cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Learning procedural knowledge through observation

The research presented here describes a framework that provides the necessary infrastructure to learn procedural knowledge from observation traces annotated with goal transition information. One instance of a learning-by-observation system, called KnoMic (Knowledge Mimic), is developed within this framework and evaluated in a complex domain. This evaluation demonstrates that learning by observation can acquire procedural knowledge and can acquire that knowledge more efficiently than standard knowledge acquisition.
Incorporating the Effects of Variable Wall Properties in Large-Scale Deformable Models of the Cardiovascular System

Numerical simulation of blood flow in arteries has important applications in disciplines such as surgical planning, medical device design, and disease research. However, there are many challenges involved in accurately characterizing the motion of blood within the arterial system. First, computational models can require finite element meshes with several million degrees of freedom. Furthermore, surgical planning applications require solving these problems as quickly as possible. Second, the boundary conditions must faithfully represent the flow and pressure characteristics of the vascular trees external to the computational model. These conditions must also be consistent with the intrinsic wave propagation phenomena within the model. Third, the fluid-solid interactions between blood, vessel wall and surrounding tissues and organs need to be modeled. In order to represent the pulsation of blood within arteries, one must consider the variations in arterial compliance (especially significant when dealing with large models), points of attachment of the vessels to the surrounding organs, etc. Prior vascular fluid-structure interaction models have considered uniform vessel wall properties and a zero pressure reference state.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Childhood characteristics associated with stage of substance use of American Indians: Family background, traumatic experiences, and childhood behaviors☆

The purpose of this analysis is to examine childhood characteristics associated with stage of substance use in adulthood in two American Indian (AI) populations. Data were drawn from an epidemiologic study of two AI reservation populations for persons age 18–44 years (n=2070). We used descriptive and multivariate analysis to examine correlates of four mutually exclusive stages of substance use: lifetime abstinence (Stage 0), use of alcohol only (Stage 1A), use of marijuana/inhalants with or without alcohol (Stage 1B), and use of other illicit drugs with or without the previously listed substances (Stage 2). Problematic substance use by parents, younger age of first substance use, initiating substance use with a drug (with or without alcohol), and adolescent conduct problems were associated with higher stage substance use. Persons who experienced sexual abuse, witnessed family violence, or experienced other traumatic events before the age of 18 were more likely to be at Stage 1B than Stage 1A. These findings underscore the importance of providing effective interventions during childhood and adolescence to reduce the risk of substance use progression.
Growth factor supplementation improves native and engineered meniscus repair in vitro

Abstract Few therapeutic options exist for meniscus repair after injury. Local delivery of growth factors may stimulate repair and create a favorable environment for engineered replacement materials. In this study we assessed the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) (a pro-mitotic agent) and transforming growth factor β3 (TGF-β3) (a pro-matrix formation agent) on meniscus repair and the integration/maturation of electrospun poly(e-caprolactone) (PCL) scaffolds for meniscus tissue engineering. Circular meniscus repair constructs were formed and refilled with either native tissue or scaffolds. Repair constructs were cultured in serum-containing medium for 4 and 8 weeks with various growth factor formulations, and assessed for mechanical strength, biochemical content, and histological appearance. Results showed that either short-term delivery of bFGF or sustained delivery of TGF-β3 increased integration strength for both juvenile and adult bovine tissue, with similar findings for engineered materials. While TGF-β3 increased proteoglycan content in the explants, bFGF did not increase DNA content after 8 weeks of culture. This work suggests that in vivo delivery of bFGF or TGF-β3 may stimulate meniscus repair, but that the time course of delivery will strongly influence success. Further, this study demonstrates that electrospun scaffolds are a promising material for meniscus tissue engineering, achieving comparable or superior integration compared with native tissue.
Chemoimmunotherapy for canine lymphosarcoma

Thirty-two dogs with naturally occurring multicentric lymphosarcoma were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups. One half of the animals received combination chemotherapy plus vitamin injections (controls) while the other half received indentical chemotherapy plus injections of chemically-modified tumor cell extract in Freund's complete adjuvant (vaccinates). Clinical staging revealed no bias between groups but showed that prognosis could be closely correlated with the severity of disease at initial presentation. Twenty dogs (62%), including 11 vaccinates and 9 controls, responded favorably to chemotherapy and were evaluated for length of first remission and total survival time. Both parameters were significantly longer in vaccinated dogs than in controls. These data suggest that immunological stimulation may be a helpful adjunct to conventional therapy in selected types of cancer when immunological principles are observed.
Preferential trading arrangements and military disputes

(1999). Preferential trading arrangements and military disputes. Security Studies: Vol. 9, Power and the Purse: Economic Statecraft, Interdependence, and National Security, pp. 92-118.
NMDA-mediated and self-induced bdnf exon IV transcriptions are differentially regulated in cultured cortical neurons

