cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Knowledge base design enhancement through reliability estimation

Abstract Many knowledge-based systems are designed and built with little attention paid to their reliability. Failure to perform reliability measurement and analysis means that fielded systems might fail more frequently than expected, customers might not be willing to trust knowledge-based systems for critical tasks, and developers may never fully understand the capabilities of the knowledge-based technology they are using. Knowledge-based systems are not subject to reliability measurement and analysis primarily because the rapid prototyping style of development makes it difficult to formally test and model the results of testing to produce an accurate estimate of the reliability. This paper presents an approach to reliability prediction of a knowledge-based system during any stage of the rapid prototyping development process. We illustrate the approach using a system developed to provide guidance on materials selection for varying climatic conditions.
Strike-slip faulting in continental rifts: examples from Sabukia, East Africa (1928), and other regions

Abstract Information on the nature of faulting associated with large (magnitude ⩾ 5.5) earthquakes in continental rift zones is important to an understanding of rift evolution and development. A study of available earthquake source parameter information obtained from seismic waveform modeling suggests that many large earthquakes have large amounts of strike-slip motion, although they occur within extensional regimes. We illustrate this observation with an examination of the seismic waveforms of the 1928 Sabukia earthquake. Large vertical offsets were observed at the surface after this earthquake, but body waveform modeling shows that the earthquake was a double event and that nearly pure strike-slip faulting (rakes of −6°) occurred at depth in both events. A comparison of faulting during large earthquakes in east Africa, the Cordillera of the western United States, Tibet, and Lake Baikal shows that over a third of the earthquakes of magnitudes ⩾ 5.5 have large components of strike-slip motion (rakes of −150° to −180°, −30° to 30°, and 150° to 180°). This suggests that many of these earthquakes occur on faults that are oblique to the present-day extension direction.
Opioids and Infections in the Intensive Care Unit Should Clinicians and Patients be Concerned

There is a large body of experimental evidence in research animals and in vitro models that opioids suppress the immune system. If this effect occurs in acute human disease, then patients cared for in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) would be a particularly vulnerable population. ICU patients have the most severe forms of acute infection, have the greatest risk of acquiring new infections in the hospital, and are exposed to high doses of opioids for long periods of time. We review the epidemiology of ICU infections and the pharmacoepidemiology of opioid use in critically ill patients. We critique the limited human research examining the relationship between opioids and infection and make recommendations on designing future clinical studies that could close the knowledge gap about the true hazards of opioid use in hospitalized patients.
Variable Source Area Hydrology Modeling with the Water Erosion Prediction Project Model

In nondegraded watersheds of humid climates, subsurface flow patterns determine where the soil saturates and where surface runoff is occurring. Most models necessarily use infiltration-excess (i.e., Hortonian) runoff for predicting runoff and associated constituents because subsurface flow algorithms are not included in the model. In this article, we modify the Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model to simulate subsurface flow correctly and to predict the spatial and temporal location of saturation, the associated lateral flow and surface runoff, and the location where the water can re-infiltrate. The modified model, called WEPP-UI, correctly simulated the hillslope drainage data from the Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory hillslope plot. We applied WEPP-UI to convex, concave, and S-shaped hillslope profiles, and found that multiple overland flow elements are needed to simulate distributed lateral flow and runoff well. Concave slopes had the greatest runoff, while convex slopes had the least. Our findings concur with observations in watersheds with saturation-excess overland flow that most surface runoff is generated on lower concave slopes, whereas on convex slopes runoff infiltrates before reaching the stream. Since the WEPP model is capable of simulating both saturation-excess and infiltration-excess runoff, we expect that this model will be a powerful tool in the future for managing water quality.
Electrocrystallization of semiconducting materials from molten salt and organic solutions

Abstract A review is given of the electrodeposition of semiconducting materials from molten salts and from low temperature solutions, mainly in organic liquids. The current interest in this method centers on the development of inexpensive processes for large area deposition of silicon and compound semiconductors for solar cells. Electrodeposition of silicon appears particularly promising for production of solar cell grade material at $1 to $5 per kg. The use of K 2 SiF 6 /alkali fluoride melts at 750°C has yielded Si of 99.999% purity, and rapid deposition has recently been achieved at temperatures above 1420°C. Promising techniques for the deposition of III–V and especially of II–VI materials at temperatures around 100°C are also described.
Exposure to metals.

