cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
From suffering to caring: a model of differences among older adults in levels of compassion.

Author(s): Moore, Raeanne C; Martin, A'verria Sirkin; Kaup, Allison R; Thompson, Wesley K; Peters, Matthew E; Jeste, Dilip V; Golshan, Shahrokh; Eyler, Lisa T | Abstract: ObjectiveCompassion is an important contributor to pro-social behavior and maintenance of interpersonal relationships, yet little is known about what factors influence compassion in late life. The aim of this study was to test theories about how past and current stressors and emotional functioning, resilience, and demographic indicators of life experiences are related to compassion among older adults.MethodsOne thousand and six older adults (50-99 years) completed a comprehensive survey including self-report measures of compassion, resilience, past and present stress, and emotional functioning (i.e., stressful life events, perceived stress, and current and prior depression and anxiety), and demographic information. The sample was randomly split, and exploratory and confirmatory regression analyses were conducted testing hypothesized relationships with compassion.ResultsExploratory stepwise regression analysis (n = 650) indicated that participants who reported higher levels of compassion were more likely to be female, not currently in a married/married-like relationship, reported higher resilience levels, and had experienced more significant life events. Age, income level, past and current mental distress, and interactions between resilience and other predictors were not significantly related to compassion. The associations between greater self-reported compassion and being female, having greater resilience, and having experienced more significant life events were supported by a confirmatory stepwise regression analysis (n = 356).ConclusionsOlder women report more compassion than older men. Resilience and significant life events, independently, also appear to facilitate a desire to help others, while current stress and past and present emotional functioning are less relevant. Specificity of findings to older adults is not yet known.
EFFECT OF CHRONIC OTITIS MEDIA ON LANGUAGE AND SPEECH DEVELOPMENT

Two groups of children were compared in order to determine the effect on language and speech development of the fluctuating conductive hearing loss which accompanies chronic otitis media. The experimental group consisted of 16 children, aged 5 to 9 years, with chronic otitis media and with hearing fluctuations documented by audiograms. The control group was matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic background. The language performances of the groups were compared by means of the Illinois Test of Psycholinguistic Abilities, the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, the Templin-Darley Picture Articulation Screening Test, and the Mecham Verbal Language Development Scale. The result shows that the experimental group was delayed to a statistically significant degree in all language skills requiring the receiving or processing of auditory stimuli or the production of verbal responses. No significant differences were found in tests measuring primarily visual and motor skills. This would suggest that the fluctuating hearing loss accompanying chronic otitis media was the cause of the delay in language development found in the experimental group. Physicians, parents, and educators need to be aware of the implication of this language handicap, as it might affect performance. Further studies are needed to evaluate the influence on permanent language ability by the periodic lack of sensory stimulation experienced during conductive hearing loss due to frequent episodes of otitis media.
Collaborative Proposal to Extend ONR YIP Research with BRC Efforts

Abstract : The long-term scientific goals of this research project are as follows: (1) to develop an understanding of how some sources of error affect ocean predictability, and (2) to develop ideas for overcoming limitations to the predictability of oceanic processes. The primary objectives of this project are to understand the importance of model uncertainty, assess the influence of uncertainty on predictability, and collaborate and learn from fellow BRC projects. The ocean model used in this research is the ONR-funded Regional Ocean Modeling System (ROMS), a free-surface, hydrostatic, primitive equation ocean model discretized with a terrain-following vertical coordinate system. The model has multiple sub-gridscale parameterizations of vertical mixing along with many options for open boundary conditions. Time-splitting of barotropic and baroclinic motions enables efficient time integration. ROMS has been successfully used to model many regions of the world ocean and is a widely used community resource. During the current reporting period, we have worked to understand the impact of internal waves on the predictability of the oceans of Hawaii and the North Philippine sea. We have performed sensitivity experiments to identify how the mesoscale can change the generation and propagation of internal waves. In conjunction with my YIP award, we are working to understand how internal waves affect observations in the ocean. Specifically, we have built an operational, real-time assimilation and prediction system for the main Hawaiian islands. This system provides a foundation laboratory for research into state estimation and predictability.
Predicting Crime Reporting with Decision Trees and the National Crime Victimization Survey

Crime reports are used by law enforcement to find criminals, prevent further violations, identify problems causing crimes and allocate government resources. Unfortunately, many crimes go unreported. This may lead to an incorrect crime picture and suboptimal responses to the existing situation. Our goal is to use a data mining approach to increase understanding of when crime is reported or not. An increased understanding could lead to new, more effective programs to fight crime or changes to existing programs. We use the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) which comprises data collected from 45,000 households about incidents, victims, suspects and if the incident was reported or not. We use decision trees to predict when incidents are reported or not. We compare decision trees that are built based on domain knowledge with those automatically created. For the automatically created trees, we compare three variable selection methods: two filters, Chi-squared and Cramer’s V Coefficient, and a forward selection wrapper. We found that the decision trees that are automatically constructed are as accurate as those based on domain knowledge while they show a different picture. We conclude that decision trees lead to several new hypotheses for criminologists while they are automatically constructed and easy to understand which makes them practical and useful.
TRAINS-95: towards a mixed-initiative planning assistant

