cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Newly identified brain potassium channels gated by the guanine nucleotide binding protein Go

Potassium channels in neurons are linked by guanine nucleotide binding (G) proteins to numerous neurotransmitter receptors. The ability of Go, the predominant G protein in the brain, to stimulate potassium channels was tested in cell-free membrane patches of hippocampal pyramidal neurons. Four distinct types of potassium channels, which were otherwise quiescent, were activated by both isolated brain G0 and recombinant Go alpha. Hence brain Go can couple diverse brain potassium channels to neurotransmitter receptors.
Changing woman, Tukunavi and Coal: Impacts of the energy industry on the Navajo and Hopi reservations∗

Changing Woman is one of the most highly revered and dependable of the Navajo Holy People. She is the source of life, the giver of sustenance and destiny to all beings. She is the symbol of the Female Rains and the psyche of lakes, rivers, and mountains. She is in control of vegetation everywhere for the benefit of Earth People. Tukunavi is the area, including Black Mesa, which the Hopi say is part of the heart of Mother Earth. Within this heart, the Hopi have left a seal by leaving religious items, clan markings, plantings, and ancient burial grounds as landmarks and shrines.
Effects of frequency variation in modes orthogonal to the reaction path on condensed phase rate constants

Abstract We examine the effects of frequency variation along the reaction path in intramolecular or lattice modes on the rate constant for light atom transfer in the condensed phase. Accurate quantum mechanical calculations using the quasi-adiabatic propagator path integral representation of the flux–flux auto-correlation function reveal significant variations in the reaction rate compared with the constant frequency case. The vibrationally adiabatic approximation captures these effects rather faithfully if the frequency of these modes is high, relative to that of the reaction coordinate. Significant deviations from the predictions of the adiabatic approximation are observed when low variable frequency modes are involved. In such cases, the competition between the decrease in the reactive flux accompanying a tightening or dilation of the reaction path valley and corner-cutting effects arising from sharp curvature of the reaction path leads to positive or negative corrections to the predictions of the adiabatic model.
Soybean Iron-Deficiency Chlorosis Tolerance and Yield Decrease on Calcareous Soils

Cultivar selection is one of the best ways to manage iron-deficiency chlorosis (IDC) problems in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. The objective was to determine if precision farming techniques of planting IDC-tolerant cultivars in calcareous soil areas and high-yielding cultivars in non-IDC areas would increase soybean yield. We used paired sites within the same field. The sites were located in areas of a field where IDC was present and absent. The same commercial soybean cultivars were planted on the paired sites. Results showed that visual scores for IDC could not identify the highest-yielding cultivar in IDC-affected areas. If the only information available to growers is yield on non-IDC sites and visual IDC ratings, then the yield of the whole field could be increased by planting two different cultivars. If yield data from replicated performance testing of numerous different cultiars was available for IDC sites and also for non-IDC sites, then growers may be able to identify a single cultivar that has high yield across the entire field.
Two positive solutions of a boundary value problem for difference equations

We consider a second order vector boundary value problem for difference equations and establish criteria for the existence of at least two positive solutions by an application of a fixed point theorem in cones.
At the Sea's Edge: Elders and Children in the Littorals of Barbados and the Bahamas

This item is part of the Richard Stoffle Collection. It was digitized from a physical copy provided by Richard Stoffle, Bureau of Applied Research in Anthropology, School of Anthropology at the University of Arizona. For more information about items in this collection, please email Special Collections, askspecialcollections@u.library.arizona.edu.
Flight Test Evaluation of an Alternative Local Area Augmentation System Architecture

A Local Area Augmentation System (LAAS) architecture alternative has been developed to provide satellite-based navigation for aircraft precision approach and landing. Differential code and carrier phase measurements from GPS satellites and ground-based airport pseudolites (APLs), located at each end of the approach runway, are optimally processed at the aircraft to improve vertical performance. In an operational sense, this performance improvement would be realized as increased LAAS availability. In addition, a new integrity monitoring architecture is introduced to provide the tightest achievable protection limits with respect to LAAS reference receiver failures. To demonstrate that the notional LAAS architecture is realizable, a prototype system was implemented at Moffett Federal Airfield in California for flight testing on a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Beechcraft King Air. In this paper, the ground and air components of the prototype architecture implementation are described. Experimental results from King Air flight trials performed in September 1997 show exceptional navigation performance with the APL architecture, including a 95 percent vertical navigation error of 0.74 m in real time.
Prior violation records of 1447 drivers involved in fatal crashes

Driving records were examined for 1447 drivers involved in fatal crashes during a two-year period. The fatal crash involvement rate per 100,000 drivers was found to be higher in approximate proportion to the number of convictions for violations in three years prior to the fatal crash. However, the majority of drivers involved in fatal crashes had no convictions for violations in the prior three years. Drivers with extremely deviant driving records, including so-called “habitual offenders,” were only a small proportion of drivers involved in fatal crashes and did not have involvement rates as high as other groups such as drivers under 20 years of age with only a few convictions. It was shown that conviction records and descriptives—age, sex, race—in motor vehicle administration files can be used to identify groups with greater probability of involvement in fatal crashes. It is not possible, however, to identify a small group in the population that accounts for more than a small proportion of all fatal crashes.
Rolaids-Yogurt Syndrome: A 1990s Version of Milk-Alkali Syndrome

