cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neuronal activities underlying inspiratory termination by pneumotaxic mechanisms.

Abstract The purpose was to identify and characterize the discharge patterns of pontile neurons which are responsible for the termination of inspiratory activity. Phrenic discharge is prolonged following destruction of neurons at the junction of mesencephalon and pons by neurotoxins. Neuronal activities were recorded in this region in decebrate, vagotomized, paralyzed and ventilated cats. At normocapnia, neurons had tonic discharge patterns, most of which were linked to phasic periods of phrenic activity. Peak activities occurred in late neural inspiration or early expiration. In hypercapnia, neuronal discharge frequencies did not increase, rather activity became more concentrated during one portion of the respiratory cycle. In severe hypoxia, neuronal activities diminished in parallel with prolongations of phrenic discharge and establishment of apneusis. During recovery, some neurons transiently acquired phasic, respiratory-modulated discharge patterns. Neuronal activities from neighboring regions did not exhibit comparable changes in hypercapnia or hypoxia. We conclude that rostral pontile neuronal activities are a primary determinant of teh reversible and irreversible terminations of eupneic inspiratory activity.
A mechanical heart-lung apparatus with gas dispersion-centrifugal aerator.

Summary1. A heart-lung apparatus employing the principles of gas dispersion and centrifugation is described. 2. The apparatus presents certain advantages: a. No foreign substances other than anticoagulants need be added to the blood, b. Parts coming into contact with the blood can be sterilized by autoclaving. c. Over three liters of blood per minute can be completely oxygenated and defoamed in the apparatus in its present form, and this capacity can be greatly increased. 3. The apparatus can substitute for the respiratory function of the lungs in dogs for at least 30 minutes, with permanent survival of the animal.
Menstrual pattern changes from levonorgestrel subdermal implants and DMPA: systematic review and evidence-based comparisons.

Abstract Background Many women want a lengthy duration of contraception but are wary of the menstrual changes from depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA). A subdermal levonorgestrel (LNG) implant may be a reasonable alternative. However, information on menstrual changes from these methods has not been summarized and compared in an easy-to-understand form. Study Design We systematically reviewed the published literature on these contraceptives to find research that used menstrual diaries and standard World Health Organization definitions. We attempted to find information on amenorrhea, number of bleeding or spotting episodes, number of bleeding or spotting days and normal patterns, as reported in four consecutive 90-day reference periods. Results We found 16 published articles meeting our criteria and involving diaries of up to 1600 DMPA users and 2300 LNG implant users. We were able to compare the two methods on only three outcomes. For DMPA use, the weighted prevalence of amenorrhea at successive 90-day periods was 12%, 25%, 37% and 46%. The comparable estimates for the LNG implant were 11%, 13%, 9% and 13%. Levonorgestrel implant users experienced a higher average number of bleeding or spotting days compared to DMPA users, but this average was similar to what is expected naturally. At 12 months, normal menstrual patterns were experienced by 23% of LNG implant users compared to 11% of DMPA users. Conclusions Like most hormonal contraception, LNG implants usually produce menstrual changes; however, the changes do not appear to deviate from normal patterns as much as the changes from DMPA. Understanding these differences and other method attributes might help women make an informed choice about which contraceptive to use.
Movement-Related Discharge in the Cerebellar Nuclei Persists After Local Injections of GABAA Antagonists

Limb movement-related neurons in the cerebellar nuclei (CN) typically produce bursts of discharge in association with movement. Consequently, given the inhibitory nature of the Purkinje cell (PC) p...
Dynamic Simulations of Autoregressive Relationships

This postestimation technique produces dynamic simulations of autoregressive ordinary least-squares models.
Nutritional Studies of Vegetarians IV. Dietary Fatty Acids and Serum Cholesterol Levels

mThe serum cholesterol levels of these groups as related to fat intake2 and the fiber in the diet3 have also been reported. This report presents the component fatty acids and the iodine values of fats consumed by these subjects, and their correlations with the serum cholesterol values. A table of fatty acids compiled by us4 and a more recent one by the Department of Agriculture5 were used as the basis for these calcula
Atrial Tachycardia Originating from a Single Site with Exit Block Mimicking Atrial Fibrillation Eliminated with Radiofrequency Applications

We describe the case of a patient who has a right atrial tachycardia and atrial fibrillation who was found to have a single site responsible for both. We recorded a tachycardia from this site with exit block into the remainder of the atria.
Waves in the ocean and atmosphere : introduction to wave dynamics

1 Introduction.- 2 Kinematic Generalization.- 3 Equations of Motion Surface Gravity Waves.- 4 Fields of Motion in Gravity Waves and Energy.- 5 The Initial Value Problem.- 6 Discussion of Initial Value Problem [Continued).- 7 Internal Gravity Waves.- 8 Internal Waves, Group Velocity and Reflection.- 9 WKB Theory for Internal Gravity Waves.- 10 Vertical Propagation of Waves: Steady Flow and the Radiation Condition.- 11 Rotation and Potential Vorticity.- 12 Large-Scale Hydrostatic Motions.- 13 Shallow Water Waves in a Rotating Fluid Poincare and Kelvin Waves.- 14 Rossby Waves.- 15 Rossby Waves (Continued), Quasi-Geostrophy.- 16 Energy and Energy Flux in Rossby Waves.- 17 Laplace Tidal Equations and the Vertical Structure Equation.- 18 Equatorial Beta-Plane and Equatorial Waves.- 19 Stratified Quasi-Geostrophic Motion and Instability Waves.- 20 Energy Equation and Necessary Conditions for Instability.- 21 Wave-Mean Flow Interaction.- Problems.- References.
CSL: a cost-sensitive learning system for sensing and grasping objects

