cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hearing loss associated with enlarged vestibular aqueduct and zero or one mutant allele of SLC26A4

Objectives/Hypothesis To characterize the severity and natural history of hearing loss, and the prevalence of having a cochlear implant in a maturing cohort of individuals with enlarged vestibular aqueduct (EVA) and zero or one mutant allele of SLC26A4. Study Design Prospective cohort study of subjects ascertained between 1998 and 2015 at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center. Methods Study subjects were 127 individuals (median age, 8 years; range, 0–59 years) with EVA in at least one ear. Results Ears with EVA and zero or one mutant allele of SLC26A4 had mean 0.5/1/2/4-kHz pure-tone averages of 62.6 and 52.9 dB HL, respectively, in contrast to EVA ears with two mutant alleles of SLC26A4 (88.1 dB HL; P < .01). This association was independent of age, sex, or side of EVA (P < .001). Natural history of hearing loss was not associated with number of mutant alleles (P = .94). The prevalence of having a cochlear implant was nine (12%) of 76, two (13%) of 15, and 12 (38%) of 32 subjects with zero, one, and two mutant alleles, respectively (P = .00833). This association was not independent (P = .534) but reflected underlying correlations with age at time of first audiogram (P = .003) or severity of hearing loss (P = .000). Conclusions Ears with EVA and zero or one mutant allele of SLC26A4 have less severe hearing loss, no difference in prevalence of fluctuation, and a lower prevalence of cochlear implantation in comparison to ears with two mutant alleles of SLC26A4. Level of Evidence NA Laryngoscope, 127:E238–E243, 2017
The Collaboration for Astronomy Signal Processing and Electronics Research (CASPER): Lowering barriers to entry in radio astronomy research with open-source, community-driven digital signal processing hardware and software

For over a decade the Collaboration for Astronomy Signal Processing and Electronics Research (CASPER) has been providing open-source FPGA-based hardware, programming tools, and reference designs to enable the wide-ranging scientific endeavors of the Radio Astronomy research community. Originally set up to develop the technological capabilities of UC Berkeley's Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) group, today CASPER's stated goal is “to streamline and simplify the design flow of radio astronomy instrumentation by promoting design reuse, through the development of platform-independent, open-source hardware and software.”
Detecting shadows in multi-temporal aerial imagery to support near-real-time change detection

Multi-temporal aerial imagery captured via an approach called repeat station imaging (RSI) facilitates post-hazard assessment of damage to infrastructure. Spectral-radiometric (SR) variations cause...
Extraorally delivered photobiomodulation therapy for prevention of oropharyngeal mucositis in pediatric patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation

Background: Oral mucositis (OM) is a painful consequence of myeloablative hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Extraorally delivered photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) is a promising novel intervention for the prevention of OM in children. Objectives: With funding from an NIDCR R34 planning grant, the objectives of this study are 1) to model the dosimetry of external PBMT and the optimal device parameters for the planned clinical trial, and 2) to plan and design a placebo-controlled Phase 2 multicenter clinical trial to determine whether extraorally delivered PBMT can reduce the duration of severe OM in children, with intent for implementation under subsequent U01 funding. Methods: External PBMT dosimetry will be evaluated using pediatric head and neck MRI studies to obtain serial measurements of different tissues that will then be used to develop a sophisticated computational model. We plan to conduct a placebocontrolled Phase 2 multicenter clinical trial in which patients 4 to 21 years of age will be randomized 1:1:1 to receive external PBMT dose 1x, external PBMT dose 2x, or sham PBMT starting from conditioning, daily until day +20 post- HCT. Significance: Extraorally delivered PBMT is a feasible, potentially efficacious intervention that could improve the quality of life for all children undergoing myeloablative HCT. The planned Phase 2 study, based on rigorous dose modeling and with detailed attention to uniform delivery of therapy and OM assessments, will provide critical efficacy data and the potential basis for a subsequent definitive Phase 3 trial. Grant Support: NIDCR R34 DE025908-01
Complications of Peripheral Arterial Interventions

Atherosclerotic disease remains the most common cause of death in the Western world. Data from population studies have demonstrated an increased prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) in patients older than 40 years of age. In the current era of advanced endovascular equipment, techniques and expertise in PAD interventions, percutaneous interventions on aortoiliac, and femoropopliteal and infrapopliteal disease have increased significantly with very favorable outcomes compared to surgical revascularization. Complications from such procedures can be both life and limb threatening. Timely diagnosis and managment of complications is crutial to prevent unfavorable outcomes. This chapter sumarizes the complications most likely seen in peripheral arterial interventions and discusses dianostic and theraputic approaches to treat them.
Infrared Optical Wireless Communication for Smart Door Locks Using Smartphones

