cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sleep habits and risk factors for sleep-disordered breathing in infants and young toddlers in Louisville, Kentucky.

Abstract Introduction Snoring affects biobehavioral development among preschool and early school-age children. The goals of the present study were to survey the parents of a large community sample of infants and young toddlers to evaluate (a) naturalistic sleep duration and location; (b) snoring prevalence; and (c) demographic measures and sleep behaviors related to the presence of snoring either 2 or ≥3 days/week. Methods Questionnaires were completed by parents of children ages 2 weeks to 2 years attending well-baby checkups and were also mailed to the homes of six-month-old infants. Results Data from 944 children were available for analyses. No age differences were reported for total sleep duration, co-sleeping, or snoring. Average daily sleep duration was12.5±1.8 h (standard deviation (SD)), with daytime naps accounting for an increased proportion of total sleep duration among younger infants. Co-sleeping was reported by 15% of families. Snoring 2 days/week was reported in 11.8% and >3 days/week in 5.3% of participants. Survey items indicating risk for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) clustered into factors related to the child, their environment, and their family; restless sleep was exclusively related to snoring 2 days/week and ethnicity, sweating during sleep, and noisy breathing exclusive to snoring ≥3 days/week. Conclusions Young infants appear to sleep less than currently recommended. Co-sleeping is relatively common and not age-dependent through the first 2 years of life. Items relating to the child's sleep behaviors, environment, and parents' perceptions were predictive of positive report of snoring, with snoring rates consistent with a significant risk for SDB being similar to those reported for older children.
New thermionic detector utilizing orthogonal nebulization for capillary column liquid chromatography.

Abstract A new version of the previously studied phosphorus-sensitive, dual-flame thermionic detector has been developed for microcolumn liquid chromatography. The total column effluent is orthogonally nebulized and aspirated directly into a primary air—hydrogen diffusion flame. Phosphorus compounds with molecular weights extending beyond 500 a.m.u. are then selectively detected by measuring the conductivity of the secondary flame in the presence of a rubidium silicate bead. The sensitivity was found to be 1.36 · 10−11 g phosphorus/sec at the maximum of a Gaussian peak, and the signal increased linearly with concentration over 2 orders of magnitude for dilute samples. Possible mechanisms accounting for the negative orientation of the signal and for the limited dynamic range are discussed.
Lipid changes in tissues from the cold-exposed, torpid and aroused pigmy mouse Baiomys taylori.

Abstract Brown fat, liver, heart and skeletal muscle tissue lipid, triglyeride, and protein have been quantitated during the pigmy mouse torpid cycle. Triglycerides appear to be the main tissue energy store for use of this organism throughout the cycle. Brown fat is depleted of its triglyceride from a control value of 3.48 mg per mg protein to 0.39 mg during torpor. There is a significant increase during arousal, 24 hr post-torpor. Data from liver extracts suggest a reverse trend. Skeletal muscle represents 24% of the mass of the mouse. The muscle triglycerides decrease to half that of the control and remain at that level until 24 hr post-torpor. No similarly significant trends are found in heart tissue. The total lipid levels of the tissues mirror the types of data already expressed for triglycerides. The decrease in muscle triglycerides may represent either endogenous utilization and/or the mobilization of these reserves to other organs such as the liver and brown fat.
Effects of legally mandated child-abuse reports on the therapeutic relationship: A survey of psychotherapists.

In a national survey of 907 licensed psychologists regarding mandated reporting of child maltreatment, predictors of outcome included: therapeutic alliance; role strain; therapist explicitness; family vs. individual treatment; and whether or not the client was the perpetrator. Therapists were asked to describe a case involving reporting, its impact on treatment, informed consent procedures, as well as their own attitudes and beliefs. Implications for research are discussed, and recommendations for clinical training and practice are offered.
Hormones, medications, and cancer.

Hormones have been shown experimentally to act as cocarcinogens or promoters i.e. they facilitate the carcinogenic event. In the cases of breast and endometrium those hormones which facilitate growth may also favor carcinogenesis in the human. There is good epidemiologic evidence that use of estrogens after the menopause increases the incidence of breast and endometrial cancer the risk increasing with increasing duration of use. Periodic progestin-induced withdrawal will probably mitigate the risk of endometrial cancer after the menopause. Prolactin is the important promoter of mammary cancer in the rat and mouse but its significance in women is still under study. Intermittently elevated prolactin levels have been noted in some women who subsequently developed breast cancer but epidemiologic studies of women who have received prolactin-releasing drugs such as reserpine and perphenazine have not disclosed increased risk. Diethylstilbestrol is listed as a carcinogen but any estrogen can induce mammary cancer in the rodent or vaginal adenosis in the neonatal mouse (an experimental model of human vaginal adenocarcinoma). (authors)
Charged Polymers Modulate Retrovirus Transduction via Membrane Charge Neutralization and Virus Aggregation