The goal of the research reported is to build a learning robot which can survive in an unknown environment for a long time. Such a robot must learn which sensors to use, where to use them, and how to generate an inexpensive and reliable robot control procedure to accomplish its task. This is beyond machine learning methods because they usually ignore robot execution costs and are ill-prepared to handle failures. A cost-sensitive, noise-tolerant and inductive robot learning system, CSL, that represents the first steps toward achieving this goal is described, emphasizing the cost and noise issues in learning. CSL has been implemented in a real-world robot for sensing objects and selecting their grasping procedures. >
An improved method of flexible endoscopic creation of tracheoesophageal fistula for voice restoration

We present improvements of a previously reported method of tracheoesophageal puncture for voice restoration in postlaryngectomy patients. Our method utilizes a flexible endoscope to enable the tracheoesophageal puncture to be made under direct visualization using only local anesthesia and intravenous sedation. After 3 days, the created tracheoesophageal fistula tract is mature enough to allow placement of a voice prosthesis in the office. This allows the entire procedure to be performed in an outpatient setting with minimal risk.
Peptide-polymer bioconjugates: hybrid block copolymers generated via living radical polymerizations from resin-supported peptides

A novel strategy for the preparation of peptidic-synthetic bioconjugate block copolymers is based upon sequential condensation and living radical addition polymerizations, each performed upon a solid support.
A Real-time Continuous Automatic Focus Algorithm for Digital Cameras

Most conventional continuous auto-focus algorithms appearing in the literature fail to address how to focus on a desired near object when there are multiple objects in the scene, especially in the presence of a high contrast background. The stability and responsiveness of these methods also hinge on hard-to-set thresholds. In this paper, a multiple-window, rule-based, continuous auto-focus method is presented which is capable of focusing on a desired object and deploys easy-to-set thresholds which control stability and responsiveness. This method has been implemented for real-time use on the Texas Instruments Digital Camera Development System powered by the DM320 media processor. Experimental results show that the method provides stable and responsive focusing suitable for both live preview and movie modes of digital still/video cameras
High-level Synthesis for Highly Concurrent Hardware Systems

This paper presents new approaches for high-level synthesis of highly concurrent hardware systems modeled with timed marked graphs. Unlike control data flow graphs (CDFGs) used in most high-level synthesis works, timed marked graphs can easily express highly concurrent hardware systems, including those with pipelined and multithreading behaviors. We first propose both exact and heuristic scheduling and allocation algorithms without considering binding. These algorithms, however, do not allow the cost associated with binding to be included. Thus, we propose concurrent scheduling and binding algorithms that include control complexity. Lastly, we describe and compare experimental results on a variety of digital signal processing (DSP) applications.
Stable Interactions and Sustained TCR Signaling Characterize Thymocyte–Thymocyte Interactions that Support Negative Selection

Negative selection is one of the primary mechanisms that render T cells tolerant to self. Thymic dendritic cells play an important role in negative selection, in line with their ability to induce migratory arrest and sustained TCR signals. Thymocytes themselves display self-peptide/MHC class I complexes, and although there is evidence that they can support clonal deletion, it is not clear whether they do so directly via stable cell–cell contacts and sustained TCR signals. In this study, we show that murine thymocytes can support surprisingly efficient negative selection of Ag-specific thymocytes. Furthermore, we observe that agonist-dependent thymocyte–thymocyte interactions occurred as stable, motile conjugates led by the peptide-presenting thymocyte and in which the trailing peptide-specific thymocyte exhibited persistent elevations in intracellular calcium concentration. These data confirm that self-Ag presentation by thymocytes is an additional mechanism to ensure T cell tolerance and further strengthen the correlation between stable cellular contacts, sustained TCR signals, and efficient negative selection.
Pulmonary and leg VO2 during submaximal exercise: implications for muscular efficiency

