cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of Social Vulnerability on Access to Educational Programming Designed to Enhance Living Donation.

Introduction Transplant candidate participation in the Living Donor Navigator Program is associated with an increased likelihood of achieving living donor kidney transplantation; yet not every transplant candidate participates in navigator programming. Research question We sought to assess interest and ability to participate in the Living Donor Navigator Program by the degree of social vulnerability. Design Eighty-two adult kidney-only candidates initiating evaluation at our center provided Likert-scaled responses to survey questions on interest and ability to participate in the Living Donor Navigator Program. Surveys were linked at the participant-level to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Social Vulnerability Index and county health rankings and overall social vulnerability and subthemes, individual barriers, telehealth capabilities/ knowledge, interest, and ability to participate were assessed utilizing nonparametric Wilcoxon ranks sums tests, chi-square, and Fisher's exact tests. Results Participants indicating distance as a barrier to participation in navigator programming lived approximately 82 miles farther from our center. Disinterested participants lived in areas with the highest social vulnerability, higher physical inactivity rates, lower college education rates, and higher uninsurance (lack of insurance) and unemployment rates. Similarly, participants without a computer, who never heard of telehealth, and who were not encouraged to participate in telehealth resided in areas of highest social vulnerability. Conclusion These data suggest geography combined with being from under-resourced areas with high social vulnerability was negatively associated with health care engagement. Geography and poverty may be surrogates for lower health literacy and fewer health care interactions.
Learning to Read in New Writing Systems

The ultimate goal of reading is to construct text meanings based on visually presented information. Keywords: psycholinguistics; second language acquisition; literacy; reading
The risk and burden of smoking related heart disease mortality among young people in the United States

Although cigarette smoking remains the most common risk factor for heart disease among the young, few studies have explored the relationship of smoking with heart disease mortality risk among young people. This prospective study assesses the risk and burden of all heart disease (HD) and coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality associated with smoking among younger adults from a nationally representative sample of the United States. National Health Interview Survey respondents’ data from 1997–2004 were linked to their death records through 2006. The analyses were restricted to individuals 18 to 44 years of age during follow up (n = 121,284). Cox proportional hazard ratios (HR) were estimated with adjustment for sample weights and design effects. Attributable fractions (AF) of smoking were calculated. After controlling for age, race, body mass index, history of hypertension and diabetes, and leisure time physical activity, current smoking related CHD mortality HR was 14.6 [95 % confidence interval or CI, 3.3–64.9] for females and 3.6 [95 % CI, 1.2–10.4] for males. The HR for all HD mortality was 3.1 [95 % CI, 1.3–7.6] for females and 2.4 [95 % CI, 1.2–4.7] for males. The AF of smoking for CHD deaths for female and male were 0.58 and 0.54 respectively. The AF of all HD mortality was 0.31 for male and 0.32 for female. The mean estimates of all HD deaths attributable to smoking during 1997–2006 among this age group were 52,214, of which 45,147 were CHD deaths. Even after adjustment for multiple risk factors and without addressing passive smoking, our result showed a strong relationship between smoking and HD and CHD mortality among young adults that is likely causal.
Low-voltage CMOS device scaling

Discussions of device scaling are often based on simplistic device models. Much more accurate models have become available recently but remain largely unknown to the circuit and design community. This paper highlights some of these models by projecting low-voltage CMOS device trends. >
Co-evolutionary Data Mining to Discover Rules for Fuzzy Resource Management

A fuzzy logic based expert system has been developed that automatically allocates resources in real-time over many dissimilar platforms. An approach is being explored that involves embedding the resource manager in an electronic game environment. The game allows a human expert to play against the resource manager in a simulated battlespace with each of the defending platforms being exclusively directed by the fuzzy resource manager and the attacking platforms being controlled by the human expert or operating autonomously under their own logic. This approach automates the data mining problem. The game automatically creates a database reflecting the domain expert's knowledge, it calls a data mining function, a genetic algorithm, for data mining of the data base as required. The game allows easy evaluation of the information mined in the second step. The criterion for re-optimization is discussed. The mined information is extremely valuable as indicated by demanding scenarios.
Myonuclear accretion is a major determinant of avian skeletal muscle growth.

The role of satellite cells and DNA unit size in determining skeletal muscle growth was studied after mitotic activity was inhibited in the left pectoralis thoracicus of 2-wk-old tom turkeys by mea...
Toward a Theory of Intuitive Decision–Making in Nursing

The author in this article presents a theory of decision-making in nursing, specifically a middle-range theory of intuitive decision-making in nursing created through the synthesis of Patricia Benner's model of skill acquisition in nursing and Damasio's somatic marker hypothesis. The author proposes that Damasio's somatic state is equivalent to what Benner has identified as intuition. When a nurse is faced with a decision, intuition, if developed, is a somatic state that creates a measurable physiological biasing signal (skin conductive response) that helps in making an advantageous decision. Research, educational, clinical and theoretical implications are discussed.
Rotational barriers in H2Se2 and H2Te2

