cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome Management: An Evaluation of the Risks and Benefits of Spinal Cord Stimulator Use in Pregnancy.

Objective We present a case of a young woman diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) who underwent spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implantation. She had 2 successful pregnancies following implantation. Design We evaluated the electronic medical records of the patient following SCS implantation and while pregnant with her second and third children. A phone interview was conducted after her third pregnancy to discuss her experience with SCS use during and after pregnancy. Setting Physical medicine and rehabilitation pain management clinic and obstetrician clinic, affiliated with the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Subject A 26-year-old woman with history of CRPS type I. Results This 26-year-old woman was diagnosed with CRPS type I after left knee surgery. All conservative treatments had failed prior to her undergoing SCS implantation after the birth of her first child. SCS implantation brought near complete resolution of her symptoms. When she became pregnant with her second child, she turned off her SCS. Her CRPS symptoms intensified, but she had a normal pregnancy. She turned the SCS back on postpartum and elected to continue its use throughout her third pregnancy. She had a normal pregnancy, and her CRPS symptoms were well controlled. The patient and her children are currently healthy. Her SCS remains functional and effective. Conclusion Both an SCS and many medications used for pain management in CRPS could cause harm to both mother and fetus in pregnancy. Further research must be done to determine the safety and efficacy of SCS use in pregnancy.
Survival and Scoliosis Following Resection of Chest Wall Tumors in Children and Adolescents: A Single-center Retrospective Analysis.

Objective We reviewed our experience with pediatric chest wall tumors (CWTs) to identify variables associated with survival, scoliosis development, and need for corrective scoliosis surgery. Background Chest wall neoplasms in children or adolescents are rare. Consequently, there are few large series that detail survival or quality of life indicators, like scoliosis. Methods Medical records were reviewed for all chest wall resections for primary and metastatic CWT performed from October 1, 1986 to September 30, 2016 on patients 21 years or younger at diagnosis. Kaplan-Meier distributions were compared using the log-rank test. Variables correlated with survival, scoliosis development, or need for corrective surgeries were analyzed using competing-risk analysis. Results Seventy-six cases [57 (75%) primary, 19 (25%) metastatic] were identified. Median age at diagnosis was 15.6 years (range: 0.5-21 years). Tumor types were Ewing sarcoma family tumors (54%), other soft tissue sarcomas (21%), osteosarcoma (11%), rhabdomyosarcoma (7%), and other (8%). A median of 3 (range: 1-5) contiguous ribs were resected. Surgical reconstruction included composite Marlex mesh and methyl-methacrylate, Gore-Tex, or primary closure in 57%, 28%, and 14% of procedures, respectively. Overall 5-year survival was 61% (95% confidence interval: 50%-75%). Scoliosis developed in 19 (25%) patients; 6 patients required corrective surgery. Variables associated with overall survival were the presence of metastatic disease at diagnosis, and whether the chest tumor itself was a primary or metastatic lesion. Younger age at chest wall resection was associated with the need for corrective surgery in patients who developed scoliosis. Conclusions Among pediatric and adolescent patients with CWTs, survival depends primarily on the presence of metastases. Age, type of chest wall reconstruction, and tumor size are not associated with scoliosis development. Among patients who develop scoliosis, younger patients are more likely to require corrective surgery.
A comparison of machine learning techniques for classification of HIV patients with antiretroviral therapy-induced mitochondrial toxicity from those without mitochondrial toxicity

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has significantly reduced HIV-related morbidity and mortality. However, therapeutic benefit of ART is often limited by delayed drug-associated toxicity. Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) are the backbone of ART regimens. NRTIs compete with endogenous deoxyribonucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs) in incorporation into elongating DNA chain resulting in their cytotoxic or antiviral effect. Thus, the efficacy of NRTIs could be affected by direct competition with endogenous dNTPs and/or feedback inhibition of their metabolic enzymes. In this paper, we assessed whether the levels of ribonucleotides (RN) and dNTP pool sizes can be used as biomarkers in distinguishing between HIV-infected patients with ART-induced mitochondrial toxicity and HIV-infected patients without toxicity. We used data collected through a case-control study from 50 subjects. Cases were defined as HIV-infected individuals with clinical and/or laboratory evidence of mitochondrial toxicity. Each case was age, gender, and race matched with an HIV-positive without evidence of toxicity. We used a range of machine learning procedures to distinguish between patients with and without toxicity. Using resampling methods like Monte Carlo k-fold cross validation, we compared the accuracy of several machine learning algorithms applied to our data. We used the algorithm with highest classification accuracy rate in evaluating the diagnostic performance of 12 RN and 14 dNTP pool sizes as biomarkers of mitochondrial toxicity. We used eight classification algorithms to assess the diagnostic performance of RN and dNTP pool sizes distinguishing HIV patients with and without NRTI-associated mitochondrial toxicity. The algorithms resulted in cross-validated classification rates of 0.65–0.76 for dNTP and 0.72–0.83 for RN, following reduction of the dimensionality of the input data. The reduction of input variables improved the classification performance of the algorithms, with the most pronounced improvement for RN. Complex tree-based methods worked the best for both the deoxyribose dataset (Random Forest) and the ribose dataset (Classification Tree and AdaBoost), but it is worth noting that simple methods such as Linear Discriminant Analysis and Logistic Regression were very competitive in terms of classification performance. Our finding of changes in RN and dNTP pools in participants with mitochondrial toxicity validates the importance of dNTP pools in mitochondrial function. Hence, levels of RN and dNTP pools can be used as biomarkers of ART-induced mitochondrial toxicity.
ReLAQS: Reducing Latency for Multi-Tenant Approximate Queries via Scheduling

