cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Picosecond FEL experiments on condensed matter systems

Abstract Applications of picosecond pulses from a free electron laser (FEL) are discussed. A specific example, photon echo experiments on a near-infrared dye molecule, is described.
Two-dimensional laminar-flow analysis, utilizing a doubly refracting liquid

An experimental technique for the determination of velocity distributions in two-dimensional laminar flow is described. The method utilizes the optical interference patterns observed in flowing doubly refracting liquids when viewed by transmitted polarized light. The fluid shear-stress distribution may be determined from these interference patterns by methods similar to those employed in solid photoelasticity. Methods are presented for the calculation of velocity distributions from the observed stress distributions. Experiments are described in which the technique was applied to determine velocity profiles in parallel-walled, converging and diverging channels and for flow about a cylindrical obstacle. The doubly-refracting liquids employed were aqueous solutions of an organic dye. Independent experimental checks were obtained in most instances, and these are in satisfactory agreement with the calculated results.
The effect of surface composition on plasma driven permeation of deuterium through 304 stainless steel

Abstract The effect of incident ion energy on plasma driven permeation of deuterium through 304 stainless steel has been studied experimentally. The relationship of permeation rate to ion induced surface composition changes was determined by in situ Auger electron spectroscopy. The presence of either C or O on the upstream surface increased the permeation rate as compared to a sputter cleaned surface. C in the form of near surface carbide, however, had little or no effect on the permeation rate.
Further evidence on causality and feedback across international stocks

This study extends the previous research on interdependence of international stock markets by using Geweke's (1982) causality test on seventeen stock market indices. The impact of the stock market crash of October 1987 on other national stock markets is investigated by disaggregating the data into pre- and post-crash periods. Direction of causality and feedback is studied using standard causality tests. The results indicate very few stock markets (namely, the U.K. and the U.S.A.) influence other markets significantly. Almost all markets react to other markets' past and present movements. Traditional major markets (Japan, France, and Canada) do not seem to be influential at all.
Characterizing ammonia emissions from a commercial mechanically ventilated swine finishing facility and an anaerobic waste lagoon in North Carolina

Abstract Emissions of atmospheric ammonia–nitrogen [NH 3 –N, where NH 3 –N = (14/17) NH 3 ] were measured from a commercial anaerobic swine waste treatment lagoon and from an on–site finishing swine confinement house at the same location. Continuous measurements were made at each potential NH 3 –N source for ~1 week during four different seasons. Results presented here represent measurements made for the second year of a multi–year experiment. Barn emissions were estimated to be 2 604 ± 660 g NH 3 –N day −1 , 1 761 ± 1 087 g NH 3 –N day −1 , 1 657 ± 1 506 g NH 3 –N day −1 , and 2 659 ± 1 194 g NH 3 –N g day −1 in summer, fall, winter, and spring respectively. NH 3 –N barn emission factors were calculated to be 1.32 ± 0.32 kg NH 3 –N animal −1 yr −1 , 0.78 ± 0.49 kg NH 3 –N animal −1 yr −1 , 1.55 ± 1.40 kg NH 3 –N animal −1 yr −1 , and 1.35 ± 0.61 kg NH 3 –N animal −1 yr −1 in summer, fall, winter, and spring respectively. Average NH 3 –N flux from lagoon was greatest in the summer, >3 943 μg m −2 min −1 , and lowest in the winter, 981 ± 210 μg m −2 min −1 . Fall and spring average NH 3 –N flux values were >1 383 μg m −2 min −1 and 1 641 ± 362 μg m −2 min −1 , respectively.
Hypoxemia Associated With Feeding in the Preterm Infant and Full-Term Neonate

• Polygraphic monitoring studies were performed on more than 150 older preterm infants (postconceptional ages of 36 weeks or more) and full-term neonates to evaluate unexplained or persistent apnea. During polygraphic monitoring, 16 infants were observed to have hypoxemia associated with feedings. The feeding hypoxemia was accompanied by irregular respiratory effort and preceded any associated bradycardia. A comparison group of eight infants with similar gestational and postconceptional ages, but without feeding hypoxemia, was selected retrospectively from other infants referred for evaluation of persistent or unexplained apnea. The group with feeding hypoxemia showed evidence of CNS compromise as manifested by significant elevations of the maximum end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure during sleep and abnormal computed tomograms (7/11 v 0/5 in the comparison group). There was no relationship between feeding hypoxemia and sleep apnea or gastroesophageal reflux. Clinical follow-up showed that the feeding hypoxemia resolved with maturation. ( AJDC 1984;138:623-628)
Application of Conjugate Gradient methods to tidal simulation

