cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On Bonfire Shelter (Texas) as a Paleoindian Bison Jump: An Assessment Using GIS and Zooarchaeology

The Plainview/Folsom-aged bison Bonebed 2 at Bonfire Shelter, originally excavated in the 1960s, is argued to be the earliest North American bison jump (Dibble 1970; Dibble and Lorrain 1968). Yet, it is far older than all other known jumps, and well south of where the great majority of these sites are found. Dibble (1970) reasonably argued that its age and location was not compelling evidence against it being a bison jump. However, Binford (1978) observed that the skeletal composition of Bonebed 2 did not resemble a kill. To assess whether Bonfire Shelter could have been utilized as a jump and whether it was, we explore two lines of evidence bearing on the issue, a GIS analysis of the site and upland topography, and zooarchaeological analysis of the recovered bison remains. Although our GIS analysis indicates that Bonfire Shelter meets many of the criteria of a jump locality, our reanalysis of the faunal remains suggests this was not the primary kill locus, but instead a processing area to which high-utility portions of at least 24 bison were transported and butchered. Where the bison were killed, and how, is not known.
Intrauterine Device Perforation

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) have had a controversial history but are regarded as a safe, effective form of contraception for all women. IUDs have many benefits, but at the same time, risks and comp...
Risk Based Assessment on Transient Voltage Collapse in Power Grid

Deterministic analysis approach is utilized in traditional analysis on transient voltage stability of power grid,however such an approach checks voltage stability by the most severe fault with low probability of occurrence,so the result is too conservative and the approach of risk assessment can overcome such defect.A risk assessment approach for transient voltage stability in which various uncertain factors are taken into account is proposed.In the proposed approach,the control cost caused by the control measures to prevent transient voltage collapse of power grid is taken as the severity of power grid transient instability,and based on the attained risk index the faults are screened and sorted.Assessment results of IEEE 9-bus system show that the proposed assessment approach is feasible.
Modeling Compositional Design

In this chapter, connectionist designs for modeling musical and visual composition are discussed. These architectures are not based on biological processing ideas and instead are based on models built from nodes connected by links with simple scalar values. Each node processes information using a sigmoidal strategy and the values on the links between nodes are used to store information about the process being modeled. Elaborate connectionist designs can be outlined but they are not related to biological computation and so are presented here as a counterpoint to what the models that are based on neural circuitry. For example, a nice treatment of such neural models for music is given in Peretz and Zatorre (2005) and a discussion of the neurobiological underpinnings for musical disorders is in Stewart et al. (2006). A short treatment of how biological computation based on cortex models obtained from the auditory and visual data developed earlier could be used to model brain activity is then presented. Finally, some thoughts on what could be done with such a biological model are given.
Trade-Offs between Tax and Financial Reporting Benefits: Evidence from Purchase Price Allocations in Taxable Acquisitions

U.S. GAAP requires assets acquired in business combinations to be recognized at fair value. The tax basis of assets acquired in taxable asset acquisitions must also be adjusted to reflect fair values. Managers can increase the net present value of cash tax savings by allocating a greater portion of the purchase price to shorter-lived assets. However, this conforming tax planning strategy results in lower book income immediately following the acquisition. Taxable acquisitions are therefore a powerful setting to investigate tradeoffs between tax and financial reporting benefits. We predict and find that managers with stronger tax incentives relative to financial reporting incentives shift a greater amount of the purchase price from intangible to depreciable assets. We also find that managers facing both strong financial reporting and tax incentives allocate more to intangibles relative to managers with only strong tax incentives. These results suggest managers trade off cash savings to report higher net income.
New Evidence on the Association between Prediagnostic Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Levels and Thyroid Cancer Risk.

