cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Complications of neurosurgical anesthesia

Prevention, using multimodal monitoring, is the crux regarding complications of neurosurgical anesthesia. The word c r u x is used advisedly, because the dictionary lists several meanings-a l l applicable here. The arguments pro and con monitoring (in general) are still controversial and apply in varying degrees to present-day neurosurgical anesthesia. An example is whether somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) wave forms or conventional electroencephalography (EEG) show a superior method of detecting cortical cerebral ischemia during carotid vascular surgery. 3 Part of the problem is the interpretation of the outputed wave forms, because "the operating room is a hostile environment for the detection, amplification, and processing of the very low scalp potentials; there are numerous sources of electrical noise that can overwhelm the detection of physiologic signals"4; also, the type of anesthetic agents should be "monitor-fr iendly" (eg, effect on evoked potentials). The chapter by Pace 4 in its entirety (pp 173-202) is of inestimable value and clarity in presenting (exposing) the problems of monitoring and the devices so used. The problems that complicate the administration of anesthesia outside the operating room (as they pertain to magnetic resonance imaging [MRI], computed tomography [CI], interventional, radiology, radiation therapy, and angiography) have been well addressed by Forbes. 5
Tensile creep study of copper with alumina dispersions prepared by high rate physical vapour deposition

Abstract Mott has suggested that the ideal creep-resistant material will be one with a fine grain size in which the grain boundaries are filled with some substance, say a refractory oxide, to inhibit the motion of grain boundaries. Such a system, alumina-dispersed copper, was prepared by high rate physical vapour deposition. The process parameters and their effect on structure and texture have been studied. The room temperature mechanical properties have also been reported. This paper deals with a high temperature mechanical property, i.e. tensile creep. Tests were made on a constant-stress vacuum creep rig with a Ferrometic feedthrough to ensure a zero leakage rotary seal. A vacuum of 1.33 X 10−3 Pa was maintained. The test temperatures were 500°C (0.57Tm) and 700°C (0.72Tm). The stresses applied were 2.07, 3.45, 4.14 and 6.89 X 107 Nm−2. Tests were made on as-deposited films and on cold-rolled condensates. Minimum creep rate curves showed the effect of the alumina content in raising the creep resistance of copper. Cold rolling also reduced the minimum creep rate markedly. Varying the temperature and stress affected the shape of these curves. Stress-rupture plots were used to summarize the data. Grain refinement together with a fine stable dispersion seem to give improved creep strength. The critical barrier of the Orowan stress was noted. The stress exponent for a low alumina deposit (0.21 vol.%) was about 8, and the apparent activation energy for creep was about 202 kJ mol−1 (0.13 vol.%). There was an inverse relationship between the rupture life and the minimum creep rate, their product being constant (about 0.2).
Magnesium in Bone Mineral: An In Vitro Study

The solubility of magnesium in bone mineral from control and magnesium-deficient rats receiving varying fluoride intakes was assessed. Evidence for the existence of a fluoride-related pool of skeletal magnesium possessing a diminished solubility was obtained.
Causes of Slip in a Continuously Variable Transmission

Rotational CVTs (continuously varible transmissions) constrain the velocities of two rotational joints to a computer-controlled ratio. CVTs traction drive mechanisms that rely on the support of traction forces across rolling contracts. When called upon to transmit loads, CVTs produce a velocity ratio that departs from the ideal transmission ratio. This paper reports on the results of our analysis in pursuit of understanding the mechanics of the rotational CVT. We present the measured velocity ratios in the face of lateral loads at various transmission settings. In addition, wer present our model that closely fits the empirical data.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Ontogeny and intraspecific variation of the early Cambrian trilobite Olenellus gilberti, with implications for olenelline phylogeny and macroevolutionary trends in phenotypic canalization

Morphological variation within the Early Cambrian olenelline trilobite Olenellus gilberti from the Pioche Formation of Nevada is partitioned into ontogenetic, static (non-ontogenetic), and taphonomic components, providing clearer understanding of the nature and sources of the variation. Such understanding is crucial for improved systematic, phylogenetic and evolutionary analyses of early trilobites. Compaction caused a significant change in mean form and an increase in shape variance, distorting many aspects of biological shape and shape variation. Morphologically mature specimens exhibited variation in many quantitative and qualitative aspects of cephalic morphology, in the distribution of prothoracic axial nodes, and in the number of opisthothoracic segments. The variance of two log-transformed size measures does not significantly increase over the first five sampled instars, a pattern interpretable either as the oldest known case of targeted growth in animal history, or as evidence of strong selection ...
Molecular octa-uranium rings with alternating nitride and azide bridges.