We have been examining mixed-initiative planning systems in the context of command and control or logistical overview situations. In such environments, the human and the computer must work together in a very tightly coupled way to solve problems that neither alone could manage. In this paper, we describe our implementation of a prototype version of such a system, TRAINS-95, which helps a manager solve routing problems in a simple transportation domain. Interestingly perhaps, traditional planning technology does not play a major role in the system, and in fact it is difficult to see how such components might fit into a mixed-initiative system. We describe some of these issues, and present our agenda for future research into mixed-initiative plan reasoning. At this writing, the TRAINS-95 system has been used by more than 100 people to solve simple problems at various conferences and workshops, and in our experiments.
Abstract P301: Dietary Patterns and Circulating miRNA Expression in South Asians at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes

Introduction: South Asians are at high risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D), and dietary patterns are associated with risk factors for T2D. MicroRNAs (miR), small, noncoding RNAs that bind to mRNA transcripts to regulate gene expression, are associated with glycemic progression in South Asians. We determined whether dietary pattern was associated with circulating miR expression in South Asians. Methods: Asian Indians (n=150), aged 45-84 years, without known CVD, from the San Francisco Bay area between August 2006 and October 2007 were enrolled in the Metabolic Syndrome and Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) pilot study. A food frequency questionnaire validated in South Asians was obtained from participants at baseline. Oral glucose tolerance tests were performed at baseline and after 2.5 years of follow-up. Circulating microRNAs were measured in plasma samples collected at baseline and stored at -80°C, using a customized Firefly Circulating MicroRNA assay. Principal component analysis with varimax rotation was used to determine dietary patterns. Individual miRs were scaled by quartile and ordinal logistic regression models assessed associations with dietary pattern. Results: Two distinct dietary patterns were identified: “Western” (n=59) and Indian “Vegetarian” (n=91). Compared with the Western pattern, the Vegetarian pattern was associated with increased miR-197-3p expression (OR=2.0 [95% CI 1.1, 3.6]), previously linked with decreased odds for glycemic progression after 2.5 years in this cohort. The Vegetarian dietary pattern was associated with decreased miR-138-5p expression (OR 0.5 [95% CI 0.3-0.9]), previously associated with higher odds for glycemic progression. (Table) Conclusions: Dietary patterns are associated with expression of two circulating miRs that also predict glycemic progression in Asian Indians. Further studies are needed to determine if circulating microRNAs associated with dietary pattern may be biomarkers for incident T2D in the high risk South Asian population.
Cancer clinical trial participants' assessment of risk and benefit

abstractBackground: The purpose of this article is to examine the extent to which cancer clinical trial participants assess the benefits and risks of research participation before enrollment. Methods: One hundred and ten oncology research participants enrolled in cancer clinical research in a large Northeastern cancer center responded to a self-administered questionnaire on perceptions about cancer clinical trials. Results: Of the participants, 51.6% reported they did not directly assess the benefits or risks. Educational level, age, employment, treatment options, insurance, and spiritual–religious beliefs were significantly associated with whether participants assessed risk and benefits. Those who felt well informed were more likely to have assessed the benefits and risks at enrollment than those who did not feel well informed (odds ratio [OR] = 3.92, p = .014); of those who did not assess the risks and benefits, 21% did not feel well informed at enrollment (p = .001). Those who agreed that the clinical ...
Mantle-derived helium in hot springs of the Cordillera Blanca, Peru: Implications for mantle-to-crust fluid transfer in a flat-slab subduction setting

Abstract Fault-controlled hot springs in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru provide geochemical evidence of mantle-derived fluids in a modern flat-slab subduction setting. The Cordillera Blanca is an ~ 200 km-long mountain range that contains the highest peaks in the Peruvian Andes, located in an amagmatic reach of the Andean arc. The Cordillera Blanca detachment defines the southwestern edge of the range and records a progression of top-down-to-the-west ductile shear to brittle normal faulting since ~ 5 Ma. Hot springs, recording temperatures up to 78 °C, issue along this fault zone and are CO 2 -rich, near neutral, alkaline-chloride to alkaline-carbonate waters, with elevated trace metal contents including arsenic (≤ 11 ppm). Water δ 18 O SMOW (− 14.2 to − 4.9‰) and δD SMOW (− 106.2 to − 74.3‰), trends in elemental chemistry, and cation geothermometry collectively demonstrate mixing of hot (200–260 °C) saline fluid with cold meteoric water along the fault. Helium isotope ratios ( 3 He/ 4 He) for dissolved gases in the waters range from 0.62 to 1.98 R A (where R A = air 3 He/ 4 He), indicating the presence of up to 25% mantle-derived helium. Given the long duration since, and large distance to active magmatism in the region, and the possible presence of a tear in the flat slab south of the Cordillera Blanca, we suggest that mantle helium may originate from asthenosphere entering the slab tear, or from the continental mantle-lithosphere, mobilized by metasomatic fluids derived from slab dehydration.
Treatment Effects of Maternal Micronutrient Supplementation Vary by Percentiles of the Birth Weight Distribution in Rural Nepal

