cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Labyrinthine and visual involvement in the dorsal immobility response of adult rats

The dorsal immobility response (DIR) is typically seen in the infants of many altricial mammalian species. Lifting the animal into the air by the nape of the neck is the primary releasing stimulus. Functionally, this response appears to facilitate carrying of the infants by the adults. When grasped by the nape and lifted into the air, adult rats will also exhibit the DIR. In this paper, the role of the labyrinths in the DIR of adult male rats was examined. Vestibular stimulation produced by vertical circular acceleration increased the duration of the DIR, while labyrinthectomy greatly diminished the DIR. In rats with intact labyrinths, visual occlusion greatly potentiated the DIR, whereas, in labyrinthectomized rats, visual occlusion had little effect. These data indicate that the vestibular system plays a major role in mediating the DIR of adult rats. The retention of the DIR into adulthood and the possible increased role of the labyrinths in the control of the adult DIR, are discussed with respect to the possible role of the DIR as an anti-predator mechanism.
Comparison of Acute Toxicities in Two Primary Chemoradiation Regimens in the Treatment of Advanced Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Purpose The optimal dosage and frequency of platinum-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT) regimen for treating advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma remains unresolved. This study aims to compare the toxicity and efficacy of weekly versus more dose-intensive cisplatin-based CRTs.
Individual and Small Group Accuracy in Judging Truthful and Deceptive Communication

We examined accuracy in detecting the truths and lies of 10 videotaped students who offered their opinions on the death penalty or smoking in public. Student lie detectors were randomly assigned to either the individual condition, where they reported their veracity judgments and confidence independently, or the small group condition, where they recorded their judgments privately and then deliberated with 5 other students before making a consensus judgment of lie, truth, or hung. Results indicated that small group judgments were more accurate than individual judgments when judging deceptive but not truthful communication. Small group individuals also reported greater confidence in their abilities after the task. Finally, groups with a greater number of hung judgments were more accurate, likely due to their employing hung judgments for the most difficult to judge stimulus communicators. These results raise implications for real life group judgments, particularly in light of the increasing availability of technology.
A fast dual-energy computational method using isotransmission lines and table lookup.

An efficient method has been developed to speed up the computational time required for tissue separation after the dual‐energy scan in computerized tomography and digital radiography. This method consists of two steps. First, an isotransmission line method is used to replace the iterative algorithm for solving the two nonlinear equations, which is computationally noisy and sensitive. Second, two tables, one for the aluminum component and the other for the plastic component, are derived from calibration data in order to replace calculation by a table lookup. Results from this method are compared with the conventional method.
Convergence of successive approximations in the shortest route problem

Abstract Convergence of Bellman's iteration scheme [1] for finding the shortest route through a network is discussed for various initial policies. A necessary and sufficient condition for convergence is given, and upper bounds on the number of iterations are obtained.
Insulin resistance with hormone replacement therapy: associations with markers of inflammation and adiposity.

Objective This study was undertaken to determine whether insulin resistance associated with combination hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is mediated by changes in serum markers of inflammation or in serum adipocyte hormones. Study design Forty-five postmenopausal women, aged 55 ± 7 years, were examined from a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled trial evaluating the effect of HRT on insulin-stimulated glucose disposal and body composition. Volunteers were randomly assigned to conjugated estrogens 0.625 mg plus medroxyprogesterone acetate 2.5 mg vs placebo for 1 year. At baseline and at 1 year, body composition was assessed by dual photon x-ray absorptiometry scans; body fat distribution was measured by computed tomographic scans at the L4/L5 vertebral disk space; insulin sensitivity was measured by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp; interleukin-6 (IL-6), leptin, and adiponectin were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; and c-reactive protein (CRP) was measured by radioimmunoassay. Results HRT increased CRP by 121% compared with a 32% increase with placebo ( P = .03); HRT decreased glucose disposal by 17% compared with no change with placebo ( P = .04) as reported previously. HRT did not affect body composition, body fat distribution, IL-6, leptin, or adiponectin. The increase in CRP did not correlate with the decrease in glucose disposal in the HRT group ( R = 0.11, P = .65). Conclusion Treatment with HRT for one year increases CRP, but does not alter IL-6, adiponectin, or leptin. The change in CRP was not, however, related to the decrease in glucose disposal with HRT treatment.
Urban schools and the changing metropolitan labor market

Industrial change and the resultant restructuring of employment opportunity ongoing in the nation's largest cities are seriously weakening traditional ladders of urban social advancement. Jobs at the high end of the skill spectrum are growing far more rapidly in these cities than those held by persons lacking a high school degree. Education remains one of the most important policy levers for redressing the growing mismatch between available jobs and the skills of resident workers. The problem is compounded, however, because so many who lack essential skills are concentrated in the least prosperous cities in which entry-level jobs are in relative decline and resources with which to fund school improvements are in short supply. The “upskilling” of jobs must be met by the “upschooling” of the labor force. This objective will require a concerted effort to bring the public schools and institutions of higher education together into new forms of metropolitan partnership.
Bringing home the votes: Electoral outcomes in state legislative races