Uranium nitrides offer potential as future nuclear fuels and as probes of metal ligand multiple bonding involving the f-block actinide metals. However, few molecular examples are available for study owing to the difficulties in synthesis. Recent advances in organoactinide chemistry have provided a route to uranium nitride complexes that expands the options for developing UN chemistry. Several 24-membered uranium nitrogen rings, (UNUN3)4, have been synthesized by reduction of sodium azide with organometallic metallocene derivatives, [(C5Me4R)2U][(μ-Ph)2BPh2] (R = Me, H; Me = methyl, Ph = phenyl). The nanometer-sized rings contain unusual UNU nitride linkages that have short U-N distances within the double-bond range.
Neonatally elevated serotonin levels alter terminal arbors of individual retinal ganglion cells in superior colliculus of hamsters.

Previous studies from this laboratory showed that sprouting of serotoninergic (5-HT) axons in the hamster's superior colliculus (SC), induced by a single subcutaneous injection of 5,7-dihydroxytryptamine (5,7-DHT) at birth (postnatal day 0 [P-0]), resulted in an increased terminal distribution of the uncrossed retinocollicular projection that was not associated with any changes in the number or distribution of ipsilaterally projecting retinal ganglion cells. The present study was undertaken to determine what effect this manipulation had on the terminal arbors of such axons. Retinocollicular axons of normal and 5,7-DHT-treated animals were anterogradely labeled with small intraretinal injections of the lipophilic dye 1,1′-dioctadecyl-3,3,3′,3′-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI) on P-16. After tissue processing on P-19, single retinocollicular axon arbors were reconstructed by using confocal microscopy. Quantitative analysis indicated that arbors from 5,7-DHT-treated hamsters had significantly greater total fiber lengths, areas, and volumes than those from normal animals. There were no differences between axons from the two groups in number of branch points, distribution of relative branch lengths, and numbers of bouton-like swellings. These results support the hypothesis that increased SC concentrations of 5-HT alter development of the uncrossed retinocollicular pathway such that a greater territory is covered by individual terminal arbors but that the number of synaptic contacts per arbor remains constant. This may explain, at least in part, the abnormally widespread distribution of the aggregate ipsilateral projection. J. Comp. Neurol. 432:528–536, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Gender and perceptions of dangerousness in civil psychiatric patients

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between gender and clinicians' judgments of dangerousness in civil psychiatric facilities. Methods. Eighty-one clinicians working in acute, chronic or crisis settings rated violence risk of actual patients, rendering a total of 648 judgments of dangerousness. Results. Statistical analyses revealed the expected higher ratings of dangerousness for male compared to female patients, but also showed a significant interaction between clinician's gender and patient's gender on judgments of dangerousness. Conclusions. One of the most interesting findings in this study was that female clinicians perceived a greater gender gap in violence potential among psychiatric patients than did male clinicians. In fact, male clinicians perceived male and female patients to show approximately the same risk of violent behaviour. The results raise important questions for future risk assessment research and for clinical decision-making in the context of civil commitment.
Relative Intensities of Singlet-Singlet and Singlet-Triplet Transitions

The ratio of the intensities of singlet-triplet to singlet-singlet transitions can be calculated by means of Houston's formulae in two ways: (a) from the deviations from the interval rule, and (b) from the distance of the singlet level from the center of gravity of the triplet levels. The discrepancy of the two calculations indicates that the integral of the radial functions between the singlet and triplet differs from that for the triplet with triplet, say by a factor $\ensuremath{\lambda}$. The new parameter $\ensuremath{\lambda}$ is evaluated (\ensuremath{\sim}0.75) from the positions of the four levels, and gives intensity ratios in good agreement with the observed.
Predicting postprocedure bleeding in liver disease.

Prophylactic transfusions of fresh frozen plasma and platelets are sometimes given to patients with mild elevations in prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTF) and mild thrombocytopenia before percutaneous liver biopsy. To determine whether PTs and PTFs 1.1–1.5 times midrange normal levels and platelet counts 50–99 × 109/L are associated with increased bleeding complications, hospital records of all patients who underwent percutaneous liver biopsy during 56 consecutive months (n = 291) were reviewed. Complete information was available for 177 inpatient procedures (155 standard, 22 fine needle). Overall, the frequency of bleeding complications in patients with platelet counts ± 50 × 109/L was 3.4% (6 of 175), with no significant difference between patients with mild hemostatic abnormalities and patients with normal parameters. These data suggest that prophylactic transfusions may not be necessary. One factor was highly associated with bleeding complications: a patient diagnosis of malignancy, 14% (7 of 50) compared with 0.8% (1 of 127) among other patients (P < 0.001). These patients should be monitored closely after biopsy. To determine whether untreated mild coagulopathy in patients with no evidence of clinical bleeding is associated with an increased risk of hemorrhage after paracentesis or thoracentesis, retrospective examination was conducted of 608 consecutive procedures for which prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), platelet (Plt) counts, and preprocedure and postprocedure hemoglobin concentrations were available. There was no increased bleeding in patients with mild to moderate coagulopathy (defined as PT or PTT up to twice the midpoint normal range or plt count of 50 to 99 × 103 per μL [50–99 × 109 L]). However, patients with markedly elevated serum creatinine levels (6.0 to 14.0 mg/dL [530–1240 μmol/L]) had a significantly greater average hemoglobin loss (-0.82 ± 1.3 g/dL [-8 ± 13 g/L], n = 11) than patients with normal serum creatinine levels (-0.12 ± 088 g/dL [-1 ± 9 g/L], n = 450) (p = 0.011). Overall, the frequency of bleeding complications requiring red cell transfusions was very low: 0.2 percent of events. The most common diagnosis for patients who had paracentesis was alcoholic liver disease (72%); for those having thoracentesis, it was infection (37%). It can be concluded that, for these patients, prophylactic plasma or platelet transfusions are not necessary. Patients with markedly elevated serum creatinine deserve close postprocedure observation.
A comparative study of teleoperated and autonomous task completion for sample return rover missions

