cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Risk factors associated with symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux

Abstract BACKGROUND: Although patients with gastroesophageal reflux are often instructed to change their lifestyle, population-based data on the risk factors for reflux in the United States are lacking. METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study in an age- and gender-stratified random sample of the population of Olmsted County, Minnesota. Residents aged 25 to 74 years were mailed a valid self-report questionnaire that measured reflux symptoms and potential risk factors. Logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for reflux symptoms (heartburn or acid regurgitation) associated with potential risk factors. RESULTS: Overall, 1,524 (72%) of 2,118 eligible subjects responded. A body mass index >30 kg/m 2 (OR = 2.8; CI, 1.7 to 4.5), reporting an immediate family member with heartburn or disease of the esophagus or stomach (OR = 2.6; CI, 1.8 to 3.7), a past history of smoking (OR = 1.6; CI, 1.1 to 2.3), consuming more than seven drinks per week (OR = 1.9; CI, 1.1 to 3.3), and a higher psychosomatic symptom checklist score (OR per 5 units=1.4; CI, 1.3 to 1.6) were independently associated with frequent (at least weekly) reflux symptoms. CONCLUSION: Obesity is a strong risk factor for gastroesophageal reflux, although the value of weight reduction remains to be proven. That family history was also a risk factor suggests that there may be a genetic component to the disorder.
Measures of Validity in Cultivar Performance Trials

The coefficient of variation (CV) has been used for many years by researchers to determine the validity of performance trials. The premise behind the CV, that the standard deviation is proportional to the mean, compromises one of the assumptions of a normal distribution (i.e., that the sample mean and sample variance are independent). If there is a nonnormal distribution, then the data may need to be transformed, which in turn may invalidate the use of the CV. A constant CV across trials implies a relationship between the error variance and the mean such that the slope = 2.0 in the regression of In error variance on In mean. The purpose of this paper is to stress the relationship between the error variance and mean in the CV, review this relationship in actual yield data, and examine the effects of various transformations on CVs and coefficient of determination (R 2 ). The In error variance regressed on In mean for several agronomic crops ranged from -0.11 for full-season corn (Zea mays L.) to 1.31 for oat (Avena sativa L.). Although some crops had a nonzero regression coefficient for this relationship, none approached 2.0, the level that supports the hypothesis that the CV is a viable tool for comparing the relative variation of different trials. Data transformations (e.g., square root, logarithmic, angular, inverse, reverse, and addition of a constant) tend to lower CV values in most cases, but can cause dramatic increases, depending on the nature of the variance and the specific transformation. On the other hand, R 2 , which is a measure of the amount of variability accounted for in the model, remains relatively unaffected by most transformations. Reasonable R 2 values for determining validity of performance trials may vary by location and crop species. Examination of North Carolina data revealed that discarded trials generally had R 2 values less than 50%. The R 2 may be affected by the size of the dataset, and so adjusted R 2 maybe more useful for comparing trials of varying sizes; however, adjusted R 2 will tend to be larger where there are larger differences among entries. There is no one perfect measure of the validity of trial data, but the R 2 and the adjusted R 1 are reasonable alternatives to the CV and should be examined along with other statistical measures when evaluating crop performance data.
Self-Organizing Radial Basis Function Network for Real-Time Approximation of Continuous-Time Dynamical Systems

Real-time approximators for continuous-time dynamical systems with many inputs are presented. These approximators employ a novel self-organizing radial basis function (RBF) network, which varies its structure dynamically to keep the prescribed approximation accuracy. The RBFs can be added or removed online in order to achieve the appropriate network complexity for the real-time approximation of the dynamical systems and to maintain the overall computational efficiency. The performance of this variable structure RBF network approximator with both Gaussian RBF (GRBF) and raised-cosine RBF (RCRBF) is analyzed. The compact support of RCRBF enables faster training and easier output evaluation of the network than that of the network with GRBF. The proposed real-time self-organizing RBF network approximator is then employed to approximate both linear and nonlinear dynamical systems to illustrate the effectiveness of our proposed approximation scheme, especially for higher order dynamical systems. The uniform ultimate boundedness of the approximation error is proved using the second method of Lyapunov.
Modulation of phospholipid base exchange enzymes in Acanthamoeba palestinensis.