Abstract A harmonic decomposition technique is applied to the shallow water equations to yield a complex, nonsymmetric, nonlinear, Helmholtz type problem for the sea surface and an accompanying complex, nonlinear diagonal problem for the velocities. The equation for the sea surface is linearized using successive approximation and then discretized with linear, triangular finite elements. The study focuses on applying iterative methods to solve the resulting complex linear systems. The comparative evaluation includes both standard iterative methods for the real subsystems and complex versions of the well known Bi-Conjugate Gradient and Bi-Conjugate Gradient Squared methods. Several Incomplete LU type preconditioners are discussed, and the effects of node ordering, rejection strategy, domain geometry and Coriolis parameter (affecting asymmetry) are investigated. Implementation details for the complex case are discussed. Performance studies are presented and comparisons made with a frontal solver.
Double photoionization and ionization excitation of the metastable helium S states

Theoretical double photoionization cross sections are predicted for He initially in the $1s2s{}^{1}S$ or ${}^{3}S$ state. The probability for double photoionization is a factor of 6 higher for the ${}^{1}S$ state at 20 eV above the threshold for double ionization and a factor of 3 larger at 80 eV above threshold. We compare these results with each other and with predictions for the high-energy limit to assess the influence of exchange on the double ejection process. Similar comparisons are also made for the process of photoionization-induced excitation of ${\mathrm{He}}^{+}(n)$.
Cancer vaccines: pessimism in check.

In a recent Perspective, Rosenberg and colleagues commented on the need to revise current strategies for therapeutic vaccination against cancer, given disappointing clinical response rates in recent trials1. Among 765 patients treated in 35 trials selected to be representative and encompassing of multiple cancer types (see Table 5 in ref. 1), the cumulative objective response rate was only 3.8%. In trials using poxviruses, peptides and modified tumor cells, clinical responses were seen in 0%, 4.0% and 4.2% of subjects, respectively, and tumor regressions were seen in 7.1% of patients receiving dendritic cell vaccines.
On the efficiency of line intersect distance sampling

Sampling strategies commonly used for coarse woody debris (CWD) inventories, including line intersect sampling (LIS), typically require large sample sizes to estimate aggregate volume with reasonable precision. Line intersect distance sampling (LIDS) is a recently developed strategy based on a probability proportional-to-volume design and a linear sampling unit. In principle, the design augments the precision of volume estimators by increasing the intensity with which bulkier particles are sampled, while the transect-based protocol facilitates the search for qualifying particles. This study reports on the relative performances of LIDS and LIS in seven stands in Montana, USA. Particles selected by LIDS were consistently less numerous but larger in cross section than those selected at the same locations by LIS. In timed field trials, LIDS required more time than LIS, but CWD volume estimates from LIDS were generally more precise, more than offsetting the time differential. Conversely, aggregate length and a...
Shortest path problem considering on-time arrival probability

Abstract This paper studies the problem of finding a priori shortest paths to guarantee a given likelihood of arriving on-time in a stochastic network. Such “reliable” paths help travelers better plan their trips to prepare for the risk of running late in the face of stochastic travel times. Optimal solutions to the problem can be obtained from local-reliable paths, which are a set of non-dominated paths under first-order stochastic dominance. We show that Bellman’s principle of optimality can be applied to construct local-reliable paths. Acyclicity of local-reliable paths is established and used for proving finite convergence of solution procedures. The connection between the a priori path problem and the corresponding adaptive routing problem is also revealed. A label-correcting algorithm is proposed and its complexity is analyzed. A pseudo-polynomial approximation is proposed based on extreme-dominance. An extension that allows travel time distribution functions to vary over time is also discussed. We show that the time-dependent problem is decomposable with respect to arrival times and therefore can be solved as easily as its static counterpart. Numerical results are provided using typical transportation networks.
Astrocyte-neuron interactions: Implications for epilepsy

AQP4= : aquaporin-4; ATP= : adenosine triphosphate; EAAT= : excitatory amino acid transporter; GABA= : γ-aminobutyric acid; Pg= : prostaglandin; TNF= : tumor necrosis factor. Astrocytes provide metabolic support to neurons and are critical for homeostasis of the neuronal microenvironment, including maintenance of a low interstitial glutamate concentration and control of the volume of brain interstitial volume, extracellular potassium (K+) concentration, and local blood flow. Bidirectional communication between neurons and astrocytes at the synapses may have a critical role in regulating chemical neurotransmission. Whereas the initial concepts on astrocyte signaling were based on studies on cultured astroglia, new imaging and electrophysiologic methods applied to brain slices and the development of genetically modified mice models have provided further insight into mechanisms of the reciprocal neuron-astrocyte interactions. Given their critical role in maintenance of neuronal microenvironment and modulation of excitatory synapses, astrocytes have been implicated in mechanisms of neuronal and neuronal network hyperexcitability underlying epilepsy. These topics have been covered in several recent excellent reviews.1–9,24 ### Structural interactions among astrocytes, synapses, and blood vessels. Astrocytes are the predominant type of glial cell in the CNS. There are many distinct subsets of astrocytes that can be distinguished on the basis of their morphology, biochemical, physiologic, and pharmacologic characteristics, and interactions with the local environment.1,10 Individual astrocytes occupy distinct, nonoverlapping domains and extend thousands of fine membranous processes that ensheathe synapses and fine blood vessels. It has been estimated that a process from a single astrocyte can envelop approximately 140,000 synapses and that more than 99% of cerebrovascular surface is ensheathed by astrocytic processes.11,12 This close coupling among neurons, glia, and blood vessels has been termed the neurovascular unit and is critical for regulation of local blood flow.12–14 Astrocytic processes are coupled through gap junctions formed by connexins 43 and 32 to form large intercellular networks. The extent of gap junction coupling between astrocytes depends on the type of astrocyte and the level of neuronal activity.15 Perivascular astroglial metabolic networks allow activity-dependent …
Surgical management of thrombotic disc valve