With the recent rapid advancements in the Internetof-Things (IoT), one of the applications being developed is thatof smart door lock (SDL) systems. SDL are intended to offerhigh security, easy access and easy sharing. Unlike existing SDLsolutions that mostly use biometrics or crunched RF spectrum, we uniquely propose to use Infrared (IR) optical wireless signal(OWS) using IR light emitting diode (LED) of smartphones. We designed and developed a complete system of Androidsmartphone app including physical layer encoding, a cloud serverand programmable hardware prototypes using Arduino as wellas Raspberry Pi. Optlock includes multi-level security schemesincluding user registration, authentication and authorizationusing one-time-password (OTP). Our extensive experiments show100% accuracy with 1.33 kbps of average data rate is achievedup to 20 meters of distance between a smartphone and a lock. Itallows convenient remote access, easy access control and sharingas well as high security.
A Comparison of Park Access with Park Need for Children: Case Study in Cache County, Utah

Abstract Parks are acknowledged as assets for children, but children’s access to parks and their quality is often inequitable. Previous studies have focused on disparities in the spatial distribution of parks. The purpose of this study is to explore park access by both the distribution and the quality of parks in relation to children’s potential need. This study compared a broader assessment of park access, incorporating both proximity and quality with an index of park need rather than simple population size or a single measure of socio-economic status (SES). While proximity and quality were assessed by Network Analysis and PARK tool respectively, the index of park need was identified through multiple socio-demographic factors and co-variables. Comparison between the measures was both statistical and graphical. The statistical analysis, using multiple linear regression, determined the extent that park access correlated with park need. The graphical analysis identified spatial gaps between the measures. A protocol was built to increase park proximity and quality within these gaps to improve children’s park access and meet their potential need for parks. The results of the comparison showed that park need was positively associated with park access to a significant extent (p
Critical review of resonator fiber optic gyroscope technology

A critical review of the developments in the resonator fiber optic rotation sensor technology is presented. Error terms and proposed solutions are discussed. Supporting experimental results and their significance are summarized.
Two types of rat pituitary somatotrophs secrete growth hormone with different biological and immunological profiles.

Abstract Objective Two stable subpopulations of somatotrophs reside in the rat pituitary gland. We tested the hypothesis that one produced growth hormone (GH) with greater activity when tested in the tibial line bioassay (BGH) than the other, while differences in the activities between the two groups would be less dramatic when measured by immunoassay (IGH). Design A series of studies using hypophysectomized rats, hollow fibers, treatments and culture models were used to differentiate differences in Type I and Type II anterior pituitary somatotrophs in both function and production of immunoactive and bioactive growth hormone. Results We found that dense, Type II somatotrophs (> 1.070 g·cm− 3) differed markedly in their secretion patterns of IGH vs BGH in different In vitro and in vivo tests. In culture, Type II cells secreted five times as much BGH, and three fourths as much IGH as the less dense Type I cells. Production (storage and secretion) of BGH was 7-fold greater by Type II cells whereas IGH production was identical for the two cell types. Implantation of Type II cells into hypophysectomized rats significantly increased body weight, epiphyseal cartilage thickness, and muscle weight of the recipients; in contrast, Type I cells elicited only a small increase in body weight. Type I somatotrophs isolated from rats which had been previously fasted or insulin-treated subsequently showed only small, inconsistent changes in release relative to that from cells in the unfractionated cell population. However, release of BGH from the Type II cells was markedly decreased. Conclusion Both IGH and BGH should be considered in the elucidation of GH physiology.
Cardiovascular control is associated with pair-bond success in male prairie voles

Abstract Social support structures reduce mortality and morbidity in humans, but the mechanisms underlying these reductions are not fully understood. The prevailing hypothesis is that social support buffers stress and reduces allostatic load, thereby increasing longevity. However, the possibility that affiliative social interactions confer health benefits independent of stress buffering is understudied. We examined autonomic function in prairie voles - arguably the premier species for modeling human social affiliation - to assess the possibility that the formation of strong social bonds alters autonomic function and contributes to health benefits. We examined cardiovascular measures in male prairie voles before and after two weeks of cohabitation with a female, during a partner preference test, and during social isolation. There were strong correlations between social contact and heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV), the latter being an index of autonomic nervous system function. Males that successfully pair-bonded with their partners displayed higher HRV prior to pairing than did unsuccessful males, suggesting higher basal parasympathetic tone in the successful males. HRV increased further still when pair-bonded males huddled quietly with their mates during the partner preference test. Non-pair-bonded males not only had lower baseline parasympathetic activity, but showed a further decrease after pairing. HR increased and HRV decreased during social isolation only in pair-bonded males. Since differences in HRV are thought to reflect the relative influences of the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems on cardiac function, these results suggest that autonomic balance may contribute to social bonding and thus to its health benefits.
Getting "SMART" about implementing multi-tiered systems of support to promote school mental health.

