cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Olfactory network dynamics and the coding of multidimensional signals

The brain faces many complex problems when dealing with odorant signals. Odours are multidimensional objects, which we usually experience as unitary percepts. They are also noisy and variable, but we can classify and identify them well. This means that the olfactory system must solve complicated pattern-learning and pattern-recognition problems. I propose that part of the solution relies on a particular architecture that imposes a dynamic format on odour codes. According to this hypothesis, the olfactory system actively creates a large coding space in which to place odour representations and simultaneously optimizes their distribution within it. This process uses both oscillatory and non-periodic dynamic processes with complementary functions: slow non-periodic processes underlie decorrelation, whereas fast oscillations allow sparsening and feature binding.
Engineered solution synthesis of rare-earth nanomaterials and their optical properties

This paper will summarize our work on rare-earth nanomaterials for infrared photonic applications. Our research focuses the use of solvothermal methods to prepare these materials in particulate and molecular form with controlled physical and chemical characteristics. Thermochemical computations are used to facilitate direct crystallization of the desired material from the solvothermal medium. The impact of the chemical and physical characteristics of nanopowder and molecular characteristics on optical properties will be discussed in reference to conventional glasses and single crystals.
Myocardial first‐pass perfusion assessment using rotational long‐axis MRI

Purpose To study a first-pass myocardial perfusion imaging method, such that long-axis imaging slices are obtained rotationally around the short-axis centroid of the left ventricular cavity, in order to improve myocardial coverage and better delineate the basal and apical myocardium. Materials and Methods This rotational long-axis (RLA) method was examined in 12 volunteers and compared to the perfusion images from conventional parallel short-axis (PSA) acquisitions in terms of the contrast to noise ratio (CNR), relative signal upslope and myocardial coverage. Both RLA and PSA first-pass perfusion images were acquired on each volunteer with otherwise identical imaging parameters using the partial Fourier saturation recovery steady state gradient echo sequence with refocused magnetization (TrueFISP) technique. Results Compared to PSA, RLA perfusion images with identical imaging parameters on the same subject exhibit an average of near 30% improvement in total myocardial area imaged. In addition, true basal and apical myocardium was seen on RLA, but not on PSA. The mean CNR and relative upslope were similar between the two techniques. Conclusions This RLA perfusion imaging scheme is superior to the conventional PSA approach in terms of extent myocardial coverage and delineation of basal and apical regions of the left ventricle. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2005;22:53–58. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Predicting fish population dynamics: compensation and the importance of site-specific considerations

Abstract The magnitude of the compensatory response inherent to fish population seems to be questioned with each new generation of scientists and regulators. The major reason for this is the demand by some that compensation be completely understood at the process level before compensation can be factored into population predictions. We first discuss several lines of evidence for the existence of compensation, and the reasons why compensation is so difficult to measure at the process level. We then offer life history theory as a general framework for improving our understanding of the likely magnitude of compensation in fish population dynamics. We use detailed, individual-based models and field data for yellow perch-walleye, striped bass, and a lake community to illustrate the complexity of compensation, and to show that predictions for a particular population require site-specific information. Analyses show that the life stage and magnitude of density-dependence can vary for different populations of the same species, and that population responses can depend on the arrangement of the food web. We must stop reinventing the density-dependence wheel; too many resources (both natural and monetary) are at stake. We suggest using three approaches for addressing the compensation issue: (1) life history theory for providing a sound basis for qualitatively understanding fish population dynamics and the magnitude of compensation; (2) age- and stage-structured matrix models for screening-level analyses to identify populations that may be at unacceptable risks of decline and therefore require additional analyses; and (3) individual-based models for better understanding the complexities of compensation at the process level and for impact assessment of at-risk, well-studied populations.
Characterization of phospholipase a from pulmonary secretions of patients with alveolar proteinosis

Phospholipase A2 (EC 3.1.1.4) from the insoluble pulmonary secretions that accumulate in the lungs of patients with alveolar proteinosis has been purified. The pure enzyme gives a single sharp band upon sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Amino acid analysis of the protein shows high content of cystine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, serine, glycine, leucine and lysine. Only one N-terminal residue, alanine, can be detected. Gel filtration as well as sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicate an apparent molecular weight of 75 000 for the enzyme. The enzyme activity has a pH optimum between 7.5 and 8.5 and is stimulated by sodium deoxycholate and CaCl2.
Rehabilitating the ‘drugs lifestyle’: Criminal justice, social control, and the cultivation of agency:

In the face of rising imprisonment costs, drug treatment has become an increasingly popular alternative to incarceration. Yet little work has been done concerning the nature of the treatment systems for offenders. This study examines rehabilitative practice within a residential drug treatment facility that works closely with the criminal justice system. The target of rehabilitative reform is revealed to be a ‘drugs lifestyle’ whose description strongly recalls earlier discussions of the ‘culture of poverty’. Residents are deemed to be in need of disciplinary control in order to foster an emotional disposition oriented toward accepting boredom, following rules, responding calmly to being yelled at by supervisors, and other skills useful in the low-wage labor market. Given its apparent functions in terms of social control, the fact that some participants find the harsh disciplinary system beneficial requires explanation, and it is argued that rehabilitation fosters new forms of agency that are associated wi...
Pain Relief after Hypophysectomy

Thirteen series of patients who underwent surgical or chemical hypophysectomy for the relief of pain associated with cancer were reviewed. In 10 series, involving 334 patients with breast or prostate cancer, surgical hypophysectomy produced pain relief in 70% of the patients afflicted with either tumor, including some with no evidence of hormone dependence. These results were then compared with the results of chemical hypophysectomy. This procedure was performed in 3 series involving 533 patients, of whom 24% had cancer other than breast or prostate. Chemical hypophysectomy produced pain relief in over 75% of the patients, regardless of tumor type or hormonal dependence. The possible role of the pituitary, the hypothalamus, and endogenous opiates in mediating the pain relief associated with hypophysectomy was examined. The mechanism by which pain relief is achieved remains unclear, but there is significant evidence that this relief is not related directly to the expected fall in the levels of known pituitary hormones. Evidence is provided that pain relief is the result of a hypothalamic pain-suppressing capability triggered by hypophysectomy. On the basis of both clinical data and the mechanism of action, we conclude that surgical and chemical hypophysectomy are fundamentally similar procedures.
Advanced Five-Plane Lancet Needle Design, Grinding, and Tissue Insertion

The needle with lancet point (NLP), having three planes at the tip to generate a sharp lancet point, is the most common needle tip geometry. This research presents two five-plane lancet needle designs, the five-plane lancet needle with two back bevels (FLN-B) and five-plane lancet needle with two front bevels (FLN-F), to study the effect of two additional bevel planes on the reduction of soft tissue insertion force over that of the NLP. The mathematical models for inclination and rake angles along the cutting edges, and the grinding procedure and setup parameters for FLN-B and FLN-F are developed. Prototype needles are fabricated and the needle insert test was conducted on PVC phantom tissue which mimics the soft tissue. Compared to NLP, FLN-B and FLN-F have higher inclination and rake angles and can reduce the insertion forces by 9.1% and 8.3%, respectively.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Teaching and Practicing Thinking Skills to Promote Comprehension in the Context of Group Problem Solving

Reading comprehension is conceptualized as a problem-solving activity in which the reader constructs meaning for the text while simultaneously reconstructing prior conceptions. Comprehension instruction is conceptualized as teaching students the thinking skills that foster interactions with the text. A specific instructional technique, reciprocal teaching, which is conducted as a group problemsolving activity in which the students practice the use of four strategies to promote thinking while reading, is described and illustrated.
Bilateral familial Duane's retraction syndrome.

Abstract Background Duane’s retraction syndrome (DRS) is a congenital oculomotor anomaly that is accompany by globe retraction with simultaneous narrowing of the palpebral fissure on attempted adduction. Hereditary factors have been postulated to be associated with the development of DRS since 1879. However, the modern literature fails to provide substantial scientific evidence to support this premise. Case report A 7-year-old patient presented with bilateral abduction deficit and retraction of the globe with narrowing of the palpebral fissure on attempted adduction. Conclusion We present a case of Duane’s retraction syndrome in which an investigation of the family history uncovered 4 generations of affected family members, lending support to the theory that some cases of DRS are inherited.
Potentiation of human erythropoiesis in vitro by thyroid hormone

ANAEMIA is a frequent complication of thyroid dysfunction in man, and often remains unexplained, responding only to thyroid hormone replacement therapy1,2. Thyroid hormone has recently been shown to influence the rate of red blood cell and haemoglobin production3–7. In addition to stimulating erythropoietin (Ep) production3, thyroid hormone has been reported to act directly on haematopoietic precursors4,5. The enhancement of murine and canine in vitro erythroid colony growth by thyroid hormone6,7 suggests that this hormone may have a direct role in the modulation of erythroid proliferation. Studies of murine erythropoiesis support the existence of two distinct, age-structured, Ep responsive populations of committed erythroid precursor cells: the early committed erythroid burst forming unit (BFU-E) and the late committed erythroid colony forming unit (CFU-E)8. These populations are distinguished by cell volume, responsiveness to Ep, and proliferative capacity. The BFU-E, a cell which arises from the pluripotent stem cell soon after its commitment to the erythroid line and which has a high Ep-responsive proliferative capacity, seems to be the precursor of the CFU-E, a cell of lower proliferative capacity. Thyroid hormone has been shown to enhance in vitro erythroid colony formation by canine marrow cells, an effect that may be mediated by a receptor with β2-adrenergic properties7. Velocity sedimentation analysis revealed that colony-forming cells stimulated by this hormone sedimented more slowly than colony-forming cells responding to Ep alone7. Here, we have extended these studies to human marrow cells and have shown that the ability of thyroid hormone to stimulate the erythroid committed progenitor cell does not seem to be a function of the state of differentiation of this cell. Both CFU-E-derived and BFU-E-derived colony formation were enhanced by the hormone.
Psychosomatic formulations in dentistry.

