cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reduced basal and ethanol stimulation of striatal extracellular dopamine concentrations in dopamine D2 receptor knockout mice

The present study was undertaken to examine the role of the dopamine (DA) D2 receptor in the ethanol-evoked DA response in the ventral striatum. We performed microdialysis experiments using the D2 null mutant and wild-type controls and measured the effect of an intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of either saline or ethanol (2 g/kg) on dialysate DA concentrations in the ventral striatum. Dialysate ethanol concentrations were also determined in the samples from the ventral striatum. In addition, the effects of quinpirole, a D2/D3 agonist, were examined in both the ventral and dorsal striatum. Basal dialysate concentrations of DA were significantly reduced in both the ventral and dorsal striatum of the D2 knockouts compared with wild-type controls. Ethanol administration significantly enhanced ventral striatal DA in both groups, but the increase in dialysate DA concentration was 3.5-fold higher in the wild-type controls. The time course of dialysate ethanol concentrations was similar in the two groups. Saline injection did not alter DA concentrations in either the ventral or dorsal striatum. However, quinpirole (0.3 mg/kg) administration significantly depressed striatal dialysate DA concentrations in the wild-type mice, but not in the D2 knockouts. The results suggest that the D2 receptor is necessary for normal development and regulation of striatal extracellular DA concentrations, but the mechanism for this alteration is unclear. In addition, the blunted ethanol-evoked DA response in the D2 knockouts may contribute, in part, to some of the behavioral deficits previously observed in response to ethanol.
Electrodeposited Co-Cu/Cu multilayered microposts

Abstract X-ray lithography and electrodeposition were combined to deposit an array of Co–Cu/Cu multilayer microposts of 500 μm tall into deep recesses for novel giant magnetoresistance (GMR) architectures. A citrate-boric acid electrolyte was used with pulsed potential. The applied potential was determined through inspection of the polarization curve from linear sweep voltammetry, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)/transmission electron microscope (TEM) confirmed the micropost layered structure. Room temperature magnetoresistance was reported for different bilayer sizes of the micropost, and up to 4% current perpendicular-to-plane giant magnetoresistance (CPP-GMR) with saturation values less than 1 T was observed.
Multiplication and mixed differentiation in generalized Fock spaces

The classical distribution theory founded by Laurent Schwartz [26] has an intrinsic multiplication problem. He indicates this in his paper [27]. This problem is clearly demonstrated by selecting two particular distributions and attempting to define a multiplication that enjoys commutative, associative, and unit identity properties. This process leads to the contradiction, 1 = eP I [lo]. A new generalized function theory developed by J. Colombeau [4-91 provides a solution to the multiplication problem and also develops a general integration theory. T. Todorov reexamines the new generalized function theory in the spirit of non-denumerable sequences termed ultrapowers [29]. The L. Schwartz distribution theory was reexamined in the spirit of fundamental sequences [ 16,333. However, there are new considerations in the theory of new generalized function theory requiring an algebraic notion of a particular ideal contained in a specified test function space. A brief review of these constructions can be found in Section 7 and a comprehensive review can be found in Ref. [25]. A principle application for our development will be modeling a physical system consisting of an “infinite” number of particles. A system of n-particles termed bosoms or fermions has previously been modeled by n-dimensional symmetric or antisymmetric functions. When this system is enlarged to an infinite number of particles, the model for the state space vector has the form,
A 2.2mW CMOS LNA for 6–8.5GHz UWB receivers

This paper presents an ultra-wideband (UWB) low noise amplifier (LNA) consuming 2.2-mW core dc power for 6–8.5GHz wireless applications. A common-gate input stage is cascaded with a common-source second stage to perform input impedance matching and wideband stagger-tuning amplification, while the current-reuse topology minimizes the dc power dissipation. The design method used to achieve flat-gain response is presented. A detailed analysis gives insight into the issue on the input impedance and suggests a solution. Implemented in a 90-nm CMOS process, the measurement results show power gain of 13.35+/−0.55 dB, input third intercept point (IIP3) of −6.2 (I Bin, and noise figure of 5–6.5 dB. The silicon die with 0.22-mm2 active area allows the design to be adopted for highly integrated low-cost CMOS applications.
Identity, Change, and Family Rituals

This review of research highlights the value andfunction of rituals in family life and of assessment and intervention considerations in the clinical context. Six empirical studies examine the relationship of family rituals to alcoholism transmission, adolescent identity and symptomatology, marital satisfaction, and the family life cycle. Although marital and family therapists have demonstrated the rich clinical utility of rituals and have engaged in extensive theory-building, this signifwant dimwnsion of family life awaits much more investigation.
Sialic acid residues indirectly modulate the binding properties of AMPA-type glutamate receptors.