Milk-alkali syndrome is characterized by progressive hypercalcemia, systemic alkalosis, and renal insufficiency. After calcium carbonate is ingested with diary products, hypercalcemia and alkalosis may develop in susceptible persons, particularly those with underlying renal insufficiency. We describe a young woman who neither drank milk nor had peptic ulcer disease, yet who ingested enough calcium carbonate to require admission to an intensive care unit for acute renal failure. Chronically bulimic, she was taking Rolaids (Warner-Lambert Co, Morris Plains, NJ), which contained calcium carbonate, and was eating yogurt daily to prevent osteoporosis. We discuss the characteristics and complex metabolic interactions of the milk-alkali syndrome, a critical but generally reversible electrolyte disorder. Early recognition of coincident hypercalcemia and alkalosis and prompt cessation of calcium carbonate ingestion are essential for successful recovery. Finally, we suggest that nephrologists should discourage patients with renal insufficiency and chronic vomiting from consuming calcium-containing antacids and excessive dietary calcium.
Pulsed laser deposition of Y2O3 on Si: characteristics of the interfacial layer

Thin Y2O3 films were directly grown on (100) Si substrates by the pulsed laser deposition technique. It has been found by high resolution cross-section transmission electron microscopy, x-ray reflectometry and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) that at the interface between Si and the grown layer, an interfacial layer always formed. Depth-profiling and angle-resolved XPS investigations showed that this layer consists of a mixture of substoichiometric SiOx(x<2) and the deposited Y2O3 layer, without forming an yttrium silicate. The thickness of this interfacial layer depended on the oxygen pressure and temperature used during the deposition. The main oxygen source for its formation is the physiosorbed oxygen which is trapped inside the grown layer during the laser ablation process. When the thickness of this low-k SiOx was reduced by decreasing the oxygen pressure during laser ablation below the optimum value, a marked degradation of the electrical properties of the structure was noticed.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A context management framework for real-time SOA

For the last decade, the area of e-business and e-service has expanded rapidly. Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) is introduced to create and execute a business process on the Web. In order to create and execute the business process, relevant web services need to be composed or reconfigured based on the business process logic. Traditionally, web services composition and reconfiguration are optimized with service's functional attributes such as quality of service including latency, round trip time, and so on. However, these days, with the evolution of network technology and the growth of mobile device usages, we come to have more various choices to consume the business process from the wired network to the wireless network and from desktop to smart phone. In addition, since the method to access web services becomes diverse, the network environment system come to be more heterogeneous. Therefore, in the process of web service composition and reconfiguration, the non-functional attributes such as client's profile, the current geographical location, and other information has been emerged as another important factor to consider so that the web services which are specifically adapted for the client's current status can be provided. We call the non-function attributes as context. In this paper, we take the various context information to compose or reconfigure web services in a business process and propose two models; Context Agent and Context Manager. Context agent is embedded in client's mobile device, collects client's context information and delivers them to context manager. And the context manager is responsible for a context reasoning to utilize Q-Broker for service composition and Adaptation Manager for service reconfiguration in terms of context.
Signal component control

THE PROPOSED AIEE SYMBOLS and definitions for feedback control systems are employed. The term “signal component control” (scc), is used to designate the control method, and the term “scc device” to specify the particular associated equipment. The primary objective of the method is to shape the reference input so either the indirectly or the directly controlled variable, as may be elected, will be nearly identical at all times to the command signal. It is intended to achieve this objective so that: 1. The controlled variable will contain, at all times, a component which is identical to the command signal. 2. In a very short time (usually this will be made less than one-half the longest natural period of oscillation of the control system), all aperiodic deviations of the controlled variable from the command signal will be reduced to zero. 3. In the same short time each natural mode of the control system will be reduced to zero.
Sexual dysfunction in the male patient with uremia: A reappraisal