This analysis assesses the effects of campaign activity, measured in terms of the campaign expenditures of candidates, on the outcomes of state legislative elections. The research utilizes election results from the 1978 elections for the state houses in California and Iowa. In addition, the investigation specifies the influence of partisan strength and incumbency on election outcomes. Two multiple regression models are estimated, one in which the partisan vote outcome is the dependent variable and one in which the vote of challengers is the dependent variable. Although the results of the inquiry underscore the partisan character of state legislative races, they also show that, akin to congressional contests, a challenger's campaign spending can sometimes have a greater effect on the voting outcome than the incumbent's spending. But these state legislative elections are largely partisan affairs in which “bringing home the votes” mainly involves support for political parties in the legislative districts and the intensity of campaign efforts represented by campaign expenditures.
Electronic contributions to scanning-tunneling-microscopy images of an annealed β-SiC(111) surface

The reconstruction of the cubic \ensuremath{\beta}-SiC(111) surface was studied after annealing at \ensuremath{\sim}1200 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. The surface consistently showed a 6 \ensuremath{\surd}3 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}6 \ensuremath{\surd}3 geometry when measured by low-energy electron diffraction (LEED) and a 6\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}6 geometry when imaged by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). To resolve the discrepancy, we carried out first-principles calculations of the electronic structure of a surface model in which a graphite monolayer was incommensurately grown on top of the Si-terminated \ensuremath{\beta}-SiC(111) surface. The calculated energy band and density-of-states diagrams provide an explanation to the observed differences in LEED and STM results. They also explain the voltage-dependent contrast-reversal phenomenon observed in the STM images of the annealed surface.
Guided tissue regeneration enhances osteogenesis in a rat mandibular distraction osteogenesis model

Abstract Introduction: Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) utilizes barrier materials to create environments that favor tissue regeneration. In the current study, we applied the principle of GTR to our rat mandibular distraction osteogenesis (DO) model in an attempt to enhance bone regeneration. Methods: Osteoconductive Gore Resolut XT membranes (a co-polymer of polylactic acid and polyglycolic acid) were used in this study. Twelve (n = 6 for each group) adult Sprague-Dawley rats underwent routine gradual distraction (GD, 5-day latency, 8-day distraction for a total of 4mm followed by 4-weeks of consolidation) and acute lengthening (AL, immediate lengthening to 4mm followed by 6-weeks of consolidation). An additional 10 animals underwent AL followed by application of Gore membranes (AL + GTR). Membranes were wrapped around the distraction gap in its entirety. All animals were sacrificed at 6 and 8 weeks post-operatively. Mandibles were analyzed with a Faxitron x-ray system, and routine H&E histology. Quantitative histomorphometric analyses were performed to compare relative bone formation between all three groups. Results: The GD group achieved complete bony union by 6 weeks. The AL group had only 28.27 ± 4.8% bone formation, while the AL + GTR group achieved 57.43 ± 16.5% bony union (∗p Conclusions: Our data demonstrates that GTR can significantly enhance osteogenesis. It may therefore have a role in accelerating bone regeneration in DO clinically.
Oxidative DNA damage following photoexcitation of daunomycin: Direct role of oxygen

Abstract The chemistry of the photoactivation of daunomycin–DNA complexes is reported and the mechanism is elucidated. We quantitatively assessed the type of DNA damage, such as strand breaks, oxidized bases, and abasic sites, that arise using a plasmid relaxation assay coupled with DNA repair endonucleases. Photoexcitation of daunomycin leads to oxidative DNA damage in a dose- and irradiation time-dependent manner and guanine-specific oxidized purines are substantially produced under these conditions. Oxidative DNA base damage was also inhibited by argon degassing, indicating that guanine-specific damage arises from an oxygen-dependent mechanism. In addition, photoexcitation of daunomycin–DNA complexes leads to superoxide anion radical formation. From these studies of the actual product formed, we conclude that a charge transfer is a main driving force of the mechanism.
Self-standing, metal nanoparticle embedded transparent films from multi-armed cardanol conjugates through in situ synthesis

We report multi-armed/dendritic molecules having unsaturated side chains for generating scratch-free, self-standing cross-linked transparent films with embedded metal nanoparticlesvia autoxidation induced in situ synthesis.
Change in hip bone mineral density and risk of subsequent fractures in older men

