cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metabolic profiling in human SH-SY5Y neuronal cells exposed to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is an abundant per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) detected in both indoor and outdoor environments. While studies suggest exposure concerns for humans, studies investigating PFOA-induced neurotoxicity are lacking. To address this gap, we exposed differentiated human SH-SY5Y cells to PFOA (0.1 μM up to 500 μM) at different time points (4, 24, 48, and 72 h) and measured cell viability, Casp3/7 activity, ATP levels, ATP synthase enzyme activity, mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxygen consumption rates for mitochondrial stress test (XFe24 Flux analyzer), glucose utilization, and global metabolome profiles to assess the potential for PFOA-induced neurotoxicity. Treatment with 10 or 100 μM PFOA did not compromise cell viability nor induce cytotoxicity to SH-SY5Y cells over a 48-hour exposure period. However, >250 μM PFOA compromised cell viability, induced cytotoxicity, and induced caspase 3/7 activity at 48 h. ATP levels were reduced in cells treated with 400 μM PFOA for 24 and 48 h, and with 100 μM PFOA and higher at 72 h. ATP synthase activity was inhibited by 250 μM PFOA but was unchanged by PFOA treatment at 200 μM or less. Conversely, mitochondrial membrane potential was reduced by >10 μM PFOA after 24 h. Total ROS was increased with 100 μM PFOA and higher after 4 h of exposure. Several mitochondria-related endpoints (basal respiration, ATP production, maximum respiration) were negatively affected at 250 μM PFOA at both 24- and 48-hour exposure, but were unaltered at concentrations of 100 μM PFOA or less. One exception was mitochondrial spare capacity, which was reduced by 100 μM PFOA after 24-hour exposure. Similarly, glycolysis, glycolytic capacity, and glycolytic reserve of SH-SY5Y cells were not altered by 10 nor 100 μM PFOA. Nontargeted metabolomics was conducted in cells treated with either 10 or 100 μM PFOA for 48 h, as these two concentrations were not cytotoxic and 28 metabolites differed among treatments. Notable was that 10 μM PFOA had little effect on the SH-SY5Y metabolome, and the metabolic profile was not statistically different from media nor solvent controls. On the other hand, 100 μM PFOA shifted the metabolic signature of the neuronal cells, leading to reduced abundance of ATP-related metabolites (adenine, nicotinamide), neurotransmitter precursors (DL-tryptophan, l-tyrosine), and metabolites that protect mitochondria during oxidative stress (betaine, orotic acid, and l-acetyl carnitine). We hypothesize that this metabolic signature may be associated with the reduced mitochondrial membrane potential observed at lower PFOA concentrations. Metabolic shifts appear to precede compromised cell viability, cytotoxicity, and apoptosis. This study generates mechanistic knowledge regarding PFOA-induced neurotoxicity, focusing on mitochondrial oxidative respiration and the neuronal metabolome.
Ocular measures during associative learning predict recall accuracy.

Abstract The ability to form associations between stimuli and commit those associations to memory is a cornerstone of human cognition. Dopamine and noradrenaline are critical neuromodulators implicated in a range of cognitive functions, including learning and memory. Eye blink rate (EBR) and pupil diameter have been shown to index dopaminergic and noradrenergic activity. Here, we examined how these ocular measures relate to accuracy in a paired-associate learning task where participants (N = 73) learned consistent object-location associations over eight trials consisting of pre-trial fixation, encoding, delay, and retrieval epochs. In order to examine how within-subject changes and between-subject changes in ocular metrics related to accuracy, we mean centered individual metric values on each trial based on within-person and across-subject means for each epoch. Within-participant variation in EBR was positively related to accuracy in both encoding and delay epochs: faster EBR within the individual predicted better retrieval. Differences in EBR across participants was negatively related to accuracy in the encoding epoch and in early trials of the pre-trial fixation: faster EBR, relative to other subjects, predicted poorer retrieval. Visual scanning behavior in pre-trial fixation and delay epochs was also positively related to accuracy in early trials: more scanning predicted better retrieval. We found no relationship between pupil diameter and accuracy. These results provide novel evidence supporting the utility of ocular metrics in illuminating cognitive and neurobiological mechanisms of paired-associate learning.
Stakeholder Perspectives on an Inpatient Hypoglycemia Informatics Alert: Mixed Methods Study