Activity-dependent transcriptional up-regulation of bdnf (brain-derived neurotrophic factor) is involved in regulating many aspects of neuronal functions. The NMDA (N-methyl-d-aspartic acid)-mediated and BDNF-mediated exon IV transcription may represent mechanistically different responses, and relevant to activity-dependent changes in neurons. We found that the activities of ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase), CaM KII/IV (calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and IV), PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase), and PLC (phospholipase C) are required for NMDA receptor-mediated bdnf exon IV transcription in cultured cortical neurons. In contrast, the BDNF-induced and TrkB-dependent exon IV transcription was regulated by ERK and CaM KII/IV, but not by PI3K and PLC. While ERK and CaM KII/IV are separate signaling pathways in BDNF-stimulated neurons, CaM KII/IV appeared to regulate exon IV transcription through ERK in NMDA-stimulated neurons. Similarly, the PI3K and PLC signaling pathways converged on ERK in NMDA- but not BDNF-stimulated neurons. Our results implicate that the NMDA-induced and the self-maintenance of bdnf transcription are differentially regulated.
L = 2, 3 phase shifts for electron-hydrogen scattering

Abstract A variational calculation using a pseudo-state basis has determined phase shifts for partial waves of L = 2, 3 for the scattering of electrons by hydrogen atoms in the energy range 0.01–0.75 Ry.
The role of network bandwidth in barrier synchronization

In this paper, we analyze the minimum acceptable bandwidths for networks performing communication for barrier synchronization. We relate these critical bandwidths to the variance of the arrival times of the processors participating in the barrier. We propose a new model called the network bandwidth overflow model that can be used for certain algorithms to compute the difference between the time of the last arriving processor and the time at which the barrier completes. A high variance of arrivals enables a very low bandwidth network to service the barrier traffic and adds only a negligible delay to the barrier completion time. Additionally, there is negligible delay in barrier completion for network bandwidths above a critical bandwidth. The major characteristics of the network bandwidth model are: barrier arrivals are modeled with a normal distribution, messages announcing arrivals receive sequential service by the synchronization network, and these messages are broadcast to all processors.
Prediction tree for severely head-injured patients

Prediction tree techniques are employed in the analysis of data from 555 patients admitted to the Medical College of Virginia hospitals with severe head injuries. Twenty-three prognostic indicators are examined to predict the distribution of 12-month outcomes among the five Glasgow Outcome Scale categories. A tree diagram, illustrating the prognostic pattern, provides critical threshold levels that split the patients into subgroups with varying degrees of risk. It is a visually useful way to look at the prognosis of head-injured patients. In previous analyses addressing this prediction problem, the same set of prognostic factors (age, motor score, and pupillary response) was used for all patients. These approaches might be considered inflexible because more informative prediction may be achieved by somewhat different combinations of factors for different patients. Tree analysis reveals that the pattern of important prognostic factors differs among various patient subgroups, although the three previously mentioned factors are still of primary importance. For example, it is noted that information concerning intracerebral lesions is useful in predicting outcome for certain patients. The overall predictive accuracy of the tree technique for these data is 77.7%, which is somewhat higher than that obtained via standard prediction methods. The predictive accuracy is highest among patients who have a good recovery or die; it is lower for patients having intermediate outcomes.
Visualizing a computer mediated communication (CMC) process to facilitate knowledge management

The archive of a computer-mediated communication (CMC) process contains knowledge shared and implicit information about participants' behavior patterns during discussion. However, most CMC systems focus only on organizing the content of discussions. On the other hand, the social visualization research has developed techniques to depict human behaviors during a process of CMC but has not been integrated in any organizational memory system yet. In addition, the impacts of the graphical representations created by social visualization techniques have seldom been studied. The dissertation thus proposes a two-phase research to address those issues. The first phase proposes a prototype system that integrates a social visualization technique with various information analysis technologies to graphically summarize both the content and behavior of a CMC process. The second phase proposes to adopt the "de-featuring" approach used by previous interface evaluation studies to evaluate how the graphical interface developed affects users' information acquisition and evaluation process.
Proof of the closed-universe-recollapse conjecture for diagonal Bianchi type-IX cosmologies.

It is proven that there do not exist any Bianchi type-IX universes which expand for an infinite time, provided only that the matter satisfies the dominant energy condition and has non-negative average pressure (i.e., a non-negative trace of the spatial projection of the stress-energy tensor). This generalizes a proof recently given by us for the case of diagonal Bianchi type-IX solutions.
1×8 Si ring Mux/DeMux with ultra-low tuning power

We report a compact 1×8 silicon Mux/DeMux with ring tuning efficiency of <;3μW/GHz using back-side substrate removal technique. Total power of <;4.1mW was measured to tune the device to a 1.6nm wavelength grid.
Gradient Chemical Micropatterns: A Reference Substrate for Surface Nanometrology†

