cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrocortical responses to emotional stimuli in psychotic disorders: Comparing schizophrenia spectrum disorders and affective psychosis

Emotion dysfunction has long been considered a cardinal feature across psychotic disorders, including schizophrenia and affective psychosis. However, few studies have used objective markers of emotional function to compare psychotic disorders to one another, and fewer studies have examined such markers within a longitudinal framework. Here, we examine one objective marker of emotional responsivity, the late positive potential (LPP), which is a centro-parietal event-related potential (ERP) that tracks the dynamic allocation of attention to emotional vs. neutral stimuli. We used the LPP to characterize abnormal emotional responsivity by relating it to negative, depressive, and psychotic symptoms among two clinical groups: individuals diagnosed with affective psychosis and individuals with schizophrenia. We also used a long-term longitudinal framework, examining concurrent associations between LPP amplitude and symptom severity, as well as prospective associations with symptoms 4 years later. Participants were 74 individuals with psychotic illness: 37 with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and 37 with a primary affective disorder (psychotic bipolar disorder, psychotic depression). There were no mean-level differences in LPP amplitude between the schizophrenia spectrum and primary affective psychosis group. In the primary affective psychosis group, reduced LPP amplitude was associated with greater depressive, negative, and psychotic symptom severity, both concurrently and at follow-up; associations between LPP and symptoms were not observed within the schizophrenia spectrum group. This pattern of results suggests that the neural correlates of emotion dysfunction may differ across psychotic disorders. One possibility is that schizophrenia is characterized by a decoupling of symptom severity and emotional processing. Such findings underscore the importance of analyzing transdiagnostic samples to determine common or specific symptom relationships across various patient populations.
Associations of early life and adulthood adiposity with risk of epithelial ovarian cancer

Abstract Background Few studies have evaluated the association between early life adiposity and ovarian cancer risk. Adiposity during different periods of life may be differentially associated with the risk. Patients and methods We prospectively followed 133 526 women in the Nurses' Health Study (NHS; 1980–2012) and NHSII (1989–2013). Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for incident ovarian cancer (N = 788) according to validated measures for early life adiposity [body mass index (BMI) at age 10 imputed from somatotype and recalled BMI at age 18) as well as BMI change between age 10 and 18 and after age 18 (current weight assessed on every biennial questionnaire since baseline). Results After mutual adjustment for BMI at age 10, BMI at age 18 and current BMI, the HR (95% CI) for ovarian cancer risk per 5 kg/m2 was 0.84 (0.74–0.96) for BMI at age 10 (P-trend = 0.01), 1.17 (1.03–1.33) for BMI at age 18 (P-trend = 0.02), and 1.06 (0.99–1.14) for current BMI (P-trend = 0.08). However, the inverse association with BMI at age 10 was attenuated after adjusting for BMI change between age 10 and 18 and BMI change after age 18 (HR per 5 kg/m2: 1.04; 95% CI 0.91–1.20; P-trend = 0.55). By contrast, BMI change between age 10 and 18 was strongly positively associated with ovarian cancer risk (HR per 5 kg/m2 increase: 1.24; 95% CI 1.11–1.39; P-trend = 0.0002), whereas BMI change since age 18 was only slightly associated with risk (HR per 5 kg/m2 increase: 1.06; 95% CI 0.99–1.14; P-trend = 0.10). These associations were in general stronger for premenopausal cases or non-serous tumors. Conclusion Early life changes in adiposity were more strongly associated with ovarian cancer risk than adulthood changes. The specific mechanisms underlying the associations with adiposity changes during early life warrant further investigation.
Proceedings of the 2nd international workshop on Scientific cloud computing

It is our great pleasure to welcome you to the 2011 ACM Workshop on Scientific Cloud Computing -- ScienceCloud2011. This year's workshop continues its tradition of being the premier forum for presentation of new research, development, and deployment efforts in running scientific computing workloads on Cloud Computing infrastructures. The ScienceCloud workshop focuses on the use of cloud-based technologies to meet new compute intensive and data intensive scientific challenges that are not well served by the current supercomputers, grids or commercial clouds. What architectural changes to the current cloud frameworks (hardware, operating systems, networking and/or programming models) are needed to support science? Dynamic information derived from remote instruments and coupled simulation and sensor ensembles are both important new science pathways and tremendous challenges for current HPC/HTC/MTC technologies. How can cloud technologies enable these new scientific approaches? How are scientists using clouds? Are there scientific HPC/HTC/MTC workloads that are suitable candidates to take advantage of emerging cloud computing resources with high efficiency? What benefits exist by adopting the cloud model, over clusters, grids, or supercomputers? What factors are limiting clouds use or would make them more usable/efficient? This workshop encourages interaction and cross-pollination between those developing applications, algorithms, software, hardware and networking, emphasizing scientific computing for such cloud platforms. It is an excellent place to help the community define the current state, determine future goals, and define architectures and services for future science clouds. The call for papers attracted 17 submissions. The program committee accepted 7 papers (41% acceptance rate) that cover a variety of topics, including resource management, applications and storage, and high-performance computing. In addition, the program includes an invited keynote presentation, an invited paper and presentation, and a panel on a topic related to the ScienceCloud workshop venue. We hope that these proceedings will serve as a valuable reference for researchers and developers trying to run scientific applications in the cloud.
Inhibition of the IGF-1–PI3K–Akt–mTORC2 pathway in lipid rafts increases neuronal vulnerability in a genetic lysosomal glycosphingolipidosis

