cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Compressive Response and Failure Behavior of an Epoxy Syntactic Foam

The high-strain-rate compressive behavior of an epoxy syntactic foam is examined in this study. A pulse-shaped split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB), modified for low-impedance material testing, was used to ensure that the samples deformed under dynamic equilibrium and at a nearly constant strain-rate. Dynamic stress equilibrium in the specimen was monitored for each experiment using piezoelectric force transducers mounted close to the specimen end-faces. Quasi-static experiments were also conducted to demonstrate rate effects of the foam, as well as to study its failure behavior. It was determined that the compressive strength of the foam increased with strain rate up to a transition strain rate of between 550 and 1030 s 1. For experiments conducted at strain rates above this transition range, strain-rate-induced damage caused the compressive strength of the foam to decrease. Based on the experimental results, a constitutive model with strain-rate and damage effects was developed, which described the test ...
Experience with colonic volvulus

Fifty-eight cases of colonic volvulus were reviewed including 30 cases of sigmoid volvulus, 27 cases of cecal volvulus, and 1 of transverse colon volvulus. Decompression procedures were attempted in 31 instances of sigmoid volvulus in 27 patients and were successful 25 times (81 percent). Seven patients with sigmoid volvulus did not undergo surgery and of those, two died of unrelated causes, one was lost to follow-up, one was well, and three had recurrent volvulus. Twenty-four operations were performed on 23 patients and there were three deaths (13 percent mortality). There was one recurrence in two patients who underwent simple detorsion. Chronic large-bowel motility disturbances were a persistent problem in 9 of 20 (45 percent) surgical survivors. Among 27 instances of cecal volvulus, one was reduced by contrast enema and ten endoscopic attempts at decompression were unsuccessful. Twenty-six operations were done and there were four operative deaths (15 percent mortality). There were no recurrences. Large-bowel motility disorders were noted in follow-up in 3 of 22 patients (14 percent). Overall there were 10 deaths in 58 patients for a 17 percent mortality rate. These data support the importance of endoscopic decompression for sigmoid volvulus but not for cecal volvulus. Definitive treatment of both forms of volvulus should include assessment of colonic motility.
Carbon Coated Zirconium Beads in β-Glucan Gel and Bovine Glutaraldehyde Cross-Linked Collagen Injections for Intrinsic Sphincter Deficiency: Continence and Satisfaction After Extended Followup

ABSTRACTPurpose: The durability of Durasphere (Carbon Medical Technologies, Saint Paul, Minnesota), used to treat stress urinary incontinence, has not been shown beyond 12 months of followup. Women treated with Durasphere and Contigen (Bard, Inc., Covington, Georgia) at 1 institution between 1996 and 2000 were compared to determine patient satisfaction and urinary continence after extended followup.Materials and Methods: Between April 1996 and September 2000, 56 women were treated with Durasphere at this institution, of whom 43 were available for extended followup. Aged matched patients treated with Contigen were analyzed for comparison. Patient satisfaction and continence at last followup were subjectively assessed via telephone interview. Survival methods (Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards model) were used to analyze time to failure as a function of treatment group and other potential predictors.Results: Treatment groups (Contigen and Durasphere) were similar with respect to all baseline factors...
Spin exchange pumped 3He targets: progress and prospects

Abstract Polarized 3He has been used as a spin filter for neutron polarization, as a target to probe neutron structure, and in combination with 129Xe for precision measurement of fundamental physics. Spin exchange pumped masers of one and two species have run for weeks and allow CW measurement with precision trending as steeply as τ −3 2 . At SLAC, a program of experiments has studied the neutron spin-dependent structure function in deep inelastic scattering, exploiting the large neutron polarization in a polarized 3He target. Data from the most recent experiment provide new precise data with Bjorken x down to 0.014. Among the conclusions is the need to consider Q2 dependence in interpretation of the data and determination of sum rules (sums over the full range in x).
Pro‐growth, limits to growth, and a sustainable development synthesis

Abstract This paper is concerned with competition between alternative perspectives and with the sources and results of this conflict of ideas. Of particular interest are: (1) the opposition between pro‐growth perspectives and a limits perspective; (2) reactions to the limits perspective; and (3) the development of a “sustainable development”; synthesis.
Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) enhanced proteolysis of IGF-binding protein-4 in conditioned medium from primary cultures of human decidua: independence from IGF receptor binding.