We present fabrication routes for a new type of surface specimen that exhibits a micropattern with a gradient in chemical contrast between the pattern domains. Design elements in the specimen allow chemical contrast in the micropattern to be related to well-established surface characterization data, such as contact angle measurements. These gradient specimens represent a reference tool for calibrating image contrast in chemically sensitive scanning probe microscopy techniques and a platform for the high-throughput analysis of polymer thin film behavior.
Early Suturing of Wounds of the Face

The practice of suturing wounds of the body at an early date after injury is at present arousing an active interest among surgeons. The procedure is achieving increased success, undoubtedly because of a better knowledge of the exact nature of war injuries, of a better surgical technic involved, and of a proper use of antiseptics. If early suturing can be accomplished, the benefits are obvious: the healing process is materially shortened, many unsightly scars are avoided, and the patient undergoes a briefer period of convalescence. There has always been a considerable divergence of opinion in regard to the most suitable time for the closure of facial wounds. Some surgeons have recommended early suturing on the grounds that undue contraction of the tissues was forestalled by bringing the lacerated borders together and that subsequent elaborate plastic operations were to a great extent evaded. Others favored late suturing at a time when
Permanent Deposits of Sectionalism in American Christianity

About the fourth decade of the nineteenth century, a change came over the general spirit of American society. Historians have often noted the fact and they have described it and explained it in various ways. It was a time of storm and stress, a period of controversy and conflict and finally war. There was scarcely a single phase of life that was not infected. As if by some preconcerted signal the souls of men in most diverse groups and relationships suddenly became sensitive and combative. The result was one of those swift ruptures with the past that leave abiding scars in the body of society. The American churches reflected faithfully the spirit that prevailed in the other phases of social life. And the students of church history have always been impressed with the spirit of controversy and competition that prevailed in American Christianity from about 1830 to about 1870. The historians of American Christianity write about "that strange epidemic of controversy which ran simultaneously through
Cytotoxicity to alveolar macrophages of trace metals adsorbed on fly ash.

Fly ash fractionated into <2-, 2- to 5-, and 5- to 8-μm size ranges and coated on the surface with PbO, NiO, or MnO2 was used to examine the cytotoxic effects in vitro of particle concentration and size to alveolar macrophages (AM). For the various fly-ash samples, statistically significant decreases were demonstrated in viability, total protein, and lactate dehydrogenase activity with increasing concentration and decreasing particle size. The toxic effect was not due to solubilization of the test metals in the media since no toxicity could be demonstrated using particle-free leaches. The percentage of metal adsorbed on the fly ash varied within a narrow range and therefore at a given concentration the AM were exposed to fairly constant amounts of the test elements irrespective of particle size. Thus cytotoxicity is particle size as well as dose dependent and the greater toxicity of the smaller particles appears to be due to their larger surface area.
A REVIEW OF EJECTOR TECHNOLOGY FOR REFRIGERATION APPLICATIONS

This paper provides a comprehensive review of ejector technology for refrigeration applications, combining an understanding of basic fluid flow fundamentals within the ejector with application in cycle-level development. An ejector is a passive device that requires no external mechanical input or moving parts. A high-velocity motive stream produces a low-pressure region into which a suction flow is entrained, resulting in a pressure rise of the suction flow and mixing between the two streams to provide a pumping effect. The first part of this review addresses the progression from experiment-based analytical models to computational modeling of the ejector itself from the early 1950s to 2009. Included is an assessment of the most recent work in CFD modeling, and an exploration into what is needed to develop these models further. Suggestions for future research include better modeling of shock phenomena and the effects of two-phase flow in ejectors. The second part of this review focuses on ejector applications in refrigeration cycles with special emphasis on the vapor-jet refrigeration cycle. Important connections are made between ejector component and system level studies, an understanding of which would enable improvement of system level performance to the extent where they could be used in some niche applications instead of conventional refrigeration systems.
Acute effects of testosterone propionate upon RNA synthesis in mouse kidney.

SummaryIn A. Cloudman female mice a single injection of 1 mg T.P. induces a significant increase in the incorporation of labeled orotic acid into kidney RNA. This increase is detectable within 6 hr and has disappeared after 68 hr. In all circumstances, specific activities of uridine nucleotides isolated from labeled RNA are greater than those of cytidine nucleotides; after T.P., however, CMP labeling increases more than does UMP labeling.Actinomycin D, in quantities sufficient to inhibit the β-glucuronidase response to T.P., does not diminish (in fact slightly increases) nucleic acid labeling, while reducing the T.P. effect by about 50%.
Nongeostrophic Theory of Zonally Averaged Circulation. Part I: Formulation.

