gaming, retail, and consulting projects. Based on a set of recurring problems and best practices identified in our interviews, the models are then analyzed, and specific recommendations are made to mitigate the identified risks.
Activation of nitric oxide-producing neurons in the brain stem during cardiac sympathoexcitatory reflexes in the cat.

Our previous studies have shown that selective inhibition of nitric oxide in the brain reduces pressor responses to activation of cardiac sympathetic afferents, thus suggesting that nitric oxide is involved in central regulation of cardiac-cardiovascular sympathoexcitatory reflexes. Central neural regions in which nitric oxide-producing neurons are activated during these reflexes have not been well characterized. In the present study, we located nitric oxide-producing neurons in the brain stem activated by the input from cardiac sympathetic afferents by detecting colocalization of c-Fos immunoreactivity with nitric oxide synthesizing neurons. Expression of c-Fos has been used as a marker of activated neurons. Nitric oxide-producing neurons were identified by histochemical labeling of nicotine adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d). In anesthetized cats with bilateral barodenervation and cervical vagotomy, bradykinin (1-10 microg in 0.1 ml; n=6) was applied to the anterior surface of the left ventricle six times every 20 minutes. Repetitive application of bradykinin consistently increased blood pressure, while the vehicle for bradykinin (0.9% saline, n=5) produced no responses. A substantial fraction (6-27%) of NADPH-d positive neurons displayed Fos immunoreactivity in the nucleus of the solitary tract, caudal and rostral ventral lateral medulla, lateral tegmental field, locus coeruleus and parabrachial nucleus in the bradykinin-treated cats. However, either no or rare (1-4%) double-labeled cells were found in these regions in control animals. Thus, nitric oxide-producing neurons are activated in several regions in the brain stem during stimulation of cardiac sympathetic afferents by bradykinin. Our data suggest that nitric oxide functions as a neurotransmitter/modulator in these areas to regulate the cardiac sympathoexcitatory reflexes.
Increased adverse drug reactions to cephalosporins in penicillin allergy patients with positive penicillin skin test.

Background: Cephalosporin administration in patients with a history of penicillin allergy is controversial. Studies looking at the safety of cephalosporin in patients with a history
Amplification of Belinfante's argument for the nonexistence of dispersion-free states

A corollary of Gleason's theorem asserts that if the lattice of propositions of a physical system is isomorphic to the lattice of subspaces of a Hilbert space of dimension greater than two, then there is no probability measure that assigns only the values 1 and 0 (truth and falsity, respectively) to each of the propositions. Belinfante outlined an elegant geometrical proof of this corollary but relied upon an unrigorous measure-theoretical statement. An amplified geometrical proof is given along Belinfante's lines, but dispensing with measure theory.
Novel easily accessible glucosidase inhibitors: 4-hydroxy-5-alkoxy-1,2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic acids

Abstract Glycosidases are very important enzymes involved in a variety of biochemical processes with a special importance to biotechnology, food industry, and pharmacology. Novel structurally simple inhibitors derived from cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylic acids were synthesized and tested against several fungal glycosidases from Aspergillus oryzae and Penicilliumcanescens. The presence of at least two carboxylic groups and one hydroxy group was essential for efficient inhibition. Significant selective inhibition was observed for α- and β-glucosidases, the magnitude of which depended on the configuration of substituents; inhibition increased for β-glucosidase by lengthening the alkoxy group of the inhibitor.
Dreams and the Wishes of the Soul: A Type of Psychoanalytic Theory among the Seventeenth Century Iroquois1

