cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimization of the pulsed electron avalanche knife for anterior segment surgery

Precise and tractionless tools are needed for cutting and ablation of ocular tissue in such operations as vitreoretinal surgery, capsulotomy, non-penetrating trabeculectomy and many others. Previously we reported about the Pulsed Electron Avalanche Knife capable of tractionless dissection of soft tissue in liquid media using the 100 ns-long plasma-mediated electric discharges applied via a 25 um inlaid disk electrode. In this work we present a next step in the development of this technique, which dramatically improves its precision, the cutting rate and the scope of applicability. (1) Due to spherical geometry of the discharge with the disk-like microelectrode the width of the cut was equal to its depth. To overcome this limitation we apply now a thin cylindrical electrode where the width and the depth of the cut are controlled independently. (2) Cavitation accompanying the sub-microsecond explosive evaporation was a major limiting factor in precision of this technique. In a new modality we apply bursts of pulses, which allow for much higher energy deposition without increase in the size of the transient vapor cavity. (3) Coagulation regime for blood vessels larger than 25 microns in diameter was not possible in the initial approach. It is now available due to extension of the electrode in one dimension. (4) Increase in pulse duration up to several tens of microseconds allows for reduction in voltage and, consequently, in width of the insulator. This, in turn, enables development of the ultra-thin electrodes that can be applied via an intraocular endoscope or 25 G needles. The new device was found capable of rapidly and precisely dissecting virtually all types of ocular tissue: from soft membranes to cornea and sclera. In addition to vitreoretinal surgery it applications can now expand into anterior chamber surgery including capsulotomy and trabeculectomy.
Management of a Population of the Federally Endangered Xyris tennesseensis (Tennessee Yellow-Eyed Grass)

ABSTRACT A 3-yr study was conducted to determine effects from cutting shrubs that were shading a population of Xyris tennesseensis Kral inhabiting a calcareous seepage fen of the Ridge and Valley Ecoregion. Shrubs were cut to ground level on small plots and Xyris flowering, ramet numbers (a ramet is defined as a leaf-producing stem) and seedling numbers were monitored during three post-treatment seasons. Floral visitation was also documented to determine if shrub cutting increased the likelihood of floral visits by insects that might pollinate flowers. In addition, the seed bank of the site was described and quantified. Shrub cutting significantly increased flowering of Xyris on the site, but only for the first two seasons: by the third season flowering declined, likely caused by competition from other herbaceous species responding to the increased light levels. Shrub cutting also significantly increased seedling production, but no significant increase in the number of Xyris ramets was found. Floral visit...
Zirconium-Mediated Metathesis of Imines: A Study of the Scope, Longevity, and Mechanism of a Complicated Catalytic System

By kinetically stabilizing imidozirconocene complexes through the use of a sterically demanding ligand, or by generating a more thermodynamically stable resting state with addition of diphenylacetylene, we have developed transition metal-catalyzed imine metathesis reactions that are mechanistically analogous to olefin metathesis reactions catalyzed by metal carbene complexes. When 5 mol % of Cp*Cp(THF)ZrNtBu is used as the catalyst precursor in the metathesis reaction between PhCHNPh and p-TolCHN-p-Tol, a 1:1:1:1 equilibrium mixture with the two mixed imines p-TolCHNPh and PhCHN-p-Tol is generated in C6D6 at 105 °C. The catalyst was still active after 20 days with an estimated 847 turnovers (t1/2 170 m; TON = 1.77 h-1). When the azametallacyclobutene Cp2Zr(N(Tol)C(Ph)C(Ph)) is used as the catalyst precursor under similar reaction conditions, a total of 410 turnovers are obtained after 4 days (t1/2 170 m; TON = 4.3 h-1). An extensive kinetic and equilibrium analysis of the metallacyclobutene-catalyzed meta...
Influence of oil and gas emissions on ambient atmospheric non-methane hydrocarbons in residential areas of Northeastern Colorado

The Northern Front Range (NFR) region of Colorado has experienced rapid expansion of oil and gas extraction from shale and tight sands reservoirs in recent years due to advances in hydraulic fracturing technology, with over 25,000 wells currently in operation. This region has also been designated as a federal ozone non-attainment area by the U.S. EPA. High ozone levels are a significant health concern, as are potential health impacts from chronic exposure to primary emissions of non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) for residents living near wells. From measurements of ambient atmospheric NMHC present in residential areas located in close proximity to wells in Erie, Colorado, we find that mean mole fractions of the C2–C5 alkanes are enhanced by a factor of 18–77 relative to the regional background, and present at higher levels than typically found in large urban centers. When combined with NMHC observations from downtown Denver and Platteville, it is apparent that these compounds are elevated across the NFR, with highest levels within the Greater Wattenberg Gas Field. This represents a large area source for ozone precursors in the NFR. The BTEX aromatic compounds in Erie were comparable to (e.g., benzene) or lower than (e.g., toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene) in large urban centers, however, benzene was significantly higher in Platteville, and within the range of chronic health-based exposure levels. An initial look at comparisons with data sets from previous years reveal that ambient levels for oil and gas-related NMHC in Erie, as well as further downwind in Boulder, have not decreased, but appear to have been increasing, despite tightening of emissions standards for the oil and gas industries in 2008.
Distribution and morphology of nociceptive cells in the CNS of three species of leeches