In contrast with the physician, the dentist is more likely to represent sym­ bolically the punitive rather than the protective father. I t would be better if the dentist greeted his patient for the first time in a room which is nonclinical, wore an ordinary jacket, and sat in a chair at the patient’s level. T he more that the dentist can explain about every step, the less fear will result. I f the image of the man with the drill can be replaced by the image of one who listens and helps, the rewards will be great both for the dentist and his patients.
Information leakage from logically equivalent frames.

Framing effects are said to occur when equivalent frames lead to different choices. However, the equivalence in question has been incompletely conceptualized. In a new normative analysis of framing effects, we complete the conceptualization by introducing the notion of information equivalence. Information equivalence obtains when no choice-relevant inferences can be drawn from the speakers choice of frame. We show that, to support the normative implications traditionally attributed to framing effects, frames must be equivalent in this sense. We also present new evidence for McKenzie and Nelsons (2003) reference point hypothesis, which posits a tendency to cast descriptions in terms of what has increased relative to the reference point. This leakage of information about relative state violates information equivalence, and gives rise to a normative account of the most robust finding in the attribute framing literature— the valence-consistency of preference shifts. We argue that, more generally, valenced descriptions leak information about perceived valence. Such ‘‘implicit recommendations’’ may
Hydraulic zonation of the lagoons of Marano and Grado, Italy. A modelling approach

Abstract The hydraulic regime-based zonation scheme of the Lagoons of Marano and Grado (Italy) has been derived by means of numerical models. A finite element modelling system has been used to describe the water circulation taking in account different forces such as tide, wind and rivers. The model has been validated by comparing the simulation results against measured water levels, salinity and water temperature data collected in several stations inside the lagoons. The analysis of water circulation, salinity and spatial distribution of passive tracers released at the inlets, led to a physically-based division of the lagoons system into six subbasins. The derived classification scheme is of crucial value for understanding the renewal capacity and pollutants distribution patterns in the lagoon.
On-line data reconciliation in chemical plants

Abstract Knowledge of massbalance and the information carried by massflows in the form of components, temperature and pressure strongly effect product quality, plant safety and plant profitability. The paper reports our experience with ON-LINE data reconciliation gathered since 1989, on two chemical plants.
MODELS OF PEANO ARITHMETIC AND A QUESTION OF SIKORSKI ON ORDERED FIELDS

Using models of Peano Arithmetic, we solve a problem of Sikorski by showing that the existence of an ordered field of cardinalityλ with the Bolzano-Weierstrass property forκ-sequences is equivalent to the existence of aκ-tree with exactlyλ branches and with noκ-Aronszajn subtrees.
Performance enhancement of a Fourier transform Raman microprobe

Abstract Improvements to an existing Fourier transform Raman microprobe are described which include the optimization of the spectrometer for use in the near-IR region, the laser input optics in the microscope and optics employed to couple the microscope to the spectrometer. Several examples are presented which demonstrate the effect of these improvements on the microprobe's spatial resolution, Rayleigh rejection and ability to analyze weak Raman scattering materials with moderate excitation powers. Polarized data from a single crystal and data from the use of holographic notch filters are also presented. Future improvements to the system are also discussed.
Dissecting the role of dendritic cells in simian immunodeficiency virus infection and AIDS

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is associated with the loss of the two principal types of dendritic cell (DC), myeloid DC (mDC) and plasmacytoid DC (pDC), but the mechanism of this loss and its relationship to AIDS pathogenesis remain ill-defined. The nonhuman primate is a powerful model to dissect this response for several reasons. Both DC subsets have been well characterized in nonhuman primates and shown to have strikingly similar phenotypic and functional characteristics to their counterparts in the human. Moreover, decline of mDC and pDC occurs in rhesus macaques with end-stage simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infection, the model of HIV infection in humans. In this brief review, we discuss what is known about DC subsets in pathogenic and nonpathogenic nonhuman primate models of HIV infection and highlight the advances and controversies that currently exist in the field.
RESPIRATORY AND CIRCULATORY EFFECTS OF SAXITOXIN IN THE CEREBROSPINAL FLUID