Metals, particularly heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and arsenic, constitute significant potential threats to human health in both occupational and environmental settings. Lead exposure is of particular concern because of ongoing exposure to thousands of workers in the US and recent research indicating that asymptomatic lead exposure can result in chronic toxicity manifestations, such as hypertension, kidney impairment, and cognitive disturbances. Mercury is neurotoxic, even at the relatively low levels of exposure seen in dentists' offices. Arsenic is clearly carcinogenic, and cadmium is now being recognized as a contributor to osteoporosis. This article reviews these and other issues of concern in the practice of primary care.
X-Ray Diffraction Properties of Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite

The x-ray diffraction properties of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) were studied for x-ray energies ranging from 4 to 60 keV. In particular, the secondary extinction thickness was determined by recording the peak and integrated reflectivity as a function of depth below the surface. The results showed that for the high quality material investigated a thickness of 200 to 300 micrometers was sufficient to get 80% of the maximum reflectivity that is obtained for a very thick plate. Primary extinction was important for low energy and still persisted at higher energies. Inhomogeneities of the mosaic structure were observed, too, that make this material not a truly ideal mosaic monochromator crystal. However, quite high peak reflectivities between 35% and 58% were measured at FWHM of 0.25 to 0.45 degrees. A 200 micrometers thick plate was then prepared and glued on a bending device to manufacture a monochromator or analyzer with variable curvature that works from flat down to a minimum bending radius of 10 cm. The successful tests of this device confirmed that HOPG plates much thinner than those commonly used as x-ray monochromators and analyzers still have high efficiency and can be curved to achieve dynamical focusing.
A representation of Lambda terms suitable for operations on their intensions

A representation for lambda terms is described based on the scheme of de Bruijn for eliminating variable names. The new notation provides for a class of terms that can encode other terms together with substitutions to be performed on them. The notion of an environment is used to realize this “delaying” of substitutions. The precise mechanism that is used is, however, more complex than the usual so as to support the ability to examine subterms embedded under abstractions. A virtue of our representation is that it permits substitution to be realized as an atomic operation and thereby provides for efficient implementations of b-reduction. Operations on lgr;-terms are described based on our representation and the relationship of these to the conventional definitions are exhibited.
Application of sorbents for mercury control for utilities burning lignite coal

Abstract The Energy and Environmental Research Center (EERC) is conducting the first phase of a 3-year, two-phase U.S.–Canadian consortium project to develop and demonstrate mercury control technologies for utilities burning lignite coal. Control of mercury from lignite-fired plants is much more difficult in comparison to plants burning other ranks of coal. The overall project goal is to provide utilities that burn lignite coal with low-cost technology options for meeting future mercury emission regulations. Phase I objectives are to develop a better understanding of mercury interactions with flue gas constituents, test a range of sorbent-based technologies targeted at removal of elemental mercury from flue gases, and demonstrate the effectiveness of the most promising technologies at the pilot scale. The Phase II objective is to demonstrate and quantify technology, performance, and cost at a sponsor-owned/operated power plant. Preliminary results are presented for Phase I bench- and pilot-scale tests, and results are encouraging for continuation of Phase II activities.
Effect of Maternal Fasting on Ovine Fetal and Maternal Branched-Chain Amino Acid Transaminase Activities

Activities of branched-chain amino acid transaminase were assayed in maternal skeletal muscle, liver and fetal skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, liver, kidney and placenta obtained from fed and 5-day-fasted late gestation ewes. Very high activities were found in placenta; fetal skeletal muscle also had high activity. Fetal brain had intermediate activity, followed by cardiac muscle and kidney. Fetal liver possessed negligible activity. Activities were low in both maternal liver and skeletal muscle. Trends were seen for fasting to increase activities in fetal placenta, skeletal muscle, brain, kidney, heart and maternal liver, but these changes were statistically significant only for fetal brain and placental tissue. Fetal skeletal muscle activity was 100 times that of maternal skeletal muscle. These data imply differences in the metabolism of the branched-chain amino acids by fetal and adult ruminants and expand the thesis that branched-chain amino acids are important to the metabolism of the ovine fetus.
Plasma acetylcholinesterase in duchenne muscular dystrophy

Abstract Muscle acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is unregulated in animal and human muscular dystrophies and its activity is elevated in plasma of dystrophic chickens, probably due to a leakage from affected muscles. It is possible to measure AChE activity in human plasma in spite of high butyrylcholinesterase activity if acetyl-β-methylcholine is used as the substrate and butyrylcholinesterase is inhibited by iso-OMPA. It has been found that, unlike in chickens, the plasma AChE activity in human newborns is not higher than that in adults. The AChE activity in plasma of children afflicted by Duchenne muscular dystrophy does not differ from that found in plasma of normal boys of the same age. In this respect Duchenne muscular dystrophy differs from chicken muscular dystrophy as well as from a neurogenic muscle disease (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) in man.
Rate Effects in Isolated Hearts Induced by Microwave Irradiation (Short Papers)

Continuous 960-MHz microwave irradiation of isolated poikilothermic hearts in Ringer's solution causes bradycardia, in contrast to the tachycardia usually produced by generalized heating. The effect appears to occur only over a narrow power range in the neighborhood of an estimated 3 mW absorbed by the heart. It is hypothesized that the bradycardia is produced by stimulation of the nerve remnants in the heart.
Study of the Cationic Photopolymerization of Multifunctional Propenyl Ether Monomers