The present study describes the segmental variation in the distribution and morphology of nociceptive neurons (N cells) in the central nervous system of the leech. N cells of midbody ganglia can be segregated into lateral and medial types. We show that monoclonal antibodies specific for N cells can distinguish between the two populations. The monoclonal antibodies were used to map the complete distribution of the cells along the nervous cord. There are two pairs of medial and lateral nociceptive neurons in the midbody ganglia, one pair of the medial type in the sex ganglia (5 and 6), and a pair of the lateral type in ganglia 20 and 21. The caudal brain is without nociceptive neurons. This distribution was confirmed by electrophysiological means. The morphology of N cells in different parts of the nervous system was investigated by intracellular horseradish peroxidase (HRP) injections. In the terminal segmental ganglia the N cells showed extensive arborizations in the head and tail brains and, contrary to N cells in the midbody ganglia, their arborizations spanned more than three segments. N cells are absent in the tail brain, but the N cells of ganglia 20 and 21 were shown to innervate the entire caudal region. The basic morphology of all N-cell homologues was found to be very similar for three leech species. In the sex ganglia the pair of N-cell homologues were examined in Haemopis, Hirudo, and Macrobdella. The results showed a progressive modification in the three species of the cell's morphology, peripheral projections, and physiological responses, possibly correlated with the evolution and complexity of the sexual organs. HRP injections and monoclonal antibody staining revealed that a common feature of N-cell homologues is the presence of processes that tightly surround the cell soma of other cells. This suggests that N cells may have other functional properties in addition to being primary sensory neurons.
Multielement X-ray excitation probe for the measurement of spatial distributions of energetic ions, atoms, and molecules

Abstract The multielement X-ray excitation probe is a new device used to measure spatial distributions of energetic particle fields such as ions, atoms, and molecules using the energies of the characteristic lines of X-ray spectra to determine the location of the point of measurement, and the intensity of the spectral lines to determine the particle flux. The probe, consisting of several thin wires of different metals, is placed in the field of particles which interact with the targets causing the emission of characteristic X-rays. Prototype probes based on this scheme were used to measure the beam profile of the University of Florida Van de Graaff accelerator. Spatial resolutions of approximately 10 μm and sensitivities of the order of 105 protons per square millimeter per second were obtained.
Dietary Calcium and Phosphorus Effects on Broiler Performance and the Incidence of Sudden Death Syndrome Mortality

Three experiments were conducted with broiler chickens to determine the effect of dietary Ca and P on growth, feed conversion, bone ash, and the incidence of sudden death syndrome (SDS) mortality. Trial 1 tested three rations [100% NRC (1984) Ca and P; 140% NRC Ca and P; and 140% NRC Ca and P to 3 wk and 100% NRC from 4 to 7 wk] in Ross x Ross males to 7 wk of age. Dietary Ca and P had no effect on body weight, feed conversion, bone ash, or leg problems, but SDS mortality was significantly higher in the two groups fed 140% Ca and P for 3 or 7 wk (2.83 and 3.33% SDS mortality, respectively). Trial 2 tested three diets (85% NRC Ca and P, 100% NRC Ca and P, and 140% NRC Ca and P) in mixed sex Arbor Acres x Peterson chicks to 7 wk of age. The lower level of Ca and P (85% NRC) significantly improved feed conversion (7 wk) and decreased bone ash only at 3 wk and serum Ca (7 wk). There was no effect of diet on SDS in this trial. Trial 3 tested two diets (85% NRC Ca and P or 100% NRC Ca and 85% NRC P) in Ross x Ross males to 9 wk of age. Six-week body weight was significantly reduced in the 85% NRC Ca and P diet but body weight was equal by 9 wk of age. No effects were observed for feed conversion, leg disorders, bone ash, or serum Ca. The SDS mortality was significantly increased in the chicks fed the 100% NRC Ca and 85% P diet compared to the 85% NRC Ca treatment. The results of these trials indicate that even slight deviations in dietary Ca and P beyond the NRC recommendations can create a metabolic imbalance in certain strains of broilers (Ross x Ross), which possibly increases susceptibility to SDS mortality.
Multi-Objective Optimal Design of Stationary Flat-Plate Solar Collectors Under Probabilistic Uncertainty

The multi-objective optimum design of stationary flat-plate solar collectors under probabilistic uncertainty is considered. The clear day solar beam radiation and diffuse radiation at the location of the solar collector are estimated. Three objectives are considered in the optimization problem formulation: maximization of the annual average incident solar energy, maximization of the lowest month incident solar energy, and minimization of the cost. The game theory methodology is used for the solution of the three objective constrained optimization problem. A parametric study is conducted with respect to changes in the standard deviation of the mean values of random variables and probability of constraint satisfaction. The present study is expected to help designers in creating optimized solar collectors based on specified requirements.
Projection-Specific Characteristics of Retinal Input to the Brain