With the growing adoption and implementation of multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) in school settings, there is increasing need for rigorous evaluations of adaptive-sequential interventions. That is, MTSS specify universal, selected, and indicated interventions to be delivered at each tier of support, yet few investigations have empirically examined the continuum of supports that are provided to students both within and across tiers. This need is compounded by a variety of prevention approaches that have been developed with distinct theoretical foundations (e.g., Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports, Social-Emotional Learning) that are available within and across tiers. As evidence-based interventions continue to flourish, school-based practitioners greatly need evaluations regarding optimal treatment sequencing. To this end, we describe adaptive treatment strategies as a natural fit within the MTSS framework. Specifically, sequential multiple assignment randomized trials (SMART) offer a promising empirical approach to rigorously develop and compare adaptive treatment regimens within this framework.
Thrombectomy for late occlusion of high flow extracranial–intracranial saphenous vein bypass graft after 27 years of patency

High flow extracranial–intracranial (EC-IC) bypass with a saphenous vein graft (SVG) has been used for more than 40 years in patients with giant aneurysms of the posterior circulation refractory to medical management, and has demonstrated high long term patency rates. We report the case of a patient treated with external carotid artery (ECA)–posterior cerebral artery SVG bypass in 1989 who presented 27 years later with paresthesias and confusion, and was found to have partial occlusion of her SVG bypass graft and a basilar occlusion. She was treated with mechanical thrombectomy of the basilar occlusion via the partially thrombosed graft, the first report of such a procedure through a high flow posterior circulation EC-IC SVG, resulting in improvement of the patient’s neurologic examination. At 27 years, this is the longest reported delay in thrombosis of a high flow SVG bypass graft, highlighting the long term patency of these grafts and the feasibility of thrombectomy through occluded bypass grafts.
K L → π 0 l + l − decays for large m t

We discuss the decays K/sub L/..--> pi../sup 0/l/sup +/l/sup -/ when m/sub t/ is large. Unlike the case of K/sub L/..--> pi pi.., CP violation in the decay amplitude itself is comparable to that which comes from the mass matrix. We study the CP-violating effects, including strong-interaction (QCD) corrections to the amplitudes which arise from one-loop diagrams. Short-distance contributions from diagrams that involve a W and a Z or two W's as well as from those with a photon and a W are important when m/sub t/approx. >M/sub W/.
Activation-Energy Asymptotics of the Plane Premixed Flame

The plane premixed flame is considered in the limit of large activation energy for various chemical reactions. A full account of the one-reactant model is given, including its equivalence to a two-reactant model away from stoichiometry. The behaviour of the two-reactant model close to stoichiometry is then sketched. A brief discussion is given of more complex kinetic schemes, namely: the two-reactant model with dissociation of the product; sequential decomposition reactions; and the autocatalytic chain reaction introduced by Zeldovich. Emphasis throughout is on explaining the method of activation-energy asymptotics and what it offers in the computation of plane flames.
Cellular localization of NAAG.

N-Acetylaspartylglutamate (NAAG), the most abundant brain peptide, has been localized immunocytochemically in a variety of neurons throughout the nervous system. In many cases, NAAG’s presence has been confirmed by HPLC, but these results will not be described here. NAAG is also sometimes found in glia, 3 which are partially responsible for its synthesis. nucleus, in proximal dendrites, and in axons and terminals, including synaptic vesicles. An overview of the neurons and systems in which NAAG has been found is given below. The pattern of labeled cells in subcortical structures is remarkably similar across species; in cerebral cortex however, rodents lack the pyramidal cell staining seen in cats, monkeys and humans. The overview starts with the visual system, which has been especially well studied.
Vertebral body stapling as an alternative in the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis

Unilateral vertebral body stapling as a fusionless alternative to control curvature progression in patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS). Skeletally immature patients (Risser 0 or 1) with IS measuring 20–45° and correction of the curvature 40°. Unilateral disc-sparing staples are placed at the convex side. A thoracoscopic approach can be used for thoracic curves and a mini-open retroperitoneal approach for lumbar curves. Early ambulation on postoperative day 1 is encouraged. There are no absolute activity restrictions, and no bracing beyond 4 weeks is required. A total of 28 patients (4 males, 24 females; average age at operation 9.4 years) met all inclusion criteria and had a minimum 2-year follow-up (range 2–5.3 years). The success rate (improvement or stabilization of the curvature) was 86% for thoracic curves <35° and all lumbar curves meeting the indications.
Screening for Psychotherapeutic Medication Misuse in Primary Care Patients: Comparing Two Instruments.