The specific mechanisms of charged polymer modulation of retrovirus transduction were analyzed by characterizing their effects on virus transport and adsorption. From a standard colloidal perspective two mechanisms, charge shielding and virus aggregation, can potentially account for the experimentally observed changes in adsorption behavior and biophysical parameters due to charged polymers. Experimental testing revealed that both mechanisms could be at work depending on the characteristics of the cationic polymer. All cationic polymers enhanced adsorption and transduction via charge shielding; however, only polymers greater than 15 kDa in size were capable of enhancing these processes via the virus aggregation mechanism, explaining the higher efficiency enhancement of the high molecular weight molecules. The role of anionic polymers was also characterized and they were found to inhibit transduction via sequestration of cationic polymers, thereby preventing charge shielding and virus aggregation. Taken together, these findings suggest the basis for a revised physical model of virus transport that incorporates electrostatic interactions through both virus-cell repulsive and attractive interactions, as well as the aggregation state of the virus.
Analysis of MHC class I expression in equine trophoblast cells using in situ hybridization

Down-regulation of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes by trophoblast cells is considered to be a primary mechanism preventing maternal immune rejection of the fetal-placental unit in mammalian pregnancy by rendering these cells, which form the primary barrier between mother and fetus, relatively non-antigenic. In situ hybridization with probes encoding human and horse MHC class I genes was used to characterize the pattern of MHC class I mRNA expression in the various forms of horse trophoblast. Strong hybridization signals were observed in the invasive trophoblast cells of chorionic girdle tissue. In contrast, no hybridization signal specific for MHC class I mRNA transcripts was observed in the descendent endometrial cup trophoblast cells. In the non-invasive trophoblast cells of the allantochorion, no hybridization signals specific for horse MHC class I mRNA transcripts were consistently detected. In parallel to the in vivo results, strong hybridization signals were observed in the small, mononuclear cells present in chorionic girdle cell explant cultures, but not in the population of large binucleate cells corresponding to endometrial cup cells. The results obtained using in situ hybridization are consistent with the hypothesis that expression of MHC class I genes may be controlled at the transcriptional level in horse invasive and non-invasive trophoblast cells, and suggest that down-regulation of MHC class I antigen expression in endometrial cup cells may be accomplished by the same mechanisms in vivo and in vitro.
Word-attack skills in individuals with mental retardation

This article assesses the state of the literature on word-attack skills and phonological awareness (PA) in individuals with mental retardation, in light of progress towards the development of effective teaching procedures. The literature contains promising findings. Studies have shown PA to be correlated with word-attack skills in individuals with mental retardation, as has been shown conclusively in typically developing children. This suggests that instruction in PA would facilitate the acquisition of word-attack skills in individuals with mental retardation, as it does with typically developing children. As of yet, however, very few experimental studies designed to demonstrate effective teaching procedures for PA and word-attack skills have been published. This research field might evolve most effectively and efficiently by following a two-step research program. First, test new teaching procedures in a series of small-N studies, each study incorporating modifications of teaching procedures based on the results of the previous study. Once procedures prove effective at this level, the resources necessary to pursue large-scale studies can be used to their best advantage.
On the implementation of the IAL

When the Michigan Algorithmic Decoder (MAD) was started it was intended to be an exact implementation of the IAL. As the project developed several serious difficulties were encountered. Thus MAD (now being checked out) differs from IAL in several respects. One of our prime objectives was to keep the translation time as small as possible. The majority of University problems are not run on a production basis. On the average there is probably one translation for every execution. A translator which takes several minutes to translate a problem which takes twenty seconds to run is not very practical for a university installation.The following discussion of the differences does not mention restrictions or omissions which can be added later, e.g., MAD has no D0 statement (in the IAL sense), but it can be added at any time.
The social implications of residential environments

This paper discusses the research strategies used in the man‐environment context, with a suggested model for conceptualizing this complex set of relationships. Comparative case studies are necessary, it is argued, to understand attitudinal and behavioral responses to correspondingly different environments. The salient social variables are hypothesized as being casual neighboring, social participation, leisure, family solidarity, privacy and mobility. Test environments could be compared by their spatial organization, functional focal points, casual contact centers and visual attributes, as well as associations between the social and environmental variables. This interactive network of man‐environment responses can provide useful measures of residential satisfaction as well as predict consequences of planned residential environments.
Anomalous temperature dependence of microwave loss in the superconducting transition of a granular Al thin film

Measurements of the microwave absorption by a faily highly conducting granular Al film show that the absorption increases jus below Tc and then decreases at lower T. Only a monotonic decrease in loss below Tc is observed in more resistive films. An explanation based on the resistivity of the films is proposed.
Cardiac Rehabilitation for Women

Traditionally women have been underrepresented in studies evaluating the efficacy of cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Yet, the available evidence suggests that CR is at least equally effective and for some outcome measures may be more effective in women compared to men. Despite these documented benefits, CR is underutilized in women, particularly older women. Many of the obstacles that deter women from enrolling and completing CR sessions have been identified and acknowledged by physicians and preventive health organizations. Despite a general understanding that exercise-based CR is a step toward a healthy life-style and ought to be undertaken to restore functional capacity and quality of life, only a minority of patients and healthcare providers are aware that CR is documented to save lives. Hence, CR should be regarded as equally important as adherence to pharmacologic secondary prevention measures, or – expressed differently – not participating in CR equals not filling the prescriptions after hospital discharge. This review highlights recent evidence for the benefits of CR on morbidity and mortality of women with cardiovascular diseases and suggests approaches to improve CR participation.
Influence of thermodiffusion coatings on the mechanical properties of VT14 titanium alloy

