cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Incremental Algorithm for a Generalization of the Shortest-Path Problem

Thegrammar problem, a generalization of the single-source shortest-path problem introduced by D. E. Knuth (Inform. Process. Lett.6(1) (1977), 1?5) is to compute the minimum-cost derivation of a terminal string from each nonterminal of a given context-free grammar, with the cost of a derivation being suitably defined. This problem also subsumes the problem of finding optimal hyperpaths in directed hypergraphs (under varying optimization criteria) that has received attention recently. In this paper we present an incremental algorithm for a version of the grammar problem. As a special case of this algorithm we obtain an efficient incremental algorithm for the single-source shortest-path problem with positive edge lengths. The aspect of our work that distinguishes it from other work on the dynamic shortest-path problem is its ability to handle “multiple heterogeneous modifications”: between updates, the input graph is allowed to be restructured by an arbitrary mixture of edge insertions, edge deletions, and edge-length changes.
Optimum design of flywheels

Abstract A numerical scheme for optimum design of flywheels is considered in this paper. First, a continuous function is devised for thickness variation of the flywheel. Expressions are then provided for calculation of volume and mass moment of inertia. The stress analysis problem is presented as a two-point, boundary-value differential equation. A numerical strategy for solving this equation is adopted. The flywheel design problem is then formulated as a numerical optimization problem with the coefficients of the thickness function as its design variables and the minimum and maximum thicknesses of the flywheel as its constraints. The objective function is defined as the ratio of inertia over volume. Computational algorithms are used to solve this optimization problem. A study of the results shows the remarkable advantages that can be gained by using an optimized flywheel in comparison to a constant-thickness flywheel. The results are also compared with the results of previously reported similar research. The problem formulation is then modified to study the effect of inclusion of a stress constraint on the design. It will be shown that the substantial complexity that this modification introduces into the problem is not warranted since the amount of reduction in stress is not significant.
The Newly Embedded Librarian: Pharmacy Information Liaison Service

Embedded librarianship has emerged as one approach to meeting the ever-evolving information needs of our clients. The University of Arizona Health Sciences Library has endeavored to become more proactive by embedding librarians within each of the four colleges it serves. Although the process of establishing visibility, recognition, and developing needed services has been a constant challenge, efforts have led to collaborations with faculty in both research and instruction. This article describes the successes and challenges of the library liaison in the College of Pharmacy, and how being embedded provided opportunities to build successful partnerships.
Facilitation of the lordosis response of the female hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)

Abstract A series of experiments investigated the facilitative effects of stimulation from the male hamster on the lordosis response of the female. Experiments 1 and 2 demonstrated that repeated exposure to copulatory stimulation increased lordosis duration of both females in natural estrus and females in induced estrus. Experiment 3 compared the facilitative effects of mounts and intromissions. Both mounts and intromissions increased lordosis duration. Experiment 4 compared the effects on lordosis duration of (1) noncoital contact with a male (2) the sight of a male, and (3) exposure to an empty cage. Noncoital contact with a male increased the lordosis duration; the other conditions had no effect.
Development of a Highly Sensitive In Vitro Assay Method for Biological Activity of Endotoxin Contamination in Biological Products

The pyrogen test in rabbits has been replaced by the bacterial endotoxin test. The endotoxin test, however, showed a considerable discrepancy with pyrogenicity and was, therefore, assumed to have an efficacy limitation in directly predicting harmful biological effects of endotoxin. We developed a sensitive in vitro assay method by making use of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) induction in RAW264.7 cells, which showed a fine correlation with pyrogenicity in rabbits. RAW264.7 cells maintained by serial subculture under an endotoxin-free condition have gained the similar level of sensitivity as the endotoxin test to allow extensive dilutions of a drug for eliminating adverse effects on the cells. The in vitro TNF-alpha induction assay was shown to be capable to detect quantitatively a synergistic effect of a drug and endotoxin. The synergy is assumed necessary to be taken into consideration to define the limit value for the endotoxin test for guaranteeing the similar level of safety as by the pyrogen test.
Skin antisepsis kits containing alcohol and chlorhexidine gluconate or tincture of iodine are associated with low rates of blood culture contamination.