Insights into muscle energetics during exercise (e.g., muscular efficiency) are often inferred from measurements of pulmonary gas exchange. This procedure presupposes that changes of pulmonary O2 (VO2) associated with increases of external work reflect accurately the increased muscle VO2. The present investigation addressed this issue directly by making simultaneous determinations of pulmonary and leg VO2 over a range of work rates calculated to elicit 20-90% of maximum VO2 on the basis of prior incremental (25 or 30 W/min) cycle ergometry. VO2 for both legs was calculated as the product of twice one-leg blood flow (constant-infusion thermodilution) and arteriovenous O2 content difference across the leg. Measurements were made 3-5 min after each work rate imposition to avoid incorporation of the VO2 slow component above the lactate threshold. For all 17 subjects, the slope of pulmonary VO2 (9.9 +/- 0.2 ml O2.W-1.min-1) was not different (P greater than 0.05) from that for leg VO2 (9.2 +/- 0.6 ml O2.W-1.min-1). Estimation of "delta" efficiency (i.e., delta work accomplished divided by delta energy expended, calculated from slope of VO2 vs. work rate and a caloric equivalent for O2 of 4.985 cal/ml) using pulmonary VO2 measurements (29.1 +/- 0.6%) was likewise not significantly different (P greater than 0.05) from that made using leg VO2 measurements (33.7 +/- 2.4%). These data suggest that the net VO2 cost of metabolic "support" processes outside the exercising legs changes little over a relatively broad range of exercise intensities. Thus, under the conditions of this investigation, changes of VO2 measured from expired gas reflected closely those occurring within the exercising legs.
Syntheses and magnetic properties of Cr2Te3 and CuCr2Te4 nanocrystals.

The Cr-based tellurides are attractive material systems for fundamental studies and potential applications. Colloidal syntheses of ferromagnetic Cr2Te3 and CuCr2Te4 nanocrystals with uniform morphology and narrow size distribution are reported together with their detailed magnetic characterisation.
Studies of Apolipoprotein B And Lipoprotein(a) in Transgenic Mice

Two of the many differences in lipoprotein metabolism between mice and humans are a predominance of high density lipoproteins (HDL) in mice compared with high levels of low density lipoproteins (LDL) in humans, and the lack of either apolipoprotein(a) (apo[a]) or lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) in the mouse. In order to develop a strain of mice with higher levels of LDL and with Lp(a), a Pl phagemid library was screened for a human apoB genomic clone. A clone containing the entire human apoB gene was isolated and used to create multiple lines of mice expressing high levels of human apoB. The lipoproteins of the human apoB transgenic animals differed from control mice due to the presence of significant amounts of low-density lipoprotein particles containing human apoB1. The human apoB transgenic mice were crossed with a previously described line of transgenic mice expressing human apo(a) cDNA2. The resulting combined transgenic animals expressing both human apoB and human apo(a) produced an Lp(a) particle sharing many properties with Lp(a) present in the plasma of humans. The present series of transgenic animals will serve as useful substrates to address issues relevant to LDL and Lp(a) that are difficult to approach in either humans or naturally occurring animal models.
Medicine and Religion in Ancient Egypt

Seminal works on ancient Egyptian medicine tend to treat the field as distinct from religious practices, often fixating on the medical papyri as exemplifying either rational or magical treatments. Refocusing the study towards the ancient Egyptian conceptions of physiology and disease etiology shows that their medical practices integrated religious concepts such as maat (balance) and heka (power). Therapeutic measures and titles for healers, swnw, wab priest, and sau, further underscored the physical interchange between the mortal and divine worlds for the ancient Egyptians.
MOTOR DEVELOPMENT PROFILES OF PRESCHOOL DEAF AND HARD-OF-HEARING CHILDREN

11 deaf and hard-of-hearing preschool children generally exhibited normal or at-age profiles of motor development. The few delays in certain functional areas were assumed to be due partially to lack of training and play experience rather than to deafness or hearing impairment. Two boys had a variety of motor and physical problems. Also some of the at-age children functioned above-age in a few skill areas. Two of the 4 children who demonstrated specific balance skill deficits had had meningitis at an early age; this supported the rationale that there was a relationship between etiology of meningitis and specific balance difficulties.
Diapause maintenance and termination in grape berry moth (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Abstract We studied pupal diapause maintenance and termination in Endopiza viteana, a pest of commercially grown grapes. We observed considerable variation in diapause intensity, which ranged from 5.5 to 10 mo under natural temperatures and photoperiods. Adult males tended to emerge from diapause slightly earlier than females, suggesting that E. viteana may be protandrous. In the field, low temperatures maintained diapause in overwintering pupae, and adult emergence began at ≈148 degree-days accumulated from 1 January. Photoperiod did not influence diapause termination in E. viteana. Overall, most adults emerged in spring at roughly the same time, regardless of the date at which pupae entered diapause; however, emergence was extended over a 6-wk period. Moreover, eggs oviposited by late-emerging females may experience photoperiods that would lead to diapause in pupae. Under natural conditions, extended adult emergence may result in overlapping generations; accordingly, coordinating the timing of control t...
An Age Adjusted Comorbidity Index to Predict Long-Term, Other Cause Mortality in Men with Prostate Cancer

Purpose: Accurate estimation of life expectancy is critical for men considering aggressive vs nonaggressive treatment of early stage prostate cancer. We created an age adjusted comorbidity index that predicts other cause mortality in men with prostate cancer.Materials and Methods: We sampled 1,598 men consecutively diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1998 and 2004 at West Los Angeles and Long Beach Veterans Affairs hospitals. We used competing risks regression in testing and validation cohorts to determine the risk of nonprostate cancer related (ie other cause) mortality associated with age at diagnosis and PCCI score. We converted risk into a 10-point scoring system and calculated 2, 5 and 10-year cumulative incidence of other cause mortality by age adjusted PCCI scores.Results: PCCI score and age were associated with similar hazards of other cause mortality in the testing and validation cohorts. Each 6-year increase in age at diagnosis of greater than 60 was equivalent to 1 additional PCCI point. Aft...
Contradicting Fears, California’s Nurse-To-Patient Mandate Did Not Reduce The Skill Level Of The Nursing Workforce In Hospitals