Introduction: Prescription psychotherapeutic medication misuse is a growing problem in the United States, but no method exists to routinely screen for this in primary care. Our study sought to (1) describe the prevalence of prescription psychotherapeutic medication misuse in primary care and the characteristics of patients who misuse and (2) compare 2 screening instruments modified to identify prescription medication misuse in primary care. Methods: Primary care patients from underserved, urban clinics within a health system completed anonymous computer-directed health screens that included standard questions about prescription medication misuse. They were also administered the 4-item Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, and Eye-opener questionnaire modified to focus on prescription medications (RxCAGE) and a 6-item Prescription Opioid Misuse Index (POMI-e) expanded to include other prescription medications. Results: Of 2,339 respondents, 15.3% were positive for at least 2 items on the RxCAGE and 18.6% were positive for at least 2 items on the POMI-e. Using our computer-directed health screen as a comparison, we found that POMI-e had a higher area under the curve (0.63). A positive POMI-e was associated with being male, white and unemployed, having depression and anxiety, and currently using illicit substances, smoking, and misusing alcohol. Conclusions: Rates of prescription medication misuse were substantial with both RxCAGE and POMI-e showing promise as screening instruments. Future studies are needed to test prescription medication misuse screening tools in broader populations and pilot interventions for those screening positive.
Calculation of SF6-/SF6 and Cl-/CFCl3 electron attachment cross sections in the energy range 0-100 meV

Electron attachment cross sections for the processes SF6-/SF6 and Cl-/CFCl3 are calculated in a local theory using a model in which diatomic-like potential energy curves for the normal modes are constructed from available spectroscopic data. Thermally populated vibrational and rotational levels are included. Good agreement is found with experimental cross sections in the energy range 5-100 meV for a particular choice of potential energy curve parameters.
Computing Opportunities for Students of Color

In fall 2018, the authors established a new student organization at DePauw University to address the severe underrepresentation of students of color (SoC) in computing. The organization, Computing Opportunities for Students of Color (COSOC), aims to create a community for SoC and to establish a sense of belonging through role modeling, mentoring, tutoring, and a series of academic and community events. This poster describes the need for such an organization, goals and objectives, pilot study, main components of COSOC, positive preliminary impact on SoC (including enrollment data), and additional planned assessment. Finally, the poster lists future plans for COSOC.
Palliative radiotherapy for hepatobiliary obstruction caused by colorectal metastases.

Hyperbilirubinemia in the setting of stent-intolerant biliary obstruction is a challenging problem and can prevent cancer patients from pursuing additional treatments such as further systemic therapies. We report a case of a 75-year-old female who underwent treatment with palliative radiotherapy (RT) for relieving persistent biliary obstruction secondary to liver metastases from colorectal disease, despite prior appropriate stent placement. Prior to RT, the patient’s total bilirubin was 14.6 mg/dL, and she experienced fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and severe jaundice. After treatment with 37.5 Gy in 15 once daily fractions, total bilirubin decreased to 3.9 mg/dL, with resolution of previous symptoms including jaundice and pruritus. The patient did not experience any significant treatment-related toxicities. This case, along with a succinct literature review, demonstrates that palliative RT can be successful in relieving biliary obstruction unrelieved by biliary stent. Further research is required to evaluate the efficacy of RT in palliating biliary obstruction for liver metastases in a general population.
Rectal and Vaginal Drug Delivery

This chapter provides an overview of dosage forms relevant to rectal and vaginal drug delivery. Barriers to drug absorption are discussed and frequently used excipients are covered. The manufacturing and special formulation considerations for drug delivery using suppository formulations are also reviewed.
Patient outcomes in light chain (AL) amyloidosis: The clock is ticking from symptoms to diagnosis.

Introduction Symptomology of AL amyloidosis can be vague, with a broad range of manifestations and potential etiologies. We sought to determine whether time from initial patient-reported symptom onset to diagnosis was associated with survival. Methods The Boston University Amyloidosis Patient Database was queried for patients with AL amyloidosis who presented to the Center for initial evaluation from 2010 to 2015. Results A total of 324 patients with AL amyloidosis were evaluated for initial evaluation. The median time to diagnosis from initial symptom onset was 7.1 months (range, 0-61). At data cutoff, 60.2% (n = 195) of patients were alive; of those, the majority were diagnosed 6 months in 63.6% (n = 82) of patients who did not survive at the time of data cutoff (P = .0005). Survival analysis of time from diagnosis to death or data cutoff stratified by time from patient-reported symptom onset to diagnosis ( 12 months) showed significant differences among groups (P = .001). Additionally, multivariable regression demonstrated that an increase in time from self-reported symptom onset to diagnosis was significantly associated with an increased risk of death (HR = 1.02, 95% CI = 1.01-1.04, P = .002). Conclusion These results support the importance of early diagnosis for patients with AL amyloidosis.
Detecting regulatory elements in high-throughput reporter assays

Abstract High-throughput reporter assays such as self-transcribing active regulatory region sequencing (STARR-seq) have made it possible to measure genome-wide regulatory element activity across the human genome. The assays, however, also present substantial analytical challenges. Here, we identify technical biases that explain most of the variance in STARR-seq signals. We then develop a statistical model to correct those biases and to improve detection of regulatory elements. This approach substantially improves precision and recall over current methods, improves detection of both activating and repressive regulatory elements, and controls for false discoveries despite strong local signal correlations.
Modeling of Strain Range Memory Effect to Capture Non-linear Behavior in Non-masing Metals to Accurately Predict Life