Abstract Manipulations that disrupt the extracellular interactions of neural cell adhesion molecules (NCAMs) block the formation of stable long-term potentiation (LTP) but do not reverse already established potentiation. Several studies have implicated a change in AMPA-type glutamate receptors as being responsible for the expression of LTP but there are no evident links between NCAMs and the receptors. NCAMs are major carriers of sialic acid residues in the brain and removal of these with neuraminidase markedly affects the binding properties of the adhesion molecules. Therefore, the present study tested if neuraminidase treatment produces a change in AMPA receptors. Preincubation of cortical membranes with the enzyme for 15 min at 37°C caused a ∼5% reduction in the apparent sizes of NCAMs 140 and 180 but had no detectable influence on the sizes of various glutamate receptor subunits. The same treatment resulted in a 20±1% increase in the binding of [3H]AMPA with no apparent effect on binding to NMDA-type glutamate receptors or to high affinity kainate receptors. In membranes from the hippocampus, neuraminidase induced a 30±2% increase in binding which Scatchard analyses showed to be due to an increase in receptor affinity. Finally, neuraminidase had no effect on either the binding properties of solubilized AMPA receptors or on AMPA receptors stably expressed in a non-neuronal cell line. These results: (i) demonstrate that modulation of the extracellular environment can influence the binding properties of AMPA receptors, (ii) indicate that sialic acid residues in the extracellular compartment of synapses exert a significant and indirect influence on AMPA receptors and, (iii) suggest a route whereby NCAMs and LTP could be linked.
Base-excision repair of oxidative DNA damage

Maintaining the chemical integrity of DNA in the face of assault by oxidizing agents is a constant challenge for living organisms. Base-excision repair has an important role in preventing mutations associated with a common product of oxidative damage to DNA, 8-oxoguanine. Recent structural studies have shown that 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylases use an intricate series of steps to locate and excise 8-oxoguanine lesions efficiently against a high background of undamaged bases. The importance of preventing mutations associated with 8-oxoguanine is shown by a direct association between defects in the DNA glycosylase MUTYH and colorectal cancer. The properties of other guanine oxidation products and the associated DNA glycosylases that remove them are now also being revealed.
Support for evidence-based practice

Objectives : To discuss examples of the process for evidence-based practice (EBP) and suggest helpful mechanisms for its support. Data Sources : Published review and research articles, textbooks, guidelines, and web sites. Conclusions : Evidence-based practice requires a step by step process. Obtaining resources for EBP is essential to identifying and implementing and/or sustaining clinical care based on the best evidence available. Implications for Nursing Practice : Finding resources to conduct EBP activities is one of the more challenging aspects of this approach to maintaining and improving quality of clinical care. However, nurses have found creative ways to obtain needed resources to implement EBP.
Coherent global motion percepts from stochastic local motions (abstract only)

A percept of global, coherent motion results when many different localized motion vectors are combined. We studied the percept with dynamic random dot kinematograms in which each element took an independent, random walk of constant step size. Directions of displacement from frame to frame were chosen from a uniform distribution. The tendency to see coherent, global flow along the mean of the uniform distribution varied with the range of the distribution.Psychometric functions were obtained with kinematograms having various step sizes (0.1 to 1.4 degrees) and element densities (0.2 to 1.6 dots per square degree). Results fall into two categories, depending on whether the step size is larger or smaller than 1.0 degree. For step sizes greater than 1.0 degree changes in dot density altered the psychometric function. No change was found if the step size was less than one degree. These changes in the psychometric function with step size and density are consistent with Ullman's "minimal map theory" of motion correspondence.For the smaller step sizes, the constancy of the results over a large range of dot densities suggests that spurious directions of displacement due to the interference of random walks for different dots are not important. That is, only the directions of local motion determined by the predefined distribution of directions significantly contribute to the percept. We also found that although temporal summation occurred in a nonlinear manner over frames, it depended only on the set of directions present from frame to frame, not on the spatial relationships between local motion vectors over time. Taken together, these two results suggest that directions of the individual steps are independently detected and that these responses are pooled over time and space to generate the perception of coherent motion.
Optical phased array using single crystalline silicon high-contrast-gratings for beamsteering

We present a single crystalline silicon optical phased array using high-contrast-gratings (HCG) for fast two dimensional beamforming and beamsteering at 0.5 MHz. Since there are various applications for beamforming and beamsteering such as 3D imaging, optical communications, and light detection and ranging (LIDAR), it is great interest to develop ultrafast optical phased arrays. However, the beamsteering speed of optical phased arrays using liquid crystal and electro-wetting are typically limited to tens of milliseconds. Optical phased arrays using micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technologies can operate in the submegahertz range, but generally require metal coatings. The metal coating unfortunately cause bending of mirrors due to thermally induced stress. The novel MEMS-based optical phased array presented here consists of electrostatically driven 8 × 8 HCG pixels fabricated on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer. The HCG mirror is designed to have 99.9% reflectivity at 1550 nm wavelength without any reflective coating. The size of the HCG mirror is 20 × 20 μm2 and the mass is only 140 pg, much lighter than traditional MEMS mirrors. Our 8 × 8 optical phased array has a total field of view of ±10° × 10° and a beam width of 2°. The maximum phase shift regarding the actuation gap defined by a 2 μm buried oxide layer of a SOI wafer is 1.7π at 20 V.
Butterflies Will Burn: Prosecuting Sodomites in Early Modern Spain and Mexico