When California passed a law in 1999 establishing minimum nurse-to-patient staffing ratios for hospitals, it was feared that hospitals might respond by disproportionately hiring lower-skill licensed vocational nurses. This article examines nurse staffing ratios for California hospitals for the period 1997–2008. It compares staffing levels to those in similar hospitals in the United States. We found that California’s mandate did not reduce the nurse workforce skill level as feared. Instead, California hospitals on average followed the trend of hospitals nationally by increasing their nursing skill mix, and they primarily used more highly skilled registered nurses to meet the staffing mandate. In addition, we found that the staffing mandate resulted in roughly an additional half-hour of nursing per adjusted patient day beyond what would have been expected in the absence of the policy. Policy makers in other states can look to California’s experience when considering similar approaches to improving patient care.
Perilesional edema in radiation necrosis reflects axonal degeneration

Background Recently, we characterized a Gamma Knife® radiation necrosis mouse model with various magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocols to identify biomarkers useful in differentiation from tumors. Though the irradiation was focal to one hemisphere, a contralateral injury was observed that appeared to be localized in the white matter only. Interestingly, this injury was identifiable in T2-weighted images, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and magnetization transfer ratio (MTR) maps, but not on post-contrast T1-weighted images. This observation of edema independent of vascular changes is akin to the perilesional edema seen in clinical radiation necrosis.
Strong Selective Pressure for Evolution of an Epstein-Barr Virus LMP2B Homologue in the Rhesus Lymphocryptovirus

Latent membrane protein 2B (LMP2B) is expressed during latent Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection, but little is known about its role. The goal of this study was to determine whether an LMP2B homologue is conserved in the rhesus monkey lymphocryptovirus (LCV). Both rhesus LCV LMP2A and LMP2B genes were cloned and sequenced. The rhesus LCV LMP2B gene is positionally conserved, and the EBNA-2 responsiveness and the bidirectional nature of the LMP1-LMP2B promoter have also been functionally conserved. However, this region of the genome encoding the LMP1, LMP1-LMP2B promoter, and LMP2B first exon demonstrates the most dramatic nucleotide sequence divergence between human and nonhuman LCV observed to date. Evolution of the rhesus LCV LMP2B promoter and transcript despite the dynamic nature of this genomic region reflects strong selective pressure for a yet-to-be-identified LMP2B function.
Exchanges between DNA strands in ultraviolet-irradiated Escherichia coli.

Abstract Ultraviolet induced pyrimidine dimers remain in the DNA of excision-defective mutants of Escherichia coli for at least several hours after irradiation. If kept in the dark, the survival of colony-forming ability of these mutant bacteria depends upon recombinational repair, a mechanism which is controlled by the gene recA . In u.v.-irradiated bacteria, newly synthesized DNA strands are of low molecular weight, but these strands are subsequently joined into high molecular weight chains, as is shown by sedimenting the bacterial DNA in alkaline sucrose gradients. These longer chains may contribute to cell survival by acting as templates for the synthesis of high molecular weight strands during further replication. At times greater than 90 minutes after irradiation, the molecular weight of newly synthesized DNA covers a wide range and extends fully to the maximum found with unirradiated cells, thus indicating the presence of high molecular weight templates virtually free from damaged bases. Evidently the u.v. photoproducts tend to remain in the original strands where they were formed, rather than becoming distributed equally among all the strands with each subsequent replication. Recombinational repair may depend upon genetic exchanges between sister duplexes. To see whether such exchanges could be detected after u.v.-irradiation, cells were grown for several generations in medium containing 13 C and 15 N. They were then exposed to various doses of ultraviolet light and grown for less than a generation in light medium containing [ 3 H]thymidine, so that part of their DNA was hybrid in density, with the 3 H label in the light strand. Under these conditions, light 3 H-labeled chains will become linked to heavy strands if exchanges occur between sister duplexes. The DNA was extracted from unirradiated cells, heat denatured and centrifuged in neutral cesium chloride gradients, and was found to separate into heavy and light bands. Denatured DNA from u.v.-irradiated cells did not separate completely, but contained strands of intermediate density which separated into heavy and light components only after shearing to 5 × 10 5 molecular weight, thus indicating that segments of molecular weight greater than 5 × 10 5 had been exchanged. To judge from the fraction of the 3 H-labeled molecules that were of intermediate density, one exchange occurred for every one to two pyrimidine dimers in the DNA replicated in the 3 H-labeled medium. Sister exchanges involving a single strand of each duplex, may insert the correct bases sequence into the gap opposite each pyrimidine dimer, and thus promote the reconstruction of a genome with the complete base sequence needed for the survival of colony-forming ability.
Test chip experiments at stanford CRC