Glycosphingolipid (GSL) accumulation is implicated in the neuropathology of several lysosomal conditions, such as Krabbe disease, and may also contribute to neuronal and glial dysfunction in adult-onset conditions such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis. GSLs accumulate in cellular membranes and disrupt their structure; however, how membrane disruption leads to cellular dysfunction remains unknown. Using authentic cellular and animal models for Krabbe disease, we provide a mechanism explaining the inactivation of lipid raft (LR)-associated IGF-1-PI3K-Akt-mTORC2, a pathway of crucial importance for neuronal function and survival. We show that psychosine, the GSL that accumulates in Krabbe disease, leads to a dose-dependent LR-mediated inhibition of this pathway by uncoupling IGF-1 receptor phosphorylation from downstream Akt activation. This occurs by interfering with the recruitment of PI3K and mTORC2 to LRs. Akt inhibition can be reversed by sustained IGF-1 stimulation, but only during a time window before psychosine accumulation reaches a threshold level. Our study shows a previously unknown connection between LR-dependent regulation of mTORC2 activity at the cell surface and a genetic neurodegenerative disease. Our results show that LR disruption by psychosine desensitizes cells to extracellular growth factors by inhibiting signal transmission from the plasma membrane to intracellular compartments. This mechanism serves also as a mechanistic model to understand how alterations of the membrane architecture by the progressive accumulation of lipids undermines cell function, with potential implications in other genetic sphingolipidoses and adult neurodegenerative conditions. This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Parents’ Valuation of Approving a Child’s Spouse in a Context of Marital Change:

Previous research on arranged marriage focuses on young people getting married. In this article, the author turns the focus toward parents, examining whether Nepali parents value approving their ch...
Prospective associations of happiness and optimism with lifestyle over up to two decades.

Abstract Greater levels of psychological well-being are associated with reduced disease and mortality risk, and lifestyle habits may be potential mechanisms underlying these relationships. Prospective studies show that positive psychological factors enhance the likelihood of adopting specific health behaviors; yet, whether they promote the adoption of multiple healthy behaviors, which can have a multiplicative effect on disease and mortality risk compared to individual behaviors, is unknown. We investigated whether happiness and optimism were related to a healthy lifestyle (characterized by multiple health behaviors) over 10–22 years of follow-up; we also explored bidirectional associations, assessing if a healthy lifestyle at baseline was related to greater likelihood of experiencing higher happiness and optimism over time. Women reported levels of happiness in 1992 (N = 52,133) and optimism in 2004 (N = 36,802). Health-related behaviors (physical activity, body mass index, diet, alcohol and tobacco consumption) were self-reported and combined into a lifestyle score, every four years from baseline until 2014. Multivariable generalized estimating equations with a Poisson distribution were used. Women with moderate and higher (versus lower) happiness levels were more likely to report sustaining healthy lifestyles (RR = 1.18, CI = 1.11–1.25; RR = 1.39, CI = 1.32–1.46, respectively). In secondary analyses, the magnitude of the inverse association was somewhat smaller (likelihood of sustaining higher happiness levels for baseline healthy versus unhealthy lifestyle, RR = 1.11, CI = 1.10–1.12). Results were similar when considering optimism as the exposure and in other secondary analyses (e.g., across individual habits). While bidirectional associations are apparent, these findings suggest pursuing happiness and optimism as modifiable determinants of lifestyle deserves further consideration.
Urban Heat Management in Louisville, Kentucky: A Framework for Climate Adaptation Planning:

We explore the potential for cities to develop urban heat management plans to moderate rising temperatures and to lessen the impact of extreme heat on human health. Specifically, we model the impac...
Cost-effectiveness of second curettage for treatment of low-risk non-metastatic gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.

