cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Age of Kōko Seamount, Emperor Seamount chain

K Ar ages obtained by the conventional isotope-dilution and the 40Ar/39Ar techniques on two sanidine trachytes, four basalts, and a phonolite dredged from the top of Ko¯ko Seamount, 300 km north of the Hawaiian-Emperor bend, show that the seamount is 46.4 ± 1.1 my old. These data indicate that the volcanoes in the Hawaiian-Emperor chain continue to increase in age to the west and north beyond Midway Atoll, as predicted by the melting-spot hypothesis for the origin of the chain, and that the rate of volcanic migration along the chain was nonlinear between the time of formation of the island of Hawaii and Ko¯ko Seamount.
Regional anesthesia for knee surgery

Knee surgery may be performed under general anesthesia, preferably, however, under regional anesthesia because of the profound preemptive analgesic effect that is provided by regional anesthetic techniques. Both centroneuraxis (spinal, epidural) as well as peripheral nerve blocks may be used for knee surgery. Although the former may be used less frequently in the near future in knee surgery because of increasing administration of low molecular heparins with resultant epidural hematoma formation, the latter enjoy more and more popularity. Peripheral nerve blocks used mostly for knee surgery include femoral/sciatic nerve blocks and intra-articular injection of local anesthetics and/or opioids into the knee joint. They are devoid of extensive sympathectomy and provide sufficient surgical analgesia and motor block.
Broad-spectrum insecticide resistance in obliquebanded leafroller Choristoneura rosaceana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) from Michigan.

Nineteen insecticides, belonging to nine chemical classes, were bioassayed by dietary exposure against two strains of obliquebanded leafroller, Choristoneura rosaceana, collected from Michigan apple orchards. Berrien is a putatively organophosphate-resistant strain from a commercial orchard with a history of insecticide use, and Kalamazoo a susceptible strain from an isolated and unsprayed orchard. The Berrien strain was moderately resistant (about 25-fold) to organophosphates such as azinphos-methyl and chlorpyrifos. Very low resistance ( 700-fold) to indoxacarb, which has never been used in Michigan to control this insect pest. The active metabolite of indoxacarb, DCJW, was considerably more toxic than the parent compound, but the resistance against DCJW was comparable to that seen with indoxacarb. This indicates that a failure to activate indoxacarb was not the mechanism of resistance in Berrien. The low level of resistance to several chemistries recorded in Michigan C rosaceana can be managed at this stage by adopting a rotation of chemistries having different modes of action. © 2002 Society of Chemical Industry
Rescue of Skeletal Muscles of γ-Sarcoglycan- Deficient Mice with Adeno-Associated Virus-Mediated Gene Transfer

Abstract In humans, a subset of cases of Limb–girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) arise from mutations in the genes encoding one of the sarcoglycan (α, β, γ, or δ) subunits of the dystrophin–glycoprotein complex. While adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a potential gene therapy vector for these dystrophies, it is unclear if AAV can be used if a diseased muscle is undergoing rapid degeneration and necrosis. The skeletal muscles of mice lacking γ-sarcoglycan (gsg−/− mice) differ from the animal models that have been evaluated to date in that the severity of the skeletal muscle pathology is much greater and more representative of that of humans with muscular dystrophy. Following direct muscle injection of a recombinant AAV [in which human γ-sarcoglycan expression is driven by a truncated muscle creatine kinase (MCK) promoter/enhancer], we observed significant numbers of muscle fibers expressing γ-sarcoglycan and an overall improvement of the histologic pattern of dystrophy. However, these results could be achieved only if injections into the muscle were prior to the development of significant fibrosis in the muscle. The results presented in this report show promise for AAV gene therapy for LGMD, but underscore the need for intervention early in the time course of the disease process.
Integrating 128-Element Linear Imager For The 1 To 5µm Region

Useful charge integration has been achieved in high quality photovoltaic InSb diodes when combined with a field effect transistor (FET) multiplexing (MUX) scheme. An experimental detector assembly with a linear array of 128 InSb diodes coupled to a FET MUX has been developed. The first stage J-FET preamp, pixel reset switch, MUX, and the InSb array are contained in a hybrid microcircuit of compact dimensions (1-3/4" by 1" by 1/8"). A low noise preamplifier topology which capitalizes on the low video line capacitance inherent with hybrid fabrication techniques is also utilized. Measurements indicate a signal-to-noise of over 1000:1 and response uniformity of +2 percent. Sample images show subtle detail which supports the estimated radiometric sensitivity of 0.01AÂ°K NEAt.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Formic and acetic acids in atmospheric condensate in Wilmington, North Carolina

Formic and acetic acids occurred in atmospheric condensate with concentrations similar to rainwater collected in Wilmington, North Carolina, during the sampling period from June to October of 1990. Atmospheric concentrations of these acids (calculated from the condensate concentrations) were higher in continental versus maritime air masses. Concentrations of formic and acetic acids were correlated with each other in both condensate and air. Traffic was a source of acetic acid and of bisulfite to atmospheric condensate in this study.
Further study on the purification of 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of rat liver