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) has long been hypothesized to play a role in thyroid cancer development in humans, including as a mediator of the observed associations for ionizing radiation, obesity, smoking, and iodine intake, among other known and suspected risk (and protective) factors, due to
Transformation of a hierarchical mamdani fuzzy system to a single fuzzy system representation

As of late, hierarchical Fuzzy Inference Systems (hFIS) have received considerable attention because of their ability to control complex decision-making procedures. Although the performance of hFISs appears to be extremely effective in complex scenarios, there is a question about the differences between the hierarchical and single FISs (sFIS) and the relationship between the two. In this work, a transformation is derived which converts a Mamdani type hFIS into its equivalent sFIS representation. This is accomplished by equating their output membership functions. The equivalency between the outputs of the two representations is proven using a Satisfiability Modulo Theories (SMT) solver approach. Furthermore, we provide a detailed development procedure and results are presented which demonstrate the ease of implementation of the transformation as well as a wide applicability to meaningful large-scale problems.
UMapβ: A Semi-automatic Image Analysis Assistant Bridging the Gap between Experimentalists and Image Analysis Specialists

Quantitative biological analysis traditionally relies on labor intensive manual methods and newer fully automated methods are often inflexible and unfeasible to implement. We propose UMapβ, our semi-automated graphical user interface, as a solution.
Perfusion and Permeability Imaging for Head and Neck Cancer: Theory, Acquisition, Postprocessing, and Relevance to Clinical Imaging

Perfusion and permeability computed tomography and MR imaging applied to head and neck cancer provide powerful diagnostic and prognostic tools for clinicians. Understanding the basics of these techniques allows the radiologist to make informed decisions regarding the use of modeling algorithms, acquisition parameters, and postprocessing techniques. This helps to ensure that studies are acquired, analyzed, and reported appropriately and erroneous results are avoided. These techniques are highly automated, widely available, and can be easily and safely incorporated into daily imaging workflow.
Techniques to stimulate and interrogate cell–cell adhesion mechanics

Cell-cell adhesions maintain the mechanical integrity of multicellular tissues and have recently been found to act as mechanotransducers, translating mechanical cues into biochemical signals. Mechanotransduction studies have primarily focused on focal adhesions, sites of cell-substrate attachment. These studies leverage technical advances in devices and systems interfacing with living cells through cell-extracellular matrix adhesions. As reports of aberrant signal transduction originating from mutations in cell-cell adhesion molecules are being increasingly associated with disease states, growing attention is being paid to this intercellular signaling hub. Along with this renewed focus, new requirements arise for the interrogation and stimulation of cell-cell adhesive junctions. This review covers established experimental techniques for stimulation and interrogation of cell-cell adhesion from cell pairs to monolayers.
The Social Worker as a Courtroom Witness

Proper effective court testimony requires considerable time and preparation to insure a credible witness who can help his client win a case
The reaction of oximes with 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazoline-3,5-dione to produce nitric oxide – Model compounds for nitric oxide synthase

Abstract Certain oximes form nitric oxide upon reaction with 4-phenyl-1,2,4-triazole-3,5-dione (PTAD). The oximes appear to undergo an Alder-ene reaction with the PTAD enophile to form a nitroso intermediate capable of dimerization and/or nitric oxide formation. Upon exposure to oxygen, the nitroso compounds eventually form ketones. This reaction may serve as a model for the study of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), the enzyme responsible for physiological production of nitric oxide. NOS is known to produce an oxime intermediate which reacts with oxygen to produce nitric oxide and citrulline.
Lessons Learned in Developing a Commercial FIV Vaccine: The Immunity Required for an Effective HIV-1 Vaccine.

The feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) vaccine called Fel-O-Vax® FIV is the first commercial FIV vaccine released worldwide for the use in domestic cats against global FIV subtypes (A–E). This vaccine consists of inactivated dual-subtype (A plus D) FIV-infected cells, whereas its prototype vaccine consists of inactivated dual-subtype whole viruses. Both vaccines in experimental trials conferred moderate-to-substantial protection against heterologous strains from homologous and heterologous subtypes. Importantly, a recent case-control field study of Fel-O-Vax-vaccinated cats with outdoor access and ≥3 years of annual vaccine boost, resulted in a vaccine efficacy of 56% in Australia where subtype-A viruses prevail. Remarkably, this protection rate is far better than the protection rate of 31.2% observed in the best HIV-1 vaccine (RV144) trial. Current review describes the findings from the commercial and prototype vaccine trials and compares their immune correlates of protection. The studies described in this review demonstrate the overarching importance of ant-FIV T-cell immunity more than anti-FIV antibody immunity in affording protection. Thus, future efforts in developing the next generation FIV vaccine and the first effective HIV-1 vaccine should consider incorporating highly conserved protective T-cell epitopes together with the conserved protective B-cell epitopes, but without inducing adverse factors that eliminate efficacy.
Fishing Expedition - a Supervised Approach to Extract Patterns from a Compendium of Expression Profiles