Abstract Objective Low-risk non-metastatic gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) has been treated with single agent chemotherapy, but second curettage is emerging as an alternative strategy with reported cure rates of 40%. We sought to estimate the cost-effectiveness of second curettage as the first line treatment of low-risk GTN. Methods A decision-analytic model was created using TreeAge software to compare costs and outcomes for women with WHO staged low-risk GTN undergoing treatment with 5-day methotrexate (MTX), biweekly pulsed actinomycin-D, or second curettage. Probabilities were derived from the literature. Outcomes of interest included side effects from chemotherapy, need for additional agents, hemorrhage, uterine perforation, and cure rates. Utilities were applied to discounted life expectancy at a rate of 3% to generate quality adjusted life years (QALYs). Sensitivity analyses were then performed in order to assess the robustness of our assumptions. Results Of the three treatment arms, MTX was associated with the lowest cost and had similar QALYs to the other studied modalities. Second curettage was associated with 49 additional cures when applied to a theoretic cohort of 1000 women, as well as an additional 83 hemorrhages and 17 uterine perforations. Sensitivity analysis on the cure rate of second curettage revealed that second curettage was not cost-effective over MTX unless its probability of cure was 98%. Conclusion Our study found 5-day MTX was the cost-effective strategy for treatment of women with low-risk, non-metastatic GTN when compared to second curettage and actinomycin-D. In a carefully selected patient population, second curettage may be an additional treatment strategy.
Chapter 9 – Association Strategies

In 1918, Ronald Fisher published the groundbreaking work, “The Correlation Between Relatives on the Supposition of Mendelian Inheritance” in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Here, Fisher reconciled Mendel's Laws of Inheritance with Galton's observation of the apparent similarity that relatives show in continuous phenotypes. This seminal work not only laid the foundation for much of current genetic analytic thought but also defined the critical statistic variance which is the focus of much genetic analyses. The following century saw dramatic technological progress in measuring the human genome and with it largely the validation of Fisher's model for how genes influence complex traits. Nevertheless biology is complex and necessitates diverse methods for both common and rare variations, which are detailed in this chapter.
Expanding the boundaries of food policy: The turn to equity in New York City

Abstract Policymakers acknowledge that the food system is multidimensional and that social determinants affect diet-related health outcomes, yet cities have emphasized programs and policies narrowly connected to food access and nutritional health. Over the past fifteen years, the boundaries of food governance have expanded to include a wider range of issues and domains not previously considered within the purview of food policy, like labor, housing, and education policies. This paper illustrates the processes by which this shift occurs by presenting the case of New York City, which has broadened its food governance to a larger set of issues, requiring cross-sectoral initiatives that have led to a more expansive notion of food policy. This shift has resulted from an increased political salience of income inequality and poverty, and a change in municipal leadership that led to a greater emphasis on equity and social justice. Efforts to address equity affected the food system, and in turn led to diverse policies that have expanded the boundaries of food policy. The paper traces this evolution and outlines the implications of these findings for food governance and future urban food policy development and research.
Effects of curcumin on the bioavailability of dioxin-like pollutants in rats

The effects of curcumin on the bioavailability of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) were investigated in Sprague-Dawley rats. Tetra- and penta-chlorinated PCDFs had the lowest bioavailability and hexa-chlorinated PCDD/Fs had the highest, while there was no obvious change in that of DL-PCBs. Curcumin markedly reduced the toxic equivalent (TEQ) of PCDD/Fs in rats, illustrating the potential to competitively inhibit absorption of PCDD/Fs by the epithelial cells of the small intestine due to the similar chemical structure (diphenyl) between curcumin and PCDD/Fs. Moreover, curcumin lowered the TEQ of DL-PCBs in the liver of male rats, but not female rats. The significant decrease in the bioavailability of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs demonstrates the potential detoxification mechanisms of curcumin.
Charge injection characteristics of sputtered ruthenium oxide electrodes for neural stimulation and recording.

We have studied the charge-injection characteristics and electrochemical impedance of sputtered ruthenium oxide (RuOx ) films as electrode coatings for neural stimulation and recording electrodes. RuOx films were deposited by reactive DC magnetron sputtering, using a combination of water vapor and oxygen gas as reactive plasma constituents. The cathodal charge storage capacity of planar RuOx electrodes was found to be 54.6 ± 9.5 mC/cm2 (mean ± SD, n = 12), and the charge-injection capacity in a 0.2-ms cathodal current pulse was found to be 7.1 ± 0.3 mC/cm2 (mean ± SD, n = 15) at 0.6 V positive bias versus Ag|AgCl, in phosphate buffer saline at room temperature for ~250 nm thick films. In general, the RuOx films exhibited high charge-injection capacities, with or without a positive interpulse bias, comparable to sputtered iridium oxide (SIROF) coatings. The charge-injection capacity increased monotonically with film thickness from 120 to 630 nm, and reached 11.30 ± 0.34 mC/cm2 (mean ± SD, n = 5) at 0.6 V bias versus Ag|AgCl at 630 nm film thickness. In addition, RuOx films showed minimal changes in electrochemical characteristics over 1.5 billion cycles of constant current pulsing at a charge density of 408 μC/cm2 (8 nC/phase, 200 μs pulse width). The findings of low-impedance, high charge-injection capacity, and long-term pulsing stability suggest the suitability of RuOx as a comparatively inexpensive and favorable choice of electrode material for neural stimulation and recording.
Effects of Environmental Variables on Some Physiological Responses of Microtus Montanus under Natural Conditions (summary for 1976)