Background: Iatrogenic hypoglycemia is a common occurrence among hospitalized patients and is associated with poor clinical outcomes and increased mortality. Clinical decision support systems can be used to reduce the incidence of this potentially avoidable adverse event. Objective: This study aims to determine the desired features and functionality of a real-time informatics alert to prevent iatrogenic hypoglycemia in a hospital setting. Methods: Using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Five Rights of Effective Clinical Decision Support Framework, we conducted a mixed methods study using an electronic survey and focus group sessions of hospital-based providers. The goal was to elicit stakeholder input to inform the future development of a real-time informatics alert to target iatrogenic hypoglycemia. In addition to perceptions about the importance of the problem and existing barriers, we sought input regarding the content, format, channel, timing, and recipient for the alert (ie, the Five Rights). Thematic analysis of focus group sessions was conducted using deductive and inductive approaches. Results: A 21-item electronic survey was completed by 102 inpatient-based providers, followed by 2 focus group sessions (6 providers per session). Respondents universally agreed or strongly agreed that inpatient iatrogenic hypoglycemia is an important problem that can be addressed with an informatics alert. Stakeholders expressed a preference for an alert that is nonintrusive, accurate, communicated in near real time to the ordering provider, and provides actionable treatment recommendations. Several electronic medical record tools, including alert indicators in the patient header, glucose management report, and laboratory results section, were deemed acceptable formats for consideration. Concerns regarding alert fatigue were prevalent among both survey respondents and focus group participants. Conclusions: The design preferences identified in this study will provide the framework needed for an informatics team to develop a prototype alert for pilot testing and evaluation. This alert will help meet the needs of hospital-based clinicians caring for patients with diabetes who are at a high risk of treatment-related hypoglycemia.
Ultrasound detection rates of the placenta accreta spectrum with prior myomectomy.

To describe the performance of ultrasound in detecting placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) in patients with history of prior myomectomy.A retrospective cohort study of patients who were referred for so...
The Myth of the Clash of Civilizations: Confucian Values and Democratic Support

Literature on political culture claims Confucianism is incompatible with modern liberal democratic values. However, little empirical evidence has been presented to prove the validity of this statement. This paper quantitatively studies the relationship between Confucian values and democratic support in East Asian society and finds no negative correlation between the two. This article is available in Res Publica Journal of Undergraduate Research: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/respublica/vol19/iss1/ 10
Regulation of corepressor alternative mRNA splicing by hormonal and metabolic signaling

Alternative mRNA splicing diversifies the products encoded by the NCoR and SMRT corepressor loci. There is a programmed alteration in NCoR mRNA splicing during adipocyte differentiation from an NCoRω isoform, which contains three nuclear receptor interaction domains, to an NCoRδ isoform that contains two nuclear receptor interaction domains. This alternative mRNA splicing of NCoR has profound effects on adiposity and on diabetes in mouse models. We report here that dexamethasone, a powerful regulator of metabolism and of adipocyte differentiation, confers this change in NCoR mRNA splicing in cultured adipocytes. We also demonstrate that changes in dietary components can consistently, if moderately, modulate the total transcript levels and the mRNA splicing of NCoR and SMRT in both cultured cells and intact mice. This ability of alternative corepressor mRNA splicing to respond to nutritional changes confirms its importance in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism, and its promise as a therapeutic candidate for metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes.
The effect of rest break schedule on acute low back pain development in pain and non-pain developers during seated work

A significant portion of the population (25-50%) is known to develop acute low back pain (LBP) within a bout of prolonged sitting. Previous research has supported the use of frequent rest breaks, from seated office work, in order to reduce self-reported LBP, however, there is limited consensus about the recommended frequency and duration of rest breaks. This may be due to the limited consideration of individual differences in acute LBP development. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of three different standing rest-break conditions on a group of pain developers (PD) and non-pain developers (NPD) engaged in prolonged seated work. Twenty participants completed four one-hour-long bouts of seated typing: Condition A - no rest; Condition B - 5 min of standing rest every 30 min; Condition C - 2.5 min of standing rest every 15 min; Condition D - 50 s of standing rest every 5 min. Self-reported LBP, self-reported mental fatigue and 30-s samples of EMG were collected every 10 min throughout each session. Eight out of 20 participants (40%) reported LBP during Condition A (classified as PD). Only PD demonstrated clinically relevant increases in LBP across conditions where Conditions B, C, or D provided some relief, but did not restore pain scores to their original level, prior to sitting. PD and NPD developed mental fatigue equally, with Conditions B and D helping to reduce fatigue. No differences in productivity were observed between conditions or groups and no main effects were observed for muscle activity, median power frequency or co-contraction. These data suggests that frequent, short, standing rest breaks may help to reduce symptoms of LBP, however they are only a temporary solution as PD still developed clinically important LBP, even with frequent rest breaks.
Classical optical cryptography

This paper describes a cryptographic technique based on coherent optical communication for fiber or free space networks. A pseudo-random cipher-stream is used to band-spread an optical carrier with coded data. The legitimate receiver uses the agreed upon key to modulate its local oscillator and the resulting beat signal will uncover the band-spread signal. An eavesdropper who does not have the key will find the spread signal with too low signal-to-noise ratio to perform any useful determination of the message sequence. Theoretical bounds based on Shannon's Theory of Secrecy is used to show the strength of the encoding scheme which is expected to be superior.
REACTION MECHANISMS IN $sup 56$Fe(p,p') FROM 5 TO 6 MeV.

