cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The giant sequoia—mixed conifer forest community characterized through pattern analysis as a mosaic of aggregations

Abstract It is hypothesized that the horizontal structure of the giant sequoia—mixed conifer forest community can be characterized as a mosaic of homogeneous vegetation units referred to as aggregations. This hypothesis was examined using five point pattern analysis techniques. The results showed statistically significant levels of contagion for most of the tree classes analysed, thereby demonstrating the presence of aggregations in the giant sequoia—mixed conifer forest community. Both distance and quadrat methods of analysis also showed that older and larger trees have a tendency to be uniformly dispersed. In addition, aggregations tended to decrease in size as the age of the trees increased. However, giant sequoia was unique in that its aggregations did not tend to decrease in size as the trees grew older. The quadrat methods also showed that most aggregations in the giant sequoia—mixed conifer forest community range in size from 135 to 1600 m 2 . These results are compared with the pattern produced by a prescribed burn designed to reduce fuels and restore natural conditions. The prescribed burn reduced the density of trees but it did not significantly alter the pattern of trees in the 41–60 year and older age classes. The management implications of these findings are discussed.
A pressure sensing floor for interactive media applications

This paper explores the design of a reconfigurable large-area high-resolution pressure sensing floor to help study human dance movement. By measuring the pressure of a user interacting with the system, our device is able to provide real-time knowledge about both the location of the performer on the floor as well as the amount and distribution of force being exerted on the floor. This system has been designed to closely integrate and synchronize with external systems including marker-based motion capture systems, audio-sensing equipment and video-sensing technology, thus allowing for robust multimodal sensing of a subject in the integrated environment. Furthermore, the mats comprising the floor can be readily re-arranged in order to allow for a large number of configurations. Some other possible applications of the pressure sensing floor include virtual reality based entertainment systems or video game control interfaces as well as rehabilitation projects for disabled people with foot or motor-control disorders.
An Efficient Computation of Statistically Critical Sequential Paths Under Retiming

In this paper we present the statistical retiming-based timing analysis (SRTA) algorithm. The goal is to compute the timing slack distribution for the nodes in the timing graph and identify the statistically critical paths under retiming, which are the paths with a high probability of becoming timing-critical after retiming. SRTA enables the designers to perform circuit optimization on these paths to reduce the probability of them becoming timing bottleneck if the circuit is retimed as a post-process. We provide a comparison among static timing analysis (=STA), statistical timing analysis (=SSTA), retiming-based timing analysis (=RTA), and our statistical retiming-based timing analysis (SRTA). Our results show that the placement optimization based on SRTA achieves the best performance results.
Brain Natriuretic Peptide Concentration in Dogs with Heart Disease and Congestive Heart Failure

Plasma brain natriuretic peptide concentration ([BNP]) is high in humans with cardiac disease and is further increased with congestive heart failure (CHF). The hypotheses of this study were that dogs with moderate to severe mitral regurgitation due to myxomatous mitral valve disease (MVD) would have increased plasma [BNP] compared to normal dogs, that plasma [BNP] would be higher in dogs with CHP, and that plasma [BNP] would predict premature death from cardiovascular disease. The study population consisted of 34 dogs: 9 normal dogs and 25 dogs with MVD. Patients were divided into 4 groups: group 1-10 dogs with moderate to severe MVD and no radiographic evidence of CHF; group II--6 dogs with severe MVD and mild CHF; group III--7 dogs with severe MVD and moderate CHF; and group IV--2 dogs with severe MVD and severe CHF. Diagnostic tests included thoracic radiographs, an echocardiogram, a serum chemistry profile, and the measurement of plasma [BNP] by a canine-specific radioimmunoassay. There was a significant positive correlation between the plasma [BNP] and heart disease/failure groups (P = .0036). Plasma [BNP] increased with progressively increasing severity of MVD and CHE Group I dogs had higher plasma [BNP] than did control dogs (P < .0001), and plasma [BNP] was higher in dogs with CHF (groups II-IV versus group I; P = .012). Plasma [BNP] was also weakly positively correlated with left atrial size (r = 0.43, P = .04). For every 10-pg/mL increase in plasma [BNP], the mortality rate over 4 months' time increased approximately 44%.
Estimating treatment effects on healthcare costs under exogeneity: is there a ‘magic bullet’?