Previous studies demonstrated that human decidual cells release insulin-like growth factor-binding protein (IGFBP)-1, IGFBP-2, and a 24-kilodalton (kDa) IGFBP in culture. The accumulation of 24-kDa IGFBP, as assessed by ligand blot analysis, decreased when the cells were exposed to IGF-I, but the mechanism was not explored. In the present study, we observed that the IGF-I-mediated decrease in IGFBP-4 accumulation could be explained by increased IGFBP-4 proteolysis. Analysis by IGFBP-4 immunoblotting demonstrated a decline in 24-kDa IGFBP-4 accompanied by a marked increase in a 17- to 18.5-kDa IGFBP-4 fragment(s). In addition, when medium from IGF-I-treated cells was incubated with rat IGFBP-4, the decrease in IGFBP-4 was inhibited by chelators of divalent cations and inhibitors of serine proteases. IGF-I enhancement of IGFBP-4 proteolysis occurs independent of the type I IGF receptor. [Leu24,1-62]IGF-I, an analog with reduced receptor affinity, mimicked the effect of native IGF-I in cell culture. Addition...
Predictive feature selection for genetic policy search

Automatic learning of control policies is becoming increasingly important to allow autonomous agents to operate alongside, or in place of, humans in dangerous and fast-paced situations. Reinforcement learning (RL), including genetic policy search algorithms, comprise a promising technology area capable of learning such control policies. Unfortunately, RL techniques can take prohibitively long to learn a sufficiently good control policy in environments described by many sensors (features). We argue that in many cases only a subset of available features are needed to learn the task at hand, since others may represent irrelevant or redundant information. In this work, we propose a predictive feature selection framework that analyzes data obtained during execution of a genetic policy search algorithm to identify relevant features on-line. This serves to constrain the policy search space and reduces the time needed to locate a sufficiently good policy by embedding feature selection into the process of learning a control policy. We explore this framework through an instantiation called predictive feature selection embedded in neuroevolution of augmenting topology (NEAT), or PFS-NEAT. In an empirical study, we demonstrate that PFS-NEAT is capable of enabling NEAT to successfully find good control policies in two benchmark environments, and show that it can outperform three competing feature selection algorithms, FS-NEAT, FD-NEAT, and SAFS-NEAT, in several variants of these environments.
Watershed-scale analysis of pollutant distributions in stormwater management ponds

Stormwater management ponds have become a common Best Management Practice in urban and suburban landscapes. Stormwater management ponds are designed to hold runoff from impervious surfaces and allow the settling of sediments and associated pollutants. Various semi-aquatic and aquatic wildlife species have been documented using stormwater management ponds as habitat, but these wetland-like systems are not managed to adhere to freshwater habitat pollutant guidelines. To address the potential for pollutant exposure for wildlife, we used a random sample of 68 stormwater ponds and estimated the proportion of ponds in a third-order watershed that exceed toxicity guidelines for trace metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in sediments and chloride in surface waters. Ninety-six percent of ponds exceeded consensus-based threshold effect concentrations for at least one trace metal. Concentrations of at least one of the PAHs measured exceeded the threshold effects concentration in 63% of the ponds. Nine percent of ponds exceeded chronic toxicity levels of chloride on all sampling dates, and 21% exceeded acute toxicity concentrations on at least one sampling date. More studies are needed to evaluate toxic effects of pollutants in stormwater management ponds and the potential for interactive effects of pollutants on wildlife.
Verteporfin therapy of subfoveal choroidal neovascularization in age-related macular degeneration: 5-year results of two randomized clinical trials with an open-label extension: TAP report no. 8.

Purpose To report vision and safety outcomes up to 5 years from an extension of the Treatment of Age-related Macular Degeneration with Photodynamic Therapy (TAP) Investigation evaluating verteporfin therapy in patients with subfoveal choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in age-related macular degeneration.
A new inhibitor of carotenoid synthesis in higher plants: 4-Chloro-5-(dimethylamino)-2-α,α,α, (trifluoro-m-tolyl)-3(2H)-pyridazinone (Sandoz 6706)☆

Abstract Sandoz 6706 inhibited the synthesis of both carotenes and xanthophylls and caused a massive accumulation of phytoene in wheat seedlings. The synthesis of chlorophyll and tocopherol was not inhibited in wheat even though these substances have many biosynthetic reactions in common with the carotenoids. Our results indicate that 6706 interfered with the dehydrogenation reactions of the carotenoid pathway either by inhibiting the dehydrogenase enzymes or the synthesis of these enzymes during plastid development.
Mapping wetlands in the Hudson Highlands ecoregion with ALOS PALSAR: an effort to identify potential swamp forest habitat for golden-winged warblers

In New York State, the golden-winged warbler (GWW), a state species of special concern, has recently been found to nest in swamp forest habitat in Sterling Forest State Park in the Hudson Highlands ecoregion. These swamp forest breeding territories are often embedded in a mosaic of wetland cover types. An accurate map of wetlands in the Hudson Highlands would be a useful input to a GWW habitat suitability model and could help conservation managers better allocate limited resources towards GWW monitoring and habitat management. This study tests the effectiveness of single and dual-season dual-polarization L-band ALOS PALSAR data and National Wetlands Inventory ground reference data for classifying wetlands at high resolution in a mountainous landscape using a maximum likelihood decision rule. PALSAR imagery was chosen over Landsat for its ability to detect surface conditions beneath a vegetation canopy and for its higher spatial resolution, necessary for capturing land cover characteristics at a scale that would be meaningful for characterizing GWW territories. Dual-season dual-polarization imagery produced the highest overall accuracy (72 %, kappa = 0.5669) and the highest producer’s accuracy for forested wetlands (~58 %). Errors in classifying forested wetlands were dominated by misclassification to the Urban class, most likely due to the similarity of SAR double bounce trunk-ground and building-ground interactions. Emergent and scrub-shrub wetlands proved difficult to segregate and were classified with maximum accuracies of 49 and 14 %, respectively. These results are comparable to those of similar studies and could be improved with more current ground reference data. In addition, the classification captured the mosaic of wetland cover types present in GWW study sites and territories in Sterling Forest State Park indicating PALSAR imagery could be used for GWW habitat analyses.
Excitons versus continuum states of electrons and holes in solid C60: an estimate for the band edge