ANTHROPOLOGISTS have traditionally paid attention to the dreams and dream-related behavior of primitive peoples. Three sorts of anthropological interest may be distinguished: the ethnographic, the historical, and the psychoanalytic. The ethnographer describes the beliefs and customs of his subjects, including the customary way in which they regard and use dream experiences. The ethnologist may look to dreams as the point of origin for innovations, or-and I think here particularly of Tylor-he may regard primitive theorizing about the meaning of dreams as the source of fundamental and widely-distributed assumptions about the nature of the world; Tylor thought the experience of dreaming of distant or deceased persons might have suggested to early man the concept of the soul, and thus have contributed to the "theory" of animism. Finally, the cultural anthropologist of this generation has sometimes used reported dreams as data for psychoanalytic types of interpretation, with a view to determining what personality organizations might be regarded as typical of whole peoples or even of mankind, or as a portal to the understanding of the individual's relationship to his culture. This paper is essentially ethnographic; it describes the theory and practice, relative to dreams, reported by Jesuit missionaries among the seventeenthcentury Iroquois. However, the data raise questions of both theoretical and historical interest: for we find here a "primitive" people actively using a theory of the mind similar in many essentials to that expressed by Sigmund Freud and his intellectual heirs in Western European cultural tradition of two centuries later. It is at least an interesting case of independent invention (for I see no evidence of Iroquois dream theory having influenced Freud, directly or indirectly). It emphasizes again the probable importance of dreams as sources of innovation in human cultural history. And it poses an interesting question in the sociology of knowledge: what (if any) common sociocultural forces can be found to explain the existence of such similar psychological theories in two such different societies as Vienna and Iroquoia? While it is evident that Iroquoian and Freudian dream theory are not precisely the same (and the Iroquoian theory introduced an animistic thesis as well as the psychoanalytic one), the differences are not much more marked than the differences between, for instance, Jungian and Freudian varieties of psychoanalytic theory. It seems to the writer that this curious case of independent invention, in two such different cultures and in an area of culture peculiarly subject (so one might think) to functional explanations of various kinds, raises the dormant theoretical question of the nature of the psychic unity of mankind, and suggests the importance of the now unfashionable interest in the philosophical
P2 Promoter Variants of the Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4α Gene Are Associated With Type 2 Diabetes in Mexican Americans

Common and rare variants of the hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α ( HNF4A ) gene have been associated with type 2 diabetes and related traits in several populations suggesting the involvement of this transcription factor in diabetes pathogenesis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within a large haplotype block surrounding the alternate P2 promoter, located ∼45 kb upstream from the coding region, have been investigated in several populations of varying ethnicity with inconsistent results. Additionally, SNPs located within the P1 promoter and coding region have also been inconsistently associated with type 2 diabetes. Characterization of variation across this gene region in Mexican-American populations has not been reported. We therefore examined polymorphisms across the HNF4A gene in a cohort of Mexican-American pedigrees and assessed their association with type 2 diabetes. We observed evidence for association of SNPs in the P2 promoter region with type 2 diabetes ( P = 0.003) and its age at diagnosis ( P = 0.003). The risk allele frequency (53%) was intermediate to that reported in Caucasian populations (20–27%) and Pima Indians (83%). No other SNPs were associated with either trait. These results support the possibility that a variant in the P2 promoter region of HNF4A , or variants in linkage disequilibrium within this region, contributes to susceptibility to type 2 diabetes in many ethnic populations including Mexican Americans.
Gay-Themed Television and the Slumpy Class: The Affordable, Multicultural Politics of the Gay Nineties

This article links the success of gay-themed programming in the 1990s to the sensibility of an emerging class of Socially Liberal, Urban-Minded Professionals (the “Slumpy” class). In the era's neoliberal climate where multicultural celebrations of diversity mixed with calls for fiscal responsibility, being socially liberal and fiscally conservative became the political position of choice for a growing number of well-educated and upwardly mobile baby boomers and Generation Xers. As it came to be articulated in the ’90s, homosexuality fit conveniently into this delicate balance. Highly visible political battles over gay rights gave homosexuality a cutting-edge allure dulled just enough by its assimilationist goals. Meanwhile gays and lesbians, reported to be well educated with a disproportionate amount of disposable income, seemed to be economically self-sufficient. For those looking for an affordable politics of social liberalism, supporting gays and lesbians fit the bill, and consuming gay-inclusive telev...
Cardiovascular pharmacology of Panax notoginseng (Burk) F.H. Chen and Salvia miltiorrhiza

The cardiovascular pharmacology of two Chinese herbs, Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM) and Panax notoginseng (Burk) F. H. Chen (PNG) were studied both in vivo and in vitro. Extracts of both herbs suppressed systemic blood pressure in albino rats and rabbits, an effect which was blocked or reversed by atropine, propranolol, and chlorpheniramine plus cimetidine. This reversed hypertension was blocked by phenoxybenzamine. These results indicate that these herbs have multiple effector sites in the cardiovascular system. This could be due to an increased utilization of extracellular calcium ions since the activity of SM on isolated blood vessels of rabbits was enhanced by 2 mM Ca++. The effects of aqueous extract of SM and purified active principles of SM (tanshinones) on rat and rabbit blood vessels in vitro were very similar both qualitatively and quantitatively. Both caused vasodilation of coronary arteries at all concentrations tested but induced vasodilation of renal, mesenteric and femoral arteries only at low concentrations. At higher concentrations, vasoconstriction was induced in these vessels. These results indicate that an economical decoction of SM is as efficacious as the more expensive isolated tanshinones. Both SM and PNG would be useful as antianginal agents since they dilate coronary vessels. Their use in hypertension is questionable since they induce both vasodilation and vasoconstriction depending on dose and target vessel.
Decision analytic modeling in spinal surgery: a methodologic overview with review of current published literature