* List of Illustrations * Notes on Translation and Transcription * Abbreviations * Acknowledgments * Prologue: Varied Textures * Chapter 1. A Total Man and a Total Woman * Chapter 2. A Brief History of Early Modern Spain on Sodomie * Chapter 3. Mariner, Would You Scratch My Legs? * Chapter 4. Cotita and the Antipodas, or How a Cadre of Effeminate Sodomites Infested New Spain with an Endemic Cancer Known as the Abominable Sin contra Natura * Epilogue: He Died of a Broken Heart * Appendix 1: Natura Armada * Appendix 2: Tentando pijas y siesos: Como se confirma el derramamiento de la suciedad * Appendix 3: Cotita que es lo mismo que mariquita y sus lindas ninas en la ciudad de Mexico * Notes * Glossary * Works Cited * Index
Serum potassium in dual renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system blockade.

Treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) slows the progression of proteinuric diabetic kidney disease ([1][1]–[3][2]). However, the risk of progression remains high despite these medications. In the Reduction of Endpoints in NIDDM with
Beyond the horizon

Student affairs professionals have an obligation and an opportunity to support students moving through the college-years stages of psychosocial development by helping them use technology in appropriate ways.
Notes on Euclidean Wilson loops and Riemann theta functions

The AdS/CFT correspondence relates Wilson loops in $\mathcal{N}=4$ super Yang-Mills theory to minimal area surfaces in ${\mathrm{AdS}}_{5}$ space. In this paper we consider the case of Euclidean flat Wilson loops, which are related to minimal area surfaces in Euclidean ${\mathrm{AdS}}_{3}$ space. Using known mathematical results for such minimal area surfaces, we describe an infinite parameter family of analytic solutions for closed Wilson loops. The solutions are given in terms of Riemann theta functions, and the validity of the equations of motion is proven based on the trisecant identity. The world sheet has the topology of a disk, and the renormalized area is written as a finite, one-dimensional contour integral over the world-sheet boundary. An example is discussed in detail with plots of the corresponding surfaces. Further, for each Wilson loops we explicitly construct a one parameter family of deformations that preserve the area. The parameter is the so-called spectral parameter.
Abundance and Size of Gulf Shrimp in Louisiana's Coastal Estuaries following the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

This work was funded by Louisiana Sea Grant (R/OS-04-PD). Publication of this article was funded in part by the George Mason University Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund.
Notch signaling in vascular morphogenesis.

Summary An emerging hallmark of the Notch signaling pathway is its nearly ubiquitous participation in cell fate decisions that affect several tissues, including epithelial, neuronal, hematopoietic, and muscle. The vascular compartment has been the latest addition to the list of tissues known to be regulated by Notch. Unraveling the contribution of Notch signaling to blood vessel formation has resulted principally from gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments in mouse and zebrafish. During the past 4 years, these mechanistic studies have revealed that Notch is required for the successful completion of several steps during vascular morphogenesis and differentiation. In addition, the findings that Notch mutations are linked to some late-onset hereditary vascular pathologic conditions suggest the added contribution of this signaling pathway to vascular homeostasis.
Diastolic Abnormalities of Postischemic "Stunned" Myocardium

Abstract Myocardial “stunning” or postischemic contractile dysfunction in the absence of myocyte necrosis 1 has by convention been quantified using indexes of systolic function (i.e., segment shortening or wall thickening), 2,3 yet alterations in the diastolic components of the cardiac cycle associated with stunning remain largely undefined. Recent evidence suggests that abnormalities in diastolic function persist beyond the recovery of normal systolic function in patients rendered ischemic for brief (15 to 75 second) periods during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty; thus, the diastolic properties of the stunned, reperfused myocardium may be of considerable clinical importance. 4,5 This report quantifies and compares indexes of both systolic contraction and isovolumic relaxation in a canine model of the postischemic, stunned myocardium.
Protein Kinase C Activation Contributes to Microvascular Barrier Dysfunction in the Heart at Early Stages of Diabetes