Sexual dysfunction in the male patient with uremia: A reappraisal. Partial or complete impotence is common in uremia. It is not clear whether the impotence is organic or psychogenic in nature and whether uremia itself or the state of chronic illness is responsible for it. We examined these questions, by psychiatric interviews and nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT), in 50 normal subjects, 48 patients with chronic uremia, including 23 patients treated with maintenance dialysis, and 22 patients with chronic illness and normal renal function. About 40 to 50% of patients with uremia, but not those with chronic illness and normal renal function, complained of erectile dysfunction and reported a significant decrease in frequency of intercourse. There were no significant differences between patients with uremia prior to initiation of therapy and those treated with maintenance hemodialysis. NPT declines after 40 years of age. In all age groups, NPT was significantly (P Disfonctionnement sexuel chez le malade uremique de sexe masculin: Une reevaluation. L'impuissance partielle ou totale est frequente au cours de l'uremie. La nature organique ou psychogenique de l'impuissance n'est pas claire et il n'est pas non plus etabli si l'uremie par elle meme ou la maladie chronique en sont responsables. Nous avons etudie ces prodromes chez 50 sujets normaux, 48 malades atteints d'uremie chronique, parmi lesquels 23 etaient traites par hemodialyse iterative., et 22 malades atteints d'affections chroniques, mais avec des fonctions renales normales au moyen des interrogatoires psychiatriques et des erections nocturnes. Quarante a cinquante pour cent des malades uremiques, mais non pas ceux atteints de maladies chroniques avec des fonctions renales normales, se sont plaint d'anomalies de l'erection et d'une diminution significative de la frequence des rapports sexuels. Il n'a pas ete observe de difference significative entre les malades uremiques non traitees et ceux soumis a l'hemodialyse. Les erections nocturnes dominent a partir de 40 ans. Dans tous les groupes d'age les erections nocturnes sont significativement (P
Part 2: Hepatitis B infection and human behavior.

(1982). Part 2: Hepatitis B infection and human behavior. Medical Anthropology: Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 11-19.
GUIDELINES FOR THE ETHICAL CONDUCT OF ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENTS

A need for increased attention to the ethical issues of organizational development has been voiced, and unless greater attention is given to ethical issues and problems, the continued potency of organizational development is in danger. While many disciplines train organizational development agents (e.g., psychology, sociology, communication, marketing, business, education), a need for an interdisciplinary code of ethics exists. In addition to proposing an interdisciplinary code of ethics for organizational development agents, the present paper discusses the ethical conduct of data collection, results publication, and change recommendations in the context of organizational development.
Dehydration products of o-thymotic acid

o-Thymotic acid yields a mixture of anhydro compounds when it is treated with dehydrating agents. Reaction products resulting from the dehydration of the acid by phosphorus pentoxide yielded three anhydro derivatives, two of which have been reported previously. Thymotides melting at 212°, 174°, and >360° are described and physical data for them are given. Crystalline acetyl-o-thymotic acid (m. p. 104°) and pyridine thymotate (m. p. 115°) were isolated in the course of the study.
On-Column Temperature Programming in Gas Chromatography Using Temperature Gradients along the Capillary Column

A unique technique for high-speed gas chromatography using on-column temperature programming is described. Simultaneous temperature gradients in time and distance can be applied to a fused-silica capillary column by direct resistive heating of the column through a thin electrical conductive film applied to the outside of the column. A controlled current ramp provides a thermal gradient in time analogous to conventional temperature programming. An electrical resistance gradient provides a temperature gradient along the column, and the head of the column is always at a higher temperature than the end of the column. The gradient along the column continuously refocuses eluting bands, counteracting part of the chromatographic band spreading. The rear of the band is at a higher temperature than the front and, thus, moves at a slightly higher velocity. With a properly defined temperature gradient surface, each substance reaches a focus capacity factor that is determined by the ratio of gradients in time and distance and by carrier gas velocity. The numerical value of this focus capacity factor is independent of the substance involved, but its trajectory in time and distance along the column depends on the thermodynamics of an individual substance's interaction with the stationary phase. The theory of simultaneous temperature gradients in time and distance along the column is also described, and the mathematical expressions for focus capacity factor and resolution are included. Several examples, including chromatograms as often as one every 2 s, are shown to support and complement the theory.
In Vivo Imaging and Spectroscopy of Dynamic Metabolism Using Simultaneous $^{13}$ C and $^1$ H MRI

Hyperpolarized (HP) 13C-labeled pyruvate studies with magnetic resonance (MR) have been used to observe the kinetics of metabolism in vivo. Kinetic modeling to measure metabolic rates in vivo is currently limited because of nonspecific hyperpolarized signals mixing between vascular, extravascular, and intracellular compartments. In this study, simultaneous acquisition of both 1H and 13 C signals after contrast agent injection is used to resolve specific compartments to improve the accuracy of the modeling. We demonstrate a novel technique to provide contrast to the intracellular compartments by sequential injection of HP [1-13C] pyruvate followed by gadolinium-chelate to provide T1-shortening to extra-cellular compartments. A kinetic model that distinguishes the intracellular space and includes the T1-shortening effect of the gadolinium chelate can then be used to directly measure the intracellular 13C kinetics.
Dislocation nucleation from a penny-shaped crack

Abstract We present an analysis of dislocation nucleation from a penny-shaped crack of near-atomic dimensions under a simple shear stress. By using a variational boundary integral method in the Peierls–Nabarro framework, we have determined the saddle-point configurations of embryonic dislocation loops and their associated activation energies under stress levels up to the critical loading of athermal nucleation. The results show that the crack facilitates dislocation nucleation not only by stress concentration but also by supplying elastic strain energy. These new findings broaden the previous understanding of dislocation nucleation in crystalline materials and have significant implications on the development of mechanical models based on dislocation nucleation mechanisms in plastic deformation and fracture.
Teaching successful central venous cannulation in infants and children: Audio doppler versus anatomic landmarks