Abstract 1 In cats anaesthetized with pentobarbitone, saxitoxin and, on a few occasions, tetrodotoxin were injected into a lateral cerebral ventricle or into the subarachnoid space of the lower brain stem. Observations were made on frequency and tidal volume of breathing, on CO2 responsiveness and on electrical responsiveness of the respiratory centre. Effects on the blood pressure were observed simultaneously. 2 A single large dose of toxin, e.g., 250 ng, produced within minutes apneustic breathing and a rise in blood pressure which were converted rapidly to respiratory failure and hypotension. In contrast, repeated small doses, e.g., 25 ng, yielded only progressive slowing of the respiration together with circulatory hypotension. Bulbar depression was produced as effectively by subarachnoid injection as by intraventricular injection of the toxins. Onset of action was detectable within seconds. 3 Slowing of the respiration occurred independently of change in tidal volume and whether or not the vagus nerves were cut. The reduction in breathing frequency is attributed to direct toxin-induced depression of the central respiratory oscillator. 4 Steady-state measurements of tidal volume at controlled levels of alveolar CO2 pressure in intermediate stages of respiratory depression showed that the toxins produced an increase in CO2 stimulation threshold as well as a reduction in gain of CO2 responsiveness, whether or not the vagus nerves were cut. Carotid arterial chemoreceptor reactivity to O2 was demonstrable when central sensitivity to CO2 was depressed. These effects are attributed to a direct influence of the toxins upon the brainstem CO2-tidal volume controller. 5 Responsiveness of the medullary inspiratory centre to electrical stimulation persisted after the failure of spontaneous breathing was caused by the toxins. Conversely, restitution of electrical responsiveness preceded the reappearance of spontaneous respiratory activity in the recovery phase of toxic depression. Circulatory effects paralleled the changes in respiratory behaviour. 6 On the basis of the relatively prompt and discrete alterations in the central respiratory and circulatory control mechanisms produced by saxitoxin and tetrodotoxin placed in the cerebrospinal fluid, it is concluded that the agents rapidly penetrated to deep target loci in the lower brain stem.
Development and Validation of a New Index to Measure Emergency Department Crowding

OBJECTIVES To develop a quantitative measure of emergency department (ED) crowding and busyness. METHODS A five-week study in spring 2002 in an urban teaching ED compared a new index (the Emergency Department Work Index [EDWIN]) with attending physician and nurse ratings of crowding. EDWIN is defined as summation operator n(i)t(i)/N(a)(B(T)-B(A)), where n(i) = number of patients in the ED in triage category i, t(i) = triage category, N(a) = number of attending physicians on duty, B(T) = number of treatment bays, and B(A) = number of admitted patients in the ED. The triage system used is the Emergency Severity Index (ESI), which was modified by reversing the ranking of triage categories; that is, an ESI score of 1 represented the least acute patient and 5 the sickest. EDWIN was calculated every two hours in a convenience sample of 60 eight-hour shifts. With each measurement, the charge attending physician and nurse estimated how busy/crowded the ED was, using a Likert scale. Nurse and physician assessments were averaged and compared with EDWIN scores. Data were analyzed with SPSS 10.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL). RESULTS A total of 2,647 patients aged 18 years and older were assessed at 225 time points over 35 consecutive days. Nurses and physicians showed good interrater agreement of crowding assessment (weighted kappa 0.61, 95% confidence interval = 0.53 to 0.69). Median EDWIN scores and interquartile ranges (IQRs) when the ED was rated as not busy, average, and very busy were 1.07 (IQR = 0.80 to 1.55), 1.55 (IQR = 1.16 to 1.93), and 1.83 (IQR = 1.42 to 2.45) (p < 0.001). The ED was on diversion for 17 time blocks (6.5% of all blocks), with a median EDWIN of 2.77 (IQR = 1.83 to 3.63), compared with an EDWIN of 1.45 (IQR = 1.05 to 2.00) when not on diversion (p < 0.001). EDWIN scores correlated weakly with various process-of-care measures chosen as secondary end points. CONCLUSIONS EDWIN correlated well with staff assessment of ED crowding and diversion. The index can be programmed into tracking software for use as a "dashboard" to alert staff when the ED is approaching crisis. If validated across other sites, EDWIN may provide a tool to compare crowding levels among different EDs.
Corrosion behavior of SiCp/6061 Al metal matrix composites

Abstract The corrosion behavior of silicon carbide/aluminum (SiCp/Al) metal matrix composites was studied in chloride solution by means of electrochemical techniques, scanning electron microscopy (...
Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Social Skills Program for Preadolescents

Peer relations play a major role in the social development of children and youth. Social workers are well aware of the potential negative consequences for children who are socially excluded, and th...
Pediatric hepatic angiosarcoma: case report and review of the literature.