Proton angular distributions and spin-flip angular correlations have been measured as absolute cross sections for inelastic scattering of 4.96-, 5.58-, and 5.88-MeV protons to the first excited (${2}^{+}$) state at 0.847 MeV in $^{56}\mathrm{Fe}$. The spin-flip measurements involve directional correlation of the 0.847-MeV $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays, detected along a perpendicular to the reaction plane, with the inelastic protons observed at angles from 30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} to 150\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} in the reaction plane. The spin-flip probability was determined for the three energies studied. The measured cross sections are compared with the predictions of the statistical model and the direct-interaction model. The compound-nucleus mechanism appears to dominate the reaction in this energy range. The statistical-model predictions, which are based on optical-model parameters obtained at somewhat higher energies, give the correct shape and order of magnitude, but fail to fit simultaneously both the angular distributions and the spin-flip correlation data.
An Intergenerational Policy Proposal for the 1990s

This paper proposes a new policy initiative to assist family caregivers at a time when major demographic shifts in both the family and the workplace have taken place. Women especially are in the position of having to balance both work and family responsibilities without proper assistance. The initiative is based on an expansion of the Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) model, to include care of family members of all ages by providing an adequate wage replacement. The shifting dependency ratio, resulting in a shrinking caregiver pool, is discussed as well as existing policies and their shortcomings. For example, no current policies provide paid leave. The evolution of TDI, including resistance to it, is examined. Finally, Massachusetts' abortive attempt at a comprehensive plan for employment-leave insurance is discussed in detail and policy recommendations are outlined.
A strategy for examining human reliability aspects of plant security

The authors present a strategy for developing a long-term research plan for human factors issues which can adversely affect safeguards at nuclear power plants. It was developed to prioritize and propose research for appropriately addressing nuclear power-plant safeguard needs. The strategy consists of a series of parts, the first of which identifies and ranks human factors issues affecting the quality of nuclear power-plant safeguards in terms of their importance. The second part involves determining the feasibility of conducting research in the areas found to be important to nuclear power-plant safeguards. Research efforts are then developed and prioritized into main program elements according to the importance of human-factors issue areas derived in the first part and the feasibility of research determined in the second part. >
A Linear-Time Majority Tree Algorithm

We give a randomized linear-time algorithm for computing the majority rule consensus tree. The majority rule tree is widely used for summarizing a set of phylogenetic trees, which is usually a post-processing step in constructing a phylogeny. We are implementing the algorithm as part of an interactive visualization system for exploring distributions of trees, where speed is a serious concern for real-time interaction. The linear running time is achieved by using succinct representation of the subtrees and efficient methods for the final tree reconstruction.
On geometric phases for soliton equations

This paper develops a new complex Hamiltonian structure forn-soliton solutions for a class of integrable equations such as the nonlinear Schrodinger, sine-Gordon and Korteweg-de Vries hierarchies of equations that yields, amongst other things, geometric phases in the sense of Hannay and Berry. For example, one of the possible soliton geometric phases is manifested by the well known phase shift that occurs for interacting solitons. The main new tools are complex angle representations that linearize the corresponding Hamiltonian flows on associated noncompact Jacobi varieties. This new structure is obtained by taking appropriate limits of the differential equations describing the class of quasi-periodic solutions. A method of asymptotic reduction of the angle representations is introduced for investigating soliton geometric phases that are related to the presence of monodromy at singularities in the space of parameters. In particular, the phase shift of interacting solitons can be expressed as an integral over a cycle on an associated Riemann surface. In this setting, soliton geometric asymptotics are constructed for studying geometric phases in the quantum case. The general approach is worked out in detail for the three specific hierarchies of equations mentioned. Some links with τ-functions, the braid group and geometric quantization are pointed out as well.
Thermal and structural behavior of natural cerebroside 3-sulfate in bilayer membranes

Abstract Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing microscopy and X-ray diffraction studies have been performed on dry and hydrated natural bovine brain sulfatides. Dry sulfatide fractions exhibit a high temperature transition (ΔH = 6.6 kcal/mol sulfatide) at 87.3°C. X-ray diffraction shows this transition to be associated with a hydrocarbon chain order-disorder transformation between two lamellar phases. Hydrated sulfatide dispersions undergo a complex chain order-disorder transition (ΔH = 7.5 kcal/mol sulfatide) at 32°C with two peak temperatures at 35°C and 47°C. Structural studies performed on hydrated liquid-crystal sulfatide dispersions at 75°C verify the existence of a bilayer structure over the 16 wt.% to 50 wt.% phosphate buffer (pH = 7.4) range. The intrabilayer separation between galactosyl-3-sulfate groups averages 48 A as the multilamellar bilayers swell with the addition of phosphate buffer. The formation of micellar phases is not observed at high water contents. The comparison of the structural characteristics of dry and hydrated sulfatides with structural data for dry and hydrated bovine brain non-sulfated glycolipid (cerebroside) is discussed in molecular terms.
Storage of Manganese by Thyroid. Effect on Oxygen Consumption of the Guinea Pig