Summary The 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3α-hydroxysteroid: NAD(P) oxido-reductase, EC 1.1.1.50) obtained from the soluble fraction of rat liver was purified by centrifugation, ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The NAD- and NADP-dehydrogenating and transhydrogenating activities of the purified preparation ranged from 281–464, 832–1087 and 8–12 mμmoes of pyridine nucleotides reduced per min per mg of enzyme protein, respectively. The dehydrogenating and transhydrogenating activities were not separated during the purification procedure. An increase in the dehydrogenating activities, however, was proportionately greater than that of the transhydrogenating activity.
MR imaging of benign fatty tumors in children: report of four cases and review of the literature

This study correlates the magnetic resonance imaging characteristics with the pathologic findings in rare benign fatty soft tissue tumors in four children. A review of the literature is presented. Two cases of infiltrating lipoma displayed bright signal on both T1- and T2-weighted images, similar to that observed in subcutaneous fat. Histological study revealed extensive muscle infiltration by mature fat, with some areas of total fatty replacement. The case of facial lipomatosis revealed an extensive process of fatty invasion of adjacent soft tissue and osseous deformity by mass effect of the tumor. This lesion was bright on T1- and T2-weighted images. Histopathologic examination showed widespread invasion of squamous mucosa and skeletal muscle. The single case of lipoblastoma involved the presacral region and right buttock. This lesion, although bright on both T1 and T2 weighting, was relatively hypointense to subcutaneous fat on T1. Microscopic examination revealed a well-encapsulated fatty mass made up of cells ranging from lipoblasts to mature lipocytes. In childhood, when fatty lesions are almost always benign, a morphologic characterization by magnetic resonance may be sufficient basis on which to make critical therapeutic judgements.
A Study of Word Versus Letter Grading of Turkeys

Abstract WITHIN the turkey industry a debate has arisen as to the desirability of mandatory grade labeling of turkeys, and the advisability of changing the present grade labeling system. Before an intelligent decision can be made regarding such a mandatory program, it will be advantageous to decide which grade labels have the highest psychological significance of quality to the person buying turkeys. This brings up the question of what is quality, and who will determine quality and its degree of acceptability? Shall the grades continue to be based on arbitrary technicalities; or, shall the grades be built on acceptable attributes as determined by the consumer? There are myriad questions which could be asked that need resolving before the question of quality and its designation is finally answered. For the purpose of this experiment, the authors accept the following definition of quality. Quality is that combination of attributes that have significance in …
Expression and localization of prohormone convertase 1/3 (SPC3) in porcine ovary

Tissue distribution and cellular localization of PC1/3 mRNA in porcine tissues were examined by ribonuclease protection assay and in situ hybridization. PC1/3 mRNA was detected mainly in the corpus luteum of pregnant sow and brain. Within the ovary, PC1/3 and relaxin transcripts colocalized within large luteal cells. Levels of PC1/3 transcripts in corpora lutea increased as gestation advanced, parallel with an observed increase in relaxin transcripts. A role for PC1/3 in proprotein processing in the ovary is discussed.
Mutations at the 3′ splice site can be suppressed by compensatory base changes in U1 snRNA in fission yeast

U1 snRNA is an essential splicing factor known to base pair with 5' splice sites of premessenger RNAs. We demonstrate that pairing between the universally conserved CU just downstream from the 5' junction interaction region and the 3' splice site AG contributes to efficient splicing of Schizosaccharomyces pombe introns that typify the AG-dependent class described in mammals. Strains carrying mutations in the 3' AG of an artificial intron accumulate linear precursor, indicative of a first step block. Lariat formation is partially restored in these mutants by compensatory changes in nucleotides C7 and U8 of U1 snRNA. Consistent with a general role in fission yeast splicing, mutations at C7 are lethal, while U8 mutants are growth impaired and accumulate linear, unspliced precursor to U6 snRNA. U1 RNA-mediated recognition of the 3' splice site may have origins in analogous intramolecular interactions in an ancestral self-splicing RNA.
The relationship of intracranial infrared light absorbance to fetal oxygenation

Abstract Current clinical methods for assessing fetal oxygenation in labor are indirect and remain somewhat imperfect. Since infrared light passes through the cranium and infrared light absorbance by tissues has been shown in adult animals to vary with oxygenation, monitoring of intracranial infrared light absorbance may serve as the basis for a new, more direct technique for the assessment of fetal condition. Described here is the application of infrared reflectance spectrophotometry to a fetal sheep model and the precision of the relationship between fetal arterial or venous P O 2 and infrared light absorbance at selected wavelengths. A very strong, linear correlation (r = 0.915) was found between fetal arterial P O 2 and intracranial infrared light absorbance according to an algorithm developed for selective monitoring of the state of hemoglobin oxygenation in tissue. With further development, this method holds promise for a more direct, noninvasive assessment of fetal condition in labor than is currently available.
Effect of quinone derivatives and sulfhydryl compounds on swelling of poly(4‐vinylpyridine) gels in organic solvents

Interactions of sulfhydryl compounds and quinone derivatives with poly(4-vinylpyridine) gels have been studied. Adsorption of long-chain sulfhydryl compounds onto gels causes the gel to swell, whereas oxidation of the adsorbed sulfhydryl compound to disulfide by a quinone derivative results in the gel shrinking. The higher the donating ability of the sulfhydryl compound, the stronger its interaction with a quinone derivative and thus the faster the removal from the gels, as revealed by HPLC.
Ketamine/propofol admixture (ketofol) is associated with improved hemodynamics as an induction agent: a randomized, controlled trial.