We study the influence of various functional coatings with similar morphologies (oxide, nitride, carbonitride, and carboxide) formed by thermodiffusion saturation on the mechanical properties (short-term strength, plasticity, susceptibility to delayed fracture, fatigue life under the conditions of low-cycle and rotation bending) of thermally hardened VT14 high-strength (α +β) -titanium alloy (Ti–(3.5–6.3)%, Al–(2.5–3.8)%, Мо–(0.9–1.9)% V). It is shown that, for the analyzed morphology of the modified layer, the weakest influence on the mechanical properties is exerted by the two-component oxide coating and that the influence of all coatings strongly depends on the size factor (the ratio of the area of the metal occupied by the modified layer to the working section). The multicomponent coatings based on ternary interstitial compounds (carbonitrides and carboxides) give higher strength characteristics in combination with the comparable characteristics of the fatigue resistance and plasticity.
How information systems influence user decisions: a research framework and literature review

Abstract Technology has created new information alternatives that may influence the way information system users make decisions. This paper proposes a research framework for examining how features of an information system affect the decision-making process. The framework is synthesized by merging frameworks from the accounting information systems (AIS) literature and the human information processing (HIP) literature. The framework is then used to organize a literature review of 15 journals from 1987 through mid-1999, which identified 57 decision-making studies. Findings indicate that a wide range of opportunities is available for information systems research on issues of contemporary importance. This discussion includes changes in the decision process initiated by implementing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, data warehouses, electronic commerce, virtual organizations, on-line financial reporting, and disaggregated financial statement information.
Spotlight on ethics: institutional review boards as systemic bullies

Bullying, often considered an interpersonal or intergroup behaviour, has not been explored as an unintended artefact of organisational structure. Institutional review boards (IRBs), the ‘human research ethics committees’ at US universities, help oversee the protection of human research subjects, particularly in the social sciences within higher education, but are organisationally situated so that they often have unchecked power over research. Consequently, this essay utilises IRBs as a lens through which to explore systemic bullying. Though important components of academic institutions, considering IRBs as bullies may empower institutions to the address negative effects on researchers’ personal and professional well-being and the unchecked mission creep reported of many IRBs.
Anti-Agglomerant Hydrate Inhibitors for Prevention of Hydrate Plugs in Deepwater Systems

Anti-agglomerant low dosage hydrate inhibitors (LDHI's) give operators an additional tool for controlling hydrates in their systems. In contrast to kinetic and thermodynamic hydrate inhibitors, anti-agglomerant LDHI's inhibit hydrate plugging, rather than hydrate formation. Thus anti-agglomerant LDHI's allow hydrates to form but keep the particles small and well dispersed. Fluid viscosity remains low, allowing the hydrates to be transported along with the produced fluids. Emulsification of the produced fluids is not necessary; in fact, anti-agglomerant LDHI's have aided in demulsifying several black oil emulsions. In the laboratory, anti-agglomerant LDHI's have been shown to be effective up to 40 °F below the hydrate formation temperature, at pressures up to 7000 psi, and for shut-ins up to two weeks in duration. In addition, extensive laboratory testing and formulation work have been performed to ensure that the anti-agglomerant LDHI's are compatible with system metals, elastomers, and treatment chemicals, and that the products will not plug umbilicals nor cause upsets in surface facilities. After a comprehensive laboratory evaluation, an anti-agglomerant LDHI was selected for field testing in a deepwater, Gulf of Mexico oil well. The product protected the system throughout the 1.5 month trial, including two brief shut-ins. This paper presents the results of the laboratory and field tests.
Testing Resource Dependency as a Motivator for NGO Self-Regulation: Suggestive Evidence From the Global South

This article builds upon existing research to approach self-regulation from the theoretical perspective of resource dependency. The underlying assumption is that an organization is more likely to a...
The Role of Neutrophils in the Event of Intestinal Inflammation

The transmigration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs; neutrophils) into the intestinal lumen is a classical phenomenon associated with a wide variety of disease states, including those of both pathogenic and autoimmune/idiopathic origin. While PMNs are highly effective at killing invading pathogens by releasing microbiocidal products, excessive or unnecessary release of these substances can cause substantial damage to the intestinal epithelium. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the underlying mechanisms that lure neutrophils into the lumen allowing them to perform their desired functions, so that researchers may begin to identify which processes may be potential targets for inhibiting the transmigration of PMNs during noninfectious states.
Tidal Heating of Extrasolar Planets