The functional disturbance of microvasculature is recognized as an initiating mechanism that underlies the development of various diabetic complications. Although a causal relationship between microvascular leakage and tissue damage has been well documented in diabetic kidneys and eyes, there is a lack of information regarding the barrier function of coronary exchange vessels in the disease state. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the permeability property of coronary microvessels during the early development of experimental diabetes with a focus on the protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent signaling mechanism. The apparent permeability coefficient of albumin (Pa) was measured in isolated and perfused porcine coronary venules. The administration of high concentrations of D-glucose induced a dose-dependent increase in the Pa value, which was prevented by blockage of PKC with its selective inhibitors bisindolylmaleimide and Goe 6976. More importantly, an elevated basal permeability to albumin was observed in coronary venules at the early onset of streptozotocin-induced diabetes. The hyperpermeability was corrected with bisindolylmaleimide and the selective PKCbeta inhibitor hispidin. Concomitantly, protein kinase assay showed a high PKC activity in isolated diabetic venules. Immunoblot analysis of the diabetic heart revealed a significant subcellular translocation of PKCbetaII and PKCepsilon from the cytosol to the membrane, indicating that the specific activity of these isoforms was preferentially elevated. The results suggest that endothelial barrier dysfunction attributed to the activation of PKC occurs at the coronary exchange vessels in early diabetes.
The Empire Reformed: English America in the Age of the Glorious Revolution. By Owen Stanwood. (Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2011. Pp. 220. $45.00.)

In today's divisive religious era, it is appropriate to recall the seventeenth century when an intense polarization existed between Protestants and Catholics in the transatlantic world. It is this ...
Naturalism and the Empfindsamerstil in 18th-Century Europe

C.P.E. Bach was the most notable composer of the empfindsamerstil, an 18th-century musical style in Germany that highlights an important change in the production and reception of music. This change is seen in the aesthetic philosophy of this period, which reflects a conflict between old forms of naturalism and a new modality of taste, in which subjective avowals of like or dislike become the criteria for aesthetic judgment. This paper addresses the interrelationship of the empfindsamerstil and aesthetics of its period, providing an account of this conflict between old forms of objective musical codification and a wholly modern account of subjective pleasure.
Task-Specific Minimum Bayes-Risk Decoding using Learned Edit Distance

This paper extends the minimum Bayes-risk framework to incorporate a loss function specific to the task and the ASR system. The errors are modeled as a noisy channel and the parameters are learned from the data. The resulting loss function is used in the risk criterion for decoding. Experiments on a large vocabulary conversational speech recognition system demonstrate significant gains of about 1% absolute over MAP hypothesis and about 0.6% absolute over untrained loss function. The approach is general enough to be applicable to other sequence recognition problems such as in Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and in analysis of biological sequences.
electroencephalographic studies of withdrawal from addiction in the papio papio

This report focuses upon the Senegalese baboon, Papio papio, as an appropriate subject for the study of drug dependence, specifically opiate dependence. Further, in the description of the process of the development of tolerance to morphine and of the subsequent withdrawal syndrome, it might be possible to shed additional light on the nature of the photomyoclonic syndrome that seems to be prevalent in the Papio papio.
Compact solid state high repetition rate variable amplitude pulse generator

Presented is a solid state high repetition-rate pulse generator with adjustable output amplitude, together with a resonant LC charger. This pulse generator was designed for transient plasma production for ignition and other aerospace plasma applications. The design of the pulse-forming network makes use of commercially available insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT) switching a capacitor bank into a METGLAS transformer together with a Fitch voltage doubling circuit. The capacitor bank is charged to 1 kV by a resonant LC charger, also switched by a commercial IGBT. The output of the pulse generator is controlled by the gate voltage of the IGBTs. Pulses with a width of 40ns can be generated with repetition rates up to 10 kHz. The amplitude can be controlled from 9 kV to 38 kV into a 500Ω load.
Traumatic brain injury causes long-term reduction in serum growth hormone and persistent astrocytosis in the cortico-hypothalamo-pituitary axis of adult male rats.

Abstract In humans, traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes pathological changes in the hypothalamus (HT) and the pituitary. One consequence of TBI is hypopituitarism, with deficiency of single or multiple hormones of the anterior pituitary (AP), including growth hormone (GH). At present no animal model of TBI with ensuing hypopituitarism has been demonstrated. The main objective of this study was to investigate whether cortical contusion injury (CCI) could induce long-term reduction of serum GH in rats. We also tested the hypothesis that TBI to the medial frontal cortex (MFC) would induce inflammatory changes in the HT and AP. Methods: Nine young adult male rats were given sham surgery (n = 4) or controlled impact contusions (n = 5) of the MFC. Two months post-injury they were killed, trunk blood collected and their brains and AP harvested. GH was measured in serum and AP using ELISA and Western blot respectively. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were measured in the cortex (...
“RELATIONSHIPS MORE ENDURING”: Implications of the Troxel Decision for Lesbian and Gay Families

This article reviews the special legal challenges arising for children raised by lesbian and gay parents when those parents separate. The applicability of the Troxel decision to those special issues is explored and recommendations made for the practice of psychologists who evaluate custody questions in these cases.
HOMOGRAFT IMMUNITY IN PREGNANCY THE PLACENTAL TRANSFER OF CYTOTOXIC ANTIBODY IN RABBITS