Objective:Skin preparation is an important factor in reducing the rate of blood culture contamination. We assessed blood culture contamination rates associated with the use of skin antisepsis kits containing either 2% alcoholic chlorhexidine gluconate or 2% alcoholic tincture of iodine.Design:Prospective, blinded clinical trial.Setting:Tertiary-care teaching hospital.Patients:Adult patients in medical wards, the medical intensive care unit, and the cardiac intensive care unit who needed paired, percutaneous blood cultures.Interventions:House officers, medical students, and healthcare technicians drew the blood for cultures. We prepared sacks containing all of the necessary supplies, including two different types of antiseptic kits. In each sack, one kit contained 2% chlorhexidine in 70% isopropyl alcohol and the other contained 2% tincture of iodine in ethyl alcohol and 70% isopropyl alcohol. Each patient received chlorhexidine at one site and tincture of iodine at the other.Results:Four (0.9%) of 430 blood culture sets from 215 patients were contaminated. The contamination rate when using alcohol and chlorhexidine (1 of 215, 0.5%) did not differ significantly from the contamination rate when using tincture of iodine (3 of 215,1.4%; P = .62, McNemar test). There was an 87% probability that the two interventions differed by less than 2% in their rate of contamination.Conclusions:Both of these antiseptic kits were highly effective for skin preparation prior to drawing blood for cultures. The use of these kits may have contributed to the low contamination rate observed in this study.
Exploring the Role of Feedback-Based Auditory Reflexes in Forward Masking by Schroeder-Phase Complexes

Several studies have postulated that psychoacoustic measures of auditory perception are influenced by efferent-induced changes in cochlear responses, but these postulations have generally remained untested. This study measured the effect of stimulus phase curvature and temporal envelope modulation on the medial olivocochlear reflex (MOCR) and on the middle-ear muscle reflex (MEMR). The role of the MOCR was tested by measuring changes in the ear-canal pressure at 6 kHz in the presence and absence of a band-limited harmonic complex tone with various phase curvatures, centered either at (on-frequency) or well below (off-frequency) the 6-kHz probe frequency. The influence of possible MEMR effects was examined by measuring phase-gradient functions for the elicitor effects and by measuring changes in the ear-canal pressure with a continuous suppressor of the 6-kHz probe. Both on- and off-frequency complex tone elicitors produced significant changes in ear canal sound pressure. However, the pattern of results was not consistent with the earlier hypotheses postulating that efferent effects produce the psychoacoustic dependence of forward-masked thresholds on masker phase curvature. The results also reveal unexpectedly long time constants associated with some efferent effects, the source of which remains unknown.
In-Gel Kinase Assay as a Method to Identify Kinase Substrates

Phosphorylation of proteins by kinases is central to many cellular processes, including signal transduction. Thus, assays to identify or characterize kinases are a key tool for research in this area. Kinase substrates can be incorporated into polyacrylamide gels and used to characterize kinase activity in mixed samples. This methodology can be adapted for the identification of novel kinase-substrates or kinase-kinases that participate in the regulation of cell signaling. Here, I review the rationale and principles of an in-gel kinase assay. This strategy relies on co-polymerization of a substrate within the gel matrix, followed by detection of enzymatic activity in situ. The following Protocol provides a detailed method for performing the in-gel kinase assay and discusses the uses of the assay to evaluate kinase activity in the context of proliferation, differentiation, and survival pathways.
Arterial reconstruction with vascular clips is safe and quicker than sutured repair.

BACKGROUND Non-penetrating, arcuate-legged vascular-closure staple clips made of titanium were initially developed for microvascular anastomoses with little experience of their use in larger vessels. The purpose of this study was to compare vascular-closure staple clips to sutured anastomoses in common iliac arteries in a porcine model. METHODS In an experimental study, transected iliac arteries on both sides of 11 pigs were randomly assigned to end-to-end anastomosis performed with vascular-closure staple clips or interrupted 6-0 polypropylene sutures. Angiographic, macroscopic and microscopic results were assessed after 2 months. RESULTS There was no significant difference in the patency rate, tensile strength of the anastomoses, vessel diameter at the repair site, intimal thickness or wall thickness of the arteries after either method of closure. The mean (s.d.) clamp time was 19.8 (6.1) minutes for clip repair, and 36.0 (6.9) seconds for suture repair (P < 0.001). The times required for the reconstruction of the anastomoses were 17.4 (6.1) and 35.5 (7.1) minutes, respectively (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Arterial anastomoses performed with vascular-closure staple clips are faster than sutured anastomoses, and result in comparable wound healing when assessed for patency, tensile strength, degree of narrowing and intimal reaction.
Quantum Coherence Enabled Determination of the Energy Landscape in Light-Harvesting Complex II

The near-unity efficiency of energy transfer in photosynthesis makes photosynthetic light-harvesting complexes a promising avenue for developing new renewable energy technologies. Knowledge of the energy landscape of these complexes is essential in understanding their function, but its experimental determination has proven elusive. Here, the observation of quantum coherence using two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy is employed to directly measure the 14 lowest electronic energy levels in light-harvesting complex II (LHCII), the most abundant antenna complex in plants containing approximately 50% of the world’s chlorophyll. We observe that the electronically excited states are relatively evenly distributed, highlighting an important design principle of photosynthetic complexes that explains the observed ultrafast intracomplex energy transfer in LHCII.
Optimizing model performance: variable size resolution in cloud chemistry modeling