This research is aimed at identifying a minimal set of shared control behaviors that would optimize the execution of high-level tasks in terms of robot capabilities and operator engagement in sample return missions. Previous robotic missions to the Moon and Mars, such as Mars Science Laboratory, have relied on supervised autonomy and teleoperation with latency mission scenarios. While this has proven to be an effective approach especially with regard to minimizing mission risks, its scalability to multi-rover systems controlled by a single-operator poses challenges as meticulous planning on daily mission objectives is required and mission success relies heavily on robust, low-latency communication channels. As missions evolve to include multiple robotic platforms exploring celestial bodies farther than Mars, a paradigm shift in mission design approach is required. While completely autonomous exploration rovers may someday be commonly utilized, we aim to show that selectively adding high-level shared control behaviors to execute a sample return mission can significantly improve efficiency at an acceptable addition of risk and complexity.
Mechanical loading of a long bone induces plasticity in sensory input to the central nervous system.

Abstract Although the skeleton is extensively innervated by sensory nerves, the importance of this innervation to skeletal physiology is unclear. Neuronal connectivity between limbs is little studied and likely underestimated. In this study, we examined the effect of bone loading on spinal plasticity in young male Sprague–Dawley rats, using end-loading of the ulna and transynaptic tracing with the Bartha pseudorabies virus (PRV). PRV was inoculated onto the periosteum of the right ulna after 10 days of adaptation to a single period of cyclic loading of the right ulna (1,500 cycles of load at 4 Hz, initial peak strain of −3,750 μɛ). We found that neuronal circuits connect the sensory innervation of right thoracic limb to all other limbs, as PRV was detectable in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of left and right brachial and lumbosacral intumescences. We also found that mechanical loading of the right ulna induced plasticity in the spinal cord, with significant augmentation of the connectivity between limbs, as measured by PRV translocation. Within the spinal cord, PRV was predominantly found adjacent to the central canal and in the dorsal horns, suggesting that plasticity in cross-talk between limbs is likely a consequence of dendritic growth, and enhanced connectivity of propriospinal interneurons. In conclusion, the data clearly demonstrate that the innervation of the skeleton exhibits plasticity in response to loading events, suggesting the existence of a dynamic control system that may be of regulatory importance during functional skeletal adaptation.
El Admirarse como forma de enfrentar la nueva realidad americana

The article is a study of the use of admiratio to display the new American reality at the end of the fourteenth and into the fifteenth century. After exploring the semantic wealth of the term and defining it, we will present it as the first stage of the cognitive process of the human being, whose object will be Nature, understood as a whole entity in which men are included. The depiction of the admirable thing as a part of the cognitive process will also have its place in this study. But it is under the renovation that proposed the Renaissance, when admiratio turned into a poetic function related to that of movere, solving America as inventio the problem of verisimilitude inherited from the Middle Ages. Then, this concept will be used by our authors, not only to reflect a stage of knowledge, but with a clearly rhetorical function: to create a specific state of mind in the reader in order to obtain something from him.
Memory Complaints in Older Adults: Fact or Fiction?

Complaints of poor memory by patients may be an early symptom of a pathologic process like Alzheimer's disease. It is therefore important to determine if patients' complaints of memory impairments are an accurate reflection of real memory disturbance. The relationship between memory complaints (metamemory) and objective memory performance, mood, age, verbal intelligence, and sex was examined in a group of 199 healthy, community dwelling adults (39 to 89 years old). Memory complaints demonstrated a stronger association with depressed mood than with performance on memory tests. Increasing reports of depressive symptoms were associated with more overall memory complaints. Verbal intelligence, age, and sex also contributed to memory complaints. Patients with higher verbal intelligence reported fewer complaints and placed less emphasis on forgetting. Older individuals reported greater frequency of forgetting and greater frequency of using memory techniques. Specific types of memory complaints, seriousness of forgetting, and types of memory aids employed are also described. These results showed that self-rating of memory disturbance by older adults may be related more to depressed mood than to poor performance on memory tests.
Numerical Investigation of Hypersonic Phenomena Encountered in HIFiRE Flight 1