Certain antenatal micronutrient supplements increased birth weight by 40-70 g in rural Nepal. The effect was estimated by calculating the mean difference in birth weight between control and treatment groups which assumes a constant treatment effect across the birth weight distribution. By estimating differences (and CI) in birth weight between treatment and control groups as a nonlinear smooth function of the percentiles of the birth weight distribution we can examine whether the shape of the birth weight distribution for a treatment group is different from that of the control group. Supplementation groups were folic acid folic acid and iron folic acid and iron and zinc and a multiple micronutrient supplement all with vitamin A compared with the control group of vitamin A alone. The shape of the birth weight distribution in the multiple micronutrient group was the same as that of the control group; however the location of the distribution had shifted. The folic acid and iron group had fewer infants in the lower tail of its distribution but a similar proportion in the upper tail compared with the control group. The biologic pathways affecting intrauterine growth may vary by micronutrients such that some may confer a benefit among the most vulnerable infants whereas others may have a more constant effect across the birth weight distribution. Future analytic approaches to estimating benefits of maternal supplementation on birth weight should examine whether there is a constant or variable treatment effect across the distribution of birth weight. (authors)
The detection of nicotine in a Late Mayan period flask by gas chromatography and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry methods

Several ancient Mayan vessels from the Kislak Collection of the US Library of Congress were examined for the presence of alkaloids. One of them, a codex-style flask, bears a text that appears to read yo-'OTOT-ti 'u-MAY, spelling y-otoot 'u-may 'the home of its/his/her tobacco'. Samples extracted from this Late Classic period (600 to 900 AD) container were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) methods. Nicotine was identified as the major component of the extracts. LC/MS analyses also yielded signals due to nicotine mono-oxides. The identities of the compounds were determined by comparison of the chromatographic and/or mass spectral characteristics with those from standards and literature data. High-resolution high mass accuracy tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) spectra of protonated nicotine and nicotine mono-oxides were measured to verify and to correct previous product ion assignments. These analyses provided positive evidence for nicotine from a Mayan vessel, indicating it as a likely holder of tobacco leafs. The result of this investigation is the first physical evidence of tobacco from a Mayan container, and only the second example where the vessel content recorded in a Mayan hieroglyphic text has been confirmed directly by chromatography/mass spectrometry trace analysis.
A fast iterative tomographic reconstruction algorithm

Uses a series-expansion approach and an operator framework to derive a new, fast and accurate, iterative tomographic reconstruction algorithm applicable for parallel-ray projections that have been collected at a finite number of arbitrary view angles and have been radially sampled at a rate high enough so that aliasing errors are small. The authors use the conjugate gradient algorithm to minimize a regularized least squares criterion, and prove that the main step in each iteration is equivalent to a 2-D discrete convolution, which can be cheaply and exactly implemented via the FFT. The proposed algorithm requires O(N/sup 2/ log N) multiplies per iteration to reconstruct an N/spl times/N image from P view angles, and requires the storage of half of a 2N/spl times/2N PSF.
Gamma knife radiosurgery for medically and surgically refractory prolactinomas.

OBJECTIVE: Experience with gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for prolactinomas is limited because of the efficacy of medical and surgical intervention. Patients who are refractory to medical and/or surgical therapy may be treated with GKRS. We characterize the efficacy of GKRS for medically and surgically refractory prolactinomas. METHODS: We reviewed our series of patients with prolactinomas who were treated with GKRS after failing medical and surgical intervention who had at least 1 year of follow-up. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients were included in analysis of endocrine outcomes (median and average follow-up of 55 and 58 mo, respectively) and 28 patients were included in analysis of imaging outcomes (median and average follow-up of 48 and 52 mo, respectively). Twenty-six percent of patients achieved a normal serum prolactin (remission) with an average time of 24.5 months. Remission was significantly associated with being off of a dopamine agonist at the time of GKRS and a tumor volume less than 3.0 cm3 (P < 0.05 for both). Long-term image-based volumetric control was achieved in 89% of patients. Complications included new pituitary hormone deficiencies in 28% of patients and cranial nerve palsy in two patients (7%). CONCLUSION: Clinical remission in 26% of treated patients is a modest result. However, because the GKRS treated tumors were refractory to other therapies and because complication rates were low, GKRS should be part of the armamentarium for treating refractory prolactinomas. Patients with tumors smaller than 3.0 cm3 and who are not receiving dopamine agonist at the time of treatment will likely benefit most.
Sodium fluoroacetate diabetes; insulin and carbohydrate tolerance and the antiketogenic effects of glucose and fructose.

