cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Theories market: open for trading

Challenging the usual acceptance of electroacoustics as a distinct field of its own, this article leads the reader through a series of paths to show the extent to which concerns and techniques of electroacoustics are shared with other musical and artistic disciplines. It continues with a similar questioning of the usual interpretation of analysis by examining the variety of aims, methods, and characteristics of analytical methods, and encourages an increased awareness on the part of all analysts to appreciate where their own work is situated within the field. Typical concerns of electroacoustics, such as the design of timbral structures, gestures and textures are discussed within the realm of parametric analysis, but allusion is also made to other approaches which examine style and context. Disciplines from perception to semiotics are shown to have relevance for further development of adequate analytical tools. The author does not advocate one particular approach, but rather attempts to demonstrate the vastness and intricacy of the field. The conclusion is that analysis of electroacoustics could both contribute to, and benefit from, analysis in other areas of music and art.
Guilt in alcoholics: an evaluation of the Mosher Guilt Scales.

Summy.-The validity of the Mosher Guilt Scales was evaluated by comparing guilt scores of 25 adult males who had voluntarily placed themselves in an alcoholism treatment center with those of a control group of 25 adult males. It was hypothesized that the alcoholic group would demonstrate higher guilt than the control group as the presence of strong guilt feelings should lead one to seek to remove a major source of guilt such as excessive drinking. This hypothesis was substantiated by higher sex guilt and morality guilt in the aIcoholic group than in the control group. One area of the study of personality which has been of great interest to researchers in recent years concerns the nature of guilt feelings. The popularity of this area of research can be attributed principally to Donald Mosher who developed the Mosher Guilt Scales as a valid and reliable measure of guilt. Mosher developed forced-choice and true-false measures of guilt which are based upon the claim that guilt is a generalized expectancy for self-mediated punishment for the violation or anticipation of the violation of internalized standards of acceptable conduct (5, 6). Realizing that guilt feelings can be related to a number of behavioral areas, Mosher developed three distinct subscales which represent three areas of guilt, namely, sex guilt, hostility guilt, and morality-conscience guilt. These subscales have been shown ro be excellent in terms of predictive, construct, and discriminant validity ( 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 9). Although most studies have reflected favorably upon the reliability and validity of the Mosher Guilt Scales, there has been one major problem. Most studies have focused upon the responses of college scudents and have not assessed the viability of these scales in predicting appropriately or at least relating to the behaviors of noncollege populations. In addition, little is known about the characteristics of individuals high and low in guilt who are not college students. One recent interesting effort in this area by Rizzo, Fehr, McMahon, and Stamps (8) indicated that homosexuals are less guilty in general than heterosexuals. This is not surprising in light of the willingness of overt homosexuals to perform behaviors that are not acceptable to society at large. The present research was designed to continue this line of work by examining the guilt feelings of a different group of adults. More specifically, this research concerned the difference between adults whose drinking experiences could be de
Apparent elimination of EIAV ancestral species in a long-term inapparent carrier.

Abstract Equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) envelope variation produces newly dominant quasispecies with each sequential disease cycle; new populations arise, and previous plasma quasispecies, including the original inoculum, become undetectable. The question remains whether these ancestral variants exist in tissue reservoirs or if the immune system eliminates quasispecies from persistent infections. To examine this, an EIAV long-term inapparent carrier was immune suppressed with dexamethasone. Immune suppression resulted in increased plasma viral loads by approximately 10 4 fold. Characterization of pre- and post-immune suppression populations demonstrated continual envelope evolution and revealed novel quasispecies distinct from defined populations from previous disease stages. Analysis of the tissue and plasma populations post-immune suppression indicated the original infectious inoculum and early populations were undetectable. Therefore, the host immune system apparently eliminated a diverse array of antigenic variants, but viral persistence was maintained by relentless evolution of new envelope populations from tissue reservoirs in response to ongoing immune pressures.
Density effect in Cu K-shell ionization by 5.1-GeV electrons.

We have made an absolute measurement of the Cu {ital K}-shell impact ionization cross section by 5.1-GeV electrons, which demonstrates directly a density effect predicted by Fermi in 1940. By determining the ratio of the {ital K} x-ray yield from a thin front and back layer of the target by a novel grazing emission method, we have verified the effect of transition radiation on the x-ray production, suggested by Sorensen and reported by Bak {ital et} {ital al}.
Neuroimmunomodulation by opiates: relationship to HIV-1 infection and AIDS