A hierarchy of computational techniques is employed to examine several external aeropropulsive phenomena of interest in hypersonic vehicles, including transitional flow on a forebody cone, shock wave/boundary layer interactions (SWBLI) and supersonic flow in a channel. Inviscid and turbulent analyses are performed at a laminar-to-turbulent transition point in the flight path of the HIFiRE-1. The baseline inviscid analysis is computed with Cart3D, while the viscous Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulations were performed using the commercial code GASP with ak ! turbulence model on a 17 million point structured mesh. The results of the simulations are compared to the experimental pressure and heat transfer data, and the performance of the turbulence model in the separated boundary layer is discussed. The analysis suggest that the nominal point in the flight path chosen for simulation represents a transitional point between dierent regimes, complicating accurate prediction. Preliminary results at a later point in the trajectory yield better agreement with the experimental data.
Test groups and effect algebras

A test group is a pair (G, T) whereG is a partially ordered Abelian group andT is a generative antichain in its positive cone. It is shown here that effect algebras and algebraic test groups are coextensive, and a method for calculating the algebraic closure of a test group is developed. Some computational algorithms for studying finite effect algebras are introduced, and the problem of finding quotients of effect algebras is discussed.
Gastric carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells

Extraskeletal neoplasms with osteoclast-like giant cells are uncommon. These tumors are most frequently reported in the breast and pancreas, and are relatively rare in other sites. We report a case of primary gastric adenocarcinoma with an infiltrate of osteoclast-like giant cells. The patient is a 64-yr-old black woman who presented with epigastric pain and was found to have a mass in the gastric antrum. Histological examination showed a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with an infiltrate of osteoclast-like giant cells. The giant cells were present both in the primary gastric adenocarcinoma and in the lymph node metastases. Immunohistochemical stains demonstrated that the giant cells were of monocytic/histiocytic origin and probably represent a distinctive host response to the tumor. The patient is alive and well 12 months after resection. This is the second published report of gastric carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells. Based on this limited experience, gastric carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells may represent a distinct clinicopathological entity with a more favorable prognosis.
Global IRS-1 phosphorylation analysis in insulin resistance.

Aims/hypothesis IRS-1 serine phosphorylation is often elevated in insulin resistance models, but confirmation in vivo in humans is lacking. We therefore analysed IRS-1 phosphorylation in human muscle in vivo.
Primary orbital leiomyosarcoma: a case report with MRI findings.

Abstract Purpose To present a case of a primary orbital leiomyosarcoma and the corresponding magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) appearance. Design Observational case report. Methods Correlation of MRI with clinicopathologic findings. Results A 56-year-old woman presented with a 10-month history of diplopia in left gaze and left exophthalmos. An enhanced MRI of the left orbit revealed an extraconal, peripheral-enhancing mass measuring 2 cm in maximal diameter with displacement of the medial rectus muscle. The mass was excised, and the diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma was made by pathologic examination. Conclusions Although computed tomography scan and ultrasound have been the imaging modalities used previously to evaluate cases of primary orbital leiomyosarcoma, MRI can provide important additional information regarding tumor characterization that is useful in the diagnosis and treatment of this rare malignancy.
The effect of the position of stimulus cueing on short-term memory

Ss were presented with two potential items on each of a series of STM trials. On some trials, Ss knew which item was to be recalled before item presentation; on other trials, they did not. Although the procedure precluded rehearsal, prior knowledge of which item was to be recalled facilitated that recall. Ss’ reports indicated this knowledge was utilized through the association of the to-be-remembered item with an “encoder.”
American and Chinese College Students’ Anticipations of Their Postgraduate Education, Career, and Future Family Roles

American and Chinese college students’ anticipations showed no gender differences in their desires for postgraduate education, marriage, and parental status. Stereotypical gender differences emerged in both countries when caregiving roles were considered: Both men and women rated it more likely for women than for men to quit their jobs to be caregivers. Overall, male college students, the Chinese men in particular, felt less comfortable than did women in situations where their spouses were superior in earnings, achievements, and social status. More Chinese than American students planned to enter marriage and parenthood at a later age, and the Chinese students rated the importance of family lower. These findings are discussed in light of the general sociocultural model and the role distribution theory.
Postoperative blood lactate levels predict mortality in infants following surgery for complex congenital heart disease

Postoperative Blood Lactate Levels Predict Mortality in Infants Following Surgery for Complex Congenital Heart Disease
Mild integrability conditions for global solutions of an elliptic equation

Abstract It is shown that the equation δu + p(¦x¦)uγ = 0 has positive radially symmetric solutions on a given exterior domain E a ={xe R n ||x|>a⩾0} which behave asymptotically (as ¦x¦→∞) like constant multiples of the radial solutions v1 = 1 and v2 = ¦x¦-n+2 of δv = 0, provided that p = p(t) satisfies certain integrability conditions on (a,∞). The integrability conditions are weaker than those usually imposed.
An assessment of the effectiveness of a classroom activity designed to teach the value of lifelong learning

Many agree that educational systems should instill in students the value of lifelong learning (LLL), but few have suggested how to accomplish that or how to measure the effectiveness of those curricular initiatives. We developed a technique intended to strengthen students' beliefs about the value of LLL and piloted use of a recently developed scale to assess changes in commitment to LLL. Using a quasi-experimental procedure, we presented students with faculty members’ career biographies describing their personal career paths, including how they learned from their experiences and how they had to adapt and adjust to changing circumstances. To assess beliefs about LLL, students completed Bath and Smith's Propensity for Lifelong Learning (PLLL) scale. We found that students who listened to career biographies had significantly stronger beliefs regarding the value of LLL than the students who were not exposed to the career biographies. We concluded that listening to career biographies strengthened commitment to...
Inhibition of mitochondrial translation by calmodulin antagonist N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide.