Abstract The cationic photopolymerization of a new biorenewable monomer, glycerol tripropenyl ether, was carried out to determine whether it is suitable for use in such thin film applications as photocurable inks, coatings, and adhesives. Studies of the photoinduced homopolymerization of this monomer and its copolymerizations with other mono- and difunctional propenyl ethers were conducted in the presence of diaryliodonium and triarylsulfonium salt initiators. The dependence of such properties as the gel fraction, hardness, impact, and adhesion of model coatings upon the structure and composition of the monomers used and on UV irradiation dose and postcure were investigated.
The Representative Farm Approach to Estimation of Supply Response

IN this paper I discuss the role that representative farms have played in the estimation of aggregate supply response, and I speculate on the future role of representative farms in aggregate analyses. I do not discuss the valuable contribution or the problems associated with the use of representative farms in firm analyses per se. Many empirical techniques can be used to estimate aggregate supply response. They include regression, spatial equilibrium, mathematical programming, and less formal techniques. However, the representative farm approach has been by far the most popular research approach used for both firm and aggregate supply response analysis during the 1960's. True, other techniques were used, but no model in the history of production economics has received as much widespread research support in the form of research funds and professional manpower. I am referring to the regional adjustment studies and the associated state studies. In all these studies representative farms were used to estimate aggregate supply response. Since most of the regional adjustment studies have been completed, it is time to evaluate how well this approach to supply response has worked, and to speculate about where we should go from here in aggregate supply analysis.
Computing Dynamic User Equilibria for Large-Scale Transportation Networks

In this paper, we present an approach for determining dynamic user equilibria. The method is suitable for disaggregated microscopic and mesoscopic simulation-based models. It is a modification of the convex-simplex method, which disposes with the line search step, and controls the subset of travelers to be re-routed at each step while updating the link travel times after each assignment. To guarantee finite termination, a suitable stopping criterion is adopted. The proposed method is implemented within TRANSIMS, the Transportation Analysis and Simulation System, as a two-stage process that employs a combined use of link performance functions and a microsimulator in order to design a framework suitable for application to real transportation systems. To demonstrate this capability, we apply the developed methodology to a large-scale network, Bignet, which is part of the transportation city network of Portland, Oregon; and a medium-scale network, Blacksburg, Virginia; and provide some comparative analyses. Our results exhibit that an improved distribution of travelers is obtained while consuming less than 17-33% of the effort required by the current version of TRANSIMS.
C/sup 4/I for the 21st century

The development of the Copernicus Architecture, a command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) system, for the US Navy is discussed. The architecture is based on five thrusts uniting C4I form and function: replacement of equipment, new space and electronic warfare technologies, the use of combat centers, implementation of global indications and warning (I&W), and provides for tactical data exchanges. The system's support of space and electronic warfare and its solution to the central C4I problem in contingency operations, focusing a large number of sensors, often the entire national inventory in one area, are described. >
Energy dissipation bounds for hear flows for a model in large eddy simulation

This report gives an upper bound for the time average of the energy dissipation rate, including energy dissipation due to viscous dissipation and turbulent diffusion in a model for the motion of large eddies in a turbulent flow. The bound is only a function of the reference velocity U, the domain diameter L, the eddy size @d, and surprisingly, the Reynolds number.
High-speed data encryption over 25 km of fiber by two-mode coherent-state quantum cryptography

We demonstrate high-speed (250 Mbps) data encryption over 25 km of telecommunication fiber by use of coherent states. For the parameter values used in the experiment, the demonstration is secure against individual ciphertext-only eavesdropping attacks near the transmitter with ideal detection equipment. Whereas other quantum-cryptographic schemes require the use of fragile quantum states and ultrasensitive detection equipment, our protocol is loss tolerant, uses off-the-shelf components, and is optically amplifiable.
Treatment of recalcitrant intermetatarsal neuroma with 4% sclerosing alcohol injection: a pilot study.

The purpose of this investigation was to conduct a prospective trial to assess the effectiveness of a 4% sclerosing alcohol injection in a small group of patients with intermetatarsal neuromas who had failed previous conservative therapies including corticosteroid injections. Six patients with 8 neuromas were followed for a mean 346 days. A weekly series of 3–9 injections containing 1 mL of the 4% alcohol sclerosing solution were given based on patient response to treatment. Pre- and posttreatment surveys consisting of both objective and subjective findings including a visual analog pain scale were collected. The average pretreatment visual analog pain rating was 7.5 ± 1.14. The average posttreatment visual analog pain rating was 1.38 ± 2.39 with an average reduction of 6.13. The average reported improvement in symptoms was 73%. Five of the 6 patients would recommend the treatment to a friend or family member. No complications were encountered. Two neuromas in 2 patients failed the sclerosing injection course: 1 ultimately responded to antiinflammatory use and the other underwent excision.
Asymmetric cationic coordination environments in new oxide materials: synthesis and characterization of Pb(4)Te(6)M(10)O(41) (M = Nb(5+) or Ta(5+)).