(1980). Rotational barriers in H2Se2 and H2Te2. Molecular Physics: Vol. 40, No. 1, pp. 241-245.
WARPS, Polar Rings and High-Velocity Clouds

Both in warped disk galaxies and in polar ring systems, matter at the largest radii appears to have settled into near-circular orbits, that are tilted away from the equatorial plane of the inner galaxy. In both warps and polar rings, the outer material is largely gaseous, and seems to be less advanced in its star forming life than the inner parts of the system. The disks of most spiral galaxies are warped. Recent work shows no easy path to exciting warps to the amplitude that we now observe, so perhaps the outer warped region is a later addition. In polar ring systems, the outer ring is always more gas-rich than the inner galaxy, and appears to have formed a larger fraction of its stars more recently. The rings are probably a relic of infall or accretion, which perhaps took place many gigayears ago, when gas was more plentiful in the cosmos. An astronomer in a forming polar ring system would have observed an amazingly profuse system of HVCs, bringing in as much baryonic matter as the original galaxy contained.
Surgery for mitral valve disease in the pediatric age group.

Abstract Objectives: We reviewed a 20-year experience with the surgical treatment of mitral valve disease in the pediatric age group at our institution with 2 objectives: to clarify the long-term results over the last 2 decades and to evaluate the recent advances in mitral valve operation in children. Methods : Since December 1978, 56 patients have undergone a total of 36 mitral valve repairs and 30 mitral valve replacements. Associated cardiac anomalies were present in 46 patients (82%), and concurrent repair of associated lesions was performed in 37 patients (66%). The age of the patients ranged from 3 months to 15 years (mean, 3.6 years) at mitral valve repair, and ranged from 2 months to 16 years (mean, 5.7 years) at mitral valve replacement. Mean follow-up period was 92.0 months (range, 1-235 months). Results: There were 2 hospital deaths and 2 late deaths in patients who underwent mitral valve repair. Reoperation was performed in 4 patients. Three of these patients underwent mitral valve replacement because of residual mitral incompetence. No hospital deaths occurred in patients who underwent mitral valve replacement. Two late deaths occurred after mitral valve replacement. Six patients had a total of 10 episodes of prosthetic valve thrombosis. Thrombolytic therapy with urokinase was successful in all episodes without serious complications. Five patients required reoperations 49 to 141 months (mean, 78.4 months) after the initial valve replacement for relative prosthetic valve obstruction as the result of somatic growth. A valve 2 or 3 sizes larger than the original prostheses was inserted without death. Actuarial survival and freedom from cardiac events at 10 years after the operation were 87.2% and 72.7% in children who underwent mitral valve repair, and 90.3% and 67.3% for those children who underwent mitral valve replacement. Conclusions: The current risk of mitral valve operation in the pediatric age group is low, and the long-term results are satisfactory, irrespective of severe deformation of the mitral valve apparatus and associated complex cardiac anomalies. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1999;118:99-106)
Priming the productivity pump: flood pulse driven trends in suspended algal biomass distribution across a restored floodplain

SUMMARY 1. Chlorophyll a (Chl a) distribution across a 0.36 km 2 restored floodplain (Cosumnes River, California) was analysed throughout the winter and spring flood season from January to June 2005. In addition, high temporal-resolution Chl a measurements were made in situ with field fluorometers in the floodplain and adjacent channel. 2. The primary objectives were to characterise suspended algal biomass distribution across the floodplain at various degrees of connection with the channel and to correlate Chl a concentration and distribution with physical and chemical gradients across the floodplain. 3. Our analysis indicates that periodic connection and disconnection of the floodplain with the channel is vital to the functioning of the floodplain as a source of concentrated suspended algal biomass for downstream aquatic ecosystems.
Late detection of breast and colorectal cancer in Minnesota counties: an application of spatial smoothing and clustering.

Cancers detected at a later disease stage are associated with significantly higher mortality risk. Lack of uniformity in county-level cancer detection rates is thus of substantial interest to state health departments and other public health professionals. In this paper, we perform several spatial analyses of breast and colorectal cancer detection data for Minnesota counties for 1995–1997. We look for outliers and clusters in the late detection rates using a number of techniques: (i) applying various mapping schemes, (ii) smoothing the data using Bayesian methods implemented via Markov chain Monte Carlo, and (iii) applying maximum likelihood techniques to test for the presence of clusters and to identify the most likely clusters Our results suggest a fairly uniform spatial pattern in both sets of detection rates. Spatially smoothed rates did not reveal clusters of counties with significantly higher late detection risk, nor were county-level covariates (such as income, education, and race) particularly helpful in explaining the rates. However, our spatial clustering approach (using the scan statistic) did produce statistically significant clusters of counties which may indicate differences of practical importance for public health. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Training in Phonemic Awareness: Greater on Tests of Phonemic Awareness:

A review of 15 studies confirms that training in phonemic awareness has a larger effect on tests of phonemic awareness than on tests of real word reading and reading comprehension.
Overestimation of Acute Lumen Gain and Late Lumen Loss by Quantitative Coronary Angiography (Compared With Intravascular Ultrasound) in Stented Lesions

Abstract The accurate measurement of lumen dimensions is essential for guidance of interventional procedures and the assessment of acute and late results. This study compared intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) with quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) in the assessment of lumen dimensions before and after intervention, and at follow-up. Two hundred thirty-one consecutive patients treated with Palmaz-Schatz stents and evaluated using serial (before and after intervention, and follow-up) IVUS and QCA were screened. Because IVUS cannot measure dimensions smaller than the imaging catheter, patients having an angiographic minimal lumen diameter (MLD) less than the IVUS catheter (1.0 mm) during any study were excluded, leaving 71 patients in the final study group. IVUS and QCA measurements (reference dimensions and MLD) and calculations (percent diameter stenosis, acute lumen gain, late lumen loss, loss index, and restenosis rates) were compared. Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.641 to 0.816 for measured variables and from 0.280 to 0.680 for calculated variables. Reference lumen dimensions were consistently larger by IVUS than by QCA: 0.50 ± 0.52 mm before intervention (p
Bestrophin1 Channels are Insensitive to Ethanol and Do not Mediate Tonic GABAergic Currents in Cerebellar Granule Cells.

The granule cell layer of the cerebellum functions in spatio-temporal encoding of information. Granule cells are tonically inhibited by spillover of GABA released from Golgi cells and this tonic inhibition is facilitated by acute ethanol. Recently it was demonstrated that a specialized Ca2+-activated anion channel, bestrophin1 (Best1), found on glial cells, can release GABA that contributes up to 50-75% of the tonic GABAergic current. However, it is unknown if ethanol has any actions on Best1 function. Using whole-cell electrophysiology, we found that recombinant Best1 channels expressed in HEK-293 cells were insensitive to 80 mM ethanol. We attempted to measure the Best1-mediated component of the tonic current in slices using 5‐nitro‐2‐(3‐phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid (NPPB) (previously reported to block Best1) but, unexpectedly, found a significant potentiation of the tonic current and the area and decay of GABAA-mediated spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) in rats and mice under two different recording conditions. To better isolate the Best1-dependent tonic current component, we blocked the Golgi cell component of the tonic current with tetrodotoxin and found that NPPB similarly and significantly potentiated the tonic current amplitude and decay time of miniature IPSCs. Two other Cl--channel blockers were also tested: 4′‐diisothiocyanatostilbene‐2,2′‐disulfonic acid disodium salt hydrate (DIDS) showed no effect on GABAergic transmission, while niflumic acid (NFA) significantly suppressed the tonic current noise, as well as the mIPSC frequency, amplitude, and area. These data suggest that acute ethanol exposure does not modulate Best1 channels and they serve to challenge recent data indicating that these channels participate in the generation of tonic GABAergic currents in cerebellar granule cells.
The approximate irreducible factorization of a univariate polynomial: revisited

When multiple roots are present, factoring a univariate polynomial is an ill-posed problem in the sense that it is highly sensitive to data perturbations and the round-off error. In ISSAC '03, the author introduced an algorithm that is capable of calculating the polynomial roots and multiplicities accurately using floating point arithmetic without extending the hardware precision even if the coefficients are perturbed. This paper revisits the problem by establishing a rigorous theoretical framework for eliminating the ill-posedness and by introducing a redesigned algorithm. The new algorithm avoids error accumulation in the GCD computation and substantially improves the accuracy and robustness.
Heterogeneity in Two‐Parent Families and Adolescent Well‐Being

This study highlights the heterogeneity in two-parent families and examines how adolescents fare when they reside in simple two-parent, blended, and stepfamilies. Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (N= 1,769), we find that shared biological children in blended families have worse outcomes than children in simple two-parent families, even though they reside with both of their biological parents. These differences occur for academic performance, delinquency, school detachment, and depression. Current explanations in the family literature do not account for the poorer outcomes of shared children in blended families. We suggest that the presence of half-siblings creates a unique family situation that is not accurately represented in the current family literature.
Does emotion predict the course of major depressive disorder? A review of prospective studies

Purpose. Emotional dysfunction is a hallmark of major depressive disorder (MDD). There has been wide interest in identifying the nature and significance of emotional deficits in MDD. Given the paramount goal of identifying etiological markers of MDD that can sharpen prevention and treatment efforts, researchers have pursued emotion as a functionally significant factor and predictor of clinical course in MDD. This review is the first to summarize the literature examining emotion as a predictor of the clinical course of MDD. Method. We conducted a systematic review of all published studies reporting on the prospective relationship between positive and negative emotionality (PE and NE) – measured at the state or trait level – and the longitudinal course of MDD in diagnosed adults. Physiological, behavioural, and subjective indices of emotion were considered. The primary analyses encompassed 28 research reports that included data from 3,798 participants and tested a total of 60 hypotheses. Results. Lower levels of PE predicted poorer MDD course with some consistency. Paradoxically, both lower levels of state NE and higher levels of trait NE predicted poorer MDD course. The relationships between emotionality and MDD course generally held even after initial depression symptom severity was taken into account. Conclusion. Emotion shows promise as a predictor of MDD course. Implications of these data for current theories of emotion and MDD, the apparently divergent relation between state and trait NE and course, and future directions to further clarify the functional significance of emotion in the context of MDD are discussed.
A dental non-metric analysis of the Classical/Late Antiquity period (1st century BC–3rd century AD) population from Armenian Plateau