Approximate Query Processing has become increasingly popular as larger data sizes have increased query latency in distributed query processing systems. To provide such approximate results, systems return intermediate results and iteratively update these approximations as they process more data. In shared clusters, however, these systems waste resources by directing resources to queries that are no longer improving the results given to users. We describe ReLAQS, a cluster scheduling system for online aggregation queries that aims to reduce latency by assigning resources to queries with the most potential for improvement. ReLAQS utilizes the approximate results each query returns to periodically estimate how much progress each concurrent query is currently making. It then uses this information to predict how much progress each query is expected to make in the near future and redistributes resources in real-time to maximize the overall quality of the answers returned across the cluster. Experiments show that ReLAQS achieves a reduction in latency of up to 47% compared to traditional fair schedulers.
Portuguese Social and Solidarity Economy’s ‘Substantive Meaning:’ Constructing an Alternative Path to European Cohesion

After the 2008 Global Financial Crisis (G.F.C.), the conditions that are tearing the European Union (E.U.)’s amalgamating mission apart resurface. The focus of this paper is one E.U. member, Portug...
Gate Keeping and the Politics of Access to Prisons: Implications for Qualitative Prison Research

In this article, I draw on and contribute to existing literature on reflexivity and access in qualitative research, specifically in the context of prison research. I do this through a critical discussion of the research process involved in conducting a study on women prisoners in the U.S. In addition to describing the obstacles I faced in gaining access to a research site in which to conduct the study, I also discuss the implications of gate keeping for knowledge produced about women prisoners. Finally, I build on Bosworth et al.’s (2005) discussion of prison research using communication by mail. I argue that mail correspondence with inmates is a helpful way of obtaining rich data while surmounting some of the difficulties involved in conducting prison research.
Active Learning of Contrast Sensitivity to Assess Visual Function in Macula-off Retinal Detachment.

Purpose To characterize the contrast sensitivity function (CSF) in patients with successful repair of macula-off rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RD) using an adaptive computerized contrast testing device. Methods CSF was prospectively measured in macula-off RD patients following successful repair and age-matched controls at W. K. Kellogg Eye Center and Massachusetts Eye and Ear, employing the active learning device Manifold Contrast Vision Meter (Adaptive Sensory Technology, San Diego, CA). Outcome measures included average area under the CSF curve (AULCSF), CS thresholds at 1-18 cycles per degree (cpd) and best correctd visual acuity (BCVA) in RD eyes fellow eyes and controls. A sub-analysis was performed in eyes with BCVA of 20/30 or better. Results Twenty-three macula-off RD eyes status post repair, fellow healthy eyes and 45 age-matched control eyes underwent CSF testing. The mean BCVA of the 23 RD eyes was 0.250 logMAR, significantly reduced compared to fellow eyes 0.032 (p<0.001) and controls 0.026 (p< 0.00001). There was a statistically significant reduction in AULCSF in RD eyes compared to the fellow eyes (p<0.0001) and to age-matched controls (Z-score -0.90, p<0.0001) and CSF reduction across all spatial frequencies. In the 15 RD eyes with BCVA of 20/30 or better, the mean CSF was significantly reduced compared to fellow eyes (p=0.0158) and controls (p=0.0453). Conclusions CSF in macula-off RD eyes following repair was significantly reduced compared to fellow eyes and age-matched controls. CSF seems to be a promising visual function endpoint with potential applications in the clinical practice and future clinical trials.
Smart Start: a feasible intervention for young children with disabilities and trauma

The purpose of this study was to contribute information to service delivery gaps within the intervention literature related to the expense and inaccessibility of evidence-informed interventions for...
Case 69: Reinforced (Armored) Endotracheal Tube. Watch Out

You are working in northern Cameroon. A shipment of much needed new polyvinyl endotracheal tubes (ETTs) has just arrived. For the last 3 months, you have been forced to reuse autoclaved disposable ETTs. Autoclaving has made the ETTs very soft, necessitating the use of a stylet in every intubation.
Case Studies in the Preliminary Design of SMA Actuators