Thrombotic obstruction, a rare but often fatal complication of cardiac valve prostheses, appears to occur more frequently in tilting-disc valves than in other valve designs. Its diagnosis and surgical treatment remain a challenge. Ten consecutive patients who had thrombosis of a tilting-disc valve prosthesis were treated in Chang Gung Memorial Hospital from November 1982 to August 1990. Preoperative clinical features, including exertional dyspnea, new murmur, and absence of a metallic click from the prosthetic valve, occurred in all of the patients. Symptoms were present for 1 week or more before reoperation in 70% of the patients; nevertheless, many patients were referred only after acute exacerbation of heart failure and development of pulmonary edema. Echocardiography confirmed prosthetic valve malfunction in 90% of the patients. One unconfirmed case was later documented by cardiac catheterization. Anticoagulant therapy was in the therapeutic range for only half of the patients at the time of admission. Prompt reoperation was performed for thrombectomy (8 patients, all survived) or valve replacement (2 patients, one death). Long-term outcome was satisfactory in all survivors with a mean follow-up of 31.6 months. These findings emphasize the importance of considering the diagnosis of thrombosis in patients with mechanical heart valve prostheses who are first seen with nonspecific symptoms and minor changes of their physical findings. The diagnosis could be easily made by echocardiography. Thrombectomy is an easy, fast, and safe procedure, especially for these critically ill patients.
A Critique of UNOS Liver Allocation Policy

The United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) recently changed the policy by which donor livers are allocated to liver failure patients in the United States. Formerly, all liver failure patients were characterized as status 1 and placed at the top of the transplant list. Under the new policy, only patients with liver failure due to acute illness (“ALF patients”) are eligible for status 1; patients with liver failure due to chronic liver disease (“CLF patients”) are characterized as status 2. Since donor organs are allocated first to status 1 patients and then to status 2 patients, the new policy moves all CLF patients down on the waiting list relative to all ALF patients. This means that some livers that would have gone to CLF patients under the old policy will now go to ALF patients. Accordingly, while the new policy will likely increase the number of ALF patients saved, it will also increase the number of deaths among CLF patients waiting for a transplant.
On the Integration of Personality Assessment Methods: The Rorschach and MMPI

Despite being the most studied and used personality assessment tools, data from the Rorschach and MMPI generally disagree (Archer & Krishnamurthy, 1993a, 1993b). Independence is proposed to result from at least 3 factors: (a) the methods tap unique levels of personality, (b) personality has a complex organization, and (c) response styles generate considerable method variance that must be considered in nomothetic research. These ideas led to 5 hypotheses, each of which received support. Rorschach and MMPI response styles are uncorrelated, although response styles are quite consistent within a method family. MMPI-2 and Rorschach constructs of dysphoria, psychosis, or wariness are uncorrelated when response styles are ignored. However, robust convergent validity is evident when patients have similar response styles on each method (e.g., for dysphoria, M r = .59) and dysphoria is expressed in opposing ways on each method when response styles are discordant (i.e., M r = -.54). Data from the latter analyses wer...
Morphine administration in the amygdala or periaqueductal central gray depress serum levels of luteinizing hormone.

Abstract The ability of morphine to depress serum levels of luteinizing hormone (LH) directly at extrahypothalamic sites was examined in male rats with guide cannulae implanted bilaterally in either the amygdala or the periaqueductal central gray (PAG). While no alterations in serum levels of LH in blood sampled via a chronic jugular catheter were observed following the microinjection of morphine, naloxone or artificial CSF in the amygdala or the PAG of intact males, serum levels of LH were significantly depressed in castrated rats following intracranial administration of morphine bilaterally in the cortical amygdala or the PAG. The intracranial administration of naloxone bilaterally in the PAG likewise significantly elevated serum levels of LH in castrated rats. These data further establish the amygdala and the PAG as extrahypothalamic sites which can directly mediate the opiate-induced effects on LH.
Na+-Ca2+ Exchanger Controls the Gain of the Ca2+ Amplifier in the Dendrites of Amacrine Cells

We have previously shown that disabling forward-mode Na+-Ca2+ exchange in amacrine cells greatly prolongs the depolarization-induced release of transmitter. To investigate the mechanism for this, w...
Food priming: A therapeutic tool to increase the percentage of meals bought by chronic mental patient ☆