A nongeostrophic theory of zonally averaged circulation is formulated using the nonlinear primitive equations (mass conservation, thermodynamics, and zonal momentum) on a sphere. The relationship between the mean meridional circulation and diabatic heating rate is studied. Differences between results of nongeostropic theory and the geostrophic formulation concerning the role of eddy forcing of the diabatic circulation and the nonlinear nearly inviscid limit versus the geostrophic limit are discussed. Consideration is given to the Eliassen-Palm flux divergence, the Eliassen-Palm pseudodivergence, the nonacceleration theorem, and the nonlinear nongeostrophic Taylor relationship.
Challenges associated with spinal opioid therapy for pain in patients with advanced cancer: a report of three cases

Intraspinal opioid therapy has been increasingly used for the management of cancer pain refractory to traditional treatment. However, this approach may present challenges in patients with advanced cancer. Three cases are presented that highlight the challenges associated with using neuraxial analgesia to manage cancer pain that was felt to be "refractory" to conventional treatment. Before an invasive procedure, such as placement of a permanent intrathecal opioid delivery system, a rigorous assessment and treatment of total pain (physical, psychological, spiritual, social, and practical) by an interdisciplinary team would be prudent.
A review of contention resolution algorithms for IEEE 802.14 networks

Bidirectional cable TV networks using hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) systems are good examples of broadcast environments where a contention resolution algorithm is needed in order to allocate the multiaccess medium (in this case the upstream link) among the various nodes. Recent activities of the IEEE 802.14 working group aimed at defining the physical and medium access control (MAC) layer protocols for HFC cable networks have focused on the study and evaluation of several contention resolution solutions for inclusion in the MAC protocol specifications. In this article several contention resolution algorithms considered by the IEEE 802.14 group are reviewed. Different implementations for several well known contention resolution algorithms such as tree-based and p-persistence are presented. Their performance is evaluated in the HFC context with respect to upstream channel allocation, roundtrip delay, various traffic types, and number of stations in the network. Simulation results for configurations and scenarios of interest are also presented.
Albumin and cytochrome P450 binding characteristics of juvenile hormone and its analogs

Abstract Binding data were gathered for the cecropia juvenile hormone (methyl(E, E cis)-10,11-epoxy-7-ethyl-3,11-dimethyl-2,6-tridecadienoate) and two of its analogs {isopropyl(2E, 4E)-11-methoxy-3,7,11-trimethyl-2,4-dodecadienoate; (E)-4-[(6,7-epoxy-3,7-dimethyl-2-nonenyl)-oxyl]-1,2-(methylenedioxy)benzene} with bovine serum albumin and rat hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450. The proteins were found to bind the juvenile hormone and juvenile hormone analogs with affinity constants ranging from 105 to 106 M−1. Thermodynamic calculations suggest that the binding of all three compounds is electrostatic in nature and that the size of the ether and ester substituents can greatly influence the binding to proteins. The juvenile hormone and its analogs all formed spectrally apparent Type I complexes with oxidized cytochrome P450; one of the juvenile hormone analogs formed a spectrally observable product adduct with reduced cytochrome P450. The product complex may contribute many of the hormonal effects observed for this compound.
Speed-of-sound measurements for liquid trichlorofluoromethane under pressure

Abstract Speeds of sound c have been measured for liquid trichlorofluoromethane at four temperatures between 353 and 413 K and at pressures up to 210 MPa. A pulse-echo-overlap technique was used to carry out the measurements. A 14-parameter rational polynomial fitted our (p, c, T) results with an average error of 0.040 per cent. Our measurements are shown to be consistent with results for liquid trichlorofluoromethane at saturation.
The utility of artificially evolved sequences in protein threading and fold recognition.

Abstract Template-based protein structure prediction plays an important role in Functional Genomics by providing structural models of gene products, which can be utilized by structure-based approaches to function inference. From a systems level perspective, the high structural coverage of gene products in a given organism is critical. Despite continuous efforts towards the development of more sensitive threading approaches, confident structural models cannot be constructed for a considerable fraction of proteins due to difficulties in recognizing low-sequence identity templates with a similar fold to the target. Here we introduce a new modeling stratagem, which employs a library of synthetic sequences to improve template ranking in fold recognition by sequence profile-based methods. We developed a new method for the optimization of generic protein-like amino acid sequences to stabilize the respective structures using a combined empirical scoring function, which is compatible with these commonly used in protein threading and fold recognition. We show that the artificially evolved sequences, whose average sequence identity to the wild-type sequences is as low as 13.8%, have significant capabilities to recognize the correct structures. Importantly, the quality of the corresponding threading alignments is comparable to these constructed using conventional wild-type approaches (the average TM-score is 0.48 and 0.54, respectively). Fold recognition that uses data fusion to combine ranks calculated for both wild-type and synthetic template libraries systematically improves the detection of structural analogs. Depending on the threading algorithm used, it yields on average 4–16% higher recognition rates than using the wild-type template library alone. Synthetic sequences artificially evolved for the template structures provide an orthogonal source of signal that could be exploited to detect these templates unrecognized by standard modeling techniques. It opens up new directions in the development of more sensitive threading methods with the enhanced capabilities of targeting difficult, midnight zone templates.
Separation of anionic oligosaccharides by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Abstract We have developed methods for rapid fractionation of anionic oligosaccharides containing sulfate and/or sialic acid moieties by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Ion-exchange HPLC on amine-bearing columns (Micropak AX-10 and AX-5) at pH 4.0 is utilized to separate anionic oligosaccharides bearing zero, one, two, three, or four charges, independent of the identity of the anionic moieties (sulfate and/or sialic acid). Ion-exchange HPLC at pH 1.7 allows separation of neutral, mono-, di-, and tetrasialylated, monosulfated, and disulfated oligosaccharides. Oligosaccharides containing three sialic acid residues and those bearing one each of sulfate and sialic acid, however, coelute at pH 1.7. Since the latter two oligosaccharide species separate at pH 4.0, analysis at pH 4.0 followed by analysis at pH 1.7 can be utilized to completely fractionate complex mixtures of sulfated and sialylated oligosaccharides. Ion-suppression amine adsorption HPLC has previously been shown to separate anionic oligosaccharides on the basis of net carbohydrate content (size). In this study we demonstrate the utility of ion-suppression amine adsorption HPLC for resolving sialylated oligosaccharide isomers which differ only in the linkages of sialic acid residues (α2,3 vs α2,6) and/or location of α2,3- and α2,6-linked sialic acid moieties on the peripheral branches of oligosaccharides. These two methods can be used in tandem to separate oligosaccharides, both analytically and preparatively, based on their number, types, and linkages of anionic moieties.
Aperiodic superconducting phase boundary of periodic micronetworks in a magnetic field