Summary Opiate addiction is a major risk factor for acquired immunodeficiency disease syndrome (AIDS). Since alkaloid opiates and endogenous opioid peptides have been shown to affect immune function, there is considerable interest in understanding whether opioids themselves play any direct or indirect role in modulating expression of HIV-1 and the development of AIDS in heroin addicts. This issue is difficult to address for two main reasons. The addictive liabilities of opiates prohibit direct controlled assessments of their effects in humans and epidemiological assessments of heroin addiction are compromised by the association of addiction with a variety of interdependent milieu cofactors, aside from opiates themselves, that have the independent potential to modulate immune function and viral expression. Accordingly, experimental evidence attained through in vitro and in vivo studies with animal models and human blood cells must supplement clinical observations to obtain the best possible estimate of the potential of opiates to modify host responses to HIV-1 infection and the development of AIDS. Reviewing current evidence from this perspective indicates that there is substantial support for the notion that opiates can affect both immunological and virological processes that dictate the pathogenesis of HIV-1 infections. However, the influence exerted by opiates appears to be conditionally dependent on the stage of opiate dependency. Thus, a well-maintained opiate dependency can be beneficial to host defense systems while poorly maintained dependencies can be quite disruptive. Such information has relevance, not only to the AIDS situation per se , but, also, to therapy of drug addiction and to the field of neuroimmunomodulation in general.
Some observations of wave-current interaction

Abstract Using data collected during the SCAWVEX Project, the effect of depth and current changes (particularly tidal) on waves and the effect of waves on tidal currents were examined. The possible interaction mechanisms between waves, tides and surges are reviewed. These include the effective surface wind stress, bottom friction, depth and current refraction and modulation of the absolute and relative wave period. The usefulness of tidal periodicity in identifying both interactions in wave parameters and the effects of the waves on the tide is noted. For correct analysis, to obtain wave-free tidal conditions or tidally-averaged wave statistics, it is particularly important to understand the interaction mechanisms. For example, the amplitude of the tidal current was found to be reduced in periods of high waves. Ideally, waves and currents should always be measured simultaneously since the correct determination of either in shallow water requires knowledge of the other. Various remote sensing systems which can potentially do this are discussed. Since the algorithms are quite complex and may depend on a good `first guess', the future probably lies in combining remote sensing plus modelling together with ground truth `in situ' data.
The fluorocarbon-Ozone theory—V. One-dimensional modeling of the atmosphere: The base case

Abstract A one-dimensional model of atmospheric photochemistry and transport has been developed. The present paper describes the basic model in some detail. The input data are also listed so that accurate comparison between models should be possible. The model described is fully time-dependent within the 24 h average sun approximation and all perturbation calculations are carried out using time dependent fluorocarbon fluxes. Numerical integration is effected using Gear methods and photodissociation rates are continuously updated. Multiple scattering corrections are incorporated using both isotropic and Rayleigh scattering radiation models. Results for a variety of calculations related to the possible impact of chlorine on stratospheric ozone are tabulated. The estimate for calculated ozone depletion, at steady state 1975 fluorocarbon release rates is 5.1%, using this model and the assumptions outlined in this paper.
Surgical Techniques for Zenker’s Diverticulum A Comparative Analysis

ObjectiveTo compare the different modalities for treatment of Zenker’s diverticulum and the associated clinical outcomes.Study DesignCase series with chart review.SettingTertiary care hospital.Subjects and MethodsBetween 1995 and 2011, 164 patients underwent surgery for Zenker’s diverticulum (stapler, n = 69; laser, n = 68; open, n = 27). Patient sociodemographics, medical comorbidities, pre- and postoperative subjective dysphagia and regurgitation score, complications, length of stay, time to oral intake, and recurrence were reviewed for each surgical modality.ResultsNo statistically significant difference in diverticulum prevalence was associated with age, gender, or treatment group. Mean length of hospital stay was not significantly different between the 3 groups (P = .14). A significant difference in time to oral intake was observed in the laser group compared with the other 2 groups (P = .012). No significant difference in recurrence (P = .21) or complication (P = .12) rates was identified between th...
Generic Prescriptions: Can the Consumer Benefit?

Excerpt Three centuries ago, the term "an apothecaries charge" was commonly used in England as a synonym for an unreasonably high price for any commodity or service. Even today, because patients do...
Reduction of continuous symmetries of chaotic flows by the method of slices

Abstract We study continuous symmetry reduction of dynamical systems by the method of slices (method of moving frames) and show that a ‘slice’ defined by minimizing the distance to a single generic ‘template’ intersects the group orbit of every point in the full state space. Global symmetry reduction by a single slice is, however, not natural for a chaotic/ turbulent flow; it is better to cover the reduced state space by a set of slices, one for each dynamically prominent unstable pattern. Judiciously chosen, such tessellation eliminates the singular traversals of the inflection hyperplane that comes along with each slice, an artifact of using the templates local group linearization globally. We compute the jump in the reduced state space induced by crossing the inflection hyperplane. As an illustration of the method, we reduce the SO (2) symmetry of the complex Lorenz equations.
Surface plasmon field enhancements in deterministic aperiodic structures.