Two new isostructural tellurites, Pb4Te6M10O41 (M = Nb5+ or Ta5+), have been synthesized by standard solid-state techniques using PbO, Nb2O5 (or Ta2O5), and TeO2 as reagents. The structures of Pb4Te6Nb10O41 and Pb4Te6Ta10O41 were determined by single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. The materials exhibit a three-dimensional framework consisting of layers of corner-shared NbO6 octahedra connected by TeO3 and PbO6 polyhedra. The Nb5+, Te4+, and Pb2+ cations are in asymmetric coordination environments attributable to second-order Jahn−Teller effects. The Nb5+ cations undergo an intraoctahedral distortion either toward a face or a corner, whereas the Te4+ and Pb2+ cations are in distorted environments attributable to their lone pair. In addition, the TeO3 polyhedra strongly influence the direction of the Nb5+ intraoctahedral distortion. Infrared and Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and dielectric measurements are also presented. Crystal data: Pb4Te6Nb10O41, monoclinic, space group C2/m (N...
Evolution of carbohydrate metabolic pathways

Abstract Current studies of hyperthermophilic archaea and bacteria, the phylogenetically deepest-rooted and slowest-evolving extant organisms known, are allowing new insights into the nature of presumably ancient metabolic pathways. The apparent common occurrence of modified non-phosphorylated Entner-Doudoroff (ED) pathways among saccharolytic archaea and the absence of the conventional Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas (EMP) mode of glycolysis indicate that the ED pathway is the older route of carbohydrate dissimilation. However, gluconeogenesis via the “reversed” EMP route has been found in archaea. Thus, the EMP pathway was probably an anabolic pathway to begin with; its catabolic role came later, with the evolution of fructose phosphate kinases, using ATP, ADP or pyrophosphate as phosphate donors. Similarly, the presence of reductive reactions of the citric acid cycle in anaerobic archaea and the most deeply rooted bacteria, including autotrophs, indicates that the citric acid cycle was originally a reductive biosynthetic pathway.
Indole derivatives. 1. Synthesis of tetracyclic mesoionic pyrimido[3,2:2′,3′]‐as‐triazino[5′,6′‐b]indole‐2,4‐diones

The synthesis of the title compounds 5 has been accomplished by the thermal cyclocondensation of bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) malonates with the appropriately substituted alkyl er arylalkylaminotriazinoindole.
Modeling Human Ecodynamics and Biocultural Interactions in the Late Pleistocene of Western Eurasia

Given the complex and multidimensional nature of human evolution, we need to develop theoretical and methodological frameworks to account for and model the dynamic feedbacks between co-operational biological and cultural evolutionary systems to better understand the processes that produced modern human behavior. Equally important is the generation of explicit theory-based models that can be tested against the empirical paleoanthropological record. We present a case study that examines evidence for culturally-driven behavioral change among Late Pleistocene hominins that altered the social niche occupied by hominins in western Eurasia, with consequences for subsequent biological and cultural evolution. We draw on a large sample of 167 Pleistocene assemblages across western Eurasia and employ mathematical and computational modeling to explore the feedbacks between cultural and biological inheritance. Shifts in land-use strategies changed the opportunities for social and biological interaction among Late Pleistocene hominins in western Eurasia with a cascade of consequences for cultural and biological evolution, including the disappearance of Neanderthals from the fossil and archaeological records, and the acceleration of cultural evolution among ancestors of modern humans.
Human Factors Issues in the Use of Night Vision Devices

An account is given of the critical human factors that arise in field data on the differences between night vision displays and unaided day vision. Attention is given to the findings of empirical studies of performance on rotorcraft-flight-relevant perceptual tasks in which depth and distance perception are critical factors. Suggestions are made for man-machine-critical component design modifications in current night vision systems.
Texture Classification in Microstructure Images of Advanced Materials

In this paper we discuss texture classification of microstructural images used in the development of advanced materials. Different materials or different phases of a material in a sample lead to different textures in images of that sample. We investigate the application of the expectation-maximization/ maximization of the posterior marginal (EM/MPM) algorithm proposed in [1] for automated texture-based segmentation of these microstructure images. We propose a new method to initialize the parameters used for the observed image under a Gaussian model. In addition, we examine the use of 8-nearest- neighborhood system for segmentation to locate objects edges more precisely. The experimental results demonstrate the adaptability of the EM/MPM algorithm with appropriate choices of model parameters and neighborhood system. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the use of 8-nearest-neighborhood system can provide smoother segmentation in edges.
The Moore-Penrose inverse of a retrocirculant

Abstract In a recent paper Chao [2] has determined the eigenvalues of a matrix of the form A = PC where P is a permutation matrix which commutes with a certain unitary matrix and C is a circulant. Here we determine the Moore-Penrose inverse of such a “retrocirculant” and show that the nonzero eigenvalues of the Moore-Penrose inverse are the reciprocals of the nonzero eigenvalues of the retrocirculant.
Corrosion damage estimation in multi-wire steel strands using guided ultrasonic waves