Summary1. Subcutaneous injection of manganese chloride caused a storage of manganese in all parts of the body but especially in the thyroid gland. 2. Injection of small doses (e.g. 0.01 mg per kg) of this salt produced an increase in the oxygen consumption of the guinea pig, while large amounts (e.g. 10 mg per kg) reduced the oxygen consumption in this animal. 3. Oxygen consumption values in the guinea pig became progressively less as the storage of manganese increased in the thyroid.
QT Prolongation and Oncology Drug Development

Many pharmaceutical agents interact with cardiac ion channels resulting in abnormal ventricular repolarization and prolongation of the QT interval. In rare circumstances, this has resulted in the development of the potentially life-threatening arrhythmia, torsades de pointes. It is recognized, however, that accurate measurement of the QT interval is challenging, and it is a poor predictor for the development of this arrhythmia. Nevertheless, QT interval monitoring is an essential part of pharmaceutical development, and significant increases in the QT interval may prevent a drug from gaining approval.
Bronchial imaging in humans using xenon K-edge dichromography

Abstract This report describes the initial use of K-edge xenon dichromography for imaging the bronchial tree in humans. The subjects inhale an anatomic dead-space volume of a mixture of 80% xenon and 20% oxygen, following which a dichromographic line-scan image is recorded using two monochromatic synchrotron radiation beams closely bracketing the k-edge of xenon (34.56 keV). Images of airways, from main-stem bronchi to fourth-order branches, are recorded with a pixel resolution of 0.5×0.5 mm. The scanning rate is 12 cm/s, the line exposure time is 4 ms, the skin dose to the exposed area (125 mm × 150 mm) is
Mechanism of increased collateral airway resistance during inhomogenous inflation of excised dog lungs

Collateral airway resistance was measured during inflation of an excised lung lobe or a segment within the lobe. Gas blown into the outer lumen of a double lumen catheter (Vcoll) inflated the segment and exited via collateral airways. Pressure at the catheter tip (Pct) was measured through the inner lumen of the catheter, and transpulmonary pressure (Pao) was measured at the lobar bronchus. A pleural capsule measured pressure in the segmental subpleural alveoli (Ps). The segment was inflated with helium (He), air, or sulfurhexafluoride; the lobe was ventilated with air. Collateral airway resistance [Rcoll = (Pct-Pao)/Vcoll], intrasegmental airway resistance [Rs = (Pct-Ps)/Vcoll], and resistance of airways passing through the segment-lobar interface [Ri = (Ps-Pao)/Vcoll] were calculated. Rcoll, Rs, and Ri were decreased by lobar inflation and increased by segment inflation. The latter increase was due to nonlaminar flow in intrasegmental airways. The major resistance was Ri when Vcoll was laminar or transitional. Moody plots suggested that lobar inflation caused intrasegmental airway dilation whereas segment inflation did not affect segment airway geometry.
Isokinetic testing of biceps strength and endurance in dominant versus nondominant upper extremities.

Background The strength and endurance of the contralateral biceps muscle can serve as a useful comparison for the operative limb following distal biceps repairs, mid-substance repairs, or tenotomy or tenodesis of the long head. There are limited data available on the effect of handedness on biceps strength and endurance. Hypothesis The dominant upper extremity has greater elbow flexion and supination peak torque and endurance. Materials and methods Subjects with no history of prior upper extremity injury or limitations completed isokinetic testing of biceps flexion and supination peak torque and endurance on a Biodex machine. A paired student t test was used to compare peak torque and endurance for both supination and flexion for the dominant and nondominant upper extremities. The results were analyzed for the entire group, and for male and female subjects separately as well. Results A power analysis revealed that 5 subjects were needed to achieve 80% power. Twenty subjects (10 male, 10 female) were tested. No significant difference was detected for peak torque or endurance for supination or flexion between the dominant and nondominant upper extremities. No difference was detected when the group was analyzed as a whole, nor when men and women were analyzed separately. Conclusions The dominant and nondominant upper extremities demonstrate similar peak torque and endurance for supination and flexion. The normal contralateral upper extremity can be used as a matched control in the evaluation of post operative biceps isokinetic strength and endurance without adjusting results for handedness.
CXCR4 pathway associated with family history of melanoma

Purpose Genetic predisposition plays a major role in the etiology of melanoma, but known genetic markers only account for a limited fraction of family-history-associated melanoma cases. Expression microarrays have offered the opportunity to identify further genomic profiles correlated with family history of melanoma. We aimed to distinguish mRNA expression signatures between melanoma cases with and without a family history of melanoma.
Diquark contributions to scaling violations and to σLσT

Abstract Arguments for significant dynamical diquark substructure in baryons are reviewed. If present, integer-spin diquarks will absorb longitudinally polarized currents resulting in a relatively large value of R = σ L / σ T in certain kinematic regions of deep-inelastic reactions. We provide simple parametrizations for this higher-twist contribution to structure functions and to R . We present fits to the x and Q 2 dependences of SLAC-MIT data on electroproduction. Further tests are suggested, and implications are discussed for the interpretation of R in perturbative QCD.
Proteolysis at the 2A/2B junction in Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus.