In this paper we analyze optical properties and plasmonic field enhancements in large aperiodic nanostructures. We introduce extension of Generalized Ohm’s Law approach to estimate electromagnetic properties of Fibonacci, Rudin-Shapiro, cluster-cluster aggregate and random deterministic clusters. Our results suggest that deterministic aperiodic structures produce field enhancements comparable to random morphologies while offering better understanding of field localizations and improved substrate design controllability. Generalized Ohm’s law results for deterministic aperiodic structures are in good agreement with simulations obtained using discrete dipole method.
Chemical graph‐theoretic cluster expansions

A general computationally amenable chemico-graph-theoretic cluster expansion method is suggested as a paradigm for incorporation of chemical structure concepts in a systematic manner. The cluster expansion approach is presented in a formalism general enough to cover a variety of empirical, semiempirical, and even ab initio applications. Formally such approaches for the utilization of chemical structure-related concepts may be viewed as discrete analogues of Taylor series expansions. The efficacy of the chemical structure concepts then is simply bound up in the rate of convergence of the cluster expansions. In many empirical applications, e.g., boiling points, chromatographic separation coefficients, and biological activities, this rate of convergence has been observed to be quite rapid. More note will be made here of quantum chemical applications. Relations to questions concerning size extensivity of energies and size consistency of wave functions are addressed.
Cerulein-induced pancreatic cysteine depletion : prevention does not diminish acute pancreatitis in the mouse

Abstract Background/Aims: Induction of acute necrotizing pancreatitis with cerulein causes profound pancreatic glutathione depletion in the mouse. Because cysteine availability can be rate-limiting for glutathione synthesis, the pancreatic content of cysteine during cerulein treatment was measured and the potential benefit of augmenting pancreatic cysteine was determined. Methods: Female Swiss-Webster mice were treated with cerulein with and without simultaneous administration of the cysteine prodrug, l-2-oxothiazolidine 4-carboxylic acid. Pancreatic cysteine and glutathione content were measured, and serum amylase levels and pancreatic histology were assessed. Results: Pancreatic cysteine content decreased to 42% of normal after 4 hours of cerulein treatment. l-2-oxothiazolidine 4-carboxylic acid more than doubled pancreatic cysteine content at 4 hours and prevented pancreatic cysteine depletion when administered with cerulein. Cerulein caused pancreatic glutathione depletion despite this normalization of cysteine. Moreover, the biochemical and histological evidence of cerulein-induced pancreatitis was unaltered by preventing cysteine depletion. Conclusions: Pancreatic cysteine is depleted during induction of acute pancreatitis with cerulein in parallel with depletion of pancreatic glutathione. Because preventing pancreatic cysteine depletion with l-2-oxothiazolidine 4-carboxylic acid did not prevent glutathione loss, causes of pancreatic glutathione depletion other than insufficiency of this critical precursor must also play an important role in cerulein-induced glutathione depletion.
Association between number of cell phone contracts and brain tumor incidence in nineteen U.S. States

Some concern has arisen about adverse health effects of cell phones, especially the possibility that the low power microwave-frequency signal transmitted by the antennas on handsets might cause brain tumors or accelerate the growth of subclinical tumors. We analyzed data from the Statistical Report: Primary Brain Tumors in the United States, 2000–2004 and 2007 cell phone subscription data from the Governing State and Local Sourcebook. There was a significant correlation between number of cell phone subscriptions and brain tumors in nineteen US states (r = 0.950, P < 0.001). Because increased numbers of both cell phone subscriptions and brain tumors could be due solely to the fact that some states, such as New York, have much larger populations than other states, such as North Dakota, multiple linear regression was performed with number of brain tumors as the dependent variable, cell phone subscriptions, population, mean family income and mean age as independent variables. The effect of cell phone subscriptions was significant (P = 0.017), and independent of the effect of mean family income (P = 0.894), population (P = 0.003) and age (0.499). The very linear relationship between cell phone usage and brain tumor incidence is disturbing and certainly needs further epidemiological evaluation. In the meantime, it would be prudent to limit exposure to all sources of electro-magnetic radiation.
Active relevance feedback for difficult queries

Relevance feedback has been demonstrated to be an effective strategy for improving retrieval accuracy. The existing relevance feedback algorithms based on language models and vector space models are not effective in learning from negative feedback documents, which are abundant if the initial query is difficult. The probabilistic retrieval model has the advantage of being able to naturally improve the estimation of both the relevant and non-relevant models. The Dirichlet compound multinomial (DCM) distribution, which relies on hierarchical Bayesian modeling techniques, is a more appropriate generative model for the probabilistic retrieval model than the traditional multinomial distribution. We propose a new relevance feedback algorithm, based on a mixture model of the DCM distribution, to effectively model the overlaps between the positive and negative feedback documents. Consequently, the new algorithm improves the retrieval performance substantially for difficult queries. To further reduce human relevance evaluation, we propose a new active learning algorithm in conjunction with the new relevance feedback model. The new active learning algorithm implicitly models the diversity, density and relevance of unlabeled data in a transductive experimental design framework. Experimental results on several TREC datasets show that both the relevance feedback and active learning algorithm significantly improve retrieval accuracy.
New approaches to the management of anemia of chronic kidney disease: Beyond Epogen and Infed