Abstract Stability of excitons in undoped C 60 are studied from a molecular-solid point of view. The band edge of the electron–hole continuum is estimated theoretically to be located approximately at 2.0 eV. The predicted onsets for photoconductivity and optical absorption are found to be in a fair agreement with experiments.
Report on the SLC Control System

The SLC control system is based on a VAX 11/780 Host computer with approximately 50 microprocessor clusters which provide distributed intelligence and control of all CAMAC interface modules. This paper will present an overview of the system including current status and a description of the software architecture and communication protocols.
Theory and applications for optimization of every part of a photovoltaic system

A general method is presented for quantitatively optimizing the design of every part and fabrication step of an entire photovoltaic system, based on the criterion of minimum cost/Watt for the system output power. It is shown that no element or process step can be optimized properly by considering only its own cost and performance. Moreover, a fractional performance loss at any fabrication step within the cell or array produces the same fractional increase in the cost/Watt of the entire array, but not of the full system. One general equation is found to be capable of optimizing all parts of a system, although the cell and array steps are basically different from the power-handling elements. Applications of this analysis are given to show (1) when Si wafers should be cut to increase their packing fraction; and (2) what the optimum dimensions for solar cell metallizations are. The optimum shadow fraction of the fine grid is shown to be independent of metal cost and resistivity as well as cell size. The optimum thicknesses of both the fine grid and the bus bar are substantially greater than the values in general use, and the total array cost has a major effect on these values. By analogy, this analysis is adaptable to other solar energy systems.
Special singularity integral identity and its applications in electrical circuits

A new special singularity integral identity involving the product of the impulse symbol and the unit step function is proposed. A proof of this integral identity is provided followed by its application in the solution of a simple well-known ideal example problem in electrical circuits.
Verapamil Prevents the Metabolic and Functional Derangements in Pancreatic Islets of Chronic Renal Failure Rats

Glucose-induced insulin secretion is impaired in rats with chronic renal failure (CRF), and this defect is due to PTH-induced derangement in the metabolism of pancreatic islets, including an elevated basal level of intracellular calcium, low basal ATP content, low glucose-stimulated ATP and ATP/ADP ratio, and decreased maximum velocity of Ca(2+)-ATPase. Chronic treatment of CRF rats with verapamil prevented the impairment of insulin secretion. The present study examined the mechanism through which verapamil exerts this action. CRF rats treated with verapamil had high levels of serum PTH, but normal basal ATP content, a greater rise in ATP and ATP/ADP ratio after exposure to glucose, normal intracellular calcium and higher maximum velocity of Ca(2+)-ATPase. The results demonstrate that treatment of CRF rats with verapamil was associated with marked improvement or normalization of the CRF-induced metabolic derangements in pancreatic islets despite no effect on the serum level of PTH. The data are consistent with the notion that verapamil prevents the derangements in insulin secretion in CRF rats by blocking the action of PTH on the islets.
Photoneural Device Structures

Photoneural systems are a class of hybrid, optoelectronic processors designed to mimic rather closely the neural mechanisms and architectures involved in visual perception and other cognitive processes. In these systems optical linkages provide complex and adaptable neural-like interconnections between different synaptic centers which may be realized as autonomous elements of monolithically integrated optoelectronic arrays. The perception of sensory stimuli is mediated by a vastly complex hierarchy of "permeatively" linked processes. However, each step in perception seems to involve relatively simple "antagonistic" responses and the structure of perceptual responses remain topographic coherent when "mapped" to various subsystems of the brain. The topographic invariance of cognitive data transmission is suggestive of optical imaging operations and is the essential rationale for photoneural design. The basic synaptic elements are autonomous, optoelectronic processors which are, essentially, optical transceivers activated by con-trasting input stimuli. Recent developments in technology make feasible a class of promising photoneural devices which are simple integrated configurations of light emitting diodes, heterojunction phototransistors and liquid crystal light switches.
Anxiety and anger effects on depressed mother–infant spontaneous and imitative interactions