BACKGROUNDCritically ill patients may require emergent intubations, and the use of some induction agents can lead to undesirable effects on hemodynamics. The use of “ketofol” (ketamine/propofol admixture) may allow for improved hemodynamic control. The primary aim of this study was to assess the hem
A Modified Gradient-Search Training Technique for Neural-Network Structural Control

This paper discusses a neural-network controller used to reduce the seismic response of building structures. The training process is carried out through a novel gradient-search technique that minimizes a desired cost function defined in terms of a set of structural response quantities. The proposed training approach does not require an additional neural network for the identification of the structural system. The training method is quite flexible with regard to the choice of the cost function to be minimized. A series of earthquake, base-acceleration time histories are considered to train the network. The effectiveness of the controller is demonstrated through several sets of numerical results obtained for a multistory building equipped with an active tuned mass damper.
Electrical activity of the intestine of mice with hereditary megacolon and absence of enteric ganglion cells.

Mice with a recessive gene which reduces the number of ganglion cells of the large intestine and produces megacolon similar to Hirschsprung's disease were studied. Electrical activity of the small bowel consisted of electrical slow waves and action potentials and showed no difference between the mice with megacolon and their normal siblings. Electrical slow waves and action potentials occurred in the large intestine of both normal and abnormal mice. The principal difference between normal mice and their abnormal siblings was increased incidence of discharge of action potentials associated with uncoordinated phasic contractions superimposed upon tonic contracture of the circular muscle layer of the distal aganglionic segment in the abnormal mouse. The distended colon of the abnormal mouse and the entire length of the normal bowel showed bursts of action potentials which accompanied peristaltic waves of circular muscle contraction. During propulsive motility in the rectum, activation of the circular muscle was preceded by coordinated contraction of the longitudinal muscle only in the normal bowel. Symptoms of megacolon can be accounted for by the absence of spontaneously active inhibitory neurons from the enteric plexuses of the distal segment of the large bowel.
Growth and somatomedin-C responses to growth hormone in dwarfed children

Nineteen children were studied because of short stature. They had in common abnormally low Sm-Cvalues for age, and each received a ten-day course of exogenous GH therapy. Based on their endogenous GH concentrations and the response to GH therapy, in terms of Sm-C and height increments, they were classified into three groups. Group I included patients with GH insufficiency who had blunted GH responses to stimulation, but responded to therapy by normalizing the Sm-C concentration and velocity of growth. Group II patients all had normal GH responses to stimulation, but their responses to exogenous GH were similar to those observed in the GH deficient subjects. In the two children in Group III who had normal release of endogenous GH, Sm-C values and growth rate did not increase in response to GH. Group II patients may represent children with biologically inactive but immunoreactive GH, whereas the children in Group III are examples of the Laron type of dwarfism. Thus, rather than the plasma GH response to provocative stimuli, the Sm-C and growth increment responses to short-term exogenous GH therapy may more precisely identify children that will benefit from long-term GH therapy.
Twitter web-service for soft agent reporting in persistent surveillance systems

Persistent surveillance is an intricate process requiring monitoring, gathering, processing, tracking, and characterization of many spatiotemporal events occurring concurrently. Data associated with events can be readily attained by networking of hard (physical) sensors. Sensors may have homogeneous or heterogeneous (hybrid) sensing modalities with different communication bandwidth requirements. Complimentary to hard sensors are human observers or "soft sensors" that can report occurrences of evolving events via different communication devices (e.g., texting, cell phones, emails, instant messaging, etc.) to the command control center. However, networking of human observers in ad-hoc way is rather a difficult task. In this paper, we present a Twitter web-service for soft agent reporting in persistent surveillance systems (called Web-STARS). The objective of this web-service is to aggregate multi-source human observations in hybrid sensor networks rapidly. With availability of Twitter social network, such a human networking concept can not only be realized for large scale persistent surveillance systems (PSS), but also, it can be employed with proper interfaces to expedite rapid events reporting by human observers. The proposed technique is particularly suitable for large-scale persistent surveillance systems with distributed soft and hard sensor networks. The efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed technique is measured experimentally by conducting several simulated persistent surveillance scenarios. It is demonstrated that by fusion of information from hard and soft agents improves understanding of common operating picture and enhances situational awareness.
Energy supply processes for magnetospheric substorms and solar flares: tippy bucket model or pitcher model?