We study flux quantization in periodic arrays with two elementary cells having an irrational ratio of areas. In particular, we calculate the superconducting-normal phase boundary T/sub c/(H) and we analyze the origin of its overall and fine structure as a function of the network size. We discuss our theoretical results, exploiting the electronic tight-binding analogy to the Ginzburg-Landau equations, and compare them with the experimental ones.
Magnetic compass orientation in the Eastern red-spotted newt (Notophthalmus viridescens).

Laboratory tests were carried out to examine the orientation behavior of adult Eastern red-spotted newts (Notophthalmus viridescens) to earth-strength magnetic fields. Groups of 30 to 40 newts were housed in water-filled, all-glass aquaria with an artificial shoreline at one end. The aquaria were located in a greenhouse or outdoors adjacent to the laboratory building, and aligned on either the magnetic north-south or east-west axis. Tests were carried out in an enclosed indoor arena. Newts were tested in four horizontal alignments of the magnetic field: the ambient magnetic field (magnetic north at North) and three altered fields (magnetic north rotated to East, South or West). Data were analyzed after pooling the magnetic bearings from all four conditions in such a way as to retain the component of the newts' orientation that was a consistent response to the magnetic field. Elevation of training tank water temperature was used to increase the newts' motivation to orient in the direction of shore. Newts exposed to a training tank water temperature of 33–34 °C just prior to testing exhibited consistent unimodal magnetic compass orientation. The direction of orientation was altered predictably by changing training tank alignment and location relative to the laboratory building. The results provide the first evidence of a strong, replicable magnetic compass response in a terrestrial vertebrate under controlled laboratory conditions. Further, the present study demonstrates that the Eastern newt is able to learn a directional response relative to the earth's magnetic field.
Effect of photoinitiator system and water content on dynamic mechanical properties of a light-cured bisGMA/HEMA dental resin.

The selection of an appropriate photoinitiator system is critical for efficient polymerization of dental resins with satisfactory mechanical and physical properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of adding an iodonium salt to two-component photoinitiator systems. Four photoinitiator systems were included in a model bisGMA/HEMA resin and used to prepare samples at different water contents; the dynamic mechanical properties and the final degree of conversion of the samples were then characterized. Addition of the iodonium salt to the two-component photoinitiator systems increased the final degree of conversion, glass transition temperature, rubbery modulus, and crosslink density. The photoinitiator system containing ethyl-4-(dimethylamino) benzoate as a coinitiator and the iodonium salt exhibited the highest rubbery modulus. The enhanced properties in the presence of the iodonium salt can be attributed to the production of an active phenyl radical with regeneration of the original camphorquinone, which may increase the compatibility between monomers and initiators, especially in the presence of water. The results support the hypothesis that a photoinitiator system containing an iodonium salt can increase both mechanical properties and final conversion of model resin polymerized in the presence of water. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 2010
Hemostatic profiles of HeartMate ventricular assist device recipients.