Abstract In a motivating ward environment for schizophrenics, three methods of maximizing food as an effective reinforcer were tested. On the basis of pre-treatment measures, patients were classified as (1) “non-chronic meal missers” who served as control patients (Group A), (2) “chronic meal missers” because they had no tokens (Group B), or (3) “chronic meal missers” because they chose not to eat but had tokens (Group C). One of the following three experimental treatments was then administered when a patient missed a meal : (1) visual food priming (observing others eat), (2) oral food priming (sampling one teaspoon of each type of food for that meal), and (3) free meal (being offered a free meal when it was missed). Oral and visual food priming were found to be equally effective in increasing the percentage of meals bought by patients. A post-treatment follow-up for Group B found that this increase was even greater during the follow-up phase. The percentage of meals bought by patients in the free meal condition of Group B decreased during the treatment phase but was significantly above pre-treatment measures during the follow-up phase, suggesting that complete reinforcer sampling may also be an effective technique for increasing the percentage of meals bought.
Two-temperature nonequilibrium Ising models: Critical behavior and universality

We study a class of two-dimensional (2D) nonequilibrium Ising models based on competing dynamics induced by contact with heat baths at two different temperatures. We make a comparative study of the nonequilibrium versions of Metropolis, heat bath--Glauber, and Swendsen-Wang dynamics, and focus on their critical behavior in order to understand their universality classes. We present strong evidence that some of these dynamics have the same critical exponents, and belong to the same universality class as the equilibrium 2D Ising model. We show that the bond version of the Swendsen-Wang update algorithm can be mapped into an equilibrium model at an effective temperature.
Seizure outcome after epilepsy surgery in children and adolescents

Few epilepsy surgery outcome data are available from series of pediatric patients. We studied seizure outcome in 136 pediatric patients who had surgery for intractable epilepsy at The Cleveland Clinic between January 1990 and June 1996, with a postoperative follow-up of 1 to 7.5 years (mean, 3.6 years). Sixty-two children (3 months to 12 years old at time of surgery) were compared with 74 adolescents (13-20 years old). Extratemporal or multilobar resections and hemispherectomies were similarly frequent among children (50%) and adolescents (44%), but these procedures strongly predominated in infancy (90% of patients 0-2 years of age). The remaining patients had temporal resection. Cortical dysplasia and low-grade tumor were the most common causes and hippocampal sclerosis was rare. Seizure-free outcome was achieved for 69% of adolescents, 68% of children, and 60% of the infant subgroup, overall; for 23 (74%) of 31 children and 33 (80%) of 41 adolescents after temporal resection; for 11 (58%) of 19 children and 15 (52%) of 29 adolescents after extratemporal or multilobar resection; and for 8 (67%) of 12 children and 3 (75%) of 4 adolescents after functional hemispherectomy. Seizure-free outcome was more frequent after temporal resection (56 of 72, 78%) than after extratemporal or multilobar resection (26 of 48, 54%; 41 of 48 with a focal lesion on magnetic resonance imaging), and among patients with tumor (36 of 44, 82%) versus cortical dysplasia (16 of 31, 52%). The frequency of seizure-free outcome after epilepsy surgery was similar for infants, children, and adolescents, and comparable with results from adult series. Most patients in each age, surgery type, and causal group were free from seizures after surgery. These results suggest that children should be considered for surgical evaluation at whatever age they manifest with severe, intractable, disabling localization-related epilepsy.
Topologically interpenetrating elastomeric networks

Abstract Several partially interpenetrating polymeric networks (IPN) were made by combining chemically different linear elastomers. The polymer combinations were deposited as films from aqueous emulsions made by mixing the individual emulsions in equal proportions. The films were crosslinked to form two superimposed networks. In two cases, the networks were cleanly separated by hydrolysis of one of the component networks to demonstrate that there was no chemical interaction between the polymers. Measurement of crosslink density showed that, in most cases, partial interpenetration does occur as evidenced by an effective crosslink density of the IPN's greater than the arithmetic mean of the crosslink densities of the component networks. The swelling ratios, densities, and stress-strain properties were determined. For one of the network combinations, a poly (urethane-urea) and a poly (butadiene-acrylonitrile), a series of IPN's varying in polymer composition was made. The swelling ratios and densities are cl...
Growth, survival and histological responses of the marine shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, to three dosage levels of oxytetracycline