Methods for estimating average treatment effects (ATEs), under the assumption of no unmeasured confounders, include regression models; propensity score (PS) adjustments using stratification, weighting, or matching; and doubly robust estimators (a combination of both). Researchers continue to debate about the best estimator for outcomes such as health care cost data, as they are usually characterized by an asymmetric distribution and heterogeneous treatment effects,. Challenges in finding the right specifications for regression models are well documented in the literature. Propensity score estimators are proposed as alternatives to overcoming these challenges. Using simulations, we find that in moderate size samples (n = 5,000), balancing on PSs that are estimated from saturated specifications can balance the covariate means across treatment arms but fails to balance higher-order moments and covariances amongst covariates. Therefore, unlike regression model, even if a formal model for outcomes is not required, PS estimators can be inefficient at best and biased at worst for health care cost data. Our simulation study, designed to take a ‘proof by contradiction’ approach, proves that no one estimator can be considered the best under all data generating processes for outcomes such as costs. The inverse-propensity weighted estimator is most likely to be unbiased under alternate data generating processes but is prone to bias under misspecification of the PS model and is inefficient compared to an unbiased regression estimator. Our results show that there are no ‘magic bullets’ when it comes to estimating treatment effects in health care costs. Care should be taken before naively applying any one estimator to estimate ATEs in these data. We illustrate the performance of alternative methods in a cost dataset on breast cancer treatment.
In vivo and ex vivo high-resolution 1H NMR in biological systems using low-speed magic angle spinning

Metabolism refers to the network of interacting chemical processes that constitute (and define) cell life and provide the chemical energy and materials required for all work at the cellular and whole-organism levels. These processes take the form of metabolic pathways, an interdependent network of chemical reactions that is regulated by catalytic enzymes. Metabolites are chemical compounds that participate as reactants (substrates), intermediate compounds, or byproducts in a cellular metabolic pathway, and include carbon compounds with a molecular weight typically in the range 100-1000, which are usually present as solutes in the cytoplasm. Four broad classes of such metabolites can be distinguished [Alberts et al 1989]: sugars, the food molecules of the cell; fatty acids, present as droplets of triglyceride molecules in the cells and serving as energy resources, and as phospholipids present in the cell membranes; amino acids, the subunits of proteins; and nucleotides, the subunits of RNA and DNA, that can also act as carriers of chemical energy (adenosine triphosphate, i.e. ATP). Metabolomics involves characterizing the metabolic composition of a single cell type measured under defined physiological conditions and can be considered as analogous to genomics or proteomics [Lindon et al 2003]. Metabonomics involves quantitative studies of the changesmore » in the metabolic profiles of living systems in response to patho-physiological stimuli or genetic modification [Nicholson et al 1999, Lindon 2003]. Metabolic changes are the earliest cellular response to environmental or physiological changes such as toxin exposure or disease state, so a snapshot of the various metabolite concentrations within cells, tissues, or biofluids, and how these concentrations change under different physiological, pharmacological and toxicological conditions provides valuable information that is complementary to gene expression and proteomic studies. Hence metabol(n)omics may be capable of, e.g., detecting and diagnosing a disease or evaluating the efficacy of therapy in an early stage, and provide powerful new tools for gaining insight into functional biology.« less
Somatostatin-immunoreactive interneurons contribute to lateral inhibitory circuits in the dentate gyrus of control and epileptic rats.

Lateral inhibition, a feature of neuronal circuitry that enhances signaling specificity, has been demonstrated in the rat dentate gyrus. However, neither the underlying neuronal circuits, nor the ways in which these circuits are altered in temporal lobe epilepsy, are completely understood. This study examines the potential contribution of one class of inhibitory interneurons to lateral inhibitory circuits in the dentate gyrus of both control and epileptic rats. The retrograde tracer wheat germ agglutinin-apo-horse radish peroxidase-gold (WGA-apo-HRP-gold) was injected into the septal dentate gyrus. Neurons double-labeled for glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and the retrograde tracer are concentrated in the hilus and may contribute to lateral inhibition. Neurons double-labeled for somatostatin and the retrograde tracer account for at least 28% of GAD-positive neurons with axon projections appropriate for generating lateral inhibition in control rats. Despite an overall loss of somatostatin-expressing cells in epileptic animals, the number of somatostatin-positive interneurons with axon projections appropriate for generating lateral inhibition is similar to that seen in controls. These findings suggest that somatostatinergic interneurons participate in lateral inhibitory circuits in the dentate gyrus of both control and epileptic rats, and that surviving somatostatinergic interneurons might sprout new axon collaterals in epileptic animals. Hippocampus 2001;11:418–422. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Regulation of β-alanine transport in skate (Raja erinacea) erythrocytes

Abstract 1. 1. Both influx and efflux of β-alanine in skate (Raja erinacea) red blood cells were directly related to the medium Na+ concentration when Na+ was partially replaced by osmotically equivalent amounts of Li+, K+ or mannitol. Influx, but not efflux, was almost completely inhibited by omission of Na+ from the medium. 2. 2. β-Alanine efflux was increased in a hypo-osmolar medium, but influx was not affected. 3. 3. Gradual adaptation of skates to half-strength seawater was accompanied by a decrease in β-alanine influx rates.
Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of Undenatured Type II Collagen Singly or in Combination with Glucosamine and Chondroitin in Arthritic Dogs