Pediatric hepatic angiosarcoma (PHAS) is a rare tumor, which usually presents as a rapid enlargement of the liver. To date, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy have not improved the poor prognosis of PHAS with only three survivors reported. The histology of PHAS is distinct from adult angiosarcoma, because PHAS displays hypercellular whorls of sarcomatous cells, or “kaposiform” spindle cells, in addition to the general features of angiosarcoma. We report a case of PHAS that was treated with vascular ablation, chemotherapy, and liver transplantation. Lung metastases occurred 14 months posttransplant.
Cognitive Biases and Political Party Affiliation in Intergroup Conflict

Employing the motivational basis of the false consensus bias, this study hypothesized that the degree of assumed similarity to in-group attitudes would differ among supporters of various political groups in intergroup conflict. We defined a conflict-maintaining bias, the adversary's extremity bias, and examined how the degree of the bias would also differ among supporters of various political groups. Data were gathered from Arab and Jewish high school and university students in Israel. Our hypotheses, that in intergroup conflict assumed similarity to in-group attitudes and the adversary's extremity bias would be greater among supporters of less conciliatory political parties than among supporters of more conciliatory political parties, were supported for one group in the conflict but not the other. Explanations of our findings are based on the differential power status of the 2 groups in the particular conflict.
Reaction kinetics in dilute solutions of chain molecules carrying randomly spaced reactive and catalytic chain substituents. II. Dependence of the ring closure probability on the solvent medium and the nature of the chain backbone

Ternary copolymers of acrylamide or methacrylamide with small proportions of comonomers carrying reactive p-nitrophenyl ester and catalytic pyridine groups in the side chains were prepared. The kinetics of the ester solvolysis was followed in highly dilute solutions, so that the rate was controlled by interaction of groups carried by the same chain backbone. Data were obtained in water and aqueous methanol and were interpreted by a computer simulation procedure in terms of the dependence of the probability of encounter between two chain substituents on their spacing along the chain backbone. This probability decreased more slowly with increasing separation of the interacting groups when the solvation of the polymer was reduced, but even in solvents approaching θ conditions the results deviated from theoretical predictions for chains without excluded volume. The formation of cyclic conformations is considerably more difficult in methacrylic than in acrylic chains, although the chain flexibility, as characterized by unperturbed chain dimensions, is very similar in the two systems.
ADJUSTING THE THIRD-ORDER NONLINEAR OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF A CONJUGATED POLYMER FILM

We demonstrate the ability to adjust and control the magnitude of the third-order nonlinear response of a conjugated polymer, the processable polydiacetylene poly(4BCMU), through macroscopic polyme...
Aligned fiber columns for size-exclusion chromatography

Abstract Chromatographic columns are being developed that contain, instead of porous particles as in classical packed columns, bundles of aligned porous silica fibers of claimed diameter 18 μm and average pore size 270 A. From these properties, the material is comparable to conventional silica particles as a stationary phase for high-performance liquid chromatography. However, as fibers can be packed much more densely than spherical particles, the interstitial volume of the packing is significantly lower, while the pore volume can be higher. This combination of geometrical properties is important for size-exclusion chromatography. The performance of a prototype Aligned Fiber Column was tested by measuring the elution times and band broadening of polystyrene molecular weight standards with methylene chloride as the eluent. The results were compared to those found for columns packed with 10- or 3-μm silica particles. In view of possible applications for the separation of biopolymers, the surface of the column was modified by grafting alkyl diol groups in an in situ silanization process. The results obtained with several different proteins show a very low residual activity of the surface (only strongly basic proteins are retained), a slight decrease in the pore volume and pore diameters, with little change in the posority ratio. As this was the first attempt at in situ diol bonding of any silica material, some polymerization of the silane occurred, seriously decreasing the efficiency of the column.
Survey of Calf and Heifer Management Practices in Pennsylvania Dairy Herds

Three hundred and twenty-nine farms, representing 39 counties in Pennsylvania, were surveyed to determine current calf and heifer management practices. This survey was designed to enhance countywide extension education objectives and determine needs in dairy replacement management. All surveys were conducted on-farm via personal interviews with the dairy farmers. Results showed average herd size of 63 cows, milk production 7015 kg, milk fat 3.8%, milk protein 3.3%, and average age at first calving 26.6 mo. Overall calf mortality (up to 1 yr of age) was 8.7%. Husbandry practices for the newborn calf were deficient in many aspects. Timing and amount of colostrum feeding were problem areas. Based on the types and varieties of forages fed to heifers, much improvement is needed in nutrition to enhance replacement performance. Dairy farmers perceive housing and nutrition as two problem areas for their neighbors as well as themselves in replacement management. The results of this survey identified many specific areas of replacement management that could be the focus of educational programs to reduce calf mortality and decrease average age at first calving.
Seismic fragility estimates and optimization of retrofitting strategies for reinforced concrete bridges: Case study of the Fabela Bridge in Toluca, Mexico