Abstract Objective: To determine if vein localization with an audio Doppler increases successful central venous cannulation and decreases complications in infants and children when performed by inexperienced operators, compared with vein localization by anatomic landmarks (ALs). Design: A prospective cohort of infants and children undergoing central venous cannulation for cardiac surgery. Setting: A university-affiliated children's hospital with a pediatric anesthesia fellowship program. Participants: All infants and children undergoing cardiac surgery between July 1, 1996, and January 1, 1997. Interventions: Subjects had central venous catheters (CVCs) placed by an anesthesia fellow by either ALs or audio-Doppler localization of the veins. Measurements and Main Results: Eighty-four children were studied. Internal jugular vein (IJV) cannulation was attempted in 71 (85%) children and femoral vein cannulation in 13 (15%) children. Time to catheter insertion, number of needle passes, and artery puncture were noted. Sixty-one of 63 (97%) children had successful central venous cannulation by an anesthesia fellow using audio-Doppler vein localization. This was significantly greater than the 13 of 21 (62%) successful cannulations among children who had veins localized by ALs. Time to insertion did not differ by method of vein localization; however, the number of needle passes was significantly greater in the AL group. Artery puncture did not differ significantly by method of vein localization. Conclusion: Vein localization by audio Doppler significantly increases the rate of successful central venous cannulation and decreases the number of needle passes in pediatric patients when used by inexperienced operators.
Toward a carbon nanotube anode gas-filled radiation detector

Abstract A prototype gas-filled proportional counter (PC) based on micro-scale tungsten wire and carbon fiber, and nano-scale carbon nanotube (CNT) anodes was built and tested with a 90 Sr source. Tungsten anodes of 500 μm down to 4 μm diameter were used to observe the gradual decrease in operating voltage for the proportional region with a decreasing anode diameter. The 40 nm diameter CNTs anodes ranged in length from 35 to 105 μm. The absolute detection efficiency was measured at ∼10 −6 %. An electrostatic computer model was used to predict the resulting electric field associated with a single CNT in the coaxial configuration. For a single anode coaxial design the model predicted that the electric field was insufficient for secondary ionizations which contributed to a low amplitude signal and that the small volume of the ionization region resulted in the low absolute detection efficiency. To overcome the problems of low absolute detection efficiency and operational issues with the single anode, CNT arrays were investigated. Electrostatic modeling of 100 nm×40 μm long CNTs in an array with a 50 μm pitch conducted for a parallel plate configuration indicated that each anode functioned independently.
Effects of yogurt starter cultures on the survival of Lactobacillus acidophilus

Recognized to confer health benefits to consumers, probiotics such as Lactobacillus acidophilus are commonly incorporated into fermented dairy products worldwide; among which yogurt is a popular delivery vehicle. To materialize most of the putative health benefits associated with probiotics, an adequate amount of viable cells must be delivered at the time of consumption. However, the loss in their viabilities during refrigerated storage has been demonstrated previously. This study focused on the effects of yogurt starter cultures on the survival of five strains of L. acidophilus, with emphases on low pH and acid production. Differential survival behavior between L. acidophilus strains was further analyzed. To this end, viable cell counts of L. acidophilus were determined weekly during 4°C storage in various types of yogurts made with Streptococcus thermophilus alone, L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus alone, both species of the starter cultures, or glucono-delta-lactone (GDL). All yogurt types, except for pasteurized yogurts, were co-fermented with L. acidophilus. Yogurt filtrate was analyzed for the presence of any inhibitory substance and for the amount of hydrogen peroxide. Multiplication of L. acidophilus was not affected by the starter cultures as all strains reached high level on day 0 of the storage period. Throughout the 28-day storage period, cell counts of L. acidophilus PIM703 and SBT2062 remained steady (~6 × 10(7)CFU/g) in yogurts made with both starter cultures, whereas those of ATCC 700396 and NCFM were reduced by a maximum of 3 and 4.6 logs, respectively. When starter cultures were replaced by GDL, all strains survived well, suggesting that a low pH was not a critical factor dictating their survival. In addition, the filtrate collected from yogurts made with starter cultures appeared to have higher inhibitory activities against L. acidophilus than that made with GDL. The presence of viable starter cultures was necessary to adversely affect the survival of some strains, as pasteurized yogurts had no effect on their survival. In particular, the inhibitory effect exerted by L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus on L. acidophilus NCFM was highly pronounced than by S. thermophilus, nevertheless, the same effect was not observed on SBT2062. The inhibition against stationary-phase NCFM cells might be caused by the elevated level of hydrogen peroxide produced by L. delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus. Delineating factors driving the differences in survival trait among probiotic strains will lead to a more efficacious delivery of health benefits in fermented dairy products through targeted technological interventions.
Cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 but not Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) are Upregulated in Umbilical Cord (UC) Vessels of Pre-eclamptic Pregnancies† 246