ABSTRACT This investigation was undertaken to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and safety of glycosylated undenatured type II collagen (UC-II) alone or in combination with glucosamine HCl and chondroitin sulfate in arthritic dogs. Twenty dogs divided into four groups (n = 5) were daily treated orally for 120 days: group I, placebo; group II, 10 mg UC-II; group III, 2,000 mg glucosamine + 1,600 mg chondroitin; group IV, UC-II (10 mg) + glucosamine (2,000 mg) + chondroitin (1,600 mg), followed by a 30-day withdrawal period. On a monthly basis, dogs were examined for overall pain, pain upon limb manipulation, and exercise-associated lameness. Serum samples were analyzed for markers of liver function (ALT and bilirubin) and renal function (BUN and creatinine). Body weight was also measured at a monthly interval. Dogs in group I exhibited no change in arthritic conditions. Dogs receiving UC-II alone showed significant reductions in overall pain within 30 days (33%) and pain upon limb manipulation and exercise-associated lameness after 60 days (66% and 44%, respectively) of treatment. Maximum reductions in pain were noted after 120 days of treatment (overall pain reduction, 62%; pain reduction upon limb manipulation, 91%; and reduction in exercise-associated lameness, 78%). The overall activity of the dogs in the UC-II supplemented with glucosamine and chondroitin group (group IV) was significantly better than the glucosamine + chondroitin-supplemented group (group III). Glucosamine and chondroitin alleviated some pain, but in combination with UC-II (group IV) provided significant reductions in overall pain (57%), pain upon limb manipulation (53%), and exercise-associated lameness (53%). Following withdrawal of supplements, all dogs (groups II to IV) experienced a relapse of pain. None of the dogs in any groups showed any adverse effects or change in liver or kidney function markers or body weight. Data of this placebo-controlled study demonstrate that daily treatment of arthritic dogs with UC-II alone or in combination with glucosamine and chondroitin markedly alleviates arthritic-associated pain, and these supplements are well tolerated as no side effects were noted.
Observation of Light Dragging in a Rubidium Vapor Cell

We report on the experimental demonstration of the light dragging effect due to atomic motion in a rubidium vapor cell. We find that the minimum group velocity is achieved for light redshifted from the center of the atomic resonance and that the value of this shift increases with decreasing group velocity, in agreement with the theoretical predictions by Kocharovskaya, Rostovtsev, and Scully [Phys. Rev. Lett. 86, 628 (2001)].
Particle production in the new inflationary cosmology

Techniques are developed for computing particle production due to the time dependence of a scalar field expectation value during a phase transition. We review the new version of the inflationary universe and discuss baryon production in this model.
Embedded memory considerations in SOI

The transition to multicore computing demands more embedded cache memories. Incorporating high performance eDRAMs into the cache hierarchy is an attractive solution. In this paper, we discuss the roles of SRAM, eDRAM and eFUSE OTPROM in a high performance SOI chip.
Bilateral asymmetric deficiency of the pectoralis major muscle.

We observed a rare, bilateral congenital deficiency of the pectoralis major muscle in a 72-year-old female cadaver in our gross anatomy dissection laboratory. The outward appearance of the anterior thoracic wall, which included well-developed breasts, revealed no obvious abnormalities. Upon dissection, the following features were observed: 1) on the left side, the sternal portion of the sternocostal head of the pectoralis major muscle was absent, the costal portion of the sternocostal head and the clavicular head were both well developed, a normal pectoralis minor was present, and the deltoid and subclavius muscles were not hypertrophied as is often the case when the pectoralis major muscle is deficient; 2) on the right side, the entire pectoralis major muscle was absent and the pectoralis minor, deltoid, and coracobrachialis muscles were infiltrated with connective tissue and fat; and 3) on both sides, the lateral pectoral nerves were absent and the medial pectoral nerves were present. The absence of the lateral pectoral nerves suggests that the deficiencies in the pectoralis major muscles are congenital malformations resulting from a developmental failure of the embryonic muscles rather than a sequel to polio or Poland's syndrome.
Monopalmitic acid-peptide conjugates induce cytotoxic T cell responses against malarial epitopes: importance of spacer amino acids

Cytolytic T cells (CTL) play a critical role in providing protection against the liver stage of malaria infection. Previous investigations have shown that induction of CTL against peptide or proteins can be achieved by attachment of lipids. In the present study, we used the Plasmodium berghei circumsporozoite protein CTL epitope (SYIPSAEKI (PL76)). This peptide with cysteine-serine (CS) as spacer amino acids was coupled to palmitic acid (PA). The same CTL epitope containing only an extra serine was linked to S-[2,3-bis(palmitoyloxy)-(2-RS)-propyl]-N-palmitoyl-(R)-cysteine (tripam-C). Inbred mice [(BALB/c x C57BL/6)F1] were immunized intravenously with the lipopeptides. Both types of lipopeptides induced significant CTL responses after one injection. Immunization of the monopalmitic acid-peptide conjugate intraperitoneally emulsified in Freund's complete adjuvant also induced a significant CTL response, but the magnitude was lower as compared to the intravenous route. The major advantages of the use of the simple monopalmitic acid-peptide conjugates are: (i) low costs of the fatty acid; (ii) coupling of lipid to peptide can be performed using the peptide synthesizer during standard peptide synthesis, and (iii) standard peptide methodology can be used for purification. To investigate whether a spacer amino acid sequence between the actual CTL epitope and PA is required for induction of an optimal CTL response, we prepared monopalmitic acid-peptide conjugates with different spacer amino acids. A lipopeptide without a spacer amino acid and another one containing the CS spacer sequence both induced a CTL response, whereas a lipopeptide with a serine as spacer failed to induce CTL. These results indicate that the amino acid spacer sequences influence the immunological properties of the palmitic acid-peptide conjugates.
Decreased natural killer cell responses and altered interleukin-6 and interleukin-10 production in alcoholism: an interaction between alcohol dependence and African-American ethnicity.