Abstract Depressed mothers (high CES-D scores and SCID diagnoses) were assessed for anxiety (STAI) and anger (STAXI). Based on median splits on scores on these scales, depressed mothers with high and low anxiety were compared and depressed mothers with high and low anger were compared on their spontaneous and imitative interactions with their 3-month-old infants. The high versus low anxiety mothers spent less time smiling, showing exaggerated faces, gameplaying and imitating, more time moving their infants’ limbs, but equivalent amounts of time vocalizing and touching. The infants of high versus low anxiety mothers spent less time smiling and more time in distress brow and crying, but spent equivalent amounts of time on other behaviors (vocalizing, motor activity, gaze aversion and imitation). The high anger versus low anger mothers differed in the same ways that the high anxiety mothers differed from the low anxiety mothers. However, the infants of high versus low anger mothers differed on all behaviors (less time spent smiling, vocalizing, and showing motor activity and imitation and more time spent showing distress brow, gaze aversion and crying). During the imitation versus the spontaneous play sessions the mothers in all groups spent less time smiling, vocalizing, touching and gameplaying and more time showing imitative behavior. The infants also showed increased time in imitative behavior but also increased time spent crying during the imitation sessions. In general the infants’ positive affective behaviors decreased (smiling and vocalizing) during the imitation sessions and their distress behaviors increased (motor activity, distress brow, gaze aversion and crying), although the infants of the high anger mothers changed less than the infants of the high anxiety mothers.
Food categorization flexibility increases the preference for indulgent foods

Abstract Categorization flexibility, the extent of cross-categorization of objects into multiple categories, has been studied in prior research as an outcome variable. We study categorization flexibility as an independent variable and in the food domain show its influence on preference for hedonic or indulgent food items. Hedonic food items are attractive due to their tastiness but also unattractive due to their caloricity and thus consumers feel inhibited to choose them. We argue that food categorization flexibility exerts a disinhibitive influence which facilitates preference for hedonic food items. We show such a prohedonic effect (using real as well as hypothetical food items) by measuring as well as manipulating categorization flexibility and also that this effect occurs mainly for those with higher (vs. lower) inhibition for hedonic consumption: due to a prevention (vs. promotion) or due to a hyperopic (vs. myopic) psychological state. Our results suggest that while marketers of hedonic foods may improve sales by promoting more food-situation associations, consumers' health will be better served if consumers develop fewer, beneficial food-situation associations.
The decomposition of transition metal alkyls revisited : Surprising wellspring of novel reagents for organic synthesis

A broad survey of both the simple and double decomposition modes of transition metal alkyls has been undertaken. From the two main processes of C–M bond rupture, homolysis, and β-metal hydride elimination, the following modes of decomposition and types of useful reagents generated can be distinguished: 1) reductive decomposition of RnMEm–n to yield subvalent, carbene- or free-radical-like MEm–n, which can cleave π- or σ-bonds by direct epimetallation; 2) β-metal hydride elimination to produce hydrometallating agents; 3) combined reductive and β-metal hydride eliminations to produce anionic, and hence more nucleophilic, epimetallating agents; 4) α-metal hydride elimination thought to be involved in the transition state leading to C–C bond coupling from (RR'HC)2ME2 derivatives; 5) α,μ-elimination from lithiated RHC(Li)–MEn–1, which produces alkylidenes, RHC=MEn–2, capable of ROMP catalysis; 6) metal–hydrogen metathesis, whereby sufficiently acidic C–H bonds become C–M bonds; 7) metal–metal metathesis, whereby RR'ME2 undergoes an equilibrating redistribution reaction to form R2ME2 and R'2ME2; 8) transfer epimetallation, in which epimetallation (point 1) is achieved with R2ME2 in one step by transfer of ME2 to the substrate with the concomitant loss of R groups; and 9) transfer epimetallation of olefins by R2TiE2 in hydrocarbons to produce titana(IV)cyclopropanes, which serve as active sites in Ziegler–Natta polymerization. In each situation, the reaction-mechanistic features are analyzed in terms of existing experimental data and evidence. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2005)
Insults to the developing brain and impact on neurodevelopmental outcome

Abstract Premature infants have a disproportionately increased risk for brain injury based on several mechanisms including intraventricular hemorrhage, ischemia and the vulnerability of developing neuronal progenitor cells. Injury to the developing brain often results in neurologic abnormalities that can be correlated with a structural lesion; however more subtle injury may result in disruption of critical neural pathways. There also appears to be an important relationship between brain injury in the cortex and the growth and developing cerebellum. Although the survival rate for premature has improved over the past decade, researchers remain concerned about the risk for adverse neurocognitive functioning in these early childhood, including an increased risk for cerebral palsy, cognitive impairment, speech and language delay and sensory dysfunction. Learning outcomes After this activity, the learner will be able to (1) identify potential causes of brain injury in the premature infant, (2) understand that the maturational process for the human brain continues throughout gestation, (3) identify risk factors for adverse neurocognitive functioning in premature infants, and (4) identify abnormalities on central nervous system neuroimaging studies that correlate with an increased risk for adverse neurodevelopmental outcome in premature infants.
Effects of Age on Associating Virtual and Embodied Toys