In the past, both magnetospheric substorms and solar flares have almost exclusively been discussed in terms of explosive magnetic reconnection. Such a model may conceptually be illustrated by the so-called ‘tippy-bucket model’, which causes sudden unloading processes, namely a sudden (catastrophic, stochastic, and unpredictable) conversion of stored magnetic energy. However, recent observations indicate that magnetospheric substorms can be understood as a result of a directly driven process which can conceptually be illustrated by the ‘pitcher model’ in which the output rate varies in harmony with the input rate. It is also possible that solar flare phenomena are directly driven by a photospheric dynamo. Thus, explosive magnetic reconnection may simply be an unworkable hypothesis and may not be a puzzle to be solved as the primary energy supply process for magnetospheric substorms and solar flares.
The size and number of replicon families of chromosomal DNA of Arabidopsis thaliana

Analysis of the replicon properties and the cell cycle ofArabidopsis thaliana (col.) at 22° C were performed via autoradiography of isolated chromosomal DNA fibers and single cells of seedlings. The cell cycle was 8.5 h and G1, S, and G2+1/2 M were 1.7, 2.8, and 4 h respectively. The average single fork rate was 5.8 μm/h and the average replicon size was 24 μm. The data best support the hypothesis that A. thaliana has two replicon families, one with approximately 687 and another with 1888 members per genome and that the families initiate replication in sequence separated by a 36 min interval. Replication of an average single replicon required a little more than 2 h or 74% of S and the 36 min interval between the initiation of replication by the two families constituted 21% of S.
Plasticity of heart rate signalling and complexity with exercise training in obese individuals with and without type 2 diabetes

To examine the responsiveness of cardiac autonomic function and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) to exercise training in obese individuals without (OB) and with type 2 diabetes (ObT2D). Subjects were tested in the supine position and in response to a sympathetic challenge before and after a 16-week aerobic training program. All testing was conducted in the morning following a 12-h fast. A total of 34 OB and 22 ObT2D men and women (40–60 years of age) were studied. Heart rate variability (HRV) was measured at rest via continuous ECG (spectral analysis with the autoregressive approach) and in response to upright tilt. The dynamics of heart rate complexity were analyzed with sample entropy and Lempel–Ziv entropy, and BRS was determined via the sequence technique. Subjects were aerobically trained 4 times per week for 30–45 min for 16 weeks. Resting HR decreased and total power (lnTP, ms2) of HRV increased in response to exercise training (P<0.05). High frequency power (lnHF) increased in OB subjects but not in OBT2D, and no changes occurred in ln low frequency/HF power with training. Upright tilt decreased lnTP and lnHF and increased LF/HF (P<0.01) but there were no group differences in the magnitude of these changes nor were they altered with training in either group. Tilt also decreased complexity (sample entropy and Lempel–Ziv entropy; P<0.001), but there was no group or training effect on complexity. BRS decreased with upright tilt (P<0.01) but did not change with training. Compared to OB subjects the ObT2D had less tilt-induced changes in BRS. Exercise training improved HRV and parasympathetic modulation (lnHF) in OB subjects but not in ObT2D, indicating plasticity in the autonomic nervous system in response to this weight-neutral exercise program only in the absence of diabetes. HR complexity and BRS were not altered by 16 weeks of training in either OB or ObT2D individuals.
Extension of hereditary classes with substitutions

Let G and H be graphs. A substitution of H in G instead of a vertex ν ∈ V(G) is the graph G(ν → H), which consists of disjoint union of H and G - ν with the additional edge-set {xy: x ∈ V(H), y ∈ NG(ν)}.For a hereditary class of graphs P, the substitutional closure of P is defined as the class P* consisting of all graphs which can be obtained from graphs in P by repeated substitutions.Let P be an arbitrary hereditary class for which a characterization in terms of forbidden induced subgraphs is known. We propose a method of constructing forbidden induced subgraphs for P*.
Cancer Mortality, State Mean Elevations, and other Selected Predictors

This ecological inquiry compares cancer mortality rates in the U.S. to the predictor of natural background radiation (via land elevation means) along with eight other predictors thought to be associated with cancer mortality. Age-adjusted cancer mortality in 2006 was compared to the predictors of mean land elevation, percent of smokers, educational attainment, percent of population without health insurance, income, obesity, health perception, physical activity, and diet. Among the six predictors considered appropriate for multiple linear regression, three were found to be statistically significant; from strongest to weakest, these three were: smoking, land elevation, and educational attainment. The predictors of smoking and educational attainment have long been considered associated with cancer mortality. The finding that the predictor of land elevation / natural background radiation is inversely related to cancer mortality is another piece of evidence supporting the theory of radiation hormesis. In this study, land elevation / natural background radiation ranked second in predictive strength regarding cancer mortality, behind smoking and ahead of educational attainment. Since this is an ecological inquiry, no causal inferences can be made.
Applications of global optimization to process and molecular design