Background: Epidemiological data indicate that among alcoholics African-American men have higher rates of infections compared with white alcoholics. Alcohol is thought to reduce natural killer (NK) cell responses and to alter cellular immunity by changing the relative balance of Thl versus Th2 cytokine response profiles. However, translation of these basic immunological observations into the clinical setting is limited, and what clinical data are available are contradictory, in part, because of heterogeneity within the alcoholic patient population. Whether ethnic characteristics contribute to variation in the immunological effects of alcohol is not known. Methods: This study compared NK activity, interleukin (IL)-2-stimulated NK activity, and concanavalin A-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cell production of Th1 (IL-12 and IL-2), Th2 (IL-10), and proinflammatory (IL-6) cytokines in 31 hospitalized chronic alcoholic patients and 31 age-matched controls who were stratified on the basis of ethnicity. Results: NK-cell responses were significantly different across the four groups, and African-American alcoholics showed the lowest levels of NK activity (F = 9.5; p < 0.001) and IL-2-stimulated NK activity (F = 2.9; p < 0.05). Compared with the other three groups, African-American alcoholics also showed lower levels of IL-6 (F = 7.2; p < 0.01) and higher levels of IL-10 (F = 4.9; p < 0.05). Stimulated production of IL-2 and IL-12 were similar in the four groups. Regression analyses showed that alcohol dependence and ethnicity predicted NK activity, whereas the interaction between alcohol dependence and ethnicity predicted levels of IL-6 and IL-10. Conclusions: In summary, the immunological effects of alcohol dependence are modified by ethnicity status, consistent with the increased health risks found in African-American alcoholics.
Deconfounding Two-Factor Interactions with a Minimum Number of Extra Runs

In two-level fractional factorial (2 k−p ) designs, resolution is a concept that describes the type of confounding present for the design in use. A resolution IV fractional factorial experimental d...
Henry Adams, selected letters

Abbreviations APPRENTICE YEARS 1858-1868 THE CONQUEST OF A REPUTATION 1868-1885 IN SEARCH OF NIRVANA 1886-1892 A FAUSTIAN TRAVELER 1891-1899 CONSERVATIVE CHRISTIAN ANARCHIST 1899-1905 THE BENEVOLENT SAGE 1906-1918 Genealogy of the Adams Family Chronology Acknowledgments Index
Thermal Instabilities in Discharging Gas Reservoirs

The flow structure in a discharging gas reservoir has been studied using schlieren cinematography. Effects due to discharge orientation, gas species, and vessel wall vibration have been observed. Initially, the internal flow structure has been found to be controlled by the mass sink, with streamlines going in approximate straight lines from the vessel wall to the exit orifice. At later time, free convection dominates and recirculation patterns are established. Discharge orientation can have a dramatic effect on the free convection flow field as well as on the growth and stability of the wall thermal diffusion layer. A jet-like structure (initiated at very early time and believed to be caused by wave effects) was observed to extend from the vessel wall diametrically opposite the exit orifice. When the discharge was parallel to but in the opposite direction of the gravitational vector, this jet-like structure was found to cause an instability in the lower wall diffusion layer. Vessel wall vibration resulted in a standing cellular acoustic wave pattern in the gas which, depending on discharge orientation, caused a violent instability. A model for temperature variation in the thermal diffusion layer is discussed and a numerical solution is given. Results of the predictedmore » thermal diffusion layer histories are compared to data. A discussion of vessel orientation effects on critical Rayleigh number is given.« less
Malignant melanoma in children: Its management and prognosis

Malignant melanoma is rare in children, representing 1% to 3% of all pediatric malignancies. Thirty-three children with malignant melanoma were treated at St Jude Children's Research Hospital from 1967 to 1988. Their ages ranged from 1 day to 20 years (median, 12 years); 23 were boys and 10 were girls; and 5 of the 33 (15%) were black. Four of the 33 children had been treated for a previous malignancy. In 3, melanoma arose within a bathing trunk nevus. The extremity was the most common site (13), followed by the trunk (9), head and neck (7), and perineum (1). In 3 patients the primary site could not be determined. Upon initial presentation to St Jude Hospital, 17 patients had localized disease (stage I), 10 had regional node involvement (stage II), and the remaining 6 patients had disseminated disease (stage III). Using both Clark's level and Breslow's thickness as indicators, the incidence, initial stage, prognosis, and survival were compared. By Clark's level, 7 patients, (6 of whom were stage I) were level II or III, and 22 patients were level IV or V. Though 16 of 22 level IV and V patients were initially stage I, 10 patients eventually developed progressive disease. Similar observations were noted when using Breslow's thickness to evaluate the primary. In 5 of 27 evaluable patients, Breslow's depth of invasion was less than 1.5 mm. All 5 of these patients were diagnosed with stage I disease and have not shown progressive disease.
Researching first and second language genre learning: A comparative review and a look ahead