Technologies such as videos, toys, and video games are used as tools in delivering education to young children. Do children spontaneously transfer between virtual and real-world mediums as they learn? Fifty-six children learned facts about a toy dog presented through varying levels of technology and interactivity (e.g., video game, stuffed animal, picture books). They then met a similar dog character in a new embodiment (e.g., as a stuffed animal if first met the dog as video character). Would children spontaneously generalize the facts they learned about the dog character across mediums (dynamic and static environments)? Results indicate that younger children were more likely to generalize facts across mediums. Specific aspects of the level of technology and interactivity had little effect.
Faster Optimal State-Space Search with Graph Decomposition and Reduced Expansion

Traditional AI search methods, such as BFS, DFS, and A*, look for a path from a starting state to the goal in a state space most typically modelled as a directed graph. Prohibitively large sizes of the state space graphs make optimal search difficult. A key observation, as manifested by the SAS+ formalism for planning, is that most commonly a state-space graph is well structured as the Cartesian product of several small subgraphs. This paper proposes novel search algorithms that exploit such structure. The results reveal that standard search algorithms may explore many redundant paths. Our algorithms provide an automatic and mechanical way to remove such redundancy. Theoretically we prove the optimality and complexity reduction of the proposed algorithms. We further show that the proposed framework can accommodate classical planning. Finally, we evaluate our algorithms on various planning domains and report significant complexity reduction. Type of Report: Other Department of Computer Science & Engineering Washington University in St. Louis Campus Box 1045 St. Louis, MO 63130 ph: (314) 935-6160 Faster Optimal State-Space Search with Graph Decomposition and Reduced Expansion Yixin Chen Department of Computer Science and Engineering Washington University in St. Louis St. Louis, MO 63130 chen@cse.wustl.edu
Providing Spatial Data for Secondary Analysis: Issues and Current Practices Relating to Confidentiality

Spatially explicit data pose a series of opportunities and challenges for all the actors involved in providing data for long-term preservation and secondary analysis—the data producer, the data archive, and the data user. We report on opportunities and challenges for each of the three players, and then turn to a summary of current thinking about how best to prepare, archive, disseminate, and make use of social science data that have spatially explicit identification. The core issue that runs through the paper is the risk of the disclosure of the identity of respondents. If we know where they live, where they work, or where they own property, it is possible to find out who they are. Those involved in collecting, archiving, and using data need to be aware of the risks of disclosure and become familiar with best practices to avoid disclosures that will be harmful to respondents.
Methadone Transition Treatment: A Treatment Model for 180-Day Methadone Detoxification

For those drug addicts who do not meet the United States federal government regulations for methadone maintenance, methadone detoxification remains the primary option for treatment. Studies on the effectiveness of 21-day methadone detoxification, however, report low completion rates and high relapse. Revisions to the standard 21-day detoxification are needed. The research literature suggests that offering psychosocial services within an extended 180-day protocol may be an effective mode of treatment for those addicts who do not meet the requirements for entering methadone maintenance, or do not desire maintenance. Methadone Transition Treatment (MTT) is an innovative treatment organized around this strategy. MTT is transitional in that emphasis is placed on working with patients to enter longer-term treatment. To aid the development of similar programs at other institutions, we describe the specific procedures of the MTT model and provide
A predictive model for the mechanical behavior of particulate composites

A method for predicting the stress-strain and volumetric behavior of particulate composites from constituent properties has been developed for large values of strain. This approach allows a simple model for systems in which damage occurs without resorting to complicated constitutive equations. An energy balance derived from the first law of thermodynamics and the equations of linear elasticity calculates critical strain values at which filler particles will dewet when subjected to uniaxial tension and superimposed pressure. Calculations of critical strains over the entire strain history using reevaluated material properties accounting for the damage yield highly nonlinear stress-strain and volumetric curves. Experimentally observed dependences on particle size, filler concentration, matrix and filler properties, and superimposed pressure are correctly predicted. The method has no adjustable parameters, and allows several idealized models of the dewetting process to be examined. Comparisons of model predictions to experimental data show good agreement.
Effective Program Verification for Relaxed Memory Models

Program verification for relaxed memory models is hard. The high degree of nondeterminism in such models challenges standard verification techniques. This paper proposes a new verification technique for the most common relaxation, store buffers. Crucial to this technique is the observation that all programmers, including those who use low-lock techniques for performance, expect their programs to be sequentially consistent. We first present a monitor algorithm that can detect the presence of program executions that are not sequentially consistent due to store buffers while onlyexploring sequentially consistent executions. Then, we combine this monitor with a stateless model checker that verifies that every sequentially consistent execution is correct. We have implemented this algorithm in a prototype tool called Sober and present experiments that demonstrate the precision and scalability of our method. We find relaxed memory model bugs in several programs, including two previously unknown bugs in a production-level concurrency library that would have been difficult to find by other means.
Neural plasticity: consequences of stress and actions of antidepressant treatment