Anemia is a common and debilitating condition seen worldwide but it is specially common and severe in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) (peritubular cells being the source of erythropoietin) and cancer (secondary to myelosuppressive treatment). Before the introduction of the first erythropoiesis-stimulating agent (ESA), recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO), in the late 1980s, blood transfusion and anabolic steroids were the mainstay of treatment. Even though rHuEPO changed the way anemia was managed in patients with renal disease, it does have its limitations including efficacy, duration of activity, route of administration and concomitant iron deficiency, and inflammation. There are several innovative agents including hypoxia-inducible factor stabilizers and erythropoietin-mimetic peptides that are being developed to overcome some of these limitations of rHuEPO and are currently in various stages of clinical testing. Iron deficiency is also very common in patients with CKD because of impaired absorption and mobilization of iron and increased demands for iron when ESAs are administered. There are several novel agents including ferumoxytol, dialysate iron, and iron oligosaccharide that are being evaluated to manage iron deficiency in this patient population.
Socioeconomic status and the occurrence of non-fatal child pedestrian injury: Results from a cross-sectional survey

This study is to examine the contribution of socioeconomic status (SES) to the risk of nonfatal pedestrian injury among children. The sample was obtained from two urban cities of China using multi-staged randomized sampling. Information was collected by respondents' reporting using self-administrative way in the classroom under the guidance of interviewers. A logistic regression analysis was applied to examine the associations between SES and nonfatal children pedestrian injury. The results showed that boys and children aged 10 had significantly increased odds of suffering nonfatal pedestrian injury. Migrant children were at higher risk of being injured. Students whose mothers' educational levels were either less than secondary school or postgraduate were more likely to sustain injury. Children who were from wealthier families or poorer families easily suffered from injury compared to children from middle families. Children living with grandparents, or siblings, or a single father, or a single mother were all at increased risk of injury. The possible causes or pathways of these SESs' impacts on pedestrian injury were explored in discussion. This study suggests that SESs are important determinants of nonfatal pedestrian injury among children in China.
Crack-tip micro mechanical fields in layered elastic composites : Crack parallel to the interfaces

Abstract Periodically layered bimaterial composites containing cracks parallel to the interfaces at the mid-plane of a layer are considered. The analytical solutions of the plane elastostatic problems under mode-I, mode-II and mixed-mode loading conditions are presented and equations for the crack-tip micro mechanical fields are developed using principles of asymptotic homogenization and the method of complex elastic potentials. An elastic stress singularity of the order r −1/2 is shown to exist. The dominating stress intensity factors are found to match with the corresponding values for the equivalent homogeneous orthotropic system. For all cases considered, the stress intensity factors dominating the micro stress field are also defined directly in terms of the stress functions. Comparisons of the analytical results with numerical solutions obtained via refined finite element analyses are presented. Numerical analyses have revealed that the stress field in the immediate vicinity of the crack-tip corresponds to the universal isotropic field dominated by the tip stress intensity factor which depends on the homogenized material properties and those of the layer containing the crack. The effects of micro structural heterogeneity and global anisotropy become predominant beyond the small isotropic region wherein the micro mechanical field is very nicely described by the analytical model. Crack location effects studies are also presented. Implications of the above near-tip fields on delamination fracture in layered systems are discussed.
The nucleotide sequence of the 5S ribosomal RNA from a photobacterium

Comparative sequencing studies provide powerful insights into molecular function and evolution. The sequence for 5S ribosomal RNA from Photobacter strain 8265 is eighteen base replacements removed from that ofEscherichia coli. Of these, the vast majority involve a G or C becoming an A or U. These variations also define unequivocally a hexanucleotide base paired region, which appears to be a universal feature of the 5S RNA molecule. The base composition of this helix seems to be under rather stringent, and so unusual, energetic constraints. The possible implications of this are discussed - in particular the prospect of a 5S RNA molecule that undergoes conformational transitions as a part of the overall state changes that constitute the function of the ribosome.
Recombinant protein synthesis in Chinese hamster ovary cells using a vaccinia virus/bacteriophage T7 hybrid expression system.

The vaccinia virus/bacteriophage T7 expression system was adapted to Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Vaccinia virus undergoes abortive infection in CHO cells, which is characterized by a sharp reduction in protein synthesis at the stage of viral intermediate gene expression. We determined that expression of a T7 promoter-regulated chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene was at least 20 times more efficient in permissive BS-C-1 than in CHO cells. The encephalomyocarditis virus 5′-untranslated region, which confers cap-independent translatability to mRNA, stimulated recombinant protein synthesis by 10-fold in both cell lines, maintaining the advantage of the BS-C-1 cells over CHO cells. Since the cowpox virus hr gene overcomes vaccinia virus host range restriction in CHO cells, we constructed a recombinant virus that carries an intact hr gene in addition to the T7 RNA polymerase gene. With this virus, synthesis of T7 RNA polymerase was enhanced and production of a recombinant protein occurred in CHO cells at the level observed in permissive cell lines. Extension of the vaccinia virus/bacteriophage T7 expression system to CHO cells should be of wide interest, as these cells have advantages for preparation of recombinant proteins in research and biotechnology.
GGE Biplots and Traditional Stability Measures for Interpreting Genotype by Environment Interactions