Multiannual cycles in population density are known for a number of microtine rodents. However, factors that govern various phases of the cycle are poorly understood. In other words, little is known to what degree environmental factors and physiological responses of the animals contribute to such cyclicity. The purpose of the present study was essentially fourfold: A. Characterization of environmental variables that might affect Microtus populations at three or four different times of the year. B. Investigation of growth, maturation, and reproductive activity of Microtus montanus under natural conditions. C. Study of maturation molts and seasonal pelage changes in Microtus montanus in relation to sex, age, and reproductive status. D. A correlation of the information obtained in #1-3 above. It is hoped that the results will help to elucidate causes underlying the multiannual fluctuations in population density of microtine rodents.
Molecular cloning of the mouse activin beta E subunit gene.

Abstract cDNA clones encoding a novel activin β subunit have been isolated from mouse liver cDNA library. An amino acid homology comparison among members of the TGF-β superfamily indicates that the open reading frame codes for a new activin/inhibin β subunit. The predicted mature region of the subunit shows >60% identity with activin βCand βDand ≥45% identity with activin βAand βB, but only 20-40% amino acid sequence identity with other TGF-β superfamily members. Therefore, the novel subunit has been designated activin βE. Alignment of the mature growth factor region of the five activin β subunits revealed that activin βAand βBshare 63% amino acid identity, while activin βC, βD, and βEshare 62% identity. Therefore, activin βAand βBare most related to one another, while activin βC, βD, and βEmay represent a subset of related sequences.
Empirical probability based QoS routing

We study the quality-of-service (QoS) schemes that make routing decisions based on empirical resource availability probability information. These empirical probability based routing schemes offer better performance than the traditional schemes that make routing decisions based on resource availability information when the global network state information is imprecise. We investigate variations of empirical probability based QoS routing, present a number of schemes to explicitly maintain the resource availability probability information, and evaluate the performance of the routing schemes. We conclude that the performance of empirical probability based routing is insensitive to the frequency of probability information updates and that empirical probability based routing can achieve good performance without introducing excessive overheads.
Glucocorticoid-Induced TNF Receptor Functions as a Costimulatory Receptor That Promotes Survival in Early Phases of T Cell Activation

Glucocorticoid-induced TNFR (GITR) is a member of the TNFR family that can inhibit the suppressive function of regulatory T cells and promote the survival and activation of T cells. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms regulating T cell survival and activation downstream of GITR. To gain further insight into the cellular events and signaling pathways triggered by GITR, survival, proliferation, and cytokine production as well as activation of MAPKs and NF-κB were monitored after cross-linking of the receptor on naive and activated T cells. GITR cross-linking provided costimulation of naive and activated T cells and resulted in activation of MAPKs and NF-κB. Although GITR-induced signaling pathways augmented the survival of naive T cells, they were not sufficient to inhibit activation-induced cell death triggered by CD3 cross-linking of activated T cells. Differences in the contributions of GITR to cell survival between naive and activated T cells suggest that the receptor triggers specific pathways depending on the activation state of the T cell.
A kernel between unordered sets of data: the Gaussian mixture approach

In this paper, we present a new kernel for unordered sets of data of the same type. It works by first fitting a set with a Gaussian mixture, then evaluate an efficient kernel on the two fitted Gaussian mixtures. Furthermore, we show that this kernel can be extended to sets embedded in a feature space implicitly defined by another kernel, where Gaussian mixtures are fitted with the kernelized EM algorithm [6], and the kernel for Gaussian mixtures are modified to use the outputs from the kernelized EM. All computation depends on data only through their inner products as evaluations of the base kernel. The kernel is computable in closed form, and being able to work in a feature space improves its flexibility and applicability. Its performance is evaluated in experiments on both synthesized and real data.
Toward a Myers-Briggs type indicator model of agent behavior in multiagent teams

This paper explores the use of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) as the basis for defining the personality of an agent. The MBTI is a well-known psychological theory of human personality. In the MBTI model, four axes are defined to explain how humans perceive their environment, how they interact with others and how they make decisions based on these traits. The work described here presents a preliminary model of agent behavior in which two of the axes are implemented, combining to reflect four distinct agent personality types. Experiments were conducted under three environmental conditions: single agent setting, homogeneous multiagent team, and heterogeneous multiagent team. Results are presented for each condition and are analyzed in comparison with the other conditions, as well as within the context of the expected MBTI behaviors given each environment and the simulated task. It is demonstrated that agents of each personality type produce very different results, distinct for and characteristic of each MBTI personality type.
Grandmother's Grandchild: My Crow Indian Life