Quantitative changes in amounts of the enzymes governing exchange between free- and phospholipid alcoholic amines in membranes of the soil amoeba Acantharnoeba palestinensis have been produced by manipulation of intracellular pool levels of soluble alcoholic amines. Following growth of cells in media containing 10mM choline, 10mM ethanolamine or 20mM L-serine for 24hr, intracellular pools of these bases were elevated 8-fold, 20-fold and 13-fold greater than normal, respectively. Total cell particulate activities and specific activities of all three exchange enzymes were greatly increased in the presence of elevated choline and greatly decreased in the presence of elevated serine. High ethanolamine pool levels led to increased choline and ethanolamine exchange enzyme amounts with no significant changes detectable in the amount of the serine exchange enzyme. No significant change in total cell lipid phosphorus was observed, indicating a lack of increased phospholipid synthesis. Upon analysis of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, which is one site known to contain the exchange enzymes, a somewhat different pattern than that observed in the total cell particulates emerged. This might have indicated that different changes in the exchange enzymes occurred in yet other cellular membranes where they were localized. In the rough endoplasmic reticulum the specific activities of all three exchange enzymes were greatly enhanced following choline and ethanolamine pool elevations and slightly enhanced following serine pool elevation. In addition, the lipid phosphorus to protein ratio was elevated to varying degrees in the endoplasmic reticulum isolated from the treated cells. The increases in specific activities of the exchange enzymes were positively correlated with the changes in total phospholipid content of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. In choline treated cells, but not the cells with elevated ethanolamine or serine levels, the phosphatidyl choline content was increased about 9% above control levels with corresponding decreases in phosphatidyl ethanolamine and phosphatidyl serine content The data indicate a regulatory interrelationship between soluble intracellular alcoholic amines, exchange enzymes and membrane phospholipids.
Mitigation of Oxidative Damage by Green Tea Polyphenols and Tai Chi Exercise in Postmenopausal Women with Osteopenia

Background Osteoporosis is a degenerative bone disease predominantly in postmenopausal women. Green tea polyphenols (GTP) and Tai Chi (TC) have been shown to be beneficial on human bone health. This study examined the efficacy of GTP and TC on mitigation of oxidative damage in postmenopausal women with osteopenia.
Dynamic tree embeddings in butterflies and hypercubes

This paper presents simple randomized algorithms for dynamically embedding M-node binary trees in either a butterfly or a hypercube network of N processors. These algorithms are dynamic in the sense that the tree to be embedded may start as one node and grow by dynamically spawning children. The nodes are incrementally embedded as they are spawned. Thus, the algorithm is especially suited for maintaining dynamic tree structures like those in divide-and-conquer and branch-and-bound algorithms.In the embeddings, the paper seeks to optimize the load on the processors of the network, the dilation of the tree edges, and the congestion on the network edges, in order to satisfy the demands of load balancing, process locality, and communication efficiency. The paper begins by presenting a simple level-by-level scheme for dynamically embedding trees in a butterfly network, and by successive modifications. The following results are obtained: 1. An embedding algorithm for the hypercube that achieves dilation 1 and, ...
Terahertz nonlinear optics with strained p-type quantum wells.

Valence-subband nonparabolicity is shown theoretically to lead to nonlinearities associated with terahertz third-harmonic generation in strained p-type quantum wells. For strained InAs quantum wells it is found that the corresponding value of χ3 can be as large as ∼10-12 m/V2. The predicted values of χ3 are in the range of those associated with intersubband transitions in the mid-infrared region of the spectrum.
On detecting sudden changes (failures) of biases in linear dynamic systems

The failure detection and correction method recently presented [1,2] for estimating sudden changes in biases that can be measured directly is combined with a method for estimating the bias in a dynamic system using the residuals of a bias-free estimator [3,4] to provide an effective technique for detecting and correcting changes of biases in a linear, dynamic system, The technique is illustrated by a second-order dynamic system with two biases subject to sudden change.
Pibes, Cracks and Caudillos: Argentina, the World Cup and identity politics

Scholars of Argentine futbol have explored the construction of futbol criollo and how this style of play has factored into the broader debate over national identity in Argentina. Focusing on the performance of the key Argentine personalities at the FIFA World Cup from 1958 to 1990, this essay explores how futbol represented a contested vision of the nation across five decades. After a 24-year absence at the FIFA World Cup, and in the wake of the overthrow of President Juan Peron, Argentina underachieved at the 1958 tournament. The country would later experience a number of disappointments en route to eventually winning the 1978 and 1986 World Cups. However, across this time span (and beyond) the team’s style of play and identity became the subject of intense debate. Popular discourse revealed a preference between two approaches seemingly in juxtaposition to each other. On the one hand, traditionalists favoured the criollo style, which celebrated the pibe (the young kid from the streets) and the potrero (t...
Drug induced alterations in dreaming: An exploration of the dream data terrain outside activation-synthesis

Two meta-analyses of pharmacological research are presented, demonstrating that psychoactive drugs have consistent effects on EEG and sleep outside of their effects on REM sleep, and demonstrating that drugs other than those affecting sleep neurotransmitter systems and REM sleep can also alter reported nightmare occurrence. These data suggest that the neurobiology data terrain outside activation-synthesis may include sleep and dream electrophysiology, cognitive reports of dreaming, effects of alterations in consciousness on dreaming, immunology and host defense, and clinical therapies for sleep disorders.
TeleHomecare: A Payor's Perspective