Abstract Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) breeders conduct multienvironment trials to determine the performance of genotypes in relation to environmental changes and to determine their area of adaptation. The objective of this study was to compare within-model and within-scaling GGE Biplot stability values (GE distance) with those generated by some of the “traditional” stability analytical methods. Correlation coefficients of GE distance of GGE Biplot (stability evaluation) with Cultivar Superiority Measure, Shukla's Stability Variance, Eberhart-Russell regression model, Kang's yield stability statistic, and AMMI were 0.54, 0.91, 0.86, 0.63, and 0.55, respectively. Correlation coefficients between GGE distance of GGE Biplot (mean performance + stability evaluation) and the Cultivar Superiority Measure, the Eberhart-Russell regression model, Kang's yield stability statistic, and AMMI were 0.95, 0.60, 0.85, and −33, respectively. Some of the “traditional” methods focus heavily on yield, while others focus on ...
Blood Pressure and Heart Rate of Turkeys, 17–21 Months of Age

Abstract BLOOD pressure studies on turkeys have interested research workers from the point of view of obtaining basic information which might have a bearing on aortic rupture. Changes in physiological measurements associated with aging of turkeys has also been considered. Blood pressure and heart rate of turkeys of different breeds and at different ages have been reported for Broad White poults at 6 weeks of age (Krista et al., 1963 a, b); Broad Breasted Bronze (BBB) at 8–22 weeks, 27 weeks and for males at one year of age, (Ringer and Rood, 1959; Speckmann and Ringer, 1962 ,1963). Other similar studies have been made with Jersey Buff turkeys, 6–7 weeks and 8–9 months of age (Weiss and Sheahan, 1958), and on Beltsville Small White (BSW) at 11–12 months of age (Ferguson et al., 1968). No studies were found with regard to heart rate and blood pressure of turkeys…
The role of genetic variability in the 5′ untranslated region of RAD51 in Polish newborns with HCMV infection

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) can inflict site-specific chromosomal damage in form of double-strand breaks (DSBs). Many of studies have analyzed cell repair capabilities, following viral infection. The cellular reaction to DNA damaging agents can modulate the susceptibility to viral infection. This reaction is mainly determined by DNA repair efficacy which, in turn, may be influenced by the variability of DNA repair genes, expressed by their polymorphisms. This report describes studies of the distribution of genotypes and the frequency of alleles of the G135C (rs1801320) and G172T (rs1801321) RAD51 polymorphism in 15 paraffin-embedded samples of brain, kidney and liver tissue from HCMV infected infants. RAD51 polymorphisms were determined by PCR-RFLP. The distribution of genotypes for G135C and G172T polymorphism in the samples was as follows: 3 (20%) for 135G/G, 12 (80%) for 135G/C genotype and 12 (80%) for 172G/G and 3 (20%) for 172G/T genotype, respectively. Neither 135C/C nor 172T/T homozygous variant was detected. No differences were revealed among liver, kidney and brain samples, either in genotype distribution or allele frequency. HCMV infected patients had an overrepresentation of 135G and 172G alleles. This is the first study, linking single nucleotide polymorphisms of RAD51 gene with the incidence of HCMV infection in the population of Polish infants. The results support the hypothesis that RAD51 polymorphisms may be associated with viral infection.
Computing congruences efficiently

For a fixed similarity type which is at least binary, we show there is a linear time algorithm for computing the principal congruence generated by a pair of elements.
Properties of water-insoluble matrix-bound lactate dehydrogenase.

Abstract Lactate dehydrogenase enzyme was immobilized by binding to a cyanogen bromideactivated Sepharose 4B-200 in 0.1 m phosphate buffer, pH 8.5. The immobilized enzyme was found to have lower Km values for its substrates. Km values for pyruvate and lactate were 8 × 10 −5 m and 4 × 10−3 m , respectively, an order of magnitude less than the value for the native (free) enzyme. Chicken heart (H4) lactate dehydrogenase was found to lose nearly all its substrate inhibition characteristics as a result of immobilization. The covalently bound muscle-type subunits of lactate dehydrogenase showed more favorable interaction with the muscle type than with the heart type subunits. An increase in thermal and acid stability of the dogfish muscle (M4) lactate dehydrogenase as well as a decrease in the percentage of inhibition of enzyme activity by rabbit antisera and in the complement fixation was observed as a result of immobilization. The changes in the properties of the enzyme as a result of immobilization may be attributable to hindrance produced by the insoluble matrix as well as conformational changes in the enzyme molecules.
Estimating motor-unit architectural properties by analyzing motor-unit action potential morphology.