This study presents a nondestructive evaluation method based on guided ultrasonic waves (GUW) to estimate corrosion in steel strands. Steel strands are one of the main components in constructing prestressed structures. Hidden corrosion in these structures has become a concern for designers, owners and regulators as it can eventuate in disastrous failure. In this study, a reference-free algorithm is proposed to quantify the extent of corrosion through estimating the cross section loss using dispersion curves and the velocity of certain frequency components in the waveform. Experimental test setups were designed to accelerate corrosion on two similarly loaded steel strands. One strand was embedded in concrete (to simulate a prestressed concrete beam) and the other was free (to resemble a prestressed cable). Visual inspection, halfcell potential, and mass loss measurements were employed as supporting evidences for the state of corrosion. An uncertainty analysis was also carried out to investigate how close this method can estimate the diameter of wires in a strand. The method could reasonably estimate the diameter of the wires without a reference baseline.
Trends in metal-biradical exchange interaction for first-row MII(nitronyl nitroxide-semiquinone) complexes

We report molecular structures and temperature-dependent magnetic susceptibility data for several new metal complexes of heterospin triplet ground-state biradical ligands. The ligands are comprised of both nitronyl-nitroxide (NN) and semiquinone (SQ) spin carriers. Five compounds are five-coordinate MII complexes (M = Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn), and one is a six-coordinate NiII complex. Five compounds were structurally characterized. During copper complex formation a reaction with methanol occurs to form a unique methoxy-substituted SQ ring. Variable-temperature magnetic susceptibility studies are consistent with strong intraligand (NN-SQ and NN-PhSQ) ferromagnetic exchange coupling. For the five-coordinate Mn, Co, and Ni complexes, the S = 1 ligand is antiferromagnetically coupled to the metal. For both the five-coordinate Cu complex and the six-coordinate Ni complex, the ligand is ferromagnetically coupled to the metal spins in accordance with orbital symmetry arguments. Despite the low molecular symmetrie...
Medical decision making and perceived socioeconomic class.

OBJECTIVE To examine the effects that a physician's knowledge of a patient's socioeconomic status or profession has on clinical decision making in an outpatient setting. METHODS We mailed a survey to all 336 members of the Academy of Medicine of Cleveland who are general internists, family practitioners, or general practitioners. Physicians were randomized before the initial mailing to receive one of the two questionnaires. Physicians in group A were given two simulated clinical scenarios in which the socioeconomic status or profession of the patient was identified, followed by management options. Physicians in group B were given the same scenarios without any suggestion of the patient's profession or social standing. Outcomes that reflect decision making, intensiveness of evaluation, and treatment course were compared for the two groups. Data were analyzed using t tests and chi 2. After Bonferroni correction, a P < or = .01 was considered significant. RESULTS The response rate was 60%. For clinical scenario 1, no difference was noted in the number of tests ordered. However, physicians in group A responding to clinical scenario 2 ordered more total tests than did physicians in group B (P = .03), including complete blood cell counts (45% vs 29%, P = .01). In both scenarios, earlier follow-up visits were scheduled by physicians in group A compared with those in group B (P = .01). CONCLUSION Our results do not support findings by other investigators that more tests are ordered when physicians perceive their patients to be of higher socioeconomic status. Intensity of follow-up, however, was greater when physicians believed the patient was in a more prominent profession or was of higher socioeconomic status.
Southwestern Internal Medicine Conference: Non-Q-Wave Myocardial Infarction

ABSTRACT The rationale for introducing the term “non-Q-wave myocardial infarction” is identified. The incidence, pathology, pathogenesis, and diagnostic criteria for this condition, previously identified as nontransmural or subendocardial infarction, are reviewed. In reviewing the diagnostic criteria, the various noninvasive techniques that may be applied are discussed. The clinical course, prognosis, and management are discussed under the headings of early postinfarction period, late clinical course, predischarge evaluation, and long-term care. The issues of the management of infarct extension and acute interventional therapy are raised and reviewed. Suggestions regarding specific aspects of therapy in non-Q-wave myocardial infarction are included in the summary.
New Universal Behavior for the Impure Baxter Model

We have extended the Monte Carlo renormalization-group method to study the isotropic Baxter model with random, quenched, site impurities. The results suggest that the critical behavior can be characterized by the pure Baxter fixed line for negative four-spin coupling terminating at the Ising fixed point.
Characterization of pharmacoresistance to benzodiazepines in the rat Li-pilocarpine model of status epilepticus