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 but not Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) are Upregulated in Umbilical Cord (UC) Vessels of Pre-eclamptic Pregnancies† 246
Internal stress reduction in diamond like carbon thin films by ion irradiation

Abstract The stress-state of diamond like carbon (DLC) film was monitored in situ during Xe, Ar, Ne, and C irradiation. All irradiations were observed to produce a reduction in the as-deposited compressive stress. We have modeled the irradiation induced stress reduction in DLC by considering the different bond states of carbon that are possible in these materials, i.e. sp 2 and sp 3 . An Avrami–Johnson–Mehl analysis of irradiation induced transformation indicates that at low doses the transformation occurs in one-dimensional-like volumes associated with non-overlapping collision cascades. As the irradiation dose increases, a full transformation occurs at the peak in the irradiation damage profile. With further increasing dose, the transformation product spreads out from the peak damage region. The rate of stress change is well correlated with the displacement damage produced in the collision cascade at a low dose linear region of σ – φ curves.
The sources of extracellular potassium accumulation in the CA1 region of hippocampal slices.

Abstract To estimate the relative contributions of pre- and postsynaptic elements, and of synaptic and action potential-related currents, to the elevation of interstitial potassium ([K + ] 0 ) that occurs during neural activation, we measured [K + ] 0 and focal electrical potential (V ec ) during ortho- and antidromic stimulation, before and after blocking synaptic transmission, in the CA1 region of hippocampal tissue slices in vitro. Single stimulus pulses could cause Δ[K + ] 0 as large as 0.25 mM in stratum (st.) pyramidale and 0.27 mM in st. radiatum; stimulus trains could cause Δ[K + ] 0 as large as 10.5 mM in st. pyramidale and 6.25 mM in st. radiatum. Stimulus trains also caused negative V ec shifts; these shifts were related in a linear fashion to Δ[K + ] 0 . For a given increase in [K + ] 0 , the change in V ec was greater in st. radiatum than in st. pyramidale. In st. pyramidale, the Δ[K + ] 0 evoked by antidromic stimulation was 65% of the Δ[K + ] 0 evoked by orthodromic stimulation (with equal population spike amplitudes). Blockade of synaptic transmission by removal of Ca 2+ reduced orthodromically evoked Δ[K + ] 0 in st. radiatum by 52%; Δ[K + ] 0 in st. pyramidale was abolished. Removal of Ca 2+ caused an 11% decrease in the Δ[K + ] 0 evoked in st. pyramidale by antidromic stimulation. We conclude that in the layer of dendritic trees (st. radiatum), approximately half of the K + ions released into the interstitial space during orthodromic stimulation come from presynaptic terminals, with the remainder probably resulting from the ion currents of postsynaptic potentials. Among the pyramidal cell bodies (st. pyramidale), almost all of the excess K + is released by action potential currents.
A Clinician ’s Guide to Understanding the Dilemme

As women approach menopause, they face a dilemma that can affect their health for the rest of their lives: choosing whether hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is right for them (Miller & Franklin, 1999). Hormone replacement therapy is typically prescribed in the short‐term for the treatment of menopausal symptoms and for longer periods of time to reduce the risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, and Alzheimer's disease—all of which increase both in incidence and in prevalence in postmenopause (Brinton, 1999; Burki, 1999; Merrill & Verbrugge, 1999; Waring et al., 1999; Writing Group for the PEPI Trial, 1995).
Early experience with a modified norwood procedure using right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit

Abstract Background A recent modification to the Norwood procedure involves the use of a right-ventricle (RV) to pulmonary artery (PA) conduit to provide pulmonary blood flow for patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). This modification is thought to provide more stable hemodynamics by avoiding the diastolic "run-off" that occurs with a Blalock-Taussig shunt. Methods We reviewed our experience with the first 11 patients undergoing the RV-PA conduit modification of the Norwood operation and compared their outcomes with those of the preceding 22 patients who underwent a conventional Norwood procedure. Results Between July 1999 and March 2002, 33 patients with HLHS underwent the Norwood procedure at a median age of 5 days (range 1 to 31 days). Aortic atresia was present in 28 (85%). No significant difference was noted between the RV-PA (n = 11) and conventional Norwood (n = 22) groups with respect to measures of morbidity such as duration of mechanical ventilation or hospital stay. Patients who underwent the conventional Norwood procedure did have significantly lower diastolic blood pressure in the early postoperative period (38.4 ± 4.4 mm Hg versus 49.5 ± 4.3 mm Hg, p = 0.001). The operative and 1-year survival rates were 81% and 81%, respectively, for patients with the RV-PA modification, which was not significantly different from those of patients who underwent the conventional procedure, 81% and 73% ( p = 1.00 and p = 0.36). Two patients developed a pseudoaneurysm of the RV infundibulum after placement of RV-PA conduit. Four sudden deaths occurred after hospital discharge, all occurring in the conventional Norwood group. Conclusions The RV-PA conduit modification of the Norwood procedure results in excellent early survival. By avoiding low diastolic blood pressure this modification may provide superior perfusion to the coronary vascular bed and potentially reduce the risk of sudden unexpected death.
Differential Central NOS‐NO Signaling Underlies Clonidine Exacerbation of Ethanol‐Evoked Behavioral Impairment