Abstract Objective : We investigated the architectural organization of groups of neighboring motor units (MUs) in normal brachial biceps and tibialis anterior muscles by analyzing morphological landmarks of their MU action potentials (MUAPs). Methods : EMG signals containing multiple MUAPs were recorded using a monopolar needle electrode during moderate isometric voluntary contractions. The MUAPs were identified using computer-aided decomposition, and averaged. For each MUAP the onset, spike, terminal wave, and slow afterwave were identified; then the location of the MU's endplate and muscle/tendon junction were estimated from the latencies of the spike and terminal wave with respect to the MUAP onset. Results : The analysis revealed a variety of architectural organizations, including single and multiple endplate zones, MU fractions, pennation, intramuscular aponeuroses, and centrally and non-centrally located endplates. Conclusions : This type of morphological analysis of the MUAP promises to be informative for studying normal MU properties as well as evaluating MU reorganization in disease.
Sensory Feedback Mechanism Underlying Entrainment of Central Pattern Generator to Mechanical Resonance

Rhythmic body motions observed in animal locomotion are known to be controlled by neuronal circuits called central pattern generators (CPGs). It appears that CPGs are energy efficient controllers that cooperate with biomechanical and environmental constraints through sensory feedback. In particular, the CPGs tend to induce rhythmic motion of the body at a natural frequency, i.e., the CPGs are entrained to a mechanical resonance by sensory feedback. The objective of this paper is to uncover the mechanism of entrainment resulting from the dynamic interaction of the CPG and mechanical system. We first develop multiple CPG models for the reciprocal inhibition oscillator (RIO) and examine through numerical experiments whether they can be entrained to a simple pendulum. This comparative study identifies the neuronal properties essential for the entrainment. We then analyze the simplest model that captures the essential dynamics via the method of harmonic balance. It is shown that robust entrainment results from a strong, positive-feedback coupling of a lightly damped mechanical system and the RIO consisting of neurons with the complete adaptation property
THE MATCHED FIELD PROCESSING BENCHMARK PROBLEMS

In matched field processing sophisticated acoustic models are combined with signal processing techniques to localize an acoustic source in the ocean. A key challenge has been to develop schemes that work not just in idealized simulations but in realistic scenarios. Additionally it has been difficult to get a sense of the relative merits of different schemes: there has been no common set of problems to test the techniques. To assess the state of the art, a workshop was held in May 1993 at the Naval Research Laboratory where both simulated and experimental data were provided to the community of users to test the algorithms. However, researchers were not given the true source location and thus exercised their algorithms blindly. We describe here the test problems and provide an overview of the results and the lessons learned.
Prior thoracoscopic surgery may improve reoperative pulmonary resection.

Objectivesalthough video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for pulmonary resection appears to be associated with more favorable postoperative outcomes than thoracotomy, no reports have discussed its benefit at subsequent reoperative pulmonary resection.Methodsbetween January 2000 and December 2009, 144 patients underwent reoperative pulmonary resections for benign and malignant nodules at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester. Their data were evaluated retrospectively. Twenty-three (16%) patients had prior video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, and 121 (84%) had undergone a prior open thoracotomy. Intraoperative and short-term postoperative outcomes were analyzed and compared between the two groups, using the chi-square test or Mann-Whitney test.Resultsoverall reoperative mortality was 1.38% and morbidity was 49.3%. Intraoperative factor analysis showed that the prior video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery group more often underwent anatomical resection (p = 0.0011) and showed a tendency towards a lower conversion rate fr...
Oxide nano-engineering using MBE

Abstract Molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) has achieved unparalleled control in the integration of semiconductors at the nanometer level; its use for the integration of oxides with similar nanoscale customization appears promising. This paper describes the use of reactive MBE to synthesize layered oxide heterostructures, including new compounds and metastable superlattices, involving monolayer-level integration of the dielectric and ferroelectric oxides SrO, SrTiO 3 , BaTiO 3 , PbTiO 3 , and Bi 4 Ti 3 O 12 . The controlled synthesis of such layered oxide heterostructures offers great potential for tailoring the dielectric and ferroelectric properties of materials. Oxide nano-engineering is accomplished by supplying the incident species in the desired layering sequence with submonolayer composition control. Comparisons between the growth of compound semiconductors and oxides by MBE are made.
Relation of an array of early-differentiating cones to the photoreceptor mosaic in the primate retina.