The mammalian fetus affixed to the uterine wall in some ways resembles a homograft, but maternal homograft immunity even when specifically directed against her fetuses fails to destroy them. The placental barrier appears to be critical in protecting the fetus against maternal immunologic attack. In order to evaluate the means by which it affords protection, we have measured in rabbits the transfer of cytotoxic antibody from mother to fetus. When the offspring were not the specific targets for maternal antibody, we found titers of cytotoxic antibody in the newborn animals at or near maternal levels in 16 of 18 cases (89 per cent), demonstrating the ability of this antibody to cross the rabbit placenta. When the offspring were appropriate targets for antibody, however, 11 of 18 newborn animals (61 per cent) had no demonstrable titer. We believe that in these latter cases, antibody had become fixed to antigenic sites and thereby had been removed from the fetal circulation. There was, however, no evidence of harm to any of the fetuses, either in survival (as demonstrated in a previous study) or in spleen or thymus weights or peripheral leukocyte and mononuclear cell counts. Cytotoxic antibody appears to reach the embryo early in gestation, since we found antibody in 8-day-old blastocyst fluid in each of 2 trials. We conclude that the fetus neither receives nor requires protection against cytotoxic antibody, and believe that fetal protection against maternal homograft immunity is afforded by a placental barrier to maternal mononuclear leukocytes.
Secondary elastic crack tip stresses which may influence very slow fatigue crack growth

Secondary elastic crack tip stress intensity factors are defined in a convenient way consistent with the primary stress intensity factor definition. Methods of evaluation of these secondary stress intensity factors are developed. They are evaluated for example configurations with cracks. It is shown that the first secondary term may be sufficient to evaluate the effects of secondary stresses beyond the usual stress intensity factor and nominal normal stresses parallel to the crack direction.
A Guide to Design and Testing in Online Psychology Courses

A rapidly evolving reality in the teaching of psychology is the increasing prevalence of entirely web-based psychology courses. The author addresses basic design and testing issues of online courses and presents a frank discussion and evaluation of current technology problems and teaching strategies employed. Data and analysis of testing results from paired on-campus and online sections of an introductory psychology course are discussed, as well as their implications for broader issues of learning and performance. Developing and implementing a successful web-based course requires effective use of existing software and hardware solutions to achieve many traditional teaching goals, together with a willingness to adapt to the new demands, limitations and strengths of the online environment. The development of online classrooms is largely market-driven and it appears they are here to stay.
Simulation and optimization of enhanced gas recovery utilizing CO2

Abstract Carbon sequestration with enhanced gas recovery (CS-EGR) is a well-known technology for safe and economical Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS). However, there is lack of a robust and comprehensive approach to study the optimization of the CS-EGR process. In this paper, a multi-objective optimization code based on a genetic algorithm is combined with the multi-phase flow solver TOUGH2 for CS-EGR applications. Using this combined numerical solver/optimizer, the optimal CO 2 injection rate is accurately determined via a series of simulations for a CS-EGR process to maximize the CH 4 recovery factor. An improvement in the recovery factor by 5% along with a shorter project life cycle is achieved by optimization. Additional optimization studies with time-dependent CO 2 injection scenarios indicate that higher production rates of CH 4 can be achieved without compromising the structural integrity of the reservoir. The results of this study pave the way for future optimization studies to enhance the appeal of CS-EGR projects and to help launch this technology on an industrial scale.
Pathologically Confirmed Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in a 25-Year-Old Former College Football Player.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a neurodegenerative tauopathy associated with repetitive head impacts.1 Presently, CTE only can be diagnosed pathologically; however, research efforts, such as the ongoing Understanding Neurological Injury and Traumatic Encephalopathy (UNITE) Study,2 are investigating ways to diagnose CTE during life. As part of the UNITE Study, a panel of clinicians, blinded to neuropathology, make retrospective clinical consensus diagnoses using published criteria, including proposed clinical research criteria for CTE.3 Here, we present an informative case from the UNITE Study.
The Politics of Federal Grants: Presidential Influence over the Distribution of Federal Funds

Do presidents use federal grants to help win elections? While a significant amount of research examines whether political actors allocate funds for electoral reasons, most focuses on legislators’ influence. This paper argues that the president and his subordinates strategically direct federal funding toward electorally competitive states. It uses a newly compiled database that includes all federal project grants from 1996-2008 to examine the distribution of grant money across the 50 states. It finds that the executive branch delivers more money and grants to swing states than all other states. Further, the proximity of a presidential election enhances this swing state bias in the distribution of funds. The paper concludes that presidential electoral interest drives the distribution of funds and, that scholars must consider the role of the president in studies of distributive politics. Working Paper: 01-2011 Research Concentration: Executive Politics and Regulatory Policymaking
DEA with a Perfect Object: Analytical Solutions

For the main DEA models, adding a Perfect Object --- that is, a virtual object that has the smallest inputs and greatest outputs --- to a collection of actual objects permits obtaining solutions analytically. The paper derives formulas for the solutions and demonstrates that computations with them comprise simple operations with ratios of inputs and outputs while avoiding the use of linear programming (LP) algorithms. A numerical example illustrates the utility of the approach.
Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies: Historical and Clinical Aspects of Prion Protein Disorders