E Budget Act (BBA) of 1997 to control costs of health care in all environments have focused attention on TeleHomecare programs. TeleHomecare as defined in this article is the use of remote interactive technologies to provide home health care services at remote locations. A physician, nurse, therapist, social worker, or other member of the home health multidisciplinary team can “beam up” their patients over a variety of telecommunications connections, including an ordinary telephone line. The home health provider can accomplish the assessment, intervention, follow-up care, and/or care planning without the patient or provider traveling. As long as hands-on care is not required, TeleHomecare has the potential to provide a practical solution to a growing problem, which is limited resources. The number of home care visits increased from 70 million in 1990 to 306 million in 1997, and the cost of Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil 1999;5(3):66–69 © 1999 Thomas Land Publishers, Inc. SCALATING DEMANDS for access to quality home health care and the mandate from the Balanced providing hospice home care increased from $112 million in 1987 to $2.1 billion in 1997. The current nursing shortage has no end in sight, so most newspapers, health-related journals, and the Internet offer previously unheard of incentives to entice home health care nurses. Projections indicate that within the next 15 years one out of every four people will be over 65 years old. This age group is the largest consumer of home health care services. “Each year the US spends over $1.5 trillion on healthcare; the Federal Medicare program alone treats 38 million senior citizens at an annual cost of $200 billion....” The number of referrals to home health agencies (HHAs) is expected to continue to sky-
Isobaric-Spin Mixing in Be 8 States

The ${\mathrm{Li}}^{7}({\mathrm{He}}^{3}, d){\mathrm{Be}}^{8}$ reaction has been studied using a magnetic spectrometer in order to obtain precise values for the widths of the isobaric-spin-mixed states at 16.6 and 16.9 MeV in ${\mathrm{Be}}^{8}$. The results are $\ensuremath{\Gamma}(16.6)=113\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3$ keV and $\ensuremath{\Gamma}(16.9)=77\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}3$ keV. These values specify the isobaric-spin amplitudes of the wave functions for these states and show that, while the mixing is not complete, it is quite substantial. This mixing gives rise to interference effects that are manifest in such reactions as ${\mathrm{B}}^{10}(d, \ensuremath{\alpha}){\mathrm{Be}}^{8}$. It is pointed out that attempts to infer a cross-section ratio $\frac{\ensuremath{\sigma}(16.6)}{\ensuremath{\sigma}(16.9)}$ from such a reaction by taking the areas under the peaks in an experimental energy spectrum can be seriously in error if the interference effects are neglected. The excitation energies for the states were found to be 16.627\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.005 MeV and 16.901\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.005 MeV.
The role of management control systems in creating competitive advantage: New perspectives

For the last two decades, management control systems have been conceputalized in terms of implementing a firm’s strategy. This view fails to recognize, however, the power of management control systems in the strategy formulation process. Based on a 2 year field study, a new model is presented to show how interactive management control systems focus organizational attention on strategic uncertainties. This process is examined in two competing firms to illustrate how top managers use formal systems to guide the emergence of new strategies and ensure continuing competitive advantage.
Binary phase digital reflection holograms - Fabrication and potential applications

A novel technique for the fabrication of binary-phase computer-generated reflection holograms is described. By use of integrated circuit technology, the holographic pattern is etched into a silicon wafer and then aluminum coated to make a reflection hologram. Because these holograms reflect virtually all the incident radiation, they may find application in machining with high-power lasers. A number of possible modifications of the hologram fabrication procedure are discussed.
Recovery of viscerosensory innervation from the dorsal root ganglia of the adult rat following capsaicin-induced injury.

Capsaicin is a neurotoxin selective for C- and Aδ-type neurons. Systemic treatment with capsaicin is known to reduce this subpopulation in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of neonatal rats. To better understand the effects of capsaicin on adult afferent fibers, we examined DRG neurons retrogradely labeled by an i.p. injection of Fast Blue (FB) administered 3, 30, or 60 days after systemic capsaicin treatment (125 mg/kg i.p.). FB labeling in the 12th and 13th thoracic DRG was dramatically reduced 3 and 30 days post capsaicin (50% and 35% of control, respectively). However, the number of retrogradely labeled neurons rose to 65% of control by 60 days post capsaicin. In addition to FB labeling, we quantified the immunoreactivity of NR1, the obligatory N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit, and Nav1.8, a DRG-specific sodium channel, in FB-labeled neurons as well as mRNA levels for both proteins in the 5th and 6th lumbar DRG. NR1 immunoreactivity and mRNA expression followed a pattern of early reduction and subsequent partial restoration similar to FB labeling. Nav1.8 immunoreactivity and mRNA expression dropped to approximately 50% of control at 3 days post capsaicin but completely recovered by 60 days. These data strongly support the conclusion that restoration of spinal afferent projections and signaling occurs in adult rats following capsaicin-induced damage. J. Comp. Neurol. 518:3529–3540, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Optically detected magnetic resonance (ODMR) study of poly(3-hexylthiophenacetylene (P3HTA) films