Grandmother's Grandchild: My Crow Indian Life. Alma Hogan Snell and Becky Matthews. eds.; foreword by Peter Nabokov. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2000. 213 pp.
Dynamic Analysis of a Specific 2PRR Robotic Manipulator

Parallel mechanisms including the 2P RR have opened new horizons for the industrial robotics designer. Enhancements in terms of speed, stability, precision and cost reduction are attainable when compared to higher degree of freedom serial designs. This comes at the cost of a reduced workspace and a more challenging dynamic analysis. The nature of the closed kinematic chain dictates that the application of Newton-Euler analysis methods becomes cumbersome, as the systems of equations describing the dynamics must be solved simultaneously. Moreover, the use of these methods within the context of the parallel mechanism fails to provide designer with the insights apparent from an explicit model. The application of Lagrangian analysis techniques to this robotic linkage is sought as a means of both simplifying the solution of the resulting dynamics and gaining the perspective which only the insight offered by an explicit model can provide.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Formation of Singularities in Elastic Waves

This paper deals with the radial solutions of the dynamic equations for an isotropic homogeneous hyperelastic medium. It is shown that nontrivial solutions “blow up” (cease to exist in the proper sense) after a finite time, if: (a) The equations satisfy a certain “genuine nonlinearity condition”. (b) The initial data have compact support and are “sufficiently small”.
Defining lineage relationships of multiple lung tumors through shared large genomic rearrangements

The ability to determine the relatedness of synchronous tumors of the lung as independent primaries or metastasis, would greatly aid in directing optimal clinical treatment strategies. While the current gold standard of predicting tumor relatedness is based on the histopathological profile of each tumor, a more definitive measure based on genomic profiles would be more robust. Recent studies have demonstrated that somatic chromosomal rearrangements are frequent and unique observations in many tumors. We therefore endeavored to utilize the genomic rearrangement profiles of multiple lung tumors of the same patient to aid in predictions of their relatedness. Through mate pair library sequencing of DNA derived from pure laser capture microdissected tumor cell populations we were able to efficiently yield the rearrangement profiles of individual tumors. Initial studies demonstrated the utility of this methodology in defining lineage between adjacent tumors of differing grade. Subsequent application of this methodology on distal synchronous tumors from the same patient enabled robust predictions of metastatic disease or independent primary lesions. While the total number of rearrangements ranged extensively between tumors, the derivation of just small numbers of shared unique rearrangements in associated tumors, not present in the germ line of that patient, were highly predictive of tumor lineage. We envisage this protocol as a powerful clinical tool in aiding physicians in the treatment of multiple tumor nodules.
Honoring Elders, Aging, Authority and Ojibwe Religion

Michael McNally's Honoring Elders is an ethnographic and historical study of Great Lakes Anishnaabe (aka Ojibwe and Chippewa) elders that synthesizes personal experience with theory and archival re...
Deficiency of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 is protective against the prothrombotic effects of interleukin-1β.

Summary Background Proinflammatory cytokines are associated with cardiovascular diseases, including acute and recurrent myocardial infarction. However, the causal role of cytokines in thrombotic complications of atherosclerosis remains unclear. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is currently being targeted in a human clinical trial for the prevention of ischemic events. Objectives The purpose of the present study was to test the role of IL-1β in arterial thrombosis and a potential protective effect of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (Psgl-1) deficiency. Methods and results Wild-type and Psgl-1–deficient mice were treated with IL-1β and then subjected to carotid photochemical injury to induce thrombosis. IL-1β shortened the time to thrombosis in wild-type mice, while Psgl-1−/− mice were protected from the prothrombotic effects of IL-1β. A neutralizing antibody to Psgl-1 was also effective in protecting against the prothrombotic effects of IL-1β. The protective effect of Psgl-1 deficiency was associated with reduced plasma levels of soluble P-selectin and collagen-stimulated whole blood aggregation. Conclusions Our data demonstrate that Psgl-1 deficiency is protective against the prothrombotic effects of IL-1β and suggest that Psgl-1 inhibition may be a useful treatment strategy for targeting vascular thrombosis associated with enhanced inflammatory states.
Smoothing using fractional polynomials: an alternative to polynomials and splines in applied research

The fractional polynomial regression model is an emerging tool in applied research. Overcoming inherent problems associated with a polynomial expansion and splines, fractional polynomial models provide an alternate approach for modeling nonlinear relationships. In this article, we introduce the univariable and multivariable fractional polynomial model and highlight important aspects of their construction. Because of the curvilinear nature of fractional polynomial models, functional tables and functional plots are emphasized for model interpretation. We present two examples to illustrate fractional polynomial models for their selection and interpretation in applied research. WIREs Comput Stat 2015, 7:275–283. doi: 10.1002/wics.1355 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website. Conflict of interest: The authors have declared no conflicts of interest for this article.
A regular architecture for operating system

This paper describes an object-oriented operating system with regular architecture and minimal functionally complete set of primitives. It also considers the possibility of implementation of efficient system with this architecture on von Neumann machines.
In vitro evaluation of ureteral perforation forces.

