cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Song perception in the song sparrow: importance of different parts of the song in song type classification

Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) males have repertoires of 6 to 12 song types, each song consisting of four or five contrasting phrases. Song types vary both within individuals (a singer varies successive renditions of a type within a singing bout) and between individuals (neighbors sing slightly different versions of a type), and in both cases this variation is concentrated in the later parts of the song. We speculated that type variation in the later parts of the song might be correlated with a perceptual tendency to classify song types primarily on the basis of the earlier parts of the song. We tested this hypothesis using a laboratory conditioning technique, supplemented by a field playback experiment. In the lab, song sparrows and white crowned sparrows were trained to discriminate between two distinct song types. In test sessions, they were presented with hybrid songs synthesized from varying proportions of the two training song types. For most birds and most song pairs, song classification was influenced by all parts of the song, with the beginning elements being most important. The field playback experiment used song type matching as the response measure. Each subject was presented a hybrid stimulus song consisting of the first half of one of his song types and the second half of another of his song types. Subjects replied with both ‘front matches’ and ‘back matches’ (60% were front matches).
Change of Partial Polarization of a Beam under Phase Conjugation

Possible change of the polarization state in the process of propagation is considered theoretically. We were able to suggest a mechanism that allows for a very unusual behavior of the Stokes parameters of the beam. Specially arranged phase conjugation procedure yields the decrease of only one (e.g. ∣ζ3∣∝∣(∣Ex∣2 - ∣Ey∣2)∣) Stokes component, while the degrees of 45%- and circular polarization, ζ1 and ζ2, are not changing at all.
Enantiomeric composition of chiral polychlorinated biphenyl atropisomers in aquatic and riparian biota

The enantiomeric composition of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) atropisomers was measured in river and riparian biota (fish, bivalves, crayfish, water snakes, barn swallows) from selected sites throughout the United States by using chiral gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Nonracemic enantiomeric fractions (EFs) were observed for PCBs 91, 95, 136, and 149 for aquatic and riparian biota from Lake Hartwell, SC, a reservoir heavily contaminated with PCBs, and for these congeners and PCBs 132, 174, 176, and 183 in river fish and bivalves nationwide. Fish and bivalves showed marked differences in EFs as compared to sediment found at the same sampling sites, thus suggesting that PCBs are bioprocessed in biota in a different manner from those found in sediment (e.g., reductive dechlorination). Species-dependent patterns in PCB EFs were observed, which suggest differences in the ability of different species to bioprocess PCBs enantioselectively, most likely by metabolism. The presence of nonracemic PCBs in fish...
Dynamics of Crystals with Molecular Impurity Centers. II. Resonance Scattering of Lattice Waves

We consider a monatomic host lattice containing molecular impurity centers and find that even in the harmonic approximation impurity modes can interact. This leads to an interference term in the scattering cross section for lattice waves which may be of the same order as the direct terms. From a knowledge of the nonvanishing elements of the scattering matrix, one can obtain all information on the possible scattering mechanisms and acoustical activity (depolarization) of the modes involved. A model calculation reveals the contribution to the forward-scattering cross section of the term due to the interference between a librational mode and the motion of the center of mass. We also study the case where the symmetry at the defect site is reduced. We conclude with a discussion of what we might expect in a more realistic situation and point out that from corresponding experimental data it should be possible to obtain information about the extent to which a molecular defect of lower symmetry affects the dynamics of the host lattice.
May be the formula supplementation with lutein actually effective on visual development in preterm infants

May be the formula supplementation with lutein actually effective on visual development in preterm infants?
Emotional task management: neural correlates of switching between affective and non-affective task-sets

Although task-switching has been investigated extensively, its interaction with emotionally salient task content remains unclear. Prioritized processing of affective stimulus content may enhance accessibility of affective task-sets and generate increased interference when switching between affective and non-affective task-sets. Previous research has demonstrated that more dominant task-sets experience greater switch costs, as they necessitate active inhibition during performance of less entrenched tasks. Extending this logic to the affective domain, the present experiment examined (a) whether affective task-sets are more dominant than non-affective ones, and (b) what neural mechanisms regulate affective task-sets, so that weaker, non-affective task-sets can be executed. While undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging, participants categorized face stimuli according to either their gender (non-affective task) or their emotional expression (affective task). Behavioral results were consistent with the affective task dominance hypothesis: participants were slower to switch to the affective task, and cross-task interference was strongest when participants tried to switch from the affective to the non-affective task. These behavioral costs of controlling the affective task-set were mirrored in the activation of a right-lateralized frontostriatal network previously implicated in task-set updating and response inhibition. Connectivity between amygdala and right ventrolateral prefrontal cortex was especially pronounced during cross-task interference from affective features.
Forecasters as imperfect information processors: Experimental and survey evidence