Abstract With genre now viewed as a fundamental element of writing, both second language writing and mainstream composition studies have seen an increased focus on the question of how writers learn genres. The purpose of this paper is to review key findings from 60 empirical studies that have investigated this question. To this point, research has typically studied genre learning as it occurs either through professional or disciplinary practice or through classroom instruction; almost no studies have looked at the same writers as they traverse these multiple domains. I therefore categorize studies as taking place in either “practice-based” or “instructional” settings and identify trends in the research findings from each setting. After examining one study which takes place in multiple settings, I tease out some of the commonalities and distinctions between learning in practice-based and instructional contexts and between first language and second language genre learning. On the basis of this comparative review of research, I suggest future directions for the interdisciplinary study of genre learning.
Wrestling With Proteus Tales of Communication Managers in a Changing Economy

Because communication specialists often lack the power and prestige of other knowledge workers, such as engineers and product designers, managers who direct the work of communication specialists face unique challenges. This study, based on interviews with 11 communication managers, found that their agency and identity were determined both by the structure of the organizations in which they worked and by their use of genres, technologies, and regulatory techniques. With their work undergoing transition because of globalization, outsourcing, and rapid technological change, the stories that these managers tell demonstrate the importance of studying management as it specifically applies to communication specialists.
A multicenter clinical trial of a progestin-only oral contraceptive in lactating women

Abstract A non-comparative study of a progestin-only oral contraceptive (POC) containing 75 ug norgestrel was conducted at 22 sites in 14 countries. This study was designed to evaluate safety, contraceptive efficacy, and the overall acceptability of a POC in breastfeeding women. A total of 4,088 women entered the study over a three-year period and 29,399 woman-months of experience was gathered. Women had follow-up visits at 2, 6, and 11 months after admission. Headaches and vaginal discharge were the medical complaints most commonly reported by women, both prior to and after admission. Menstrual problems were reported by 59% of the women after admission. Of the 3,714 women who returned for at least one follow-up visit, 1,101 (29.6%) discontinued through month 11. The 11-month total discontinuation percentage, including those lost to follow-up (25.3%) was 51.6%. The most common reason given for discontinuation was a woman's desire for a change in contraceptive method. Only 4.9% discontinued pill use for menstrual problems, a percentage far below those generally reported for POCs. Twenty-nine unintended pregnancies occurred through 11 months giving a gross cumulative life table rate of 1.2 per 100 women (Pearl Index = 1.4). The POC appears to be a safe, effective and acceptable contraceptive option for postpartum breastfeeding women.
Determination of the oligomeric number and intermolecular distances of membrane protein assemblies by anisotropic 1H-driven spin diffusion NMR spectroscopy.

Determination of the high-resolution quaternary structure of oligomeric membrane proteins requires knowledge of both the oligomeric number and intermolecular distances. The centerband-only detection of exchange (CODEX) technique has been shown to enable the extraction of the oligomeric number through the equilibrium exchange intensity at long mixing times. To obtain quantitative distances, we now provide an analysis of the mixing-time-dependent CODEX intensities using the 1H-driven spin diffusion theory. The exchange curve is fit to a rate equation, where the rate constants are proportional to the square of the dipolar coupling and the spectral overlap integral between the exchanging spins. Using a number of 13C- and 19F-labeled crystalline model compounds with known intermolecular distances, we empirically determined the overlap integrals of 13C and 19F CODEX for specific spinning speeds and chemical shift anisotropies. These consensus overlap integral values can be applied to structurally unknown system...
Microwave Propagation Constant for a Vegetation Canopy With Vertical Stalks

An equivalent-medium model is developed to relate the propagation constant y, associated with propagation of the mean field through a vegetation canopy, to the geometrical and dielectric parameters of the canopy constituents. The model is intended for media containing vertical cylinders, representing the stalks, and randomly oriented discs, representing the leaves. The formulation accounts for both absorption and scattering by the cylinders, but uses a quasi-static approximation with respect to the leaves. The model was found to be in good agreement with experimental results at 1.62 and 4.75 GHz, but underestimates the extinction loss at 10.2 GHz. The experimental component of the study included measurements of the attenuation loss for horizontally polarized and vertically polarized waves transmitted through a fully grown corn canopy, andof the phase difference between the two transmitted waves. The measurements were made at incidence angles of 20°, 40° , 60°, and 90° relative to normal incidence. The major conclusion of this study is that the proposed model is suitable for corn-like canopies, provided the leaves are smaller than ? in size.
Insulin desensitization with insulin lispro and an insulin pump in a 5-year-old child.