The average maximal force to avulse the pig ureter was 2.21 0.43 pound-mass (lbm). The force required to perforate the porcine ureter was significantly greater than that required to perforate the human ureter, irrespective of whether a needle (1.70 0.26 lbm versus 1.05 0.29 lbm, P 0.019) or guidewire (1.30 0.25 lbm versus 0.79 0.25 lbm, P 0.013) was used. Greater force was required to perforate with the needle than with the guidewire in both the porcine (P 0.037) and the human (P 0.26) ureter. CONCLUSIONS Quantifying the ureteral perforation forces will facilitate the design of endourologic devices, open the door for “smart devices” that sense forces and provide feedback, provide information critical to the design of endourologic and suturing simulators, and, finally, establish competency parameters for professionals in training. UROLOGY 70: 592‐595, 2007. © 2007 Elsevier Inc.
Structure properties of W matrices

Abstract We continue an investigation of the class W of real square matrices. A matrix belongs to W if and only if certain pairs of its complementary cones intersect in the zero vector only. We show that a W matrix with no zero diagonal entries is a P 0 matrix (each principal minor is nonnegative), and a W matrix with no nonzero diagonal entries is a nonnegative matrix which either is monomial or has a zero column. Lastly, we show how these two results impose certain necessary conditions on the structure of a W matrix.
Field emission testing of carbon nanotubes for THz frequency vacuum microtube sources

A carbon nanotube-based high current density electron field emission source is under development at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for submillimeter-wave power generation (300 GHz to 3 THz). This source is the basis for a novel vacuum microtube component: the nanoklystron. The nanoklystron is a monolithically fabricated reflex klystron with dimensions in the micrometer range. The goal is to operate this device at much lower voltages than would be required with hot-electron sources and at much higher frequencies than have ever been demonstrated. Both single-walled (SWNTs) as well as multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs) are being tested as potential field-emission sources. This paper presents initial results and observations of these field emission tests. SWNTs and MWNTs were fabricated using standard CVD techniques. The tube density was higher in the case of MWNT samples. As previously reported, high-density samples suffered from enhanced screening effect thus decreasing their total electron emission. The highest emission currents were measured from disordered, less dense MWNTs and were found to be ~0.63 mA @ 3.6 V/μm (sample 1) and ~3.55 mA @ 6.25 V/μm (sample 2). The high density vertically aligned MWNTs showed low field emission as predicted: 0.31 mA @ 4.7 V/μm.
Reproducibility of ultrasound scan in the assessment of volume flow in the veins of the lower extremities

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was the identification of the optimal settings of ultrasound scan flow measurement in the veins and the determination of whether the standardization of these settings can provide acceptable reproducibility of the venous flow measurements in individual segments of the lower extremity veins. Methods: The venous cross-sectional area, the time average mean velocity, and the venous volume flow of 25 healthy volunteers were examined with duplex ultrasound scanning. Reproducibility was examined with different measurement settings. Doppler scan sample volume size, ultrasound scan beam incident angle, and time interval of measurement were varied across a spectrum for arrival at the setting for highest reproducibility of the flow volume measurements. Test-retest reproducibility of venous flow volume measurements then was investigated with optimized settings. Results: The highest repeatability of volume flow measurements was achieved when the full lumen of the vein was insonated (coefficient of repeatability [CR] = 1.88 cm/s), the ultrasound scan beam incident angle was equal to 60 degrees (CR = 1.56 cm/s), and the measurement time was more than 40 seconds (CR = 1.64 cm/s). The mean values of volume flow were 360 mL/min in the common femoral vein, 147 mL/min in the superficial femoral vein, 86 mL/min in the profunda femoral vein, and 38 mL/min in the greater saphenous vein. Test-retest repeatability coefficients were 96.9 mL/min for the common femoral vein, 70.2 mL/min for the superficial femoral vein, 40.8 mL/min for the profunda femoral vein, and 16.8 mL/min for the greater saphenous vein. Conclusion: The reproducibility of ultrasound scan measurements of volume flow in veins is optimized with the use of sampling volumes that cover the entire venous lumen, with an incident angle of 60 degrees and measuring for 40-second intervals or longer. With these defined variables, volumetric measurements are sufficiently repeatable. the values of flow volume measured with duplex ultrasound scanning were comparable to those with thermodilution techniques that were reported previously. (J Vasc Surg 2002;35:527-31.)
Integrated fiber-wireless networks: What, why and how