ABSTRACT.The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are comprised of a group of human syndromes including kuru, an endemic disease of the Fore tribe in Papua, New Guinea; Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), a rare, sporadic, pre-senile encephalopathy; and Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker syndrome (GSS), which resembles kuru and CJD but is genetically transmissible; as well as scrapie, visna, bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), and transmissible mink encephalopathy (TME) among others in animals. While reference to the animal encephalopathies may be made, the scope of this paper will address the human varieties with a particular focus on Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.Until recently, CJD, kuru, and GSS were included with subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), progressive rubella panencephalitis, and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in the category of slow virus infections. While the latter of these diseases have all been attributed to classic viruses that have been visualized by electron microsc...
Modal-Based Camera Correction for Large Pitch Stereo Imaging

Stereo imaging is typically performed using two cameras that have been calibrated to account for lens-induced distortion and pointing errors, resulting in rectified images that are processed to obtain distance information. The accuracy of a 3-D map obtained from stereopsis is closely tied to the calibration data, and so relative motion between the cameras must be kept small. In order to reduce errors from a stereo image caused by motion, the structural connection between the cameras can be stiffened, but this comes with a weight and size penalty. For cameras that have a large baseline (pitch) distance, it may be impossible to have enough stiffness in the structure to obtain reasonable error bounds. An alternative approach is to model the camera motion using a modal technique and account for this motion during imaging. This paper outlines a procedure for stereo camera correction using measured accelerations to optimally trigger the camera. Results of the technique are shown for a simple beam that is center-mounted to a shaker to induce symmetric bending.
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors under investigation for the treatment of type II diabetes.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Type 2 diabetes is characterized by hyperglycemia that is the result of β-cell failure in the setting of peripheral insulin resistance. It is estimated that greater than 300 million individuals worldwide have diabetes. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), which are used to treat a variety of cancers, appear to have antihyperglycemic effects.Areas Covered: This review summarizes studies that have investigated the use of TKIs in animal models of diabetes. Additionally, the authors review case series describing the effects of TKIs on glucose levels in adults taking these drugs for FDA approved indications.Expert opinion: Given the scope and size of the worldwide diabetes epidemic, reports of amelioration or possible cure of the disease warrant special attention. TKIs appear to lower glucose levels in some, but not all individuals. Multi-center prospective studies are needed in which patient with diabetes treated with TKI undergo phenotyping to identify responders versus non responders to ...
Human guidance of mobile robots in complex 3D environments using smart glasses

In order for humans to safely work alongside robots in the ﬁeld, the human-robot (HR) interface, which enables bi-directional communication between human and robot, should be able to quickly and concisely express the robot's intentions and needs. While the robot operates mostly in autonomous mode, the human should be able to intervene to eﬀectively guide the robot in complex, risky and/or highly uncertain scenarios. Using smart glasses such as Google Glass∗, we seek to develop an HR interface that aids in reducing interaction time and distractions during interaction with the robot.
Observation the effect of airway atomization and chest physical therapy pneumonia in infants

Objective:Discussion the effect of the airway atomization and chest physiotherapy to pneumonia in infants.Methods:60 cases of pneumonia in infants were randomly divided into treatment group and control group, the treatment group in the implementation of the airway in the chest after the atomization physical therapy, while the control group using drugs alone airway atomization,30 caese in each group,compared two groups of children in the treatment of after the pulmonary symptoms and signs, oxygen saturation (SaO2), the number of hospitalization days whether differences.Results:Expectoration symptoms disappeared a few days, treatment group and control group showed significant differences (P0.001).Auscultation comparison: there was no significant difference (χ2=1.13,P0.05).Chest film comparison:there was significant differences between two groups (χ2 = 6.39,P0.05); SaO2 increased value of comparison: the treatment group than the control group a significant difference (t = 5.61,P0.001).Days of hospitalization comparison:there was a significant difference between two groups (t=5.9,P0.001). Conclusion:Aerosol at the same time strengthen the right chest physical therapy to children with pneumonia in infants can achieve better outcomes.
Electromagnetic Environment of 500kV 1-tower 4-circuit Transmission Line

500kV Shiyang-Wuyi transmission line has been planned to adopt existing line corridor for its partial retrofitting,and the retrofitted section will be designed based on 500kV 1-tower 4-circuit line.Its key issues are that its concerned parameters should meet requirements for electromagnetic environments.A simulation of its electromagnetic environment was executed with "ATP/EMTP" software,whose results were compared to concerned both domestic and foreign standards.The results prove that the design of tower type is rational and can meet related national standards and requirements for electromagnetic environment.
Cervical and Vaginal Cytology in the Child and Adolescent

A review of findings in a series of more than 10,000 patients between 13 and 19 years of age confirm the advisability of obtaining cervical smears in all gynecologic and obstetric patients, regardless of age. A significant number of patients screened were found to have some degree of significant cervical atypia. Cytohormonal evaluation can be a useful tool in the young child or adolescent with an endocrine or genetic abnormality.
Does Perception of Gas Tax Paid Influence Support for Funding Highway Improvements

The issue for this research is whether perception of the rate and amount of fuel taxes paid by an individual influences his or her support for funding highway improvements from any source of revenu...
Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia; A Diagnostic Dilemma.