Abstract Toxicity of oxytetracycline (OTC) in prepared feed for penaeid shrimp was evaluated in a 42-day trial with Litopenaeus vannamei (initial mean weight, 10.3 g ± 0.504 S.D.). Four treatments consisted of: (1) 0.0 g/kg OTC (control feed), (2) 4.5 g/kg OTC (1× treatment, maximum recommended dose), (3) 13.5 g/kg OTC (3× treatment) and (4) 22.5 g/kg OTC (5× treatment). Each treatment consisted of 11 replicate tanks, with 8 shrimp per replicate. The test period was three times the recommended OTC label dosing period (14 days). This target animal safety study was conducted under GLP (Good Laboratory Practices) conditions, as part of submissions to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Center for Veterinary Medicine for approval of therapeutic use of OTC in penaeid shrimp feeds. Growth rate (weight gain) was found to be OTC-dose-related. There was no significant difference in mean weight gain between control and 1× OTC treatments (9.1 g and 9.2 g, respectively), but growth was strongly depressed in the 3× and 5× treatments (1.50 g and 4.02 g, respectively). There did not appear to be a dose response in mean percent survival of test shrimp (range: 93.2% to 98.9%). Abnormal soft exoskeletons (= shell, cuticle) were observed in 66.7% to 90.9% of shrimp in the 3× and 5× treatments after 42 days, compared with 0.0% and 9.1% in control and 1× treatments, respectively (from sample N = 3 per tank = N = 33 per treatment, 37.5% of individuals stocked). The high numbers of soft exoskeletons observed could be related to a deficiency of calcium/magnesium, principal shell components, due to divalent cation-chelating properties of OTC. Some dose-related histological changes were apparent in the hepatopancreas (HP) of experimental shrimp sampled after 42 days of OTC feeds. Only slight changes were apparent in the histological presentation of the HPs of the shrimp from the 0× (untreated control) and the 1× treatment levels. In contrast, shrimp sampled from the 3× and 5× OTC treatment levels showed generally reduced levels of lipid droplet storage in the HP, and some necrosis and sloughing of the HP tubule epithelium. The virtually complete absence of HP lipids and the presence of moderate atrophy of the proximal portion of the HP tubules, indicated by markedly reduced tubule epithelial cell height, were the principal characteristics of the HP of shrimp sampled from the 5× OTC group. Mitotic activity in E-cells, a measure of the regenerative capability of the HP, was constant across all experimental groups regardless of the OTC level in the experimental feed. Mean OTC consumed per shrimp in the 1× treatment was estimated to be 0.09813 g over 42 days, compared with 0.16850 g and 0.29687 g in the 3× and 5× treatments, respectively. Feeds containing OTC at higher levels (3× and 5×) were consumed at much lower rates than control and 1× treatments, indicating lower palatability and/or toxicity of extreme dosage levels. The 3× and 5× treatments consumed approximately 46% less feed than the control and 1× treatments.
From Constitutive Outside to the Politics of Extinction: Critical Race Theory, Feminist Theory, and Political Theory

Although feminist theory and critical race theory engage questions about human nature and subjectivity, criteria of legitimacy, philosophies of history, structures of power, forms of social and com...
Structre and function of parasite surface membranes—I. Mechanism of phlorizin inhibition of hexose transport by the cestode Hymenolepis diminuta

Abstract 1. 1. The plant glycoside phlorizin has been shown previously to inhibit the transport of glucose by Hymenolepis diminuta, though the mechanism was not resolved. The effect of phlorizin on hexose transport by this tapeworm has therefore been re-examined. 2. 2. Phlorizin, at micromolar concentrations, was found to be a completely competitive inhibitor of active glucose and galactose transport. 3. 3. The aglycone derivative, phloretin, at the concentrations examined, has no significant effect on the initial rate of glucose absorption.
Experimental measurement and modeling analysis on mechanical properties of incudostapedial joint

The incudostapedial (IS) joint between the incus and stapes is a synovial joint consisting of joint capsule, cartilage, and synovial fluid. The mechanical properties of the IS joint directly affect the middle ear transfer function for sound transmission. However, due to the complexity and small size of the joint, the mechanical properties of the IS joint have not been reported in the literature. In this paper, we report our current study on mechanical properties of human IS joint using both experimental measurement and finite element (FE) modeling analysis. Eight IS joint samples with the incus and stapes attached were harvested from human cadaver temporal bones. Tension, compression, stress relaxation and failure tests were performed on those samples in a micro-material testing system. An analytical approach with the hyperelastic Ogden model and a 3D FE model of the IS joint including the cartilage, joint capsule, and synovial fluid were employed to derive mechanical parameters of the IS joint. The comparison of measurements and modeling results reveals the relationship between the mechanical properties and structure of the IS joint.
Characterization of two cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L) invertase genes

Two cotton vacuolar-invertase genes were identified and sequenced. Both genes had seven exons, including an unusually small second exon typical of acid invertases. These genes encode peptides with many features shared by acid invertases from other species including, leader sequences that probably target the peptide to the vacuole, active site motifs and substrate binding motifs. Expression analyses indicated that one of the genes was expressed in roots during the starch filling stage of development. However, expression of the same gene fluctuated during the starch utilization stage of development. Therefore this gene was unlikely to play a role in determining sink strength of this tissue. Both genes were expressed in elongating fibers where they were likely to play a role in cell expansion. The invertase gene uniquely expressed in fiber had a simple sequence repeat (SSR) in the third intron that was polymorphic among various cotton species. An EST was identified with an expansion of the SSR that included the third intron indicating this SSR is associated with a splice variant. The polymorphic SSR may be useful in investigating the function of this gene in fiber development.
Loss of annexin A1 expression in human breast cancer detected by multiple high-throughput analyses.