Abstract The photoluminescence (PL) and X-band ODMR of poly(3-hexylthiopheneacetylene) (P3HTA) films is descried and discussed. As in poly(3-alkylthiophenes) (P3ATs), poly(p-phenylenevinylenes) (PPVs), poly( p -phenyleneacetylenes) (PPAs), and their derivatives, three PL-enhancing ODMR features are observed. The strongest is a narrow assymetric ( Δ H 1 2 t 14 G ) line which is the sum of a broad Gaussian at g ≈ 2.0032 ± 0.0007 and a narrow Gaussian at g ≈ 2.0022 ± 0.0007. This asymmetry is slightly weaker than that found in P3ATs, but much stronger than in PPVs and PPAs. Since the resonance is attributed to polaron-polaron fusion into nongeminate singlet excitons, the lineshape thus indicates that P3HTA is more charge conjugation symmetric than P3ATs but less than PPVs and PPAs. The other two features are a broad full-field and a narrower half-field triplet powder pattern, attributed singlet exciton generation via triplet-triplet exciton fusion. However, while the half-field resonance of P3ATs, PPVs, and PPAs displays a single line, that of P3HTA is clearly resolved into two peaks. The nature of these observations is discussed in relation to disorder effects.
TRANSLATING ROYALTY: Henrietta Maria and the transition from princess to queen

(2000). TRANSLATING ROYALTY: Henrietta Maria and the transition from princess to queen. The Court Historian: Vol. 5, No. 1, pp. 15-28.
Cognitive correlates of HVOT performance differ between individuals with mild cognitive impairment and normal controls

Objective To clinically characterize performance on the Hooper Visual Organization Test (HVOT) among participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and to identify naming and executive functioning correlates associated with HVOT performance among MCI participants and normal controls (NC).
Magnetosheath lion roars

The characteristics of lion roars, which are intense packets of electromagnetic waves characteristically found in the magnetosheath, are studied. The average frequency of the emissions is 120 Hz, with over 90% occurring between 90 and 160 Hz (which is near one-half the local electron gyrofrequency); over 70% of all emissions last a mere 2 sec or less; the maximum amplitude of lion roars has an average value of 85 milligamma, over 80% being between 40 and 160 milligamma. Occurrence of lion roars is related to the level of geomagnetic activity, measured by Kp. The probability of occurrence ranges from 10% during magnetically quiet intervals to 75% during disturbed periods. Polarization and wave normal direction of lion roars, determined by variance analysis of triaxial wave forms, are righ-handed circularly polarized, with propagation essentially along the ambient magnetic field.
Spatial variation and prediction of forest biomass in a heterogeneous landscape

Large areas assessments of forest biomass distribution are a challenge in heterogeneous landscapes, where variations in tree growth and species composition occur over short distances. In this study, we use statistical and geospatial modeling on densely sampled forest biomass data to analyze the relative importance of ecological and physiographic variables as determinants of spatial variation of forest biomass in the environmentally heterogeneous region of the Big Sur, California. We estimated biomass in 280 forest plots (one plot per 2.85 km2) and measured an array of ecological (vegetation community type, distance to edge, amount of surrounding non-forest vegetation, soil properties, fire history) and physiographic drivers (elevation, potential soil moisture and solar radiation, proximity to the coast) of tree growth at each plot location. Our geostatistical analyses revealed that biomass distribution is spatially structured and autocorrelated up to 3.1 km. Regression tree (RT) models showed that both physiographic and ecological factors influenced biomass distribution. Across randomly selected sample densities (sample size 112 to 280), ecological effects of vegetation community type and distance to forest edge, and physiographic effects of elevation, potential soil moisture and solar radiation were the most consistent predictors of biomass. Topographic moisture index and potential solar radiation had a positive effect on biomass, indicating the importance of topographicallymediated energy and moisture on plant growth and biomass accumulation. RT model explained 35% of the variation in biomass and spatially autocorrelated variation were retained in regession residuals. Regression kriging model, developed from RT combined with kriging of regression residuals, was used to map biomass across the Big Sur. This study demonstrates how statistical and geospatial modeling can be used to discriminate the relative importance of physiographic and ecologic effects on forest biomass and develop spatial models to predict and map biomass distribution across a heterogeneous landscape.
A mouse model of tuberculosis reinfection

Recent clinical observations shows that individuals treated with chemotherapy for tuberculosis who live in endemic areas are four times more likely to develop secondary disease, often as not caused by exogenous reinfection. In a mouse model described here, we show that mice infected with the virulent W-Beijing Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain HN878, then given chemotherapy to clear the infection, were resistant to re-challenge with the same organism thereafter. This resistance, which was mediated by rapid expression of CD4 T cells expressing markers consistent with both central and effector memory immunity, was only transient however. After 20-30 days of the reinfection the numbers of these cells steadily declined, the bacterial load in the lungs surged up, and the lung tissues became increasingly consolidated. No evidence was found for a regulatory T cell response in these mice, but many T cells harvested from the lungs showed evidence of increased PD-1 expression, indicating exhaustion. These data indicate that the memory T cell response to reinfection may not be as stable and long lived as previously thought, a finding with obvious implications for vaccine development.
The antibody approach of labeling blood cells