Abstract Under many conditions size-resolved aqueous-phase chemistry models predict higher sulfate production rates than comparable bulk aqueous-phase models. However, there are special circumstances under which bulk and size-resolved models offer similar predictions. These special conditions include alkaline conditions (when there is a high ammonia to nitric acid ratio or a large amount of alkaline dust) or conditions under which the initial H2O2 concentration exceeds that of SO2. Given that bulk models are less computationally-intensive than corresponding size-resolved models, a model equipped to combine the accuracy of the size-resolved code with the efficiency of the bulk method is proposed in this work. Bulk and two-section size-resolved approaches are combined into a single variable size-resolution model (VSRM) in an effort to combine both accuracy and computational speed. Depending on initial system conditions, bulk or size-resolved calculations are executed based on a set of semi-empirical rules. These rules were generated based on our understanding of the system and from the results of many model simulations for a range of input conditions. For the conditions examined here, on average, the VSRM sulfate predictions are within 3% of a six-section size-resolved model, but the VSRM is fifteen times faster.
The yield stress of frozen hydrocarbon fuels

Abstract A more complete description of the flow properties of frozen hydrocarbon fuels is necessary to deal with practical problems such as tank drainage and line stoppage. A study has been made of the minimum stress necessary to effect a change in frozen fuels and hydrocarbon mixtures from solid-like to liquid-like behaviour, by measuring the torque required to rotate an immersed vaned rotor. Experimental variables that affect the interpretation of the results as a rheologically defined yield stress were explored. The yield stress was highly dependent on the temperature and the n-alkane composition of the sample. The total n-alkane concentration determined the rate of increase in yield stress with temperature decrease. For a given total n-alkane concentration, the temperature at which a given yield stress was reached increased with the average n-alkane carbon chain length. While yield stress of frozen hydrocarbons is primarily dependent on the total solids present, other mechanisms involving crystal interactions appear to be necessary for interpretation of the results. Information about yield stress of a frozen fuel as a function of temperature provides a precise, rheologically sound basis for formulating improved methods of forecasting field performance.
Prevalence of dementia after age 90 Results from The 90+ Study

Background: Although the prevalence of dementia increases with age from ages 65 to 85, whether this increase continues after age 90 is unclear. Most studies reporting on dementia prevalence do not have sufficient participants to estimate prevalence for specific ages and sexes above age 90. Here, we estimate age- and sex-specific prevalence of all-cause dementia in the oldest-old, those aged 90 and older. Methods: Participants are 911 elderly from The 90+ Study, a population-based study of aging and dementia in people aged 90 and above. Dementia was diagnosed using in-person examinations as well as telephone and informant questionnaires. Results: The overall prevalence of all-cause dementia was higher in women (45%, 95% CI = 41.5–49.0) than men (28%, 95% CI = 21.7–34.2). Among women, prevalence increased with age after age 90, essentially doubling every 5 years. A lower prevalence of dementia was significantly associated with higher education in women but not in men. Conclusions: In a very large sample of participants aged 90 and older, prevalence of all-cause dementia doubled every 5 years for women but not men.
pH-Sensitive MR Responses Induced by Dendron-Functionalized SPIONs.

We report a series of investigations of the pH-sensitive magnetic resonance (MR) responses of various surface-functionalized SPIONs (superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles). First, functionaliz...
Memory deficits following nucleus basalis magnocellularis lesions may be mediated through limbic, but not neocortical, targets.

Abstract In order to test the contribution of the target areas of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis to the mediation of item and order recognition memory for spatial locations, one set of rats received lesions of the dorsolateral frontal cortex, parietal cortex, or basolateral amygdala after training in an order recognition memory task, whereas another set of animals received lesions of the nucleus basalis magnocellularis or basolateral amygdala in an item recognition memory task. Animals with basolateral amygdala lesions displayed a deficit for order recognition memory, but no deficit for item recognition memory, a pattern equivalent to that found for animals with nucleus basalis magnocellularis lesions. In contrast, animals with dorsolateral frontal cortex displayed no deficit, and animals with parietal cortex lesions displayed only a partial deficit for order recognition memory, results that differ from those found for animals with nucleus basalis magnocellularis lesions. It appears that the nucleus basalis magnocellularis influences item and order recognition memory for lists of spatial locations primarily through projections to limbic but not neocortical targets.
Identity negotiation: Where two roads meet.