Abstract 4468 Introduction The diagnosis of HIT can be challenging. Short of the serotonin release assay, which can be difficult to get in a timely manner, the 4T method developed by Lo et al., in conjunction with the HIT elisa assay (EIA), is the best established criteria for the rapid diagnosis of Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia (HIT). We sought to determine how often the 4Ts were being applied at a large academic institution. In addition, we sought to understand the outcome of patients started on direct thrombin inhibitors (DTIs) who did not meet the 4T/EIA criteria for HIT. Methods A retrospective case series identified patients placed on DTI for HIT treatment from 10/2006 to 5/2008. The 4T pretest probability was then applied retrospectively. HIT EIA Ab testing, optical densities, duration of DTI treatment, and bleeding incidence were recorded. Liberal and modified conservative criteria from Lo et al.9s study were used to define patients with HIT. Overdiagnosis of HIT was then recorded based on the above criteria. Results 76 patients were included for analysis. The average age was 61.4 years. Based on the 4T pretest probability, 30 patients were classified as low risk, 37 intermediate risk, and 9 high risk for HIT. The average HIT OD for low, intermediate, and high pretest probability was 0.49, 1.17, and 2.05. 76% and 36% of patients treated with DTIs for HIT met the liberal and modified conservative HIT definitions, respectively. 18 patients (24%) did not meet liberal HIT criteria but remained on DTI treatment for 1 to 60 days. Cost of DTI overuse in this subset was $84,960. Cost of DTI use in patients who did not meet modified conservative criteria was $462,246. All 16 patients who developed bleeding complications fulfilled a liberal diagnosis of HIT while only 6 of these patients fulfilled the modified conservative definition of HIT. Conclusions 1) The 4T method for diagnosing HIT is not being applied to a large percentage of patients in a tertiary academic center. 2) There is an overdiagnosis of HIT regardless of definition criteria with 24% of patients treated for HIT not meeting the liberal definition while 64% of patients did not meet the modified conservative definition. This overdiagnosis has both a significant monetary and morbidity cost. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
Fuzzy hardware for fast process control and fuzzy decision making.

Ivan Kalaykov Center for Applied Autonomous Sensor Systems Department of Technology, University of Orebro Fakultetgatan 1, SE-70182 Orebro, Sweden Phone: +46-19-303625, Fax: +46-19-303463 email: igkal@computer.org Some common issues in the application of the Fired-Rules-Hyper-Cube (FRHC) concept for fast fuzzy logic based control or decision malung are considered. The layered parallel architecture has a very short processing time and can be realized in programmable blocks for implementing sophisticated systems.
Filling in the gaps: A case for enhancing Madsen and Josephsson’s assertions about occupation, situation, and inquiry

ABSTRACTMadsen and Josephsson’s rich account of ideas from John Dewey’s philosophical writings urges occupational scientists to understand occupation as “something that goes on … because of a situation, not only by or because of the individual” (p. 12). Although many aspects of their article helpfully re-emphasize important points about pragmatism, occupation, and transformation, their article also suggests issues noted by other Deweyan scholars and omits arguments previously put forth by those working with a Deweyan interpretation of occupation. In this commentary, we offer suggestions for acknowledging and more fully incorporating existing contributions on the topics of occupation, situation, and inquiry. We also highlight potential connections and developments that Madsen and Josephsson’s work may foster in future occupational science scholarship.
Risk Assessment and Risk Management: The Regulatory Process

Publisher Summary This chapter evaluates the present risk assessment and risk management scenario prevalent worldwide, especially in the United States. The tolerances for most raw and processed foods are enforced by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In the United States, primary authority for pesticide regulation resides with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). FIFRA authorizes EPA to prescribe the conditions of use of pesticide products. Amendments to FIFRA and FFDCA in 1996 brought both incremental and broad changes to the legal foundation for pesticide regulation in the United States. EPA may now suspend a pesticide registration in an emergency situation without simultaneously issuing a notice of intent to cancel, a change from the previous requirement for simultaneous action. There also must be a lack of efficacious alternatives or the alternatives must pose a greater risk to human health or the environment than does the pesticide under evaluation. The law provides additional incentives for the development and maintenance of minor use registrations in a number of ways: extension of time to generate residue data and for exclusive use of these data; greater flexibility to waive data requirements; the option to waive some or all of the fees usually charged to support and maintain registration; and expedited review of minor-use applications by the agency. The most significant changes in pesticide regulation resulting from the passage of FQPA impact the tolerance-setting process described in FFDCA.
Defective Spermatogenesis and Sperm DNA Damage