Several metal alloys demonstrate a cyclic plasticity hardening behavior that is higher than the monotonic hardening behavior seen in a uniaxial test. This increased hardening with increase in strain range is known as non-masing behavior. This influences the shape of the stress–strain hysteresis curve and has a direct impact on the failure life for that strain range. This paper numerically models this non-masing behavior and its memory effect by tracking the current strain range hardening region in the plastic strain space. This model dynamically modifies plasticity parameters as the strain range changes as well as captures the memory effect of strain range seen in such materials. The impact of modeling this behavior is then showed by comparing with experimental stress–strain hysteresis curves as well as life numbers available in literature for 316L(N) stainless steel.
A room-temperature polariton light-emitting diode based on monolayer WS 2

Exciton polaritons that arise through the strong coupling of excitons and cavity photons are used to demonstrate a wide array of fundamental phenomena and potential applications that range from Bose-Einstein-like condensation1-3 to analogue Hamiltonian simulators4,5 and chip-scale interferometers6. Recently, the two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), because of their large exciton binding energies, oscillator strength and valley degree of freedom, have emerged as a very attractive platform to realize exciton polaritons at elevated temperatures7. Achieving the electrical injection of polaritons is attractive both as a precursor to realizing electrically driven polariton lasers as well as for high speed light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for communication systems. Here, we demonstrate an electrically driven polariton LED that operates at room temperature using monolayer tungsten disulfide (WS2) as the emissive material. The extracted external quantum efficiency is ~0.1% and is comparable to recent demonstrations of bulk organic8 and carbon nanotube-based polariton electroluminescence (EL) devices9. The possibility to realize electrically driven polariton LEDs in atomically thin semiconductors at room temperature presents a promising step towards achieving an inversionless electrically driven laser in these systems as well as for ultrafast microcavity LEDs using van der Waals (vdW) materials.
Remarks on the Directions of Research in Parallel Computing

These remarks are intended to provoke discussion about what might accelerate the evolution of parallel computation. Such a general question deserves investigation well beyond the scope of this informal note, which is aimed at only two or three specific topics. It also needs the input from experts in many areas of computer science and parallel computation. Accordingly, forgiveness and understanding are requested for any and all errors and omissions in this necessarily limited presentation.
Impact of Parental Illness and Injury on Pediatric Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction.

Objective To evaluate the relationship between parental injury and illness and disorders of gut–brain interaction (DGBI) in children. Study design A self-controlled case series using data from the Military Health System Data Repository compared International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision–identified DGBI-related outpatient visits and prescriptions in 442 651 children aged 3-16 years in the 2 years before and the 2 years after the injury and/or illness of their military parent. Negative binomial regression was used to compare visit rates for constipation, fecal incontinence, abdominal pain, irritable bowel syndrome, and a composite of these before and after parental injury and/or illness. Logistic regression, clustered by child, compared the odds of stooling agent and antispasmodic prescription before and after parental injury and/or illness. Results In the 2 years following parental injury and/or illness, children had increased visits for DGBIs (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] 1.09; 95% CI 1.07-1.10), constipation (aIRR 1.07; 95% CI 1.04-1.10), abdominal pain (aIRR 1.09; 95% CI 1.07-1.12), and irritable bowel syndrome (aIRR 1.37; 95% CI 1.19-1.58). Following parental injury and/or illness, the odds of stooling agent prescription decreased (aOR 0.95; 95% CI 0.93-0.97) and the odds of antispasmodic prescription increased (aOR 1.26; 95% CI 1.18-1.36). Conclusions Parental injury and/or illness is associated with increased healthcare use for DGBIs. Parental health should be considered by clinicians when assessing DGBIs, counseling patients, and formulating treatment plans.
Model for a Web-based information literacy course: Design, conversion and experiences

SUMMARY When converting a traditionally taught classroom course to a web-based environment, yoSmusttakeanumbe; of issues and considerations in to account. This paper addresses the process of design and conversion, including computer mediated communication as a form of distance education, the advantages and limitations of the technology, methods of addressing learning styles and insuring interaction with students, as well as examples of teaching an online asynchronous course.
Using phonation time to estimate vital capacity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Abstract Amyotrophic lateral sclersis (ALS) is a neuromuscular disease in which progressive respiratory weakness is usually the proximate cause of death. Since continued assessment of respiratory function is important in predicting progression, phonation time was measured in a group of 41 ALS patients and correlated with measured vital capacity. The findings show that the variance in phonation time accounts for nearly 50% of the variability of vital capacity, and therefore, successive measurements of phonation time are a useful means of estimating the loss of vital capacity.
Vegetation recovery in a desert landscape after wildfires: influences of community type, time since fire and contingency effects