The aim of the study is to assess of the biological distance between the populations from the Armenian Plateau and Georgia, with samples from Eastern Europe, and Central Asia on the basis of the frequency of dental non-metric traits. It is well known that these traits are characterised by high inter-population differentiation, low sexual dimorphism, and their recording is loaded by relatively small intra and inter observer error. The dental non-metric traits are successfully used in the description and explanation of the ethnogenetic processes. The comparative analysis was carried out on the basis of 19 populations. The frequency of the dental non-metric traits among all the populations was analysed using the multiple correspondence analysis and the cluster analysis. Analysis results do not allow to concretize the sources of components of the odontological structure of the Classical/Late Antiquity period populations of the Armenian Highland reducing them to the direct influence of representatives of any cultures or communities. Future dental morphology investigation in Armenia should focus on characterizing, with the aid of an identified skeletal collection, the frequencies of traits on an Armenia large sample. This would be only a gateway to a wider (geographically and, more important, chronologically) dental morphology characterization of Armenian peoples.
Planar controlled gliding, tumbling and descent

Controlled gliding during descent has been thought of as a crucial intermediate step toward the evolution of powered flight in a variety of animals. Here we develop and analyse a model for the controlled descent of thin bodies in quiescent fluids. Focusing on motion in two dimensions for simplicity, we formulate the question of steering an elliptical body to a desired landing location with a specific orientation using the framework of optimal control theory with a single control variable. We derive both time- and energy-optimal trajectories using a combination of numerical and analytical approximations. In particular, we find that energy-optimal strategies converge to constant control, while time-optimal strategies converge to bang–coast–bang control that leads to bounding flight, alternating between tumbling and gliding phases. Our study of these optimal strategies thus places natural limits on how they may be implemented in biological and biomimetic systems.
Direct volume rendering of multiple scalar fields

Rendering of volume data without forming geometric objects is often termed direct volume rendering. Most of the previously developed methods for this purpose are restricted to display of one scalar variable. This paper presents methods for direct volume rendering of several scalar variables defined at discrete points in three-dimensional space. Typical requirements for the rendering of such data are proposed and then used as a basis for the derivation of a computational model. The proposed model uses a classification technique to composite specific types of information from different scalar fields. The visual display of the composite information is controlled through a set of rendering parameters.
Reconstruction of human embryos derived from somatic cells

Reconstruction of human nuclear transfer embryos is a necessary step of therapeutic cloning. In this study we injected somatic cell nuclei into M II oocytes and activated reconstructed oocytes with calcium ionophore A23187 (CaA) and 6-dimethy laminopurine (6-DMAP). After oocyte activation and 2PN formation, we removed the female PN. By using this method, we avoided the application of DNA fluorescent stain and ultraviolet light for oocyte enucleation, and over elimination of ooplasm was also mitigated. Some reconstructed embryos developed into the blastocyst stagein vitro.
Stochastic Optimization for Unit Commitment—A Review

Optimization models have been widely used in the power industry to aid the decision-making process of scheduling and dispatching electric power generation resources, a process known as unit commitment (UC). Since UC’s birth, there have been two major waves of revolution on UC research and real life practice. The first wave has made mixed integer programming stand out from the early solution and modeling approaches for deterministic UC, such as priority list, dynamic programming, and Lagrangian relaxation. With the high penetration of renewable energy, increasing deregulation of the electricity industry, and growing demands on system reliability, the next wave is focused on transitioning from traditional deterministic approaches to stochastic optimization for unit commitment. Since the literature has grown rapidly in the past several years, this paper is to review the works that have contributed to the modeling and computational aspects of stochastic optimization (SO) based UC. Relevant lines of future research are also discussed to help transform research advances into real-world applications.
The Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines 2012: Update for Emergency Physicians

The Surviving Sepsis Campaign recently developed and published an updated version in 2012 of the international guidelines for the assessment and management of severe sepsis and septic shock. These guidelines reflect literature published in the last 5 years, and many of the recommendations have direct implications for emergency physicians. In this review, we present a concise summary of these recommendations, with a particular focus on those that have changed and those that have direct relevance to the clinical practice of emergency medicine.
Omega-3 Fatty Acid Deficiency during Brain Maturation Reduces Neuronal and Behavioral Plasticity in Adulthood