Low bone mineral density (BMD) increases fracture risk; how changes in BMD influence fracture risk in older men is uncertain. BMD was assessed at two to three time points over 4.6 years using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for 4470 men aged ≥65 years in the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Study. Change in femoral neck BMD was estimated using mixed effects linear regression models. BMD change was categorized as “accelerated” (≤−0.034 g/cm2), “expected” (between 0 and −0.034 g/cm2), or “maintained” (≥0 g/cm2). Fractures were adjudicated by central medical record review. Multivariate proportional hazards models estimated the risk of hip, nonspine/nonhip, and nonspine fracture over 4.5 years after the final BMD measure, during which time 371 (8.3%) men experienced at least one nonspine fracture, including 78 (1.7%) hip fractures. Men with accelerated femoral neck BMD loss had an increased risk of nonspine (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.4–2.8); nonspine/nonhip (HR = 1.6; 95% CI 1.1–2.3); and hip fracture (HR = 6.3; 95% CI 2.7–14.8) compared with men who maintained BMD over time. No difference in risk was seen for men with expected loss. Adjustment for the initial BMD measure did not alter the results. Adjustment for the final BMD measure attenuated the change in BMD-nonspine fracture and the change in BMD-nonspine/nonhip relationships such that they were no longer significant, whereas the change in the BMD-hip fracture relationship was attenuated (HR = 2.6; 95% CI 1.1–6.4). Total hip BMD change produced similar results. Accelerated decrease in BMD is a strong, independent risk factor for hip and other nonspine fractures in men. © 2012 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Practice, refractive error, and feedback as factors influencing peripheral motion thresholds

Motion thresholds were determined in the fovea and in the horizontal peripheral meridian under conditions of practice, correction of refractive error, and feedback. While foveal determinations did not change significantly, peripheral motion thresholds were lowered for all conditions. Both practice and practice with feedback produced significantly better motion discrimination, these effects showing a longevity of several months. However, the largest improvement resulted from correction of peripheral refractive error, which also reduced individual differences. This suggests that peripheral sensitivity to movement is ordinarily limited primarily by dioptric rather than neural factors. Implications for perceptual learning and peripheral vision research are discussed.
Time-course of tyrosine metabolism in Aedes aegypti. Micro-organisms as carriers of labelled amino acids

Abstract E. coli auxotrophs labelled with isotopic tyrosine, histidine or lysine afforded correspondingly radioactive proteins, peptides or tanning agents when fed to Aedes aegypti larvae. Both biological value and efficiency of isotope incorporation was greater using the microbial diet when compared with a semisynthetic diet. Phenylalanine was adequate as a source of tyrosine and phenolic metabolites, hydroxylation was not affected by p -chlorophenylalanine. The specific requirements for sclerotization and pigmentation regulated the anatomical fate of each precursor. Little change in tissue distribution of lysine and histidine distinguished the late larval from the early pupal stage. Tyrosine, however, accumulated in the body fluids initially, but after metamorphosis was incorporated into the acid-soluble and residual protions of the body wall. Larvae fed labelled tyrosine at mid-fourth instar deposited 35% of the radioactivity in the body wall during the succeeding 24 hr as immatures and 60% at the onset of pupation one day later. No major role in sclerotin formation by visceral components other than storage of precursors was revealed by pulse-chase analysis. Body fluids from larvae fed E. coli labelled with L-[ring- 14 C]-tyrosine sequestered 92% of the isotope in the dopa-tyrosine couple, the remainder was distributed between strongly basic and acidic aromatic conjugates.
The Universal Askey-Wilson Algebra

In 1992 A. Zhedanov introduced the Askey-Wilson algebra AW=AW(3) and used it to describe the Askey-Wilson polynomials. In this paper we introduce a central extension $\Delta$ of AW, obtained from AW by reinterpreting certain parameters as central elements in the algebra. We call $\Delta$ the {\it universal Askey-Wilson algebra}. We give a faithful action of the modular group ${\rm {PSL}}_2({\mathbb Z})$ on $\Delta$ as a group of automorphisms. We give a linear basis for $\Delta$. We describe the center of $\Delta$ and the 2-sided ideal $\Delta[\Delta,\Delta]\Delta$. We discuss how $\Delta$ is related to the $q$-Onsager algebra.
An analysis of the X-ray interchain peak profile in dipalmitoylglycerophosphocholine.

Abstract The primary X-ray peak profile characterizing the interchain structure in the dipalmitoylglycerophosphocholine membrane has been measured as a function of temperature. The scattering between 23 and 34.6° C is characterized by an asymmetric crystalline reflection accounting for 85% of the total intensity, the remaining 15% being liquid-like in character. At a pre-transition temperature of 34.6° C, the reflection profile becomes (nearly) symmetrical, indicating a change in tilt angle of the chains with respect to the membrane surface. This change is accompanied by an increase of 20% in the amount of liquid-like scattering, indicating that the pre-transition mechanism includes a partial melting of the chains. At the melting point, 41.5° C, the crystalline reflection disappears, and the liquid component of the scattering increases to a point where it includes all the scattered intensity. The relative values of the integrated intensities at each temperature are tabulated, and the significance of the peak widths and shapes are discussed.
The point-range tree: a data structure for indexing intervals