Abstract Processing at the 2A/2B junction in Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) was studied using in vitro transcription and translation. A plasmid which contained only the P2 region of TMEV was used. The protein products obtained after in vitro transcription/translation indicated that proteolysis at the 2A/2B junction occurs even if templates coding for only the 2A and 28 proteins are used. Time-course experiments indicated that 2A/2B proteolysis was cotranslational. The plasmid described will allow further definition of the sequences involved in this proteolytic event.
Analysis of prostate and seminal vesicle motion : implications for treatment planning

Purpose : To quantify prostate and seminal vesicle positional changes (target motion) between treatment planning and delivery, and to identify the factors contributing to target motion. Methods and Materials : Thirty patients with adenocarcinoma of the prostate were prospectively evaluated by analyzing two sequential planning computerized tomography (CT) scans (S 1 , obtained prior to treatment, and S 2 , obtained during the fourth week of treatment) for each patient. All anatomical volumes of interest (soft tissue and bony) were reconstructed from transverse CT images and projected onto anterior and lateral beam's-eye view projections. Positional changes between S 1 and S 2 were eliminated by applying a rigid body translation and rotation. Target motion was then measured by recording the positional change between S 1 and S 2 at the edges (right, left, superior, inferior). Potential correlation of target motion with bladder volume, rectal volume, and rectal diameter changes were evaluated by linear regression analysis. Results : Neither the prostate nor seminal vesicles remained fixed with respect to bony anatomy between S 1 and S 2 . The distribution of positional changes were generally small (< 0.5 cm), but maximum displacements of 1.5-2.2 cm did occur, particularly in the lateral view. In this study, bladder volume changes between the scans were small and did not correlate with target motion (p = 0.67). Both rectal volume and rectal diameter changes correlated with target motion for both the prostate (p = 0.004 and 0.005, respectively) and seminal vesicles (p < 0.001 and < 0.001, respectively). However, neither the initial rectal volume nor the initial rectal diameter could be used to predict subsequent target motion when evaluated either singly or as part of a multiple regression model. Conclusions : Target motion occurs during the course of treatment planning and delivery and should be considered when designing conformal radiation fields. Although the target position at the time of planning CT may differ substantially from the mean treatment position, target motion cannot be predicted by evaluating simply measured parameters from a single scan, or double scan sequence.
Model-based image reconstruction from time-resolved diffusion data

This paper addresses the issue of reconstructing the unknown field of absorption and scattering coefficients from time-resolved measurements of diffused light in a computationally efficient manner. The intended application is optical tomography, which has generated considerable interest in recent times. The inverse problem is posed in the Bayesian framework. The maximum {ital a posteriori} (MAP) estimate is used to compute the reconstruction. We use an edge- preserving generalized Gaussian Markov random field to model the unknown image. The diffusion model used for the measurements is solved forward in time using a finite-difference approach known as the alternating-directions implicit method. This method requires the inversion of a tridiagonal matrix at each time step and is therefore of O(N) complexity, where N is the dimensionality of the image. Adjoint differentiation is used to compute the sensitivity of the measurements with respect to the unknown image. The novelty of our method lies in the computation of the sensitivity since we can achieve it in O(N) time as opposed to O(N{sup 2}) time required by the perturbation approach. We present results using simulated data to show that the proposed method yields superior quality reconstructions with substantial savings in computation.
Orbitofrontal cortex dysfunction in psychogenic non-epileptic seizures. A proposal for a two-factor model

Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) often mimic epileptic seizures and occur in both people with and without epilepsy. Pathophysiology of conversion disorders such as PNES remains unclear though significant psychological, psychiatric and environmental factors have been correlated with a diagnosis of PNES. Many clinical signs that have been considered typical for PNES can also be found in frontal epileptic seizures. Given the resemblance of seizures and affective changes from Orbitofrontal cortical dysfunction to PNES like events and correlation of psychological and environmental stress to conversion disorders such as PNES, we propose a two-factor model for the pathogenesis of PNES. We hypothesize that patients with PNES could have a higher likelihood of having both Orbitofrontal cortical dysfunction and a history of psychological stressors rather than a higher likelihood of having either one or the other. We further explore the implications of this two-factor model, including possible therapies.
Influences of temporomandibular articular mechanoreceptors on functional jaw movements

Summary Contributions of temporomandibular (TM) articular mechanoreceptors to the control of jaw movement in man were investigated by tracking functional jaw movements. Functional envelopes were recorded by monitoring spatial changes of the lower incisor tooth, before and during unilateral and bilateral anaesthesia of the TM articular capsule. Regional anaesthesia provided reversible blockade of afferent impulse transmission from articular mechanoreceptors, thus reducing their contributory effects on jaw muscle motoneurone pools. Subsequent variations in the size and shape of the envelope of function occurred and were quantified by measuring the area changes. The results suggest that articular mechanoreceptors make a continuous contribution to reflex control of jaw movement.
Comparative studies in interactive multiple objective mathematical programming