Extrasolar planets close to their host stars have likely undergone significant tidal evolution since the time of their formation. Tides probably dominated their orbital evolution once the dust and gas cleared away, and as the orbits evolved there was substantial tidal heating within the planets. The tidal heating history of each planet may have contributed significantly to the thermal budget governing the planet's physical properties, including its radius, which in many cases may be measured by observing transit events. Typically, tidal heating increases as a planet moves inward toward its star and then decreases as its orbit circularizes. Here we compute the plausible heating histories for several planets with measured radii, using the same tidal parameters for the star and planet that have been shown to reconcile the eccentricity distribution of close-in planets with other extrasolar planets. Several planets are discussed, including, for example, HD 209458b, which may have undergone substantial tidal heating during the past billion years, perhaps enough to explain its large measured radius. Our models also show that GJ 876d may have experienced tremendous heating and is probably not a solid, rocky planet. Theoretical models should include the role of tidal heating, which is large but time-varying.
Renal Cell Carcinoma With Extensive Oncocytic Features

Oncocytic features are a hallmark of renal oncocytoma, but can be seen in other renal tumors such as clear cell renal cell carcinoma with granular cells and eosinophilic variant of chromophobe cell tumors. Up to 5% of renal neoplasms are ultimately diagnosed as unclassified renal cell carcinoma with oncocytic features accounting for a significant number of these tumors. Also a recent morphological variant of mucinous tubular and spindle cell carcinoma with oncocytic changes has been described, adding another challenge. Here we report an unusual case of unclassified renal cell carcinoma with extensive oncocytic changes and we discuss the differential diagnosis.
Internal End Temperature and Survival of Bacteria on Meats With and Without a Polyvinylidene Chloride Wrap During Microwave Cooking

The effect of a polyvinylidene chloride wrap on range of internal end temperature and on survival of bacteria in foods microwave processed (2450 MHz; 630 ± 50W) was investigated. Microbiological counts of wrapped-vented and unwrapped foods were made before and after microwave processing for: Staphylococcus aureus surface inoculated onto chicken drumsticks and ham slices, Salmonella senftenberg surface inoculated onto ham and pork slices and aerobic bacteria of experimental products, Although wrapping did not have a statistically significant effect on internal end temperature or on counts of bacteria per gram of products tested, wrapping products generally provided a slight improvement in microbial quality when mean counts were considered.
Age- and sex-related induction of excessive grooming and “wet-dog” shakes by the codeinone RX 336-M in the rat

Peripheral administration of the dihydrocodeinone RX 336-M (6 mg/kg) stimulated vigorous "wet-dog" shakes and excessive grooming in young drug-naive rats. The effects of RX 336-M were greater in younger than in older animals of both sexes, and were greater in 39-day-old male rats than in female rats of the same age. In a second experiment, female rats were pretreated with testosterone benzoate (1 mg/kg/day) for 1 week prior to testing the effects of RX 336-M at 39 days of age. The sex hormone pretreatment enhanced the ability to RX 336-M to induce "wet-dog" shakes and excessive grooming in female rats. The results suggest that both sex- and hormone-dependent developmental status are critical in the display of the so-called "quasi-morphine withdrawal syndrome." The results imply, and are consistent with previous studies which suggest, that different neural mechanisms underlie the behavioral responses induced by ACTH and RX 336-M.
Inhibition of eukaryotic translation elongation by cycloheximide and lactimidomycin

Although the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX) has been known for decades, its precise mechanism of action remains incompletely understood. The glutarimide portion of CHX is seen in a family of structurally related natural products including migrastatin, isomigrastatin and lactimidomycin (LTM). We found that LTM, isomigrastatin and analogs have a potent antiproliferative effect on tumor cell lines and selectively inhibit translation. A systematic comparative study of the effects of CHX and LTM on protein synthesis revealed both similarities and differences between the two inhibitors. Both LTM and CHX were found to block the translocation step in elongation. Footprinting experiments revealed protection of a single cytidine nucleotide (C3993) in the E-site of the 60S ribosomal subunit, thus defining a common binding pocket for the two inhibitors in the ribosome. These results shed new light on the molecular mechanism of inhibition of translation elongation by both CHX and LTM.
Sustained Bacteremia Associated with Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS)

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) has become a routine procedure in patients with portal hypertension, yet there are few data concerning the incidence of bacteremia associated with this shunt. All patients who underwent TIPS placement at a university hospital from January 1992 through January 1999 were studied. Ninety-nine TIPS were placed, and 10 patients subsequently developed sustained bacteremia; 5 patients had no identifiable source of bacteremia despite rigorous evaluation and were presumed to represent TIPS infections, for an estimated annual incidence of 7 cases/1000 TIPS procedures. Case patients developed bacteremia a median of 100 days after TIPS placement (range, 6-732 days). Bacteremia resolved in all patients after treatment with appropriate intravenous antibiotics (median, 2 weeks of therapy). Although the incidence of TIPS-associated bacteremia appears low, the increasing frequency of this procedure suggests that more information is needed to define this entity and to develop appropriate treatment recommendations.
Overexpression of IL-1 Receptor Antagonist Attenuates Obliterative Bronchiolitis in Murine Tracheal Transplant Model