Abstract To test the efficacy of combined high-throughput analyses (HTA) in target gene identification, screening criteria were set using >fivefold difference by microarray and statistically significant changes (p fivefold changes. Further SAGE and EST analyses of these genes identified four qualified genes, ERBB2, GATA3, AGR2, and ANXA1. Their expression pattern was validated by RT-PCR in both breast cell lines and tissue samples. Loss of ANXA1 in breast cancer was further confirmed at mRNA level by Human Breast Cancer Tissue Profiling Array and at protein level by immunohistochemical staining. This study demonstrated that combined HTA effectively narrowed the number of genes for further study, while retaining the sensitivity in identifying biologically important genes such as ERBB2 and ANXA1. A distinctive loss of ANXA1 in breast cancer suggests its involvement in maintaining normal breast biology.
Spatial Dispersion Effects in Resonant Polariton Scattering. I. Additional Boundary Conditions for Polarization Fields

The normal-incidence propagation of transverse modes in a medium with spatial dispersion is analyzed. A careful examination of discrepancies existing in the literature concerning the boundary conditions shows that they are due to the use of different susceptibilities. Thus they originate from a discrepancy in the solution of Schr\"odinger's equation and not of Maxwell's equations.
Status of a Comprehensive Validation of the Navy's F/A-18A/B/C/D Aerodynamics Model.

Abstract : A flight test program was designed and flown with two U.S. Navy F/A-18 aircraft and the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, Patuxent River, MD to collect data for validation of the Manned Flight Simulator's F/A-18 aerodynamics model. This paper details the flight test program and the processes used to calibrate the flight data for the creation of a truth-data set to be used for the validation as well as source for future updates. The paper presents examples of preliminary aerodynamic coefficient comparisons between model predicted values and values extracted from flight. It also provides a discussion of a coefficient comparison acceptance criteria currently being developed.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of benefits and risks between normothermia and hypothermia during cardiopulmonary bypass in pediatric cardiac surgery

SummaryBackground The controversy over the benefits between normothermic and hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for children is still uncertain. The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to investigate the benefits and risks of normothermia comparing with hypothermia in pediatric cardiac surgery by randomized controlled trials. Methods Pubmed, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for studies reported in English up to September 28, 2013. Eligible studies were those in which investigators enrolled pediatric patients, who had cardiac surgery, randomized them to normothermic or hypothermic CPB. We prespecified the use of random-effects models to calculate risk ratios and 95% CIs for binary variables, weighted mean difference (WMD) or standard mean difference and 95% CIs for continuous variables. We assessed heterogeneity using I2. When heterogeneity was absent (I2 = 0%), we used fixed-effects models. The endpoints were serum lactate, serum creatinine, duration of clamp, and duration of CPB in pediatrics who had cardiac surgery in normothermic CPB compared with those in hypothermic CPB. Results The initial search strategy identified 3910 citations, of which 10 trials compared pediatrics and seven trails were eligible. These seven trials included 419 participants from seven countries. The serum lactate and the serum creatinine had three time points. The outcomes had no different between normothermic group and hypothermic group. Duration of clamp (WMD = −10.793, 95% CI −28.89, 7.304; P = 0.242; I2 = 86.6%; 204 patients, three trials) and duration of CPB (WMD = −41.780, 95% CI −89.523, 5.963; P = 0.086; I2 = 95.6%; 199 patients, three trials) also had no significant differences between two groups. Conclusion Normothermic CPB is as safe as hypothermic CPB in children requiring correction of simple congenital cardiac defects.
QUANTITATIVE HEPATOBILIARY SCINTIGRAPHY USING 99mTC‐DISIDA IN THE DOG

Quantitative hepatobiliary scintigraphy using 99mTc-2,6 diisopropylphenylcarbamoylmethyl iminodiacetic acid (DISIDA) was performed in normal dogs. 99mTc-DISIDA is excreted by the hepatocyte into the biliary tract. Hepatic blood flow from arterial and portal venous sources was measured as the hepatic perfusion index. The hepatic clearance of the radiopharmaceutical was used to assess hepatocyte function and parenchymal biliary transport. Biliary ejection was evaluated using synthetic cholecystokinin infusion. The procedure should be useful in evaluating dogs with hepatic and biliary disease.
Angiogenesis-Associated Crosstalk Between Collagens, CXC Chemokines, and Thrombospondin Domain-Containing Proteins