Abstract In the past two decades, there has been a significant increase in the number of interactive algorithms proposed for solving multiple objective mathematical programming (MOMP) problems. Most of these procedures have neither been tested in real decision making situations, nor compared to each other. In this study, we emphasize the importance of comparative studies of interactive MOMP procedures and present a state of the art review. Our scope is limited to the comparisons of interactive procedures for solving deterministic, linear, integer or nonlinear constrained multiple objective optimization problems involving a single decision maker.
AUTOMOBILE AND PUBLIC TRANSIT USE IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA: COMPARISON OF POSTWAR TRENDS

Differences in automobile and public transportation use in Canada compared with that in the United States are described. In Canada public transit use is almost twice as high per capita as in the United States. Automobile use is almost 20 percent lower per capita, or about the same as the U.S. level of the 1970s. Gasoline prices, which have been about US$0.13/L (US$0.50/gal) higher in Canada than in the United States since 1984, slowed the growth in Canadian automobile ownership and driving and created a more efficient automobile fleet, resulting by the early 1990s in 40 percent less highway fuel consumption per capita compared with that in the United States. One explanation for the higher level of transit use in Canada is more compact urban densities, as evidenced by the significantly lower share of single-family detached houses. The influx of public subsidies for transit in the 1970s in both countries had different effects: a much larger increase in service in Canada and deeper fare cuts in the United St...
The Question that Killed Critical Legal Studies

A short while ago, I attended the 25th reunion of my eighth-grade graduation class. I had been looking forward to getting together with the 70 or so folks with whom I had experienced parochial school during the late 1950s and early 1960s for a host of reasons-not the least of which was that I expected to see my "first love," to whom I had not spoken in well over 20 years. I had long since blown that candle out, but I was intrigued by reports from mutual friends and acquaintances suggesting that she and I had followed remarkably parallel life paths. She, too, had gone to law school; she, too, had gone on to teaching after a stint in practice; she, too, had come to love the classroom and to enjoy scholarly life; and she, too, had evidently succumbed to the entreaties of her colleagues to undertake a multitude of thankless institutional-service tasks-the last a pattern of behavior that perhaps only unexpurgated Catholic guilt could explain. So I was dying to know: Did she still go to church? The Church? To confession? Did she take communion during the Eastertide? Eat meat on Fridays? When the moment of truth at last arrived, she had a different agenda. "So," she said after a warm hello, "I hear you're a crit."1 My mind raced for a response. I couldn't deny it-not, in any event, in this setting, where
Internet liability for gastroenterologists: select issues from social networking to doctor rating sites.

In this month's "Roadmap," Andrew Feld-MD and JD, dis­ cusses the intriguing intersection ofsocial media, the internet, and medicine. He analyzes opportunities and dangers of connectivity. Physicians who utilize social media in their medical practiw or private communications must be aware of the power and perma­ nence of electronic "footprints. !I During this year's Digestive Disease Week® AGA Spring Postgraduate Course, I moderated a session about new andpreviously unimagined resources that are being developed to monitor patients remotely, enhance our com­ munication, and allow us to "hover" over patients in need of intense physician management. This is a new world that carries awesome power and responsibility but one worth exploring.
Radiation survival of vascular smooth muscle cells as a function of age.

SummaryLate damage to normal tissues is an important consideration in determining the dose of radiation which can be delivered to a given target volume in clinical radiation therapy. The response of large blood vessels to radiation injury is undoubtedly complex and is influenced by (1) the cellular composition of the vessel wall, (2) the slow turnover of vascular cells, and (3) vascular repair mechanisms. As a first order model for radiation effects in large vessels, we have studied the radiobiologic properties of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. We have measured survival curves and repair of sublethal radiation damage in exponentially growing cultures of rat aortic smooth muscle cells as function of animal age and site of origin (thoracic versus abdominal aorta). Radiation survival parameters (utilizing two different mathematical models for the survival curve) and repair of sublethal damage did not appear to vary significantly as a function of animal age (3–23 months) or site or origin.
Autoantibodies to oxidized low-density lipoprotein in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Abstract Background: Oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is a crucial step in atherogenesis. There is an urgent need for direct measures of in vivo oxidative stress. Autoantibodies against oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ab against Ox-LDL) are a direct measure of oxidative stress and predict cardiovascular disease. Our aim was to evaluate an ELISA for Ab against Ox-LDL in Type 2 diabetes, a condition with increased oxidative stress. Methods: Ab against Ox-LDL were measured by ELISA and expressed as a ratio of Ox-LDL to native LDL (N-LDL). Samples were obtained from 45 Type 2 diabetic patients and 25 matched controls before and after supplementation with alpha tocopherol (AT, 1200 IU/day). Results: The assay had good precision. While there was no interference with bilirubin and hemolysis, triglycerides 500 mg/dl increased antibody titer, which was abrogated by airfuging. Compared to controls, significantly increased titers of Ab against Ox-LDL were found in diabetics (diabetes mellitus Type 2) with macrovascular disease (DM2-MV), but not without macrovascular disease (DM2) (DM2: 1.32±0.33; DM2-MV: 1.48±0.44 vs. controls, 1.21±0.28; p
The use of vital dyes in corneal disease