This article traces a program of research on the interplay between social thought and social interaction. Early investigations of the impact of perceivers' expectancies on the actions of target individuals illuminated the contribution of perceivers to the identity negotiation process but overlooked the role of targets. The research discussed here is based on the assumption that targets play an active role in the identity negotiation process. Specifically, just as perceivers strive to validate their expectancies, targets seek to verify their self-views. The nature and antecedents of the processes through which people verify their self-conceptions as well as the relationship of these activities to self-concept change and self-enhancement processes are discussed. This research suggests that perceivers and targets enter their interactions with independent and sometimes conflicting agendas that are resolved through a process of identity negotiation. The identity negotiation process therefore provides a theoretical context in which the interplay between other-perception and self-perception can be understood.
Abstract 5023: Pretreatment blame, physical symptoms, and distress in patients undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancer

INTRODUCTION: Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) patients report higher rates of psychiatric morbidity than other cancer patients, suggesting that psychological adjustment is an important component of their quality of life. One factor contributing to patients’ distress is the degree to which they experience physical symptom morbidity. Given that HNC is often attributed to unhealthy lifestyle factors (i.e., tobacco, alcohol, and risky sexual behaviors resulting in HPV), another possible contributor, that has not been studied, is patients’ attributions of self-blame regarding their disease cause. The objective of this study was to explore the associations between lifestyle factors, symptoms, self-blame, and distress in this population. Understanding these potential interactions may provide targets for future psychosocial interventions. METHODS: Data for this exploratory study was collected from a cross-sectional survey of 70 HNC patients (87 % male; 63% oropharyngeal) prior to the initiation of radiotherapy. RESULTS: In terms of lifestyle factors, 70% of patients had a tobacco history and 7% had screening scores indicative of alcohol dependence as measured by the AUDIT; 61 % of the oropharyngeal patients were HPV positive. Behavioral self-blame was significantly greater among patients with a history of tobacco use (t(66) = 2.52, p = 0.01) and characterological self-blame was highest among patients with HPV positive tumors (t(66) = 2.28, p = 0.03). Although patient distress (BSI-18) was significantly associated with higher levels of cancer symptom severity (p = 0.0001) and interference (p = 0.0001), as measured by the MDASI-HN, the association of distress with blame also approached significance (p CONCLUSION: Results suggest that blame is prevalent in head and neck cancer patients and is related to lifestyle factors that may have caused the disease. The finding that patient distress was associated with both symptom severity and self-blame is interesting and suggests that psychosocial interventions should not only address patients’ current level of symptoms but also their attributions of blame regarding the cause of their disease. Our future work will prospectively examine whether changes in symptoms and blame affect the course of distress in this vulnerable population. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5023. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-5023
Steroids for Septic Shock: Back From the Dead? (Con)

The role of corticosteroid therapy in the management of septic shock has been debated for half a century. Results from large, well-designed, randomized clinical trials demonstrate no benefit, and perhaps harm, associated with short duration, high-dose methylprednisolone or dexamethasone administered at the onset of septic shock. Based on evidence of "relative adrenal insufficiency" and steroid-responsive adrenergic receptor desensitization in sepsis, administration of modest doses (200 to 300 mg/d) of hydrocortisone for 1 to 3 weeks has been investigated. A multicenter, placebo-controlled clinical trial demonstrated improved survival rates and faster cessation of vasopressors among patients with septic shock who have a poor response to corticotropin injection, consistent with relative adrenal insufficiency. However, concerns regarding a trend for higher mortality among corticotropin responders and the possibility that patients with true adrenal insufficiency may have been enrolled in this placebo-controlled trial, potentially skewing results, should be considered.
Arsenite-induced mitotic death involves stress response and is independent of tubulin polymerization.

Arsenite, a known mitotic disruptor, causes cell cycle arrest and cell death at anaphase. The mechanism causing mitotic arrest is highly disputed. We compared arsenite to the spindle poisons nocodazole and paclitaxel. Immunofluorescence analysis of α-tubulin in interphase cells demonstrated that, while nocodazole and paclitaxel disrupt microtubule polymerization through destabilization and hyperpolymerization, respectively, microtubules in arsenite-treated cells remain comparable to untreated cells even at supra-therapeutic concentrations. Immunofluorescence analysis of α-tubulin in mitotic cells showed spindle formation in arsenite- and paclitaxel-treated cells but not in nocodazole-treated cells. Spindle formation in arsenite-treated cells appeared irregular and multi-polar. γ-tubulin staining showed that cells treated with nocodazole and therapeutic concentrations of paclitaxel contained two centrosomes. In contrast, most arsenite-treated mitotic cells contained more than two centrosomes, similar to centrosome abnormalities induced by heat shock. Of the three drugs tested, only arsenite treatment increased expression of the inducible isoform of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70i). HSP70 and HSP90 proteins are intimately involved in centrosome regulation and mitotic spindle formation. HSP90 inhibitor 17-DMAG sensitized cells to arsenite treatment and increased arsenite-induced centrosome abnormalities. Combined treatment of 17-DMAG and arsenite resulted in a supra-additive effect on viability, mitotic arrest, and centrosome abnormalities. Thus, arsenite-induced abnormal centrosome amplification and subsequent mitotic arrest is independent of effects on tubulin polymerization and may be due to specific stresses that are protected against by HSP90 and HSP70.
Synthesis of the porcine LH- and FSH-releasing hormone by the solid-phase method