Abstract One step-ahead forecasts of random walks with four different variances are collected from student subjects. The increasing variance creates a more complex learning environment and engenders forecasts that deviate from the rational expectation. A 1% increase in the standard deviation of information released after the forecast date creates a 0.9% increase in the standard deviation of forecasts from rational expectations. The effect is remarkably strong and is even stronger in survey data collected from professional forecasters. One potential application is the stock market as random shocks undermine consensus and induce volatility which undermines consensus. We also find that deviations from rational expectations are serially correlated.
The Role of the Active Site Cysteine in Catalysis by Type 1 Iodothyronine Deiodinase

Type 1 iodothyronine deiodinase (deiodinase 1) is a selenoenzyme that converts the prohormone T4 to the active thyroid hormone T3 by outer ring deiodination or to the inactive metabolite rT3 by inner ring deiodination. Although selenocysteine has been demonstrated to be essential for the biochemical profile of deiodinase 1, the role of a highly conserved, active site cysteine (C124 in rat deiodinase 1) has not been defined. The present studies examined the effects of a Cys124Ala mutation on rat deiodinase 1 enzymatic function and substrate affinity. At a constant 10-mM concentration of dithiothreitol (DTT), the C124A mutant demonstrated a 2-fold lower apparent maximal velocity (Vmax) and Km for rT3 (KmrT3) than the wild type for outer ring deiodination, whereas the Vmax/Km ratio was unchanged. Similarly, the apparent Vmax and KmT3 sulfate for inner ring deiodination were 2-fold lower in the C124A mutant relative to those in the wild type, with no change in the Vmax/Km ratio. The C124A mutant exhibited ping-pong kinetics in the presence of DTT, and substitution of the active site cysteine increased the KmDTT by 14-fold relative to that of the wild-type enzyme, with no significant effects on KmrT3 or Vmax. The C124A mutant was inhibited by propylthiouracil in an uncompetitive fashion and exhibited a 2-fold increase in K(i)propylthiouracil compared with that of the wild type. KmrT3 was also reduced for the C124A mutant when 5 mM reduced glutathione, a potential physiological monothiol cosubstrate, was used in outer ring deiodination assays. These results demonstrate that thiol cosubstrate interactions with C124 in type 1 deiodinase play an important role in enhancing catalytic efficiency for both outer and inner ring deiodination.
Bipyrrole-Strapped Calix[4]pyrroles: Strong Anion Receptors That Extract the Sulfate Anion

Cage-type calix[4]pyrroles 2 and 3 bearing two additional pyrrole groups on the strap have been synthesized. Compared with the parent calix[4]pyrrole (1), they were found to exhibit remarkably enhanced affinities for anions, including the sulfate anion (TBA(+) salts), in organic media (CD2Cl2). This increase is ascribed to participation of the bipyrrole units in anion binding. Receptors 2 and 3 extract the hydrophilic sulfate anion (as the methyltrialkyl(C(8-10))ammonium (A336(+)) salt) from aqueous media into a chloroform phase with significantly improved efficiency (>10-fold relative to calix[4]pyrrole 1). These two receptors also solubilize into chloroform the otherwise insoluble sulfate salt, (TMA)2SO4 (tetramethylammonium sulfate).
Analysis of Push-Off Power During Locomotion in Children with Type 1 Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Background/Purpose Children with type 1 osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) present with abnormal gait characteristics, including reduced power generation during pushoff. However, the exact biomechanical factors associated with reduced power generation are not clearly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the biomechanical factors associated with a reduction in ankle power generation in children with type 1 OI. Methods Twenty-four participants with type 1 OI (12.5 ± 3.6 years of age) and 24 typically developing children (12.4 ± 3.7 years of age) were evaluated. Three-dimensional gait analysis, isometric plantar flexion strength using dynamometry, and pedobarography were collected on each participant. Results were statistically compared between the groups and a correlation matrix analyzed the associations among the measures. Results Children with OI presented with weaker plantar flexors, reduced ankle power generation, and decreased sagittal plane ankle angular velocity during pushoff. However, they presented with similar moment arm distances and ground reaction force magnitudes as typically seen in developing children. There was a higher incidence of pes valgus, increased subarch angles, increased time spent loading the midfoot, and deceased time spent loading the forefoot in children with OI. Plantar flexion strength and the time spent at the midfoot and forefoot were most associated with ankle power generation. Conclusion The presence of pes valgus alone does not indicate a reduction of push-off power in children with type 1 OI, but those individuals who have both a flat foot and reduced time spent loading the forefoot during pushoff are the most likely to have reduced push-off power.
Singularly Perturbed Vector and Scalar Nonlinear Schrödinger Equations with Persistent Homoclinic Orbits

Singularly perturbed vector nonlinear Schrodinger equations (PVNLS) are investigated. Emphasis is placed upon the relation with their restriction: the singularly perturbed scalar nonlinear Schrodinger equation (PNLS) studied in [1]. It turns out that the persistent homoclinic orbit for the PNLS [1] is the only one for the PVNLS, asymptotic to the same saddle.
Who Has Responsibility for a Population's Health?