Vital dyes such as fluorescein, rose bengal, and lissamine green B, among others, have been an important tool in clinical ophthalmology in diagnosis and evaluation of various ocular surface disorders. Each dye, having a unique chemical structure, has distinct characteristics that allows its preferential use in different ocular pathologies. In this article, history of vital dyes and the use of popular current vital dyes in corneal disease are reviewed.
Generating communication for array statements: design, implementation, and evaluation

Abstract Array statements as included in Fortran 90 or High Performance Fortran (HPF) are a well-accepted way to specify data parallelism in programs. When generating code for such a data parallel program for a private memory parallel system, the compiler must determine when array elements must be moved from one processor to another. This paper describes a practical method to compute the set of array elements that are to be moved; it covers all the distributions that are included in HPF: block, cyclic, and block-cyclic. This method is the foundation for an efficient protocol for modern private memory parallel systems: for each block of data to be sent, the sender processor computes the local address in the receiver′s address space, and the address is then transmitted together with the data. This strategy increases the communication load but reduces the overhead on the receiving processor. We implemented this optimization in an experimental Fortran compiler, and this paper reports an empirical evaluation on a 64-node private memory iWarp system, using a number of different distributions.
White matter diffusion alterations in normal women at risk of Alzheimer's disease

Increased white matter mean diffusivity and decreased fractional anisotropy (FA) has been observed in subjects diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). We sought to determine whether similar alterations of white matter occur in normal individuals at risk of AD. Diffusion tensor images were acquired in 42 cognitively normal right-handed women with both a family history of dementia and at least one apolipoprotein E4 allele. These were compared with images from 23 normal women without either AD risk factor. Group analyses were performed using tract-based spatial statistics. Reduced FA was observed in the fronto-occipital and inferior temporal fasciculi (particularly posteriorly), the splenium of the corpus callosum, subcallosal white matter and the cingulum bundle. These findings demonstrate that specific white matter pathways are altered in normal women at increased risk of AD years before the expected onset of cognitive symptoms.
A geomorphic explanation for a meander cutoff following channel relocation of a coarse-bedded river.

The Veteran's Fishing section of the Blackledge River in central Connecticut was relocated in the late 1950s. The relocation resulted in an unstable channel despite extensive efforts to prevent erosion. Overbank erosion and meander cutoffs were investigated using detailed survey data, characterizations of sediment deposits, flow modeling, and a moment-stability analysis. Limited reworking of revetment boulders indicate that riprap bank material was immobile during a 1979 flood event responsible for the formation of the cutoff channel. A moment-stability analysis factor-of-safety value of 1.1 supports the conclusion that riprap was not directly eroded from the banks. Alluvial particles with d95 values ranging up to 120 mm were deposited along a bar downstream from the cutoff channel at flows estimated to be below a 1.5-year recurrence interval flow. Development of the bar deposit resulted in locally elevated water surfaces at high flow. The resulting overbank flow across the meander neck to the adjacent downstream bend led to the creation of an upstream migrating knickpoint, the erosion of approximately 16,000-year-old sediments, and the subsequent meander cutoff. The results of the study indicate that traditional erosion-control measures cannot prevent extreme channel adjustments if the geomorphic processes that control sediment continuity also are not considered.
U-Pb zircon ages as a sediment mixing tracer in the Nepal Himalaya

This paper presents a new approach to quantify sediment mixing based on the mixing of U–Pb zircon age distributions within sediment. Two statistical techniques are presented to determine the proportion in which two known age distributions combine to create a known mixed age distribution. These techniques are then used to determine relative erosion rates between adjacent drainage basins above and below the Main Central Thrust (MCT) in the central Nepal Himalaya. The MCT region is coincident with an abrupt north–south change in geomorphic character and mineral cooling ages that are thought to represent an erosional response to higher rock uplift rates north of the MCT zone. However, it is unclear whether the ongoing deformation responsible for the differential uplift rates is: (1) focused on the MCT; (2) at depth along a crustal scale ramp; or (3) along newly mapped thrust faults south of the MCT. Our study explores this issue by comparing modern erosion rates with longer-term erosion rates determined from mineral cooling ages. Zircons were separated from modern river sand and dated by LA-MCICPMS before the measured isotopic ratios and ages were used in 1-d and 2-d mixing calculations. The 1-d technique creates probability density functions of zircon ages for each sample and then uses both an iterative and inverse approach to estimate mixing between samples. In contrast, the 2-d technique estimates mixing between probability bfieldsQ defined by the measured 238 U/ 206 Pb and 207 Pb/ 206 Pb ratios. Given a finite mixture with perfect sample representation, both techniques produce perfect mixing estimates across a range of mixing proportions. Modeling results demonstrate that given imperfect subsample representation of the complex parent age distribution, differing degrees of subsample smoothing may be required to achieve an accurate mixing estimate. Using mixing of zircon ages as a quantitative proxy for sediment mixing requires a correction for the concentration of zircon in the river sediment. Two new methods for establishing zircon concentration in river sediment are presented demonstrating the existence of 2- to 5-fold differences in zircon concentration between adjacent drainages. Relative erosion rates are estimated by determining the zircon mixing ratio between adjacent drainages which are then normalized by the ratio of zircon concentrations and the ratio of drainage areas. Results show ~3 times higher modern erosion rates south of the
Optimization of the transient and steady state behavior of discrete event systems