Although the science of blood cell labeling using monoclonal antibodies directed against specific cellular antigens is still in its early stages, considerable progress has recently been accomplished in this area. The monoclonal antibody approach offers the promise of greater selectivity and enhanced convenience since specific cell types can be labeled in vivo, thus eliminating the need for complex and damaging cell separation procedures. This article focuses on these developments with primary emphasis on antibody labeling of platelets and leukocytes. The advantages and the shortcomings of the recently reported techniques are critically assessed and evaluated.
Evidence for the Role of Camkinase II and Synapsin I in the Restoration of Neurotransmission in Botulinum Neurotoxin a Intoxicated Nerve Terminals

At the active zones in the nerve terminals, presynaptic Ca2+ is recognized as an important second messenger that regulates neurotransmission. However, the precise role of Ca2+ in the regulation of exocytosis still remains to be elusive. Synapsin I (SYN1) is a member of the synapsin family (SYN1/2/3) of synaptic vesicle phosphoproteins that is phosphorylated by Ca2+/calmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) at the Serine 603. At the motor nerve terminals (MNT), SYN I regulates synaptic transmission and the depolarization signal mediated rise in Ca2+ influx stimulates CaMKII dependent phosphorylation of SYN1. Botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) selectively proteolyzes SNAP-25 to inhibit acetylcholine (ACh) release and causes life-threatening neuroparalysis. In our efforts to develop therapeutic strategies to counteract BoNT/A at its primary site of action, the MNT, we discovered that mouse MNT express transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) channel protein and that capsaicin (TRPV1 agonist) antagonized the neuroparalytic effects of BoNT/A. Capsaicin, when injected post BoNT/A exposure, significantly accelerated recovery from neuroparalysis by restoring ACh release and muscle functions. Capsaicin treatment also decreased the total duration of paralysis by 50% and synergistically increased the effects of 3,4 diaminopyridine (blocks K+ channels and prolongs action potential) on ACh release measured by stimulus evoked twitch tension in BoNT/A poisoned nerve muscle preparations. Further, BoNT/A treatment, in vitro, decreased the expression of CaMKII and SYN1 and the phosphorylation of SYN1 in cholinergic Neuro 2a cells. Capsaicin treatment, post BoNT/A, reversed this. We hypothesize that at the MNT, capsaicin stimulated Ca2+ influx via TRPV1 triggers exocytosis by facilitating synaptic transmission via CaMKII mediated phosphorylation of SYN1.
CREATING SINGLE‐SUBJECT DESIGN GRAPHS WITH MICROSOFT EXCEL™

Because single-subject design methodology is the cornerstone of behavior-analytic research, behavior analysts are often engaged in the practice of graph production. There are a variety of computer software packages on the market that can be used to create graphs; however, not all of them are suitable for producing single-subject design line graphs. Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows 95/NT and MacOS operating systems contains a variety of features that are conducive to producing reversal, multiple baseline, and multielement graphs (among others) that conform to many of the technical recommendations for publication in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis. We present detailed instructions on creating these graphs using Microsoft Excel.
Efficient evolution of ART neural networks

Genetic algorithms have been used to evolve several neural network architectures. In a previous effort, we introduced the evolution of three well known ART architects; Fuzzy ARTMAP (FAM), Ellipsoidal ARTMAP (EAM) and Gaussian ARTMAP (GAM). The resulting architectures were shown to achieve competitive generalization and exceptionally small size. A major concern regarding these architectures, and any evolved neural network architecture in general, is the added overhead in terms of computational time needed to produce the finally evolved network. In this paper we investigate ways of reducing this computational overhead by reducing the computations needed for the calculation of the fitness value of the evolved ART architectures. The results obtained in this paper can be directly extended to many other evolutionary neural network architectures, beyond the studied evolution of ART neural network architectures.
EXTENDED MISSION SYSTEMS INTEGRATION STANDARDS FOR THE HUMAN- ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN-HUMAN INTERFACES

Needed is an analytical human factors evaluation framework or tool that would provide empirical metrics for the design of habitable environments and for the optimal functioning of the human crews who must live and work in such environments. Standards that result from this effort could be merged with the database products related to the Man-Systems Integration Standards (MSIS) ∗ managed at NASA-JSC.
Iago attacks: why the system call API is a bad untrusted RPC interface

In recent years, researchers have proposed systems for running trusted code on an untrusted operating system. Protection mechanisms deployed by such systems keep a malicious kernel from directly manipulating a trusted application's state. Under such systems, the application and kernel are, conceptually, peers, and the system call API defines an RPC interface between them.We introduce Iago attacks, attacks that a malicious kernel can mount in this model. We show how a carefully chosen sequence of integer return values to Linux system calls can lead a supposedly protected process to act against its interests, and even to undertake arbitrary computation at the malicious kernel's behest.Iago attacks are evidence that protecting applications from malicious kernels is more difficult than previously realized.
Transparent motion perception as detection of unbalanced motion signals. III. Modeling