In spite of the rather complex and hysteretic behavior of SMA components (wires and springs), and the complex changes that occur in their microstructures, the preliminary design of SMA wires and springs turns out to be reasonably simple provided we utilize their shape memory characteristics in specific ways. Designing SMA actuators requires defining actuation intervals (temperature profile), load levels and/or displacement outputs over its intended designed life. The alloy composition dictates the transformation temperatures and the component’s operating range. SMA components could be functional under load controlled or displacement controlled or simultaneous load and displacement controlled setups.
Active Image Labeling and Its Application to Facial Action Labeling

For many tasks in computer vision, it is very important to produce the groundtruth data. At present, this is mostly done manually. Manual data labeling is labor-intensive and prone to the human errors. The training data it produces often lacks in both quantity and quality. Fully automatic data labeling, on the other hand, is not feasible and reliable. In this paper, we propose an interactive image labeling technique for efficient and accurate data labeling. The proposed technique includes two parts: an automatic labeling part and a human intervention part. Constructed on a Bayesian Network, the automatic image labeler produces an initial labeling of the image. A person then examines the initial labeling and makes some minor corrections. The selected human corrections and the image measurements are then integrated by the Bayesian Network framework to produce a refined labeling. To minimize the human involvement, an active user feedback strategy is developed, through which the optimal user feedback is determined, so that the labeling errors in the subsequent re-labeling process can be maximally reduced. The proposed framework combines the advantages of the human input with those of the machine so that the reliable, accurate, and efficient data labeling can be achieved. We demonstrate the validity of the proposed framework for interactive labeling of facial action units. The proposed methodology, however, is not limited to labeling of facial action units. It can be easily extended to other areas such as interactive image segmentation.
Conversion of Bioactive Silicate (45S5), Borate, and Borosilicate Glasses to Hydroxyapatite in Dilute Phosphate Solution

Compositional modification of bioactive 45S5 glass was performed by replacing the SiO 2 content partially or fully with B 2 O 3 to form borosilicate and borate glasses. Its effect on the conversion of the glass to hydroxyapatite (HA) in dilute phosphate solution was investigated using kinetic, chemical, and structural techniques. A higher B 2 O 3 content of the glass produced an increase in the conversion rate and a decrease in the pH of the solution. Particles of the borate glass (150-300 μm) were fully converted within 4 days, yielding pseudomorphic HA particles with a nanoscale structure. Silicate and borosilicate glass particles were only partially converted even after 70 days, forming a composite structure consisting of a SiO 2 -rich core surrounded by a HA layer. Regardless of the composition, all the Na and B present in the glass particles dissolved into solution, but the Ca either reacted to from HA or remained in the unconverted SiO 2 -rich core. The results are applicable to the development of bioaetive glasses with controllable conversion rates to HA, which may provide a novel class of scaffold materials for bone tissue engineering.
The Politics of Comics: Popular Modernism, Abstraction, and Experimentation

Comics and graphic novels are now widely accepted to be legitimate aesthetic and literary texts, suitable for study in all manner of university classrooms and scholarly projects. Comics studies scholarship was often preoccupied with arguing for the aesthetic legitimacy and literary complexity of comics and graphic novels, and now that this debate is more or less over, comics studies scholarship has begun to consider not just why and how we should read comics but what comics might mean. The question of meaning is an inherently political question, as it asks us to think of comics in relation to our social world. This essay traces two ways that comics can be read politically: as part of popular modernism, and as a medium for experimentation with genre, narrative, and visual conventions.
The fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor URB 597: interactions with anandamide in rhesus monkeys.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The fatty acid amide hydrolase inhibitor URB 597 increases brain anandamide levels, suggesting that URB 597 could enhance the behavioural effects of anandamide. The goal of the current study was to examine and characterize the in vivo pharmacology of URB 597 alone and in combination with anandamide and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) in two drug discrimination assays in rhesus monkeys.
Method to Determine Contrariety between Architectures Containing Stratified Memory Mapped Register Sets

As silicon architectures get more and more complex, the cost of development has scaled exponentially. IC design and embedded software are significant contributors to the overall cost of development. To enable cost effective solutions, the most commonly used approach is to define a platform with a family of devices to address different market segments. This approach will enable hardware and software reuse. The major impediment in this approach is the lack of any single metric to quantify the extent of compatibility across the family of devices. This paper presents a novel method for producing detailed summary to understand the degree of architecture incompatibility. This method uses machine-readable specifications created for family of devices and provides extensive register, bit-field and enumeration level differences between the two architectures to articulate the effort involved for software development and migration. This method has been used to determine architecture incompatibility for a derivative device spun off from a platform device, and was found to be 34% incompatible.
Isotopic anomalies and wolf-rayet stars

Wolf-Rayet stars can generate some of the isotopic anomalies seen in meteoritic material. The cases of 41Ca and 107Pd are discussed.
A Reevaluation of the Use of zbn and yhb in Elephantine