We present a general framework for applying simulation to optimize the behavior of discrete event systems. Our approach involves modeling the discrete event system under study as a general state space Markov chain whose distribution depends on the decision parameters. We then show how simulation and the likelihood ratio method can be used to evaluate the performance measure of interest and its gradient, and we present conditions that guarantee that the Robbins-Monro stochastic approximation algorithm will converge almost surely to the optimal values of the decision parameters. Both transient and steady-state performance measures are considered. For steady-state performance measures, we consider both the case when the Markov chain of interest is regenerative in the standard sense, as well as the case when this Markov chain is Harris recurrent, and thereby regenerative in a wider sense.
Magnetic Field Dependence of the Ultrasonic Attenuation of Shear Waves in Cesium

The magnetic field dependence of the ultrasonic attenuation of shear waves has been measured in high-purity single crystals of cesium. Measurements were made at frequencies between 15 and 87 MHz at 4.2 and 1.3 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K, corresponding to a range in $\mathrm{ql}$ from 1 to 35. The results are compared with the Cohen-Harrison-Harrison theory of ultrasonic attenuation and with previous studies done on potassium. The results agree rather well with theory and the discrepancies that are observed are similar to those observed in potassium.
Designing a conversation treatment facility: Charting a course into a less familiar region of planning for libraries

Abstract Conversation treatment facilities are only generally addressed in the literature on planning library buildings. The article addresses three key aspects: conservation functions, planning issues, and a planning process. The newly designed and constructed conservation treatment unit at Iowa State University is used to illustrate these topics.
Hemodynamic comparison of twice daily metoprolol tartrate with once daily metoprolol succinate in congestive heart failure.

AbstractOBJECTIVESTo compare the hemodynamic effects of twice daily metoprolol tartrate (MT) and once daily metoprolol succinate (MS) in congestive heart failure patients.BACKGROUNDAdverse hemodyna...
Personally, I like PCs: TK!Solver software, and the right user can produce amazing results

Dear Dad, please send money for a personal computer. The engineering curriculum is tough enough without relying on tools of a bygone age …
Seasonal unit root tests in long periodicity cases

Seasonal differencing is often applied when reporting, for example, monthly sales. New car sales are often reported to be up or down from the same period last year. Tests for the need to seasonally difference data are seasonal unit root tests. We modify the tests of Dickey, Hasza, and Fuller (1984) to investigate results for less typical, long period cases such as 1440 min per day, 52 weeks per year, 365 days per year and so forth, getting some nice properties including a surprising effect of deterministic terms in the models.
A monotonicity theorem for compartmental systems

Abstract It is shown that compartmental systems which obey a certain loop condition have the property that if only one compartment is initially loaded, then the amount (or specific activity) in that compartment is monotonic decreasing. A necessary and sufficient condition for this property is derived from a residue theorem which is of interest for general linear system theory.
Modulation of porcine wound repair with a transfected ErbB3 gene and relevant EGF-like ligands.

Our in vivo study used an ErbB3 receptor transfection strategy to determine if topical application of EGF-like ligands would enhance repair. Partial-thickness porcine wounds transfected with adenoviral particles containing an ErbB3 receptor gene or a vehicle β-galactosidase gene were introduced and wounds were concomitantly supplied with a variety of EGF-like ligands – EGF, epiregulin (EPR), heparin binding EGF (HB-EGF), and heregulin/neuregulin (HRG). Comparisons of cutaneous repair (resurfacing, dermal depth, proliferation, macrophage infiltration, microvascular density, apoptosis) were assessed after a 5-day healing interval. Differential effects were noted. In wounds transfected with additional ErbB3, either EPR or HB-EGF promoted resurfacing greater than EGF, HRG, or controls. Dermal responses differed significantly after EPR or HB-EGF treatments compared to EGF, HRG, ErbB3 only, or empty vehicle. Hallmarks of enhanced wound maturity were noted in EPR- and HB-EGF-treated wounds transfected with ErbB3. Our data confirmed that an ErbB3-driven pathway mediates a net positive influence in an in vivo model closely resembling human repair. The sensitivity in this system was sufficient to reveal differential outcomes following stimulation with various EGF ligands. We conclude that selective stimulation through an ErbB3-driven pathway shows promise as a therapeutic strategy to hasten wound maturity.