In this paper, we propose a data structure, the Point-Range Tree (PR-Tree), specifically designed for indexing intervals. With the PR-Tree, a point data can be queried against a set of intervals to determine which of those intervals overlap the point. The PR-tree allows dynamic insertions and deletions while it maintains itself balanced. A balanced PR-Tree takes O(log n) time for search. Insertion, deletion, and storage space have worst case requirements of O(n log n + m), O(n log2n + m), and O(n log n), respectively, where n is the total number of intervals in the tree, and m the number of nodes visited during insertion and deletion. A modified version of the PR-Tree is also developed to minimize space usage. An additional advantage of the PR-Tree is that it can be easily extended to multi-dimensional domains.
UTILIZATION OF MINCED SUCKER FLESH

Freshwater suckers (Catostamidae family) were obtained from Lake Huron to study the possibility of developing new products utilizing its flesh and the influences of additives on the functionality of sucker muscle proteins. Results showed that sodium chloride increased protein solubility, but also decreased swelling, gel forming and pH. In comparison, sodium tripolyphosphate increased protein solubility, pH, swelling and gel formation. Fish sausages and canned products showed low binding characteristics. However, adding corn meal and soy protein in combination with sodium chloride and sodium tripolyphosphate improved their water holding capacity, texture and cook yield. It was concluded that sodium tripolyphosphate, corn meal and fat should be used in manufacturing minced sucker products.
Field Calibration of a Transient Model for Broiler Misting

A transient model to predict temperature within a tunnel ventilated broiler house during misting is developed. The model is calibrated with field data to obtain steady-state constants; transient predictions are compared to measured temperatures during cyclic misting for two different size birds. Measured temperatures during cyclic misting are shown to swing between steady-state asymptotes predicted from the model. Transient response of the model was faster than measured temperature data, in part due to temperature sensor dynamic response. The model predicts the length-wise temperature profile within the building during misting, and can be used to investigate alternate misting strategies and designs. Further improvements to the model are suggested.
Boundary Effects on the Interfacial Transient Thermal Fracture of Ceramic‐To‐Metal Bonds

On etudie les effets d'une charge thermique transitoire sur les deformations et la vitesse de liberation d'energie de deformation pour une interface ceramique-metal (zircone-fonte) comportant une fissure
Electrical Impedance Measurements in the Reading and Monitoring of Broth Dilution Susceptibility Tests

Abstract Electrical impedance changes in the medium were studied during traditional broth dilution tests. Tests involved clinical isolates of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter sp., Klebsiella, and enterococcus and ten antibiotics. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values from overnight visual readings were compared with MIC values determined from electrical impedance end points, using inocula of 106 organisms per ml. Ninety-three percent of the results were within one twofold dilution of each other. When the impedance end point was determined at 6 h, this correlation was lowered to 34%. By increasing the initial electrical impedance inoculum 10-fold, the correlation between the 6-h impedance MIC and the overnight visual MIC was improved to 74%. Ampicillin, tetracycline, and polymyxin E results accounted for most discrepancies. Continuous monitoring of impedance changes suggested that better correspondence could be obtained by adjusting the end point criteria for the 6-h impedance MIC with different antibiotics. Electrical impedance methods for reading bacterial end points in automated clinical laboratory instruments appear promising.
Marr and Reductionism

David Marr's three-level method for completely understanding a cognitive system and the importance he attaches to the computational level are so familiar as to scarcely need repeating. Fewer seem to recognize that Marr defends his famous method by criticizing the "reductionistic approach." This sets up a more interesting relationship between Marr and reductionism than is usually acknowledged. I argue that Marr was correct in his criticism of the reductionists of his time-they were only describing (cellular activity), not explaining (cognitive functions). But a careful metascientific account of reductionistic neuroscience over the past two decades reveals that Marr's criticisms no longer have force. Contemporary neuroscience now explains cognition directly, although in a fashion-causal-mechanistically-quite different than Marr recommended. So while Marr was correct to reject the reductionism of his day and offer an alternative method for genuinely explaining cognition, contemporary cognitive scientists now owe us a new defense of Marr's famous method and the advantages of its explanations over the type now pursued successfully in current reductionist neuroscience. There are familiar reasons for thinking that this debt will not be paid easily.
A novel human-infection-derived bacterium provides insights into the evolutionary origins of mutualistic insect-bacterial symbioses.