THE locus of the metabolic defect in diabetes mellitus is still under debate, as is the site of action of insulin. The discovery that sodium fluoroacetate (SFA) precipitates a severe, but temporary, diabetes in the rat (1, 2, 3) offers an interesting opportunity in the study of the comparative biochemistry of diabetes since the basic metabolic disturbance due to SFA is reasonably well established. Fluoroacetate exerts its toxic effect only after its conversion by the tissues to fluorocitrate; the latter compound inhibits the enzyme aconitase in the Krebs cycle, resulting in an accumulation of citrate in the tissues (4). The temporary hyperglycemia and ketosis which ensues may be interpreted as the consequence of the Krebs cycle blockade with resulting loss of energy for phosphorylation of glucose, or its penetration into the cell, although the possibility of diminished insulin production by the beta cells as a consequence of the poisoning has not been ruled out (1, 2).
Inhaled long-acting β2 agonists enhance glucocorticoid receptor nuclear translocation and efficacy in sputum macrophages in COPD

Background Combination inhaled therapy with long-acting β 2 agonists (LABAs) and corticosteroids is beneficial in treating asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Objective In asthma, LABAs enhance glucocorticoid receptor (GR) nuclear translocation in the presence of corticosteroids. Whether this biological mechanism occurs in COPD, a relatively corticosteroid-resistant disease, is uncertain. Methods Eight patients with mild/moderate COPD participated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study and inhaled single doses of fluticasone propionate (FP) 100 μg, FP 500 μg, salmeterol xinafoate (SLM) 50 μg, and combination FP 100 μg + SLM 50 μg. One hour postinhalation, sputum was induced, nuclear proteins isolated from purified macrophages, and levels of activated nuclear GR quantified by using a GR-glucocorticoid response element ELISA-based assay. Results Nuclear GR significantly increased after the inhalation of FP 500 μg ( P P P In vitro in a human macrophage cell line, SLM (10 −8 mol/L) enhanced FP (10 −9 mol/L)-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphatase-1 mRNA (5.8 ± 0.6 vs 8.4 ± 1.1 × 10 −6 copies, P P −9 mol/L) to FP (10 −11 mol/L) significantly enhanced FP-mediated suppression of IL-1β–induced CXCL8 ( P Conclusions Addition of SLM 50 μg to FP 100 μg enhanced GR nuclear translocation equivalent to that seen with a 5-fold higher dose of FP in sputum macrophages from patients with COPD. This may account for the superior clinical effects of combination LABA/corticosteroid treatment compared with either as monotherapy observed in COPD.
Carotid artery stenting with neuroprotection: assessing the learning curve and treatment outcome

Abstract Purpose Carotid artery stenting (CAS) has emerged as an acceptable treatment alternative in high-risk patients with carotid stenosis. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of the learning curve on treatment complications and the clinical outcomes of CAS. Methods Clinical variables and treatment outcomes of 200 consecutive CAS procedures in 182 patients (mean age 72 years) with carotid stenosis ≥70% during a 40-month period were analyzed. Four sequential groups (groups I, II, III, and IV) of 50 consecutive interventions were compared with regard to technical success, periprocedural complications, and treatment outcomes. Results Treatment indications and relevant risk factors were similar among the 4 groups. The overall technical success and combined 30-day stroke and death rates were 98% and 2.5%, respectively. An increase in the technical success rate was noted in the latter 3 groups compared with group I ( P P P = 0.03) compared with the first group. The 30-day stroke and death rate in groups I and II were 8% and 2%, respectively, and was decreased significantly in groups III and IV (0% and 0%, respectively, P P = .03) as a predictor of decreased complication rate. Conclusions CAS with neuroprotection can provide excellent treatment outcomes. Our experience demonstrates a procedure-associated learning curve as evidenced by decreased procedure-related complications, fluoroscopic time, and contrast volume occurring with increased physician experience. Procedural success was also enhanced partly by endovascular device refinement and an improved anticoagulation regimen. Successful CAS outcomes can be achieved once physicians overcome the initial procedure-related learning curve.
A model for neural signal-to-noise ratio improvement in the insect visual system with implications for Anomalous resolution

The descending contralateral movement detector (DCMD) neurons in locusts have been used in studies of limiting spatial resolution of moving, striped objects. The results of such studies have been controversial; one group of workers claiming resolution to below a 0.3° stripe period (Burtt and Catton, 1962, 1969; Northrop, 1974; Grossman and Northrop, 1974), while another group (Palka and Pinter, 1974) not finding significant responses below a 1.5° period when an extremely precise pattern was used. The latter group has justified their experimental findings using classical optical theory which treats the receptor and its dioptic apparatus as a simple convex lens with a 33 μm pupil. It is argued in this paper that this is an oversimplification of this system, and that the best model for the dioptrics of a retinula cell is given by its directional sensitivity function (DSF) which is in effect the spatial impulse response of the in vivo system which relates effective absorbed light intensity to the angular position of a point source. A neural model is proposed in this paper which produces improved signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) at detector interneurons over the SNR in the photoreceptors. The model offers noise reduction from averaging at multisynaptic signal transmission points (Laughlin, 1973), and contrast improvement from multiplicative signal processing (MSP). A numerical example is given to illustrate the plausibility of the model, using reasonable values for known and assumed parameters. The model is compatible with known anatomy and physiology in the locust visual system. However, the existance of a presumed exponential synaptic transfer characteristic and operation of the MSP system in vivo remain to be verified experimentally.
Effect of Expectation and Disconfirmation on Postexposure Product Evaluations: A Causal Path Analysis