Recent popularization of video-centric handheld devices including smart phones and computer tablets has led to a sharp increase in the demand for wired and wireless data capacity and coverage towards the edge of modern communication networks. Since these devices are operated mostly from inside buildings, in-building coverage and capacity have also become critical components of wireless networks. But poor propagation of wireless signals inside buildings leads to significant performance degradation of wireless systems in terms of both coverage and capacity. As a result, a high density of antennas is needed to provide the required performance. Due to its inherent large bandwidth, optical fiber is ideally suited to provide flexible backbone infrastructure of high-capacity wireless networks. By employing analog radio-over-fiber signal transmission techniques, highly transparent fiber-wireless networks, which are ideal for multi-standard wireless system operation can be realized. We have demonstrated multiple simple techniques that may be used solve many technical challenges faced when analog signal transport is employed. Using simple and practical solutions, we have experimentally demonstrated ultra high-capacity radio-over-fiber systems operating at > 30 Gb/s.
Augmenting real-time video with virtual models for enhanced visualization for simulation, teaching, training and guidance

In minimally invasive surgical interventions direct visualization of the target area is often not available. Instead, clinicians rely on images from various sources, along with surgical navigation systems for guidance. These spatial localization and tracking systems function much like the Global Positioning Systems (GPS) that we are all well familiar with. In this work we demonstrate how the video feed from a typical camera, which could mimic a laparoscopic or endoscopic camera used during an interventional procedure, can be used to identify the pose of the camera with respect to the viewed scene and augment the video feed with computer-generated information, such as rendering of internal anatomy not visible beyond the imaged surface, resulting in a simple augmented reality environment. This paper describes the software and hardware environment and methodology for augmenting the real world with virtual models extracted from medical images to provide enhanced visualization beyond the surface view achieved using traditional imaging. Following intrinsic and extrinsic camera calibration, the technique was implemented and demonstrated using a LEGO structure phantom, as well as a 3D-printed patient-specific left atrial phantom. We assessed the quality of the overlay according to fiducial localization, fiducial registration, and target registration errors, as well as the overlay offset error. Using the software extensions we developed in conjunction with common webcams it is possible to achieve tracking accuracy comparable to that seen with significantly more expensive hardware, leading to target registration errors on the order of 2 mm.
Effect of certain drugs on perfused human placenta. X. Norepinephrine release by bradykinin.

Abstract Norepinephrine was detectable chemically in the placental perfusate in two separate instances: (a) endogenously, when the initial control pressor response to bradykinin was observed to be significantly higher than those following, and (b) during the bradykinin response that followed the administration of exogenous norepinephrine. Additionally, the pressor response observed with bradykinin was augmented by the prior administration of norepinephrine. Tritium-labeled norepinephrine was administered to the placenta in an attempt to understand better the type of storage taking place, but characterization of the uptake was not possible. The pressor response that bradykinin exerted upon the placenta was not diminished by the preadministration of the parasympatholytic, atropine, or the antiserotonin and antihistaminic drug, diphenhydramine. Administration of α-adrenergic blocking agents to the placenta did, on occasion, reduce the pressor response to bradykinin. However, the evaluation suggests that there is no statistical difference between the pressor response to bradykinin before the administration of phenoxybenzamine, tolazoline, or phentolamine and those responses to bradykinin after their administration.
Desorption induced by femtosecond laser pulses

The yield and final-state distributions in translational and internal degrees of freedom have been established for NO molecules desorbed from a Pd(111) surface by 200-fs pulses of 2.0-eV photons. Among the significant characteristics of the desorption process are the large cross section and the high vibrational energy content (${\mathit{T}}_{\mathit{v}}$g2000 K) of the desorbed molecules. A comparison with the behavior for nanosecond laser pulses indicates that a new desorption mechanism, distinct from either conventional thermal or photochemical processes, is operative in this regime.
Abstract PR-8: Gene-environment interactions between JAZF1 and occupational and neighborhood lead exposure in African American prostate cancer cases

African American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the world and have substantially higher rates of prostate cancer when compared to white men in the U.S. The cause(s) for this race disparity remains elusive. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs10486567, in intron 2 of juxtaposed with another zinc finger protein 1 (JAZF1) has been associated with increased risk of prostate cancer in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and may be key to uncovering reasons for disparities in the disease. JAZF1 is a cysteine-hystidine structured zinc finger protein, a type of protein that has been shown to interact with lead in vitro. Lead is recognized as a probable carcinogen in humans and African American men who are residentially segregated to industrialized urban environments in the U.S. have higher blood lead levels on average compared to white men. In a case-only study of 228 African American men with prostate cancer diagnosed at a large health system in the Detroit Metropolitan area, we assessed gene-environment interactions (GxE) between rs10486567 (CC vs. CT/TT genotype) and two sources of lead exposure. Lifetime occupational lead exposure was determined through industrial hygiene review of extensive face-to-face interviews. Neighborhood lead exposure, defined as the median proportion of census tract housing built before 1950 (≥ 47% vs. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2010;19(10 Suppl):PR-8.
Immediate and long-term results of surgical management of low imperforate anus in girls