Background and objective Allergic reactions to insulin, though rare, can have serious consequences in children with type I diabetes mellitus. We report a case of insulin allergy in a 5-year-old child in whom insulin desensitization was accomplished using an insulin pump. Methods and results A 5-year-old girl with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) developed progressive reactions to insulin and was found to have positive intradermal skin tests to regular and NPH insulin. Addition of oral antihistamine and co-administration of subcutaneous dexamethasone along with the insulin failed to control her symptoms. The patient was therefore hospitalized and desensitized to insulin using an insulin pump and insulin lispro. Conclusion An insulin pump can be used for insulin desensitization in selected children. The slow constant infusion rate provided by the pump may be an ideal means of achieving insulin desensitization. In addition, insulin lispro, a synthetic insulin analog, should be considered for use in insulin-allergic individuals.
Cognitive Mapping of a Folk Taxonomy of Mexican Pottery: A Multivariate Approach

A folk taxonomy of cooking pottery from Puebla, Mexico, is derived from potters, according to a method described here. Making no assumptions about the taxonomy, the potters' raw data are subjected to a multivariate analysis. The resulting cognitive mapping reveals an inherent structure that can be interpreted in two dimensions, and attributed to two factors: open/closed pottery types, and multiple/nonmultiple ears. These factors are found to be analogous to important cultural categories in the society, upon which people organize their thinking and behavior. Multivariate analysis manifests the system underlying the folk taxonomy, and provides a check on the ethnographer. [folk taxonomy; multivariate analysis; pottery: Puebla, Mexico]
The Sea Lamprey: What This Primitive Animal Can Teach Us About the Potential for Repair of the Injured Spinal Cord

The lamprey is a primitive vertebrate that recovers functionally after spinal cord transection. Research over the past quarter of a century has shown that this recovery is based on regeneration of descending axons from the brain as well as axons of propriospinal relay neurons that connect the locomotor pattern-generating circuitry above and below the lesion. Although not all neurons regenerate and the distance of regeneration is limited, the regenerating axons grow selectively in their correct paths and make synapses specifically with correct target neurons. Morphological and molecular biological data suggest that the mechanisms that drive the regeneration may be different from those that underlie the original development of axon pathways during embryonic development. Nevertheless, recent data suggest that some of the molecules that guide axons during embryonic development may modulate the regeneration of mature axons after injury. These findings in the lamprey contribute to an understanding of the potent...
The I' potential of the brain-stem auditory-evoked potential.

We have consistently recorded a positive wave which precedes wave I, and is called I’, within the human brain-stem auditory-evoked potential. It is postulated that I’ represents initial neural activity of the auditory nerve, which presumably has as its origin auditory nerve dendrites. Thus, I’ may represent a summed far-field dendritic potential from currents of excitatory postsynaptic potentials. We report latency and amplitude values of I’.
Particle drag retardation of surface smoothing and sintering

Diffusion-controlled capillarity phenomena in solids, including sintering and surface profile changes, can be retarded by dispersed particles which are pinned at the surfaces. A model is proposed which predicts that dispersed particles which are more wetted by the substrate material, and subsequently partially imbedded, will tend to have a lower mobility than particles which are less wetted, if the force exerted on the particles by the moving interface is sufficiently low that the particles are dragged by the surface. On the other hand, less wetted immobile particles can provide a greater restraining force than more wetted particles. For a given volume of dispersoid per unit area of substrate, larger particles will provide a greater restraint to interfacial motion. Particle drag at the surface is probably not very effective in retarding sintering brought about by grain-boundary and volume diffusion. Surface diffusion-controlled sintering and surface-shape changes can be strongly retarded by dispersed particles.
Ethnic Differences in Visceral Adipose Tissue and Type 2 Diabetes: Filipino, African-American, and White Women

Objective: To compare ethnic differences in visceral adipose tissue (VAT), assessed by computed tomography, and type 2 diabetes risk among 55- to 80-year-old Filipino, African-American, and white women without known cardiovascular disease. Research Methods and Procedures: Subjects were participants in the Rancho Bernardo Study (n = 196), the Filipino Women's Health Study (n = 181), and the Health Assessment Study of African-American Women (n = 193). Glucose and anthropometric measurements were assessed between 1995 and 2002. Results: African-American women had significantly higher age-adjusted BMI (29.7 kg/m2) and waist girth (88.1 cm) compared with Filipino (BMI, 25.5 kg/m2; waist girth, 81.9 cm) or white (BMI: 26.0 kg/m2; waist girth: 80.7 cm) women. However, VAT was significantly higher among Filipino (69.1 cm3) compared with white (62.3 cm3; p = 0.037) or African-American (57.5 cm3, p < 0.001) women. VAT correlated better with BMI (r = 0.69) and waist (r = 0.77) in whites, compared with Filipino (r = 0.42; r = 0.59) or African-American (r = 0.50; r = 0.56) women. Age-adjusted type 2 diabetes prevalence was significantly higher in Filipinas (32.1%) than in white (5.8%) or African-American (12.1%) women. Filipinas had higher type 2 diabetes risk compared with African Americans [adjusted odds ratio, 2.30; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09 to 4.86] or whites (adjusted odds ratio, 7.51; 95% CI, 2.51 to 22.5) after adjusting for age, VAT, exercise, education, and alcohol intake. Discussion: VAT was highest among Filipinas despite similar BMI and waist circumference as whites. BMI and waist circumference were weaker estimates of VAT in Filipino and African-American women than in whites. Type 2 diabetes prevalence was highest among Filipino women at every level of VAT, but VAT did not explain their elevated type 2 diabetes risk.
Epidermal growth factor and transforming growth factor-alpha messenger ribonucleic acids and their receptors in the rat anterior pituitary: localization and regulation.