Omega-3-fatty acid DHA is a structural component of brain plasma membranes, thereby crucial for neuronal signaling; however, the brain is inefficient at synthesizing DHA. We have asked how levels of dietary n-3 fatty acids during brain growth would affect brain function and plasticity during adult life. Pregnant rats and their male offspring were fed an n-3 adequate diet or n-3 deficient diets for 15 weeks. Results showed that the n-3 deficiency increased parameters of anxiety-like behavior using open field and elevated plus maze tests in the male offspring. Behavioral changes were accompanied by a level reduction in the anxiolytic-related neuropeptide Y-1 receptor, and an increase in the anxiogenic-related glucocorticoid receptor in the cognitive related frontal cortex, hypothalamus and hippocampus. The n-3 deficiency reduced brain levels of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and increased the ratio n-6/n-3 assessed by gas chromatography. The n-3 deficiency reduced the levels of BDNF and signaling through the BDNF receptor TrkB, in proportion to brain DHA levels, and reduced the activation of the BDNF-related signaling molecule CREB in selected brain regions. The n-3 deficiency also disrupted the insulin signaling pathways as evidenced by changes in insulin receptor (IR) and insulin receptor substrate (IRS). DHA deficiency during brain maturation reduces plasticity and compromises brain function in adulthood. Adequate levels of dietary DHA seem crucial for building long-term neuronal resilience for optimal brain performance and aiding in the battle against neurological disorders.
Differential Activation of Protein Kinase B and p70S6K by Glucose and Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 in Pancreatic β-Cells (INS-1)

It has been shown that IGF-1-induced pancreatic beta-cell proliferation is glucose-dependent; however, the mechanisms responsible for this glucose dependence are not known. Adenoviral mediated expression of constitutively active phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) in the pancreatic beta-cells, INS-1, suggested that PI3K was not necessary for glucose-induced beta-cell proliferation but was required for IGF-1-induced mitogenesis. Examination of the signaling components downstream of PI3K, 3-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1, protein kinase B (PKB), glycogen synthase kinase-3, and p70-kDa-S6-kinase (p70(S6K)), suggested that a major part of glucose-dependent beta-cell proliferation requires activation of mammalian target of rapamycin/p70(S6K), independent of phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1/PKB activation. Adenoviral expression of the kinase-dead form of PKB in INS-1 cells decreased IGF-1-induced beta-cell proliferation. However, a surprisingly similar decrease was also observed in adenoviral wild type and constitutively active PKB-infected cells. Upon analysis of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/ERK2), an increase in ERK1/ERK2 phosphorylation activation by glucose and IGF-1 was observed in kinase-dead PKB-infected cells, but this phosphorylation activation was inhibited in the constitutively active PKB-infected cells. Hence, there is a requirement for the activation of both ERK1/ERK2 and mammalian target of rapamycin/p70(S6K) signal transduction pathways for a full commitment to glucose-induced pancreatic beta-cell mitogenesis. However, for IGF-1-induced activation, these pathways must be carefully balanced, because chronic activation of one (PI3K/PKB) can lead to dampening of the other (ERK1/2), reducing the mitogenic response.
Develooment of the lower urinary tract and its functional disorders

A normal development of lower urinary tract function control evolves from involuntary bladder empting (incontinence) during infancy to daytime urinary continence, and finally a successful day and night continence that is generally achieved by the 5th to 7th year of age.This gradual process primarily depends on the progressive maturation of the neural control of the lower urinary tract, but it is also influenced by behavioral training that evolves through social support. Functional voiding disorders (bladder dysfunction) are common problems during childhood. They are present in 5-15 % of general pediatric population, and in one-fifth of school-age children or in over one-third of patients of the pediatric urologist or nephrologist. More than half of children with bladder dysfunction have vesicoureteral reflux, and more than two-thirds have recurrent urinary tract infections. There is also a frequent association of bladder dysfunction with constipation and encopresis (dysfunctional elimination syndrome). Bladder dysfunction may cause a permanent damage to the upper urinary tract and kidneys. In addition, urinary incontinence, as the most common manifestation of bladder dysfunction can be the cause of major stress in school- age children and have a negative effect on the child's feeling of self-esteem. Thus, a timely detection and treatment of this group of disorders in children is highly significant.
Polarized light diffusely scattered under smooth and rough interfaces

We develop models for light scattering appropriate for glossy and matte paints. Volume scattering is treated in the single scattering regime and the diffusive scattering regime. In the single scattering regime, scattering is treated in the Rayleigh-Gans approximation, using a Henyey-Greenstein phase function. Interaction of the light with the smooth or rough interface is treated in the facet approximation. The theory for transmissive light scattering by a rough interface in the facet approximation is presented. To treat volume scattering under a rough interface, a Monte Carlo approach is used, where light is allowed to interact with the surface twice, once upon entering the material and once upon exiting. We compare the polarization and intensity predicted by the models with experimental data from glossy and matte paint samples. The results indicate that the new models are an improvement over the Maxwell-Beard model.
A cesium iodide calorimeter with photodiode readout for CLEO II