Despite extensive study, little is known about the origins of the mutualistic bacterial endosymbionts that inhabit approximately 10% of the world's insects. In this study, we characterized a novel opportunistic human pathogen, designated “strain HS,” and found that it is a close relative of the insect endosymbiont Sodalis glossinidius. Our results indicate that ancestral relatives of strain HS have served as progenitors for the independent descent of Sodalis-allied endosymbionts found in several insect hosts. Comparative analyses indicate that the gene inventories of the insect endosymbionts were independently derived from a common ancestral template through a combination of irreversible degenerative changes. Our results provide compelling support for the notion that mutualists evolve from pathogenic progenitors. They also elucidate the role of degenerative evolutionary processes in shaping the gene inventories of symbiotic bacteria at a very early stage in these mutualistic associations.
The role of phosphofructokinase in the Pasteur effect

The inhibition of glycolysis in the presence of oxygen is mediated through the changes in the concentrations of metabolites which regulate the activity of phosphofructokinase. Certain tissues which lack this control of glycolysis by respiration, exhibit high aerobic glycolysis which is needed for the very survival of these tissues.
The search for Genghis Khan: Using modern tools to hunt for an ancient past

The story of Genghis Khan has been spliced together from a collection of secondary text sources until now. It is understood that throughout his rule he united a kingdom of warring tribes, introduced an alphabet and central currency, and conquered the majority of the known world -- his influence stretching from Poland to Japan. Yet the mystery surrounding his death and burial during the summer of 1227 persists.
SU‐E‐T‐570: Setup and Monitoring in SRS Treatments with Surface Imaging

Purpose: To evaluate the initial clinical experience with a frameless and maskless technique for stereotactic radiosurgery using minimal patient immobilization and real-time patient motion monitoring during treatment. Methods: The study considered the first 23 patients treated with this technique. Head positioning was achieved with a patient-specific head mold made out of expandable foam that conforms to the patientˈs head. The face of the patient is left open for maximal comfort. Motion of a region of interest consisting of the forehead, nose, eyes, and temporal bones, is monitored during treatment using a video surface imaging system (VisionRT, Inc, UK). Initial setup of the patient was performed with the surface imaging system using the surface of the patient obtained from the treatment planning CT scan and verified with cone-beam CT (CBCT). Shifts provided by the CBCT and the duration of all the steps in the treatment process were recorded. Patients were monitored during treatment with surface imaging, and a beam hold-off was initiated when the patientˈs motion exceeded a pre-specified tolerance. Results: The average total setup time was 26 minutes, while the portion corresponding to surface imaging was 14 minutes. The average treatment time including setup was 40 minutes. Eight (35%) patients needed repositioning during the treatment. The average shifts identified from CBCT after initial setup with surface imaging were 1.85 mm in the AP direction, and less than 1.0 mm in the lateral and SI directions. Conclusions: The frameless and maskless treatment using minimal immobilization and surface imaging has proven to be fast and accurate enough for routine clinical use. Patient compliance is important. Setup time was greatly reduced with a couch extension with tilt and spin correction capabilities. An additional degree of semi-rigid immobilization would be helpful for patients that fall asleep and involuntarily move during the procedure.
Suicide Attempts Among Depressed Adolescents in Primary Care

Although depression is strongly associated with suicide attempts and suicide deaths, most depressed youth do not make an attempt, indicating the need to identify additional risk factors. We examined suicide attempts among 451 depressed primary care patients, 13 to 21 years of age. In bivariate analyses, youth classified as suicide attempters showed elevated levels of psychopathology, specifically depressive symptoms, externalizing behaviors, anxiety, substance use, mania, and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Externalizing behaviors and depression severity uniquely contributed to the prediction of suicide attempts in multivariate analyses. High levels of environmental stress as well as a few key stressful events were associated with suicide attempts; a recent romantic breakup or being assaulted added to suicide attempt risk, beyond the effects of psychopathology. Implications of results for primary care preventive services and suicide attempt prevention are discussed.
Somatic hybrids produced by protoplast fusion between S. tuberosum and S. brevidens: phenotypic variation under field conditions

Phenotypic and flowering characteristics of hybrid plants generated by protoplast fusion between a tetraploid S. tuberosum line and diploid S. brevidens were assessed under field conditions. Hybrids were compared to both clonal parental material and protoplast-derived plants of each parent. Almost all of the hybrids were hexaploid. A wide range of variation in morphological characters was observed for hybrids and protoclones. Flowering was markedly reduced in protoclones. The majority of hybrids flowered, had viable pollen and set tubers. Tuber and pollen characteristics of hybrids produced from individual fusion calli also varied. The potential usefulness of fusion hybrids in potato improvement is discussed.
PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES IN THE USE OF THE PHONETICS LABORATORY

Author's summary.— This article intends to point out certain weaknesses, commonly overlooked, which may greatly diminish or even destroy the benefits proclaimed for the users of a phonetics laboratory.
Angiotensin II AT1 Receptor Blockade Decreases Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation in the Rat Adrenal Gland