The purpose of this paper is to review some recent results that demonstrate the importance of identifying global optima of MINLP formulations.We present two global optimization ‘success stories’ based on the application of global optimization techniques to two design problems. The first application deals with the design of just-in-time flowshops. On a collection of nine problem instances with only four degrees of freedom, global optimization provides solutions that average 17% cost savings compared to designs identified earlier in the literature using local search techniques. The second application deals with design at the molecular level and involves a considerably larger design space for identifying a replacement of Freon. The problem is difficult and has been approached by numerous research groups in the past. Global optimization identifies many novel molecular structures.
Comparison of Three Theories of Electromagnetic Diffraction at an Aperture.* Part II: The Far Field

Using the coherence matrices derived in Part I of this investigation, a systematic study is made of the structure of the far field, on the basis of several different theories. First the case of a completely polarized incident field is considered and the distribution of the energy density and the state of polarization are examined. Then the case of diffraction of an unpolarized field is studied, particular attention being paid to the degree of polarization of the diffracted field. Analytical as well as some numerical results are presented. The predictions of the three theories are compared with each other and with those of the classical scalar theory of Huygens, Fresnel, and Kirchhoff.
Unusual cardiac malformations in splenogonadal fusion-peromelia syndrome: Relationship to normal development

A male newborn infant, studied at autopsy, showed continuous splenogonadal fusion and severe peromelia associated with an unusual, possibly unique, cardiac malformation complex. The cardiac lesions included multiple right ventricular diverticula, tricuspid atresia, mitral to semilunar valve discontinuity, and absent muscular outflow tract septum. Tabulation of the time of appearance of relevant anatomic features in 351 normal human embryos of Carnegie stages 9 through 23 showed that the teratogenic influence in the present case probably occurred by stages 16-17. The nature and distribution of lesions observed suggest that proliferating undifferentiated mesenchyme was the target of the unknown injury.
An Exploratory Investigation of Perceptions of Odd and Even Pricing

The strategy of odd pricing, although common among retailers, has not received much attention from researchers. This study explores the perceptions of test subjects of odd and even prices at various price levels. Differences in perceptions were found in both high and medium price level products which were priced odd and even. Managerial implications are discussed and future research questions are developed.
From Iron Cage to Iron Shield? How Bureaucracy Enables Temporal Flexibility for Professional Service Workers

This paper develops a model of how organizations influence the temporal flexibility of professional service workers. The model starts by identifying a key source of temporal inflexibility for these workers: an inability to hand clients off among one other. Hand-offs are impeded by high levels of client-to-worker specificity, stemming from three common characteristics of professional service work. The organizational processes that reduce that specificity, and therefore facilitate hand-offs, function by (a) reshaping client participation and expectations about the nature of their service interactions, (b) partly standardizing client-related work practices, and (c) facilitating the sharing of knowledge about clients between workers. The presence of these organizational processes represents greater bureaucracy---an interesting twist, given that they create more temporal flexibility for workers. The model is grounded in field research conducted with primary care physicians, and is also evaluated using a unique survey data set of physician organizations. Implications are drawn for the study of temporal flexibility across professional services in general, as well as for recent attempts to rethink the meaning of bureaucracy for workers.
Dislocations and vacancies in two-dimensional mixed crystals of spheres and dimers

In colloidal crystals of spheres, dislocation motion is unrestricted. On the other hand, recent studies of relaxation in crystals of colloidal dimer particles have demonstrated that the dislocation dynamics in such crystals are reminiscent of glassy systems. The observed glassy dynamics arise as a result of dislocation cages formed by certain dimer orientations. In the current study, we use experiments and simulations to investigate the transition that arises when a pure sphere crystal is doped with an increasing concentration of dimers. Specifically, we focus on both dislocation caging and vacancy motion. Interestingly, we find that any nonzero fraction of dimers introduces finite dislocation cages, suggesting that glassy dynamics are present for any mixed crystal. However, we have also identified a vacancy-mediated uncaging mechanism for releasing dislocations from their cages. This mechanism is dependent on vacancy diffusion, which slows by orders of magnitude as the dimer concentration is increased. We propose that in mixed crystals with low dimer concentrations vacancy diffusion is fast enough to uncage dislocations and delay the onset of glassy dislocation dynamics.
An adaptive crawler for locating hidden-Web entry points

In this paper we describe new adaptive crawling strategies to efficiently locate the entry points to hidden-Web sources. The fact that hidden-Web sources are very sparsely distributedmakes the problem of locating them especially challenging. We deal with this problem by using the contents ofpages to focus the crawl on a topic; by prioritizing promisinglinks within the topic; and by also following links that may not lead to immediate benefit. We propose a new frameworkwhereby crawlers automatically learn patterns of promisinglinks and adapt their focus as the crawl progresses, thus greatly reducing the amount of required manual setup andtuning. Our experiments over real Web pages in a representativeset of domains indicate that online learning leadsto significant gains in harvest rates' the adaptive crawlers retrieve up to three times as many forms as crawlers thatuse a fixed focus strategy.
A Genome-Wide Association Study of Pulmonary Function Measures in the Framingham Heart Study