NS i ORALOU ROOS AND HER COLLEAGUES HAVE OPENED up a possible scenario for U.S. health care: creation of a population-oriented database that allows policy makers to allocate resources to areas of greatest need. The data system described in their article allows users to analyze information about the demographic characteristics and health needs of populations in various parts of Manitoba. It also contains information about costs and utilization as well as about the number and types of available services. Some information about health outcomes is entered as well. Taken together, the entries allow policy makers to identify areas of apparent unmet need and to make decisions that expand or restrict the services provided to those areas. Their article is a reminder of some of the differences between the Canadian and U.S. health care systems, and it illustrates important differences between publicand private-sector decision making. I would like to develop the basic idea that the data system described by Roos's group, attractive and useful as it may be for some kinds of policy decisions, is incompatible in many ways with the set of relations that currently exist among involved parties in the U.S. health care system. The use of such a data system by public policy makers presupposes a set of conditions that may hold in Manitoba now but do not appear to be present, or even
Surface Temperature Dependence of Methane Activation on Ni(111)

Vibrational state resolved measurements of methane’s dissociation on Ni(111) show a strong surface temperature dependence near the translational energy threshold for reaction. The reactivity of molecules excited to v = 1 of the ν3 C−H stretching vibration and incident on the surface with a translational energy of 40 kJ mol−1 increased 8-fold as the surface temperature increased from 90 to 475 K. This enhancement is much larger than that reported for earlier studies at higher incident energies. These results support recent calculations that predict an important role for lattice deformation in transition state access. At higher surface temperatures, surface phonon excitation allows substrate atoms to sample lattice geometries with more favorable transition state energetics. We have also measured the coverage-dependent reactivity of these molecules at both surface temperatures and report a simple model that quantitatively predicts the observed coverage-dependent reactivity.
False-Positive Screening Mammograms: Good News, but More To Do

False-positive results on screening tests can lead to several negative consequences. In the case of breast cancer, do women with a false-positive mammogram forgo future screening mammograms? In thi...
Thermal stresses in plates with circular holes

Abstract The temperature and membrane stress distribution in a finite rectangular plate with an insulated circular hole is investigated. The temperature varies along the coordinates within the plane. The temperature distribution is determined as the solution of the steady state heat conduction equation, then the membrane stresses due to the temperature are analyzed. For both steps the free edge conditions around the insulated circular hole are satisfied exactly while the boundary conditions at the outer edges of the plate are satisfied at selected points by the method of point matching. The numerical results are presented for temperature distribution and membrane stresses.
Effects of Clothing as Nonverbal Communication on Credibility of the Message Source

The study was designed to investigate the effects on credibility ratings and stated intent to purchase of clothing worn by a message source in an advertising situation. Two levels of dress of the m...
Effects of repeated zimelidine administration on sleep parameters in the rat.

Seven-hour sleep EEG recordings were obtained from rats (N=15) given a single acute dose, and rats (N=15) given 14 daily doses of zimelidine, 20 mg/kg IP. REM latency, REM sleep, number of REM episodes, and total sleep time were significantly affected by zimelidine administration when compared to controls, as well as to each animal's baseline sleep parameters. Sleep latency and slow-wave sleep were not significantly affected by zimelidine. The results are discussed in terms of the implications of the use of zimelidine as a clinical treatment for depression, as well as the implications for the use of REM changes as a diagnostic indicator of the efficacy of treatment with zimelidine.
A hierarchical procedure for multi-skilled sales force spatial planning

Marketing and sales comprise an important part of a company's core processes. We study this core component in a very large corporation in the process industry. This company has thousands of employees worldwide involved in sales and marketing activities. The optimal utilization of this large workforce is rigorously analyzed in this paper. We develop a hierarchical procedure including a sequence of mathematical models to address workload determination and sales force planning within the company. In particular, our sequence of models determines: (a) the optimal number of visits to each of the existing customers with the goal of retaining them; (b) the optimal number of employees with different kinds of skills for satisfying the workload obtained using model (a) including the time to hunt for new customers; and (c) the optimal way of providing the workforce calculated in part (b) (i.e., optimal strategies for hiring, relocation or dismissal of current workforce). Moreover, we face some nonlinear constrained integer programming problems in our sequence of mathematical models which are not easily solved by commercial software. We develop our own efficient methods for solving such problems optimally.
Subcellular location of adenylate cyclase in rat cardiac muscle

Abstract Crude homogenates of rat cardiac muscle were fractionated in order to examine the subcellular location of adenylate cyclase in this tissue. The fractionation procedure employed differential centrifugation of homonized material, followed by collagenase treatment, centrifugation on a discontinuous sucrose density gradient and extraction with 1 M KCl. The particulate fraction obtained by this procedure contained a high specific activity and yield of adenylate cyclase, moderate levels of mitochondria and low levels of sarcoplasmic reticulum and contractile protein as judged by marker enzyme activities. Adenylate cyclase was purified 20-fold with a 33% yield from the crude homogenate, while mitochondrial, sarcoplasmic reticulum and contractile protein yields were 5, 0.4 and 0.7% respectively. The membrane fractions prepared in this manner were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate · gel electrophoresis. Adenylate cyclase copurified with ouabain-sensitive (Na + + K + )-ATPase, a plasma membrane marker enzyme, and not with Ca 2+ -accumulating activity, which is associated with the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The distribution of marker enzyme activities indicates that heart adenylate cyclase is not located in the sarcoplasmic reticulum but is localized predominantly, if not exclusively, in the plasma membrane.
Dr. William O. Coffee and his absorption cure for cataract.