Seismic fragility estimates are computed for the Fabela Bridge, a five-span singlecolumn bent reinforced concrete bridge, located in Toluca, Mexico based on previously developed probabilistic models for the capacity and demand of typical reinforced concrete bridges. The seismic fragility estimates are computed considering deformation failures in the columns. The approach used in this study properly accounts for epistemic and aleatory uncertainties of the problem. The properties of the bridge used to develop the fragility curves are estimated by matching the frequencies of a 3D finite element model to field data. For this purpose, a 3D finite element model of the studied bridge is created based on the available information of the bridge including drawings and field observations. Then the model is updated based on the modal frequencies obtained from measured accelerations in a series of forced vibration tests on the bridge. Fragility curves are generated to assess the seismic vulnerabilities of the current bridge. Different retrofit strategies are also applied to the bridge model to generate new fragility curves for a retrofitted bridge. The optimal retrofit strategies are determined based on the developed fragilities.
Concealed interpolated A-V junctional extrasystoles and A-V junctional parasystole.

Abstract A case of interpolated atrioventricular (A-V) Junctional extrasystoles is described. The extrasystoles were, at times, complicated by concomitant anterograde and retrograde A-V block and were thus not manifested electrocardiographically. Their presence, under these circumstances, was evident from an ensuing disturbance of A-V conduction. Transitions between the extrasystolic and parasystolic A-V Junctional rhythm were also observed.
Modeling of self-potential anomalies near vertical dikes

The self‐potential (SP) Green’s function for an outcropping vertical dike is derived from solutions for the dc resistivity problem for the same geometry. The Green’s functions are numerically integrated over rectangular source regions on the contacts between the dike and the surrounding material to obtain the SP anomaly. The analysis is valid for thermoelectrical source mechanisms. Two types of anomalies can be produced by this geometry. When the two source planes are polarized in opposite directions, a monopolar anomaly is produced. This corresponds to the thermoelectrical properties of the dike being in contrast with the surrounding material. When the thermoelectric coefficients change monotonically across the dike, a dipolar anomaly is produced. In either case positive and negative anomalies are possible, and the greatest variation in potential will occur in the most resistive regions. Examples of the effect of changing different model parameters are given for sources that have constant intensity throu...
The influence of future electricity mix alternatives on southwestern US water resources

A climate driven, water resource systems model of the southwestern US was used to explore the implications of growth, extended drought, and climate warming on the allocation of water among competing uses. The analysis focused on the water benefits from alternative thermoelectric generation mixes, but included other uses, namely irrigated agriculture, municipal indoor and outdoor use, and environmental and inter-state compact requirements. The model, referred to as WEAP-SW, was developed on the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) platform, and is scenario-based and forward projecting from 2008 to 2050. The scenario includes a southwest population that grows from about 55 million to more than 100 million, a prolonged dry period, and a long-term warming trend of 2 C by mid-century. In addition, the scenario assumes that water allocation under shortage conditions would prioritize thermoelectric, environmental, and inter-state compacts by shorting first irrigated agriculture, then municipal demands. We show that while thermoelectric cooling water consumption is relatively small compared with other uses, the physical realities and the legal and institutional structures of water use in the region mean that relatively small differences in regional water use across different electricity mix scenarios correspond with more substantial impacts on individual basins and water use sectors. At a region-wide level, these choices influence the buffer against further water stress afforded the region through its generous storage capacity in reservoirs.
The observation of oxygen disorder on the V2O5(001) surface using scanning tunneling microscopy

Abstract Constant current scanning tunneling microscope images of the V 2 O 5 (001) surface were recorded in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV). The conductivity of the V 2 O 5 crystal was increased by doping with Na during the crystal growth and flat surfaces were created by cleavage in N 2 or UHV. All images exhibit the 11.5 A × 3.65 A periodicity expected for a bulk terminated surface. However, images from different areas of the surface have different contrast and these variations are explained by assuming incomplete and inhomogeneous occupation of the vanadyl oxygen sites. This assumption is supported by image simulations which demonstrate that loss of the surface vanadyl O could account for the observed changes in contrast. Because these surface O vacancies are thought to influence the catalytic properties of the surface, their characterization is an important step towards understanding how the atomic-scale structure of a surface influences its properties.
Interaction of multiple atmospheric-pressure micro-plasma jets in small arrays: He/O2 into humid air