Peripheral administration of bacterial endotoxin [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] to rodents produces an innate immune response and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis stimulation. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibition by angiotensin II AT1 receptor blockade has antiinflammatory effects in the vasculature. We studied whether angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) prevent the LPS response. We focused on the adrenal gland, one organ responsive to LPS and expressing a local renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. LPS (50 microg/kg, ip) produced a generalized inflammatory response with increased release of TNF-alpha and IL-6 to the circulation, enhanced adrenal aldosterone synthesis and release, and enhanced adrenal cyclooxygenase-2, IL-6, and TNF-alpha gene expression. ACTH and corticosterone release were also increased by LPS. Pretreatment with the ARB candesartan (1 mg/kg.d, sc for 3 d before the LPS administration) decreased LPS-induced cytokine release to the circulation, adrenal aldosterone synthesis and release, and cyclooxygenase-2 and IL-6 gene expression. Candesartan did not prevent the LPS-induced ACTH and corticosterone release. Our results suggest that AT1 receptors are essential for the development of the full innate immune and stress responses to bacterial endotoxin. The ARB decreased the general peripheral inflammatory response to LPS, partially decreased the inflammatory response in the adrenal gland, prevented the release of the pro-inflammatory hormone aldosterone, and protected the antiinflammatory effects of glucocorticoid release. An unrestricted innate immune response to the bacterial endotoxin may have deleterious effects for the organism and may lead to development of chronic inflammatory disease. We postulate that the ARBs may have therapeutic effects on inflammatory conditions.
In Vivo Imaging Systems (IVIS) Detection of a Neuro-Invasive Encephalitic Virus

Modern advancements in imaging technology encourage further development and refinement in the way viral research is accomplished. Initially proposed by Russel and Burch in Hume's 3Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement), the utilization of animal models in scientific research is under constant pressure to identify new methodologies to reduce animal usage while improving scientific accuracy and speed. A major challenge to Hume's principals however, is how to ensure the studies are statistically accurate while reducing animal disease morbidity and overall numbers. Vaccine efficacy studies currently require a large number of animals in order to be considered statistically significant and often result in high morbidity and mortality endpoints for identification of immune protection. We utilized in vivo imaging systems (IVIS) in conjunction with a firefly bioluminescent enzyme to progressively track the invasion of the central nervous system (CNS) by an encephalitic virus in a murine model. Typically, the disease progresses relatively slowly, however virus replication is rapid, especially within the CNS, and can lead to an often, lethal outcome. Following intranasal infection of the mice with TC83-Luc, an attenuated Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus strain modified to expresses a luciferase gene; we are able to visualize virus replication within the brain at least three days before the development of clinical disease symptoms. Utilizing CNS invasion as a key encephalitic disease development endpoint we are able to quickly identify therapeutic and vaccine protection against TC83-Luc infection before clinical symptoms develop. With IVIS technology we are able to demonstrate the rapid and accurate testing of drug therapeutics and vaccines while reducing animal numbers and morbidity.
Golgi-electron microscopic study of sprouting endothelial cells in the neonatal rat cerebellar cortex.

Abstract Intraparenchymal postnatal development of the CNS vasculature proceeds by a process of vascular ‘budding’ or ‘sprouting’ from existing endothelial cells and elongation of these immature vessels. A modified Golgi technique combined with gold toning and deimpregnation was used to identify and characterize sprouting endothelial cells in the neonatal rat cerebellar cortex with light and electron microscopy. Sprouting endothelial cells were the terminal endothelial cells of immature, developing blood vessels and they had characteristic morphologic features. The most distinctive feature was an array of tentacular processes (0.1–0.2μm in diameter and ca. 20 μm in length) which radiated from the apex of these cells in the presumed direction of vessel growth. Cytoskeletal microtubules and microfilaments were the characteristic organelles of these tentacles. Sprouting endothelial cells were thin (1–3 μm in diameter), lacked a vessel lumen and basement membrane, had abundant cytoplasmic organelles and a prominent nucleus and were closely associated with the subterminal endothelial cell without interendothelial gaps. The developing blood vessels had a blood-brain barrier which excluded intravenously injected colloidal carbon from the neuropil.
An exploratory study of decision makers for choosing wedding banquet venues: push and pull motivations

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to identify push and pull factors that motivate decision makers to choose wedding banquet venues, and to explore the relationships between the motivational factors and demographic information. Design/methodology/approach – The initial questionnaire was pre-tested involving a sample of six graduate students in a hospitality management program of a major university in the Midwestern USA. The wordings were changed based on their feedback. The final survey was consisted of three sections: push motivations, pull motivations, and demographic information. In the first section, 13 push motivation statements were employed to investigate decision makers' reasons for selecting a wedding banquet venue. Findings – The four push factors identified included “seeking relaxation and knowledge,” “fulfilling prestige,” “escaping from daily routine,” and “social networking.” The six pull factors were composed of “budget,” “atmosphere,” “facilities,” “wedding services,” “transportation,”...
The use of gastrointestinal intubation studies for controlled release development