Reference databases of expression profiles from diverse mutations and chemical treatments of a single assay offer a bird’s-eye view of changing expression patterns due to multiple perturbations. Such a compendium of expression profiles has been used to ascertain the roles of previously uncharacterised genes and infer the pathways through which their impact may take place. However, many genes have multiple molecular functions and are involved in different biological processes. The interaction patterns between genes and profiles from two-dimensional hierarchical clustering of such compendium of data could be very complex and often scattered. This makes it difficult to identify and extract all the genes and profiles whose variation in expression levels is closely associated with a particular target function. In this paper, a supervised component analysis approach is proposed in which a small number of profiles and/or genes of known properties are used as “bait” to help “fish out” other profiles and genes from a reference database that are relevant to a particular function of interest. The final cluster analysis and pattern match is then done using a much-reduced data set.
Structure and Usefulness of Planning Information Systems

In my first paper, I tried to demonstrate that planning can be understood as a process in which problem-relevant information can be produced and processed. One of the points was that problem formulation is identical with problem resolution. It follows that, from the viewpoint of the “second generation” systems researcher, the design of a planning system is the same as the design of the planning information system. We can thus limit ourselves to considering the characteristics of planning information systems whenever we want to talk about the possibilities of improving planning. Hence, it can be said that the search for better planning systems is identical to the construction of better planning information systems. Let me go over the grounds for this.
The Use of Responsive Circles in Schools: An Exploratory Study

Responsive circles, a restorative practices (RP) strategy, have the potential to help improve school climate through supporting conflict resolution and community building; yet, little research exis...
Designer platelets pump up PD-1 blockade

Genetically engineered platelets promote eradication of residual tumor by immune cells after surgery in mice.
Room temperature luminescence of passivated InGaN quantum dots formed by quantum-sized-controlled photoelectrochemical etching

Room temperature luminescence of epitaxial InGaN quantum dots (QDs) formed by quantum sized-controlled photoelectrochemical (QSC-PEC) etching and passivation layer regrowth is demonstrated. QSC-PEC etching is performed on a 7.5 nm thick In0.20Ga0.80N layer emitting at ∼514–521 nm and with a laser diode emitting at 445 nm. Parameters such as etch bias (0.9 V and 1.5 V), laser average power (20 mW/cm2 and 100 mW/cm2), and laser operating conditions (pulsed and continuous wave) are explored. QSC-PEC etching of In0.20Ga0.80N requires a minimum bias (>0.9 V) and pulsed laser conditions in order to form QDs. After etching, the QDs do not exhibit photoluminescence due to defect recombination. Regrowth of passivation layers consisting of a 2 nm thick Al0.45Ga0.55N layer and a 11 nm thick GaN layer reduce the defect recombination, and room temperature photoluminescence is observed at room temperature at ∼435–445 nm with narrow full-width at half-maximum of ∼35 nm.
Aquatic vegetation community structure response to hydrilla management with triploid grass carp, herbicide, and native vegetation planting

Schad AN, Dick GO. Aquatic vegetation community structure response to hydrilla management with triploid grass carp, herbicide, and native vegetation planting. Lake Reserve Manage. 34:417–425.To aid...
Open Source, Open Vision: The MakerPro Network and the Broadening of Participation in Setting Taiwan’s IT Vision Agenda

HCI recognizes the importance of visions as both a design and futuring approach and a problem-solving technique. One challenge of visioning work is who can propose and shape IT visions and how they...
Android multimedia sharing application over NDN

Named Data Networking (NDN) thrives in use cases that require mobile peer-to-peer data sharing. To amplify interests in NDN research, we developed an NDN multimedia sharing application for mobile devices that mirrors the popular Snapchat app. Our research focuses on (1) creating a completely decentralized application, (2) exploring new trust models; and (3) using a new synchronization protocol that allows for synchronization of subsets of data. Our demo will show the basic Flow of the application, from making friends to publishing and fetching Files between Android devices.
IVF Data Management: From Clipboards to Smart Apps