Abstract Background context In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of decision analysis studies in the spine literature. Although there are several published reviews on the different types of decision analysis (cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, cost-utility), there is limited information in the spine literature regarding the mathematical models used in these studies (decision tree, Markov modeling, Monte Carlo simulation). Purpose The purpose of this review was to provide an overview of the types of decision analytic models used in spine surgery. A secondary aim was to provide a systematic overview of the most cited studies in the spine literature. Study design/setting This is a systematic review of the available information from all sources regarding decision analytics and economic modeling in spine surgery. Methods A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane review was performed to identify the most relevant peer-reviewed literature of decision analysis/cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) models including decisions trees, Markov models, and Monte Carlo simulations. Additionally, CEA models based on investigational drug exemption studies were reviewed in particular detail, as these studies are prime candidates for economic modeling. Results The initial review of the literature resulted in 712 abstracts. After two reviewer–assessment of abstract relevance and methodologic quality, 19 studies were selected: 12 with decision tree constructs and 7 with Markov models. Each study was assessed for methodologic quality and a review of the overall results of the model. A generalized overview of the mathematical construction and methodology of each type of model was also performed. Limitations, strengths, and potential applications to spine research were further explored. Conclusions Decision analytic modeling represents a powerful tool both in the assessment of competing treatment options and potentially in the formulation of policy and reimbursement. Our review provides a generalized overview and a conceptual framework to help spine physicians with the construction of these models.
The development of an automated rework cell for printed wiring assemblies

As the piece cost of completed circuit boards increases and production quantities decrease, rework of defective boards has become an important part of the production process. Surface mount component lead pitch has also been decreasing, which has required increased training and skill level of the rework operators. Automated rework provides a more cost-effective and reliable solution to these problems. The function of the rework cell is to remove and replace individual surface mount components from a fully populated circuit board without damaging the board, surrounding components, or solder joints of the surrounding components. The solder used is tin-lead with a eutectic melting temperature of 183/spl deg/ Celsius. It encapsulates the steps of circuit board assembly, which is normally done by separate machines in an assembly line, into a single machine, as well as add two additional operations. Further, the tooling must be able to handle a wide range of component sizes and pitches creating an operating environment that approaches a product batch size of one. >
A longitudinal examination of 10-year change in vocational and educational activities for adults with autism spectrum disorders.

The transition from adolescence to adulthood has been shown to be a time of amplified risk for individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). It is unknown, however, whether problems in educational attainment and employment in the years after high school exit represent momentary perturbations in development or a turning point with long-lasting effects throughout adulthood. The present study addressed this question by examining 10-year trajectories of vocational and educational activities for adults with ASD, as well as the personal characteristics and environmental resources that predicted these activities. Participants were 161 adults with ASD (ages 18–52 years at the start of the study; M 30.9) who were part of a larger longitudinal study. Data were collected at 6 time points over a 10-year period. Results indicated significant declines in the level of independence and engagement in vocational/educational activities over the study period, particularly for women. Greater independence in vocational activities was found for those with more independence in activities of daily living. After controlling for personal characteristics, receipt of more services was marginally related to greater improvement in vocational independence.
On the way from Schleiermacher to Barth : A critical reappraisal of Isaak August Dorner's essay on divine immutability

The theme of this article is the reconstruction of the doctrine of God offered by the German theologian and historian of doctrine Isaak August Dorner (1809–84), in his treatise ‘On the Proper Conception of the Doctrine of God's Immutability, with Special Reference to the Reciprocal Relation between God's Suprahistorical and Historical Life.’ Although the theme of God's immutability has received wide attention in the last years, Dorner's essay has gone largely unnoticed, and its contribution to the current debate still awaits appreciation. The following argument shall provide some building-blocks for this goal. It presupposes that Dorner's theology was shaped in dialogue with the thought of Schelling, Hegel, and Schleiermacher, but it will extend this perspective and ask for the particular systematic-theological link between Schleiermacher and Karl Barth that Dorner's essay represents.
Structured linear algebra problems in adaptive optics imaging

A main problem in adaptive optics is to reconstruct the phase spectrum given noisy phase differences. We present an efficient approach to solve the least-squares minimization problem resulting from this reconstruction, using either a truncated singular value decomposition (TSVD)-type or a Tikhonov-type regularization. Both of these approaches make use of Kronecker products and the generalized singular value decomposition. The TSVD-type regularization operates as a direct method whereas the Tikhonov-type regularization uses a preconditioned conjugate gradient type iterative algorithm to achieve fast convergence.
HIV Risk Behaviors Among Male-to-Female Transgender Persons of Color in San Francisco.