Purpose Obliterative bronchiolitis (OB) remains an impediment to long-term survival after lung transplantation. IL-1 beta (IL-1β) has been studied as proinflammatory and profibrotic factor in allograft chronic lung tissue rejection. IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1rn) is competitive inhibitor to IL-1β and mediates the anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects of mesenchymal stem cells during lung injury. We hypothesized that IL-1rn overexpression prevents the progression of OB in an established heterotopic tracheal transplantation model. Methods and Materials Tracheas from BALB/c mice were implanted and wrapped in the omentum of BALB/c (isografts), C57BL/6 (allografts), IL-1rn overexpression (IL-1rn+/+), IL-1rn knock out (IL-1rn-/-) mice. The tracheas explanted after 21 days were evaluated histologically, and real time-PCR for IL-1rn, IL-1β, IL-1 alpha (IL-1α) mRNA levels. Cytokine quantification for these proteins in plasma samples was done by ELISA 21 days after surgery. Results IL-1rn overexpression mice showed significant reduction of the tracheal luminal occlusion compared to control allograft animals (p figure 1 ] There was also significant increase in plasma IL-1rn levels in the IL-1rn +/+ animals as compared to other groups (p Conclusions The results suggest that IL-1rn overexpression protects against experimental OB. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of lung chronic rejection and may lead to new strategy for the treatment of OB.
Epistemic utility estimation with valuational convexity

The results from. D. Morrell (to appear in IEEE Syst. Man Cybern.) are extended to derive an epistemic utility estimator with both credal and valuation convexity. The obtained estimator enables the use of a convex set of information densities in the cases when a single information density cannot be defined. Simulation results illustrating the theory are presented. >
The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You

The first symposium on gravitational collapse and other aspects of relativistic astrophysics (Texas 1, in retrospect) was inspired by one idea—gravitational collapse of massive objects as an energy source—and one observa- tional discovery—the large red shifts of optical counterparts of the quasistellar radiosources (soon quasars, even when radio quiet). Since that time, there has been fierce interplay at Symposia 2-26 between new ideas, new observations (or experiments if you are a physicist) and old ideas given new life. The talk and this paper explore a subset of the interac- tions. Texas has typically been a broad church, admitting nonstandard ideas and disputed data. Very approximately, half are still part of our universe of discourse.
Nutritional consequences of celiac disease and the gluten-free diet

Celiac disease is a chronic small intestinal immune-mediated enteropathy precipitated by exposure to dietary gluten in genetically predisposed individuals and represents a major health issue. The immune mediated response results in villous atrophy of the small intestine with subsequent malabsorption. The classic mode of presentation is that of a malabsorption syndrome resulting in deficiencies of macro and micronutrients. The gluten-free diet is the only treatment currently available for this disorder. The aim of this special report is to elucidate and explain the various nutritional deficiencies seen in newly diagnosed patients with celiac disease and while on the gluten-free diet. Though initiation of the gluten-free diet results in improvement of symptoms and most deficiencies, certain nutritional limitations are associated with the gluten-free diet.
Hemodynamic Overload–Induced Activation of Myocardial Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases In Vivo: Augmented Responses in Young Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats and Diminished Responses in Aged Fischer 344 Rats

Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases have been shown to be activated by various growth factors in cultured or isolated cardiomyocytes. However, little is known about the regulation of MAP kinases in vivo, especially in clinically important conditions, such as hypertension and senescence. In this study, we assessed mechanical overload-induced activation of myocardial MAP kinases in beating hearts from hypertensive or senescent rats. Fifteen minutes of left ventricular hemodynamic overload activated MAP kinase activity by 2.2-fold (P:<0.05) in 4-week-old Wistar-Kyoto rats. The age-matched spontaneously hypertensive rats had greater MAP kinase activity than did Wistar-Kyoto rats both at baseline (1.4 times, P:<0.05) and after the hemodynamic overload (1.7 times, P:<0.05). Myocardial MAP kinase protein level, assessed by Western blot analysis, was also higher (1.6 times, P:<0.01) in spontaneously hypertensive rats. In contrast, aged (18-month-old) Fischer 344 rats, which were known to have a diminished capacity of hypertrophy in response to mechanical stress, had lower MAP kinase activity both at baseline (63%, P:<0.01) and after the hemodynamic overload (52%, P:<0.05). Their MAP kinase protein level was lower (38%, P:<0.01) than that in young (6-month-old) adults. Alterations in MAP kinase may contribute to changes in hypertrophic response in these animals.
Origin of late Quaternary dune fields on the Southern High Plains of Texas and New Mexico