BACKGROUND The molecular mechanisms that underlie clonidine exacerbation of behavioral impairment caused by ethanol are not fully known. We tested the hypothesis that nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-derived nitric oxide (NO) signaling in the locus coeruleus (LC) is implicated in this phenomenon. METHODS Male Sprague-Dawley rats with intracisternal (i.c.) and jugular vein cannulae implanted 6 days earlier were tested for drug-induced behavioral impairment. The latter was assessed as the duration of loss of righting reflex (LORR) and rotorod performance every 15 minutes until the rat recovered to the baseline walk criterion (180 seconds). In a separate cohort, we measured p-neuronal NOS (nNOS), p-endothelial NOS (eNOS), and p-ERK1/2 in the LC following drug treatment, vehicle, or NOS inhibitor. RESULTS Rats that received clonidine [60 Ig/kg, i.v. (intravenous)] followed by ethanol (1 or 1.5 g/kg, i.v.) exhibited synergistic impairment of rotorod performance. Intracisternal pretreatment with nonselective NOS inhibitor N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 0.5 mg) or selective nNOS inhibitor N-propyl-L-arginine (1 microg) exacerbated the impairment of rotorod performance caused by clonidine-ethanol combination. Exacerbation of behavioral impairment was caused by L-NAME enhancement of the effect of ethanol, not clonidine. L-NAME did not influence blood ethanol levels; thus, the interaction was pharmacodynamic. LORR caused by clonidine (60 microg/kg, i.v.)-ethanol (1 g/kg, i.v.) combination was abolished by selective inhibition of central eNOS (L-NIO, 10 microg i.c.) but not by nNOS inhibition under the same conditions. Western blot analyses complemented the pharmacological evidence by demonstrating that clonidine-ethanol combination inhibits phosphorylation (activation) of nNOS (p-nNOS) and increases the level of phosphorylated eNOS (p-eNOS) in the LC; the change in p-nNOS was paralleled by similar change in LC p-ERK1/2. NOS inhibitors alone did not affect the level of nitrate/nitrite, p-nNOS, p-eNOS, or p-ERK1/2 in the LC. CONCLUSIONS Alterations in NOS-derived NO in the LC underlie clonidine-ethanol induced behavioral impairment. A decrease in nNOS activity, due at least partly to a reduction in nNOS phosphorylation, mediates rotorod impairment, while enhanced eNOS activity contributes to LORR, elicited by clonidine-ethanol combination.
Current approaches to the management of new-onset ulcerative colitis

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an idiopathic, inflammatory gastrointestinal disease of the colon. As a chronic condition, UC follows a relapsing and remitting course with medical maintenance during periods of quiescent disease and appropriate escalation of therapy during times of flare. Initial treatment strategies must not only take into account current clinical presentation (with specific regard for extent and severity of disease activity) but must also take into consideration treatment options for the long-term. The following review offers an approach to new-onset UC with a focus on early treatment strategies. An introduction to the disease entity is provided along with an approach to initial diagnosis. Stratification of patients based on clinical parameters, disease extent, and severity of illness is paramount to determining course of therapy. Frequent assessments are required to determine clinical response, and treatment intensification may be warranted if expected improvement goals are not appropriately reached. Mild-to- moderate UC can be managed with aminosalicylates, mesalamine, and topical corticosteroids with oral corticosteroids reserved for unresponsive cases. Moderate-to-severe UC generally requires oral or intravenous corticosteroids in the short-term with consideration of long-term management options such as biologic agents (as initial therapy or in transition from steroids) or thiopurines (as bridging therapy). Patients with severe or fulminant UC who are recalcitrant to medical therapy or who develop disease complications (such as toxic megacolon) should be considered for colectomy. Early surgical referral in severe or refractory UC is crucial, and colectomy may be a life-saving procedure. The authors provide a comprehensive evidence-based approach to current treatment options for new-onset UC with discussion of long-term therapeutic efficacy and safety, patient-centered perspectives including quality of life and medication compliance, and future directions in related inflammatory bowel disease care.
Dermally Adhered Soil: 1. Amount and Particle-Size Distribution

The risk associated with the dermal absorption of chemicals from contaminated soil is, in part, a function of particle size distribution, as determined by either dry or wet sieving techniques. For the soils tested, the adhered soil fractions were shown to be independent of organic matter content and soil origin. Soil moisture content becomes a factor only for very moist soils. Results show that the adhered fractions of dry or moderately moist soils with wide distributions of particle sizes generally consist of particles of diameters <63 μm. Consequently, dermal absorption experiments using larger size fractions may be of limited relevance to actual situations of soil exposure.
SU-E-T-713: Kilovoltage Stereotactic Radiosurgery for AMD: A More Complete Evaluation of Effective Dose