Summary 1. Theories of plant succession are poorly developed in arid lands, hindering our understanding of how long communities may take to recover after disturbances such as fire. In desert landscapes vulnerable to fire, information about vegetation recovery is important when deciding whether land managers should facilitate vegetation recovery. The deserts of the southwestern USA are increasingly subject to unprecedented fires, facilitated by fuel from exotic grasses, yet management strategies are unclear. 2. We evaluated post-fire recovery patterns of perennial plant species richness and diversity, compared the rate and direction of succession between two major community types, and explored the relationship of time since fire (TSF) and other environmental factors with vegetation recovery. We sampled perennial plant communities and environmental variables (e.g. soil N) on 32 burns, ranging from 2 to 29 years TSF and each paired with their own unburned area, within a 1·8 million ha landscape in the Mojave Desert, USA. 3. Species richness, diversity and composition exhibited different post-burn recovery patterns, and recovery rates differed between community types. Specifically, diversity in Coleogyne ramosissima communities was greater in burned than unburned areas, but diversity did not differ in Larrea tridentata communities. Species composition in Larrea communities exhibited trajectories that indicate convergence with unburned community composition after 19 years TSF. Conversely, burned and unburned Coleogyne communities lacked convergence irrespective of TSF. Environmental variables (e.g. soil texture and P) accounted for 79–83% of the variation in burned species composition, suggesting environmental characteristics in part control recovery patterns. 4.Synthesis and applications. The results indicate that geographically similar vegetation types within the same landscape can have markedly different post-disturbance successional rates and trajectories. Furthermore, the persistence of fire effects varied depending on the community measure, with fire effects on species composition more long-lasting than the effects on species diversity. This work supports (i) the use of post-disturbance successional analyses for helping to prioritize management where it is most needed (e.g. communities not recovering naturally) and (ii) the need to assess whether persistent, early successional desert communities meet functional management objectives.
Genetic approaches to studying energy balance: perception and integration

The homeostatic regulation of adiposity is a physiological concept that originated nearly 70 years ago, the genetic foundations of which have just begun to emerge. A key element of this concept is the existence of one or more humoral mediators, which circulate at levels that reflect body fat stores and which signal through neuronal receptors to elicit appropriate behavioural and metabolic responses over short time periods. Initial insights into adiposity regulation came from the positional cloning of mouse obesity mutations, but the field is now poised to address specific physiological questions using more sophisticated genetic approaches.
The Infant Origins of Intentional Understanding

Publisher Summary This chapter highlights distinct hypotheses concerning the origins of intentional understanding and the relation between real-world knowledge and abstract concepts. One hypothesis is that core components of mature knowledge systems are innately specified in the form abstract principles. A second hypothesis is that real-world action knowledge provides the developmental basis for more abstract conceptions of intentional action. Under this view, teaming, cognitive comparison, and conceptual abstraction contribute fundamental structure to intentional understanding. This chapter also reviews that much of the current evidence supports the conclusion that infants begin with relatively local representations of goal-directed action, only later showing signs of more abstract expectations. These findings are mast consistent with the view that infants begin by tracking regularities in real-world actions, including their own, and from these regularities construct more abstract expectations about intentional actions.
Wirtschaftliche Sicherheitsvorkehrungen im Kontext der alternden Bevölkerung in Indien

Auszug Die rasche Alterung von Indiens Bevolkerung in Verbindung mit der Abwanderung aus landlichen Gebieten und der anhaltenden Konzentration der Erwerbsbevolkerung im informellen Sektor hat die Notwendigkeit besserer Vorkehrungen zur wirtschaftlichen Absicherung alterer Menschen unterstrichen. Traditionelle Familienbindungen, die bisher wesentlich waren fur die Gewahrleistung eines Minimums an Sicherheit, beginnen sich aufzulosen, und die hohere Lebenserwartung verteuert die Betreuung der Alten. Daher sind altere Menschen einem hoheren Risiko der Armut oder Verarmung ausgesetzt. Parallel zu ihren Bemuhungen in diesem Bereich haben die Regierung von Indien und einige indische Bundesstaaten eine Reihe von Programmen gestartet, die der grosen Mehrheit der Inder, die sonst keinen ausreichenden Zugang hatten, einen gewissen Zutritt zur Gesundheitsversorgung oder Krankenversicherung gewahrleisten sollen. Arbeitnehmer im formellen Sektor haben mehr soziale Sicherheit als Personen im informellen Sektor, aber sie machen nur einen kleinen Anteil der Gesamtarbeitnehmerschaft aus. Frauen sind wirtschaftlich ganz besonders starker Unsicherheit ausgesetzt. Indiens Erfahrung bietet Interessantes fur andere Lander. Obwohl es im Bereich der sozialen Sicherheit Raum fur Privatinitiativen gibt, ist klar, dass die meisten dieser Bemuhungen uber Steuern finanziert werden mussen. Die Rolle, die private Anbieter spielen konnen, ist erheblich, selbst wenn ein Grosteil der Finanzierung aus staatlichen Quellen kommt; die damit einhergehenden Herausforderungen werden gar noch steigen, da mehr Personen Leistungen in Anspruch nehmen wollen. Indien hat auch gezeigt, dass die Umsetzung gut mit Mitteln von der Zentralregierung auf einzelstaatlicher Ebene erfolgen kann; mit einer Reihe von Vor- und Nachteilen, die eine solche Dezentralisierung mit sich bringt. Schlieslich kann Indiens Erfahrung, was die Umsetzung angeht, Orientierung in Fragen wie Erfassung der Zielgruppen, Einsatz von Informationstechnologie in Systemen der sozialen Sicherheit und Verwaltung von Humanressourcen bieten.
Quantitative assessment of CA1 local circuits: Knowledge base for interneuron-pyramidal cell connectivity