Mostly stabilized late Holocene eolian sands on the Southern High Plains of the United States were studied to determine their origins and to assess whether present dune stability depends more strongly on sediment supply, sediment availability, or transport limitations. Geomorphic, sedimentological, and geochemical trends indicate that late Holocene dunes formed under westerly paleowinds, broadly similar to those of today. Mineralogical and geochemical data indicate that the most likely source for the sands is not the Pecos River valley, but the Pleistocene Blackwater Draw Formation, an older, extensive eolian deposit in the region. These observations suggest that new sand is supplied whenever vegetation cover is diminished to the extent that the Blackwater Draw Formation can be eroded, in agreement with modern observations of wind erosion in the region. We conclude, therefore, that Southern High Plains dunes are stabilized primarily due to a vegetation cover. The dunes are thus sediment-availability limited. This conclusion is consistent with the observation that, in the warmest, driest part of the region (where vegetation cover is minimal), dunes are currently active over a large area. Geochemical data indicate that Southern High Plains dunes are the most mineralogically mature (quartz rich) sands yet studied in the Great Plains, which suggests a long history of eolian activity, either in the dune fields or during deposition of the Blackwater Draw Formation.
A confidence measure for boundary detection and object selection

We introduce a confidence measure that estimates the assurance that a graph arc (or edge) corresponds to an object boundary in an image. A weighted, planar graph is imposed onto the watershed lines of a gradient magnitude image and the confidence measure is a function of the cost of fixed-length paths emanating from and extending to each end of a graph arc. The confidence measure is applied to automate the detection of object boundaries and thereby reduces (often greatly) the time and effort required for object boundary definition within a user guided image segmentation environment.
Pluractional Distributivity and Dependence

This paper builds an account of a new scope puzzle that arises through the interaction of two lesser-studied constructions, dependent indefinites and verbal pluractionality. The result is a new account of dependent indefinites that correctly predicts their grammaticality with pluractionals by recognizing two ways of establishing the co- variation they require: (i) true distributive quantifiers, and (ii) pluractional operators that structure thematic dependencies. The core insight is that both routes, while compositionally different, lead to similar output structures, which is what dependent indefinites constrain. Along the way we produce the first detailed description and analysis of these phenomena in Kaqchikel (Mayan).
Distribution of obstructive intimal lesions and their cellular phenotypes in chronic pulmonary hypertension. A morphometric and immunohistochemical study.

We investigated the distribution of pulmonary arteriopathy in chronic pulmonary hypertension (PH) in a quantitative histopathologic study, using computer-assisted image analysis. We also examined the histologic manifestations and cellular phenotypes of various obstructive intimal lesions in PH with an immunohistochemical method. A total of 53 lungs removed at autopsy or explantation were obtained for the study from 51 documented cases of moderate to severe PH (15 cases of primary pulmonary hypertension [PPH], eight cases of Eisenmenger's syndrome [EISEN], 22 cases of chronic major-vessel thromboembolic disease [CTED], and three cases of PH associated with other known causes), and two unused donor lungs served as normal controls. Intimal thickening in PPH was most prominent in small pulmonary arteries and arterioles less than 200 μ m in diameter. Plexiform lesions in PPH were associated with significantly smaller arteries than in EISEN. Arteries larger than 400 μ m showed a significant intimal thickening o...
Mobility‐sensitive fluorescence probes for quantitative monitoring of water sorption and diffusion in polymer coatings

The fluorescent molecular rotor probes 4-tricyanovinyl-[N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-N-ethyl]-aniline, tricyano-4-(dimethylamino) benzylidene, and tricyanovinyljulolidene have been used as extrinsic fluorescence probes for quantitative monitoring of water uptake in polymeric coatings. The presence of water causes plasticization of the polymer, which results in increased local mobility within the film. The nonradiative decay pathways of the rotor probes are increased as local mobility increases, and the resulting decrease in fluorescence intensity of the probes is directly proportional to the amount of water sorbed. Beyond allowing for the characterization of sorbent content, this fluorescence technique can be used to determine the diffusion coefficient of water in a polymer film. The relative change in fluorescence fits well to a Fickian diffusion model, yielding a diffusion coefficient for water of 3 × 10-8 cm2/s in poly(vinyl acetate), and a value of 6 × 10-9 cm2/s in a room-temperature cured epoxypolyamide, in excellent agreement with diffusion coefficient values determined from gravimetric analysis. Preliminary studies also demonstrate the utility of molecular rotor probes to monitor water uptake in individual layers of multilayered polymer systems. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A Novel Multipath Routing Protocol for MANETs

- This paper proposes a novel multipath routing protocol for MANETs. The proposed protocol is a variant of the single path AODV routing protocol. The proposed multipath routing protocol establishes node-disjoint paths that have the lowest delays based on the interaction of many factors from different layers. Other delay aware MANETs routing protocols don't consider the projected contribution of the source node that is requesting a path into the total network load. The implication is that end to end delay obtained through the RREQ is not accurate any more. On the contrary of its predecessors, the proposed protocol takes into consideration the projected contribution of the source node into the computation of end to end delay. To obtain an accurate estimate of path delay, the proposed multipath routing protocol employs cross-layer communications across three layers; PHY, MAC and Routing layers to achieve link and channel-awareness and creates an update packet to keep the up to date status of the paths in terms of lowest delay. The performance of the proposed protocol investigated and compared against the single path AODV and multipath AOMDV protocols through simulation using OPNET. Results have shown that our multipath routing protocol outperforms both protocols in terms of average throughput, end to end delay and packet dropped.
Nutrient digestibility, egg quality, and fatty acid composition of brown laying hens fed camelina or flaxseed meal