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study (N01-HC-25195); Affymetrix (N02-HL-6-4278); Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute; Robert Dawson Evans Endowment of the Department of Medicine at Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center
Effects of Different Burn Regimes on Tallgrass Prairie Herpetofaunal Species Diversity and Community Composition in the Flint Hills, Kansas

Abstract The Flint Hills region of Kansas is the largest contiguous area of tallgrass prairie remaining today. Historically, the tallgrass prairie burned every 2–3 yr on average, but current land managers have altered burn regimes, resulting in a range of habitats from annually burned to long-term unburned. We used drift fence/funnel trap arrays and coverboards to estimate species richness, evenness, and diversity of herpetofauna within three different burn regimes: annual, 4-yr, and long-term unburned at Konza Prairie Biological Station, Riley County, Kansas. During the spring and fall of 2003–2004, 315 individuals from 20 species were captured across all burn regimes. Herpetofaunal species richness, evenness, and diversity estimates were not different between the three burn treatments. However, because of species-specific responses to individual burn regimes, community composition was significantly different between the habitats (χ2 = 158.19, df = 20, P < 0.001). Four species exhibited preferences among...
Bulk Solubility and Speciation of Plutonium(VI) in Phosphate-Containing Solutions

The solubility and speciation of Pu(VI) with phosphate as a function of pH was investigated to determine the ability of phosphate to act as an actinide getter. The general properties were first investigated and are reported here with the goal of performing more quantitative experiments in the future. Solubility was approached from oversaturation at initial pH = 4, 10 and 13.4. Absorption spectra were recorded, the solution filtered and the filtrate counted. Absorption spectra were obtained at varying phosphate concentrations and at pH of 2.7 to 11.9. The effect of complexation on the 833 mn Pu(VI) band was characterized. Evidence for three phosphate complexes was obtained for pH < 10 which have absorption bands at 842, 846 and 849 mn. Evidence for colloid formation was observed but is not conclusive. The possibility of colloids prevents accurate analysis of the solubility experiments. A concentration of 10[sup [minus]5] to 10[sup [minus]6] M Pu(VI) was measured in the filtrate at pH [le] 10 that were passed through a 50 mn filter. Pu(VI) complexes with phosphate over hydroxide at pH [le] 11.6, but at pH [ge] 11.9, only hydrolyzed Pu(VI) was detected. At pH = 12, the concentration of Pu(VI) was as high asmore » 10[sup [minus]4] M.« less
Thermoelectric Transport Properties of Individual Bismuth Nanowires

We developed a method for making 4-point contacts to Bi nanowires with a thick oxide coat using a combination of lithographic and focused ion beam (FIB) techniques. The resistivity of Bi nanowires with diameters in the range 70-200nm is found to increase with decreasing wire diameter. In contrast to bulk Bi, the temperature dependence of the resistivity is found to decrease monotonically with increasing temperature. The results are explained on the basis of increased scattering in the nanowire and the known temperature dependence of the electronic properties of bulk Bi. A large magneto-resistance was also measured, indicating a high crystalline quality of the nanowires. A large spread in the measured values of the resistivity indicates significant systematic error in the measurement technique. Possible sources for error are discussed.
Human-robot Team Coordination That Considers Human Fatigue

Many applications for robots require them to work alongside people as capable members of human-robot teams and to collaborate in order to perform tasks and achieve common goals. These tasks can induce strain on the human due to time constraints. Additionally, humans can become highly stressed due to fatigue, resulting in decreased efficiency. The contribution of this paper is in the introduction of a human fatigue model and the application of this model to a mixed team coordination framework in order to predict team performance given the constraints of human fatigue. The human fatigue model - namely a FAtigue Prediction (FAP) model - is used to conduct numerical simulations that predict mixed team performances. Specifically, extensive simulations are performed to determine how human fatigue influences the choice of the number of agents for a given number of tasks. The novel mixed team coordination framework is a Stochastic Clustering Auction (SCA), which is based on a modification of the Swendsen-Wang met...
Midterm outcome predictors for lower extremity atherectomy procedures