Status epilepticus is usually initially treated with a benzodiazepine such as diazepam. During prolonged seizures, however, patients often lose their sensitivity to benzodiazepines, thus developing pharmacoresistant seizures. In rats, administration of LiCl followed 20-24 h later by pilocarpine induces a continuous, self-sustained, and reproducible form of status epilepticus that can be terminated with diazepam when it is administered soon after the pilocarpine injection. However, when administered after a 45 min delay, diazepam is less effective. Previous findings have suggested that the development of pharmacoresistance is related to the stage of status epilepticus. In the present study, we characterized the seizure stage-dependence of diazepam pharmacoresistance. Following administration of different doses of diazepam at varying time intervals after specific behaviorally- and electrographically-defined seizure stages, stage-, time-, and dose-dependent pharmacoresistance to diazepam developed. We also studied two other antiepileptic drugs commonly used in the treatment of status epilepticus, phenobarbital and phenytoin. Consistent with previous studies, our results indicated a similar relationship between stage, time and dose for phenobarbital, but not for phenytoin. Our data are consistent with rapid modulation of GABA(A) receptors during status epilepticus that may result in pharmacoresistance to antiepileptic drugs that enhance GABA(A) receptor-mediated inhibition.
Undergraduates Discovering Folds in ''Flat'' Strata: An Unusual Undergraduate Geology Field Methods Course

Undergraduates learned to measure, map, and interpret bedding plane attitudes during a semesterlong geology field methods course in a field area where strata dip less than 9°. Despite the low dip o...
A phase variation event that activates conjugation functions encoded by the Enterococcus faecalis plasmid pAD1.

Enterococcus faecalis cells carrying the conjugative plasmid pAD1 undergo several related changes when induced by the sex pheromone cAD1. Included are the production of novel surface proteins, the formation of cellular aggregates in broth cultures, the ability to transfer the plasmid at high frequency in broth matings, and the change from a soft to a “dry” colony morphology. Spontaneous, constitutively dry colony (m) variants of E. faecalis (pAD1) were found to arise at a frequency of 10m4- 10-r. Dry” phase variants constitutively expressed aggregation and plasmid transfer functions typically expressed only under CAD 1 -inducing conditions. Reversion of Dry’ variants to a cADl-inducible phenotype (Dry’) occurred at a similar frequency. Tn917-lac mutagenesis of regions of pAD1 previously shown to be involved in plasmid transfer revealed that in Dry+ cells these regions were transcribed only when the inducer, CAD 1, was present. In Dry” variants the regions were transcribed constitutively. A pAD1 miniplasmid containing determinants regulating CAD 1 inducible plasmid transfer and a CAD 1 -inducible IacZ transcriptional fusion displayed phase variation in LacZ expression at a rate similar to the Dry’/D@ phase variation. These results suggest that the site of mutation(s) resulting in the Dry’ phenotype is within the regulation-related region of PAD 1. Complementation tests showed that this region, when supplied in tram, complemented the Dry” phenotype. Phase variation affecting mating functions represents an alternative (pheromone independent) method of regulating p~D1 transfer. 0
The PPARγ ligand rosiglitazone attenuates hypoxia-induced endothelin signaling in vitro and in vivo

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ activation attenuates hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension (PH) in mice. The current study examined the hypothesis that PPARγ attenuates hypoxi...
Effects of subthalamic nucleus stimulation and medication on resting and postural tremor in Parkinson's disease.

Summary Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and antiparkinsonian medication have proved to be effective treatments for tremor in Parkinson’s disease. To date it is not known how and to what extent STN DBS alone and in combination with antiparkinsonian medication alters the pathophysiology of resting and postural tremor in idiopathic Parkinson’s disease. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of STN DBS and antiparkinsonian medication on the neurophysiological characteristics of resting and postural hand tremor in Parkinson’s disease. Resting and postural hand tremor were recorded using accelerometry and surface electromyography (EMG) from 10 Parkinson’s disease patients and 10 matched control subjects. The Parkinson’s disease subjects were examined under four treatment conditions: (i) off treatment; (ii) STN DBS; (iii) medication; and (iv) medication plus STN DBS. The amplitude, EMG frequency, regularity, and 1–8 Hz tremor–EMG coherence were analysed. Both STN DBS and medication reduced the amplitude, regularity and tremor–EMG coherence, and increased the EMG frequency of resting and postural tremor in Parkinson’s disease. STN DBS was more effective than medication in reducing the amplitude and increasing the frequency of resting and postural tremor to healthy physiological levels. These findings provide strong evidence that effective STN DBS normalizes the amplitude and frequency of tremor. The findings suggest that neural activity in the STN is an important modulator of the neural network(s) responsible for both resting and postural tremor genesis in Parkinson’s disease.
New Parents' Facebook Use at the Transition to Parenthood

New parents' Facebook use was examined from a social capital perspective. Surveys regarding Facebook use and parenting satisfaction, parenting self-efficacy, and parenting stress were completed by 154 mothers and 150 fathers as part of a larger study of dual-earner, Mid-western U.S. couples making the transition to parenthood. Results indicated that mothers used Facebook more than fathers, and that mothers perceived an increase in use over the transition. When more of mothers' Facebook friends were family members or relatives, and when fathers reported connecting with more of their Facebook friends outside of Facebook, they reported better parental adjustment. For mothers, however, more frequent visits to Facebook accounts and more frequent content management were each associated with higher levels of parenting stress.
Evaluating the Incremental Value of New Biomarkers With Integrated Discrimination Improvement

The integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) index is a popular tool for evaluating the capacity of a marker to predict a binary outcome of interest. Recent reports have proposed that the IDI is more sensitive than other metrics for identifying useful predictive markers. In this article, the authors use simulated data sets and theoretical analysis to investigate the statistical properties of the IDI. The authors consider the common situation in which a risk model is fitted to a data set with and without the new, candidate predictor(s). Results demonstrate that the published method of estimating the standard error of an IDI estimate tends to underestimate the error. The z test proposed in the literature for IDI-based testing of a new biomarker is not valid, because the null distribution of the test statistic is not standard normal, even in large samples. If a test for the incremental value of a marker is desired, the authors recommend the test based on the model. For investigators who find the IDI to be a useful measure, bootstrap methods may offer a reasonable option for inference when evaluating new predictors, as long as the added predictive capacity is large.
The Effects of Strategic and Economic Interdependence on International Conflict Across Levels of Analysis

This study develops a Social Network Analytic approach to conceptualize and measure interdependence across levels of analysis. This framework contains several innovations. First, it integrates “sensitivity interdependence”—the effects of changes in one state on other states—with “vulnerability interdependence”—the opportunity costs of breaking a relationship. Second, it measures interdependence at different levels of analysis and across multiple relationships. Third, it integrates multiple dimensions of interdependence into a single measure. I derive hypotheses from the realist and liberal paradigms regarding the effects of strategic and economic interdependence on monadic, dyadic, and systemic conflict. These hypotheses are tested via data on alliances, military capability, and trade. The findings provide robust support to the expectations of the liberal paradigm regarding the effects of strategic and economic interdependence on conflict. On the other hand, the expectations of the realist paradigm are not supported. I discuss the theoretical and empirical implications of this approach.
Oral complications of cancer therapy

Many patients receive cytotoxic therapies that result in complications to the oral mucosa. Other patients receive either radiation or surgery as treatment of malignancies involving the head and neck region, with resultant consequences to the normal structures of the oral cavity and pharynx.
Versatile reactive navigation

Most autonomous mobile agents operate in a highly constrained environment. Despite significant research, existing solutions are limited in their ability to handle heterogeneous constraints within highly dynamic or uncertain environments. This paper presents a novel maneuver selection technique suited for both 2D and 3D environments with highly dynamic maneuvering constraints and multiple mobile obstacles. Agents may have any arbitrary set of nonholonomic control variables; maneuvers can be constrained by a broad class of function inequalities, including time-dependent constraints involving nonlinear relationships between controlled and agent-state variables. The resulting algorithm has been implemented to run in real time using only a fraction of the CPU's capacity on an ordinary notebook computer and performs well in a number of taxing simulated situations.
Small mammal population and habitat responses to forest thinning and prescribed fire

Abstract We examined changes in small mammal habitat and densities of four small mammal species, including deer mice ( Peromyscus maniculatus ), gray-collared chipmunks ( Tamias cinereicollis ), golden-mantled ground squirrels ( Spermophilus lateralis ), and Mexican woodrats ( Neotoma mexicana ), 2–3 years after thinning and prescribed fire treatments in ponderosa pine ( Pinus ponderosa ) forests of northern Arizona, US. These treatments were designed to simultaneously reduce high-severity fire risk while returning forests to conditions more representative of pre-European settlement structure and function. Treatments resulted in changes in important components of small mammal habitat, including increased herbaceous vegetation, decreased shrub density, and decreased woody debris. Deer mouse densities were negatively related to tree densities. Gray-collared chipmunks were negatively affected by treatment, negatively related to tree density, and positively related to woody debris. Golden-mantled ground squirrels did not appear to vary strongly with either treatment or treatment-related habitat changes, but appeared to be somewhat positively related to shrub cover. Mexican woodrats were positively related to shrub cover, and were positively, but weakly, related to woody debris. Overall, forest thinning can be expected to increase densities of small mammals in these forests, and retention of slash in fuel reduction/restoration treatments may further increase small mammal densities in the post-treatment community. However, reduction of shrubs and woody debris with overly frequent prescribed fire entries may reduce small mammal densities.
Endophthalmitis in the Era of Small Gauge Transconjunctival Sutureless Vitrectomy— Meta Analysis and Review of Literature