SUMMARY Flaxseed and camelina are gaining popularity as feed ingredients because of their high content of α-linolenic acid (18:3n-3), an n-3 fatty acid. The current study was designed to evaluate apparent fatty acid and CP digestibility, AMEn, egg quality, and egg yolk fatty acids of brown egg layers fed a corn-soybean diet containing 10% camelina or flax meal. Experimental diets were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. A total of seventy-five 24-wk-old Lohman brown hens were randomly allocated to 3 treatments, with 5 replicates containing 5 hens in each replicate. The hens were fed a corn-soybean basal diet (control), or control diet with 10% camelina meal (CAM10) or flax meal (FLAX10) for a period of 12 wk. The apparent digestibility of fatty acids, CP, and AMEn were measured using celite (external inert marker). Egg quality parameters were determined every 28 d during the experimental period. The CP digestibility and AMEn were decreased (P < 0.05) in CAM10 and FLAX10 compared with control. Feeding CAM10 or FLAX10 resulted in higher egg production (P < 0.05) compared with the control. The egg weights and Haugh units increased, and eggshell thickness decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in FLAX10 birds. The egg yolk content of α-linolenic acid and total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids was higher in CAM10 than in other treatments (P < 0.05). α-Linolenic acid digestibility was lowest in FLAX10 birds. Feeding CAM10 reduced the digestibility of linoleic acid (18:2n-6) (P < 0.05). In general, inclusion of camelina and flax meal reduced CP digestibility and AMEn while increasing egg production in brown layers.
ACTIVATION ENERGY FOR PT2SI AND PTSI FORMATION MEASURED OVER A WIDE RANGE OF RAMP RATES

The activation energies, Ea’s, for Pt2Si and PtSi formation were determined using in situ resistance measurements with ramp rates ranging from 0.4 °C/m to 100 °C/s. Measurements were performed using both conventional furnace and rapid thermal annealing (RTA). Pt films were evaporated on undoped polycrystalline Si and single-crystal Si on sapphire substrates. The Ea’s determined from Kissinger plots were 1.63 ± 0.05 and 1.61 ± 0.06 eV for Pt2Si formation and 1.83 ± 0.06 and 1.83 ± 0.07 eV for PtSi formation with polycrystalline Si and silicon on sapphire substrates, respectively. These are the first reported measurements of Ea’s for Pt2Si and PtSi formation over such a wide range of heating rates (greater than four orders of magnitude) and at such high heating rates. The phase formation sequence remained the same for the range of heating rates examined.
Measurement issues in quantitative ultrasonic imaging

Ultrasonic imaging of "flesh and blood" is vulnerable to the natural variability of these media: the speed of sound is not known, not constant, and not amenable to calibration using simply shaped manufactured samples. When images of high dimensional accuracy are needed, as for image guided surgery, the "average" or "typical" values used in diagnostic ultrasound may not be good enough. In this paper, we identify the main sources of uncertainty, and we suggest and model experimental approaches to in situ calibration.
A Reduced-Part, Triple-Voltage DC-DC Converter for Electric Vehicle Power Management

Electrical power systems in future hybrid and fuel cell vehicles may consist of three voltage nets; 14 V, 42 V and high voltage (>200 V) buses. A soft-switched, bi-directional dc-dc converter using only four switches was proposed for interconnecting the three nets. This paper presents a reduced- part dc-dc converter, which decreases the converter cost while retaining all the favorable features of the original topology. Simulation and experimental data are included to verify a simple power flow control scheme.
The mechanism of new onset contralateral reflux following unilateral ureteroneocystostomy.

AbstractPurpose: We studied a population of patients undergoing unilateral antireflux surgery to determine the mechanism of new onset contralateral reflux postoperatively.Materials and Methods: A total of 141 patients underwent unilateral antireflux surgery via the Cohen, Glenn-Anderson or extravesical technique. The 18 percent of patients who had new onset contralateral vesicoureteral reflux were analyzed according to grade of initial reflux, presence of a Hutch diverticulum or duplex system and surgical technique.Results: Surgical technique did not influence the development of contralateral reflux. As grade of corrected reflux increased, a significant trend toward development of contralateral reflux was noted. A Hutch diverticulum was not a risk factor for contralateral reflux but reflux into a duplicated system was a distinct risk factor (26 versus 12 percent in single system reflux).Conclusions: Our study supports the concept that new onset contralateral reflux may result from elimination of a pop-off...
Neuronal regulation of the release and action of secretin-releasing peptide and secretin.