The brain receives information about the direction of object motion from several types of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). On-Off direction-selective (DS) RGCs respond preferentially to stimuli moving quickly in one of four directions and provide a significant (but difficult to quantify) fraction of RGC input to the SC. On DS RGCs, in comparison, respond preferentially to stimuli moving slowly in one of three directions and are thought to only target retinorecipient nuclei comprising the accessory optic system, e.g., the medial terminal nucleus (MTN). To determine the fraction of SC-projecting RGCs that exhibit direction selectivity, and the specificity with which On-Off and On DS RGCs target retinorecipient areas, we performed optical and electrophysiological recordings from RGCs retrogradely labeled from the mouse SC and MTN. We found, surprisingly, that both On-Off and On DS RGCs innervate the SC; collectively they constitute nearly 40% of SC-projecting RGCs. In comparison, only On DS RGCs project to the MTN. Subsequent experiments revealed that individual On DS RGCs innervate either the SC or MTN and exhibit robust projection-specific differences in somatodendritic morphology, cellular excitability, and light-evoked activity; several projection-specific differences in the output of On DS RGCs correspond closely to differences in excitatory synaptic input the cells receive. Our results reveal a robust projection of On DS RGCs to the SC, projection-specific differences in the response properties of On DS RGCs, and biophysical and synaptic mechanisms that underlie these functional differences.
Alkyltransferase-like proteins: molecular switches between DNA repair pathways.

Alkyltransferase-like proteins (ATLs) play a role in the protection of cells from the biological effects of DNA alkylation damage. Although ATLs share functional motifs with the DNA repair protein and cancer chemotherapy target O 6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase, they lack the reactive cysteine residue required for alkyltransferase activity, so its mechanism for cell protection was previously unknown. Here we review recent advances in unraveling the enigmatic cellular protection provided by ATLs against the deleterious effects of DNA alkylation damage. We discuss exciting new evidence that ATLs aid in the repair of DNA O 6-alkylguanine lesions through a novel repair cross-talk between DNA-alkylation base damage responses and the DNA nucleotide excision repair pathway.
Schisis-like rhegmatogenous retinal detachment associated with choroidal colobomas.

• Background: The breaks that cause retinal detachments in colobomatous eyes are often hidden within the lesion and difficult to find. • Method: To elucidate the pathoanatomy and possible pathomechanism of such detachments, histological sections of eight choroidal colobomas were reviewed. • Results: Sections of the margin showed central continuation of the inner neuroblastic layer (the intercalary membrane) and eversion and separation of the outer neuroblastic layer. The opposite direction of continuity of the neuroblastic layers created a schisis-like configuration between the intercalary membrane and the everted outer retina. The zone of duplication was a point of retinal adhesion, but also a locus minoris resistentiae due to vitreous attachments and variable glial support at the margin. • Conclusion: The subset of coloboma-associated retinal detachments requires both a central break in the inner layer and a break in the outer layer at the margin of the coloboma. The inner layer break may be precipated by retinovascular ischemia or scleral stretching; that in the outer layer may be caused by vitreous traction on the margin of the coloboma or extension of the formerly isolated detachment through the outer marginal zone of decreased glial support.
Determination of Alterations in Forest Condition Using Various Measures of Land Use Change along an Urban-Rural Gradient in the West Georgia Piedmont, USA

Our overall goal was to examine forest condition across different land use types through measurement of various biotic, abiotic, and anthropogenic variables. Thirty-six permanent 0.05-ha circular plots were established along an urban-rural gradient near Columbus, Ga, USA. In general, forest structure did not differ by land use type for the majority of variables measured. However, urban forests contained less total tree and hardwood species than developing or rural areas. Regarding forest condition, no differences were observed for pest or disease incidence by land use, but more mechanical injury (broken branches, wounds, etc.) was found in urban locales. Lichens were the most sensitive indicator of possible changes in forest condition. Lichen incidence, abundance, and species richness were the greatest in rural forests and the least in urban locations. These factors were related to several indicators of urbanization such as housing density and distance from roads. In this case study subtle, but significant changes in forest structure and condition may have resulted from alterations in land use patterns.
The inhibition of lecithinase D activity by a synthetic lipid.

Abstract The synthetic lecithin analog, 2,3-distearoyloxypropyl(dimethyl)-β-hydroxyethyl-ammonium acetate, was a powerful inhibitor of lecithin hydrolysis by Clostridium welchii lecithinase D. A continuous manual electrometric titration at pH 6.9–7.0 was employed. When added after the reaction between the lecithinase D and lecithin had proceeded for a short time, the analog was a much less effective inhibitor. This phenomenon is similar to that reported for inhibition by C. welchii antitoxin, and may be due to an alteration in the enzyme brought about by contact with lecithin. An apparent departure from the usual Michaelis-Menten kinetics was noted. Mixing the toxin and analog before injection protected mice against the lethal action of the toxin.
Conducting Influential Research: The Need for Prescriptive Implications

Ferraro, Pfeffer, and Sutton argue that the core basis for the dominance of economics lies in the institutionalization of the norms and language of economics. I argue that they externalize the blame for the failure of other social sciences, and I challenge the other social sciences to develop a research agenda that is capable of providing useful prescriptions to individuals, organizations, and society. I believe that internalizing the challenge, rather then externalizing the blame, is key to making the other social sciences more powerful.
Improved patient care using the A/S/G/E guidelines on quality assurance: a prospective comparative study.