Objectives. The authors examined HIV risk behaviors among African American, Asian/Pacific Islander (API), and Latina male-to-female (MTF) transgender persons in order to improve HIV prevention programs.Methods. Individual survey interviews with MTF transgender persons of color (n = 332; 112 African Americans, 110 Latinas, and 110 APIs) were conducted.Results. Prevalence and correlates of receptive anal sex and unprotected receptive anal sex (URAS) varied by type of partner (primary, casual, or commercial sex partners). URAS with primary partners was associated with drug use before sex; URAS with casual partners was associated with HIV-positive status and drug use before sex; and URAS with commercial sex partners was associated with African American ethnicity and low income.Conclusions. Findings on current risk behaviors among MTF transgender persons provided meaningful implications for HIV prevention interventions.
The role of mindfulness skills in terms of distress tolerance: A pilot test among adult daily smokers

Background and Objectives Low distress tolerance is associated with difficulties quitting smoking. Mindfulness is associated with improved cessation outcomes and may be one method by which to increase distress tolerance. The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between mindfulness skills and distress tolerance among regular smokers. Methods Daily smokers (n = 125; Mage = 37.5, 70% male) completed self-report measures assessing smoking and emotions. Results After controlling for age, gender, and nicotine dependence, and education the mindfulness skills of acting with awareness and accepting without judgment significantly predicted distress tolerance. Discussion and Conclusions For smokers, being able to pay attention to present moment vents and accept negative events without judgment is associated with a greater ability to withstand such events. Scientific Significance These findings suggest that mindfulness-based approaches to smoking cessation may be effective because of improvements in distress tolerance. However, future prospective and laboratory-based studies are needed to better understand the mindfulness-distress tolerance link among smokers. (Am J Addict 2014;23:184–188)
Sentinel Lymphadenectomy Does Not Increase the Incidence of In-Transit Metastases in Primary Melanoma

Purpose Recent reports by European investigators suggest that sentinel lymphadenectomy (SLND), a mainstay of melanoma diagnosis and treatment planning, increases the risk of in-transit metastasis (ITM) and should be abandoned. This study compared the incidence of ITM after wide local excision (WLE), WLE plus SLND (SLND), or WLE plus elective lymphadenectomy (ELND) for primary melanoma. Patients and Methods Review of our prospective database identified 4,412 patients who underwent WLE (n = 2,771), SLND (n = 1,016), or ELND (n = 625) for stage I/II melanoma (1971 through 2002). The incidence of ITM overall and as a first recurrence was examined before and after computerized prognostic matching of treatment groups. Intergroup statistical comparisons used χ2 analysis and log-rank test. Results The incidence of ITM increased with Breslow depth, Clark level, and T stage. Although overall incidence of ITM was significantly higher (P = .0008) after ELND (6.56%) versus WLE (3.36%) or SLND (3.64%), the ELND group h...
Analysis, design and implementation of active vibro-acoustic control systems with random excitations

This paper addresses a general case of an active noise control problem with band limited random excitations. In order to realize the benefits of both feedback and feedforward control strategies, this study has concentrated on a combined adaptive feedforward/feedback (hybrid) active noise control architecture. The feedforward control is to attenuate the noise with frequency contents correlated to a reference signal, provided by the sensory output, and feedback is to attenuate the residual noise. The theoretical analysis of this hybrid control, and the required software and hardware designs for implementation of the proposed system are presented. The resulting controller has been applied to a common noise control problem, i.e., acoustic radiation. Experimental results from the implementation of this controller are discussed.
A mixed‐integer optimization framework for de novo peptide identification

A novel methodology for the de novo identification of peptides by mixed-integer optimization and tandem mass spectrometry is presented in this article. The various features of the mathematical model are presented and examples are used to illustrate the key concepts of the proposed approach. Several problems are examined to illustrate the proposed method's ability to address (1) residue-dependent fragmentation properties and (2) the variability of resolution in different mass analyzers. A preprocessing algorithm is used to identify important m/z values in the tandem mass spectrum. Missing peaks, resulting from residue-dependent fragmentation characteristics, are dealt with using a two-stage algorithmic framework. A cross-correlation approach is used to resolve missing amino acid assignments and to identify the most probable peptide by comparing the theoretical spectra of the candidate sequences that were generated from the MILP sequencing stages with the experimental tandem mass spectrum.
We can diagnose AKI "early".