Oliver (1977) recently analyzed the direct effects of consumers' expectations and disconfirmation on posttrial evaluations of products using a hierarchical analysis of variance design. The research reported by Oliver is reevaluated and extended in this paper. A causal model is presented and path analysis used to assess both direct and indirect effects of consumers' expectations and a disconfirming experience on ratings of posttrial affect and intentions to purchase. Results suggest that (1) both expectations and disconfirmation influence postexposure ratings of affect with the experience of disconfirmation exerting the greater effect; (2) disconfirmation only indirectly influences intentions to purchase through its impact on affective evaluations; and, (3) expectations influence intentions to purchase in two different ways—both directly and indirectly through posttrial judgments of affect.
On finite groups generated by odd transpositions, III

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the finite groups generated by odd transpositions. Let ω be a set of integers and G a finite group. As defined by B. Fischer, a subset D of involutions of G is a set of ω-transpositions if G = , D G = D, and |uv| ∈ {1, 2} ω for all u, v ∈ D. D is a set of odd transpositions if ω is the set of all odd integers. Let D be a set of odd transpositions of G and u, v ɛ D. Then either [u, v] = 1 or u is conjugate to v in .
Online GIS service

Abstract Online GIS services are expanding rapidly as private organizations, government agencies, and libraries are developing Web sites that deliver GIS data, graphics, and metadata. Such services are divided into five categories: graphic snapshots, spatial database catalogs and libraries, map generators, map browsers, and real-time maps and images. Reviews and discussion of these current online GIS services and selected URL's are provided.
Splenic defect on 99mTc-sulfur colloid scintigraphy but not on CT in a patient with pancreatic carcinoma.

A 99mTc-sulfur colloid (99mTc-SC) scintigraphic study of a patient with pancreatic carcinoma invading the splenic hilum demonstrated a discrete focal defect of the spleen, while computed tomography (CT) showed a normal spleen. The patient underwent splectomy and no pathology was found in the spleen. The tumor invasion into the splenic hilum may have caused the defect shown in the 99mTC-SC study, reflecting splenic reticuloendothelial (RE) cell dysfunction, while CT might well represent anatomic structures only. This discrepant finding between functional (99mTc-SC)_and anatomic (CT) imaging modalities may be explained by the fact that the impairment of the phagocytic function of the spleen apparently was not severe enough to cause structural changes detected by CT or gross and microscope examination.
Sex steroid metabolism polymorphisms and mammographic density in pre- and early perimenopausal women

We examined the association between mammographic density and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes encoding CYP1A1, CYP1B1, aromatase, 17β-HSD, ESR1, and ESR2 in pre- and early perimenopausal white, African-American, Chinese, and Japanese women. The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation is a longitudinal community-based cohort study. We analyzed data from 451 pre- and early perimenopausal participants of the ancillary SWAN Mammographic Density study for whom we had complete information regarding mammographic density, genotypes, and covariates. With multivariate linear regression, we examined the relation between percentage mammographic breast density (outcome) and each SNP (primary predictor), adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, parity, cigarette smoking, and body mass index (BMI). After multivariate adjustment, the CYP1B1 rs162555 CC genotype was associated with a 9.4% higher mammographic density than the TC/TT genotype (P = 0.04). The CYP19A1 rs936306 TT genotype was associated with 6.2% lower mammographic density than the TC/CC genotype (P = 0.02). The positive association between CYP1A1 rs2606345 and mammographic density was significantly stronger among participants with BMI greater than 30 kg/m2 than among those with BMI less than 25 kg/m2 (Pinteraction = 0.05). Among white participants, the ESR1 rs2234693 CC genotype was associated with a 7.0% higher mammographic density than the CT/TT genotype (P = 0.01). SNPs in certain genes encoding sex steroid metabolism enzymes and ESRs were associated with mammographic density. Because the encoded enzymes and ESR1 are expressed in breast tissue, these SNPs may influence breast cancer risk by altering mammographic density.
The Romanian revolution from a theoretical perspective

Abstract This article examines whether theories of revolution assist in explaining the Romanian revolution of December, 1989. The author presents a definition of revolution which incorporates the concepts of fundamental change, violence, and class uprising. Then the theoretical basis of historical, socio-psychological, and structural theories of revolution are discussed. These theories of revolution are applied to a case study of the Romanian revolution. The research indicates that the application of both socio-psychological and structural theories of revolution are particularly helpful in understanding the Romanian revolution. The conclusion is reached that further social science research needs to integrate these two theories of revolution.
Modulation of vertebrate and invertebrate neuromuscular junctions