In the preceding two companion articles we studied the conditions under which transparent motion perception occurs through psychophysical experiments, and investigated the underlining neural mechanisms through physiological recordings. The main finding of our perceptual experiments was that whenever a display has finely balanced motion signals in all local areas, it is perceptually nontransparent, and that transparent displays always contain motion signals in different directions that are either spatially unbalanced, or unbalanced in their disparity or spatial frequency contents. In the physiological experiments, we found two stages in the processing of transparent stimuli. The first stage is located primarily in area V1. At this stage motion measurements are made and V1 cells respond well to both the balanced, nontransparent stimuli and the unbalanced, perceptually transparent stimuli. The second stage is located primarily in area MT. MT cells show strong suppression between opposite directions of motion. The suppression for the unbalanced, transparent stimuli is significantly less than that for the balanced, nontransparent stimuli. Therefore, the activity in the second, MT stage correlates better with the perception of motion transparency than the first, V1 stage, which does not distinguish reliably between transparent and nontransparent motion. The above experiments suggest a two-stage model of motion perception with a motion measurement stage in V1 and an opponent-direction suppression stage in area MT. In this article we explicitly test this model through analysis and computer simulations, and compare the response of the model to the perceptual and physiological results using the same balanced and unbalanced stimuli we used in the experiments. In the first stage of the computational model, motion energies in different spatial frequency and disparity ranges are extracted from each local region. Similar to V1, this stage does not distinguish between the balanced and unbalanced stimuli. In the subsequent stage motion energies of opposite directions but with same spatial frequency and disparity contents suppress each other using subtractive or divisive inhibition. This stage responds significantly better to the transparent stimuli than to the nontransparent ones, in agreement with MT activity.
The Role of Pea Chloroplast [alpha]-Glucosidase in Transitory Starch Degradation

Pea chloroplastic [alpha]-glucosidase (EC 3.2.1.20) involved in transitory starch degradation was purified to apparent homogeneity by ion exchange, reactive dye, hydroxylapatite, hydrophobic interaction, and gel filtration column chromatography. The native molecular mass and the subunit molecular mass were about 49.1 and 24.4 kD, respectively, suggesting that the enzyme is a homodimer. The enzyme had a Km of 7.18 mM for maltose. The enzyme's maximal activity at pH 7.0 and stability at pH 6.5 are compatible with the diurnal oscillations of the chloroplastic stromal pH and transitory starch accumulation. This pH modulation of the [alpha]-glucosidase's activity and stability is the only mechanism known to regulate starch degradative enzymes in leaves. Although the enzyme was specific for the [alpha]-D-glucose in the nonreducing end as the glycon, the aglycon moieties could be composed of a variety of groups. However, the hydrolysis rate was greatly influenced by the aglycon residues. Also, the enzyme could hydrolyze glucans in which carbon 1 of the glycon was linked to different carbon positions of the penultimate glucose residue. The ability of the [alpha]-glucosidase to hydrolyze [alpha]-1,2- and [alpha]-1,3-glucosidic bonds may be vital if these bonds exist in starch granules because they would be barriers to other starch degradative enzymes. This purified pea chloroplastic [alpha]-glucosidase was demonstrated to initiate attacks on native transitory chloroplastic starch granules.
Embracing the impossible profession.

In a foreword to August Aichhorn’s book, Wayward Youth (1925), Freud characterized psychoanalysis as an “impossible profession,” a bon mot popularized by Janet Malcolm (1983) in a book of the same name. Malcolm glamorized Freudian orthodoxy (and slammed its critics) in ways that do her no credit, but the phrase itself is apt in more ways than one. Psychoanalysis is an “impossible” profession from several points of view. To begin with, there is constant debate between the natural science–based and hermeneutic and/or humanistic versions of psychoanalysis. Though it was not apparent at the outset, perhaps, this tension is now integral to, if not in some sense constitutive of the whole Freudian field, with the result that its epistemic foundations are shaky, if not downright suspect—and not only to outsiders, either. Another feature of the analytic field that causes interminable debate concerns the therapeutic, rather than the theoretical side of things. Leaving issues of “technique” to one side, what are the actual goals of analytic therapy? After all, technique is merely a means to an end, and unless we are clear on the ultimate objective that informs a specific procedure, we may waste our ingenuity splitting hairs, losing the proverbial forest for the trees. Though seldom addressed by practitioners, at least to my knowledge, there is a profound tension between what I term the “philosophic” and the “instrumental” (or pragmatic) versions of psychoanalytic therapy. The philosophic view stresses the “disillusioning” function of the analytic dialogue. According to this view, only when the person relinquishes his (or her) most cherished illusions is deeper self-knowledge possible. Self-knowledge, by this account, is valuable for its own sake, irrespective of the
Age-related regional brain T2-relaxation changes in healthy adults.