THE retina of diurnal primates, including humans, contains a reiterative mosaic of red-, green- and blue-sensitive cones whose visual pigments are maximally sensitive to long, middle or short wavelengths, respectively1. Although the distribution of the cone subtypes in the adult rhesus monkey has been quantified using opsin-specific antisera2, the mechanism for the phenotypic specification of the cone subtypes and the establishment of their ratios in the retinal mosaic remain unknown. Here we present immunocytochemical evidence that a subset of cones (about 10%) express their cell-specific opsin two to three weeks before the surrounding cones. Remarkably, these precocious cones are evenly stationed throughout undifferentiated regions of the retinal surface from several weeks after their last mitotic division3, and at least one month before the formation of their synapses with bipolar and horizontal cells4. Use of confocal laser microscopy reveals that the inner segments of immunolabelled and surrounding unlabelled cones are transiently in apposition with one another, enabling surface mediated interactions to occur during this period. We suggest that the early maturing cones induce neighbouring undifferentiated cones to express an appropriate opsin phenotype, and therefore constitute a 'protomap' for the emergence of the species-specific retinal mosaic.
Electrical Safety During Electrophysiological Testing

This report describes the inadvertent induction of non-sustained atrial and ventricular arrhythmias due to the malfunction of a programmable cardiac stimulator. The malfunction occurred when line power resumed after a brief municipal power outage ("blackout") during an invasive electrophysiological study. The stimulator spontaneously delivered very high frequency pulses through the electrode catheter to the myocardium which resulted in atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. During bench testing, the stimulator delivered a continuous train of high frequency output pulses (greater than or equal to 1 mA) when line voltage resumed normal level after it had dropped below 65 VAC. Electrical safety during electrophysiological testing requires a stimulator design which is immune to altered operating conditions, and which shuts down if abnormal operating or output conditions are detected.
Assessment of passive safety system performance under main steam line break accident

Abstract A generation III + Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) which relies on natural circulation has evolved from earlier BWR designs by incorporating passive safety features which require no emergency injection pump and no operator action or Alternating Current (AC) power supply. The generation III + BWR’s passive safety systems include the Automatic Depressurization System (ADS), the Suppression Pool (SP), the Standby Liquid Control System (SLCS), the Gravity Driven Cooling System (GDCS), the Isolation Condenser System (ICS), and the Passive Containment Cooling System (PCCS). The ADS is actuated to rapidly depressurize the reactor leading to the GDCS injection. The large amount of water in the SP condenses steam from the reactor. The SLCS provides makeup water to the reactor. The GDCS injects water into the reactor by gravity head and provides cooling to the core. The ICS and the PCCS are used to remove the decay heat from the reactor. The objective of this paper is to analyze the response of passive safety systems under the Loss of Coolant Accident (LOCA). A Main Steam Line Break (MSLB) test has been conducted in the Purdue University Multi-Dimensional Integral Test Assembly (PUMA) which is scaled to represent the generation III + BWR. The main results of PUMA MSLB test were that the reactor coolant level was well above the Top of Active Fuel (TAF) and the reactor containment pressure has remained below the design pressure. In particular, the minimum water level (1.706 m) was 5% higher than the TAF (1.623 m) and the containment maximum pressure (271 kPa) was 35% lower than the safety limit (414 kPa), respectively.
Immobilization-produced gastric pathology in wild rats (Rattus norvegicus)

Abstract Seven groups of wild rats ( Rattus norvegicus ) were deprived of food and immobilized in wire mesh cocoons for varying periods of time. Following immobilization, they were examined for gastric ulcers. Minimum immobilization necessary to produce ulcers given that pre-immobilization food deprivation was sufficiently long appeared to be between 12 and 24 hr. Results are compared to those obtained by other investigators using laboratory rats.
Modeling Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds from New Carpets

A simple model is proposed to account for observed emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from new carpets. The model assumes that the VOCs originate predominantly in a uniform slab of polymer backing material. Parameters for the model (the initial concentration of a VOC in the polymer, a diffusion coefficient and an equilibrium polymer/air partition coefficient) are obtained from experimental data produced by a previous chamber study. The diffusion coefficients generally decrease as the molecular weight of the VOCs increase, while the polymer/air partition coefficients generally increase as the vapor pressure of the compounds decrease. In addition, for two of the study carpets that have a styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) backing, the diffusion and partition coefficients are similar to independently reported values for SBR. The results suggest that predictions of VOCs emissions from new carpets may be possible based solely on a knowledge of the physical properties of the relevant compounds and the carpet backing material. However, a more rigorous validation of the model is desirable.
Urachal carcinoma: surgical and chemotherapeutic options

The urachal ligament is an embryologic remnant connecting the dome of the bladder to the umbilicus via the ligamentum commune. Autopsy series suggest that in approximately a third of subjects, the urachal remnant may persist with tubular or cystic structures. However, tumors of this site are extremely rare. Patients usually present with hematuria and upon imaging, have evidence of a cystic or solid structure in the bladder dome or in the bladder midline. If a biopsy confirms adenocarcinoma, these tumors should be considered an urachal cancer until proven otherwise. Although there are no prospective clinical trials reported to date, large single-institution reports suggest surgical resection with a partial cystectomy and en bloc resection of the urachal ligament with umbilicus as the treatment of choice in the setting of localized disease. Although there is currently no definitive role for neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy in this tumor, risk factors predicting progression may allow for the selection of patients at higher relapse risk for prospective studies. Unfortunately, there are many patients who present with metastatic disease that currently is not likely to be curable. There is no standard chemotherapy regimen for these patients; however, there is new-found hope with a currently accruing clinical trial exploring a 5-fluorouracil-based chemotherapy combination in this patient population.
Forgiving the sins of the fathers