It is estimated that doctors and other healthcare professionals spend close to 50% of their time shuffling through paper charts, forms, messages, and reports. Improved scrutiny and oversight through nongovernmental and governmental inspections and audits are clearly increasing this burden. This is especially true in assisted reproduction where laboratory staff may spend even more time on paperwork than other team members. It is estimated that only 50% of IVF clinics have implemented an electronic medical record (EMR) system, although this figure is difficult to confirm since no studies have been published on the topic.
What matters to the patient is what really matters: quality in oncology nursing

Reflecting on the 40th anniversary of the Oncology Nursing Society led me to recall my own 30-plus years in nursing and how, as a new graduate nurse, almost all oncology care was delivered in the inpatient setting. In my first few years of practice, I mixed my patients' chemotherapy in a medicine room without a ventilated hood and administered those medications without personal protective equipment or the independent RN double checks that have become standard to safe practice today. Through advances in science, tools are now in place to test and make changes, measure impact, and sustain improvements over time. Through advancements in nursing science and oncology research, the ability to treat and cure many cancers and to manage the symptoms and side effects of treatment has improved. Those improvements extend survival; enhance quality of life; and keep patients, staff, and practice environments safer than ever before. In addition, the human side of care has advanced with respect to the quality of interactions with patients and families. Some call this the art of nursing. I call it the essence of our practice. Increasingly, nurses are able to name specific interventions, measure impact, and document outcomes of this so-called art. It is to this human side of our practice that I dedicate this column. .
Thyromimetics as emerging therapeutic agents for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: rationale for the development of resmetirom (MGL-3196).

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the aggressive form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and is more likely to progress to advanced liver disease; whereas nonalcoholic fatty liver (NA...
4DVAR for Global Atmospheric Numerical Weather Prediction

Abstract : The long-term goal of this RTP project is to provide the warfighter with superior battlespace environmental awareness in terms of high fidelity four-dimensional (4D) depiction of the global atmospheric state. This situational awareness is a key aspect of information superiority in the DoD's strategic plan to ensure battlespace dominance in the 21st century. This goal is to be accomplished by providing NOGAPS(1) with the best possible set of initial conditions through the use of a next generation global atmospheric 4D variational (4DVAR) data assimilation system, NAVDAS-AR(2).
Constrictive Pericarditis Caused by IgG4-Related Disease Requiring Pericardiectomy After Partial Response to Corticosteroids.

Abstract Immunoglobulin G4–related disease is a systemic fibroinflammatory disease; pericardial involvement has occasionally been reported in publications. A 79-year-old man with biopsy-proven immu...
Modeling Creep of Ni-Base Superalloys for Applications in Advanced Ultra-supercritical Power Generation

Steam turbine and boiler materials for Advanced Ultra-Supercritical (A-USC) coal-fired power plants are required to withstand steam conditions up to 760 °C and 35 MPa for a typical service life of over 100,000 h. Long-term creep evaluation of these materials is challenging and relies on extrapolation of data from accelerated tests under steady-state conditions and increased temperatures and/or stresses. This study is focused on improving the accuracy of creep property predictions by using a microstructurally informed constitutive creep model. The model was recently developed within the framework of continuum damage mechanics (CDM) for γ′ precipitation strengthened alloys Haynes 282, Inconel 740H, and Nimonic 105 at stresses between 100 and 400 MPa and temperatures between 700 and 850 °C. The model incorporated physical mechanisms including (1) growth of micro-voids and cracks to macroscopic cavities, (2) accumulation of dislocations toward excessive inelastic deformations, and (3) microstructural changes (e.g., γ′ coarsening). The model was validated by comparing creep strain evolution in time and rupture times to data from uniaxial creep tests. As damage mechanisms are captured by specific damage variables, the model aims at making predictions beyond the secondary creep regime, well into the tertiary regime by tracking the evolution of the damage variables, eliminating the typical need of linear extrapolation.
Functional role of the long noncoding RNA X-inactive specific transcript in leiomyoma pathogenesis.