The decapeptide (pyro)Glu-His-Trp-Ser-Tyr-Gly-Leu-Arg-Pro-Gly-NH2, corresponding to the amino acid sequence of the porcine LH- and FSH-releasing hormone (LH-RHFSH-RH) has been synthesized by the solid phase method. After repurification, the synthetic product showed the same physico-chemical and biological properties as natural porcine LH-RHFSH-RH.
Stochastic allocation of inspection capacity to competitive processes

Optimal allocation and control of limited inspection capacity for multiple production processes are considered. The production processes, which operate independently but share inspection capacity, are subject to random failures and are partially observed through inspection. This study proposes an approach of stochastic allocation, using a Markov decision process, to minimize expected total discounted cost over an infinite time horizon. Both an optimal model and a disaggregate approximation model are introduced. The study provides some structural results and establishes that the control policy is of a threshold type. Numerical experiments demonstrate a significantly decreased amount of computational time required for the disaggregate approach when compared to the optimal solution, while generating very good control policies. © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics, 49: 78–94, 2002; DOI 10.1002/nav.1049
Psychological Assessment and Psychotherapy in Long‐Term Care

The continued growth of the older adult population, combined with the inclusion of psychologists in Medicare, is leading to psychological services increasingly being delivered in long-term care settings. This article reviews some basic concepts in psychological assessment and psychotherapy with older adults in long-term care settings. A guide is provided for the assessment of dementia, delirium, and depression. The use of validated empirical instruments, the collection of multiple sources of historical data, and the incorporation of assessment results in treatment planning are emphasized. Psychotherapy with persons having a dementia, and psychotherapy with persons having a personality disorder are the focus of the treatment section of this article. We argue that these have been neglected areas of practice, and yet treatment can produce significant benefits to these patients.
Control interface and tracking control system for automated poultry inspection

A new Vis/NIR inspection system interface was developed to test and implement an automated chicken inspection system for online operation on commercial chicken processing lines. The spectroscopic system demonstrated effective spectral acquisition and data processing for real-time classification of chickens on a 140bpm processing line. Real-time online testing successfully differentiated between wholesome and unwholesome birds using a neural network classification model with 20 input nodes that correctly classified 94% and 92% of wholesome and unwholesome birds, respectively. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of the Vis/NIR inspection system for accurate real-time product and shackle tracking on commercial chicken processing lines.
Lack of Pseudotype Formation between Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 and Epstein-Barr Virus in Productively Coinfected B Lymphoblastoid Cell Lines

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can form pseudotypes with other enveloped viruses, including herpes simplex virus, when the two viruses coinfect the same cell. Pseudotypes between HIV and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) have not been described. We observed unusually high levels of HIV-1 replication in SCID mice transplanted with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hu-PBL-SCID mice) when the mice developed EBV-associated human B cell lymphoproliferative disease. If this enhancement of HIV-1 replication were due to pseudotype formation rather than direct infection of B lymphoblastic cells by HIV-1, the pseudotypes could pose a novel biohazard to laboratory workers. To assess whether HIV-1 and EBV can form such pseudotypes, we established and characterized CD4-positive B lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) that contained cells infected with both EBV and HIV-1. A high-titered virus pool from these LCL could induce HIV infection in the Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) line BJA-B, but not in the BL line Ramos. Infection of BJA-B was blocked by neutralizing antibody to HIV gp120 but not by neutralizing anti-EBV gp350. These experiments provide no evidence for pseudotype formation, suggesting a low risk for EBV:HIV pseudotypes in natural infection of humans or in human cells transplanted to SCID mice.
Evolution of homeothermy in mammals

We propose that mammalian homeothermy was was acquired in two steps. The first step enabled mammals to invade a nocturnal niche without an increase in resting metabolic rate. The second step enabled them to invade a diurnal niche and involved the acquisition of higher body temperatures and metabolic rates.
Role of Indian Hedgehog Signaling in Palatal Osteogenesis

Background Cleft lip-cleft palate is a common congenital disability and represents a large biomedical burden. Through the use of animal models, the molecular underpinnings of cleft palate are becoming increasingly clear. Indian hedgehog (Ihh) has been shown to be associated with craniofacial development and to be active in the palatine bone. The authors hypothesize that Indian hedgehog activity plays a role in osteogenesis within the secondary palate and that defects in this pathway may inhibit osteogenesis of the secondary palate. Methods Palates were isolated from wild-type mice during the period of palate development (embryonic days 9.5 to 17.5). Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used for detecting gene expression during osteogenic differentiation and cellular differentiation (Shh, Ihh, Ptc1, Gli1, Gli2, Gli3, Runx2, Alp, and Col1a1). Next, palates were analyzed by hematoxylin and eosin, aniline blue, pentachrome, and in situ hybridization to assess osteogenesis of the palatal shelf and expression of hedgehog pathway genes. Finally, the palates of Indian hedgehog-null mice were analyzed to determine the effect of genetic deficiency on palatal development osteogenesis. Results Increased Indian hedgehog and osteogenic signaling coincided with ossification and fusion of the palate in wild-type mice. This included a fivefold to 150-fold peak in expression of hedgehog elements, including Ihh, at embryonic day 15.5 as compared with embryonic day 9.5. Contrarily, loss of Indian hedgehog by genetic knockout (Ihh-/-) resulted in decreased secondary palate ossification. Conclusions The authors' results suggest a role for hedgehog signaling during palatal ossification. The hedgehog pathway is activated during palatal fusion, and deletion of Indian hedgehog leads to diminished ossification of the secondary hard palate.
Mechanical stress stimulates aortic endothelial cells to proliferate