Spermatogenesis is a highly complex temporal event during which relatively undifferentiated diploid cells called spermatogonia slowly evolve into highly specialized haploid cells called spermatozoa. The goal of spermatogenesis is to produce a genetically unique male gamete that can fertilize an ovum and produce offspring. Spermatogenesis is initiated through the neurological axis by the hypothalamus, which releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which in turn signals follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) to be transmitted to the reproductive tract. Spermatogenesis involves a series of cell phases and divisions by which the diploid spermatogonial cells develop into primary spermatocytes via mitosis. Primary spermatocytes in the basal compartment of the seminiferous tubules undergo meiotic divisions to produce haploid secondary spermatocytes in the adluminal compartment in a process called spermatocytogenesis. After spermatocytogenesis, spermatids elongate to form spermatozoa by the process of spermiogenesis, a morphological development phase in which the nuclear transformations involving chromatin remodeling and compaction occur. Finally, spermatozoa are released from the Sertoli cells into the lumen of the seminiferous tubules in a process called spermiation and enter the epididymis for final maturation. Spermatogenesis in the human male takes about 74 days, while the process of epididymal maturation takes an additional 14 days. In the following sections, the complex transformation of the simple single diploid cell into a fully functional haploid cell is described. Furthermore, events associated with defective spermatogenesis and DNA fragmentation are highlighted, and mechanisms to repair DNA fragmentation are described in this chapter.
Non-carbon Nanotubes: Hydrogen Sensors Based on TiO2

Sensors for the detection of gases such as oxygen, water vapor, and hydrogen are becoming increasingly important for a number of areas such as manufacturing, environmental monitoring, medicine, and defense/security [19]. Hydrogen sensing in particular is needed for industrial process control, combustion control, and in medical applications where the presence of hydrogen is indicative of certain types of health conditions [18].
Clinical review of a monophasic oral contraceptive containing desogestrel and ethinyl estradiol.

A monophasic oral contraceptive (OC) containing 30 mcg ethinyl estradiol and 150 mcg desogestrel is the most commonly used OC in Europe. Desogestrel alone inhibits ovulation at 60 mcg/day. Breakthrough bleeding occurs in about 2.5% of all cycles. Intermenstrual bleeding occurs in about 8% of cycles. It is most common in cycle 1 and then decreases with subsequent cycles. Few women using this combined OC discontinue because of bleeding problems. Desogestrels low androgenicity accounts for low incidences of acne and hirsutism. The combined OC causes few minor side effects. It appears to increase high density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels and to decrease low density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels. Even though various monophasic OCs significantly increase the area under the curve (AUC) for glucose insulin and C-peptide the desogestrel-OC was the least active for glucose at 50% and one of the two lowest for insulin (20%) and C-peptide (16%). The increased AUCs signify a moderate slowed response to glucose loading and increased insulin resistance rather than a diabetes-like situation. The trends in values for fibrinolytic activity and for fibrinogen suggest that the desogestrel-OC activates the clotting system but European studies show that the clotting behavior activated by the desogestrel-OC is no different than that activated by a gestodene-monophasic OC. Desogestrel has a long half-life (23.8 hours) which prolongs the period during which women who miss 1-2 pills can be protected from pregnancy. In conclusion the desogestrel-OC provides reliable contraception and good cycle control. It causes few side effects a positive overall effect on lipid metabolism and minimal effects on carbohydrate metabolism and hemostasis.
When Does the Rate-Determining Step in the Hepatic Clearance of a Drug Switch from Sinusoidal Uptake to All Hepatobiliary Clearances? Implications for Predicting Drug-Drug Interactions.

For dual transporter-enzyme substrate drugs, the extended clearance model can be used to predict the rate-determining step(s) (RDS) of a drug and hence predict its drug-drug interaction (DDI) liabilities (i.e., transport, metabolism, or both). If the RDS of the hepatic clearance of the drug is sinusoidal uptake clearance (CLsin), even if the drug is eliminated mainly by hepatic metabolism, its DDI liability (as viewed from changes to systemic drug concentrations) is expected to be inhibition or induction of uptake transporters but not hepatic enzymes; however, this is true only if the condition required to maintain CLsin as the RDS is maintained. Here, we illustrate through theoretical simulations that the RDS condition may be violated in the presence of a DDI. That is, the RDS of a drug can switch from CLsin to all hepatobiliary clearances [i.e., metabolic/biliary clearance (CLmet + bile) and CLsin], leading to unexpected systemic DDIs, such as metabolic DDIs, when only transporter DDIs were anticipated. As expected, these analyses revealed that the RDS switch depends on the ratio of CLmet + bile to sinusoidal efflux clearance (CLsef). Additional analyses revealed that for intravenously administered drugs, the RDS switch also depends on the magnitude of CLsin. We analyzed published in vitro quantified hepatobiliary clearances and observed that most drugs have a CLmet + bile/CLsef ratio