Neural plasticity is emerging as a fundamental and critical mechanism of neuronal function, which allows the brain to receive information and make the appropriate adaptive responses to subsequent related stimuli. Elucidation of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying neural plasticity is a major goal of neuroscience research, and significant advances have been made in recent years. These mechanisms include regulation of signal transduction and gene expression, and also structural alterations of neuronal spines and processes, and even the birth of new neurons in the adult brain. Altered plasticity could thereby contribute to psychiatric and neurological disorders. This article revievi/s the literature demonstrating altered plasticity in response to stress, and evidence that chronic antidepressant treatment can reverse or block the effects, and even induce neural piasiicity-iike responses. Continued elucidation of the mechanisms underlying neural plasticity will lead to novel drug targets that could prove to be effective and rapidly acting therapeutic interventions.
Revascularizing the upper basilar circulation with saphenous vein grafts: operative technique and lessons learned

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to report our operative technique and lessons learned using saphenous vein conduits to revascularize the rostral basilar circulation (ie, bypass to the posterior cerebral or superior cerebellar arteries). We also review the evolution of this technique for the treatment of vertebrobasilar insufficiency (VBI) and complex posterior fossa aneurysms. Methods Data were collected retrospectively for 8 consecutive patients undergoing rostral basilar circulation saphenous vein bypass grafts at our institution between 1989 and 2004 for the treatment of VBI or in conjunction with Hunterian ligation of complex posterior circulation aneurysms. The indications for treatment, pre- and postoperative neurologic status, angiographic results, operative complications, and long-term clinical outcomes were analyzed for each patient. Results With clinical and angiographic follow-up ranging from 3 months to 15 years, 7 of 8 bypasses remained patent, 3 of 3 aneurysms remained obliterated, and 4 of 5 patients with VBI experienced resolution of their preoperative symptoms. There were no surgery-related deaths, but 2 patients did experience major neurologic morbidity. The outcomes for the 217 total patients reported in the literature were as follows: 135 excellent (62%), 26 good (12%), 30 poor (14%), and 26 dead (12%). Conclusions Despite the risk of serious neurologic complications with this procedure, when one considers the natural history of untreated patients, saphenous vein revascularization of the rostral basilar circulation remains an acceptable option. Although surgical technique has varied, patient selection criteria, graft patency, and patient outcomes have been relatively constant over the past 25 years.
Biphasic Hoxd gene expression in shark paired fins reveals an ancient origin of the distal limb domain.

The evolutionary transition of fins to limbs involved development of a new suite of distal skeletal structures, the digits. During tetrapod limb development, genes at the 5′ end of the HoxD cluster are expressed in two spatiotemporally distinct phases. In the first phase, Hoxd9-13 are activated sequentially and form nested domains along the anteroposterior axis of the limb. This initial phase patterns the limb from its proximal limit to the middle of the forearm. Later in development, a second wave of transcription results in 5′ HoxD gene expression along the distal end of the limb bud, which regulates formation of digits. Studies of zebrafish fins showed that the second phase of Hox expression does not occur, leading to the idea that the origin of digits was driven by addition of the distal Hox expression domain in the earliest tetrapods. Here we test this hypothesis by investigating Hoxd gene expression during paired fin development in the shark Scyliorhinus canicula, a member of the most basal lineage of jawed vertebrates. We report that at early stages, 5′Hoxd genes are expressed in anteroposteriorly nested patterns, consistent with the initial wave of Hoxd transcription in teleost and tetrapod paired appendages. Unexpectedly, a second phase of expression occurs at later stages of shark fin development, in which Hoxd12 and Hoxd13 are re-expressed along the distal margin of the fin buds. This second phase is similar to that observed in tetrapod limbs. The results indicate that a second, distal phase of Hoxd gene expression is not uniquely associated with tetrapod digit development, but is more likely a plesiomorphic condition present the common ancestor of chondrichthyans and osteichthyans. We propose that a temporal extension, rather than de novo activation, of Hoxd expression in the distal part of the fin may have led to the evolution of digits.
Raven Corvus corax populations in two upland regions of north Wales

Breeding Ravens were censused, and some aspects of breeding performance monitored, during 1978–85 in two adjoining and contrasting upland regions. The Snowdonia mountains (926 km2) supported a large and dense population at a mean density of 9.5 km 2 per pair. Ac. 80% increase there since the 1950s is probably related more to increased food supply (sheep carrion) than to other factors: nest sites are plentiful. On the moors and enclosed sheep farms of Migneint-Hiraet hog (477 km2 ) Ravens bred at lower density (23.9 km 2 per pair), the population has remained stable since the 1950s, and numbers appear to be limited mainly by a scarcity of secure nest sites. Human persecution and disturbance of nests are unimportant in Snowdonia but are of greater significance in Migneint-Hiraethog. Nests were spaced regularly in both regions, indicating territoriality. Average breeding performance per pair was similar in the two areas. Future trends in numbers and breeding success, especially in Migneint- Hiraethog, are li...
Use of a promiscuous, constitutively-active bacterial enhancer-binding protein to define the σ54 (RpoN) regulon of Salmonella Typhimurium LT2