Abstract Dr. William O. Coffee was an ophthalmologist who conducted an office and mail-order practice in the Midwest from the 1880s until 1927. His main stock in trade was a self-discovered absorption cure for a variety of ocular diseases, with particular emphasis on the medical cure of cataracts. Dr. Coffee's career was a checkered one, marked by dubious credentials, exuberant selfpromotion, unlikely and exaggerated claims of medical successes, plagiarism, and rejection by the medical “establishment.” Certain parallels may be drawn between his activities and some currently observed practices in ophthalmology.
A brief scale of role playing

Abstract A 12-item role-playing scale was developed from a longer 32-item scale (Fletcher & Averill, 1984) . The most powerful two statements for each of six factors yielded 12 items for the brief scale. The responses of college students (N = 204) demonstrated only a small loss of reliability from the 32-item scale (.783) to the 12-item scale (.750). In addition, the brief scale produced a clear orthogonal factor structure not observed with the longer original scale. It was reasoned that the brief scale would reduce administration time and increase conceptual clarity for the measurement of role playing.
Photoplethysmography beyond perfusion and oxygenation monitoring: pulse wave analysis for hepatic graft monitoring

Photoplethysmography is a technique widely used in monitoring perfusion and blood oxygen saturation based on the amplitude of the pulsatile signal at one or multiple wavelengths. However, the pulsatile signal carries in its waveform a substantial amount of information about the mechanical properties of the tissue and vasculature under investigation that is still yet to be utilized to its full potential. In this work, we present the feasibility of pulse wave analysis for the application of monitoring hepatic implants and diagnosing graft complications. In particular, we demonstrate the utility of computing the slope of the pulse during the diastole phase to assess compliance changes in tissue. This hypothesis was tested in a series of in vitro experiments using a polydimethylsiloxane based phantom mimicking the optical and mechanical properties of the portal vein. The emptying time decreased from 148.1 ms for phantoms with compliance of 12 KPa to 97.5 ms for phantoms with compliance of 61 KPa. These compliance levels mimic those seen for normal and fibrotic hepatic tissue respectively.
Simulated Distillation of Heavy Oils Using an Evaporative Light Scattering Detector

A rapid method for measuring intermediate and heavy fractions in fossil fuels has been developed using HPLC equipment and an evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD). Measurements at two detector temperatures are sufficient to determine the concentration of vacuum gas oil and residua in heavy oils. Results are comparable to those obtained by GC-simulated distillation (GC-SD). Analysis time is short, and the sample size requirement is small. Good analyses may be obtained with only one or two drops of sample. Since the ELSD detector measures nondistillable molecules directly and GC-SD measures nondistillables indirectly by using internal standards, the ELSD measurements may be the method of choice for measuring residua in heavy oils.
Scalable parallel building blocks for custom data analysis

We present a set of building blocks that provide scalable data movement capability to computational scientists and visualization researchers for writing their own parallel analysis. The set includes scalable tools for domain decomposition, process assignment, parallel I/O, global reduction, and local neighborhood communicationtasks that are common across many analysis applications. The global reduction is performed with a new algorithm, described in this paper, that efficiently merges blocks of analysis results into a smaller number of larger blocks. The merging is configurable in the number of blocks that are reduced in each round, the number of rounds, and the total number of resulting blocks. We highlight the use of our library in two analysis applications: parallel streamline generation and parallel Morse-Smale topological analysis. The first case uses an existing local neighborhood communication algorithm, whereas the latter uses the new merge algorithm.
Do all patients with carcinoma of the esophagus benefit from treatment at teaching facilities

Background We sought to determine whether patients with esophageal carcinoma benefit from regionalization of care. Methods The Florida Cancer Data System (FCDS) and the Agency for Health Care Administration data sets (1998–2002) were merged and queried. Results A total of 5,041 patients (87.6% Caucasian vs. 11.1% African American (AA)) demonstrated a median survival time of 9.8 months overall and 23.4 months following surgical resection (P < 0.001). Adenocarcinoma arose predominantly in Caucasian patients (98.1%). Patients with adenocarcinoma (n = 2,248) derived a treatment benefit at a TF (HR = 1.35, P = 0.003), including an improved 90-day mortality following surgery (2.1% vs. 4.0%, P < 0.001). Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) arose predominantly in AA patients (91.6%). No overall survival benefit at TF was observed (HR = 1.01, P = 0.915), however a trend for reduced 90-day surgical mortality was observed at TF (1.9% vs. 5.2%, P = 0.062). Multivariate analysis for adenocarcinoma demonstrates that poverty, lack of chemotherapy or surgery, and failure to provide treatment at a TF are independent predictors of worse survival. For SCC patients, AA race was a significant predictor of poorer survival while TF and poverty level were not. Conclusions These data suggest no benefit from potential regionalized care for patients with squamous histology, which disproportionately affects AA. J. Surg. Oncol. J. Surg. Oncol. 2010;102:18–26. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Experimental investigation of the partitioning of phosphorus between metal and silicate phases - Implications for the earth, moon and eucrite parent body