Objective To determine the expression and functional roles of a long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) in leiomyoma. Design Experimental study. Setting Academic research laboratory. Patient(s) Women undergoing hysterectomy for leiomyoma. Intervention(s) Overexpression and underexpression of XIST; blockade of specific protein 1 (SP1). Main Outcome Measure(s) Expression of XIST in leiomyoma and its effects on microRNA 29c (miR-29c), miR-200c, and their targets. Result(s) Leiomyoma expressed statistically significantly more XIST as compared with matched myometrium, independent of race/ethnicity and menstrual cycle phase. By use of a three-dimensional spheroid culture system, XIST levels were induced in leiomyoma smooth muscle cells (LSMC) after treatment with 17β-estradiol, progesterone, and their combination. The expression of XIST was down-regulated by treatment with the SP1-inhibitor mithramycin A and SP1 small interfering RNA. Knockdown of XIST resulted in inhibition of cell proliferation, up-regulation of miR-29c and miR-200c, and a concomitant inhibition of the target genes of these miRNAs, namely collagen type I (COL1A1), collagen type III (COL3A1), and fibronectin (FN1). By contrast, overexpression of XIST in myometrium smooth muscle cells repressed miR-29c and miR-200c, and induced COL1A1, COL3A1, and FN1 levels. By use of RNA immunoprecipitation analysis we confirmed XIST has sponge activity over miR-29c and miR-200c, which is more pronounced in leiomyoma as compared with myometrium. Conclusion(s) Our data demonstrate that increased expression of XIST in leiomyoma results in reduced expression of miR-29c and miR-200c with a consequent up-regulation of the genes targeted by these microRNAs including COL1A1, COL3A1, and FN1, which play key roles in extracellular matrix accumulation associated with fibroids.
Quantifying the impact of ecosystem services for landscape management under wildfire hazard

In recent years, the frequency, intensity, and severity of wildfires have been on the rise due to various environmental factors. Several studies show that the strategic application of fuel treatments is effective at altering fire behavior and its spread patterns. Effective planning for mitigating future expected losses under wildfire risk is a complex challenge that requires the integration of fire spread, simulation, and optimization models as well as the inclusion of multiple objectives into a unified framework. Previous works simplify the analysis by valuing the landscape regions using a unique objective (e.g., minimize the average expected area burned) or a predefined objective function. However, such an assumption is a simplification of the real system as multiple parts of the landscape have different values based on factors such as the presence of human settlements and infrastructure, availability of environmental services, and forest health. In this work, we expand these previous attempts by providing an integrated framework to naturally include and weight multiple objectives into the optimization model and analyze the trade-off between present objectives and future protection against wildfire risk. We study three key regions based on their recent fire history, landscape diversity, and demographic variety to quantify the impact of multiple objectives in landscape management. We obtain treatment plans using various combinations of these layers reflecting how different priorities of the decision-makers could affect treatment policies.
Robotic Football: Developing Engineering Leaders Through Competition

Design is a fundamental component in various engineering curricula. Programs across the nation teach this component via design projects in different courses, culminating in a capstone design course in the final year. While these projects may achieve the goal of teaching the use of mathematics and sciences to meet design objectives and constraints, they are limited in terms of the team size, scope of the project, and diversity of team members.
Models of Bail Reform

Bail reform is an urgent topic in the United States and internationally, but what consists in reform, and how to accomplish reform goals remains contested. Jails are a modern epicenter of mass incarceration, with a stunning growth in American jail populations over the past four decades, despite declines in arrests and crime. Prior waves of bail reform gave us a system that still largely relied upon setting secured bonds, with up-front payments required, to determine who remains in jail while pending a criminal trial. Today, pre-trial policies and practices are contested and in flux. Recent bail reform legislation has inconsistently called for both local discretion and state-imposed rules, and restrictions on conditioning release on cash bail but also restrictions on release without cash bail. This Article seeks to shed light on key distinctions in bail reform approaches, by focusing on four models: (1) the procedural due process approach; (2) the risk assessment approach; (3) the categorical approach; (4) the community services approach; (5) an equal protection model; and (6) the use of alternatives to arrest. Each reflects a different normative agenda, targets different legal actors, and raises different constitutional and legal questions. Two of these models, the equal protection and arrest alternatives models have not been widely adopted and are not often included as part of bail reform conversations. This Article recommends a composite model that adopts elements of each model, using a separation-of-powers approach to target pretrial actors whose discretion can otherwise undermine each other’s compliance. This Article concludes by discussing a comprehensive vision for bail reform outside the criminal legal system.
Trends in the Management of Pediatric Trigger Thumb in the United States.