Candidates for ventricular assist devices often have hepatic dysfunction and concomitant coagulation abnormalities. Factors II, V, VII, XI, plasminogen, fibrinopeptide A (FpA), and d-dimers were measured in 19 HeartMate (ThermoCardiosystems, Inc., Woburn, MA) patients before device implantation; at 6 hr, 24 hr, and 2 weeks postimplantation; and before explantation. Ten patients had entry hepatic dysfunction (total bilirubin > 2 mg/dl; aspartate and alanine aminotransferases > 60 U/L); nine had normal hepatic function. All except one patient received perioperative aprotinin; all received only aspirin and dipyridamole after surgery. At preimplant, both patient groups had subnormal factor II, V, VII, XI, and plasminogen with elevated FpA and d-dimer. By 2 weeks postimplant, these factor levels had normalized, except for FpA and d-dimer levels, which suggest ongoing remodeling of fibrin deposits on the device surfaces. No statistically significant differences in the assayed hemostatic markers were observed between the two patient groups. Clinically, 15/19 (79%) patients survived to cardiac transplantation; 3/19 (16%) patients required reoperation for early bleeding. All three had low factor VII and XI; two of three also had hepatic dysfunction and subnormal levels of factor II and V. Most patients with entry hepatic dysfunction improve after device implantation; all four deaths were in patients with persistent hepatic dysfunction despite circulatory support.
Digital image processing of confocal microscopic images of the eye

This paper describes the formation and the processing of images from ocular tissue. Submicron optical serial sections of the cornea and the ocular lens were obtained using both the laser scanning confocal microscope and the Nipkow disk Tandem scanning microscope. The laser scanning confocal microscope used a photomultiplier tube as the detector. The real-time tandem scanning confocal light microscope used a cooled charge-coupled device (CCD) as the detector. Both confocal imaging systems are compared. The laser scanning confocal microscope used Kalman averaging to reduce the noise of the images. The real-time tandem scanning confocal microscope used a cooled CCD to integrate the image for 5 seconds in order to reduce image noise. The sample was a live, enucleated rabbit eye. The cornea and the ocular lens are almost transparent and have extremely low contrast. The images obtained with the two confocal systems show sub-micron resolution in the image plane. These confocal light microscope provide high resolution, high contrast images of living ocular tissue. The image quality of the resulting confocal images rivals that obtained from electron microscope of fixed, stained, and coated tissue specimens. Examples are given of simple digital image processing operations to alter the image quality.
Notes on Discounting

In general, if a variable can be expressed as a function of its own maximum value, that function may be called a discount function. Delay discounting and probability discounting are commonly studied in psychology, but memory, matching, and economic utility also may be viewed as discounting processes. When they are so viewed, the discount function obtained is hyperbolic in form. In some cases the effective discounting variable is proportional to the physical variable on which it is based. For example, in delay discounting, the physical variable, delay (D), may enter into the hyperbolic equation as kD. In many cases, however, the discounting data are not well described with a single-parameter discount function. A much better fit is obtained when the effective variable is a power function of the physical variable (kDs in the case of delay discounting). This power-function form fits the data of delay, probability, and memory discounting as well as other two-parameter discount functions and is consistent with both the generalized matching law and maximization of a constant-elasticity-of-substitution utility function.
Role of hypoxia-induced Bax translocation and cytochrome c release in reoxygenation injury

We investigated mechanisms of cell death during hypoxia/reoxygenation of cultured kidney cells. During glucose-free hypoxia, cell ATP levels declined steeply resulting in the translocation of Bax from cytosol to mitochondria. Concurrently, there was cytochrome c release and caspase activation. Cells that leaked cytochrome c underwent apoptosis after reoxygenation. ATP depletion induced by a mitochondrial uncoupler resulted in similar alterations even in the presence of oxygen. Moreover, inclusion of glucose during hypoxia prevented protein translocations and reoxygenation injury by maintaining intracellular ATP. Thus, ATP depletion, rather than hypoxia per se, was the cause of protein translocations. Overexpression of Bcl-2 prevented cytochrome c release and reoxygenation injury without ameliorating ATP depletion or Bax translocation. On the other hand, caspase inhibitors did not prevent protein translocations, but inhibited apoptosis during reoxygenation. Nevertheless, they could not confer long-term viability, since mitochondria had been damaged. Omission of glucose during reoxygenation resulted in continued failure of ATP production, and cell death with necrotic morphology. In contrast, cells expressing Bcl-2 had functional mitochondria and remained viable during reoxygenation even without glucose. Therefore, Bax translocation during hypoxia is a molecular trigger for cell death during reoxygenation. If ATP is available during reoxygenation, apoptosis develops; otherwise, death occurs by necrosis. By preserving mitochondrial integrity, BCL-2 prevents both forms of cell death and ensures cell viability.
Active role of buried ultrathin oxide layers in adsorption of O2 on Au films

Ultrathin oxide layers can exhibit special behavior by enabling the coupling of structural distortions and charge transfer beyond that allowed in the bulk. In this work, we show from first-principles calculations that ultrathin layers of titania, a prototypical oxide, are active in stabilizing adsorption of O2 on Au overlayers. The adsorbed O2 molecules induce charge redistribution in Au that penetrates to the Au–titania interface, which responds through structural distortions that lower the total energy of the system. We suggest that this effect may be of more general nature and useful in catalysis.
The evolution of early Egyptian civilization: Issues and evidence