An experimental study is reported of the partitioning of Phosphorus between solid metal and basaltic silicate liquid as a function of temperature and oxygen fugacity and of the implications for the earth, moon and eucrite parent body (EPB). The relationship established between the partition coefficient and the fugacity is given at 1190 C by log D(P) = -1.12 log fO2 - 15.95 and by log D(P) = -1.53 log fO2 17.73 at 1300 C. The partition coefficient D(P) was determined, and it is found to be consistent with a valence state of 5 for P in the molten silicate. Using the determined coefficient the low P/La ratios of the earth, moon, and eucrites relative to C1 chondrites can be explained. The lowering of the P/La ratio in the eucrites relative to Cl chondrite by a factor of 40 can be explained by partitioning P into 20-25 wt% sulfur-bearing metallic liquid corresponding to 5-25% of the total metal plus silicate system. The low P/La and W/La ratios in the moon may be explained by the partitioning of P and W into metal during formation of a small core by separation of liquid metal from silicate at low degrees of partial melting of the silicates. These observations are consistent with independent formation of the moon and the earth.
Impact of slot controls with a market-based allocation mechanism at San Francisco International Airport

This paper presents an empirical analysis of the possible impact of the application of slot controls as a demand-management measure at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). We examine the specific case of slot controls allocated with a market-based mechanism. The paper first describes the nature of the delay problem at SFO and how slot controls would work to manage demand, briefly reviewing their history in the US. We then describe the methodology used to analyze their potential impact given the assumption of a market-based allocation mechanism and present our findings on their predicted impacts on arrival delays and the nature and level of scheduled passenger air service at the airport. Finally, we present conclusions as to the overall potential of slot controls to alleviate delay at SFO and their non-delay consequences. The methods presented in the paper facilitate a detailed analysis of the incidence of the impact of slot controls on passengers, airlines and individual communities that depend on SFO for access to the national air transportation system.
Ribavirin: efficacy in the treatment of murine autoimmune disease

Ribavirin, a drug with known antiviral activity, was given to mice with established lupus nephritis. Ribavirin was effective in prolonging survival, reducing the titer of antibodies to DNA, and reversing proteinuria. Other antiviral agents were not effective in the dosages used.
A structural analysis of visual spatial ability in academically talented students

Abstract The structure of spatial ability in a population of academically talented youth was explored. Methods of Facet Theory and Multidimensional Similarity Structure Analysis (SSA) were used to analyze the correlational structure of performance on 14 types of figural spatial tests in 2 samples of subjects. As in previous research, a cylindrical wedge model was found to describe the underlying structure well. The facet of dimensionality was represented in a polar way with the three-dimensional tasks in the core of a radex-like configuration and the two-dimensional tests in the periphery. The facet of mental rotation was identified to play a modular role as two different subregions in the SSA solutions, one representing two-dimensional rotation and one representing three-dimensional rotation. Memory load was represented in a similar fashion in one of the projections. Speededness emerged as a separate dimension in one of the plots. Indications for the existence of one more facet were found. The results agreed quite well with findings of previous research in this area.
The Interpretive Turn and the New Debate in Education

Over the last several decades, positivist-behaviorist approaches to social and educational research have been on the decline, whereas interpretive approaches have been on the rise. As a result of this "interpretive turn" the old debate between positivism and interpretivism (and central to the quantitative-qualitative debate) has diminished in intensity only to be replaced by a new debate in terms of postmodernists-who would abandon the emancipatory project of modernity as fatally flawed –versus transformationists- who would modify this project and endeavor to see it through. Among the conclusions advanced is that the differences between these two general perspectives tend to be overdrawn, particularly when philosophical avowals are measured against the requirements of practice.
The Lifetime Cost of Treating a Person With HIV

Objective. —To estimate the cost (total charges for services) of medical care for persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from the time of infection until death. Design and Setting. —Data from the AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) Cost and Service Utilization Survey were used. Patients. —Data from interviews conducted during the spring and early summer of 1992 with 1164 respondents with HIV were analyzed. The respondents were recruited at 26 sites (hospitals, clinics, and physicians' offices) in 10 cities. Billing data from a survey of providers also were used. Outcome Measures. —Estimates of the mean occupancy time in each of four disease stages were obtained from the San Francisco Men's Health Study. These estimates were multiplied by the monthly cost in each stage and summed to derive a synthetic estimate of the lifetime medical care costs of treating a person with HIV. Results. —It is estimated herein that the lifetime cost of treating a person with HIV from the time of infection until death is approximately $119 000. The estimated cost of care from HIV infection until the development of AIDS is $50 000, while the estimated cost from AIDS development until death is approximately $69 000. These estimates define upper bounds because they assume persons receive treatment continuously from the moment of infection until death. Conclusions. —This study found that the cost of treating a person with AIDS, which has risen rapidly in the past, has fallen as a result of a reduction in the use of inpatient hospital services. (JAMA. 1993;270:474-478)
Age-related changes of neurites in Meissner corpuscles of diabetic mice