Sigma54, or RpoN, is an alternative σ factor found widely in eubacteria. A significant complication in analysis of the global σ54 regulon in a bacterium is that the σ54 RNA polymerase holoenzyme requires interaction with an active bacterial enhancer-binding protein (bEBP) to initiate transcription at a σ54-dependent promoter. Many bacteria possess multiple bEBPs, which are activated by diverse environmental stimuli. In this work, we assess the ability of a promiscuous, constitutively-active bEBP—the AAA+ ATPase domain of DctD from Sinorhizobium meliloti—to activate transcription from all σ54-dependent promoters for the characterization of the σ54 regulon of Salmonella Typhimurium LT2. The AAA+ ATPase domain of DctD was able to drive transcription from nearly all previously characterized or predicted σ54-dependent promoters in Salmonella under a single condition. These promoters are controlled by a variety of native activators and, under the condition tested, are not transcribed in the absence of the DctD AAA+ ATPase domain. We also identified a novel σ54-dependent promoter upstream of STM2939, a homolog of the cas1 component of a CRISPR system. ChIP-chip analysis revealed at least 70 σ54 binding sites in the chromosome, of which 58% are located within coding sequences. Promoter-lacZ fusions with selected intragenic σ54 binding sites suggest that many of these sites are capable of functioning as σ54-dependent promoters. Since the DctD AAA+ ATPase domain proved effective in activating transcription from the diverse σ54-dependent promoters of the S. Typhimurium LT2 σ54 regulon under a single growth condition, this approach is likely to be valuable for examining σ54 regulons in other bacterial species. The S. Typhimurium σ54 regulon included a high number of intragenic σ54 binding sites/promoters, suggesting that σ54 may have multiple regulatory roles beyond the initiation of transcription at the start of an operon.
Race, the Black Male, and Heterogeneous Racisms in Education

This chapter explores the effects of historical and current racism on the educational experiences of American Black males. The authors use critical race theory to illustrate how assumptions about culture and gender have subverted the egalitarian ideals of adult education. Teachers and students are urged to use critical reflection and open discussion about racial issues.
Diagnosis and management of pouch outlet obstruction caused by common anatomical problems after restorative proctocolectomy.

Background and aims: Efferent limb syndrome (ELS) after S pouch and pouch-rectal anastomosis (PRA) after J pouch are common anatomical problems after restorative proctocolectomy that lead to pouch outlet obstruction. This study was aimed to evaluate the frequency, diagnosis and management of ELS and PRA. Methods: Consecutive patients diagnosed with ELS or PRA at our Pouch Center from 2002 to 2011 were included. Demographic, clinical, endoscopic, and radiographic features together with its management and outcomes were studied. Results: A total of 26 patients met the inclusion criteria, 17 (65.4%) were male. Eleven patients (42.3%) had ELS and 15 (57.7%) had PRA. The median length of the efferent limb/rectal stump for all patients was 6.0 (interquartile range [IQR]: 5.0–8.8) cm, 7.0 (IQR: 5.0–9.0) cm and 6.0 (IQR: 5.0–10.5) cm for S and J pouch patients, respectively (P = 0.025). Dyschezia (n = 15, 57.7%) was the most common presenting symptom, followed by bloating (n = 9, 34.6%), abdominal pain (n = 9, 34.6%), the sense of incomplete evacuation (n = 7, 26.9%) and perianal discomfort (n = 3, 11.5%). A greater number of patients in the ELS group had dyschezia compared to the PRA group (90.9% vs. 33.3%, P = 0.005). More patients in the ELS group had a sense of incomplete evacuation than those in the PRA group (45.5% vs. 13.3%, P = 0.10). Ten patients (90.9%) in the ELS group and 5 patients in the PRA group (33.3%) required surgical intervention (P = 0.005). After a mean follow-up of 3.4 ± 1.4 years, 7 (87.5%) of the 8 patients, who underwent redo pouch construction with efferent limb/rectal stump excision, maintained a functional pouch. Conclusions: Patients with ELS or PRA often presented with debilitating symptoms. ELS occurred more frequently in S pouch patients than PRA in J pouch patients. Surgical intervention might be needed, especially for the ELS patients. * Abbreviations : ATZ : anal transitional zone CD : Crohn's disease CARP : chronic antibiotic-refractory pouchitis EIM : extra-intestinal manifestations ELS : efferent limb syndrome FAP : familial adenomatous polyposis IBD : inflammatory bowel disease IPAA : ileal pouch-anal anastomosis IQR : interquartile ranges IRB : institutional review board NSAID : non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs PDAI : the Pouchitis Disease Activity Index PRA : pouch-rectal anastomosis QOL : quality of life SD : standard deviations TNF : tumor necrosis factor UC : ulcerative colitis
MCM packaging for present- and next-generation high clock-rate digital- and mixed-signal electronic systems: areas for development