Egypt's cultural evolution between 4000 and 2000 B.C. is reviewed in and related to methodological and theoretical issues in contemporary archaeology. Recent archaeological evidence from the Nile Delta is analyzed in the context of the cultural integration of the Nile Valley and Delta after about 3200 B.C.
Caldera subsidence and magma chamber depth of the Olympus Mons volcano, Mars

An axisymmetric finite element model is constructed to calculate elastic stresses in a volcanic edifice to examine the relationship between surface tectonism, caldera subsidence, and the physical characteristics of Olympus Mons' magmatic reservoir. Model results indicate that the surface stress state is not strongly sensitive to the aspect ratio or pressure distribution of the magma chamber, or to the contrast in stiffness between the magma chamber and surroundings, but is strongly dependent on the depth and width of the chamber. A gross similarity is suggested between the configurations of the magmatic plumbing systems of Olympus Mons and several well-studied terrestrial volcanoes such as the Hawaiian shields.
Laser-induced speckle scatter patterns in Bacillus colonies.

Label-free bacterial colony phenotyping technology called BARDOT (BActerial Rapid Detection using Optical scattering Technology) provided successful classification of several different bacteria at the genus, species, and serovar level. Recent experiments with colonies of Bacillus species provided strikingly different characteristics of elastic light scatter (ELS) patterns, which were comprised of random speckles compared to other bacteria, which are dominated by concentric rings and spokes. Since this laser-based optical sensor interrogates the whole volume of the colony, 3-D information of micro- and macro-structures are all encoded in the far-field scatter patterns. Here, we present a theoretical model explaining the underlying mechanism of the speckle formation by the colonies from Bacillus species. Except for Bacillus polymyxa, all Bacillus spp. produced random bright spots on the imaging plane, which presumably dependent on the cellular and molecular organization and content within the colony. Our scatter model-based analysis revealed that colony spread resulting in variable surface roughness can modify the wavefront of the scatter field. As the center diameter of the Bacillus spp. colony grew from 500 μm to 900 μm, average speckles area decreased 2-fold and the number of small speckles increased 7-fold. In conclusion, as Bacillus colony grows, the average speckle size in the scatter pattern decreases and the number of smaller speckle increases due to the swarming growth characteristics of bacteria within the colony.
Cloning and functional expression of a cDNA encoding a metabolic acyl-CoA Δ9-desaturase of the cabbage looper moth, Trichoplusia ni ☆

Acyl-CoA delta 9-desaturases play essential roles in fatty acid metabolism and the regulation of cell membrane fluidity. In this research, a cDNA sequence was obtained from Trichoplusia ni adult fat body mRNA by using RT-PCR with degenerate primers based on other characterized delta 9-desaturase sequences. The remainder of the sequence was amplified using 3'- and 5'-RACE. A 1439 bp cDNA reconstructed from three overlapping PCR products contains an ORF encoding a 353-amino acids (aa) protein that shows clear homology (greater than 50% aa identity and greater than 65% aa similarity to characterized insect and vertebrate desaturases). The ORF of this cDNA was subcloned into an expression vector, which relieved the unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) auxotrophy of a desaturase-deficient yeast strain following genetic transformation. The newly characterized desaturase from T. ni produced fatty acids delta 9-16 and delta 9-18 in a 1:6 ratio, compared to a 5:1 ratio, respectively, with the yeast delta 9 desaturase. A Northern blot hybridization and a RT-PCR experiment showed that temporal and tissue-specific patterns of expression of the corresponding mRNA are distinct from those of the delta 11-desaturase mRNA present in the pheromone glands of adult females. Based on its homology to other desaturases, the widespread distribution of its corresponding mRNA in various tissues, and its functional assay, we conclude that this cDNA encodes the apoprotein corresponding to the desaturase component of the metabolic delta 9-desaturase complex of T. ni.
Failure to thrive and two weeks of persistent vomiting in an 11-month-old infant.

HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS This infant presented with a 2-week history of vomiting. Initially, the episodes of vomiting were infrequent and appeared to the parents to be possibly self-induced. They were often associated with tantrums. After 1 week, the episodes of emesis gradually became more frequent and copious. At the time of the initial evaluation, the vomiting was occurring about 4 to 5 times a day. There was no particular time of day or activity in which the vomiting occurred more frequently. There was no relationship with meals. The parents noted a gradual failure to gain weight over the previous 5 months. There was no associated history of fever, diarrhea, or constipation. His activity level was unchanged and he was developmentally appropriate for his age. There was no history of travel or exposure to any pets. He was on no medications.
Abundances of K, Rb, Sr and Sr isotopes in ultramafic rocks and minerals from western North Carolina