Abstract Light touch and low-frequency vibration sense deteriorate during the development of diabetic neuropathy. As Meissner corpuscles are mechanoreceptors that respond to these sensations, this study explored the structural changes of neurites in Meissner corpuscles of diabetic mice C57BL Ks ( db db ) . We evaluated silver impregnated neurites from forepaw digital pads from 46 diabetic and 46 nondiabetic female mice which ranged in age from 2.5 to 17 months. Light microscopically, neurites from diabetic mice were less coarse, less tortuous, and exhibited decreased varicosity and decreased corpuscle size compared with those from nondiabetic mice. Number of corpuscles per area and neurite intraepidermal continuations showed a statistically significant decrease with age and with diabetes. Projected area and width of neurites, measured within a fixed interval on camera lucida tracings, showed both a statistically significant increase with age and a decrease with diabetes. Neurite complexity was unchanged between diabetics and nondiabetics. These findings suggest that axonal dwindling, a characteristic of peripheral nerves in diabetes, extends to the receptors and occurs throughout the lifespan of the mouse.
Cardiovascular causes of loss of consciousness in patients with presumed epilepsy: A cause of the increased sudden death rate in people with epilepsy?

Abstract background, methods, and results: Syncope and seizures are often indistinguishable clinically. We present a series of 12 patients diagnosed as having epilepsy. Despite normal or nonspecific electroencephalographic findings, 11 of 12 patients were treated or offered treatment with long-term anticonvulsant agents. Subsequently, diagnoses of arrhythmic or neurally mediated syncope were made in all patients using Holter monitoring, long-term ambulatory loop electrocardiographic recording, or tilttable studies. Arrhythmias included torsades de pointes (four patients), atrioventricular nodal reentrant supraventricular tachycardia (one patient), and sinus arrest (two patients). The remaining five patients had neurally mediated syncope with hypotension and bradycardia, including asystole in two patients. Treatment for the documented cardiovascular abnormalities resulted in the alleviation of syncopal symptoms. conclusions: Because the observed cardiovascular abnormalities are potentially fatal, this series suggests that undiagnosed cardiac syncope may contribute to the documented increased sudden death rate in patients with presumed epilepsy. Cardiac causes of loss of consciousness should be considered in patients with presumed epilepsy, atypical premonitory symptoms (such as nausea, lightheadedness, or palpitations), nondiagnostic electroencephalograms, and failure to respond to anticonvulsant therapy.
Cerebrospinal Fluid Titer of Chorionic Gonadotropin in Patients with Intracranial Metastatic Choriocarcinoma

Two patients with markedly elevated titers of chorionic gonadotropin in the cerebrospinal fluid attributable to brain metastases from a choriocarcinoma are presented. It is suggested that serial titration of the cerebrospinal fluid for chorionic gonadotropin may be useful in diagnosing intracranial metastases in patients with choriocarcinoma.
Luminal Ca2+ content regulates intracellular Ca2+ release in subepicardial myocytes of intact beating mouse hearts: effect of exogenous buffers

Ca+-induced Ca2+ release tightly controls the function of ventricular cardiac myocytes under normal and pathological conditions. Two major factors contributing to the regulation of Ca2+ release are...
Communal Fisheries Management in the Peruvian Amazon

Community-level management of lake fisheries is becoming an increasingly viable alternative in many areas of Amazona. Population growth and increased commercial fishing have led to intense competition and conflict over fishery resources. Conservation can only be successful in these competitive environments when resource management is adapted to solving problems at the local level. This study examines the communal management of lake fisheries in Chino, a community on the Tahuayo river south of Iquitos in the Northeastern Peruvian Amazon. The history and organization of the management system is presented with an analysis of the relation between fishing efficiency and specific tenets of the management system.
Short‐Bowel Syndrome in Four Dogs

Short bowel syndrome occurred in four dogs after extensive (74% to 88%) small intestinal resection. Weight loss and diarrhea were the principal clinical signs. Treatment was based on the severity of clinical signs. One dog is alive after 27 months. Three dogs died within 3 months. The prognosis depends on the extent and site of resection, degree of intestinal adaptation, preoperative condition, and postoperative care.
Zoom lenses and computer algebra

I show how computer algebra can be of material help in determining the potential quality of various zoom lens arrangements. One fortuitous result of this work is a proof that, when the object is kept at infinity, it is possible in principle to design zoom lenses for which all third-, fifth-, and seventh-order aberrations are corrected over a continuous range of zoom settings limited only by the restriction that the lens groups may not run into each other.
Critical reflection: an alleged epistemic duty