The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy has promulgated guidelines on quality assurance in gastrointestinal endoscopy. Thorough documentation of endoscopy reports and a peer review process were strongly recommended. We evaluated 1408 dictated endoscopy and colonoscopy reports for deficiency in reference to the guidelines during three periods: 6 months before (group 1), 6 months after the application of the guidelines (group 2), and 5 months of intensive peer review process (group 3). Deficiency was defined as lack of documentation of at least 1 of the 10 parameters that should be included in endoscopy reports according to the guidelines. There was a significant decrease in deficiency rates in groups 2 (91.6%) and 3 (32.7%) compared with group 1 (99.8%) (p
The Persistence of Educational Disparities in Smoking

Besides reducing overall smoking prevalence, do anti-tobacco policies to raise prices and restrict locations for smoking also reduce educational disparities? Theories emphasizing proximate disincentives answers yes, suggesting that the policy changes create stronger disincentives for smoking among low education groups. A social resource or fundamental cause theory suggests in contrast that flexible and broad resource advantages of high education groups maintain inequalities in health behavior despite policy changes. Using 24 National Health Interview Surveys, this study tests these claims by describing smoking prevalence by education level from 1976 to 2006 in the United States and giving special attention to the last ten years when tax and clean-air policies have expanded. Logistic regression models that allow trends in smoking to vary by education, race, ethnicity, and nativity find a small decline in educational disparities in smoking. However, this decline stemmed from trends among Hispanic and foreign-born respondents; in contrast, smoking disparities among white, African American, and native-born respondents show no evidence of narrowing. Likely due to the greater resources of high education groups for health behavior, changes in prices and restrictions thus far have done little to reduce educational disparities.
Analgesic effects of clinically useful antiepileptics

Eight clinically employed antiepileptic drugs were compared with morphine sulfate and acetylsalicylic acid for minimal neurological toxicity and for relative ability to prolong the reaction time of rats subjected to radiant-heat stimulation of the tail. The order of decreasing analgesic potency was: morphine, phenobarbital, phethenylate, mephobarbital, Mesantoin®, diphenylhydantoin, paramethadione, phenacemide, trimethadione, and acetylsalicylic acid. Except for morphine, acetylsalicylic acid, trimethadione, and phenacemide, all drugs exhibited neurotoxicity before analgesic activity.
Crustal attributes of lunar basins from terrain-correlated free-air gravity anomalies

[1] For the major lunar basins between ±64° latitude, uncompensated mass components as well as crustal ring and transient cavity attributes were evaluated from the free-air anomaly components of the Lunar Prospector gravity model (LP75G) that are spectrally correlated at 100-km altitude with the gravity effects of the Clementine terrain model (GLTM-2). Inversion of the terrain-correlated anomalies inferred incipient radial adjustments of the Moho that equilibrate the basin topography, assuming the lunar crust is mainly compensated by thickness variations. Nearly all nearside multiring basins are marked by mascon gravity anomalies that reflect mass concentrations from superisostatic mantle plugs plus mare fill. Farside basins, by contrast, are mostly characterized by maslite gravity anomalies from mass deficiencies due to subisostatic mantle plugs with marginal or no mare fill. The preponderance of maslites on the farside is consistent with crust that responded more rigidly to impacts than the nearside crust, which had a higher thermal gradient due to enhanced abundances of radioactive elements in the nearside mantle and crust. However, the extended thermal evolution of the lunar lithosphere also may have promoted the development of interfering mascon and maslite effects for tectonically complicated regions like the farside Freundlich-Sharonov basin. The Moho adjustments also revealed well-defined concentric zones of maxima and minima about the central basins that are strongly correlated with photogeologically inferred basin rings. In addition, the innermost zero-contour of the radial adjustments provides an effective estimate for the diameter of the transient cavity. The inferred transient cavity diameters correlated negatively with crustal thickness for basins with superisostatic mantle plugs and positively with the relative ages of the nearside basins. On the farside, superisostatic mantle plugs apparently developed in thinner crust up to thicknesses of about 30 km, whereas in thicker crust mantle plugs developed only to subisostatic levels. For the nearside, mass balance calculations between the equilibrium mantle plug and excavated basin materials support the proportional scaling relation of roughly 0.1 for the excavation depth-to-diameter ratio of the transient cavity that photogeologic studies have obtained. However, for the Serenitatis and Imbrium basins with possibly atypical nearside crustal properties, this proportionality may overestimate excavation depths by 28% and 37%, respectively. For nearside and farside basins apparently lacking mare flooding, shallow excavation depths were also inferred.
Evidence of the Innate Antiviral and Neuroprotective Properties of Progranulin