Abstract The possible role of calmodulin in mitochondrial functions was investigated in Ehrlich ascites tumor cell and mouse liver mitochondria employing sulfonamide compounds as calmodulin indicators. N-[6-Aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W7), the most potent of the sulfonamide compounds, inhibited mitochondrial protein synthesis and oxidative phosphorylation. The inhibitors had no significant effect on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase, oligomycin-sensitive ATPase and NADH dehydrogenase activities. Depletion of endogenous ATP pool seemed to be the main mechanism of inhibition of mitochondrial translation by sulfonamides. The results also show that mitochondria from hepatic tissues are relatively less sensitive to sulfonamide drugs as compared to the Ehrlich ascites tumor cell mitochondria. Results of Ca2+ autoradiography revealed 2–3-fold higher levels of calmodulin-like Ca2+ binding protein in extracts from Ehrlich ascites tumor cell mitoplasts as compared to mitoplasts from mouse liver. These results suggest cell and tissue specific variations in Ca2+-dependent processes in the mitochondrial compartment.
A Performance‐based Statistical Expert Judgment Model to Assess Technical Performance and Risk

The rapidly changing environment and asymmetric threats currently encountered on the modern battlefield requires the timely delivery of effective weapons systems. Unfortunately in fiscal year 2008, according to the US Government Accountability Office, research and development costs of the United States Department of Defense major weapons acquisition programs increased 42 percent above original estimates, and delays in initial operational capability deliveries slipped to 22 months. While there are several quantitative methods to estimate acquisition program cost and schedule performance and to identify their risks (e.g., Earned Value Management), the estimation of technical performance and technical risk identification is generally heuristic in nature and based on expert judgment because of limited quantitative data for constructive modeling. The proposed research in this paper expands upon the Technical Risk Index Distribution method developed by Lewis, Mazzuchi and Sarkani by incorporating a performance-based method of mathematically combining quantified expert opinion for technical performance estimation and risk analysis.
XFV-12A Propulsion System Development

The XFV-12A total powered lift/thrust system being developed under contract for the U. S. Navy is described. The description includes design and development to date of the inlets, engine integration, the diverter valve with plug nozzle, the lift system augmenter supply ducting, and lift/thrust augmenter hardware. The development process description includes system design philosophy and criteria, analysis, test facilities utilized, model and full-scale testing and evaluation.Copyright © 1976 by ASME
Rainy with a chance of plague: forecasting disease outbreaks from satellites

‘Being able to accurately forecast which populations are most at risk of viral diseases … would allow for the more efficient use of resources, while improving health.’ Where is forecasting in the prevention of infectious diseases? An ounce of prevention, so the approbation goes, is worth a pound (in the nonmetric world) of cure. In a more official sense, public health has as an article of faith that prevention is a cheaper, more efficient and ‘better’ approach to maintaining human health than interventions and treatments. The cornerstone of the prevention of chronic and environmental diseases, such as heart disease, stroke and some cancers, as well as infectious diseases such as smallpox, measles and sexually transmitted infections (including HIV and human papillomavirus), is the identification and communication of risk factors to individuals at risk, with a hoped-for change in behavior. Furthermore, vaccines are developed to prevent disease and therapies are designed to mitigate the effects for those who do suffer from disease. However, prevention on a global scale is still an incredibly expensive endeavor, and the need to ensure the prevention message is made clear risks creating listener fatigue, with people eventually ignoring the message. The potential consequence of this is that people’s risk increases as they fail to believe the accuracy of the information provided. Thus, targeted approaches are considered critical, both in terms of the frequency and type of message, vaccines or therapeutics provided. The issue of accurately targeting interventions is also of practical concern as many infectious diseases are reported to have potential populations in the billions at risk, whereas the annual incident number of disease cases may be in the hundreds of thousands. This difference indicates that we currently either identify who is at risk based on terms that are too broadly defined or that other, unidentified factors determine who develops disease. Regardless, human scales are much too large for most technologies to deliver interventions in an efficient manner. Thus, being able to accurately forecast which populations are most at risk of viral diseases and when infection will occur would allow for the more efficient use of resources, while improving health. Another major challenge arises when forecasting focuses on characterizing the emergence of episodic and ‘new’ diseases. In these situations, the challenge is that outbreaks of apparently new diseases (e.g., severe acute respiratory syndrome or highly pathogenic avian influenza) have undefined biologies and appear as almost point-source outbreaks.
The serotonin transporter gene and risk for alcohol dependence: a meta-analytic review.