The idea of the test chip experiments started in ITC 1991 [McCluskey 00]. We wanted to get actual tester data that would answer some questions about manufacturing test of digital ICs. The objective was to find out the relative effectiveness of different test techniques, such as stuck fault tests, delay tests, IDDq, etc.
A fast turn-around time process for fabrication of qubit circuits

The authors describe a process for fabrication of Nb/AlO/sub x//Nb Josephson junction circuits for quantum computation. The process involves only one etch step and incorporates electron beam lithography and a self-aligned lift-off of the dielectric resulting in a short turn-around time of 4-5 days. Deep submicron junctions of size down to 0.15 /spl times/ 0.15 /spl mu/m/sup 2/ have been fabricated and tested. Results of junction quality measurements will be presented. In particular, a subgap resistance of /spl sim/1 G/spl Omega/ measured at /spl sim/0.4 K indicates that the junction's subgap leakage should not be a limitation for quantum computation.
Chromosome Visualization Tool: A Whole Genome Viewer

CViT (chromosome visualization tool) is a Perl utility for quickly generating images of features on a whole genome at once. It reads GFF3-formated data representing chromosomes (linkage groups or pseudomolecules) and sets of features on those chromosomes. It can display features on any chromosomal unit system, including genetic (centimorgan), cytological (centiMcClintock), and DNA unit (base-pair) coordinates. CViT has been used to track sequencing progress (status of genome sequencing, location and number of gaps), to visualize BLAST hits on a whole genome view, to associate maps with one another, to locate regions of repeat densities to display syntenic regions, and to visualize centromeres and knobs on chromosomes.
CO2 Chemistry of Phenolate-Based Ionic Liquids

We synthesized ionic liquids (ILs) comprising an alkylphosphonium cation paired with phenolate, 4-nitrophenolate, and 4-methoxyphenolate anions that span a wide range of predicted reaction enthalpies with CO2. Each phenolate-based IL was characterized by spectroscopic techniques, and their physical properties (viscosity, conductivity, and CO2 solubility) were determined. We use the computational quantum chemical approach paired with experimental results to reveal the reaction mechanism of CO2 with phenolate ILs. Model chemistry shows that the oxygen atom of phenolate associates strongly with phosphonium cations and is able to deprotonate the cation to form an ylide with an affordable activation barrier. The ATR-FTIR and (31)P NMR spectra indicate that the phosphonium ylide formation and its reaction with CO2 are predominantly responsible for the observed CO2 uptake rather than direct anion-CO2 interaction.
Comparing methods of measuring geographic patterns in temporal trends: an application to county-level heart disease mortality in the United States, 1973 to 2010

Abstract Purpose To demonstrate the implications of choosing analytical methods for quantifying spatiotemporal trends, we compare the assumptions, implementation, and outcomes of popular methods using county-level heart disease mortality in the United States between 1973 and 2010. Methods We applied four regression-based approaches (joinpoint regression, both aspatial and spatial generalized linear mixed models, and Bayesian space-time model) and compared resulting inferences for geographic patterns of local estimates of annual percent change and associated uncertainty. Results The average local percent change in heart disease mortality from each method was −4.5%, with the Bayesian model having the smallest range of values. The associated uncertainty in percent change differed markedly across the methods, with the Bayesian space-time model producing the narrowest range of variance (0.0–0.8). The geographic pattern of percent change was consistent across methods with smaller declines in the South Central United States and larger declines in the Northeast and Midwest. However, the geographic patterns of uncertainty differed markedly between methods. Conclusions The similarity of results, including geographic patterns, for magnitude of percent change across these methods validates the underlying spatial pattern of declines in heart disease mortality. However, marked differences in degree of uncertainty indicate that Bayesian modeling offers substantially more precise estimates.
Commentary: Coerced Community Mental Health Treatment—An Added Burden on an Overstretched System

The sudden and massive depopulation of psychiatric institutions that occurred in the 60s and 70s overwhelmed a fragmented and undersourced community mental health system, leading, in part, to the high number of chronically mentally ill individuals currently residing in jails and prisons, a situation that has been described as reinstitutionalization or transinstitutionalization. Any process that forces more people out of jails into mental health treatment in the community without a sound, effective, available, and accessible community mental health system of care is potentially catastrophic.
Morphological Correlations of Human and Monkey Frontal Lobe

The prefrontal cortex has long been regarded as a major integrative subdivision of the forebrain. In particular, the results of clinical, experimental, and neuroimaging studies have established a role for this region in a variety of functions, such as planning and sequencing, emotional significance, attention, and representational memory. One question that arises is whether the discrete functions ascribed to the prefrontal cortex represent circumscribed processes at the neural level — that is, are subserved by a specific cortical subsector — or are dependent on the interactions of different prefrontal regions. A broader issue is the degree to which functions that appear to have the prefrontal cortex as a critical focus depend upon interactions with post-Rolandic cortices. Knowledge of the morphological characteristics of the prefrontal cortex may provide further insight into the underlying nature of these cognitive-behavioral functions. Therefore, in examining a complex process such as decision-making from a neural perspective, it may be beneficial to consider functional components in the context of cellular as well as connectional features of prefrontal areas.
If I am Troy Davis, I Failed Troy Davis: Abolishing the Death Penalty through an Antiracist People’s Geography