Abstract The effects of applied cyclic tensional deformation and relaxation on cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells were examined. Endothelial cells from passages 3 to 9 were seeded in flexible-bottomed plates and allowed to attach for 24 hours. Endothelial cells in the experimental group (n = 6 wells per time point) were placed in a vacuum-operated stress-providing instrument that exerted an average elongation of 10% at maximum downward deflection of the culture plate bottom. The stretched endothelial cells were subjected to repeating cycles of 10 seconds elongation and 10 seconds relaxation from days 1 through 7 in culture. Endothelial cells in the control group (n = 6 wells per time point) were subjected to similar incubation conditions as the experimental group but without tensional deformation. Tritiated thymidine was added to cells 24 hours before harvesting. On days 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 cells were counted and analyzed for trichloroacetic acid-precipitable tritiated thymidine incorporation. The results showed that 3 cycles/min mechanical stretching stimulated deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis and endothelial cell division. We conclude that cyclic tensional deformation may stimulate endothelial cell proliferation. It is possible that naturally occurring cyclic mechanical deformation in vivo, such as the repetitive stretching and relaxation of aortic tissue by the heart, may invoke a particular pattern of synthesis and division in endothelial cells. (J VASC SURG 1987;6:252-6.)
Changes in retinal arterial blood pressure during cyclopropane and halothane anaesthesia in children.

Ophthalmodynamometric determinations were used for measuring the blood pressure in the central retinal artery during cyclopropane anaesthesia in children. The results were correlated with the systemic blood pressure and later analysed and compared with the results obtained under similar conditions when the maintenance agent was halothane. When evaluated in terms of the difference between systemic and retinal arterial pressures, both systolic and diastolic, the two agents were shown to have similar average effects, i.e. in lowering the retinal arterial blood pressure. It is the progression of the blood pressure change over the various E.E.G. levels which distinguishes the two agents.
Mechanical response of the south flank of kilauea volcano, hawaii, to intrusive events along the rift systems

Abstract Increased earthquake activity and compression of the south flank of Kilauea volcano, Hawaii, have been recognized by previous investigators to accompany rift intrusions. We further detail the temporal and spatial changes in earthquake rates and ground strain along the south flank induced by six major rift intrusions which occurred between December 1971 and January 1981. The seismic response of the south flank to individual rift intrusions is immediate; the increased rate of earthquake activity lasts from 1 to 4 weeks. Horizontal strain measurements indicate that compression of the south flank usually accompanies rift intrusions and eruptions. Emplacement of an intrusion at a depth greater than about 4 km, such as the June 1982 southwest rift intrusion, however, results in a slight extension of the subaerial portion of the south flank. Horizontal strain measurements along the south flank are used to locate the January 1983 east-rift intrusion, which resulted in eruptive activity. The intrusion is modeled as a vertical rectangular sheet with constant displacement perpendicular to the plane of the sheet. This model suggests that the intrusive body that compressed the south flank in January 1983 extended from the surface to about 2.4 km depth, and was aligned along a strike of N66°E. The intrusion is approximately 11 km in length, extended beyond the January 1983 eruptive fissures, which are 8 km in length and is contained within the 14-km-long region of shallow rift earthquakes.
Iris Spoofing: Reverse Engineering the Daugman Feature Encoding Scheme

Biometric systems based on iridal patterns have shown very high accuracies in verifying an individual’s identity due to the uniqueness of the iris pattern across individuals. For identity verification purposes, only the iris bit code template of an individual need be stored. In this chapter, we explore methods to generate synthetic iris textures corresponding to a given person for the purpose of bypassing an iris-based security system using these iris templates. We present analysis to prove that when this “spoof” texture is presented to an iris recognition system; it will elicit a similar response from the system as that due to the genuine iris texture to which the spoof corresponds. We embed this spoof texture within the iris of an imposter to achieve this end. Systems using filter-based feature extraction systems – such as Daugman style systems – may be bypassed using this technique. We assume knowledge of solely the feature extraction mechanism of the iris matching scheme and, as mentioned, the iris bit code template of the person whose iris is to be spoofed. We present a complete investigation into how one can get by an iris recognition system using this approach, by generating various “natural”-looking irises and hope to use this knowledge to incorporate several countermeasures into the feature extraction scheme of an iris recognition module.
Multi-level Architectural Evolution Management