Previous studies have implicated a relationship between particular allelic variations of the serotonin transporter gene (5HTTLPR) and alcohol dependence. To provide a current estimate of the strength of this association, particularly in light of inconsistent results for 5HTTLPR, we conducted a meta-analytic review of the association between 5HTTLPR and a clinical diagnosis of alcohol dependence. Of 145 studies initially identified, 22 (including 8050 participants) met inclusion criteria. Results indicated that there was a significant albeit modest association between alcohol dependence diagnosis and the presence of at least 1 short allele (OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.30, p < .05). Slightly more robust results were observed for participants who were homogeneous for the short allele (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.02, 1.44, p < .05). These results were unrelated to sex and race/ethnicity of participants; however, the effect size was moderated by study sample size and publication year. Additionally, the fail-safe N analysis indicated potential publication bias. Therefore, although our review indicates that there is a significant association between 5HTTLPR and alcohol dependence diagnosis, this result should be interpreted with caution.
A radioreceptor assay for evaluation of the plasma glucocorticoid activity of natural and synthetic steroids in man.

An assay for plasma glucocorticoid activity has been developed using specific glucocorticoid receptors. Unlike other assays for cortisol and certain synthetic corticosteroids, this radioreceptor assay measures the glucocorticoid activity of all natural and synthetic steroids. Steroids extracted from as little as 0.05 ml of plasma are incubated with 3H-dexamethasone and cytosol receptors from cultured rat hepatoma cells. From 0.5 to 50 ng of cortisol are accurately detected. Glucocorticoid activities of adult plasmas determined by the assay correlate closely with corticoid levels obtained in the CBG-isotope and fluorometric assays. Other steroids are measured in proportion to both concentration and potency as glucocorticoids. Relative activities include: cortisol 100, dexamethasone 940, prednisolone 230, prednisone 3, estradiol 1 and androstenedione 1. A similar ranking of steroids was found using receptors from a human source (fetal lung). The assay has been useful in detecting glucocorticoid activity in ...
Delayed rupture of aortic aneurysms following endovascular stent grafting.

Abstract Background : Deployment of transfemoral, endovascular stent grafts for treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms is appealing for several reasons: avoidance of abdominal incision, lack of aortic cross-clamping, potential for regional anesthesia, and shortened hospital stay. Concerns remain, however, regarding the ability of these devices to completely exclude the aneurysm and prevent aneurysm rupture and the long-term integrity of the device. The availability of endografts and the likely development of percutaneous devices have also raised the delicate issue of personnel training for patient selection, endograft implantation, and postoperative follow-up. Patients and methods : The cases of 2 patients are reported in which Dacron endovascular grafts, anchored proximally and distally by Palmaz stents, were deployed for treatment of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms. Results : In a patient with an absent distal cuff, choosing this procedure represented a clear error in patient selection. The endograft failed to reach the aortic bifurcation and the aneurysm ruptured, with the death of the patient 4 months postimplantation. In a patient with anatomy suitable for endograft placement, a perigraft leak persisted at the distal anastomosis following device palcement. The aneurysm ruptured 14 days postprocedure. Although the patient survived emergent aneurysm repair, he developed acute renal failure. Conclusion : Careful preoperative assessment of aortic anatomy is crucial in selection of patients for transfemoral endovascular graft placement. Lack of a distal cuff of at least 1 cm precludes tube graft implantation. Patients with a perigraft leak are not protected by the endograft from aneurysm rupture. Vascular surgeons must be involved in the preoperative evaluation of these patients and are the only specialty group who can provide the prerequisite care in evaluation and management of postoperative complications.
EFFECTS OF INDIVIDUAL QUOTA SYSTEMS ON NEW ZEALAND AND BRITISH COLUMBIA FISHERIES

With the growing importance of individual transferable quotas (ITQs) in fisheries management, it is critical to document and understand what happens when individual quotas are implemented. In-person interviews with fishing business owners and others were conducted in 1987 and 1995 in New Zealand, where ITQs were implemented in 1986. Similar interviews and mail surveys were completed in 1993–1994 with participants in British Columbia's (Canada) halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis) fishery, where individual vessel quotas were implemented in 1991. Results indicate (1) an end of the “race for fish,” (2) industry participants' maximization of returns from quota holdings, and (3) strong influence of individual quota system design details on outcomes. Implications of ITQs for sustainable fisheries management are discussed.
Antecedents and Effects of Wisdom in Old Age A Longitudinal Perspective on Aging Well

Using longitudinal data on 82 White, California women from the Berkeley Guidance Study, this study examines the relationship between wisdom (defined as a combination of cognitive, reflective, and a...
OPTIMAL INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE POLICIES FOR INFRASTRUCTURE NETWORKS