This paper will review the manner in which electronic packaging will be driven by the high-level performance requirements of next-generation mixed-signal systems, and by the evolving characteristics of next-generation integrated circuits. Present performance and fabrication limitations of the multichip module (MCM) technology will be discussed, as well as possible approaches to remove or minimize these constraints. Areas fruitful for research by the simulation community will be noted. This review is intended to provide a broad applications-oriented framework for the theoretical and simulation-directed papers in this special issue on interconnect and packaging.
Behavior of Four Species of Fiddler Crabs, Genus Uca, in Southeast Sulawesi, Indonesia

We studied the behaviors of four species of sympatric fiddler crabs on Kaledupa Island, Indonesia. Species differences in activity level, grooming, burrowing and feeding were related to their habitat and food. Uca chlorophthalmus, living in muddy mangrove areas, were inactive and spent most of the time feeding in place. Females fed 50% faster than males and spent more time feeding. U. vocans was the dominant species at the beach in silty sand and was very active. Its feeding rate was about twice that of the former species, females fed more rapidly than males, and many crabs of both sexes fed in droves at the water’s edge during ebb tides. During ebb tides, they spent most of their time feeding, while at flood tide they engaged in a greater variety of activities, including burrow maintenance. They frequently walked while feeding and interacted aggressively. U. tetragonon lived in a pebbly band along one edge of the beach, by a quay. Their feeding rate was comparable in both sexes and slower than that of U. vocans; they fed largely on filamentous algae growing on the quay, which provides better food, and fed faster during flood tide than ebb tide. They spent more time in waving and other sex-related activities, and were seldom aggressive, except during the week of the full moon. Burrowing activities included placing excavated mud balls some distance away from their burrows and re-arranging them. U. dussumieri inhabited the other end of the beach in muddier substrate. They did not have sex differences in feeding rates and their rate of scooping food into their mouths was slow, but feeding claws made multiple pinches of the substrate, thus accumulating more material in each clawful of food.
Binding of the Bacillus subtilis LexA protein to the SOS operator

The Bacillus subtilis LexA protein represses the SOS response to DNA damage by binding as a dimer to the consensus operator sequence 5'-CGAACN 4 GTT-CG-3'. To characterize the requirements for LexA binding to SOS operators, we determined the operator bases needed for site-specific binding as well as the LexA amino acids required for operator recognition. Using mobility shift assays to determine equilibrium constants for B.subtilis LexA binding to recA operator mutants, we found that several single base substitutions within the 14 bp recA operator sequence destabilized binding enough to abolish site-specific binding. Our results show that the AT base pairs at the third and fourth positions from the 5' end of a 7 bp half-site are essential and that the preferred binding site for a LexA dimer is 5'-CGAACATATGTTCG-3'. Binding studies with LexA mutants, in which the solvent accessible amino acid residues in the putative DNA binding domain were mutated, indicate that Arg-49 and His-46 are essential for binding and that Lys-53 and Ala-48 are also involved in operator recognition. Guided by our mutational analyses as well as hydroxyl radical footprinting studies of the dinC and recA operators we docked a computer model of B.subtilis LexA on the preferred operator sequence in silico. Our model suggests that binding by a LexA dimer involves bending of the DNA helix within the internal 4 bp of the operator.
Performance analysis of finite-buffered multistage interconnection networks

A novel model for the performance evaluation of finite-buffered multistage interconnection networks (MINs) is proposed. In contrast to previous models, which are either rather inaccurate when input load is high or only applicable to some special cases (e.g., infinite buffers, single buffers, or low input load), the proposed model is very accurate for all ranges of input load and allows switching elements and buffer modules to be of any arbitrary sizes. By carefully redefining the states, the authors take into account the dependency between packets in consecutive clock cycles and states of buffers in adjacent stages so that the analysis can be more accurately performed. >
ADAM: a testbed for exploring the use of data mining in intrusion detection

Intrusion detection systems have traditionally been based on the characterization of an attack and the tracking of the activity on the system to see if it matches that characterization. Recently, new intrusion detection systems based on data mining are making their appearance in the field. This paper describes the design and experiences with the ADAM (Audit Data Analysis and Mining) system, which we use as a testbed to study how useful data mining techniques can be in intrusion detection.
Risk factors for suicide in blacks and whites: an analysis of data from the 1993 National Mortality Followback Survey.

OBJECTIVE: Data on risk factors for suicide in blacks in the United States are needed, given the dramatic increase in the black suicide rate from 1980 to 1997. The 1993 National Mortality Followback Survey represented an unprecedented opportunity to identify risk factors for suicide in blacks and to determine whether race differences (black versus white) in risk factors exist. METHOD: Multiple logistic regression analyses were used to compare cases of suicide (150 suicides in blacks and 1,279 suicides in whites) with cases of accidental deaths (737 cases in blacks and 3,458 cases in whites). Predictors of interest were 18 items tapping four domains: antisocial behavior, substance use/abuse, depressive symptoms, and psychotic symptoms. RESULTS: Four items distinguished suicides from accidental deaths in both black and whites: death ideation, suicidal ideation, bizarre behavior, and making violent threats. Items in two of the four domains discriminated risk for suicide in whites more strongly than in blacks...