In this work, through a detailed literature review, data-mining, and extensive calculations, we provide a current, quantitative estimate of the cellular and synaptic constituents of the CA1 region of the rat hippocampus. Beyond estimating the cell numbers of GABAergic interneuron types, we calculate their convergence onto CA1 pyramidal cells and compare it with the known input synapses on CA1 pyramidal cells. The convergence calculation and comparison are also made for excitatory inputs to CA1 pyramidal cells. In addition, we provide a summary of the excitatory and inhibitory convergence onto interneurons. The quantitative knowledge base assembled and synthesized here forms the basis for data-driven, large-scale computational modeling efforts. Additionally, this work highlights specific instances where the available data are incomplete, which should inspire targeted experimental projects towards a more complete quantification of the CA1 neurons and their connectivity.
Bodytime: On the Interaction of Body, Identity, and Society

Bodytime: On the Interaction of Body, Identity, and Society. Susanne Lundin and Lynn Akesson. eds. Lund, Sweden: Lund University Press, 1996. 196 pp.
WHOLESALE MARKETING OF FRESH VEGETABLES

ABSTRACT The wholesale marketing structure for fresh vegetables includes linkages between groups of producer-oriented, consumer-oriented, and redistribution markets. Archaic conditions within this structure have contributed to faster rises in prices of fresh than of processed vegetables. The marketing of fresh vegetables is changing rapidly, however, as chain stores and other large firms seek to lower costs through bypassing segments of the structure and through purchasing directly from shipping points. A new structure seems to be emerging; bargaining associations are replacing producer-oriented markets; small, inefficient markets are being eliminated; direct shipping is increasing; facilities are being improved; and some terminal markets are merging with wholesale food distribution centers that serve larger areas than are presently served by most terminals.
THE ECONOMICS OF VOLUNTARY EXPORT RESTRAINT AGREEMENTS

The three substantive sections of this survey deal with the economic consequences of voluntary export restraint agreements (VERs), e.g. the Multi-Fibre Arrangement and VERs on Japanese auto exports. Section 2 focuses on the disposition of quota rents under the assumptions of perfectly competitive markets and the absence of substitute suppliers. Section 3 considers imperfect competition and the role of VERs as cartelization instruments, facilitating collusion. Section 4 analyzes the discriminatory effects of VERs when there are third country suppliers. A broad conclusion is that the economic consequences of VERs are more complex than the standard trade policy analysis based on tariffs because of the issues discussed in Sections 3 and 4. Copyright 1989 by Blackwell Publishers Ltd
Motor function and the corticospinal tracts in the dog and raccoon

Following unilateral somatomotor cerebral cortex ablation in three raccoons and ten Beagle dogs similar functional deficits of hypotonia, hypokinesia and dysmetria limited to the side opposite the lesion were observed in both species. Only in the raccoon was a loss of digital manipulative ability of the contralateral forepaw observed. The Nauta-Gygax method was used to trace corticospinal projections into the grey matter of the spinal cord. In both species preterminal degeneration was found ipsilaterally and contralaterally in Rexed's laminae V, VI, VII and VIII. Furthermore, in the raccoon preterminal corticospinal degeneration was followed into the dorsal portion of contralateral lamina IX at the level C7–8. Although direct corticospinal projections to motoneurones of lamina IX occur in greater quantity and in increasing quantity with increasing complexity of digital abilities among the primate species, it appears that such connections are not limited phylogenetically to primates and probably are correlated with the ability of a species to manipulate the digits. Comparison of these anatomical findings with those reported for the cat revealed a progressive ventral shift of corticospinal terminations in ventral horn neuronal groups from cat to dog to raccoon, specifically into lamina IX in the raccoon. No single pattern of corticospinal terminations appears typical for the Order Carnivora. Data on dogs varying in age from one month to adult support the suggestion that there is a direct correlation between some motor cortex functions and postnatal maturation of corticospinal connections.
The Pernicious Influence of Mathematics Upon Philosophy

Are mathematical ideas invented or discovered? This question has been repeatedly posed by philosophers through the ages and will probably be with us forever. We will not be concerned with the answer. What matters is that by asking the question, we acknowledge that mathematics has been leading a double life.
Self-association versus interassociation in hydrogen bonded polymer blends: 2. Comparison of theoretical and experimental miscibility windows for poly(2,6-dialkyl-4-vinyl phenol) blends