Advances in our understanding of how the neuromuscular junction is modulated include an expanded appreciation of the many different types of modulatory influences, from soluble factors to second-messenger systems, to specific proteins in nerve and muscle. Recent studies indicate that modulation of neuromuscular function is effected on both the presynaptic and postsynaptic sides of the neuromuscular junction.
An Expedient Experimental Technique for the Determination of Thermal Cycling Fatigue Life for BGA Package Solder Balls

Although accelerated thermal cycling has been widely used in electronics industry to qualify electronic packages, efforts to reduce the time and cost associated with such qualification techniques are continuously being sought. This paper outlines a laser-moire based experimental technique to quickly assess the thermal cycling reliability of microelectronic packages. Unlike accelerated thermal cycling that takes several months to complete, the proposed technique takes one to two weeks to complete and does not suffer from various modeling assumptions used in finite-element simulations. The developed technique has been used to determine the thermomechanical reliability of organic and ceramic ball grid array packages, and it is shown that the number of cycles determined by the proposed technique is comparable to the number of cycles determined through accelerated thermal cycling.
A doping concentration-dependent upper limit of the breakdown voltage–cutoff frequency product in Si bipolar transistors

Abstract Recent high-speed Si-based bipolar transistors apparently exceed the Johnson Limit in terms of breakdown voltage–cutoff frequency product, and this paper addresses the relevant issues. First, BVCES rather than BVCEO is shown to be the representative breakdown voltage in describing the breakdown-speed trade-off in collector design, since BVCEO is modulated by the current gain which is irrelevant of the collector design and also practical bipolar circuits are rarely operated with open-base condition for which BVCEO is defined. In the same context, it is suggested BVCES be employed in representing the upper limit of breakdown voltage–cutoff frequency product. Second, a collector doping concentration-dependent upper limit of BVCES·fT product is proposed incorporating the doping concentration-dependent critical electric field and accurate values for related device parameters. With this new approach, it is shown that the limit is far larger than the Johnson Limit and the limit is still yet to be reached.
Pathophysiology, diagnosis and current management of chronic constipation.

Constipation is often mild and intermittent, but can be debilitating and require medical consultation. When management with first-line conservative therapy is unsuccessful, additional studies are needed to better understand the underlying pathophysiology. This Review considers the modern principles and therapies used to manage chronic constipation of varying severities.
Psychological factors in the etiology of binge eating.

Numerous psychological factors have been hypothesized to play a role in the etiology of binge eating. This chapter proposes that female gender-role socialization puts girls at risk for the development of binge eating. Moreover, it is proposed that an understanding of risk requires an exploration of the developmental tasks of female adolscence. As research of the etiology of binge eating in particular and eating disorders in general begins to move away from testing single-factor causal models and toward testing complex, multifactorial models of causation, research needs to examine the psychological factors discussed in this chapter.
Theory of impurity states in semiconductors

We present a comprehensive theory for impurity states in semiconductors. We find that when “true” impurity potentials are employed, the effective-mass theory is valid only for substitutional impurities whose core is isoelectronic to the host-atom core (isocoric impurities) independently of whether the resulting level, is shallow or relatively deep. By formulating the problem in terms of pseudopotential theory we obtain a more general theory which is valid for non-isocoric impurities as well, and in, fact reduces to the “true”-potential formalism in the case of isocoric impurities. We are thus able to directly predict binding energies for a variety of shallow and deep impurities. The theory also supplies new physical understanding of the effectivemass concept and of the mechanisms that determine the binding energies of impurities. Finally, we discuss impurity-like localized states in semiconductors.
Temperature-dependent downhill unfolding of ubiquitin. II. Modeling the free energy surface.

To provide evidence for the interpretation of temperature-dependent unfolding kinetics and the downhill unfolding scenario presented in the accompanying experimental article (Part I), the free energy surface of ubiquitin unfolding is calculated using statistical mechanical models of the Munoz-Eaton (ME) form. The models allow only two states for each amino acid residue, folded or unfolded, and permutations of these states generate an ensemble of microstates. One-dimensional free energy curves are calculated using the number of folded residues as a reaction coordinate. The proposed sequential unfolding of ubiquitin's β-sheet is tested by mapping the free energy onto two reaction coordinates inspired by the experiment as follows: the number of folded residues in ubiquitin's stable β-strands I and II and those of the less stable strands III–V. Although the original ME model successfully captures folding features of zipper-like one-dimensional folders, it misses important tertiary interactions between residues that are far from each other in primary sequence. To take tertiary contacts into account, partially folded microstates based on a spherical growth model are included in the calculation and compared with the original model. By calculating the folding probability of each residue for a given point on the free energy surface, the unfolding pathway of ubiquitin is visualized. At low temperature, thermal unfolding occurs along a sequential unfolding pathway as follows: disruption of the β-strands III–V followed by unfolding of the strands I and II. At high temperature, multiple unfolding routes are formed. The heterogeneity of the transition state explains the global nonexponential unfolding observed in the T-jump experiment at high temperature. The calculation also reports a high stability for the α-helix of ubiquitin. Proteins 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Diurnal and Spatial Variability of Lightning Activity in Northeastern Colorado and Central Florida during the Summer