Kihyeon Kim (1994) has attempted to rescue the deontological conception of epistemic justification from a line of criticism advanced by William Alston. According to this conception justification is understood as a matter of being epistemically responsible; of believing what one ought to believe. Alston (1986) argues that the deontological conception is implausible because it entails doxastic voluntarism (the view that one can exercise direct voluntary control over what one believes at any given moment). Alston notes that we rarely, if ever, can exercise such control. For example, upon seeing a truck coming down the street, one is not at liberty to either believe or refrain from believing that the truck is coming down the street. Kim summarizes Alston's argument as follows:
Detached Eddy Simulation of High Pressure Diesel Injectors

The internal flows of high pressure diesel injectors are simulated numerically in order to investigate the complex transient flow structures and the unsteady forces imparted to the injector needle that result. The gas-liquid two phase flow is modeled using a mixture schematic with the cavitation numerically modeled using the Zwart-Gerber-Belamri model. Both the k-e model and the detached eddy simulation (DES) model are used and the numerical results are compared. Our study shows that the DES model is able to capture the important unsteady flow features missed by the k-e model. Our simulation also shows that the injector geometry, specifically the gain orifice, plays an important role in the forces developed on the injector needle.Copyright © 2014 by ASME
Differential Toxic Mechanisms of 2-Deoxy-D-Glucose versus 2-Fluorodeoxy-D -Glucose in Hypoxic and Normoxic Tumor Cells

The dependence of hypoxic tumor cells on glycolysis as their main means of producing ATP provides a selective target for agents that block this pathway, such as 2-deoxyD -glucose (2-DG) and 2-fluor...
Globalization, Electronic Empire and the Virtual Geography of Korea's information and Telecommunication Infrastructure

The present study focuses on the electronic infrastructural condition for current global capitalism. This study briefly surveys the genealogy of globalization theories, focusing especially on Marxist interpretations of capital accumulation on a global scale. The study situates the historical-geographical condition of South Korea's informatization in relation to the new world system which Hardt and Negri have described as `empire', the replacement for classical imperialism. Based on this concept of `empire', the article explores how Korea has been rapidly and successfully incorporated into the imperial network by mobilizing its citizens toward high-speed telecom mobility and connectivity across the country. It concludes, however, that behind Korea's public image as a global IT leader, the other, darker side of Korea's informatization is composed of the complex and intricate traits of the local, exhibited under extreme state interventionism and uneven geographies of centrality and marginality.
Growth, viability, adhesion potential and fibronectin expression in fibroblasts cultured on zirconia or feldspatic ceramics in vitro

Zirconia, a biomaterial widely used in dentistry, has recently attracted much attention for its mechanical strength and toughness. Previously, its lack of mutagenic and carcinogenic power was reported. We describe here other essential aspects to be taken into account to define in vitro the biocompatibility of a material: the growth rate, viability, and adhesion capacity of normal stabilized cells growing on it. To this aim, immortalized RAT-1 fibroblasts, growing either on zirconia and on feldspatic (FE) ceramics were compared. In particular, the level of expression and the intra- and extra-cellular organization of fibronectin, a glycoprotein involved in cellular adhesion and migration during tissue repair, was analyzed. Fibroblasts cultured on zirconia showed a higher growth rate, and underwent necrosis at lower levels than cells on FE ceramic, whereas either materials did not stimulate apoptosis. Adhesion capacity of fibroblasts was evaluated measuring adherent cell nucleic acids with the fluorimetric CyQuant assay, and it was found significantly higher in cells cultured on zirconia than on FE ceramic. This finding may be explained by the higher and more precocious expression of the adhesion protein fibronectin observed by indirect immunofluorescence in fibroblasts on zirconia. Overall, the results suggest that zirconia, exerting low cytotoxicity and strongly inducing adhesion capacity, increases cellular growth rate of fibroblasts. All these features suggest that zirconia could represent a more suitable biomaterial than FE ceramic for prosthesis in dentistry.
A minimal peach type II chlorophyll a/b-binding protein promoter retains tissue-specificity and light regulation in tomato.