Arrays of atmospheric-pressure plasma jets are being considered as a means to increase the area being treated in surface modification and in plasma medicine in particular. A unique challenge of scaling plasma jet arrays is that individual plasma jets in an array tend to interact with each other, which can lead to quenching of some individual jets. To investigate these potential interactions, a computational study of one-, two- and three-tube arrays of micro-plasma jet arrays was performed. An atmospheric-pressure He/O2 = 99.8/0.2 mixture was flowed through the tubes into humid room air. We found that the jets interact through electrostatic, hydrodynamic and photolytic means. The hydrodynamic interactions result from the merging of individual He channels emerging from individual tubes as air diffuses into the extended gas jets. Ionization waves (IWs) or plasma bullets, which form the jets on the boundaries of an array, encounter higher mole fractions of air earlier compared with the center jet and so are slower or are quenched earlier. The close proximity of the jets produces electrostatic repulsion, which affects the trajectories of the IWs. If the jets are close enough, photoionizing radiation from their neighbors is an additional form of interaction. These interactions are sensitive to the spacing of the jets.
Spatiotemporal organization during ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation

Background Targeting complex fractionated atrial electrograms improves the outcome of ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF); however, the mechanism(s) responsible for the generation of complex fractionated atrial electrogram signals and efficacy of ablation is not clear. Objective The aim of this study was to gain mechanistic insight into ablation of persistent AF by evaluating the spatiotemporal patterns of atrial organization during ablation. Methods Intracardiac recordings from 18 ablation procedures were analyzed. Signals recorded by right atrial/coronary sinus catheters were processed. We quantified atrial organization using recurrence maps and recurrence percentage (Rec%) methodology and generated temporally dense time series of cycle lengths and Rec%. Results A total of 162 intra-atrial recordings were categorized into type I (sudden jump in Rec%), type II (gradual increase), and type III (no increase). Type I was the most common form and was seen in 57% ± 4% of the recordings. A typical pattern was the initial appearance of local organization, which then expanded to adjacent channels in discrete jumps until eventually an organized atrial flutter emerged. This pattern is consistent with the atrial organization signature expected from ablation of a single spiral wave with fibrillatory conduction to the rest of atria. Conclusion Temporally dense spatiotemporal assessment of atrial organization during the ablation of persistent AF is feasible and provides complementary information to cycle length measurements. Atrial organization starts locally and expands spatially in discrete jumps. The regularization of AF to atrial flutter exhibits characteristics of phase transition in complex systems.
Alterations in Autoregulatory and Myogenic Function in the Cerebrovasculature of Dahl Salt-Sensitive Rats

Background and Purpose— Dahl salt-sensitive rats fed an 8.7% NaCl diet exhibited hypertensive encephalopathy and developed seizures associated with areas of blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption without brain ischemia. The incidence of hemorrhagic stroke was low (7/47). We tested the hypothesis that a defect in cerebral blood flow (CBF) autoregulation under hypertensive conditions preceded hypertensive encephalopathy. Methods— Brain ischemia and BBB disruption were assessed with the use of tetrazolium red staining and Evans blue dye extravasation, respectively. Myogenic constriction to pressure was measured in isolated middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) with a pressure myograph. CBF autoregulation was assessed with the use of laser-Doppler techniques. Results— Asymptomatic rats fed 8.7% NaCl had MCAs that developed an age-related attenuation in their ability to constrict to pressure, which was amplified in rats exhibiting hypertensive encephalopathy. The MCAs of rats with hemorrhagic stroke lost this function...
Neuropsychology of posttraumatic stress disorder: a pilot study.

The purpose of this paper was to describe a pilot neuropsychological investigation of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. 14 patients diagnosed (by DSM-III—R criteria) as having posttraumatic stress disorder were administered the Four-word Short-term Memory test. Only two of the 14 patients did not meet one of the two criteria for cognitive impairment. Research directions are discussed.
ATYPICAL LEGIONELLA-LIKE ORGANISMS: FASTIDIOUS WATER-ASSOCIATED BACTERIA PATHOGENIC FOR MAN

Abstract A group of related bacteria designated atypical Legionella -like organisms (ALLO) has been identified. ALLO, like L. pneumophila , are fastidious gram-negative rods that grow well on charcoal yeast extract (CYE) agar and produce ground glass colonies and browning of modified yeast extract agar. Unlike L. pneumophila , ALLO do not grow well on Feeley-Gorman (FG) agar, and on CYE agar they fluoresce under longwave ultraviolet light. ALLO and L. pneumophila have a similar predominance of branched-chain forms among total cellular fatty acids but have distinctive fatty-acid profiles. 2 patients with culture-verified ALLO pneumonia and 10 with pneumonia of uncertain aetiology who seroconverted to ALLO offer evidence that ALLO may be a cause of community-acquired pneumonia. Like L. pneumophila, ALLO appear to be water-associated; both persons with culture-verified ALLO infection were exposed to fresh water or its contents before becoming ill, and two strains of ALLO were isolated from water or wet environments.
Unintended Consequences Of Equal Employment Opportunity: Unequal Parties In The Selection Process?