Lightning location data from northeastern Colorado and central Florida for the summer months of 1983 have been studied to ascertain the diurnal development of spatial distributions of flash frequencies. The data sources are discussed, and for both investigated regions, the regional geographic and climatic characteristics, the day-to-day variability of lightning activity, the diurnal cycle over the entire region, the spatial distribution of lightning activity, the diurnal changes of spatial distribution, and the diurnal variation of lightning at individual sites are described in detail. In both regions, the time and space distributions of lightning are modulated by the topographic features and the contrasts of the terrain. Lightning activity is a relatively rare and variable phenomenon in both regions when day-to-day frequencies are considered. There thus must be meteorological parameters that determine the extent and frequency of lightning occurrence.
AN EVALUATION OF YUNKER'S TECHNIQUE FOR THE RECOVERY OF NASAL MITES FROM BIRDS.

Yunker [1961. J. Parasit. 47 (5): 720] described a technique for recovering mites from the nares of mammals by flushing them with water injected with a syringe. He developed this method out of necessity for a rapid means to survey nasal parasites and still not damage the host skin or skull. His technique was used almost entirely on mammals for the recovery of trombiculids although other groups of mites such as epidermoptids and speleognathids were taken. To my knowledge this technique has never been adequately tested on birds and there is no information concerning the recovery of rhinonyssids by this method.
Differential Gene Expression in the Testes of Different Murine Strains Under Normal and Hyperthermic Conditions

Cryptorchidism and scrotal heating result in abnormal spermatogenesis, but the mechanism(s) prescribing this temperature sensitivity are unknown. It was previously reported that the AKR/N or MRL/MpJ-+/+ mouse testis is more heat-resistant than the testis from the C57BL/6 strain. We have attempted to probe into the mechanism(s) involved in heat sensitivity by examining global gene expression profiles of normal and heat-treated testes from C57BL/6, AKR/N, and MRL/MpJ-+/+ mice by microarray analysis. In the normal C57BL/6 testis, 415 and 416 transcripts were differentially expressed (at least 2-fold higher or lower) when compared with the normal AKR/N and MRL/MpJ-+/+ testis, respectively. The AKR/N and MRL/MpJ-+/+ strains revealed 268 differentially expressed transcripts between them. There were 231 transcripts differentially expressed between C57BL/6 and 2 purported heat-resistant strains, AKR/N and MRL/MpJ-+/+. Next, the testes of C57BL/6 and AKR/N mice were exposed to 43 degrees C for 15 minutes and harvested at different time points for terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) studies and microarrays. An increase of TUNEL-positive germ cell numbers was significant 8 hours after heat exposure in the C57BL/6 mouse. However, this increase was not observed in the AKR/N mouse until 10 hours after heat exposure. All tubules showed germ cell loss and disruption in C57BL/6 testis 24 hours after heat shock. In contrast, although a number of seminiferous tubules showed an abnormal morphology 24 hours post-heat shock in the AKR/N mouse, many tubules still retained a normal structure. Numerous transcripts exhibited differential regulation between the 2 strains within 24 hours after heat exposure. The differentially expressed transcripts in the testes 8 hours after heat exposure were targeted to identify the genes involved in the initial response rather than those attributable to germ cell loss. Twenty transcripts were significantly down-regulated and 19 genes were up-regulated by hyperthermia in C57BL/6 and did not show a parallel change in the AKR/N testis. Conversely, heat shock resulted in 30 up-regulated transcripts and 31 down-regulated transcripts in AKR/N that were not similarly regulated in C57BL/6. A number of genes shared similar differential expression patterns and differential regulation by hyperthermia in both strains of mice. Taken together, the results of the present study indicate that the diverse genetic backgrounds in the 3 strains lead to major differences in normal testis gene expression profiles, whereas the differences in heat shock responses involve a significantly smaller number of genes. The data generated may provide insights regarding gene networks and pathways involved in heat stress and their relationship to spermatogenesis.
EUS-guided transhepatic cholangiography: report of 6 cases