Proteinuria was first identified as a strong risk factor for AKI in 2008 ([1][1]). These observations were subsequently confirmed and extended in several other clinical scenarios and patient groups ([2][2]). Huang et al. showed that preoperative proteinuria was an independent risk factor for AKI
The Re-Design of an Introductory Circuits Course Based Upon Student Demographics

This paper presents a comparative study for an introductory circuits theory course at Tennessee State University College of Engineering, Technology, and Computer Science. DC Circuit Analysis is a course required by all engineering majors including civil, architectural, mechanical, and electrical. This course is the gateway to all future engineering courses and an integral part of the student's introduction to engineering problem solving, analysis, and critical thinking. The introductory circuits course was re-designed in Fall 2003 to include collaborative learning teams, in-class activities, partial lecture notes, and a more facilitative student-centered learning environment. In Fall 2004, the course was revised yet again to include cooperative learning teams, team assignments, and concept questions. In this analysis, statistics for the course from Fall 2000 to Spring 2003 will be compared to the revised course to identify any statistical difference. Finally, the results of the comparison will be used to identify any additional course modifications necessary to improve student success
If you're not modeling, you're just programming: modeling throughout an undergraduate software engineering program

Modeling is a hallmark of the practice of engineering. Through centuries, engineers have used models ranging from informal "back of the envelope" scribbles to formal, verifiable mathematical models. Whether circuit models in electrical engineering, heat-transfer models in mechanical engineering, or queuing theory models in industrial engineering, modeling makes it possible to perform rigorous analysis that is the cornerstone of modern engineering. By considering software development as fundamentally an engineering endeavor, RIT's software engineering program strives to instill a culture of engineering practice by exposing our students to both formal and informal modeling of software systems throughout the entire curriculum. This paper describes how we have placed modeling in most aspects of our curriculum. The paper also details the specific pedagogy that we use in several courses to teach our students how to create, analyze and implement models of software systems.
Transplantation of enteric cells expressing p75 in the rodent stomach.

Background Neural crest stem cells may hold potential as a cellular therapeutic to repopulate the enteric nervous system. The expression of the low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor, p75, may enrich enteric cells isolated from the neonatal rodent intestinal tract for neural crest stem cells. While these cells have shown tremendous promise in vitro , it remains to be determined whether they will survive and differentiate after in vivo transplantation. Materials and Methods Cells isolated from the neonatal rodent intestinal muscularis were sorted according to their degree of p75 expression. The parent, p75-high, and p75-low expressing populations were injected into the rodent stomach for 7 d in vivo . Results Cells that expressed high levels of p75 also expressed high levels of nestin. Evaluation of the parent, p75-high, and p75-low populations of cells showed 420-, 130-, and 20-fold growth, respectively, after 11 d of culture. Transplantation of these populations of cells into syngeneic rodent stomachs showed cell survival in the injection site after 7 d. Cells expressing either the neuronal marker, peripherin, or the glial marker, S100, were present in and around the injection site when the parent and the p75-high populations were transplanted. Conclusions Enteric cells survive transplantation into the rodent stomach and induce the expression of differentiation markers in and around the injection site. Based on these results, enteric cells may hold potential as a cellular therapeutic in a variety of gastrointestinal disorders.
Stability results for higher dimensional equations on time scales

The stability of the equilibrium solution of x Δ = f(x) where f: D ⊂ ℝ n → ℝ n and x: T → ℝ n , T a time scale, with regards to the Hilger Circle is examined.
The restoration of biodiversity: Where has research been and where does it need to go?

The practice of ecological restoration is a primary option for increasing levels of biodiversity by modifying human-altered ecosystems. The scientific discipline of restoration ecology provides conceptual guidance and tests of restoration strategies, with the ultimate goal of predictive landscape restoration. I construct a conceptual model for restoration of biodiversity, based on site-level (e.g., biotic and abiotic) conditions, landscape (e.g, interpatch connectivity and patch geometry), and historical factors (e.g., species arrival order and land-use legacies). I then ask how well restoration ecology has addressed the various components of this model. During the past decade, restoration research has focused largely on how the restoration of site-level factors promotes species diversity-primarily of plants. Relatively little attention has been paid to how landscape or historical factors interplay with restoration, how restoration influences functional and genetic components of biodiversity, or how a suite of less-studied taxa might be restored. I suggest that the high level of variation seen in restoration outcomes might be explained, at least in part, by the contingencies placed on site-level restoration by landscape and historical factors and then present a number of avenues for future research to address these often ignored linkages in the biodiversity restoration model. Such work will require carefully conducted restoration experiments set across multiple sites and many years. It is my hope that by considering how space and time influence restoration, we might move restoration ecology in a direction of stronger prediction, conducted across landscapes, thus providing feasible restoration strategies that work at scales over which biodiversity conservation occurs.