Abstract A new electromagnetic shower counter is being constructed for the CLEO II experiment at CESR. It consists of 8000 GsI(Tl) crystals read out with Si photodiodes inside a 1.5 T magnetic field. The status of the crystal production and the electronic system are reported. Energy resolutions of 3.8% at 180 MeV and 1.6% at 5 GeV have been obtained in a prototype.
Spurt and instability in a two-layer Johnson-Segalman liquid

The Johnson-Segalman model is an example of a model that exhibits a nonmonotone curve for the shear stress in terms of shear rate. There are many works based on such models for an explanation of the spurt phenomenon but they have concerned the one-dimensional problem. This paper concerns a model problem, taking a one-dimensionally stable ‘spurted solution,” viewed in two dimensions. A two-layer arrangement between walls in parallel shear, with a thin layer in the higher shear rate and the bulk of the fluid in the lower shear rate, is examined for linear stability in two dimensions. The spectrum is computed numerically for normal mode solutions. Instabilities with dominant growth rates for short waves are found. Thus, the one-dimensionally stable solutions of this model are actually two-dimensionally unstable.
Re-laparotomy for severe intra-abdominal infections.

Abstract Background: The role of re-laparotomy in the management of intra-abdominal infection remains controversial. Two strategies have been used: Planned re-laparotomy or laparotomy on demand. Methods: A review of the literature on this controversial subject was performed. Results: Although in the past, planned re-laparotomy made sense for ensuring source control, improvements in imaging, intensive care therapy, and percutaneous interventions may have shifted the balance toward the laparotomy-on-demand strategy. Regardless of strategy, the rate of negative laparotomy remains high (>30%). Randomized trials are not available to provide definitive evidence, and clinical judgment continues to be the basis for decision making. Conclusions: Further work to develop more specific clinical tools and criteria to improve the accuracy of diagnosis may lead to use of the laparotomy-on-demand strategy rather than planned re-laparotomy. At this time, there is no good clinical evidence to support one strategy over the ...
Two Worlds in the Tennessee Mountains: Exploring the Origins of Appalachian Stereotypes

Most Americans know Appalachia through stereotyped images: moonshine and handicrafts, poverty and illiteracy, rugged terrain and isolated mountaineers. Historian David Hsiung maintains that in order to understand the origins of such stereotypes, we must look critically at their underlying concepts, especially those of isolation and community. According to Hsiung's interpretation, two worlds coexisted in the Tennessee mountains: some people made connections with the rest of country and others lived in relative isolation. When this latter group came to be characterized by their neighbors as backward, growing perceptions of difference within the mountain region eventually found their way into fiction and popular images of Appalachia for well over a century. By demonstrating that these perceptions of difference first emerged from within Appalachia itself, Two Worlds in the Tennessee Mountains alters the commonly held views of this region and its people during the antebellum period. This provocative work will stimulate future studies of early Appalachia and serve as a model for the analysis of regional cultures.
Human carboxylesterases HCE1 and HCE2: Ontogenic expression, inter-individual variability and differential hydrolysis of oseltamivir, aspirin, deltamethrin and permethrin

Carboxylesterases hydrolyze chemicals containing such functional groups as a carboxylic acid ester, amide and thioester. The liver contains the highest carboxylesterase activity and expresses two major carboxylesterases: HCE1 and HCE2. In this study, we analyzed 104 individual liver samples for the expression patterns of both carboxylesterases. These samples were divided into three age groups: adults (≥ 18 years of age), children (0 days-10 years) and fetuses (82-224 gestation days). In general, the adult group expressed significantly higher HCE1 and HCE2 than the child group, which expressed significantly higher than the fetal group. The age-related expression was confirmed by RT-qPCR and Western immunoblotting. To determine whether the expression patterns reflected the hydrolytic activity, liver microsomes were pooled from each group and tested for the hydrolysis of drugs such as oseltamivir and insecticides such as deltamethrin. Consistent with the expression patterns, adult microsomes were ∼4 times as active as child microsomes and 10 times as active as fetal microsomes in hydrolyzing these chemicals. Within the same age group, particularly in the fetal and child groups, a large inter-individual variability was detected in mRNA (430 fold), protein (100 fold) and hydrolytic activity (127 fold). Carboxylesterases are recognized to play critical roles in drug metabolism and insecticide detoxication. The findings on the large variability among different age groups or even within the same age group have important pharmacological and toxicological implications, particularly in relation to pharmacokinetic alterations of ester drugs in children and vulnerability of fetuses and children to pyrethroid insecticides.
Prediction of Suicide Revisited: A Brief Methodological Note

Shneidman reports on his 1971 analysis of the suicides that had occurred in the Terman Gifted Children Study. Begun in the 1920s at Stanford University, professor Lewis Terman identified 1,528 high-IQ California students and, over the years, they have been continuously followed. Shneidman relates how, in 1971, he utilized a psychological autopsy approach to accurately predict the suicides of a small subsample of students.
Degrees of difficulty of generalized r.e. separating classes