Excessive vascularization is a hallmark of many diseases including cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic nephropathy, pathologic obesity, age-related macular degeneration, and asthma. Compounds that inhibit angiogenesis represent potential therapeutics for many diseases. Karagiannis and Popel [Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 105(37):13775–13780, 2008] used a bioinformatics approach to identify more than 100 peptides with sequence homology to known angiogenesis inhibitors. The peptides could be grouped into families by the conserved domain of the proteins they were derived from. The families included type IV collagen fibrils, CXC chemokine ligands, and type I thrombospondin domain-containing proteins. The relationships between these families have received relatively little attention. To investigate these relationships, we approached the problem by placing the families of proteins in the context of the human interactome including >120,000 physical interactions among proteins, genes, and transcripts. We built on a graph theoretic approach to identify proteins that may represent conduits of crosstalk between protein families. We validated these findings by statistical analysis and analysis of a time series gene expression data set taken during angiogenesis. We identified six proteins at the center of the angiogenesis-associated network including three syndecans, MMP9, CD44, and versican. These findings shed light on the complex signaling networks that govern angiogenesis phenomena.
Using metaphorical techniques in focus groups to uncover mothers' feelings about family meals

Traditional nutrition education has not been shown to consistently produce behavior change. While it has been suggested that using emotion-based messages may be a better way to influence nutrition behavior change, this has not been well tested. Producing emotion-based messages is a multi-step process that begins with exploring subconscious barriers to behavior change rather than the more obvious and typically reported barriers. The purpose of this research was to uncover the emotional reasons, sometimes referred to as emotional pulse points, for mothers’ choosing or not choosing to have more family meals. This would then serve as the first step to developing emotion-based messages promoting the benefits of family meals. Five focus group interviews were conducted with 51 low-income Black (n=28) and white (n=23) mothers. Metaphorical techniques were used to determine underlying feelings toward family and family meals. Discussions were video-taped, transcribed, and manually analyzed using a content-driven, immersion/crystallization approach to qualitative data analysis. Four themes emerged around the definition of family: acceptance, sharing, chaos, and protective/loyal. Some mothers felt mealtime was merely obligatory, and described it as stressful. Some reported a preference for attending to their own needs instead of sitting down with their children, while others felt that mealtime should be used to interact with and educate children and felt guilty when they were not able to provide family meals. Three themes emerged around feelings towards having or not having family meals: unimportant, important, and guilty. When explored further, mothers indicated that using the feeling of guilt to encourage family meals might be effective. Data obtained are being used to develop innovative, emotion-based messages that will be tested for effectiveness in promoting family meals.
On fast Construction of SAH-based Bounding Volume Hierarchies

With ray traversal performance reaching the point where real-time ray tracing becomes practical, ray tracing research is now shifting away from faster traversal, and towards the question what has to be done to use it in truly interactive applications such as games. Such applications are problematic because when geometry changes every frame, the ray tracer's internal index data structures are no longer valid. Fully rebuilding all data structures every frame is the most general approach to handling changing geometry, but was long considered impractical except for grid-based grid based ray tracers, trivial scenes, or reduced quality of the index structure. In this paper, we investigate how some of the fast, approximate construction techniques that have recently been proposed for kd-trees can also be applied to bounding volume hierarchies (BVHs). We argue that these work even better for BVHs than they do for kd-trees, and demonstrate that when using those techniques, BVHs can be rebuilt up to 10times faster than competing kd-tree based techniques.
Feeding and fasting controls liver expression of a regulator of G protein signaling (Rgs16) in periportal hepatocytes

Background Heterotrimeric G protein signaling in liver helps maintain carbohydrate and lipid homeostasis. G protein signaling is activated by binding of extracellular ligands to G protein coupled receptors and inhibited inside cells by regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins. RGS proteins are GTPase activating proteins, and thereby regulate Gi and/or Gq class G proteins. RGS gene expression can be induced by the ligands they feedback regulate, and RGS gene expression can be used to mark tissues and cell-types when and where Gi/q signaling occurs. We characterized the expression of mouse RGS genes in liver during fasting and refeeding to identify novel signaling pathways controlling changes in liver metabolism.
Patients with schizophrenia demonstrate reduced cortical sensitivity to auditory oddball regularities.

Abstract Background Individuals with schizophrenia demonstrate deficits in context processing. These deficits can be characterized by examining the influence of auditory context on ERP responses to rare target tones. Previous studies demonstrate that target ERP deficits in schizophrenia depend on the number of non-targets that precede the target ERP. Our goal was to extend these findings by examining whether patients with schizophrenia demonstrate a reduced sensitivity to subtle differences in the auditory context preceding rare target stimuli, as quantified by Itti and Baldi's Bayesian prediction error model. Methods Cortical responses to auditory oddball tones were measured within 59 individuals with schizophrenia (SZ) and 59 controls (HC). Individual trial amplitudes were estimated by conducting group ICA on the EEG time series and analyzing the reconstructed individual temporal sources. We quantified the auditory context of target tones using the Bayesian prediction error model and determined whether ERP amplitudes to tones were sensitive to this measure of context, or the number of preceding non-targets directly, within HC and SZ. Results Individuals with schizophrenia show a significant reduction in ERP response amplitudes to targets approximately 244–412 ms following target onsets. Individual amplitudes within this window showed significantly greater sensitivity to the modeled prediction error within the controls than in individuals with schizophrenia. These differences approached significance when examining differences in amplitudes as a function of the number of preceding non-targets. Conclusions These findings further clarify differences in HC and SZ with regard to their attentional and perceptual sensitivity to subtle environmental regularities.
Structure of copolymers from polymerization of ethylene of polyvinyl acetate