Author(s): Suh, Hyeon-Sook; Lo, Yungtai; Choi, Namjong; Letendre, Scott; Lee, Sunhee C | Abstract: BackgroundCompelling data exist that show that normal levels of progranulin (PGRN) are required for successful CNS aging. PGRN production is also modulated by inflammation and infection, but no data are available on the production and role of PGRN during CNS HIV infection.MethodsTo determine the relationships between PGRN and HIV disease, neurocognition, and inflammation, we analyzed 107 matched CSF and plasma samples from CHARTER, a well-characterized HIV cohort. Levels of PGRN were determined by ELISA and compared to levels of several inflammatory mediators (IFNγ, IL-6, IL-10, IP-10, MCP-1, TNFα, IL-1β, IL-4 and IL-13), as well as clinical, virologic and demographic parameters. The relationship between HIV infection and PGRN was also examined in HIV-infected primary human microglial cultures.ResultsIn plasma, PGRN levels correlated with the viral load (VL, pl0.001). In the CSF of subjects with undetectable VL, lower PGRN was associated with neurocognitive impairment (p = 0.046). CSF PGRN correlated with CSF IP-10, TNFα and IL-10, and plasma PGRN correlated with plasma IP-10. In vitro, microglial HIV infection increased PGRN production and PGRN knockdown increased HIV replication, demonstrating that PGRN is an innate antiviral protein.ConclusionsWe propose that PGRN plays dual roles in people living with HIV disease. With active HIV replication, PGRN is induced in infected macrophages and microglia and functions as an antiviral protein. In individuals without active viral replication, decreased PGRN production contributes to neurocognitive dysfunction, probably through a diminution of its neurotrophic functions. Our results have implications for the pathogenesis, biomarker studies and therapy for HIV diseases including HIV-associated neurocognitive dysfunction (HAND).
Oxidation reactions in CO2: academic exercise or future green processes?

Conducting oxidation reactions using CO2 as the solvent is a promising strategy for creation of greener chemical processes that are also economical, as CO2 and water are probably the only solvents that can be used in oxidation reactions without the formation of any solvent byproducts. However, it must be noted that the promise of CO2-based oxidation still dwarfs the actual realization of CO2-based oxidation processes. Nevertheless, there is extensive literature on the use of CO2 as the solvent for the oxidation of cyclohexane (adipic acid synthesis), cumene oxidation (phenol synthesis), and epoxidation (propylene oxide synthesis). In all of these studies, knowledge of the phase behavior is crucial toward understanding the effects of pressure and temperature on reaction outcomes. To date, much of the research in this field has involved simply using CO2 as a “drop-in” replacement for a conventional organic solvent; it will be interesting in the future to see if the use of CO2 can be combined with innovation...
Conformity as a Function of the Consistency of Positive Self- Evaluation with Being Liked and Being Right

Abstract Insko, Sedlak, and Lipsitz ( European Journal of Social Psychology , 1982 , 13 , 143–167) have presented evidence that agreement effects in p − o − x triads, or semicycles, are at least partially a function of the consistency of positive self-evaluation with being liked and the consistency of positive self-evaluation with being right. Consistent with the Insko et al. balance interpretation of agreement effects, results indicated that conformity in an Asch-type experiment is a joint function of the concern with being liked and the concern with being right. The judgment stimuli were sets of three colors, and the subjects' task was to indicate whether the middle color was more like the color on the left or the color on the right. In the main experiment, subjects conformed more with public than with private responding, and also when they were led to believe that the relationships among the colors were objectively determined rather than undetermined. The first of these two results (in conjunction with the lack of an interaction and the presence of a difference between the public condition and a private camera control condition) was taken as evidence for the concern with being liked. The second finding of a difference between the determined and undetermined conditions was taken as evidence both for the concern with being right and also as indicating that conformity can occur with objective stimuli. Although concepts similar to the concerns with being right and liked have been widely discussed, a review of the literature indicated that the previously presented evidence is not totally convincing.
Measurement of Anisotropy in the Lateral Momentum of a Vibrating Adsorbed Molecule: CO/Cu(110)

Anisotropies in the frustrated translational mode of CO chemisorbed on Cu(110) have been measured for the first time, with energies of 4.9meV in the {l_angle}1{bar 1}0{r_angle} directions and 3.1meV in the {l_angle}001{r_angle} directions. The measurements are made using a new time-of-flight ESDIAD (electron stimulated desorption ion angular distribution) method, permitting the resolution of bond directional effects and initial state lateral momentum effects in ESDIAD patterns. These measurements provide a more detailed understanding of the librational potential energy well shape than has been possible previously. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
Cholesterol supplementation prevents necrosis and inflammation but enhances fibrosis in alcoholic liver disease in the rat