BACKGROUND Recent literature suggests that initial observation of pediatric trigger thumb without early surgical interventions can lead to spontaneous resolution. We sought to analyze current trends in the management of pediatric trigger thumb and compare real-world data with what the literature supports. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study of data collected using the PearlDiver database between 2015 and 2018. Patients who were aged younger than 10 years with a diagnosis of trigger thumb were identified using International Classification of Diseases codes. Current Procedural Terminology codes were used to identify patients who had an operation for trigger thumb. Patient demographics, comorbidities, utilization of hand therapy, and treatment cost were also collected. RESULT Of the 997 patients included in the study, 69% were diagnosed with trigger thumb between the age of 2 and 5 years. In all, 492 patients (49%) had surgery for trigger thumb: 65% of patients had surgery within 1 year of diagnosis, and 76% patients had surgery before the age of 5 years. This treatment pattern was similar across multiple regions of the United States, and there were no significant predictors for surgery. The average cost of treating patients without surgery was $593/patient, whereas that for patients with surgery was $1363/patient. CONCLUSIONS Nationwide data show that pediatric trigger thumb may be managed surgically at higher frequencies and in patients at younger ages than supported by the existing literature. Possible overtreatment is not only detrimental to patients but also burdens the health care system with unnecessary cost.
Multi-Task Learning for Simultaneous Speed-of-Sound Mapping and Image Reconstruction Using Non-Contact Thermoacoustics

Multi-modal imaging via thermoacoustic (TA) approaches provides contrast mechanisms differing from conventional ultrasound (US) imaging - opening up new applications like non-invasive, non-contact below-ground sensing. Due to the high correlation between soil moisture content and speed-of-sound (SoS), knowledge about the SoS in soil can be utilized to improve below-ground image reconstruction and soil moisture mapping at depth. In this work, we present multi-task deep learning networks to accurately predict arbitrarily varying SoS distributions in soil while concurrently reconstructing high-fidelity TA images of root structures. We deploy multi-task U-Net based fully convolutional neural networks trained using US data generated through TA simulations on a wheat root dataset. A multi-input, multi-output architecture performed best - achieving the highest root image contrast-to-noise ratio and lowest SoS mean absolute error.
Implications of Smart Grid Innovation for Organizational Models in Electricity Distribution

Digital technologies from outside the electricity industry are prompting changes in both regulatory institutions and electric utility business models, leading to the disaggregation or unbundling of historically vertically integrated electricity firms in some jurisdictions and not others, and simultaneously opening the door for competition with the traditional electric utility business. This chapter uses the technological and organizational history of the industry, combined with the transactions cost theory of the firm and of vertical integration, to explore the implications of smart grid technologies for future distribution company business models. Smart grid technologies reduce transactions costs, changing economical firm boundaries and reducing the traditional drivers of vertical integration. Possible business models for the distribution company include an integrated utility, a network manager, or a coordinating platform provider.
Pink disease (Infantile acrodynia): A physiological approach. (An evaluation of adrenal function and the importance of water and electrolyte metabolism)

Summary A. The history of pink disease has been briefly reviewed and the known facts concerning and surrounding its incidence are recorded. On the basis of experience, and close study of over 100 cases, a description of the symptomatology is given from the viewpoint of the manifestation of this disease in (1) infants and (2) older children. B. Modern etiological concepts are reviewed with special reference to (1) the role of mercury, (2) the nervous child and psychological factors, (3) the autonomic nervous system, (4) the adrenal gland. The role of the adrenal gland (cortex and medulla) has been investigated and evaluated from all aspects. Attention to the importance of “stress” has been originally described and discussed. C. A physiological approach to thisdisease is presented and advocated. From such an approach the following points have so far been determined or suggested: 1. In pink disease there is a depletionof chloride and sodium ions in the vascular space; neither the chloride nor the sodium ions rise concomitantly with the existing hemoconcentration. 2. There is some contraction of theblood volume and some loss of water from the blood stream. We are apparently dealing with extracellular hypotonic dehydration. 3. There is a significant and surprising amount of water loss as “insensible water loss.” There is probably appreciable loss of electrolyte through the sweat glands. 4. There is evidence that the kidneysare excreting significantly high amounts of chloride—more than can be ascribed to intake. 5. The existence of alkalosis hasbeen pointed out, and the possibility of cell potassium deficit as a sequel or chloride depletion is presented. The use of sodium chloride therapeutically may be of value in some cases. The question is unsettled. 6. Evidence is suggestive of an alteration of blood pigment metabolism in this disease. This is suggested by the presence of free oxyhemoglobin in the plasma, and a slightly raised coproporphyrin excretion. The state of the capillaries has been defined by direct microscopy, and reference to the vascular system has been made in terms of the available evidence. 7. The above electrolyte changes throw some light on the understanding of this disease, and there is reason to believe that further attention to electrolyte disturbance and deficits of chloride, sodium, and potassium will lead to further and more clearly defined therapeutic aids.
A Recipe for Cellulose