Purpose The performance of atherectomy devices has been variable. The purpose of this study was to evaluate our experience using the SilverHawk atherectomy (Fox Hollow Technologies, Redwood City, Calif) device for lower extremity procedures to determine predictors of midterm success. Methods Records of all patients who underwent lower extremity atherectomy with the SilverHawk atherectomy catheter were reviewed. Patient demographics, vessel treated, number of vessels treated, lesion characteristics, and postoperative courses were analyzed. Cumulative patency rates, limb salvage, mortality, and factors associated with outcomes were determined using the Kaplan-Meier Method with Cox Proportional Hazards modeling. Results Between January 2004 and January 2006, 167 vessels were atherectomized with the SilverHawk in 73 patients. There were 42 men and 31 women treated, and the mean age was 68.8 ± 13.8. Five patients had both legs treated for a total of 78 legs treated. Of the 78 legs intervened on, 25.6% (20/78) had 1 vessel treated, 51.3% (40/78) had 2 vessels treated, 11.5% (9/78) had 3 vessels treated, 9% (7/78) had 4 vessels treated, and 2.6% (2/78) had 5 vessels treated. A total of 78% (61/78) of patients had intermittent claudication, 71% (56/78) had rest pain, and 58% (45/78) had tissue loss. Adjunctive procedures were performed in 63 vessels in 33 patients (61 percutaneous transluminal angioplasty [PTA] and 2 PTA + stent). Eighty-four vessels treated were totally occluded and 83 stenotic. Cumulative 1-year primary, primary assisted, secondary patency, limb salvage, and survival rates with confidence intervals, respectively, are: 43% (30,57), 49% (36,63), 57% (43,71), 75% (57,92), and 90% (80,100). Multivariable analysis demonstrated tobacco use, renal disease, diabetes, and tissue loss are all predictors of patency loss, while only diabetes and tissue loss were associated with greater limb loss. There was no difference in patency rates irrespective of location of Trans Atlantic Inter-Societal Consensus (TASC) classification, vessel treated (femoral vs tibial), or degree of stenosis (occluded vs stenotic). Also, multiple vessels treated in the same patients had no affect on patency. The mean ankle brachial index (ABI) pre-op was 0.57 ± 0.19, and this increased to 0.81 ± 0.21 ( P Conclusion Lower extremity atherectomy procedures with the SilverHawk device are safe and effective means in improving symptoms. However, there is decreased durability and significant patency and limb loss over time. Diabetes, renal disease, tobacco use, and tissue loss are all associated with inferior outcomes.
“Controlled release of neurotrophin-3 from fibrin-based tissue engineering scaffolds enhances neural fiber sprouting following subacute spinal cord injury”

This study investigated whether delayed treatment of spinal cord injury with controlled release of neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) from fibrin scaffolds can stimulate enhanced neural fiber sprouting. Long Evans rats received a T9 dorsal hemisection spinal cord injury. Two weeks later, the injury site was re-exposed, and either a fibrin scaffold alone, a fibrin scaffold containing a heparin-based delivery system with different concentrations of NT-3 (500 and 1,000 ng/mL), or a fibrin scaffold containing 1,000 ng/mL of NT-3 (no delivery system) was implanted into the injury site. The injured spinal cords were evaluated for morphological differences using markers for neurons, astrocytes, and chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans 2 weeks after treatment. The addition of 500 ng/mL of NT-3 with the delivery system resulted in an increase in neural fiber density compared to fibrin alone. These results demonstrate that the controlled release of NT-3 from fibrin scaffolds can enhance neural fiber sprouting even when treatment is delayed 2 weeks following injury.
Amygdala involvement in human avoidance, escape and approach behavior

Many forms of psychopathology and substance abuse problems are characterized by chronic ritualized forms of avoidance and escape behavior that are designed to control or modify external or internal (i.e., thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations) threats. In this functional magnetic resonance imaging investigation, we examined amygdala reactivity to threatening cues when avoidance responding consistently prevented contact with an upcoming aversive event (money loss). In addition, we examined escape responding that terminated immediate escalating money loss and approach responding that produced a future money gain. Results showed cues prompting avoidance, escape and approach behavior recruited a similar fronto-striatal-parietal network. Within the amygdala, bilateral activation was observed to threatening avoidance and escape cues, even though money loss was consistently avoided, as well as to the reward cue. The magnitude of amygdala responses within subjects was relatively similar to avoidance, escape and approach cues, but considerable between-subject differences were found. The heightened amygdala response to avoidance and escape cues observed within a subset of subjects suggests threat-related responses can be maintained even when aversive events are consistently avoided, which may account for the persistence of avoidance-coping in various clinical disorders. Further assessment of the relation between amygdala reactivity and avoidance-escape behavior may prove useful in identifying individuals with or at risk for neuropsychiatric disorders.
Reflexive responses to slipping in bipedal running robots

Many robot applications require traversing uneven or unmodeled terrain. This paper explores strategies for one class of difficult terrain: slippery surfaces. We evaluate several reflexive responses to a slip using a dynamically simulated, three-dimensional, bipedal robot. We explore two kinds of reaction strategies. One strategy continues the step, in which the slip occurred. The other lifts the slipping foot and repositions the legs for another attempt. The most successful strategy positions the legs in a fixed triangular configuration on the step following a slip.
The Use of Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) in Dune Ecosystems: The Lessons Learned