Software development is a dynamic process where engineers constantly modify and refine systems. As a consequence, system architecture evolves over time. Software architectural evolution has been managed at different abstraction levels: the meta level, the architectural level, the application level, the implementation level, etc. However, the management supports for architectural evolution are limited to evolution mechanisms in architectural description languages such as subtyping, inheritance, interface, and genericity. This paper presents a model-oriented version and configuration control approach to managing the evolution of architectural entities in configurations at different abstraction levels as well as logical relationships among them. This paper also illustrates our approach in building an architectural configuration management system that is capable of managing configurations and versions of software architecture across multiple levels of abstraction in a uniform and tightly connected manner
Multiple interpretations of the shape and motion of objects from two perspective images

The following problem is investigated: given the position coordinates in two images of all points on an object obtained from two different camera positions, under what conditions can there be more than one interpretation for the shape of the object and the transformation between the coordinate systems at the two camera positions? It is shown that only certain hyperboloids of one sheet and their degeneracies, such as hyperbolic paraboloids, circular cylinders, and intersecting planes, that are viewed from a point on their surface can give rise to an ambiguity. In the case of hyperboloids of one sheet and hyperbolic paraboloids, there can be three possible solutions. In the case of circular cylinders and intersecting planes, there are at most two solutions. The author gives the relationship among the multiple interpretations and determines them all in closed form in terms of the true solution. >
Linkage between insulin and the free radical theory of aging

the aging process results in an accelerated decline of functional capacity, but the mechanisms behind this decline are unclear ([21][1], [22][2]). The free radical theory of aging proposes that mitochondrial production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) causes an increase in cellular damage with age
Benefits of Sharing Information from Commercial, Airborne, Forward-Looking Sensors in the Next Generation Air Transportation System

The air transportation system of the future will need to support much greater traffic densities than are currently possible, while preserving or improving upon current levels of safety. Concepts are under development to support a Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen) that by some estimates will need to support up to three times current capacity by the year 2025. Weather and other atmospheric phenomena, such as wake vortices and volcanic ash, constitute major constraints on airspace system capacity and can present hazards to aircraft if encountered. To support safe operations in the NextGen environment advanced systems for collection and dissemination of aviation weather and environmental information will be required. The envisioned NextGen Network Enabled Weather (NNEW) infrastructure will be a critical component of the aviation weather support services, providing access to a common weather picture for all system users. By taking advantage of Network Enabled Operations (NEO) capabilities, a virtual 4-D Weather Data Cube with aviation weather information from many sources will be developed. One new source of weather observations may be airborne forward-looking sensors, such as the X-band weather radar. Future sensor systems that are the subject of current research include advanced multi-frequency and polarimetric radar, a variety of Lidar technologies, and infrared imaging spectrometers.
Commentary from a Health Economist: Financing Pediatric Psychology: On “Buddy, Can You Spare a Dime?”

Rae (this issue) succinctly lays out a number of challenges facing the pediatric psychology profession today. Not surprisingly, while concerns about professional acceptance and the ability to develop standards of care and measures for efficacy are present, the principle source of consternation is financial. Like many of their colleagues, pediatric psychologists find themselves trapped in a reimbursement model that worked two decades ago but is increasingly a poor fit today. I would like to highlight a few of the issues raised by Rae and provide an economist’s perspective on them. In particular, I will focus on the issues of: the setting in which care takes place; the types of financial relationships that may be possible; and just who should be ‘‘sold’’ on the value of pediatric psychology services. The first issue raised by Rae that deserves additional attention from the profession regards the site at which care is expected to take place. As the article points out, the traditional emphasis on having pediatric psychologists as part of the pediatric hospital staff may be less and less viable as time goes on. There are a number of difficulties with having the hospital be the modal site of care for these services. While it is undoubtedly true that such services are needed, a problem arises when the profession seeks to broaden the scope of services offered away from the support of patients and their families through an acute episode of care, and toward theongoing management of chronic conditions and prevention. Such services are not central to the mission of most hospitals and consequently are ‘‘hard sells’’ for the hospital administration. This leads to the perceived personal and professional devaluation of pediatric psychological
Community Violence Exposure, Threat Appraisal, and Adjustment in Adolescents

Validity data are presented for a new measure of threat appraisals in response to community violence. Adolescents (N = 358; 45% male; 91% African American, M = 12.10 years, SD = 1.63) and their maternal caregivers participated in two waves of a longitudinal interview study focused on the consequences of exposure to community violence. Structural equation modeling revealed that a six-factor correlated model best fit the data, indicating that the six subscales of the threat appraisal measure represent distinct but related constructs. The factor structure was invariant across age and gender. Exposure to violence was associated prospectively with caregiver- and adolescent-rated adjustment problems. Each of the six threat appraisals mediated links between exposure to violence at Wave 1 and adolescent-rated internalizing adjustment problems 1 year later. Language: en
Family processes in the midst of urban poverty: What does the trauma literature tell us?