Cellulose, polymers of glucose organized into long fibrils, forms the bulk of the world's biomass. But the identity of the enzyme that makes this critical substance has been uncertain. In this week's issue, [ Arioli et al .][1] report the first confirmation that the gene CelA is indeed a cellulose synthase, and Carpita and Vergara, in their research commentary, explain why this result has been so long in coming and what we now know about how cellulose is made. [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/short/279/5351/717
Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-mediated Ca2+ release evoked by metabotropic agonists and backpropagating action potentials in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons.

We examined the properties of [Ca2+]i changes that were evoked by backpropagating action potentials in pyramidal neurons in hippocampal slices from the rat. In the presence of the metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR) agonists t- ACPD, DHPG, or CHPG, spikes caused Ca2+ waves that initiated in the proximal apical dendrites and spread over this region and in the soma. Consistent with previously described synaptic responses ([Nakamura et al., 1999a][1]), pharmacological experiments established that the waves were attributable to Ca2+ release from internal stores mediated by the synergistic effect of receptor-mobilized inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) and spike-evoked Ca2+. The amplitude of the changes reached several micromoles per liter when detected with the low-affinity indicators fura-6F, fura-2-FF, or furaptra. Repetitive brief spike trains at 30–60 sec intervals generated increases of constant amplitude. However, trains at intervals of 10–20 sec evoked smaller increases, suggesting that the stores take 20–30 sec to refill. Release evoked by mGluR agonists was blocked by MCPG, AIDA, 4-CPG, MPEP, and LY367385, a profile consistent with the primacy of group I receptors. At threshold agonist concentrations the release was evoked only in the dendrites; threshold antagonist concentrations were effective only in the soma. Carbachol and 5-HT evoked release with the same spatial distribution as t- ACPD, suggesting that the distribution of neurotransmitter receptors was not responsible for the restricted range of regenerative release. Intracellular BAPTA and EGTA were approximately equally effective in blocking release. Extracellular Cd2+ blocked release, but no single selective Ca2+ channel blocker prevented release. These results suggest that IP3 receptors are not associated closely with specific Ca2+ channels and are not close to each other. [1]: #ref-49
The hypothalamus and reproduction.

Abstract This article has been designed to review recent developments in the field of hypothalamic hormones involved in the control of reproductive functions. A brief resume of early physiologic and anatomic studies was presented initially to give a better understanding of the concept of hypothalamic regulation of the release of gonadotropic hormones from the pituitary gland. Recently, an advance was achieved with the isolation from porcine hypothalami of a decapeptide which has both FSH-releasing hormone (FSH-RH) activity and LH-releasing hormone (LH-RH) activity. Its amino acid sequence was determined to be (pyro) gluhis-trp-ser-tyr-gly-leu-arg-pro-gly-NH 2 . The decapeptide corresponding to this structure was synthesized and shown to stimulate the release of LH and of FSH in laboratory and domestic animals and human beings. Natural and synthetic FSH-RH/LH-RH also stimulated the synthesis of both gonadotropins in tissue cultures of rat pituitaries in vitro. It was postulated that this decapeptide represents the hypothalamic hormone which regulates the release of both LH and FSH from the anterior pituitary gland. Complex effects of sex steroids on the release of LH and FSH were reviewed briefly. It was suggested that the over-all control of secretion of FSH and LH is most likely mediated by the interaction of hypothalamic FSH- and LH-releasing hormone with sex steroids. Clinical studies performed with natural and synthetic LH-RH/FSH-RH were reviewed. These studies, particularly induction of ovulation, suggest that LH-RH should find practical application in the treatment of sterility. Subsequent synthesis of LH-RH/FSH-RH by several laboratories and drug houses should provide enough material for large-scale clinical evaluation of this hormone. Some comments were made concerning probable clinical use of LH-RH. Finally, some speculations were offered about the possibility of developing new birth control methods based on LH-RH/FSH-RH, its analogues, or its derivatives.
A review of research on online and blended learning in the management disciplines: 1994–2009