AIMS This review describes clinical results of gastrointestinal intubation studies of eight controlled release (CR) candidates under development during the 1990s and offers suggestions for determining why, when and how to conduct human intubation studies. METHODS Experience with the administration of the following eight compounds to various regions of the gastrointestinal tract is described: CJ-13,610, CP-195,543, CP-331,684, CP-409,092, CP-424,391, azithromycin, sertraline, and trovafloxacin. Also included are human pharmacokinetic studies with prototype CR dosage forms for CJ-13,610 and CP-424,391. RESULTS Intubation studies, while appearing invasive, are safe and not unpleasant procedures that have been found to be valuable in the development of CR formulations. CONCLUSIONS The following recommendations are made regarding intubation studies: (i) no intubation study is recommended for compounds with high permeability, since these compounds are likely to be well absorbed from the colon; (ii) compounds with moderate permeability may require an intubation study if the dog colon and in silico models predict a marginally acceptable CR concentration-time profile; (iii) use a dose that approximates 1 h of the intended CR delivery rate; (iv) use the smallest volume possible; (v) define and record tubing placement; (vi) use a thermodynamically stable solution or/and suspension.
What can visual content analysis do for text based image search

Modern image search engines such as Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft Live image search are all text metaword based. To search for images, the users type in a text query and the search engines rank the result images almost sorely based on the text meta-words. The abundant visual information in the images themselves is largely neglected. Recently, we have observed several new features released in the aforementioned image search engines, especially Microsoft Live image search, which are clearly based on the analysis of the visual content. We summarize some of these features, give insights about how they are designed, and motivate new content analysis based features for text based image search engines.
Heat and momentum transport characteristics of non‐Newtonian aqueous thorium oxide suspensions

Heat-transfer and pressure-drop measurements were made with non- Newtonian aqueous theorium oxide suspensions. A comparison of the results of the two different kinds of measurement allowed thee general features of nonNewtonian thorium oxide suspension heat transfer to be readily identified, thus leading to a clear understanding of anomalies observed in jkprevious suspension heat- transfer studies. Data were obtained at suspension concentrations up to 0.10 volume fraction solids, (1,000 g. of thorium/kg. of water) in systems having tube diameters of 0.318 and 1.030 in. In addition laminar-flow data were taken with a capillary-tube viscometer with a tube diameter of 1/8 in. and an L/D of 1,000. It was shown that laminar flow physical properties determined with the 1/ 8 in. diameter tube were satisfactory for correlating data taken with tubes up to 1.030 in. in diameter. Until the present study, information was not available which would permit a choice between two different viscosities for use in correlating nonNewtonian turbulent heat transfer and flow data. The limiting viscosity at very high shear rates is shown to give a unique correlation of turbulent data for tube diameters from 0.124 to 1.030 in., whereas the use of the effective viscosity at very high shearmore » rates is shown to value of the wall shear stress corresponding to each given flow condition) gives a pronounced diameter effect in turbulent-flow correlations. The data show that the onset of turbulence for both the pressure-drop and heat-transfer measurements occurs at the same Reynolds number and is approximated by the value predicted by the Hedstrom criterion (II). The heat-transfer transition region extends to Reynolds numbers a factor of four times greater than the critical, as is also the case with Newtonian materials. Heat transfer to thorium oxide slurries in fully developed turbulent flow is the same as that predicted by the usual correlations for Newtonian fludds to within the precision of the experimental data, provided that the Reynolds and Prandtl numbers are calculated with the limiting viscosity at high rates of shear, , for this viscosity. An approximate form of Martinelli's momentum heat transfer analogy correlates the experimental results within +17 and -36%. (auth)« less
Adding a motor control component to the operator function model expert system to investigate air traffic management concepts using simulation

This paper describes an enhancement of the operator function model expert system architecture that integrates automated agent control capabilities with an agent based simulation investigating distributed air/ground traffic management. The enhanced architecture incorporates a new task manager module that handles task prioritization using a modified version of cockpit tasks management, a strategies and operational heuristics module that provides methodologies for prioritizing tasks and selecting operator actions, a simulation control module that emulates user input, and an interface to the state variables of the controlled simulation. The paper also discusses a new data visualization and analysis tool for analyzing the performance of the automated agent
Staffing a pandemic urgent care facility during an outbreak of pandemic influenza

A simulation of an influenza pandemic is analyzed for the greater Ann Arbor, Michigan region. Focus is placed on a Pandemic Urgent Care center (PUC), where patients of mild and moderate severity are treated. The number of registration assistants, doctors, and nurses to staff as well as the amount of capacity to add to the PUC and adjoining infusion clinic is analyzed for different attack rates. Focus is placed on the peak day of the pandemic, and patients arrive on that day according to an empirical distribution from emergency department arrival data. ProModel is used to evaluate the system and perform sensitivity analysis. The analysis finds that the optimal staffing levels to keep average patient waiting times at a reasonable level is dependent on the attack rate and the daily interarrival rate of patients, and that more staff is needed when arrival patterns have increased variability.
Restriction of meat, fish, and poultry in omnivores improves mood: A pilot randomized controlled trial