Background This report describes a novel application of EUS-guided cholangiography in which a transhepatic approach was used to alleviate perihilar and distal biliary obstructions when this could not be accomplished at ERCP. Methods EUS-guided transhepatic cholangiography was used to alleviate symptoms of biliary obstruction in 6 patients. In 4 cases, after transgastric puncture of an intrahepatic branch of the obstructed bile duct with a 19- or a 22-gauge EUS needle, a guidewire was advanced antegrade across both the biliary stricture and the papilla. Subsequently, a rendezvous procedure was performed, allowing ERCP and stent placement. Observations EUS-guided transhepatic cholangiography was performed in 6 patients, with successful rendezvous ERCP and stent placement in 4, and transduodenal stent placement in another patient. Stent placement was unsuccessful in one patient, because of the inability to advance a guidewire into the common hepatic duct. There was no immediate complication of the procedures. Conclusions EUS-guided transhepatic cholangiography can be used to access and to drain bile ducts that are obstructed by proximal, as well as distal lesions when ERCP is unsuccessful.
Structure of the Essential Diversity-Generating Retroelement Protein bAvd and Its Functionally Important Interaction with Reverse Transcriptase

Diversity-generating retroelements (DGRs) are the only known source of massive protein sequence variation in prokaryotes. These elements transfer coding information from a template region (TR) through an RNA intermediate to a protein-encoding variable region. This retrohoming process is accompanied by unique adenine-specific mutagenesis and, in the prototypical BPP-1 DGR, requires a reverse transcriptase (bRT) and an accessory variability determinant (bAvd) protein. To understand the role of bAvd, we determined its 2.69 A resolution structure, which revealed a highly positively charged pentameric barrel. In accordance with its charge, bAvd bound both DNA and RNA, albeit without a discernable sequence preference. We found that the coding sequence of bAvd functioned as part of TR but identified means to mutate bAvd without affecting TR. This mutational analysis revealed a strict correspondence between retrohoming and interaction of bAvd with bRT, suggesting that the bRT-bAvd complex is important for DGR retrohoming.
Tertiary oil recovery by flooding with aqueous chemical solutions

The ability of a water-soluble (oil-insoluble), detergent alkylate sulfonate to recover tertiary oil from flooded-out Berea sands is traced to the presence, in it, of minor but as yet chemically unidentified components. The immiscible displacement process with dilute aqueous solutions of the sulfonate is found to be independent of conventional mobility control, and to depend only on the amount of sulfonate (not concentration) in the displacing phase. 13 refs.
Skeletal Muscle Circulation

ABSTRACT The aim of this treatise is to summarize the current understanding of the mechanisms for blood flow control to skeletal muscle under resting conditions, how perfusion is elevated (exercise hyperemia) to meet the increased demand for oxygen and other substrates during exercise, mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of regular physical activity on cardiovascular health, the regulation of transcapillary fluid filtration and protein flux across the microvascular exchange vessels, and the role of changes in the skeletal muscle circulation in pathologic states. Skeletal muscle is unique among organs in that its blood flow can change over a remarkably large range. Compared to blood flow at rest, muscle blood flow can increase by more than 20-fold on average during intense exercise, while perfusion of certain individual white muscles or portions of those muscles can increase by as much as 80-fold. This is compared to maximal increases of 4- to 6-fold in the coronary circulation during exercise. Th...
Exploiting k-constraints to reduce memory overhead in continuous queries over data streams

Continuous queries often require significant run-time state over arbitrary data streams. However, streams may exhibit certain data or arrival patterns, or constraints, that can be detected and exploited to reduce state considerably without compromising correctness. Rather than requiring constraints to be satisfied precisely, which can be unrealistic in a data streams environment, we introduce k-constraints, where k is an adherence parameter specifying how closely a stream adheres to the constraint. (Smaller k's are closer to strict adherence and offer better memory reduction.) We present a query processing architecture, called k-Mon, that detects useful k-constraints automatically and exploits the constraints to reduce run-time state for a wide range of continuous queries. Experimental results showed dramatic state reduction, while only modest computational overhead was incurred for our constraint monitoring and query execution algorithms.
The coaction of tonic and phasic dopamine dynamics

Tonic neurochemical dopamine activity underlies many brain functions; however a consensus on this important concentration has not yet been reached. In this work, we introduce in vivo fast-scan controlled-adsorption voltammetry to report tonic dopamine concentrations (90 ± 9 nM) and the dopamine diffusion coefficient (1.05 ± 0.09 × 10−6 cm2 s−1) in the mouse brain.
A fuzzy logic-based adaptive damping controller for static VAR compensator

Abstract This paper presents an approach for designing a fuzzy logic-based adaptive SVC damping controller for damping low frequency power oscillations. The proposed approach uses linear optimal controllers and, in addition, a fuzzy signal tuner is introduced to achieve adaptiveness. Two linear damping controllers are designed to accommodate two extreme operating conditions and a fuzzy logic mechanism is used to generate one single control signal by properly combining the outputs of the linear controllers. The fuzzy controller is optimized using a least squares error criterion and, as a result, a higher-order adaptive controller is achieved. Simulation studies of the proposed fuzzy adaptive damping controller show that it provides satisfactory damping against low frequency oscillations under different operating conditions. Results are given for a one-machine infinite-bus and a four-machine two-area test system, which show improvement over the use of a fixed parameter controller.