The acid-stimulated release of secretin is mediated by a secretin-releasing peptide (SRP) in rats. In the present study we investigated to determine whether a neural mechanism(s) is involved in the regulation of release and action of SRP in anesthetized rats. A concentrated acid perfusate (CAP) containing SRP was obtained from donor rats. CAP administered to recipient rats significantly increased pancreatic flow volume (81.6 +/- 18.3%), bicarbonate output (188.7 +/- 15.6%), and plasma secretin level (from 0.9 +/- 0.2 to 4.4 +/- 0.5 pM). However, this effect was attenuated by CAP from donor rats pretreated with tetrodotoxin (TTX), propranolol, bilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy (BSV), or systemic and topical administration of capsaicin. In contrast, CAP from donor rats pretreated with phentolamine, atropine, or hexamethonium did not alter the increase in plasma secretin concentration and pancreatic secretion. Moreover, the action of CAP on secretin release was significantly inhibited in the recipient rats pretreated with TTX, BSV, and topical applications of capsaicin but was not suppressed in the recipient rats pretreated with atropine, hexamethonium, or propranolol. Furthermore, perivagal and duodenojejunal mucosal application of capsaicin abolished the pancreatic secretory response to secretin at 5 pmol.kg-1.h-1. In conclusion, the release and action of both SRP and secretin are mediated by a vagal afferent pathway. beta-Adrenergic receptors also play a significant role in the release of SRP.
The Family of GFP‐Like Proteins: Structure, Function, Photophysics and Biosensor Applications. Introduction and Perspective

In this issue, we offer a symposium-in-print that is focused on several new advancements in fundamental research related to the family of GFP (green fluorescent protein)-like proteins. A few applied aspects are also included to illustrate the impact this amazing set of colored proteins has made on our understanding of cell biology at the molecular level. The six articles presented here cut across several disciplines ranging from biological function to protein structure to photophysical aspects. These highly original pieces of work include both experimental and computational approaches, and will provide the reader with significant insight into current, state-of-the-art research activities in this very dynamic and fast-paced field. In the first part of this perspective, I will give a brief overview of the history and salient features of GFPs, cite some examples that illustrate their impact on biotechnology, and provide a brief review of the structural and chemical features that lend these proteins their fascinating appearance. In the second part, I will introduce each of the peer-reviewed contributions of the participating authors.
Left atrial function in mitral regurgitation: guilt by association.

Despite decades of study and literally hundreds of papers in the medical literature, the management of patients with mitral regurgitation (MR) caused by myxomatous mitral valve disease remains the subject of ongoing uncertainty and controversy [(1–3)][1]. Current indications for surgical
Naphthene upgrading with pillared synthetic clay catalysts

Catalytic hydrotreatment of methylcyclohexane was investigated as a model for upgrading of coal-derived naphthenes to isoparaffinic structures with synthetic clay catalysts. Nickel-substituted synthetic mica montmorillonite (NiSMM), alumina-pillared NiSMM, and zirconia-pillared NiSMM were prepared and tested for hydrocracking and hydroisomerization of methylcyclohexane. Total acidity and surface area increased with pillaring of NiSMM with polyoxyaluminum and polyoxyzirconium cations. Catalytic reactions of the methylcyclohexane gave high conversions of the substrate to aliphatic hydrocarbons. Most of the products were branched alkanes (isoparaffins). These compositions are highly desirable for environmentally acceptable transportation fuels. Dehydrogenation was not a major pathway, as indicated by the minimal formation of aromatic hydrocarbons, coke, or other oligomeric materials. This paper describes the effect on the product distribution of various operating conditions, which included reaction temperatu...
Beware of the Beasts! Spinoza and the Elemental Passions in German Literature

Spinoza’s pantheism was treated with cynical mockery by Georg Buchner. If God is present in all things of Nature, he scoffed in his tragedy Danton’s Death (1836), then he is bound to suffer our toothaches and even our venereal diseases too — a most edifying thought indeed! Except that Spinoza’s God is not totally contained within everything but rather extends himself, as it were, in varying degrees of divine perfection into all things. This is not our topic, however. Without going into the details of his philosophical system, I just wish to point out that this great 17th century thinker was still in the focus of discussion in the 1830s when Buchner wrote his play.
Simultaneous hand assisted laparoscopic bilateral nephrectomy for a hemodialysis-maintained patient with bilateral renal cell carcinomas

症例は55歳男性. 慢性糸球体腎炎にて血液透析を3.5年施行中, 定期検査のCTにて両側腎に小径腫瘍を1個ずつ認めた. 遠隔転移を認めず, ハンドアシスト腹腔鏡下両側腎摘出術を施行した.長さ7.5cmの腹部正中切開を臍上部におき, 患側と同側の術者手を挿入し, 計5本の腹腔鏡ポートをおき, 左から両側腎を経腹的に摘出した. 腎は上極以外Gerotaの脂肪を十分付けたまま剥離し, 血管・尿管は腹腔鏡ポートより切断した. 手術時間は346分で, 出血量は微量, 術中自己血を200ml使用したのみで, 術後合併症を認めなかった.ハンドアシスト手術は, 摘出物の十分な病理学的検討ができる一方, 術中不感蒸泄や術後回復の面で腹腔鏡単独手術と同等な効果が得られ, 術野にタオル・手術器械などの持ち込みが自由であり, 摘出場所に因らない自由な皮膚切開を選択でき, 維持透析患者に対する低侵襲手術として今後適応症例の増加が見込まれる手術方法であると考えられた.