Abstract Self-association and interassociation equilibrium constants determined from i.r. studies of miscible poly(2,6-dimethyl-4-vinyl phenol) (PDMVPh) and poly(2,6-diisopropyl-4-vinyl phenol) (PDIPVPh) blends with poly(n-butyl methacrylate) and an ethylene- co -vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer are used to calculate theoretical miscibility windows for the homologous series of poly(n-alkyl methacrylate)s and the entire copolymer composition range of EVA copolymers. Miscibility gaps are predicted to increase significantly for analogous blend systems in the series PDIPVPh > PDMVPh > poly(4-vinyl phenol). One factor contributing to this trend is the steric hindrance of the 2,6-dialkyl substituents, which serve to reduce the relative strength of self-association versus interassociation. Experimental i.r. studies of these blend systems corroborate the overall shape and size of the single phase region of the predicted miscibility windows.
Biosynthetic control of the diurnal rhythm of tyrosine α-ketoglutarate transaminase activity in rat liver

Abstract Tyrosine α-ketoglutarate transaminase in rat liver shows diurnal rhythmic changes. Assay of the TAT antigen levels of liver extracts with antibody to TAT showed that at all times during the diurnal cycle there was a fixed relationship between enzyme activity and enzyme antigen levels. When rats were pulse labeled with isotopic amino acids and the labeled TAT isolated by immunoprecipitation, the kinetics of labeling the enzyme showed that maximal incorporation into TAT occurred several hours before peak TAT activity was reached. These studies indicate that the diurnal rhythm of TAT is controlled by a variable rate of TAT synthesis not involving the formation of a cross-reacting precursor or breakdown product.
Changes in phase I and phase II biotransformation with age in male Fischer 344 rat colon: Relationship to colon carcinogenesis

Using male Fischer 344 rats classified as young (2-4 months), middle aged (12-14 months), and old (22-25 months), the activities of several Phase I and Phase II biotransformation pathways in the large intestine were investigated, including benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase (BPOH), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), beta-glucuronidase (BG), and microsomal and nuclear glucuronyltransferase (UDPGT). Levels of oxidized (GSSG) and reduced (GSH) glutathione and uridine 5'-diphosphoglucuronic acid (UDPGA) were also measured. BPOH increased 33% in old rats, while ADH and BG activity remained unchanged with age. Nuclear UDPGT remained unchanged with age, whereas form I of GSH-PX declined slightly in old rats. GST, microsomal UDPGT, and form II of GSH-PX declined by 38, 37 and 44%, respectively, in old rats. The decrease in GST and microsomal UDPGT was also significant in middle aged rats. Levels of colonic GSH, GSSG and UDPGA were found to be unchanged with age. These in vitro data suggest the possibility that if reactive intermediates are generated to the same extent in old rats as in young rats, decreased detoxification mechanisms in the old rat may increase susceptibility of the colon to actions of chemical carcinogens.
Detection of equine herpesvirus-1 in nasal swabs of horses by quantitative real-time PCR.

Background: Early identification of inhalation-transmitted equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1) infections has been facilitated by the availability of a number of real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) tests. A direct comparison between nasal swab qPCR and traditional virus isolation (VI) requires a method for normalizing the qPCR samples and controlling for PCR inhibitors present in some clinical samples. Objectives: To quantify EHV-1 shedding in viral swabs using an internal control and to compare fast qPCR to VI for the detection of EHV-1 in nasal swabs from horses. Animals: Fifteen horses experimentally infected with EHV-1. Methods: Experimental study: Nasal swab samples were collected daily after experimental infection for up to 21 days. VI was performed by conventional methods. The DNA was prepared for qPCR with the addition of a known quantity DNA of Marek's disease virus as an internal control. qPCR was performed. Results: The qPCR method detected virus up to day 21 after challenge, whereas VI detected virus only to day 5. The median Kaplan-Meier estimates for EHV-1 detection were 12 days for qPCR and 2 days for VI (P < .0001). When compared with VI, the sensitivity and specificity of qPCR were 97 (95% CI: 86–100) and 27% (95% CI: 20–35). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: We conclude that fast qPCR of nasal swab samples should be chosen for diagnosis and monitoring of herpesvirus-induced disease in horses. Recommended reference ranges of CT values are provided as well as justification of a minimum 10-day quarantine period.
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF TAMM‐HORSFALL GLYCOPROTEIN AND ITS GLYCOPOLYPEPTIDE

The molecular weight of the constituent glycopolypeptide chain of T-H glycoprotein was determined by sedimentation equilibrium under two entirely different sets of denaturing conditions. For both sets of denaturing conditions, the average molecular weight estimated for T-H glycopoly peptide was 74,000. The gel chromatographic behavior in 6 Mguanidium chloride of T-H glycopoly peptide with disulfide bonds intact as compared with its gel chromatographic behavior with disulfide bonds broken indicated that the glycopolypeptide is highly constrained by intrachain disulfide bonds.