Important examples of \(\Pi^0_1\) classes of functions \(f \in {}^\omega\omega\) are the classes of sets (elements of ω 2) which separate a given pair of disjoint r.e. sets: \({\mathsf S}_2(A_0, A_1) := \{f \in{}^\omega2 : (\forall i < 2)(\forall x \in A_i)f(x) \neq i\}\). A wider class consists of the classes of functions f ∈ ω k which in a generalized sense separate a k-tuple of r.e. sets (not necessarily pairwise disjoint) for each k ∈ ω: \({\mathsf S}_k(A_0,\ldots,A_k-1) := \{f \in {}^\omega k : (\forall i < k) (\forall x \in A_i) f(x) \neq i\}\) . We study the structure of the Medvedev degrees of such classes and show that the set of degrees realized depends strongly on both k and the extent to which the r.e. sets intersect. Let \({\mathcal S}^m_k\) denote the Medvedev degrees of those \({\mathsf S}_k(A_0,\ldots,A_{k-1})\) such that no m + 1 sets among A 0,...,A k-1 have a nonempty intersection. It is shown that each \({\mathcal S}^m_k\) is an upper semi-lattice but not a lattice. The degree of the set of k-ary diagonally nonrecursive functions \(\mathsf{DNR}_k\) is the greatest element of \({\mathcal S}^1_k\) . If 2 ≤ l < k, then 0 M is the only degree in \({\mathcal S}^1_l\) which is below a member of \({\mathcal S}^1_k\) . Each \({\mathcal S}^m_k\) is densely ordered and has the splitting property and the same holds for the lattice \({\mathcal L}^m_k\) it generates. The elements of \({\mathcal S}^m_k\) are exactly the joins of elements of \({\mathcal S}^1_i\) for \(\lceil{k \over m}\rceil \leq i \leq k\) .
Inhibition of β-oxidative respiration is a therapeutic window associated with the cancer chemo-preventive activity of PPARγ agonists

We demonstrate expression and coordinate induction of PPARγ and lipogenic enzymes (HMG-CoA synthase, HMG-CoA reductase and fatty acid synthase) in a murine lung alveolar carcinoma cell line (Line 1) treated with the PPARγ agonist troglitazone (TRO) [0–100 μM]. We postulate that TRO induces a shift in cellular energy metabolism towards fatty acid oxidation (β-oxidative respiration). Accordingly, co-treatment with TRO [30 μM] and increasing concentrations of trimetazidine (TMZ) [0.1–3 mM], an inhibitor of β-oxidation, results in a dose dependent decrease cellular ATP levels and a dose dependent induction of apoptosis. These findings, suggest that inhibition of β-oxidative respiration is a therapeutic window associated with the cancer chemo-preventive activity of PPARγ agonists.
Landscape-epidemiological study design to investigate an environmentally based disease

Cost-effective approaches for identifying and enrolling subjects in community-based epidemiological studies face many challenges. Additional challenges arise when a neighborhood scale of analysis is required to distinguish between individual- and group-level risk factors with strong environmental determinants. A stratified, two-stage, cross-sectional, address-based telephone survey of Greater Tucson, Arizona, was conducted in 2002–2003. Subjects were recruited from direct marketing data at neighborhood resolution using a geographic information system (GIS). Three geomorphic strata were divided into two demographic units. Households were randomly selected within census block groups, selected using the probability proportional to size technique. Purchased direct marketing lists represented 45.2% of Census 2000 households in the surveyed block groups. Survey design effect (1.6) on coccidioidomycosis prevalence (88 per 100,000 per year) was substantially reduced in four of the six strata (0.3–0.9). Race–ethnicity was more robust than age and gender to compensate for significant selection bias using poststratification. Clustered, address-based telephone surveys provide a cost-effective, valid method for recruiting populations from address-based lists using a GIS to design surveys and population survey statistical methods for analysis. Landscape ecology provides effective methods for identifying scales of analysis and units for stratification that will improve sampling efficiency when environmental variables of interest are strong predictors.
Optimization of capillary parameters for gas chromatography

An HETP equation for the capillary column is developed that takes into account the dependence of gaseous diffusion on pressure, the compressibility of the mobile phase, together with the unique relationship between mobile phase velocity, and the resistance to mass transfer in the stationary phase. The equation is used to develop a procedure for column optimization and expressions are derived that allow the optimum column radius and optimum column length to be calculated for a given fixed inlet pressure. It is shown that fast, simple separations are optimally achieved using relatively short small diameter columns. Conversely, optimum performance for the separation of complex mixtures requiring higher efficiencies requires the use of long columns with relatively large diameters.
Dynamical representation of real numbers and its universality