Abstract Background : The majority of girls with imperforate anus are reported to have a malformation of the low variety. Despite this, much of the literature has focused on the more complex, higb lesions. Methods : This study reviews our experience with 44 girls with low imperforate anus from a 22-year period. Results : The incidence of associated anomalies was 61%, which is higher than generally reported. All patients in the study had anal fistulae. Fifty-seven percent had perineal fistulae, 23% had fourchette fistulae, and 20% had vestibular fistulae: Cutback anoplasty was performed in 55%, Potts transfer anoplasty was used in 27%, and 18% of patients were treated with either limited posterior sagittal anorectoplasty or anterior sagittal anorectoplasty. Surgical complications were uncommon. Long-term follow-up was carried out by telephone survey. This showed 89% of the girls to be successfully toilet trained. However, 47% of patients experience at least occasional soilage or episodic fecal incontinence. Conclusions : Low imperforate anus can be successfully treated using a variety of procedures without colostomy. Most girls with low imperforate anus are successfully toilet trained, but problems with continence persist in a significant number of these patients.
Anesthesia for Noncardiac Surgery in Pediatric Patients Following Cardiac Transplantation

Pediatric cardiac transplantation has been performed with increasing frequency to treat hypoplastic left heart syn drome and other types of congenital heart disease. A large number of these patients will require anesthesia posttrans plantation for noncardiac surgery. A review of our series of 92 anesthetics in 46 patients has better defined periopera tive risk factors, anesthetic management, common surgical procedures, and complications associated with noncardiac surgery in posttransplantation patients. Anesthetic manage ment concerns include allograft coronary artery disease, graft rejection, denervation, cardiac dysrhythmias, immuno suppression, cyclosporine-induced hypertension, drug inter actions, renal dysfunction, and intravenous access prob lems. Preoperative evaluation must include the possibility and definition of these problems. Medically stable patients undergoing noncardiac/nonthoracic surgery after cardiac transplantation undergo the same surgical procedures as similarly aged nontransplantati...
Adrenal enkephalin and catecholamine contents following subarachnoid hemorrhage in cats.

Abstract A “closed space” subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) was produced experimentally in cats by rupture of the right middle cerebral artery to test the working hypothesis that a stressful event which provokes powerful sympathoadrenal discharge: (a) causes a massive release of co-stored endogenous enkephalins together with catecholamines, (b) induces an increased rate of opioid peptide precursor processing and/or synthesis, and (c) eventually results in markedly elevated tissue levels of enkephalins relative to controls and to co-stored catecholamines. Adrenal medulla and other tissues were analyzed for met- and leu-enkephalins by RIAs and norepinephrine and epinephrine by HPLC-EC at 4 hrs, 3, 10, 16 and 30 days post-SAH. Catecholamines of adrenal medulla were already decreased at 4 hrs and by 3 days post-SAH depletion of epinephrine reached 86% and norepinephrine 53% compared to controls. Concurrently, at 4 hrs and 3 days post-SAH, the adrenal medulla was depleted 47% of met- and 53% of leu-enkephalins. By 10 days post-SAH, when catecholamines had regained control levels, met-enkephalin was elevated to 240% of control and 435% compared to the 3 day depletion; it remained elevated through 30 days post-SAH. In comparison, after 10 days reserpine treatment when catecholamines were markedly depleted, met-enkephalin rose to 970% and leu-enkephalin to 360% relative to controls, confirming recent reports in the literature. The data suggest that release of enkephalins originates primarily from epinephrine-type cells of the adrenal medulla in cat.
Damage increases the flexibility of duplex DNA

It is proposed that much of the recognition of specific types of damaged DNAs is based on accessible structural features, while much of the recognition of damaged DNAs, as a class, is based on flexibility. The more flexible a DNA the faster its diffusion rate. The diffusion rates of each member of a series of damaged duplex DNAs has been found to be significantly faster than that of the corresponding undamaged duplex DNA. The damaged sites studied include apurinic and apyrimidinic a basic sites, thymine glycol and urea. The presence of mismatched sites also increases the diffusion. Thus, damaged DNAs appear to have sufficient flexibility for recognition and the flexibility may allow damaged sites to act as a universal joint or hinge that allows distant sites on the DNA to come together.
On the inverse problem for the Dirac operator

In this paper we study the inverse scattering problem and the inverse boundary value problem for the Dirac operator with compact supported potential. We prove a 'gauge equation' for two potentials of arbitrary forms when their corresponding scattering amplitudes at fixed energy or Dirichlet-to-Dirichlet maps are the same. We also use this equation to determine the generalized magnetic potential up to a gauge equivalent class.