Evidence has shown that epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF alpha) and their receptors (EGF receptors) are present in the anterior pituitary, indicating that the growth factors are synthesized in situ and act locally. Studies have demonstrated that EGF could stimulate the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) cortex axis, particularly at the pituitary level in vivo and in vitro, and also stimulate TGF alpha messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in cultured bovine pituitary cells. Recently, our studies have demonstrated that some stresses up-regulated EGF mRNA expression in the anterior pituitary, as detected by ribonuclease protection assay, further indicating the possible roles of EGF in the stress response. However, little is yet known about the sources and targets (sites of EGF receptors) of the growth factors in the pituitary. Therefore, this study was designed to localize EGF and TGF alpha mRNA and their receptors as well as to assess the effects of cold stress (CS) on their...
Steroid hormone regulation of the voltage-gated, calcium-activated potassium channel expression in developing muscular and neural systems.

A precise organization of gene expression is required for developing neural and muscular systems. Steroid hormones can control the expression of genes that are critical for development. In this study we test the hypothesis that the steroid hormone ecdysone regulates gene expression of the voltage-gated calcium-activated potassium ion channel, Slowpoke or KCNMA1. Late in adult development of the tobacco hawkmoth Manduca sexta, slowpoke(msslo) levels increased contributing to the maturation of the dorsal longitudinal flight muscles (DLMs) and CNS. We show that critical components of ecdysteroid gene regulation were present during upreglation of msslo in late adult DLM and CNS development. Ecdysteroid receptor complex heterodimeric partner proteins, the ecdysteroid receptor (EcR) and ultraspiracle (USP), and the ecdysone-induced early gene, msE75B, were expressed at key developmental time points, suggesting that ecdysteroids direct aspects of gene expression in the DLMs during these late developmental stages. We provide evidence that ecdysteroids suppress msslo transcription in the DLMs; when titers decline msslo transcript levels increase. These results are consistent with msslo being a downstream gene in an ecdysteroid-mediated gene cascade during DLM development. We also show that the ecdysteroids regulate msslo transcript levels in the developing CNS. These results will contribute to our understanding of how the spatiotemporal regulation of slowpoke transcription contributes to tailoring cell excitability to the differing physiological and behavioral demands during development. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 70: 884–896, 2010
Automatic stabilizer feature of fixed exchange rate regimes

Abstract This paper shows that countries characterized by a financial accelerator mechanism may reverse the usual finding of the literature — flexible exchange rate regimes do a worse job of insulating open economies from external shocks. I obtain this result with a calibrated small open economy model that endogenizes foreign interest rates by linking them to the banking sector's financial leverage. This relationship renders exchange rate policy more important compared to the usual exogeneity assumption. I find empirical support for this prediction using the Local Projections method. Finally, 2nd order approximation to the model finds larger welfare losses under flexible exchange rate regimes.
Rescue of testicular function after acute experimental torsion.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Spermatic cord torsion results in impairment of testicular function. The mechanism of this injury is unclear; however, intracellular Ca sup ++ influx and reactive oxygen species have been implicated in the testicular damage following torsion and reperfusion. In the present study a model of testicular torsion in the rat was used to determine whether testicular function following torsion can be rescued by the administration of antioxidants and Ca sup ++ channel blockers.Materials and Methods: Seventy-two animals were divided into 9 groups. Animals underwent 1 hr. or 2 hrs., 720 degrees experimental torsion. Animals received combinations of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, allopurinol, and verapamil. Drugs were administered intravenously during the last 15 minutes of experimental torsion and the first hour of reperfusion. Bilateral testicular function was determined 60 days after experimental torsion by measuring testis weights, daily sperm production (DSP), and testicular venous testos...
Placebo-controlled comparison of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors citalopram and sertraline.