Purpose: To determine normal T2-relaxation values from different brain areas in healthy adults, assess age-related T2-relaxation changes in those sites, and evaluate potential gender-related T2-relaxation value differences. Materials and Methods: We performed proton-density and T2-weighted imaging in 60 healthy adults (male: 38, age range = 31–64 years, mean age ± SD = 46.1 ± 9.3 years; female: 22, age range = 37–66 years, mean age ± SD = 49.5 ± 8.3 years), using a 3.0 Tesla MRI scanner. T2-relaxation values were calculated voxel-by-voxel from proton-density and T2-weighted images, and whole-brain T2-relaxation maps were constructed and normalized to a common space. A set of regions-of-interest were outlined within the basal ganglia, limbic, frontal, parietal, temporal, occipital, thalamic, hypothalamic, cerebellar, and pontine regions using mean background images derived from normalized and averaged T2-weighted images of all individuals, and regional T2-relaxation values were determined from these regions-of-interest and normalized T2-relaxation maps. Pearson's correlations were calculated between T2-relaxation values and age, and male–female differences evaluated with independent-samples t-tests. Results: T2-relaxation values typically increased with age in multiple brain sites; only a few regions showed declines, including the putamen and ventral pons. Sex-related differences in T2-relaxation values appeared in basal ganglia, frontal, temporal, occipital, and cerebellar regions; males showed higher values over females in these sites. Conclusion: Establishment of normative adult T2-relaxation values over different brain areas, with age and sex as co-factors, offers baseline values against which disease-related tissue changes can be assessed. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;300-308. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
What is Cone-Beam CT and How Does it Work?

This article on x-ray cone-beam CT (CBCT) acquisition provides an overview of the fundamental principles of operation of this technology and the influence of geometric and software parameters on image quality and patient radiation dose. Advantages of the CBCT system and a summary of the uses and limitations of the images produced are discussed. All current generations of CBCT systems provide useful diagnostic images. Future enhancements most likely will be directed toward reducing scan time; providing multimodal imaging; improving image fidelity, including soft tissue contrast; and incorporating task-specific protocols to minimize patient dose.
Limited Occurrence of Denitrification in Four Shallow Aquifers in Agricultural Areas of the United States

The ability of natural attenuation to mitigate agricultural nitrate contamination in recharging aquifers was investigated in four important agricultural settings in the United States. The study used laboratory analyses, field measurements, and flow and transport modeling for monitoring well transects (0.5 to 2.5 km in length) in the San Joaquin watershed, California, the Elkhorn watershed, Nebraska, the Yakima watershed, Washington, and the Chester watershed, Maryland. Ground water analyses included major ion chemistry, dissolved gases, nitrogen and oxygen stable isotopes, and estimates of recharge date. Sediment analyses included potential electron donors and stable nitrogen and carbon isotopes. Within each site and among aquifer-based medians, dissolved oxygen decreases with ground water age, and excess N(2) from denitrification increases with age. Stable isotopes and excess N(2) imply minimal denitrifying activity at the Maryland and Washington sites, partial denitrification at the California site, and total denitrification across portions of the Nebraska site. At all sites, recharging electron donor concentrations are not sufficient to account for the losses of dissolved oxygen and nitrate, implying that relict, solid phase electron donors drive redox reactions. Zero-order rates of denitrification range from 0 to 0.14 micromol N L(-1)d(-1), comparable to observations of other studies using the same methods. Many values reported in the literature are, however, orders of magnitude higher, which is attributed to a combination of method limitations and bias for selection of sites with rapid denitrification. In the shallow aquifers below these agricultural fields, denitrification is limited in extent and will require residence times of decades or longer to mitigate modern nitrate contamination.
Stormwater Treatment Performance of a Permeable Pavement- Biofiltration System and a Stand-alone Biofiltration Unit in North Carolina

A BioPave® treatment train was retrofitted in an existing parking lot in Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA. The BioPave® treatment train comprises of a permeable pavement and Filterra® devices in series. Additionally, a stand-alone Filterra® biofiltration device was installed on the same site to evaluate its performance at treating pollutants of concern in North Carolina and elsewhere. The purpose of this study is to gain insight into the water quality treatment capabilities of a PICP—flow-through filter treatment train and to evaluate the standalone device’s hydrologic and water quality performance. Automated, flowproportional water quality samplers were installed to collect samples at multiple locations at each SCM. It was seen that the Filterra® standalone device had sediment concentration reductions above 95% for both TSS and SSC. For nutrients, the Filterra reduced the percent total phosphorus and total nitrogen concentrations by a median of 62 and 33%, respectively. Overall the system treated the one-inch design storm before significant overflow occurred, and showed a similar watershed characteristics to pre-developed conditions. The BioPave TM system removed sediment, nitrogen, and phosphorus well despite having some moderate to severe clogging issues throughout the study, resulting in load reductions of 69, 84, and 72% by mass for nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment, primarily through the mechanism of infiltration into the sandy loam underlying soils beneath the pavers.
Synergistic interactions between midazolam and alfentanil in isolated neonatal rat spinal cord.