La terminologia legal de los papiros arameos de Elefantina ha sido estudiada en su mayor parte desde una perspectiva asiriologica. Este articulo propone una nueva lectura de la funcion y origenes de dos terminos legales (zbn y yhb) utilizados en Elefantina, tomando en consideracion tambien la evidencia egipcia. Nosotros trazamos su origen en las tradiciones legales del Cercano Oriente Antiguo prestando una atencion especial al modo en que la tradicion de formulas egipcias pudo haber influenciado el uso arameo de aquellos terminos
Coca-Cola on Facebook

In late 2008, executives at Coca-Cola had to decide what to do with a fan-created page on Facebook that had amassed over one million followers in three months. From a legal point of view the fan-created page was in violation of Facebook's terms of service, because a non-copyright holder was using the imagery and logo associated with a known brand. Facebook contacted Michael Donnelly, Group Director, Worldwide Interactive Marketing for The Coca-Cola Company, to let him know that he was in the position to take down the hugely popular fan-created site or, conversely, he could take it over and make it an official marketing channel for the company. Coke was already revisiting its social media policies, with the Diet Coke and Mentos user-generated video incident fresh in its memory. Those videos, which featured elaborate geysers with Diet Coke as their main ingredient, were among the most viewed online videos at the time but were not initially sanctioned by the company. Donnelly knew that opening up the brand to creative consumers was necessary, but he and his team had to figure out how and to what extent they should do so while still protecting one of the world's most valuable brands.Learning Objective: To illustrate the changing marketing landscape as social media evolves as a mass and mainstream marketing platform.
Methods to Observe the Clustering of Agents Within a Multi-Agent System

Cohesion and coupling are standard concepts in computer science. As in classic software, multi-agent systems (MASs) strive for high cohesion and low coupling. But MASs, by definition, do have some coupling, i.e., the agents seek out and discover other agents, and negotiate and cooperate with them, to accomplish some overall goal. Moreover, as different events occur, and different agents and different agent behaviors are called upon, the coupling values for the system change. This paper proposes a methodology for viewing these changing coupling relationships and clustering behaviors. In addition, the methodology is described as implemented as part of a standard agent monitoring tool.
It's all starting to come together

Chemical, genetic and cell biology tools have been used to probe which RNA-protein granules behave like liquids and which behave like solids.
Consideration of the Role of Micro-Porous Layer on Liquid Water Distribution in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells

Evidence of a region of gradual property change between the micro-porous layer and the macroporous layer of bilayer diffusion media is presented, and a mathematical model describing the effects of this gradual interfacial region is developed. The model results in a continuous liquid water saturation distribution across the diffusion media compared to the sharp discontinuity in the liquid phase saturation predicted by the earlier sudden interface models. High-resolution neutron radiography is used to measure the water content profile across the diffusion media, and the results are compared with the model predictions. The effect of the geometric blur, and uncertainty in-neutron radiography, is accounted for by applying the effects of geometric blur to model results. When the blur is considered, the neutron radiography results are found to be very similar to model predictions.
Action on Obesity: Report of a Mayo Clinic National Summit

In May 2004, representatives from local, state, and national public and private organizations met in Rochester, Minn, for the Action on Obesity Summit hosted by Mayo Clinic. The overall goal of this summit was to identify creative and effective strategies to increase the US population's physical activity and improve nutrition to reverse the increasing prevalence of obesity. Ideas generated from selected abstract presentations and breakout sessions were prioritized and incorporated into an action model (available at www.actiononobesity.org) deemed feasible for implementation into most communities. Highlights of the presentations included a company that reported lower than expected health care expenditures secondary to a work site wellness program, a national initiative to increase physical activity (www.americaonthemove.org), and innovative work site nutritional strategies. The implementation model that emerged contained certain themes. Coordinated action at all levels will be required to substantially impact the increasing prevalence of obesity. Educational messages should be simple, consistent, tailored, and linked to benefits. Healthy food options in vending machines and restaurants and increased opportunities for daily physical activity should be available in schools, work sites, and communities. Legislative and policy changes should promote physical activity and improve nutrition. Support for research should be encouraged and outcome measures for interventions documented. A second Action on Obesity Summit is planned for June 9 and 10, 2005, that will review the progress made in the intervening year and continue to refine the implementation model to help address the obesity epidemic, one of the greatest public health problems facing the United States.
African Americans show alterations in endogenous pain regulatory mechanisms and reduced pain tolerance to experimental pain procedures.