In a case of sex-linked epigenetic inheritance, paternal cocaine use results in a heritable increase in cortical Bdnf gene expression that confers a cocaine-resistant phenotype in male, but not female, progeny.
Dialysis access failure: A sheep model of rapid stenosis

Abstract Purpose: Intimal hyperplasia at the venous anastomosis of dialysis access grafts causes early failure, although increased flow inhibits intimal hyperplasia in arterial grafts and after vessel injury. We designed a sheep model to study this process. Methods: Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts were placed in the necks of sheep from the carotid artery to the external jugular vein. Grafts were harvested after perfusion fixation at 4, 8, and 12 weeks and submitted for histologic and immunohistochemical examination, including morphometry of neointimal lesions. Results: The venous anastomoses developed thick neointima within the PTFE graft by 4 weeks. Lesions at the venous end were significantly thicker than those at the arterial end by 8 weeks (1.2 ± 0.1 vs 0.38 ± 0.05 mm, P 2 , n=7, P 2 , n=7, P Conclusion: The sheep model of dialysis access reliably produces venous stenosis within 4 weeks. Lesions develop in the absence of uremia, graft puncture, or dialysis, suggesting that these factors are not necessary for graft failure. The continued presence of thrombus and high rates of cellular proliferation suggest ongoing injury is an important cause of lesion formation. This model allows study of the cellular mechanisms of dialysis failure. (J Vasc Surg 1999;30:744-51.)
Establishment of two morphologically distinct PC12 cell lines resistant to 25-OH-cholesterol toxicity.

Two novel populations of spontaneous PC12 cell mutants resistant to a toxic concentration of 25-OH-cholesterol (5 microg/ml, 12.5 microM) were isolated and designated as R25R and F25R based on cell morphology. R25R consisted of round cells that were morphologically similar to the parent PC12 cells, and responded to nerve growth factor by extending neurites. F25R was a group of process-bearing flat cells that did not assume a neuronal morphology in the presence of nerve growth factor. These two cell lines also acquired some cross-resistance toward other cholesterol oxides. Nerve growth factor induced prominent voltage-dependent calcium currents in parent PC12 cells and in R25R, but not in F25R. Further experiments indicated that the parent PC12 cells, R25R and F25R exhibited different properties when challenged with a variety of toxic insults, including amphotericin B, serum withdrawal and beta-amyloid protein treatment.
Conditional stability constants and binding capacities for copper (II) by ultrafilterable material isolated from six surface waters of Wyoming, USA

Ultrafilterable material <0.15 μm was collected from six Wyoming surface waters, for which the chemical limnology had also been determined. The material was separated into four nominal size-fractions and the binding capacity of each for copper was determined by a hyperbolic, site-saturation model. The conditional, overall, thermodynamic stability constants \( (\bar K')\) for binding of copper were determined by two discrete models: The one- and two-component Scatchard functions, and two continuous multiligand models; The one- and three-component Gaussian Scatchard functions. The accuracy of the stability constants to predict the speciation of Cu(II) in the titration of the isolated fractions and of whole waters was evaluated by comparing the predictions of the thermodynamic, geochemical simulation model, GEOCHEM to those measured by selective ion electrode. The Cu-binding capacity of material retained by ultrafilters was positively correlated with the hardness and alkalinity of the surface waters, from which they were isolated as well as the percent ash content of the ultrafilter-retained material. The magnitude of the conditional stability constant (K i ' ) decreased as the ratio of the total Cu concentration to total concentration of Cu-binding sites increased. The cumulative frequency distribution of K i ' was lognormally distributed. All four of the models used to estimate the conditional stability constants gave reasonable prediction of the speciation of Cu for both fractionated and whole waters but, depending on the situation, the one- or two-component Scatchard estimate generally gave the best predictions of the proportion of copper, which would be expected to be bound.
Results of a Search for the Mechanisms of Steroid Receptor Regulation of Gene Expression

This publication provides a brief summary of a presentation given at the NICHD Anniversary Symposium that was designed to describe the research progress of the O'Malley laboratory over the past 30 years of its NICHD funding. It highlights a few of the lab's major discoveries during the course of the pursuit of its long-standing goal to define the molecular pathway for steroid hormone action. The key discovery that set the scientific tone for the lab over the ensuing few decades began with the discovery that steroid hormones induced the nuclear production of specific mRNAs for ovalbumin and avidin in the chick oviduct. This completed the pathway from receptor to specific proteins and indicated that steroid receptors were transcription factors. More recently the lab discovered the first coactivators (e.g., SRC-1) for steroid hormone receptors and has subsequently elucidated the many and diverse roles of nuclear coactivators in transcription reactions and in cell signaling.