There are various regulations that are intended to promote equal employment opportunity and avoid illegal discrimination in the employment process. These regulations determine what information employers may seek, and require that information sought be job-related or it is illegal to seek such information as age, marital status, or religion. Information that is not a bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ) is usually out of bounds as employers gather information to determine the suitability of applicants for employment. Since one of the bedrock laws affecting the employment relationship is the “at will” doctrine that assumes both employer and applicant come together as equal partners in the formation of the employment contract, this paper raises the issues about whether such regulations unintentionally leave the employer at an information disadvantage by negating the concept of equality assumed by the “at will” doctrine. Some suggestions for practical ways of reducing the identified employer information disadvantages are provided.
Effect of intraperitoneal pressures on tissue water of the abdominal muscle

A major factor that affects solute and water transport through tissue is the state of tissue hydration. The amount of interstitial water directly affects the transport coefficients for both diffusi...
Visual and verbal learning deficits in Veterans with alcohol and substance use disorders

BACKGROUND: This study examined visual and verbal learning in the early phase of recovery for 48 Veterans with alcohol use (AUD) and substance use disorders (SUD, primarily cocaine and opiate abusers). Previous studies have demonstrated visual and verbal learning deficits in AUD, however little is known about the differences between AUD and SUD on these domains. Since the DSM-5 specifically identifies problems with learning in AUD and not in SUD, and problems with visual and verbal learning have been more prevalent in the literature for AUD than SUD, we predicted that people with AUD would be more impaired on measures of visual and verbal learning than people with SUD. METHODS: Participants were enrolled in a comprehensive rehabilitation program and were assessed within the first 5 weeks of abstinence. Verbal learning was measured using the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test (HVLT) and visual learning was assessed using the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test (BVMT). RESULTS: Results indicated significantly greater decline in verbal learning on the HVLT across the three learning trials for AUD participants but not for SUD participants (F=4.653, df=48, p=0.036). Visual learning was less impaired than verbal learning across learning trials for both diagnostic groups (F=0.197, df=48, p=0.674); there was no significant difference between groups on visual learning (F=0.401, df=14, p=0.538). DISCUSSION: Older Veterans in the early phase of recovery from AUD may have difficulty learning new verbal information. Deficits in verbal learning may reduce the effectiveness of verbally-based interventions such as psycho-education. Language: en
Regulation of Neuroendocrine Pathways by Thymosins

Historically, the thymus gland has long been considered an endocrine gland, first with a role within the reproductive axis (Anderson, 1932) and later as an organ functioning in opposition to the adrenal cortex (Martin, 1976). Within the past three decades, a crucial role during the differentiation of T lymphocytes has also been documented, a role that has greatly overshadowed the thymus gland’s importance as a reproductive and/or stress-associated endocrine tissue. Evidence collected in recent years suggests that these apparently dissociated roles are not mutually exclusive and that in some instances, soluble products of thymic epithelial cells and lymphocytes are responsible for normal functioning of the cellular branch of the immune system as well as the regulation of reproductive and stress-associated neuroendocrine circuits (Goldstein et al., 1981; Hall and Goldstein, 1983). These peptides with hormonelike activity are called thymosins and are able to exert their immunoregulatory influences both directly, by acting at the level of the lymphocyte, and indirectly, via pituitary-gonadal and pituitary-adrenal hormones.
A Study of the Cell Content of the Blood of Normal Chickens, with Special Reference to Comparative Differential Leucocyte Counts Made with Supravital and Wright’s Staining Technics

Abstract THIS study has been undertaken in an attempt to establish correct values for the various blood cell constituents of the normal chicken and to discover reasons for the conflicting results obtained by other workers. Blood examinations were made every two weeks for approximately seven months. Each examination consisted of total leucocyte and erythrocyte counts and of two differential leucocyte counts made from blood films stained by the supravital method and by Wright’s method, respectively. A careful autopsy was made of each chicken at the conclusion of the experiment to insure the absence of gross pathological lesions. Table 1 summarizes some of the data on blood counts of the chicken that have appeared in the literature. This shows the very conflicting findings, particularly with respect to the proportions of the different types of leucocytes. Some workers have failed to observe the presence of certain types of cells; others have classified the . . .