Benzodiazepines, which may themselves have analgesic properties, display complex interactions with opioids. This study was designed to investigate the effects of midazolam on nociceptive neurotransmission in isolated neonatal rat spinal cord, and the interactions between midazolam and alfentanil. Slow ventral root potentials (sVRP) were recorded from a lumbar root of spinal cords isolated from 1-7-day-old rats and superfused at 27-28 degrees C. Midazolam (35 nmol litre-1 to 15 mumol litre-1) significantly (P
Losing Face on Social Media: Threats to Positive Face Lead to an Indirect Effect on Retaliatory Aggression Through Negative Affect

A three-condition (rejection, criticism, control) single-factor experiment (N = 78) reveals that even relatively minor face-threatening acts of rejection or criticism on a social-networking site similar to Facebook lead to increases in self-reported negative affect and retaliatory aggression, compared with a control. A mediation model demonstrates that face-threatening acts lead to direct effects on negative affect and an indirect affect on retaliatory aggression through negative affect. Findings are discussed in relations to face theory and politeness theory.
On the compromise between retroactivity attenuation and noise amplification in gene regulatory networks

A bio-molecular system can be rendered insensitive to impedance-like effects, called retroactivity, at its downstream interconnections by implementing a large input amplification gain in a negative feedback loop. This type of design, however, relying on large amplifications, may have undesired effects on the internal noise of the system. We investigate this problem on a simple transcriptional component connected to downstream load by performing a stochastic analysis based on the Ω-expansion. While high gains increase the signal-to-noise ratio of the species in the upstream system and attenuate retroactivity, they also contribute to a shift toward high frequency of the internal noise of the system. We mathematically study this compromise by employing the Langevin equation and by analyzing the noise-to-state transfer function of the linearized system.
Willingness to provide behavioral health recommendations: a cross-sectional study of entering medical students

Behavioral factors contribute importantly to morbidity and mortality, and physicians are trusted sources for information on reducing associated risks. Unfortunately, many clinical encounters do not include prevention counseling, and medical school curriculum plays an important role in training and promoting such counseling among medical students. We surveyed all 93 freshman medical students at entry to the University of California, Davis School of Medicine in 2009 to evaluate baseline knowledge of population health principles and examine their approach to clinical situations involving four common behavioral risk factors illustrated in brief clinical vignettes: smoking, alcohol use in a patient with indications of alcoholism, diet and exercise in an overweight sedentary patient, and a 16-year-old contemplating initiation of sexual intercourse. Based on vignette responses, we assessed willingness to (1) provide information on risks, (2) recommend elimination of the behavior as the most efficacious means for reducing risk, (3) include strategies apart from elimination of the behavior for lowering risk (i.e., harm reduction), and (4) assure of their intention to continue care whether or not recommendations are accepted. Students answered correctly 71.4 % (median; interquartile range 66.7 % - 85.7 %) of clinical prevention and population health knowledge questions; men scored higher than women (median 83.3 % vs. 66.7 %, p<0.02). Students showed high willingness to provide information and strategies for harm reduction apart from risk elimination, while respecting patient autonomy. Willingness to recommend elimination of high-risk behaviors “always or nearly always” was high for smoking (78.5 %), alcohol consumption in a patient with indications of alcoholism (64.5 %), and diet and exercise in a sedentary and overweight individual (87.1 %), and low for the 16-year-old considering initiating sexual intercourse (28.0 %; Friedman test, p<0.001). Willingness was not associated with the respondent’s background knowledge of population health principles or gender. Students showed high willingness to educate and respect patient autonomy. There was high willingness to recommend elimination of risk behaviors for smoking, alcohol, and poor diet/exercise, but not for sexual intercourse in an adolescent considering sexual debut. Further research should address promoting appropriate science-based preventive health messages, and curriculum should include explicit discussion of content of recommendations.
Efficacy of three eight-week lifestyle interventions on weight loss and cardiovascular disease risk factors in obese adults

There is little consensus on the most effective approach to promote weight loss and weight maintenance. Guided weight loss programs utilizing motivational interviewing (MI) have shown positive results for weight loss but they can be time consuming and expensive. New self-monitoring devices such as the SenseWear Pro mini-fly Armband (SWA) may provide alternative approaches for facilitated weight loss. The primary purpose of this study was to determine the relative effectiveness of a guided weight loss program (Bon), the SWA monitor with associated weight management system (SWA), or a combination of both strategies (Bon + SWA) on weight loss and clinical risk factor change. Seventy-eight obese adults (31 male and 47 female) were enrolled in the study and randomized to one of the three conditions. The 8-week intervention consisted of either weekly health coach meetings in conjunction with a behavior change curriculum (BonSante), utilization of the SWA monitor with minimal health coaching, or a combination of weekly meetings and SWA. Changes in weight and clinical risk factors (blood pressure, fasting glucose, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglyceride concentrations) were assessed using multivariate ANOVAs. Results indicate that there was a significant weight reduction seen in all three conditions (-4.21 + 3.08 kg; p< 0.0001); however, there was no significant difference across conditions. There were general tendencies for larger effects in the group that received the combination of programs. Secondary analyses revealed that change in risk factors were proportional to the degree of weight loss (r=0.40); however, there was evidence that some risk factor change may occur independently of weight loss.