Feagin, R.A.; Williams, A.M.; Popescu, S.; Stukey, J., and Washington-Allen, R.A., 2014. The use of terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) in dune ecosystems: the lessons learned. Journal of Coastal Research, 30(1), 111–119. Coconut Creek (Florida), ISSN 0749-0208. This paper presents a methodology for using terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) to quantify sand dune geomorphology. As an example of the use of TLS, we present methods that were used to investigate changes in sediment and vegetation volumes after Hurricane Ike. We collected TLS data within a 100 m 3 100 m plot on the East Matagorda Peninsula, Texas, from early September 2008 (before landfall) to early October 2009 (a year after landfall). Terrestrial laser scanning-collected laser point clouds were then interpolated into several grid sizes. From several interpolated grid sizes, 0.50 m 3 0.50 m grids were determined best for analysis as they were able to compromise two competing resolutionrelated issues: gaps caused by vegetation shadows and the natural contours of the dune. We outline several additional lessons to aid coastal researchers in strengthening their own future work: the use of reference survey stakes in an unstable environment, the development of a novel method to test for errors in point cloud registration among multiple dates, how best to interpret sediment and vegetation change analysis as derived from interpolated grids, and suggestions for incorporating mass-based sedimentary and biomass-based vegetation field studies within the volumetric context of TLS analysis.
Power Law Distributions

Summing N i.i.d. random variables with pdf P l(x), one obtains a random variable which has in general a different pdf P N(x) given by N convolutions of P1(x) with itself as given by (2.62).
Direct Consumer Access to Physical Therapy in Michigan: Challenges to Policy Adoption

Background. Michigan is 1 of only 4 states that require a physician referral or prescription before a consumer can receive treatment from a physical therapist.Objective. The purpose of the present analysis was to examine why the most recent attempts to pass direct access legislation in Michigan failed.Methods. The Policy Analysis Triangle approach, which considers the relevant actors, processes, and context in which a policy must be considered, was used to analyze legislative efforts to attain direct access in Michigan during the 2001–2002, 2003–2004, and 2005–2006 legislative sessions. Data sources included Michigan House and Senate legislative analyses, literature review, stakeholder position statements, political action committee contributions, and expert opinion.Results. Three successive direct access legislative attempts failed despite an increasing body of evidence supporting direct access and an increasing number of states allowing direct access. Proponents represented a relatively small number of individuals with limited political influence. Opponents represented a larger number of individuals who were able to exert greater political influence through large political action committee contributions and through physician legislators in positions of power who had influence over the bills' dispositions.Conclusions. Several prominent contextual and process-related barriers to policy adoption must be overcome in future attempts at direct access based on the findings from this analysis: (1) a limited constituency supporting direct access with regard to number of individuals and their political influence, (2) a perception that only the physician can independently diagnose and treat patient problems, and (3) legislators in positions of power who oppose a bill [corrected].
The frontal-anatomic specificity of design fluency repetitions and their diagnostic relevance for behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia.

On tests of design fluency, an examinee draws as many different designs as possible in a specified time limit while avoiding repetition. The neuroanatomical substrates and diagnostic group differences of design fluency repetition errors and total correct scores were examined in 110 individuals diagnosed with dementia, 53 with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 37 neurologically healthy controls. The errors correlated significantly with volumes in the right and left orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), the right and left superior frontal gyrus, the right inferior frontal gyrus, and the right striatum, but did not correlate with volumes in any parietal or temporal lobe regions. Regression analyses indicated that the lateral OFC may be particularly crucial for preventing these errors, even after excluding patients with behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) from the analysis. Total correct correlated more diffusely with volumes in the right and left frontal and parietal cortex, the right temporal cortex, and the right striatum and thalamus. Patients diagnosed with bvFTD made significantly more repetition errors than patients diagnosed with MCI, Alzheimer’s disease, semantic dementia, progressive supranuclear palsy or corticobasal syndrome. In contrast, total correct design scores did not differentiate the dementia patients. These results highlight the frontal-anatomic specificity of design fluency repetitions. In addition, the results indicate that the propensity to make these errors supports the diagnosis of bvFTD.
A computationally efficient method for nonparametric modeling of neural spiking activity with point processes

Point-process models have been shown to be useful in characterizing neural spiking activity as a function of extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Most point-process models of neural activity are parametric, as they are often efficiently computable. However, if the actual point process does not lie in the assumed parametric class of functions, misleading inferences can arise. Nonparametric methods are attractive due to fewer assumptions, but computation in general grows with the size of the data. We propose a computationally efficient method for nonparametric maximum likelihood estimation when the conditional intensity function, which characterizes the point process in its entirety, is assumed to be a Lipschitz continuous function but otherwise arbitrary. We show that by exploiting much structure, the problem becomes efficiently solvable. We next demonstrate a model selection procedure to estimate the Lipshitz parameter from data, akin to the minimum description length principle and demonstrate consistency of our estimator under appropriate assumptions. Finally, we illustrate the effectiveness of our method with simulated neural spiking data, goldfish retinal ganglion neural data, and activity recorded in CA1 hippocampal neurons from an awake behaving rat. For the simulated data set, our method uncovers a more compact representation of the conditional intensity function when it exists. For the goldfish and rat neural data sets, we show that our nonparametric method gives a superior absolute goodness-of-fit measure used for point processes than the most common parametric and splines-based approaches.