Promoters with tissue-specificity are desirable to drive expression of transgenes in crops to avoid accumulation of foreign proteins in edible tissues/organs. Several photosynthetic promoters have been shown to be strong regulators of expression of transgenes in light-responsive tissues and would be good candidates for leaf and immature fruit tissue-specificity, if expression in the mature fruit were minimized. A minimal peach chlorophyll a/b-binding protein gene (Lhcb2*Pp1) promoter (Cab19) was isolated and fused to an uidA (β-glucuronidase [GUS]) gene containing the PIV2 intron. A control vector carrying an enhanced mas35S CaMV promoter fused to uidA was also constructed. Two different orientations of the Cab19::GUS fusion relative to the left T-DNA border of the binary vector were transformed into tomato. Ten independent regenerants of each construct and an untransformed control line were assessed both qualitatively and quantitatively for GUS expression in leaves, fruit and flowers, and quantitatively in roots. The minimal CAB19 promoter conferred GUS activity primarily in leaves and green fruit, as well as in response to light. GUS activity in the leaves of both Cab19 constructs averaged about 2/3 that observed with mas35S::GUS controls. Surprisingly, GUS activity in transgenic green fruit was considerably higher than leaves for all promoter constructs; however, in red, ripe fruit activities were much lower for the Cab19 promoter constructs than the mas35S::GUS. Although GUS activity was readily detectable in flowers and roots of mas35S::GUStransgenic plants, little activity was observed in plants carrying the Cab19 promoter constructs. In addition, the light-inducibility of the Cab19::GUS constructs indicated that all the requisite cis-elements for light responsiveness were contained on the Cab19 fragment. The minimal Cab19 promoter retains both tissue-specificity and light regulation and can be used to drive expression of foreign genes with minimal activity in mature, edible fruit.
Exploring the impact of social judgeability concerns on the interplay of associative and deliberative attitude processes

Abstract Some recent research applying dual-systems logic suggests that different attitude measures reflect independent modes of evaluation with explicit measures primarily affected by deliberative processes and implicit measures primarily affected by automatic processes. In the current work we hypothesized that explicit attitude measures often do not reflect the outcome of automatic or associative processing because social judgeability concerns prevent people from reporting consciously inexplicable “gut feelings” towards the attitude object. To explore this possibility, we simultaneously presented participants with associative and deliberative information about a target person and manipulated their sensitivity to social judgeability concerns with different sets of task instructions. Although an explicit attitude measure was unaffected by subliminally presented associative information following a standard instruction set, this content did impact explicit judgments when social judgeability concerns were assuaged with a “go with your gut” instruction set.
Subwavelength three-dimensional Bragg filtering in integrated slot plasmonic waveguides

We present a compact three-dimensional (3D) plasmonic Bragg reflector based on the metal-insulator-metal geometry. The Bragg reflector structure enables subwavelength confinement. We show that the width modulation in a plasmon slot waveguide can lead to wide photonic band-gaps with high reflectance efficiency. Simulation results demonstrate that negligible transmission can be achieved at the desired frequency of the Bragg reflector.
Predictors of retention in smoking cessation treatment among Latino smokers in the Northeast United States

Introduction. Only one previous study on minority retention in smoking cessation treatment has been conducted (Nevid JS, Javier RA, Moulton JL III. Factors predicting participant attrition in a community-based, culturally specific smoking cessation program for Hispanic smokers. Health Psychol 1996; 15: 226–29). We investigated predictors of intervention completion and assessment completion among Latino smokers (n 5 131) with asthmatic children participating in a home-based asthma education study that included smoking cessation counseling. Methods. We examined a variety of pretreatment demographic and psychosocial predictors of intervention completion (completing all three home visits versus <3), assessment completion (attendance/ not) and total study participation (completing all six contacts versus <6). Results. Lower levels of depressed mood (OR 5 0.912, 95% CI: 0.857–0.971, P < 0.01) and fewer ‘pros’ of smoking (OR 5 0.882, 95% CI: 0.809–0.961, P < 0.01) predicted intervention completion. Predictors of assessment completion included having more friends who smoke (OR 5 2.09, 95% CI: 1.23–3.56, P < 0.01), fewer pros of smoking (OR 5 0.87, 95% CI: 0.81–0.95, P < 0.01) and a strong belief that quitting smoking would benefit the child’s asthma (OR 5 1.69, 95% CI: 1.04–2.74, P < 0.05). Unemployed participants were more likely to complete all six study contacts than those who were working (OR 5 0.37, 95% CI: 0.14–0.99, P < 0.05). Discussion. Findings suggest the need to tailor retention strategies during active treatment and follow-up assessments to target those who at risk of dropping out.
Improved homogeneity of the transmit field by simultaneous transmission with phased array and volume coil.

Purpose: To improve the homogeneity of transmit volume coils at high magnetic fields (≥4 T). Due to radiofrequency (RF) field/tissue interactions at high fields, 4 T to 8 T, the transmit profile from head-sized volume coils shows a distinctive pattern with relatively strong RF magnetic field B1 in the center of the brain. Materials and Methods: In contrast to conventional volume coils at high field strengths, surface coil phased arrays can provide increased RF field strength peripherally. In theory, simultaneous transmission from these two devices could produce a more homogeneous transmission field. To minimize interactions between the phased array and the volume coil, counter rotating current (CRC) surface coils consisting of two parallel rings carrying opposite currents were used for the phased array. Results: Numerical simulations and experimental data demonstrate that substantial improvements in transmit field homogeneity can be obtained. Conclusion: We have demonstrated the feasibility of using simultaneous transmission with human head-sized volume coils and CRC phased arrays to improve homogeneity of the transmit RF B1 field for high-field MRI systems. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2010;32:476–481. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.