Background: Omnivorous diets are high in arachidonic acid (AA) compared to vegetarian diets. Research shows that high intakes of AA promote changes in brain that can disturb mood. Omnivores who eat fish regularly increase their intakes of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), fats that oppose the negative effects of AA in vivo. In a recent cross-sectional study, omnivores reported significantly worse mood than vegetarians despite higher intakes of EPA and DHA. This study investigated the impact of restricting meat, fish, and poultry on mood. Findings: Thirty-nine omnivores were randomly assigned to a control group consuming meat, fish, and poultry daily (OMN); a group consuming fish 3-4 times weekly but avoiding meat and poultry (FISH), or a vegetarian group avoiding meat, fish, and poultry (VEG). At baseline and after two weeks, participants completed a food frequency questionnaire, the Profile of Mood States questionnaire and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales. After the diet intervention, VEG participants reduced their EPA, DHA, and AA intakes, while FISH participants increased their EPA and DHA intakes. Mood scores were unchanged for OMN or FISH participants, but several mood scores for VEG participants improved significantly after two weeks. Conclusions: Restricting meat, fish, and poultry improved some domains of short-term mood state in modern omnivores. To our knowledge, this is the first trial to examine the impact of restricting meat, fish, and poultry on mood state in omnivores.
On the Comparability of Constructs in Cross-Cultural Research A Critique of Cheung and Rensvold

A critique of Cheung and Rensvold’s article describing the use of mean and covariance structures (MACS) techniques for assessing bias in cross-cultural research is offered. In particular, the author highlights the critical distinction between item bias and construct bias. Although the author’s view is in fundamental agreement with Cheung and Rensvold’s primary argument that MACS analyses are a very useful tool to determine comparability of constructs across cultural settings, The author disagrees with their conclusion that measurement invariance indicates a lack of construct bias. The author argues that cross-group equivalence of all reliable measurement parameters only indicates a lack of differential item bias and does not indicate lack of construct bias. Finally, two related and important issues in MACS analyses are discussed, namely, (a) the choice of rationale for significance testing and (b) the effects of different identification methods on estimating latent mean levels.
Meta-programming With Built-in Type Equality

We report our experience with exploring a new point in the design space for formal reasoning systems: the development of the programming language @Wmega. @Wmega is intended as both a practical programming language and a logic. The main goal of @Wmega is to allow programmers to describe and reason about semantic properties of programs from within the programming language itself, mainly by using a powerful type system. We illustrate the main features of @Wmega by developing an interesting meta-programming example. First, we show how to encode a set of well-typed simply typed @l-calculus terms as an @Wmega data-type. Then, we show how to implement a substitution operation on these terms that is guaranteed by the @Wmega type system to preserve their well-typedness.
Towards a definition of the real-time data distribution problem space

This paper describes a set of characteristics that partially make up the problem space for real-time data distribution. The characteristics are divided into three groups: system characteristics, real-time characteristics, and data characteristics. The paper describes each of the characteristics, and then illustrates them with two current proposed solutions to real-time data distribution problem.
Economic Potentiality And Consequences Of Inflation In Argentina

This paper provides insight on Argentina's crisis since the default in an attempt to find a way out of the economic crisis. In 1991 Argentina pegged its peso to the U.S. dollar to stabilize the economic conditions and it set in restrictions on the issuance of money to control hyperinflation. The problem faced by Argentina has come from what will be termed “econogenocide,” that is, killing one’s own economy through its own acts, procedures, policies, and reforms. However, there are more signs that the economy is over the worst. An examination of the policies and procedures that caused the downfall of this nation’s once thriving economy can show the tell-tale signs that other nations may need to watch out for, and protect against.
Veranderungen der Pharmakodynamik und Pharmakokinetik von Antibiotika bei Sepsis

Die Erstellung eines exakten Therapieplans fur die Behandlung der Sepsis ist die Grundvoraussetzung, einen moglichst optimalen Effekt zu erreichen, d. h. die rasche Wiederherstellung der Ausgangssituation ohne Hinterlassung von Folgeschaden. Dabei ist die richtige Auswahl des Antibiotikums, die Verabreichung einer ausreichenden Dosis im richtigen Intervall entscheidend. Die Nichteinhaltung dieser Kriterien ist ein nahezu gleichgewichtiger Risikofaktor wie andere bekannte, namlich Alter, Allgemeinzustand, Ursache, Art und Ort der Infektion etc. [2]. In Anbetracht der eher empirischen Auswahl und Verabreichung eines Antibiotikums und der nach wie vor hohen sepsisbedingten Mortalitat sind heute unbedingt breitere, rationale Grundlagen fur die Chemotherapie zu fordern. Inwieweit das schwere Krankheitsbild der Sepsis die Pharmakodynamik und Pharmakokinetik von Antibiotika beeinflust, soll anhand publizierter Daten dargestellt und die daraus resultierenden therapeutischen Konsequenzen aufgezeigt und diskutiert werden.