Abstract Based on studies that show a role for the low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-receptor in arachidonic acid delivery and eicosanoid synthesis in macrophages, the present study investigated the effect of cholesterol supplementation on pathological changes and thromboxane (TX) synthesis in alcoholic liver injury. Male Wistar rats were intragastrically fed ethanol with either corn oil or fish oil for 1 month. Control rats received isocaloric amounts of dextrose instead of ethanol. An additional group of rats fed either ethanol or dextrose with fish oil or corn oil were supplemented with 1% cholesterol. At the time of killing, all rats had the following evaluated: liver histopathology, lipid peroxidation, liver and plasma thromboxane levels, plasma endotoxin and messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of LDL-receptor, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), cyclooxygenase (Cox)-1 and -2, and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta). Rats fed ethanol with either fish oil or corn oil developed fatty liver, necrosis, inflammation, and central vein collagen deposition. Cholesterol supplementation enhanced the degree of fibrosis but prevented necrosis and inflammation. These alterations in pathological changes by cholesterol were accompanied by absent TNF-alpha and Cox-2 mRNAs, decreased thromboxane levels, decreased lipid peroxidation, and increased TGF-beta mRNA. Cholesterol enrichment of the diet thus decreases proinflammatory components, but enhances fibrosis in ethanol-fed rats. (Hepatology 1997 Jul;26(1):90-7)
Worlds Apart: Why Poverty Persists in Rural America

Worlds Apart: Why Poverty Persists in Rural America. Cynthia M. Duncan. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1999. xvii. 235 pp., map, appendix, notes, index.
Lifetime Costs of Medical Care After Heart Failure Diagnosis

Background—Heart failure (HF) care constitutes an increasing economic burden on the health care system, and has become a key focus in the health care debate. However, there are limited data on the lifetime health care costs for individuals with HF after initial diagnosis. Methods and Results—Olmsted County residents with incident HF from 1987 to 2006 were identified. Direct medical costs incurred from the time of HF diagnosis until death or last follow-up were obtained using population-based administrative data through 2007. Costs were inflated to 2008 US dollars using the general Consumer Price Index. Inpatient, outpatient, and total costs were estimated using a 2-part model with adjustment for right censoring of data. Predictors of total costs were examined using a similar model. A total of 1054 incident HF patients were identified (mean age, 76.8 years; 46.1% men). After a mean follow-up of 4.6 years, 765 (72.6%) patients had died. The estimated total lifetime costs were $109 541 (95% confidence interv...
An optimal image operator design technique for coded excitation ultrasound imaging system

We have recently proposed a new coded excitation ultrasound imaging system. The system is based on a discretized linear model of the received data from the region of interest (ROI). Thus the system can be characterized by a linear equation with operator G consisting of on-grid impulse responses. The image reconstruction is obtained by solving the equation with a pseudo-inverse image operator (PIO). Since the reconstruction quality of the system is determined by the PIO, an effective design method is necessary to find an optimal PIO (i.e., a PIO has small noise sensitivity and the degradation of its performance caused by off-grid scatterers is well below a pre-specified tolerable level). In this report, an optimal PIO design method is presented with the help of singular value decomposition (SVD) technique. Given specifications imposed on the PIO, the proposed design method provides effective procedures for searching a set of suitable system parameters (such as grid size, codes, transmit channels, etc.). Then, the desirable PIO is evaluated by a method based on the SVD rank reduction technique. Simulation results are given to show the efficiency of the proposed PIO design method
Fast heuristic algorithms for finite state machine minimization

In this paper, a technique for the minimization of completely and incompletely specified sequential machines is described. By employing fast heuristic algorithms, it has been shown that it is possible to effectively reduce large (121 states) finite state machines in reasonable computing time when compared to other methods. It has been shown that it is possible to achieve area/literal reductions in the range of 30--100% over unreduced machines using this technique.
Infrastructure Local Government Role

Infrastructure des transports, egouts et eau d'orage, ponts, adduction eau, depots des ordures, bâtiments publics
Hydrodynamic effects of spines: A different spin

Many small planktonic organisms bear spines, some of whose potential functions have been explored, for example, in increasing drag during gravitational settling or in defense against predators. Using an immersed boundary framework, we performed computational fluid dynamic simulations that examine the rotational dynamics of model diatoms in shear flows with varying spine number, length, and angle. We found that the motion of spined cells could be accurately predicted from simple theory for motion of spheroids by applying that theory to the smallest spheroid that could inscribe the cell inclusive of its spines. The poorest fits were for small numbers or extreme angles of spines that left large volumes of the inscribing spheroid unoccupied by any spines. Although the present work provides a simple means of predicting motions of rigid, spined cells in shear flows, the effects of spines on nutrient exchange remain to be explored.
Wafer-scale scientific CCDs at Fairchild Imaging

Fairchild Imaging has established a unique capability for high volume production of wafer-scale, scientific grade CCD (charge-coupled device) image sensors with active areas ranging from 6 x 6 cm, with 16 million pixels, to 8 x 8 cm devices with 85 million pixels. Large format back-illuminated CCDs are currently in volume production. This paper provides a detailed description of two recent products, and the technologies associated with their development.
Neural network modeling and control of an anti-lock brake system

The authors have previously described neural-network-based methods for modeling automotive systems and training near-optimal controllers. These methods are based on the premise that the physical system can be sufficiently instrumented during network training so that accurate evaluation of the effect of control actions is possible. In certain systems, such a automotive anti-lock braking (ABS), it may be costly to obtain the detailed data that would be required to exploit the full capabilities of neural methods. The present paper reports an initial simulation-based study to determine the performance potential of controllers designed with these methods. Such studies will help determine whether the cost of carrying out neural training methods on actual systems is justified. >
Population dynamics and interactions between endemic entomopathogenic nematodes and annual bluegrass weevil populations in golf course turfgrass.