Purpose: Age‐related Macular Degeneration is a leading cause of blindness for the elderly population in industrialized nations. Monthly injections of ranibizumab stabilize the progression of the disease, and a novel non‐invasive stereotactic radiosurgery is being explored as an adjunct to injections. An estimation of effective dose for a 3 beam × 8 Gy therapeuticdose to the macula had been reported previously by the authors of this paper using head and neck phantoms. Several improvements have been made: expansion of the geometric models to include tissues in the torso, an estimation of leakage contribution, and effect of lead vest usage.Methods: Male and female hybrid voxel torso phantoms were derived from CT slice segmentation and scaled to ICRP Publication 89 reference values. A MATLAB code was developed to “wrap” a single layer of voxels around the torsos, representative of a 0.5 mm lead vest equivalent. A three‐beam photontreatment (100 kVp) was modeled using the MCNPXradiation transport code to evaluate effective dose as per the ICRP Publication 103 schema. A similar calculation was made for leakage, but using a “hard” mono‐energetic (100 keV) point source as an approximation. Results: The calculations yielded an effective dose of 0.389 mSv for the control group, and 0.369 and 0.376 mSv for the use of a lead vest with and without a neck cover, respectively. Comparatively, 0.281 mSv was reported previously for the head and neck phantoms (19% versus 99% wT's). Leakage contribution was estimated to be approximately 0.009 mSv Conclusions: The expanded geometric models and inclusion of leakage contribution provide a more complete estimation of the effective dose than previously reported. The use of lead vests with and without a neck cover result in a 5% and 3% reduction of effective dose, respectively. This work was sponsored by Oraya Therapeutics.
Response to Comments on: Margolis et al. Lack of Effectiveness of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcer and the Prevention of Amputation: A Cohort Study. Diabetes Care 2013;36:1961–1966

We are grateful for the opportunity to respond to the letters (1–3) concerning our recent study (4). Unfortunately, we cannot respond to every comment in the space allotted, so we have opted to focus on general themes. Of note, many of the concerns in the letters are already detailed in our article. Many of the writers had concerns about our study design (1–3). We conducted an effectiveness study or an evaluation of how well treatment works in a real-world setting. Ours was not a randomized clinical trial (RCT) but a cohort study. This is fundamentally different from an efficacy study, which assesses how well a treatment works in an idealized and highly controlled setting. Efficacy studies are usually RCTs that establish the scientific basis that a treatment works in a predefined population under a detailed prespecified treatment protocol. Effectiveness studies, on the other hand, are arguably more generalizable than efficacy studies because they are larger, take place in diverse settings (e.g., many wound care clinics with varying clinical practices) with diverse patient populations, and are conducted in a real-world setting. The results from these two designs are often different. Of interest, the meta-analyses of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) could not combine the RCTs because they were …
Amino acid concentrations in the Aplysia nervous system: neurons with high glycine concentrations.

The levels of the amino acids glycine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid were determined in the ganglia and in identified neurons of A. calijornica. All of the determinations were done by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring using deuterium-labelled amino acids as internal standards. Aspartate and glutamate concentrations vary 2- to 3-fold among the ganglia and individual neurons. Glycine levels are 3-10 times higher in the abdominal ganglion than in the other ganglia. This is in large part due to the glycine concentrations in the abdominal ganglion neurons R3-Rl4 being about 20 times higher than in the somata of most other Aplysia neurons. The concen- trations of all three amino acids are several times lower in the muscle than in ganglia, and orders of magnitude lower in the hemolymph than in tissue.
Keeping Our Promise to America’s Youth

n F he Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Active Living Research Program focuses on the prevention of childhood obesity in low-income and highisk racial/ethnic communities by supporting research to xamine how environments and policies influence active iving for children and their families. This agenda has dvanced transdisciplinary research among researchers rom exercise science, public health, transportation, uran planning, architecture, recreation and leisure, landcape architecture, geography, economics, policy studies, nd education to inform environmental and policy hanges that promote active living among Americans. The papers in this special issue of the American ournal of Preventive Medicine focus on numerous olicy and environmental barriers faced by populations ith low rates of physical activity. Many of these barriers o active living are reflected in broader social and nvironmental justice issues that amplify the context or active living research. One cross-cutting theme throughout the issue is safety oncerns related to crime. Certainly, the more attractive nd safe an environment is perceived, the more likely it ill attract users. However, safety concerns pose a signifcant barrier to physical activity. Safety-related barriers to hysical activity are particularly challenging in distressed eighborhoods where residents, most often low-income eople of color, often limit their time in public spaces to educe their risk of experiencing violent crime. The premise that a well maintained, adequately superised and effectively administered public space is an active living” asset may be relevant only in communities here the physical infrastructure exists and has the ongong support of policymakers, professional administrators, nd citizen stewards. The lack of availability of facilities hat enable and promote physical activity may, in part, nderpin the lower levels of activity observed among opulations with low socioeconomic status and minority ackgrounds. It has been shown that young people in igh poverty communities have fewer community resources, uch as parks and after-school activities, poorer quality chools, and higher levels of environmental hazards. For most of the 20th century, research, policies, and rograms, particularly those that addressed poverty,
Analysis of periodic-quasiperiodic nonlinear systems via Lyapunov-Floquet transformation and normal forms