In the wake of Georgia’s execution of Troy Davis, the importance of antiracist geographic thought has become ever more pertinent for clarifying how democratic politics and a people’s geography can help to bring about the abolition of the death penalty in the U.S. This paper seeks to engage the painful historical-geographical legacies of white supremacism and the ways it has enabled capital punishment with an eye to moving toward a less violent and less dehumanizing state. More specifically, I imagine my historical-geographical engagement to provide a foundation from which to discuss putting into motion more deliberately what W.E.B. DuBois referred to as “Abolition Democracy”. In realizing the potential of DuBois’ notion of abolition democracy though, I will suggest more geographical attention to the ways racialized geographies have not been as explicitly connected to the notion of a people’s geography.
Bringing the Bulls to Bear: Regulating Executive Compensation to Realign Management and Shareholders' Interests and Promote Corporate Long-Term Productivity

For two decades, publicly-traded corporations' executive officers amassed large fortunes through equity-based compensation arrangements rewarding short-term performance benchmarks. As corporate stock values rose, and corporate executives, shareholders and employees all profited from increasing equity values, little attention was paid to the disconnect between short-term productivity and long-term productivity. Then, the accounting scandals and bear markets of 2001 and 2002 placed a bright spotlight on executive compensation. Executives at Enron Corporation, WorldCom, Inc. and other executives had used hook or crook to manipulate stock values, driving their stock grants to new heights, and then selling their holdings before creative accounting or other revelations drove stock value down. With no dog left in the race, shareholders, employees, and even taxpayers were left holding the bag following earnings restatements and other revelations. This Article examines America's endorsement of equity-based compensation as the dominant means of rewarding top corporate executives and how that endorsement created a misalignment of management and shareholders' interests by focusing management's attention on short-term productivity at the expense of corporate long-term productivity. It also evaluates corporate governance reform measures enacted by Congress, the Securities Exchange Commission, and Self-Regulatory Organizations in response to corporate greed and misdeed. Finally, it concludes that these measures do not provide meaningful change to executive compensation corporate governance practices, and recommends additional statutory and regulatory corporate governance reforms that will promote the realignment of management and shareholders' interests and promote corporate long-term productivity.
Walt Whitman: A Current Bibliography, Winter/Spring 2016

This Bibliography is brought to you for free and open access by Iowa Research Online. It has been accepted for inclusion in Walt Whitman Quarterly Review by an authorized administrator of Iowa Research Online. For more information, please contact lib-ir@uiowa.edu. Recommended Citation Folsom, Ed. "Walt Whitman: A Current Bibliography, Winter/Spring 2016." Walt Whitman Quarterly Review 33 (2016), 313-325.
The Abuse and Neglect of Children with Disabilities: The Extent of the Problem

We begin this chapter with a brief examination of the current statistics on the abuse and neglect of children with and without disabilities. We place this issue in a historical context. Then we examine the inherent challenges to an accurate count of these children. We show how differences among definitions challenge the development of an accurate understanding of abuse and neglect in the lives of children with disabilities. We examine what we know about this topic based on data from national and international databases as well as from the professional literature. We provide a description of the study and the methodology used in the research that provides the foundation for this book. Following a discussion of organizations dedicated to preventing abuse and neglect among children, we close this chapter with a set of recommendations for research and practice.
Unraveling the Premise: The Cultural Critique

We Americans are the peculiar, chosen people – the Israel of our time; we bear the ark of the liberties of the world … The rest of the nations must soon be in our rear. We are the pioneers … the advanced guard, sent on through the wilderness of untried things to break a new path in the New World that is ours … Long enough have we been skeptics with regard to ourselves and doubted whether, indeed, the political Messiah has come. But he has come in us , if we would but give utterance to his promptings. Herman Melville, White Jacket E xamining political development in the united states is tantamount to interrogating the national premise. Faith in development, with this nation in the vanguard of development, are relentless themes of the culture, inscribed in stories about the origins, common struggles, and higher purposes of the American people. The master narrative of American politics tells of a land set apart by Providence to “bear the ark of the liberties of the world,” of a nation released from power relationships accumulated by the “Old World” to “break a new path,” of “pioneers” who cleared the way for humankind's advance. The scholars of the late nineteenth century who first turned American political development into a topic for critical inquiry knew exactly what they were doing. They were the embodiment of Melville's “skeptics with regard to ourselves,” avowed in their determination to subject the cornerstones of American national identity to empirical scrutiny.
Simulating the effect of workers' mood on the productivity of assembly lines

Production lines have various components, from workers to loads and machines, each of which can influence the productivity of the entire system either directly or indirectly. One of the most vulnerable parts of an assembly line is the human element. Studies have been conducted on the methods to improve assembly line productivity, both from a worker's ergonomic perspective and from a system simulation perspective, but neither approach has considered the worker's mood. This study uses systems simulation capabilities to address some of the major psychological difficulties that may affect worker efficiency beyond the ergonomic conditions, such as emotional and cognitive factors. This study aims to present feasible solutions for increasing the productivity of an assembly line in a backpack company in Montana, with regard to an employee's mood, and cognitive and physical states.
Pd-Mediated 11C-Carbonylation of a Diaryliodonium Tosylate: An Efficient and Mild Route to [11C]Arylcarboxylic Acid