Abstract Background: Previous comparative studies of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have rarely included a placebo control group and have rarely demonstrated significant between-group differences. The study reported on here was a placebo-controlled comparison of the antidepressant effects of two SSRIs, citalopram and sertraline. Methods: Three hundred twenty-three patients with DSM-IV–defined major depressive disorder were randomized to 24 weeks of double-blind treatment with citalopram (20–60 mg/day), sertraline (50–150 mg/day), or a placebo. The primary efficacy measure was the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD) and the primary statistical analysis was an analysis of variance comparing the change from baseline to the last observation carried forward in each treatment group. Results: Both citalopram and sertraline produced significantly greater improvement than placebo on the HAMD, the Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale, and the Clinical Global Impression Scale. Significant improvement was observed at earlier timepoints in the citalopram group than the sertraline group; however, sertraline treatment was associated with increased gastrointestinal side effects and a tendency toward early discontinuation, and analyses that excluded early dropouts revealed similar acute efficacy for the two active treatments. The Hamilton Anxiety Scale demonstrated a significant anxiolytic effect of citalopram, but not sertraline, relative to placebo. Conclusions: This study confirms the antidepressant efficacy of two SSRIs, citalopram and sertraline. It is hypothesized that the more consistent evidence of antidepressant activity that was observed early in treatment in the citalopram group was related to more pronounced antianxiety effects and better tolerability upon initiation of therapy.
What can we learn by comparing students' diagram-construction processes with the mathematical conceptions inferred from their explanations with completed diagrams?

Despite recent research interest in student-created diagrams, little research has systematically investigated students' diagram-construction processes, meaning the order and manner in which students create markings as they physically generate diagrams. In this study, we characterize the various processes students use to create diagrams that represent a quadratic motion situation involving increasing speed, and we explore how these diagram-construction processes are related to students' conceptions of speed as inferred from their explanations with their completed diagrams. Previous literature suggests contrasting predictions regarding whether or not students' diagram-construction processes are closely related (from our perspective as researchers) to students' inferred conceptions. We see the study as having value for research and practice by raising new questions related to diagram-construction processes, pointing to the potential formative assessment value of attending to diagram-construction processes, and demonstrating the need for the development of theory to explain the relationships identified by this study.
Modifier 22 Reimbursement for Patients Undergoing Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy at a Tertiary Referral Center

Abstract Introduction We determined the rate and amount of reimbursement for robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy using the modifier 22 code. CPT codes are billed to insurance companies and Medicare for physician services. Modifier 22 is a CPT component used to designate a surgical case that was particularly complicated and required greater than usual effort. Methods We collected data on patients who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy from January 2009 through August 2012 and identified those in whom modifier 22 was used. Descriptive analysis was used to explain payment possibilities and amounts. Chi-square analysis was applied to determine the likelihood of collecting payment from different payment entities. Results A total of 579 robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomies were performed and modifier 22 was recorded in 208 (36%). The billing department applied modifier 22 in 164 patients and analysis was completed for 141 in whom contracted reimbursement was known. Of the 141 cases more than the contracted amount was collected in 111 (78.8%). The average extra payment was $473.53. The likelihood of increased payment using modifier 22 was greater than 96% and 67% when billed to government agencies and private insurance companies, respectively (p Conclusions The modifier 22 code is a reasonable addition in appropriate robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomies since it increases reimbursement in almost 80% of cases. Appropriate documentation with modifier 22 is essential for increased reimbursement in patients treated with robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy.
The food chain dynamics of the oyster, clam, and mussel in an aquaculture food chain

Abstract The food chain dynamics of the edible mussel Mytilus edulis L., the American oyster Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin) and the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria (L.) were investigated in large experimental tanks with flowing, filtered sea water and controlled addition of phytoplankton. The feeding rate of the mussel (5.36 μg carbon removed/l/g C animal was higher than that of the oyster (3.92) and clam (3.03) but the ecological efficiencies (net production/ingested food) × 100 of the clam (23.69 %) and the oyster (18.38 %) were higher than that of the mussel (10.01 %). The food chain efficiencies (net production/available food) were lower than the ecological efficiencies, suggesting under-exploitation of the available food. The clam, although having a lower feeding rate, was more efficient in utilizing the food it filtered and so showed the highest net production. The rates (μg-at/l/g C animal) of regeneration of nutrients, especially total inorganic nitrogen (mussel, 2.1723 × 10 −3 ; oyster, 7.4270 × 10 −3 ; and clam, 8.1750 × 10 −3 ) along with reported high biodeposition rates of bivalves suggest that multi-species aquaculture systems would be more efficient and productive than one-species systems.
Asymmetric electron tunneling into an amorphous chalcogenide semiconductor

Abstract Electron tunneling into the amorphous chalcogenide alloy Tl 2 SeAs 2 Te 3 was found to occur with a higher conductance G for electrons tunneling out of the semiconductor compared to the opposite polarity. G(V) has a minimum at V =0.070 V with respect to the metal electrode. It rises by a factor 10 5 as the bias is increased to V =±1 V. This tunnelling asymmetry, which is absent in the case of tetrahedrally bonded semiconductors, may be related to a suggestion by Mott of detecting polaron effects by tunneling.
Photon upconversion devices

This paper presents our research and development effort in realizing and perfecting photon upconversion devices for wavelengths from 1.5 μm region to 0.87 μm. The basic idea is to integrate a 1.5-μm detector with a 0.87-μm light emitting diode (LED), connected in series. The detected photocurrent drives the LED, thereby achieving the upconversion. Various approaches of integration methods and device designs have been tested.