State-of-the-art infrastructure management systems use Markov decision processes (MDPs) as a methodology for maintenance and rehabilitation (M&R) decisionmaking. The underlying assumption in this methodology is that inspections are performed at pre-set and fixed time intervals and that they reveal the true condition of the facility, with no measurement error. As a result, after an inspection, the decisionmaker can apply the activity prescribed by the optimal policy for that condition state of the facility. In prior research, the second author of this paper has applied a methodology for M&R activity selection accounting for the presence of both forecasting and measurement uncertainty--the latent Markov decision process (LMDP), an extension of the traditional MDP that relaxes the assumptions of error-free annual facility inspections. In this paper, the authors extend this methodology to include network-level constraints. This can be achieved by extending the LMDP model to the network-level problem through the use of randomized policies. Both finite- and infinite-horizon formulations of the network-level LMDP are presented. A case study application demonstrates the expected savings in life cycle costs that result from increasing the measurement accuracy used in facility inspections and from optimal scheduling of inspections.
Using simple remote evaluation to enable efficient application protocols in mobile environments

This paper describes the REAP (Remote Evaluation in Application-level Protocols) toolkit, a reusable solution for enabling evaluation in such protocols. By using this toolkit, server developers can reduce the number of bytes sent/received and round-trip times used by their protocols to fulfill a user task, making them more efficient in high-latency, low-bandwidth networks. This is accomplished by allowing the clients to upload simple mobile procedures to the server to be executed locally. This paper provides an overview of the REAP toolkit design and architecture, and gives experimental results showing significant reduction in the latency of two popularly-used application-level protocols.
N-phase sensor-less current sharing digital controller

An N-phase sensorless current sharing digital controller algorithm and architecture for multiphase power converter is presented in this paper. It demonstrates the visibility of sensor-less current sharing implemented for buck converter with more than two- phases. The presented N-phase sensor-less current sharing controller eliminates the need for current sensing for the current sharing loops and the need for analog-to- digital converters for phase current sampling when digital controllers are used. The presented current sharing controller operation is discussed and verified with experimental results obtained from a four-phase proof of concept prototype.
Magnetization estimation from MFM images

We have developed a method to estimate the complete magnetization in thin-film longitudinal recording media from magnetic force microscopy (MFM) data. The method uses a medium model described by a Voronoi tessellation of the film plane. The magnetization lies in that plane, has constant magnitude, and is uniform within each convex region, or grain, of the tessellation. The effect of a single grain on the MFM simulation is isolated by considering the difference between the MFM images before and after that grain undergoes a 180/spl deg/ magnetization reversal. Using this difference image, the complete magnetization of the grain and the grain's boundaries are estimated. By isolating each grain in turn, as if a series of incremental applied fields had been applied, the magnetization for the whole pattern is estimated.
Apples and Oranges?: Comparing the Attitudes of Public Policy Versus Public Administration Students

This project builds on previous theoretical work that explores the differences between policy analysis and public administration/management approaches to public service education. Using survey data...
C-terminal proteolysis of prenylated proteins in trypanosomatids and RNA interference of enzymes required for the post-translational processing pathway of farnesylated proteins.

The C-terminal “CaaX”-motif-containing proteins usually undergo three sequential post-translational processing steps: (1) attachment of a prenyl group to the cysteine residue; (2) proteolytic removal of the last three amino acids “aaX”; (3) methyl esterification of the exposed -carboxyl group of the prenyl-cysteine residue. The Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania major Ras converting enzyme 1 (RCE1) orthologs of 302 and 285 amino acids-proteins, respectively, have only 13–20% sequence identity to those from other species but contain the critical residues for the activity found in other orthologs. The Trypanosoma brucei a-factor converting enzyme 1 (AFC1) ortholog consists of 427 amino acids with 29–33% sequence identity to those of other species and contains the consensus HExxH zinc-binding motif. The trypanosomatid RCE1 and AFC1 orthologs contain predicted transmembrane regions like other species. Membranes from Sf9 cells expressing the RCE1 ortholog of T. brucei or L. major showed proteolytic activity against farnesylated RAS-CVIM, whereas membranes containing T. brucei AFC1 ortholog were inactive. The results suggest that RCE1 is responsible for proteolytic removal of the C-terminal aaX from prenyl-CaaX proteins in these parasites. All the three enzymatic post-translational processes are thought to be required for proper cellular functioning of CaaX-proteins in eukaryotic cells. We carried out RNA interference experiments in Trypanosoma brucei of the enzymes involved in farnesyl protein post-translational modification to evaluate their importance in cell proliferation. Knockdown of T. brucei PFT subunit and RCE1 mRNAs resulted in >20-fold suppression of cell growth and dramatic morphologic changes. Knockdown of PPMT mRNA caused less dramatic effects on growth but induced noticeable changes in cell morphology.
Silver(I) carbonyl and silver(I) ethylene complexes of a B-protected fluorinated tris(pyrazolyl)borate ligand.