Consistent with a family systems framework, this paper examines the clinical and research literatures to clarify the connection between chronic trauma exposure and family processes with a focus on the social ecology of low-income, urban neighborhoods. Strong empirical evidence demonstrates the impact of chronic trauma on individual family members and, in turn, on multiple family subsystems. Additionally, there is evidence that living under chronically harsh, traumatic circumstances slowly erodes family processes, specifically structure, relations, and coping. However, existing research reflects the problems inherent in sorting out relationships among multiple, often interrelated factors. Future research requires comprehensive theoretical models, such as systemic, transactional, or ecodevelopmental, along with sophisticated research designs, prospective, longitudinal or intervention, and multilevel analytic methods.
Tomorrow the World

There is something irresistible about the idea of progress, of a journey that takes us?and all other fellow human beings?to an ever better place. It is an item of faith for many hundreds of millions of secular people, the garden of Eden for many religious ones, a guiding light, a major source of meaning for their lives. In an age of mass communication, if the course of progress can be summed up in one word, it is even more appealing. Democratization tops the list of all such ideals. The notion that the world is democratizing?and that it is the West (especially the United States) that is destined to advance it?has gained a whole new life following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990. Its prophet, Francis Fukuyama (1989), boldly predicted that we had reached the End of History, that all nations were about to be democratized. Neoconservatives and the Bush administration made democratization their lead motive.
“God's Representative in Our Midst”: Toward a History of the Catholic Diocesan Clergy in the United States

From a historian's point of view, the Catholic diocesan clergy in the United States look rather like forgotten men. As a group, they have never figured prominently in the scholarly literature. American Catholic history may have had an emphatically clerical bias as late as the 1950s, but the focus then was mainly on the chancery. The parish clergy were almost as neglected as the famously docile laity. The laity have moved in recent years to the forefront of Catholic historical consciousness, and won for themselves a less docile image in the process. But priests have not enjoyed equivalent attention—indeed, in the eyes of at least some practitioners, priests are today mildly suspect as subjects of research. We do not, after all, want a return to the bad old days of “clerical” history. The predictable consequence is a major hole in our church-historical knowledge. Despite the new vitality in American Catholic historical scholarship, we know very little about the history of diocesan priests in the United States—who they were, how they lived and worked, what they thought about their ministry or the people they served.
Errors in Sex-Identification of Day-Old Chicks When Based on the Type of the Genital Eminence

Abstract BOTH endogenous and exogenous estrogens can modify the appearance of the genital eminence of the male chick to resemble that of the female (Wolff and Wolff, 1951). In this respect genetic males can be induced, by the action of estrogens, to resemble females and are so classified when sexed by examination of the cloaca (Japanese method of sexing). High incidences of well-developed right oviducts have been reported by Morgan and Kohlmeyer (1957) and Sell (1959). Morgan and Greb (1959) proposed two possible causes: (1) hormonal imbalance or (2) specific tissue-regression suppressors. If hormonal agents caused persistence of the right Mullerian duct, the effect had to be accomplished by the 7th day of incubation (Wolff, 1939). Such a causative agent would necessarily have to be a part of the egg and would presumably be present at oviposition. According to van Tienhoven (1961), the high incidence of fully developed right oviducts in…
Application of WAIS-R Short Forms to Persons 75 Years of Age and Older:

Six WAIS-R short forms were compared in a sample of 225 normal and 39 neurologically impaired persons 75 years of age and older. The short forms included Silverstein's (1982) two- and four-subtest ...
Pharmacodynamic Effects of Different Aspirin Dosing Regimens in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients With Coronary Artery Disease

Background—Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have reduced aspirin-induced pharmacodynamic effects. This may be attributed to increased platelet turnover rates resulting in an increased proportion of non–aspirin-inhibited platelets during the daily dosing interval. The hypothesis of this study was that an increase in the frequency of drug administration [twice daily (bid) versus once daily (od)] may provide more effective platelet inhibition in T2DM patients. Methods and Results—T2DM patients with stable coronary artery disease were prospectively recruited. Patients modified their aspirin regimen on a weekly basis according to the following scheme: 81 mg/od, 81 mg/bid, 162 mg/od, 162 mg/bid, and 325 mg/od. Pharmacodynamic assessments included light-transmittance aggregometry after arachidonic acid, collagen and adenosine diphosphate stimuli; VerifyNow-Aspirin assay; and serum thromboxane B2 (TXB2) levels. Twenty patients were analyzed. All patients were sensitive and compliant to aspirin irresp...