Abstract Detailed study of the strontium isotopic composition of closely associated alpine-type ultramafic intrusions in western North Carolina has revealed variable but high 87 Sr 86 Sr ratios, similar to those found in previous reconnaissance studies. Because of the relatively wide variations in 87 Sr 86 Sr ratios on a local scale and the lack of isochron relationships, it seems that radiogenic strontium may have been introduced into the ultramafic intrusions, in most cases without significant alteration of the primary silicate minerals. The intrusion of pegmatites into the ultramafics and country rock about 350 m.y. ago is a likely source of secondary radiogenic strontium. Investigation of the distribution of K, Rb and Sr within the mineral phases of ultramafic rocks has indicated that the concentration of strontium is critically controlled by the amount of diopside present. The absolute abundance levels of all three elements are generally higher in minerals separated from a basaltic ultramafic nodule than in those separated from alpine-type intrusions. The K Rb ratios of the alpine-type ultramafic rocks bear no systematic relationship to K content. If each ultramafic sample is considered as a separate system, however, the K Rb ratios increase with increasing K content and in the order olivine to enstatite to diopside, in every case. This relationship was not found for minerals separated from the basalt nodule.
Meningococcal Meningitis in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Model for the Epidemic Process

Epidemic group A meningococcal meningitis follows a unique and distinctive pattern in sub-Saharan Africa. Advances in molecular and field epidemiology have begun to elucidate the mechanisms of meningococcal meningitis epidemics. Epidemics result from a complex combination of host, organism, and environmental risk factors. Recent studies suggest that "antigenic shifts" in group A meningococcal clones may trigger an outbreak of disease by suddenly decreasing herd immunity within a population. Although the introduction of new group A meningococcal strains into a susceptible population contributes to the likelihood of an epidemic, the presence of additional environmental factors, such as low humidity and coincident respiratory tract infections, are also necessary for an epidemic to occur. Despite the unique behavior of group A meningococcal disease in sub-Saharan Africa, the application of similar methods of epidemiological analysis may be useful for determining epidemic processes for other diseases.
Is the Great Recession Only the Beginning? Economic Contraction in an Age of Fossil Fuel Depletion and Ecological Limits to Growth

The conventional explanation for the “Great Recession” is that a pro-business administration advanced deregulatory policies in the mortgage industry and broader financial industries, leading to a predictable but temporary economic recession. In contrast, peak oil analysts find a deeper root cause of the Great Recession. Secure and reliable access to cheap fossil fuels is fundamental to our industrial and post-industrial world, and the rising costs of fossil fuels due to post-peak depletion in the face of escalating demand make difficult the realization of economic growth. However, as individuals, companies, and lawmakers insist upon continued economic growth, these actors pressure lawmakers to endorse riskier and more shortsighted techniques aimed at extending domestic and global economic growth a little bit longer. The Great Recession can be understood in part as a consequence of US consumption of massive quantities of petroleum at a moment in history during which global oil production approached and sur...
Chronic exercise increases GAD gene expression in the caudal hypothalamus of spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Previous studies have suggested that a γ-amino-butyric acid (GABA) deficit in the caudal hypothalamus (CH) of the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) contributes to elevated levels of arterial pressure. The purpose of this study was to examine if SHR that underwent exercise training demonstrated a blunted development of hypertension and greater levels of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) mRNA transcripts in the caudal hypothalamus. SHR were randomly paired and assigned to either a trained group (T; n=9) or a non-trained control group (NT; n=9). Trained animals were exercised for 10 weeks on a motorized treadmill while NT animals concurrently rested on a mock-treadmill. Following the 10-week training period, Northern blot analyses of mRNA for both the 65-kDa (GAD65) and 67-kDa (GAD67) isoforms of GAD were performed on tissue from caudal hypothalamic and cerebellar control brain regions. Exercise training simultaneously blunted the developmental rise in blood pressure in SHR (Δ59±9 mmHg in trained versus Δ77±9 mmHg in non-trained; P<0.03) and increased both GAD65 (147±44%) and GAD67 (162±77%) mRNA transcript levels in the CH (P<0.05). In contrast, no difference was detected in GAD mRNA levels in the cerebellum between T and NT SHR. These findings are consistent with our previous functional studies and demonstrate that exercise can significantly and specifically upregulate GAD gene transcript levels in the caudal hypothalamus of hypertensive rats.
The OCLC acquisitions subsystem at the City College Library: An appraisal

The City College Library (CCNY) has been using the OCLC Acquisitions Subsystem since July 1982 for all library material orders. The system has proved to be effective, easily adopted and implemented. It was found to improve the rate of orders received through the ease of the pre-order bibliographic verification process. It was also found to curb processing costs per order to the 1979 level. Shortcomings in the system were noted, including the lack of management reports, the lack of hierarchies and fund totaling in its fund accounting system, the difficulty of some searching, and the need for better integration between the acquisitions subsystem and the serial control and cataloging subsystems.
The Case of Edward: Exploration of Intraracial Dynamics and Internalized Oppression in the Context of Clinical Practice:

This article explores how internalized racial oppression affected the psychosocial functioning of Edward, an African American male client who struggled with racial identity problems. The African Am...