Purpose: The goal of this study was to review, evaluate, and perform a meta-analysis on the current literature that reports rates of postoperative endophthalmitis after small gauge transconjunctival sutureless vitrectomy (TSV) and compare it to 20-gauge pars plana vitrectomy (20G PPV).Methods: We performed an extensive review of the current literature. We included only large comparative institutional reviews. Meta-analysis of these reviews was performed.Results: We found six large retrospective comparative cases series on the 25-gauge (25G) TSV as compared to 20G PPV. The test for homogeneity for the meta-analysis indicates that the studies are not homogeneous and therefore the evidence is tentative.Conclusion: We cannot conclude that 25G TSV has a higher rate of postoperative endophthalmitis compared to the 20G PPV. Future retrospective or prospective trials need to take into consideration multiple factors.
Twice invisible: Formal representations of radiation danger

This article examines the politics of formal representations of environmental hazards. Certain environmental hazards are made publicly invisible when their formal representations are misaligned wit...
Gray computing: an analysis of computing with background JavaScript tasks

Websites routinely distribute small amounts of work to visitors' browsers in order to validate forms, render animations, and perform other computations. This paper examines the feasibility, cost effectiveness, and approaches for increasing the workloads offloaded to web visitors' browsers in order to turn them into a large-scale distributed data processing engine, which we term gray computing. Past research has looked primarily at either non-browser based volunteer computing or browser-based volunteer computing where the visitors keep their browsers open to a single web page for a long period of time. This paper provides a deep analysis of the architectural, cost effectiveness, user experience, performance, security, and other issues of gray computing distributed data processing engines with high heterogeneity, non-uniform page view times, and high computing pool volatility.
Proteomics of semen and its constituents

Semen is a complex fluid comprising sperm and other products of the testes together with secretions from the accessory sex glands including the prostate, seminal vesicles, and the bulbourethral gland. Studies of the protein components of seminal fluid, with or without the sperm present, can improve our understanding of reproductive biology; have potential clinical applications in the assessment and treatment of infertility; can assist with the diagnosis and management of urological diseases; and, at times, can offer important forensic insights. This review examines the application of proteomic methods to the study of spermatozoa and seminal fluid and highlights some of the unique challenges associated with the collection, fractionation, and analysis of this fluid. The discussion is restricted to issues relating to human semen, although we make occasional reference to important studies from animals.
Holy Scripture and the Quest for Authority among Three Late Medieval Masters

John Wyclif (d. 1384), Thomas Netter (d. 1430) and Jean Gerson (d. 1429) had a good deal in common. They were all theologians, and thus ‘masters of the sacred page’ by trade. They all recognised the absolute authority of Scripture in matters of the Catholic faith over and against any pretensions of canon law. What separated them, therefore, was not the recognition of authority as such, but rather the correct application of that authority. Wyclif exercised his rights as a university master to dissent from ecclesiastical determinations that ran contrary to the truth as revealed in Scripture. Netter and Gerson set out to curb this sort of magisterial excess which they believed would inevitably lead to the destruction of all proper norms of authority within the Church. Rather than being a simple tale of heresy and orthodoxy, therefore, this late medieval conflict turned on the question of professional expertise, rights and responsibilities.
Modeling migratory energetics of Connecticut River American shad (Alosa sapidissima): implications for the conservation of an iteroparous anadromous fish

We present a simulation model in which individual adult migrant American shad (Alosa sapidissima) ascend the Connecticut River and spawn, and survivors return to the marine environment. Our approac...
Sarcomeres are added in series to emphysematous rat diaphragm after lung volume reduction surgery.

Study objectives The diaphragm adapts to its shortened state in experimental emphysema primarily by losing sarcomeres in series, thus reducing its optimal operating length. One would expect improved diaphragmatic function after lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) only if the muscle can readapt to its elevated, lengthened postoperative position by either adding back sarcomeres or lengthening sarcomeres. We used a model of elastase-induced emphysema in rats to test the hypothesis that sarcomere addition occurs following LVRS. Design A cohort of emphysematous rats was created by the intratracheal instillation of elastase. Five months after the instillation, one group of rats underwent measurement of in situ costal diaphragm length via laparotomy, the determination of optimal muscle fiber operating length (Lo) on stimulated diaphragm strips in vitro , and the measurement of sarcomere length by electron microscopy on strips fixed at Lo. Another group of rats underwent LVRS or sham sternotomy 5 months after the instillation, and 5 months following the operation these animals underwent the same series of diaphragmatic studies. Results Lo was significantly greater in rats that underwent LVRS than those that underwent sternotomy (mean [± SE] Lo after LVRS, 2.50 ± 0.08 cm; mean Lo after sternotomy, 2.27 ± 0.06 cm; p = 0.013). There was no significant difference in sarcomere lengths between the two groups (2.95 ± 0.04 vs 3.04 ± 0.04 μm, respectively; p = 0.10). Using Lo as the length basis, the mean sarcomere number was calculated to be 8,712 ± 192 in animals that had undergone LVRS and 7,144 ± 249 in animals that had undergone sternotomy (p Conclusion Sarcomere length is not significantly altered but sarcomeres are added in series following LVRS in this experimental model of emphysema/LVRS. It is likely that this sarcomere addition is a prerequisite to the improvement in inspiratory muscle function that has been observed following LVRS in humans.