B-methylated ligand [MeB(3-(C2F5)Pz)3]−enables the isolation of a lithium adduct [MeB(3-(C2F5)Pz)3]Li with fac-N3F3 coordination, and rare isolable silver carbon monoxide and silver ethylene complexes, [MeB(3-(C2F5)Pz)3]AgCO and [MeB(3-(C2F5)Pz)3]AgC2H4.
Foveal microanatomy documented by SD-OCT following treatment of advanced retinoblastoma

Progress in the treatment of retinoblastoma has greatly improved patient survival and globe salvage rates. The introduction of intraoperative spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) allows visualization of foveal anatomy and microstructure to predict visual potential and facilitate planning for visual rehabilitation. Eyes with total retinal detachments secondary to exophytic retinoblastoma have OCT findings of absence or disruption of the external limiting membrane and ellipsoid layers. We document the evolution of foveal microanatomy reconstitution following the use of chemotherapy in a 1-year-old boy and illustrate the restoration of the external limiting membrane and ellipsoid layer, thus achieving normal foveal microanatomy.
Delivered image quality budget for the Discovery Channel Telescope

The Discovery Channel Telescope (DCT) is a 4.3-meter telescope designed for dual optical configurations, featuring an f/6.1, 0.5° FoV, Ritchey-Chretien prescription, and a corrected f/2.3, 2° FoV, prime focus. The DCT is expected to typically deliver sub-arcsecond images, with a telescope and local seeing contribution of <0.28" FWHM at the R-C focus and <0.38" FWHM at the prime focus. The Delivered Image Quality (DIQ) budget considers errors from design residuals, manufacturing, environmental effects, and control system limitations. We present an overview of the analytical methods used, including sensitivity analysis for determining collimation effects, and a summary of contributors to the overall system performance.
Functional Interaction Trap A Strategy for Validating the Functional Consequences of Tyrosine Phosphorylation of Specific Substrates in Vivo

Protein tyrosine phosphorylation controls diverse signaling pathways, and disregulated tyrosine kinase activity plays a direct role in human diseases such as cancer. Because activated kinases exert their effects by phosphorylating multiple substrate proteins, it is difficult or impossible to assess experimentally the contribution of a particular substrate to a cellular response or activity. To overcome this problem, we have developed a novel approach termed the "functional interaction trap," in which two proteins are induced to interact in a pairwise fashion through an engineered, highly specific binding interface. We show that the functional interaction trap can be used to direct a modified tyrosine kinase to specifically phosphorylate a single substrate of choice in vivo, permitting analysis of the resulting biological output. This strategy provides a powerful tool for validating the functional significance of tyrosine phosphorylation and other post-translational modifications identified by proteomic discovery efforts.
Massive Lepton-Pair Production in Hadron-Hadron Collisions at High Energies

On the basis of a parton model studied earlier we consider the production process of large-mass lepton pairs from hadron-hadron inelastic collisions in the limiting region, $s\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$, $\frac{{Q}^{2}}{s}$ finite, ${Q}^{2}$ and $s$ being the squared invariant masses of the lepton pair and the two initial hadrons, respectively. General scaling properties and connections with deep inelastic electron scattering are discussed. In particular, a rapidly decreasing cross section as $\frac{{Q}^{2}}{s}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}1$ is predicted as a consequence of the observed rapid falloff of the inelastic scattering structure function $\ensuremath{\nu}{W}_{2}$ near threshold.
Global education via the Web: the GlobalEd project

GlobalEd is an interactive simulation project designed for middle and high school students in the northeastern USA. The simulation is embedded within an academic course and lasts for approximately six weeks during which teams of 12-15 classes engage in international negotiations across the Internet. Classes are assigned a country for the period of the simulation approximately two months before the simulation begins. During the simulation, each class acts "in character" of the country they are assigned. Negotiations are made across the web during scheduled weekly conferences but are also open to negotiation during nonscheduled e-mail contact. The goal of the class is to develop a treaty with another country. As part of the simulation, students and teachers complete a set of instruments designed to assess changes in their knowledge, attitudes and behaviors related to the simulations, problem solving, decision-making, leadership and educational technology.
A Structural Dynamic Analysis of a Manduca Sexta Forewing

Micro air vehicles (MAVs) are intended for future intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance use. To adequately fulfill a clandestine capacity, MAVs must operate in close proximity to their intended target without eliciting counter-observation. This objective, along with DARPA's constraint of a sub-15 centimeter span, requires future MAVs to mimic insect appearance and flight characteristics. This paper describes an experimental method for conducting a structural analysis of a Manduca Sexta (hawkmoth) forewing. Geometry is captured via computed tomography (CT), and frequency data is collected using laser vibrometry in air and vacuum. A finite element (FE) model is constructed using quadratic beams and general-purpose shell elements, and an eigenanalysis is conducted. A preliminary verification of the FE model is carried out to ensure the Manduca Sexta forewing is adequately characterized, providing a basis for future fluid-structural interaction computations. Included is a study regarding the aeroelas...