Abstract Entomopathogenic nematodes (Rhabditida: Steinernematidae and Heterorhabditidae) (EPNs) are generalist obligate pathogens present in the soil of most ecosystems. They have the potential to infect a broad host range, yet the potential for endemic EPNs to regulate soil-dwelling insect populations has received limited attention. We investigated the population dynamics of endemic EPNs to determine their ability to regulate annual bluegrass weevil ( Listronotus maculicollis ) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) populations, a major pest of turfgrass in the northeastern United States. Weekly sampling of nematode and L. maculicollis populations was conducted in untreated fairway transects on three golf courses in New Jersey between April and October of 2006 and 2007. Steinernema carpocapsae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora were found infecting all weevil stages from third instar to teneral adults. Both EPN species exhibited a distinct seasonality, appearing in high densities in the weeks immediately following high densities of first generation weevils in the soil. A positive temporal relationship was observed between densities of EPN-infected weevils and weevil stages between third instar and pupa, but L. maculicollis generational mortality due to EPN infection was highly variable between years and sites, ranging between 0 and 50%. Although infection densities and larval densities were positively correlated, per capita mortality did not increase with increased weevil densities. EPN distribution dynamically cycled between aggregated and uniform throughout the season across fairways. Few significant relationships were found to support the hypothesis that weevil spatial dispersion influences EPN spatial dispersion. The variability in EPN seasonal occurrence and generational impact on L. maculicollis together with the lack of spatial association with L. maculicollis suggest an inability of endemic EPN populations to reliably regulate weevil populations on golf course fairways.
Large Druse-like Lesions on the Surface of Choroidal Nevi

Three patients had choroidal nevi with a single, large, overlying, hypopigmented lesion. In one case, this lesion was observed to enlarge for seven years, although the nevus, itself, did not. All of the hypopigmented lesions showed mild hyperfluorescence early in the fluorescein angiogram and intense staining in the later phases. These lesions were probably large drusen that developed on the surface of the nevi.
Pros and Cons of Feeding the Septic Intensive Care Unit Patient

Sepsis is a common disease seen in critically ill patients. Many patients with sepsis are unable to provide nutrition for themselves, and therefore initiating artificial nutrition has become part of routine care for these patients. However, studies investigating the optimal route, composition, volume, and duration of nutrition in critically ill patients with sepsis are lacking. The best recommendations have to be extrapolated from studies in heterogeneous populations of critically ill patients or in those with syndromes such as acute lung injury or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) where sepsis is a common predisposing etiology. In this review, we summarize pertinent studies that inform clinical practice on providing artificial nutrition to critically ill patients with severe sepsis and make recommendations as to how these studies influence clinical care of these patients.
Police Innovation: Contrasting Perspectives. Edited by David Weisburd and Anthony A. Braga

Police Innovation: Contrasting Perspectives. Edited by David Weisburd and Anthony A. Braga. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 2006. Pp. xx+367. $28.00 paper. Reviewed by Steve Herbert, University of Washington The unrest that plagued American cities in the 1960s led to a crisis of confidence in several institutions, the police not least among them. Many urban riots were touched off by a police-citizen encounter, clear evidence of the symbolic position officers occupied in many communities. This crisis of confidence coincided with the rise of social science as a means to examine and improve organizations such as the police. The U.S. Department of Justice began sponsoring research efforts to determine whether and how the police could be reformed, and many academics lined up to provide their expertise. In the 40 years since, police departments have tried various reforms, and many have invited researchers to examine their efforts. The goal of Police Innovations: Contrasting Perspectives is to assess eight of the most popular of these reforms: community policing, broken-windows policing, problem-oriented policing, pulling-levers policing, third-party policing, hot-spots policing, Compstat, and evidence-based policing. Each of these reforms gets two chapters, one written by an advocate, the other by a critic. Advocates typically assess the empirical record of a given reform positively and urge its continuation, albeit with some amendments. Critics, unsurprisingly, find less cause for celebration and outline the wellsprings of their more pessimistic reading. These detailed pro and con chapters are bracketed by an introduction and conclusion written by the co-editors. The roster of contributors is a virtual who's who of police researchers, almost all of whom live in the United States; names such as Skogan, Mastrofski, Kennedy, Moore, and Kelling grace the table of contents. Each of the authors is engaged in detailed empirical research with police departments, so each speaks from a position of considerable expertise. In many cases, the authors are very closely tied to the reform in question: they have either birthed the innovation (e.g., Kelling and broken-windows policing) or studied it intensively for several years (e.g., Skogan and community policing). The format of the book works well. Each author thoroughly reviews the empirical record and clearly explains the logic of the argument. Each chapter is reasonably concise and well-written. The decision to counterpose advocates and critics leaves the reader well-positioned to reach his or her own conclusion about the sensibility of a particular reform movement. Despite their differences, the authors in these volumes operate from similar assumptions. They believe that the police can reduce crime, and that the police should be evaluated significantly in terms of whether they achieve that goal. The authors share an embrace of detailed research programs that aspire to high scientific standards, the better to determine the precise impact of the adoption of a particular police strategy. …
Transmission control policy design for decentralized detection in tree topology sensor networks

A Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) deployed for detection applications has the distinguishing feature that sensors cooperate to perform the detection task. Therefore, the decoupled design approach that is typically used to design communication networks, where each network layer is designed independently, does not lead to the desired optimal detection performance. Cross-layer design has been recently explored for the design of MAC protocols for parallel topology (single hop) networks, but little work has been done on the integration of communication and information fusion for tree networks. In this work, we design the optimal Transmission Control Policy (TCP) that coordinates the communication between sensor nodes connected in a tree configuration, in order to optimize the detection performance. We integrate the Quality of Information (QoI), Channel State Information (CSI), and Residual Energy Information (REI) for each sensor into the system model. We formulate a constrained nonlinear optimization problem to find the optimal TCP design variables. We solve the optimization problem using a hierarchical approach where smaller local optimization problems are solved by each parent node to find the optimal TCP design variables for its child nodes. We compare our design with the max throughput and decoupled design approaches.
PA2663 (PpyR) increases biofilm formation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 through the psl operon and stimulates virulence and quorum-sensing phenotypes

Previously, we identified the uncharacterized predicted membrane protein PA2663 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 as a virulence factor using a poplar tree model; PA2663 was induced in the poplar rhizosphere and, upon inactivation, it caused 20-fold lower biofilm formation (Attila et al., Microb Biotechnol, 2008). Here, we confirmed that PA2663 is related to biofilm formation by restoring the wild-type phenotype by complementing the PA2663 mutation in trans and investigated the genetic basis of its influence on biofilm formation through whole-transcriptome and -phenotype studies. Upon inactivating PA2663 by transposon insertion, the psl operon that encodes a galactose- and mannose-rich exopolysaccharide was highly repressed (verified by RT-PCR). The inactivation of PA2663 also repressed 13 pyoverdine genes, which eliminated the production of the virulence factor pyoverdine in P. aeruginosa. The inactivation of PA2663 also affected other quorum-sensing-related phenotypes in that it repressed the Pseudomonas quinolone signal (PQS) genes, which abolished PQS production, and repressed lasB, which decreased elastase activity sevenfold. Genes were also induced for motility and attachment (PA0499, PA0993, PA2130, and PA4549) and for small molecule transport (PA0326, PA1541, PA1632, PA1971, PA2214, PA2215, PA2678, and PA3407). Phenotype arrays also showed that PA2663 represses growth on D: -gluconic acid, D: -mannitol, and N-phthaloyl-L: -glutamic acid. Hence, the PA2663 gene product increases biofilm formation by increasing the psl-operon-derived exopolysaccharides and increases pyoverdine synthesis, PQS production, and elastase activity while reducing swarming and swimming motility. We speculate that PA2663 performs these myriad functions as a novel membrane sensor.
Factor Structure and Clinical Implications of Child Behavior Checklist/1.5–5 Ratings in a Sample of Girls Adopted from China

Objective This study assessed psychometric properties of the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/1.5–5) and explored clinical insights from its use in a sample of adopted Chinese girls. Methods Parental ratings were obtained on 707 adopted Chinese girls, ages 1.50–5.92 years (M ¼3.24, SD ¼1.26). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), employing robust weighted least squares estimation, was used to evaluate the instrument’s seven-factor correlated structure. Profiles of scores were analyzed descriptively for clinical insights. Results The CFAs indicated that the fit of Achenbach and Rescorla’s (2000 Manual for the ASEBA preschool forms & profiles. Burlington, VT: University of Vermont, Research Centre for Children, Youth, & Families) model to the data obtained from the adopted Chinese girls was acceptable using either a 2-point response scale or the original 3-point response scale for the 67 items from which the seven syndromes or correlated factors are derived. Values for the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) for the 2-point and 3-point response scales were .049 and .053, respectively. The RMSEA of .049 for the model using the dichotomously scored items was slightly better than what Achenbach and Rescorla (2000) reported for the same model (.06). Conclusions The study provides additional evidence of the factorial validity of the CBCL/1.5–5 and supports its use with Chinese girls adopted into North American families. While the Chinese girls showed similar or better behavioral adjustment, compared to a reference group from the CBCL’s normative sample, they tended to manifest higher levels of sleep problems.