Objectives To examine ethnic differences in pain sensitivity and relationship of pain tolerance to blood pressure and neuroendocrine factors. Methods Fifty-one African Americans (24 men, 27 women) and 55 people from other ethnic groups (primarily Caucasian; 26 men, 29 women) were tested twice for pain sensitivity to tourniquet ischemia, thermal heat, and cold pressor tests, once following mental stress and once following rest control. Resting and stress-induced blood pressure (BP), plasma norepinephrine (NE), and cortisol were assessed. Results In response to all three pain tests, African Americans had lower pain tolerance relative to Caucasian/Others after both rest and stress. Only the non-African American group showed the expected inverse relationship between BP and pain sensitivity. African Americans had lower cortisol concentrations at rest and stress and showed blunted NE and systolic BP responses to stress. Only in Caucasians/Others was the relationship seen between higher stress-induced BP, cortisol, and NE levels and greater pain tolerance. Conclusions The results suggest that there are alterations in endogenous pain regulatory mechanisms involving BP, cortisol, and NE in African Americans. Such dysregulation may contribute to the greater rate of clinical pain symptoms they experience. It is hypothesized that greater chronic stress in African Americans may be a contributing factor to the alterations in pain regulation.
Dynamics of Photoexcited Carriers in Pristine Oxygen-Free C60 Films: Study of the Time-Resolved Transient Photoconductivity

Abstract We study the dynamics of photoexcited carriers in pristine oxygen-free C 60 films using the measurement of the transient photoconductivity (PC). The nonexponential relaxation of photocarriers in oxygen-free C 60 can be described by the multiple trapping model. The carrier recombination kinetics is characteristic of bimolecular recombination at high temperature. As the thermally-activated long-lived PC component freezes out at the low temperature regime, a monomolecular recombination prevails and the carrier relaxation approaches an exponential decay. The peak transient PC exhibits a local maximum at T=240 K, near a first-order structural phase transition temperature, indicating that evaporated film of oxygen-free C 60 contains regions of structurally ordered C 60 . The disorder in a pristine C 60 film is manifested by the existence of a large, thermally-activated, long-lived PC component.
Linezolid-Associated Peripheral and Optic Neuropathy, Lactic Acidosis, and Serotonin Syndrome

Linezolid is an oxazolidinone antibacterial agent indicated for serious gram-positive infections. Only minor adverse effects were seen in phase III trials. However, more serious adverse effects were reported after commercial release, including cases of lactic acidosis, peripheral and optic neuropathy, and serotonin syndrome. Peripheral and optic neuropathy was usually seen after several months of linezolid therapy (median 5 mo), lactic acidosis after several weeks (median 6 wks), and serotonin syndrome after several days (median 4 days). Death occurred in two of seven reported cases of lactic acidosis, and three of 15 reported cases of serotonin syndrome. Improvement or complete recovery occurred in all cases of optic neuropathy, whereas complete recovery failed to occur in any patient with peripheral neuropathy. Linezolid should be discontinued immediately in patients experiencing these adverse effects. Patients receiving linezolid for more than 28 days should be monitored for signs of peripheral and optic neuropathy.
Noise-induced phase space transport in two-dimensional Hamiltonian systems.

First passage time experiments were used to explore the effects of low amplitude noise as a source of accelerated phase space diffusion in two-dimensional Hamiltonian systems, and these effects were then compared with the effects of periodic driving. The objective was to quantify and understand the manner in which ``sticky'' chaotic orbits that, in the absence of perturbations, are confined near regular islands for very long times, can become ``unstuck'' much more quickly when subjected to even very weak perturbations. For both noise and periodic driving, the typical escape time scales logarithmically with the amplitude of the perturbation. For white noise, the details seem unimportant: Additive and multiplicative noise typically have very similar effects, and the presence or absence of a friction related to the noise by a fluctuation-dissipation theorem is also largely irrelevant. Allowing for colored noise can significantly decrease the efficacy of the perturbation, but only when the autocorrelation time, which vanishes for white noise, becomes so large that there is little power at frequencies comparable to the natural frequencies of the unperturbed orbit. Similarly, periodic driving is relatively inefficient when the driving frequency is not comparable to these natural frequencies. This suggests that noise-induced extrinsic diffusion, like modulational diffusion associated with periodic driving, is a resonance phenomenon. The logarithmic dependence of the escape time on amplitude reflects the fact that the time required for perturbed and unperturbed orbits to diverge a given distance scales logarithmically in the amplitude of the perturbation.
Private landowner interest in market‐based incentive programs for endangered species habitat conservation

More than 75% of endangered species in the United States rely on private lands for habitat. Although this habitat has long been regulated under the Endangered Species Act, there is now broad agreement that economic incentives are also needed for effective protection on private land. Many different mechanisms for incentive programs have been proposed and tested. For example, recovery credit systems use term-duration market-based contracts to engage landowners in endangered species conservation. We examined how market-mechanism design influences interest in endangered species habitat conservation using a survey of North Carolina Farm Bureau county advisory board members in 93 of the 100 North Carolina counties (n = 735) in 2009. Respondents preferred contracts (57% were interested) over easements (39% were interested). Endangered species conservation ranked low in importance relative to other conservation issues, but 45% of respondents were interested in contracts to conserve endangered species habitat on their property. The preferred contract duration was 10 years, and respondents preferred state- and agricultural-related organizations over federal and wildlife conservation-related organizations for managing contracts. Younger respondents, respondents who had previously participated in conservation programs, respondents who perceived endangered species conservation as important, and respondents who had lower property-rights orientation scores, were most likely to be interested in contracts to restore and maintain endangered species habitat on their lands. Our results suggest that market mechanisms could drive down costs and drive up durations for endangered species habitat conservation contracts. Further, term contracts may prove critical for endangered species conservation efforts that require high levels of landowner support and spatial flexibility within relatively short-time frames. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
Sub-microsecond, intense pulsed electric field applications to cells show specificity of effects.