The formation of “grafted” vinyl copolymers by polymerizing one monomer in the presence of a preformed vinyl polymer has been extended to a new monomer-polymer combination and one point of attachment of the lateral (grafted) polymer chain has been shown precisely. When ethylene was polymerized in the presence of polyvinyl acetate under a variety of conditions, modified polyvinyl acetates having lateral polyethylene chains were formed. Alkaline methanolysis of such modified polymers yielded mixtures of long-chain fatty acids and ethylene-modified polyvinyl alcohols (which were inseparable from any unmodified polyvinyl alcohol that may have been present). The hydrolysis to long-chain acids shows that polyvinyl acetate acts as a chain transfer agent and that one point of lateral growth of polyethylene chains is the CH3 in the acetoxy group of polyvinyl acetate. The second hydrolysis product, the ethylene-modified polyvinyl alcohol, shows that chain transfer, and subsequent growth of polyethylene chains, can also occur on the chain carbons of polyvinyl acetate. Oxidation of the ethylene-modified polyvinyl alcohols yielded a mixture of oxalic acid and long-chain fatty acids. At the low ethylene pressures studied (300 to 1200 p.s.i.) only traces to small amounts of low molecular weight polyethylene waxes were formed.
Mobile Text Messaging for Health: A Systematic Review of Reviews

The aim of this systematic review of reviews is to identify mobile text-messaging interventions designed for health improvement and behavior change and to derive recommendations for practice. We have compiled and reviewed existing systematic research reviews and meta-analyses to organize and summarize the text-messaging intervention evidence base, identify best-practice recommendations based on findings from multiple reviews, and explore implications for future research. Our review found that the majority of published text-messaging interventions were effective when addressing diabetes self-management, weight loss, physical activity, smoking cessation, and medication adherence for antiretroviral therapy. However, we found limited evidence across the population of studies and reviews to inform recommended intervention characteristics. Although strong evidence supports the value of integrating text-messaging interventions into public health practice, additional research is needed to establish longer-term intervention effects, identify recommended intervention characteristics, and explore issues of cost-effectiveness.
Does scale length matter? A comparison of nine- versus five-point rating scales for the mini-CEX.

Educators must often decide how many points to use in a rating scale. No studies have compared interrater reliability for different-length scales, and few have evaluated accuracy. This study sought to evaluate the interrater reliability and accuracy of mini-clinical evaluation exercise (mini-CEX) scores, comparing the traditional mini-CEX nine-point scale to a five-point scale. Methods: The authors conducted a validity study in an academic internal medicine residency program. Fifty-two program faculty participated. Participants rated videotaped resident-patient encounters using the mini-CEX with both a nine-point scale and a five-point scale. Some cases were scripted to reflect a specific level of competence (unsatisfactory, satisfactory, superior). Outcome measures included mini-CEX scores, accuracy (scores compared to scripted competence level), interrater reliability, and domain intercorrelation. Results: Interviewing, exam, counseling, and overall ratings varied significantly across levels of competence (P < .0001). Nine-point scale scores accurately classified competence more often (391/720 [54%] for overall ratings) than five-point scores (316/723 [44%], P < .0001). Interrater reliability was similar for scores from the nine- and five-point scales (0.43 and 0.40, respectively, for overall ratings). With the exception of correlation between exam and counseling scores using the five-point scale (r = 0.38, P = .13), score correlations among all domain combinations were high (r = 0.46–0.89) and statistically significant (P ≤ .015) for both scales. Conclusions: Mini-CEX scores demonstrated modest interrater reliability and accuracy. Although interrater reliability is similar for nine- and five-point scales, nine-point scales appear to provide more accurate scores. This has implications for many educational assessments.
Evaluation of an Ecological Interface Design for Military Command and Control

Two alternative interfaces developed for military command and control were evaluated. The theoretical frameworks and concepts used during their development are discussed, and the findings are related to larger issues in display, interface, and system design. Key aspects of cognitive systems engineering (CSE) and ecological interface design (EID) are discussed. An ecological interface was designed with principles of direct perception, direct manipulation, and visual momentum. An experimental version of an existing interface was also developed. An experiment was conducted with a synthetic task environment that incorporated scenarios of tactical operations. Participants were experienced army officers. Dependent variables included status reports for friendly and enemy resources and activities, subjective workload, and information access. Significant results favoring the ecological interface were obtained for six of seven dependent measures. The ecological interface was easy to learn, easy to use, and dramatically more effective than the existing interface. The results are interpreted from the CSE-EID perspective, but insights from naturalistic decision making and situation awareness are also described. The specific design features of the ecological interface are directly applicable to military command and control and similar domains; the overall CSE-EID approach is applicable to interface design for all work domains.