1072 Objectives Most literature methods for preparing [11C]arylcarboxylic acids via carboxylation with [11C]CO2 or carbonylation with [11C]CO are either moisture/air-sensitive or require harsh conditions. Diaryliodonium salts may be considered more reactive than aryl iodides. We postulated that diaryliodonium salts might serve as useful precursors for preparing [11C]arylcarboxylic acids under mild conditions through Pd-mediated 11C- carbonylation. A challenge in this approach would be to produce mainly the desired [11C]arylcarboxylic acid, because insertion of [11C]CO might occur at either aryl ring. Here we report our initial exploration of the Pd-mediated 11C-carbonylation of (2-methoxyphenyl)(phenyl)iodonium tosylate (1) for [11C]arylcarboxylic acid synthesis. Methods Several Pd(II) and Pd(0) ligands were screened for reaction efficiency and aryl ring selectivity. In a one-pot procedure, 1 (3 µmol) plus a Pd ligand (0.5 µmol) in DMF-H2O (4:1 v/v; 100 µL) was sonicated for either 30 or 300 s and loaded into an autoclave. No-carrier-added [11C]CO, produced from cyclotron-produced [11C]CO2, was heated with the mixture in the autoclave at 100 °C for 2 min under high pressure. The reaction mixture was then collected in a closed glass vial (5-mL). Radioactivity in the vial was measured before and after purging with helium gas for 4 min. An aliquot (50 µL) was then diluted with MeCN-H2O (1:1 v/v; 500 µL) and analyzed by HPLC. Reactions with Pd(PPh3)4 were also conducted as a two-pot process. Thus, 1 (3 µmol) plus Pd(PPh3)4 (0.5 µmol) in anhydrous DMF (80 µL) was treated with [11C]CO in an autoclave at 100 °C for 2 min. The reaction mixture was transferred to a glass vial and purged with helium for 4 min. Aq. NaOH-MeCN or aq.NH4OH-MeCN at RT or water-MeCN at 100 °C was then added preceding HPLC analysis. Reactions mediated by PdCl2 were also examined at RT. Results For PdCl2 and other Pd(II) ligands, [11C]CO trapping efficiency was ~ 50%. Aggregate conversion of [11C]CO to the two expected [11C]arylcarboxylic acids was 72-94%. [11C]Benzoic acid (2) was slighly preferred over [11C]2-methoxybenzoic acid (3) (ratio 1.1-1.7). For Pd(PPh3)4, [11C]CO trapping efficiency was 25-35%. However, 2 was the predominant product (ratio 10-20 to 3). For PdCl2, the reaction at RT gave similar yield and selectivity to that at 100 °C. Conclusions PdCl2 rapidly mediates the 11C-carbonylation of 1 in excellent yield, even at RT. Highest aryl ring selectivity was achieved with Pd(PPh3)4. Pd-mediated 11C-carbonylation of diaryliodonium salts is a potentially promising process for preparing [11C]arylcarboxylic acids under mild conditions. The selectivity and substrate scope of this process is being further investigated.
Management of Patients with Acute Large Bowel Obstruction from Colon Cancer

Although colorectal cancer remains the third most common malignancy worldwide [1], it is highly treatable in its early stages. Unfortunately, 10–29 % of patients with colorectal cancer will present with a large bowel obstruction [2–5]. This poses a challenging clinical dilemma for patients and physicians alike.
Prognostic nomogram in elderly patients with glioblastoma.

2096 Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common malignant primary brain tumor. More than half the cases occur in patients aged ≥65 years; however, there is limited data on specific prognostic factors in these patients and there is a lack of easy to use nomograms in elderly GBM patients to provide them prognostic information. Methods: The Cleveland Clinic Brain Tumor and Neuro-Oncology Center’s database was used to identify elderly patients with GBM ( ≥65 years at the time of diagnosis). Multivariable analysis was conducted to identify independent predictors of survival using a Cox proportional hazards model and a stepwise selection algorithm with p=.10 as criteria for entry and retention. "Points" were assigned to each of these poor prognostic features and prognostic groups were formed based on the total number of calculated points. Results: 512 GBM patients with a median age of 73 years (range 65-96, 54% male) were included in the final analysis. On multivariable analysis six factors were identifi...
Evaluation of the wind farm parameterization in the Weather Research and Forecasting model (version 3.8.1) with meteorological and turbine power data

Abstract. Forecasts of wind-power production are necessary to facilitate the integration of wind energy into power grids, and these forecasts should incorporate the impact of wind-turbine wakes. This paper focuses on a case study of four diurnal cycles with significant power production, and assesses the skill of the wind farm parameterization (WFP) distributed with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model version 3.8.1, as well as its sensitivity to model configuration. After validating the simulated ambient flow with observations, we quantify the value of the WFP as it accounts for wake impacts on power production of downwind turbines. We also illustrate with statistical significance that a vertical grid with approximately 12 m vertical resolution is necessary for reproducing the observed power production. Further, the WFP overestimates wake effects and hence underestimates downwind power production during high wind speed, highly stable, and low turbulence conditions. We also find the WFP performance is independent of the number of wind turbines per model grid cell and the upwind–downwind position of turbines. Rather, the ability of the WFP to predict power production is most dependent on the skill of the WRF model in simulating the ambient wind speed.
GPS2 regulates mitochondria biogenesis via mitochondrial retrograde signaling and chromatin remodeling of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes

As most of the mitochondrial proteome is encoded in the nucleus, mitochondrial functions critically depend on nuclear gene expression and bidirectional mito-nuclear communication. However, mitochondria-to-nucleus communication pathways are incompletely understood. Here, we identify G-Protein Pathway Suppressor 2 (GPS2) as a mediator of mitochondrial retrograde signaling and a key transcriptional activator of nuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes in mammals. GPS2 regulated translocation from mitochondria to nucleus is essential for the transcriptional activation of the nuclear stress response to mitochondrial depolarization and for supporting basal mitochondrial biogenesis in differentiating adipocytes and in brown adipose tissue from mice. In the nucleus, GPS2 recruitment to target gene promoters regulates histone H3K9 demethylation and RNA Polymerase II (POL2) activation through inhibition of Ubc13-mediated ubiquitination. Together, these findings reveal an unexpected layer of regulation of mitochondrial gene transcription as they uncover a novel mitochondria-nuclear communication pathway.
Reduction in dietary sodium improves blood pressure and reduces cardiovascular events and mortality.

Long-term consumption of a high dietary salt intake increases the risk for hypertension with an increase in cardiovascular and renal disease and mortality (1). Modest reductions in dietary salt intake reduce blood pressure in many persons with hypertension (2-4). High dietary sodium intake may cause hypertension by renal dysfunction with abnormal increased renal retention of sodium (5) or by vasodysfunction that involves renal vasodysfunction (6). The American Heart Association recommends lowering dietary sodium intake to less than 1,500 mg daily (3).
Top Popular Press Books for Economics Students

We survey economics educators in an attempt to identify popular press economics and finance books that they would recommend to undergraduate students. We allow a wide range of leniency on what can be considered applicable so that educators are not pressured to select popular books. Educators have a very wide range of recommendations that span a wide variety of fields and interests. We provide quick summaries of the top book recommendations, citations to more in depth book reviews, and a breakdown of top books by economic field.
Purification of GFRα1+ and GFRα1– Spermatogonial Stem Cells Reveals a Niche-Dependent Mechanism for Fate Determination

Undifferentiated spermatogonia comprise a pool of stem cells and progenitor cells that show heterogeneous expression of markers, including the cell surface receptor GFRα1. Technical challenges in isolation of GFRα1+ versus GFRα1- undifferentiated spermatogonia have precluded the comparative molecular characterization of these subpopulations and their functional evaluation as stem cells. Here, we develop a method to purify these subpopulations by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and show that GFRα1+ and GFRα1- undifferentiated spermatogonia both demonstrate elevated transplantation activity, while differing principally in receptor tyrosine kinase signaling and cell cycle. We identify the cell surface molecule melanocyte cell adhesion molecule (MCAM) as differentially expressed in these populations and show that antibodies to MCAM allow isolation of highly enriched populations of GFRα1+ and GFRα1- spermatogonia from adult, wild-type mice. In germ cell culture, GFRα1- cells upregulate MCAM expression in response to glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)/fibroblast growth factor (FGF) stimulation. In transplanted hosts, GFRα1- spermatogonia yield GFRα1+ spermatogonia and restore spermatogenesis, albeit at lower rates than their GFRα1+ counterparts. Together, these data provide support for a model of a stem cell pool in which the GFRα1+ and GFRα1- cells are closely related but show key cell-intrinsic differences and can interconvert between the two states based, in part, on access to niche factors.
Advances in high gradient normal conducting accelerator structures

Abstract This paper reviews the current state-of-the-art in understanding the phenomena of ultra-high vacuum radio-frequency (rf) breakdown in accelerating structures and the efforts to improve stable operation of the structures at accelerating gradients above 100 MV/m. Numerous studies have been conducted recently with the goal of understanding the dependence of the achievable accelerating gradients and breakdown rates on the frequency of operations, the geometry of the structure, material and method of fabrication, and operational temperature. Tests have been conducted with single standing wave accelerator cells as well as with the multi-cell traveling wave structures. Notable theoretical effort was directed at understanding the physical mechanisms of the rf breakdown and its statistical behavior. The achievements presented in this paper are the result of the large continuous self-sustaining collaboration of multiple research institutions in the United States and worldwide.
The present status of laser in medicine.

In 1958 two physicists, Townes and Schawlow, conceived the idea of laser, light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. Since then, physicians have used it to control hemorrhage from retinal lesions in diabetics, to correct detached retinas, to obliterate tattoos and port-wine angiomas, and to treat a few selected tumors such as melanomas, Kaposi's sarcoma, and lymphomas. Although it may have promise in ophthalmologic conditions, laser has had inconclusive results in the treatment of tumors.