Application of sub-microsecond duration (60-300 ns), intense (15-60 kV/cm) pulsed electric fields (sm/i-PEF) to six types of human cells was examined for its effects on individual cell surface membrane permeability and membrane potential. With short (60 ns) pulses, increasing percentages of Jurkat cells showed propidium iodide (PI) uptake at progressively shorter post-pulse times as the pulse train increased from 1 to 10 sequential pulses, while human blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) were unresponsive to these short pulses regardless of train size. With 300 ns pulses, a similar pattern (increasing percentages of cells taking up PI, and progressively shorter times of onset after pulse applications as pulse train size increased) was seen with both Jurkat cells and PMN, but the patterns for both effects were different. Jurkat cell size did not appear to influence the responsiveness of this cell type. Comparisons of sm/i-PEF-induced PI uptake by human monocyte-derived macrophages vs. aged human mononuclear cells, human trunk skin (HTS) cells vs. fresh human mononuclear cells and human macrophages vs. HTS cells showed similar overall effects, but with differences between the patterns for each cell type compared (except the macrophages vs. HTS cells comparison). Application of sm/i-PEFs also caused different patterns of membrane potential loss in Jurkat cells vs. PMN. Jurkat cells developed significant decreases in t heir membrane potential only following the highest intensity pulse applications examined, i.e., 300 ns, 60 kV/cm x5, while PMN showed this effect over the entire range of pulse intensities (300 ns, 15-60 kV/cm, x5) applied. These data indicate that sm/i-PEF applications can have "specificity" (i.e., achieve different levels of effect in different cell types), that cell size does not appear to be the major factor determining sm/i-PEF effects in either Jurkat cells or PMN, that heterogeneous sm/i-PEF effects on cells tend to become homogeneous with increasing pulse train size, and that specificity of sm/i-PEF applications effects can occur at either end of the sm/i-PEF intensity spectrum examined.
Vertical oceanic nutrient fractionation and glacial/interglacial CO 2 cycles

Ice-core studies have established that atmospheric carbon dioxide is about 80 parts per million by volume (p.p.m.v.) lower during cold glacial climates than it is during warm interglacial times1–8. A number of models have been offered for this phenomenon9–12. These models are consistent with observation of an enhanced carbon isotope contrast between surface and deep waters, but they also predict dissolved oxygen depletions which are inconsistent with the widespread occurrence of glacial-age fossils from aerobic benthic organisms. Recent observations on changes in the vertical oceanic chemical structure provide a new mechanism to control glacial/interglacial CO2 change. Palaeochemical evidence shows that nutrients and metabolic CO2 are shifted from intermediate waters into deeper waters during glacial times13–15. At the outset of this redistribution, increased deep dissolved CO2 concentrations raise carbonate dissolution above that required for a steady-state input/output balance. Oceanic alkalinity then increases until steady-state dissolution rates are restored. Here I propose that atmospheric CO2 decreases in direct response to increased oceanic alkalinity. Although the carbonate response factor in atmospheric CO2 has been noted before, it has not been linked with vertical nutrient rearrangements. The withdrawal of nutrients from inter-mediate waters of the ocean also prevents oxygen depletion in these waters.
Characterization of S-propenyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide as the principal endogenous substrate of L-cysteine sulfoxide lyase of onion.

Abstract The infrared and ultraviolet absorption spectra of the precursor to the lachrymator trans -(+)- S -propenyl- l -cysteine sulfoxide in onion are presented. This amino acid is converted to pyruvic acid by the l -cysteine sulfoxide lyase of a particulate fraction of onion and by the l -cysteine C-S lyase of Albizzia lophanta. The kinetic constants for this reaction and the fact that this substrate is the preponderant l -cysteine sulfoxide derivative in onion demonstrate that it is the principal endogenous substrate for the onion l -cysteine sulfoxide C-S lyase. Evidence is given for the presence in enzyme reaction mixtures of elemental sulfur previously postulated as a product of the enzyme reaction but not of propionaldehyde or 2-methyl-2-pentenal previously found in the vapor above such reaction mixtures. It is concluded that the reaction products comprise a complex mixture of substances derived from the primary sulfur-containing enzymatic product, 1-propenyl sulfenic acid.
Supply Chain Security: International Practices and Innovations in Moving Goods Safely and Efficiently—A Review