In this paper a general technique for the analysis of nonlinear dynamical systems with periodic-quasiperiodic coefficients is developed. For such systems the coefficients of the linear terms are periodic with frequency ω while the coefficients of the nonlinear terms contain frequencies that are incommensurate with ω. No restrictions are placed on the size of the periodic terms appearing in the linear part of system equation. Application of Lyapunov-Floquet transformation produces a dynamically equivalent system in which the linear part is time-invariant and the time varying coefficients of the nonlinear terms are quasiperiodic. Then a series of quasiperiodic near-identity transformations are applied to reduce the system equation to a normal form. In the process a quasiperiodic homological equation and the corresponding ‘solvability condition’ are obtained. Various resonance conditions are discussed and examples are included to show practical significance of the method. Results obtained from the quasiperiodic time-dependent normal form theory are compared with the numerical solutions. A close agreement is found.
Equilibrium of heterogeneous congestion control: existence and uniqueness

When heterogeneous congestion control protocols that react to different pricing signals share the same network, the resulting equilibrium may no longer be interpreted as a solution to the standard utility maximization problem. We prove the existence of equilibrium in general multiprotocol networks under mild assumptions. For almost all networks, the equilibria are locally unique, finite, and odd in number. They cannot all be locally stable unless there is a globally unique equilibrium. Finally, we show that if the price mapping functions, which map link prices to effective prices observed by the sources, are sufficiently similar, then global uniqueness is guaranteed.
Flow visualization of internal mixer factory cycles for rubber compounding

Flow visualization of a scaled down rubber compounding process in an internal mixer is described. The mastication of scaled down rubber bales, and the addition of carbon black and oil were studied. The times required for rubber bale ‘pickup’ by the rotors as well as bale homogenization time were determined for various elastomers. The times required to incorporate black and oil were measured.
A new species of Kecane (Rotifera: Lecanidae) from subtropical Florida

A new species of Lecane was discovered during a recent investigation of the Rotifera of softwater lakes in North-Central Florida. Descriptions of the new species and type locality are given.
Optical constants in the vacuum ultraviolet and electron energy losses

Abstract It is known that the complex dielectric constant ϵ for any material contains all information about the optical constants, n and k , as well as about the energy losses suffered by fast electrons in the solid. In principle, if the optical constants n and k are known, one should be able to calculate ϵ from the electron energy loss spectrum. The optical constants are relatively difficult to measure in the short wavelength range, whereas the electron energy losses are difficult to measure in the vicinity of the elastic peak. This fact alone is not entirely responsible, however, for the very poor agreement which is usually found in the intercomparison of the two types of data. Part of the discrepancy can be ascribed to the fact that none of the data have been gathered on the identical material. A few examples of such intercomparison are presented. The National Bureau of Standards' program is to measure the optical constants and the electron energy losses under ultra-high vacuum conditions and on the identical specimen.
Implementation of on-line performance monitoring system at Seoincheon and Sinincheon combined cycle power plant

As a result of the restructuring of the Korean Power Generation Industry, Korean power companies are under increased pressure to increase capacity and lower operating costs. In order to achieve these goals, an on-line real-time performance monitoring system has been introduced to the Seoincheon and Sinincheon combined cycle power plants (CCPP). The on-line real-time performance monitoring and optimization system helps plant personnel operate the plants profitably by tracking plant performance changes based on real-time information. This paper outlines how the on-line performance monitoring system is being used to improve the operational efficiency and optimize equipment maintenance. Case studies showing the benefits provided by the system are presented. This system will be useful for the plants to respond to the competitive electricity market.
Contextual Interference Effects in Learning Three Badminton Serves

Abstract This study investigated the generalizability of results of contextual interference effects by extending previous laboratory research to a field setting. Thirty female subjects (N = 30) learned three badminton serves in either a blocked (low interference), serial (mixed interference), or random (high interference) practice schedule. The subjects practiced the serves three days a week for three weeks. On the day following the completion of practice the subjects were given a retention and transfer test. Results replicated previous findings of contextual interference research by showing a significant group by block interaction between acquisition trials, retention, and transfer. The random group performed better on both retention and transfer than the blocked group. The significant trial block by contextual interference interaction also supports the generalizability of contextual interference effects, as posited by Shea and Morgan (1979), to the teaching of motor skills.