Abstract We introduce a new way of representing any real number in the unit interval as a sequence of positive integers. This representation has its physical motivation from considering a chaotic dynamical system. That is why we use the name “dynamical representation.” A reconstruction procedure for the real number from the given sequence of natural numbers is given. Important ergodic properties about the digits of representations, in particular those resembling Borel's theorem in binary expansion and Khintchine's theorem in continued fraction expansion, are derived. Finally, we invoke a generalized version of the Khintchine-Kolmogorov law of the iterated logarithm to obtain the sharpest possible estimate of the corresponding differences. A twofold universality for the distribution behavoir of symmetric dynamical representation is observed.
Successive Entry, Latest Entry, or None of the Above? How the MARC21 Format, FRBR and the Concept of a Work Could Revitalize Serials Management

Current cataloging practices are insufficient to the task of providing access to serial content. The presenters acknowledge that RDA (Resource Description and Access), FRBR (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records) and the CONSER (Cooperative Online Serials) standard record will improve libraries' ability to respond to the exponential increase in information resources brought about by the Internet but feel that more may be done. Adams and Santamauro propose to apply the concepts of FRBR to serials cataloging and database design, in addition to the user interface, thereby saving time in cataloging and providing the user with cleaner records.
Piezoelectric hydraulic pump performance

A piezohydraulic pump making use of the step and repeat capability of piezoelectric actuators has been developed for actuation of aircraft control surfaces. The piezohydraulic pump utilizes a piezoelectric stack actuator to drive a piston in a cylinder. The cylinder is fitted with two check valves. On the compression stroke, oil is forced out of the cylinder. On the intake stroke, oil is drawn into the cylinder. The oil is used to drive a linear actuator. The actuator was driven at 7cm/sec with a 271N (61lb) blocking force. To achieve this, the piezoelectric stack actuator was driven at 60Hz with a switching power supply. The system utilizes an accumulator to eliminate cavitation. This work discusses piezohydraulic pumping theory, pump design, and pump performance. Consideration of pump performance includes the effects of varying accumulator pressure, hydraulic oil viscosity, and load imposed on the linear actuator.
Inhibition of monosynaptic and polysynaptic reflexes and muscle tone by electrical stimulation of the cerebral cortex.

Abstract Electrical stimulation of the rostral end of a forebrain inhibitory and EEG synchronizing system has resulted in suppression of motor behavior, induction of sleep, and inhibition of the monosynaptic masseteric reflex in cats and monkeys. The experiments reported here are concerned with a closer examination of the inhibitory effects exerted by the cortical end of this system on somatic reflexes at different levels of the neuraxis and in various stages of vigilance in the adult cat. Electrical stimulation, consisting of a short train of pulses, was applied to the rostral portion of the orbital gyrus. Following the train of impulses to the cortex, test reflexes were electrically elicited, and the effects of cortical stimulation on reflex discharges were studied. Electrical stimulation of the cortical inhibitory area resulted in immediate and consistent inhibition of a variety of monosynaptic and polysynaptic reflexes at different levels of the neuraxis. This inhibition was diffuse and nonreciprocal when the concurrently recorded EEG was synchronized. On the other hand, reflexes for antigravity muscles were inhibited and those for their antagonists facilitated, when the EEG was desynchronized. Additionally, diffuse inhibition of spontaneous muscle tone and synchronization of the EEG were obtained by electrical stimulation of this same cortical area. These findings provide some neurophysiological basis for an understanding of forebrain inhibitory mechanisms.
Initial formation of zebrafish brain ventricles occurs independently of circulation and requires the nagie oko and snakehead/atp1a1a.1 gene products

The mechanisms by which the vertebrate brain develops its characteristic three-dimensional structure are poorly understood. The brain ventricles are a highly conserved system of cavities that form very early during brain morphogenesis and that are required for normal brain function. We have initiated a study of zebrafish brain ventricle development and show here that the neural tube expands into primary forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain ventricles rapidly, over a 4-hour window during mid-somitogenesis. Circulation is not required for initial ventricle formation, only for later expansion. Cell division rates in the neural tube surrounding the ventricles are higher than between ventricles and, consistently, cell division is required for normal ventricle development. Two zebrafish mutants that do not develop brain ventricles are snakehead and nagie oko . We show that snakehead is allelic to small heart , which has a mutation in the Na+K+ ATPase gene atp1a1a.1 . The snakehead neural tube undergoes normal ventricle morphogenesis; however, the ventricles do not inflate, probably owing to impaired ion transport. By contrast, mutants in nagie oko , which was previously shown to encode a MAGUK family protein, fail to undergo ventricle morphogenesis. This correlates with an abnormal brain neuroepithelium, with no clear midline and disrupted junctional protein expression. This study defines three steps that are required for brain ventricle development and that occur independently of circulation: (1) morphogenesis of the neural tube, requiring nok function; (2) lumen inflation requiring atp1a1a.1 function; and (3) localized cell proliferation. We suggest that mechanisms of brain ventricle development are conserved throughout the vertebrates.
Circuits in Cayley digraphs of finite abelian groups

We find all possible lengths of circuits in Cayley digraphs of two-generated abelian groups over the two-element generating sets and over certain three-element generating sets.