WOW! This book is a must read for anyone involved in the transportation of goods! The two-volume series is well organized and written so it is easy to understand for both academics and professionals alike. The discussions of Homeland Security, piracy, and terrorism are timely and provide a great education on these little discussed topics. After all, we all know it will never happen to us! The table in the “Commercial Vehicle Safety” chapter is compelling—both informative and scary! Environmental issues are not generally considered in supply chain risk beyond those of “routine” weather disruptions. The chapter dealing with this issue is complete and well informed! Everyone who teaches supply chain management, risk and assessment, and strategic management should add these volumes to his or her library and include supply chain security topics in the class! Professors—reach the next generation! Professionals involved in storing and moving goods—take note! Manager and CEOs—be aware! The risks to your supply chains are higher than they seem! J Transp Secur (2010) 3:147 DOI 10.1007/s12198-010-0044-1
A glimpse at the grail.

Voltage-gated ion channels respond to alterations in membrane potential and mediate action potential in neurons. A recent study provides new insights into the structure and gating of the Shaker potassium channel.
In vitro treatment of human root surfaces with fluorides.

Summary Two-minute topical applications with four different fluoride compounds, acidulated phosphate fluoride, sodium fluoride, sodium monofluorophospate and stannous fluoride, were evaluated for ability to reduce the acide solubility of human root surfaces in vitro. Each fluoride was in aqueous solution with the fluoride level adjusted to 1.23 percent and the pH native. Rectangular windows were prepared on root surfaces and control versus test differences were invariably studied within teeth and not between teeth. Sodium fluoride and sodium monofluorophosphate solutions reduced root surface solubility by approximately 30 percent while acidulated phosphate fluoride and stannous fluoride were more than 2.5 times more effective, the solubility reduction exceeding 80 percent. Root surfaces thus are similar to enamel in their reactions to topically applied fluorides. Based upon these results the clinician should choose between acidulated phosphate fluoride and stannous fluoride when making the choice of a single treatment compound for office application.
Finding the odd one out: a fractal analogical approach

The Odd One Out test of intelligence consists of 3x3 matrix reasoning problems organized in 20 levels of difficulty. Addressing problems on this test appears to require integration of multiple cognitive abilities usually associated with creativity, including visual encoding, similarity assessment, pattern detection, and analogical transfer. We describe a novel fractal technique for addressing visual analogy problems on the Odd One Out test. In our technique, the relationship between images is encoded fractally, capturing inherent self-similarity. The technique starts at a high level of resolution, but, if that is not sufficient to resolve ambiguity, it automatically adjusts itself to the right level of resolution for addressing a given problem. Similarly, the technique automatically starts with searching for similarity between simpler relationships, but, if that is not sufficient to resolve ambiguity, it automatically searches for similarity between higher-order relationships. We present preliminary results from applying the fractal technique on a representative subset of the problems from the Odd One Out test.
Assessing Experiential Learning Styles: A Methodological Reconstruction and Validation of the Kolb Learning Style Inventory

Abstract To understand experiential learning, many have reiterated the need to be able to identify students' learning styles. Kolb's Learning Style Model is the most widely accepted learning style model and has received a substantial amount of empirical support. Kolb's Learning Style Inventory (LSI), although one of the most widely utilized instruments to measure individual learning styles, possesses serious weaknesses. This study transforms the LSI from a type (categorical measure) to a degree (continuous measure) style of learning style measure that is not only more parsimonious but is also easier to use than the existing LSI. Two separate studies using samples of engineering and computer science graduate students (Study 1) and undergraduate and graduate students pursuing quantitative degrees (Study 2) culminating in a corroborative multi-sample validation were employed, producing a methodologically sound option to the existing LSI. Implications for future research and guidance for learning and teaching methods are discussed.
Growth hormone stimulation of protein synthesis in isolated mouse liver mitochondria.

Mouse liver mitochondria from animals of various ages incorporated amino acids into their protein at approximately the same rate. Treating mice with growth hormone produced an increase in the rate of in vitro protein synthesis by mitochondria from all animals. Our studies indicated that isolated mouse liver mitochondria have the ability to incorporate amino acids into their contractile protein. This capability was enhanced by growth hormone treatment. (Endocrinology 80: 772, 1967)
Dynamic frequency domain tomography system and phantom test

A dynamic frequency domain tomography imaging system has been developed for pressure-enhanced breast imaging with data acquisition times less than 15 sec. The amplitude and phase data at three wavelengths, 660, 785 & 826nm, are acquired simultaneously and used for reconstructing images of total hemoglobin (Hb T ), blood oxygen saturation (S t O 2 ) and water concentrations in breast. The results of a homogenous blood phantom study indicate that the percent errors of average estimated chromophore values are less than 8% compared with the true values. Crosstalk between the channels in simultaneous acquisition mode resulted in error increases of 6.3% to 7.6% and 3% to 8% over data acquired in sequential mode.
Water vapor and carbon dioxide species measurements in narrow channels

Abstract Classical spectroscopic techniques have been applied in a novel manner to measure the concentration of gas species, water vapor and carbon dioxide, within a narrow channel flow field non-invasively. Tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) was used in conjunction with a laser modulated at a high frequency [Wavelength Modulation Spectroscopy (WMS)] tuned to the ro-vibrational transition of the species. This technique measures the absorption profile which is a strong function of the species concentration across short path lengths and small time spans, as in PEM fuel cells during high load cycles. This method has been verified in a transparent circular flow 12 cm path length and a 12 mm rectangular flow channel. Distinct absorption peaks for water vapor and carbon dioxide have been identified, and concentrations of water vapor and carbon dioxide within the test cells have been measured in situ with high temporal resolutions. A comparison of the full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) of the absorption lineshapes to the partial pressure of water vapor and carbon dioxide showed strong relationships, except in the lower partial pressure regions. Test section temperature was observed to have very minimal impact on these curves at low partial pressure values. A porous media like a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) similar to those used in PEM fuel cells sandwiched between two rectangular flow channels was also tested. Some of the scattered radiation off the MEA was observed using a photodiode at high gain, allowing for more localized species detection. The technique was used to monitor the humidity on either side of the MEA during both temperature controlled and super-saturated conditions. The measurements were observed to be repeatable to within 10%.
Perceiving and planning before acting: An approach to enhance global network coherence

Globally coherent behavior is essential for a distributed problem solving network. It is a characteristic of the whole problem solving process. We discuss in this article different forms of cooperation at different phases of the problem solving process, which have to be considered to increase global coherence. the connection problem and the timing problem are key issues for distributed problem solving. the “perceive-plan-act” loop is introduced for each problem solving node. It means that a node has to perceive the network state and plan its near-future activities before it takes an action. Different approaches to network perception are discussed. the experimental results show significant improvement of system performance. © 1989 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
High temperature inelastic deformation during shaped crystal growth from the melt

Abstract We consider three models of high temperature inelastic deformation of a crystal during shaped growth from the melt for Czochralski growth and for EFG growth of sheets and tubes. The models are: elastic-perfectly plastic behavior, steady-state power law creep, and the Haasen-Sumino model which allows for the multiplication of dislocations. For the elastic-plastic model, the critical dislocation density is estimated below which simplified measures (based on thermoelastic calculations) for the dislocation density are valid. Such simplified estimates are improved and they involve a nonlinear dependence of the dislocation density on the excess of the thermoelastic stress over the crystal's yield stress. For the case of creep, non-dimensional quantities are derived which govern the contribution of creep to the total strain rate. These numbers are to be compared to non-dimensional numbers governing the contribution of the thermal strain rate. Typical material and growth data for Si and GaAs identify the importance of the prevailing length and thermoelastic stress levels in inducing creep. The analysis shows a marked difference in the stress and dislocation density levels for EFG growth of sheets versus tubes. For the Haasen-Sumino model, non-dimensional numbers are also derived which govern the rate of dislocation generation and the influence of dislocation back-stress due to dislocation build-up. These numbers are to be compared to unity. For EFG growth of tubes and sheets, the critical initial dislocation density was calculated. Above such critical density, creep effects become predominant.
Neonatal lesions of the ventral hippocampal formation alter GABA-A receptor subunit mRNA expression in adult rat frontal pole

Background Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic function is altered in schizophrenia. Of particular interest is the altered central nervous system expression of GABA-A receptor subunits, as changes in subunit expression account for recognized differences in mammalian brain function making them inviting targets for novel psychotropic agents. Excitotoxic neonatal lesions of the ventral hippocampal formation (NVHL) in rats reproduce numerous aspects of schizophrenia, including decreased mRNA expression of the GABA synthesizing enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase-67, though their impact on subunit expression is unknown. Methods We utilized quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction to investigate mRNA expression of the α1, α5, and γ2s GABA-A receptor subunits in the frontal pole of water-deprived adult NVHL and SHAM-lesioned animals. Results Messenger RNA expression for all three GABA-A subunits (α1–NVHL: 18.5 ± 1.6 pg/μg total pooled RNA, SHAM: 11.3 ± .4; α5–NVHL: 5.1 ± .6; SHAM: 3.5 ± .7; and γ2s-NVHL: 10.8 ± 1.7; SHAM: 7.2 ± 1.5) was higher in NVHL, though only levels of α1 differed significantly after correction for multiple comparisons. Levels of a control mRNA, neuronal specific enolase, were similar in the two groups. Conclusions These data indicate that NVHL reproduce changes in cortical GABA-A receptor subunit expression seen in schizophrenia, suggesting this animal model may facilitate efforts to clarify the physiologic significance of altered GABA function and to develop novel targets for therapeutic interventions.