This paper reviews studies of online and blended learning in management-oriented disciplines and management-related topics. The review shows that over the last decade, this emerging field has seen dramatic conceptual, methodological, and analytical advances. However, these advances have progressed within the particular disciplines at uneven rates. Studies examining courses in Organizational Behavior and Strategic Management have seen the most progress, with courses in Human Resources, Operations Management, and International Management receiving lesser attention. To date, studies of courses in Entrepreneurship are next to non-existent. Our review suggests that although several multi-course studies have been published, there is ample opportunity for research within the respective management disciplines. We also suggest topics and methodological issues requiring further study, including stronger delineations between online and blended management education; further examination of participant characteristics,...
Relationships among cognitive function, fine motor speed and age in the rhesus monkey

Declines in fine motor skills and cognitive function are well known features of human aging. Yet, the relationship between age-related impairments in motor and cognitive function remains unclear. Rhesus monkeys, like humans, show marked decline in cognitive and fine motor function with age and are excellent models to investigate potential interactions between age-related declines in cognitive and motor functioning. We investigated the relationships among cognition, motor function and age in 30 male and female rhesus monkeys, 5–28 years of age, tested on a battery of cognitive tasks [acquisition of the delayed non-matching-to-sample (DNMS), DNMS-120s, DNMS-600s, acquisition of delayed recognition span test (DRST), spatial-DRST and object-DRST] and a fine motor task (Lifesaver test). Global cognitive ability, as assessed by the cognitive performance index (CPI), was impaired with age in both sexes, while age-related motor slowing was found only in males. After age was controlled for, half the variance in CPI was predicted by motor speed, with better cognitive ability associated with slower motor skills. Analyses at the level of each cognitive task revealed that motor speed and age predicted the rate of acquisition of the DNMS. This relationship was robust in males and absent in females. Motor speed was not a significant predictor of any other cognitive variable. We conclude that the relationship between cognition and motor function (1) may be limited to non-spatial tasks; (2) exists independently of age; (3) may reflect different contributions of the fronto-striatal system; (4) may be particularly evident in males.
Ascorbate transport in cultured cat retinal pigment epithelial cells.

Transport of ascorbate by primary cultures of cat retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE) was studied. Confluent primary cultures were incubated with 10–500 μ m l -[carboxyl- 14 C] ascorbic acid in balanced salt solution (BSS) at 37°C for 1 to 40 min. The uptake of radioactive ascorbate followed saturation kinetics with a K m of 42 μ m and V max of 117 pmol min -1 μg -1 DNA. Cells incubated with 10 μ m radioactive ascorbate for 40 min showed a ration of intracellular to extracellular radioactive ascorbate of greater than 40. The transport of ascorbate was sodium- and energy-dependent. Replacement of 150 m m NaCl in BSS with 150 m m LiCl reduced ascorbate uptake significantly. Ouabain, 2,4-dintrophenol, α- d -glucose, 3- O -methyl- d -glucose, and the ascorbate analogues, d -isoascorbate and dehydroascorbate, each inhibited ascorbate uptake into RPE cells. The efflux of radioactivity into the incubation media was slow when cells were preloaded with either 50- or 500 μ m radioactive ascorbate, but increased when cells preloaded with 50 μ m ascorbate were incubated in the presence of excess non-radioactive ascorbate. These studies demonstrated that a sodium-dependent carrier system is involved in transport of ascorbate in primary cultures of cat RPE.
Effect of Administration of Malathion for 14 Days on Macrophage Function and Mast Cell Degranulation

Previous studies have shown that acute, oral administration of malathion modulated the humoral immune response to T-cell-dependent antigen, mitogenic responses, macrophage function, and mast cell degranulation. While administration of malathion for 14 days did not affect the generation of an immune response to antigen, it was possible that macrophage and mast cell functions were affected. In this report, the effect of malathion administration for 14 days upon these parameters were assessed. This treatment regimen increased the respiratory burst capacity to a maximal level at a dose of 1 mg/kg/day or greater. The effect of oral administration of malathion for 14 days on the degranulation of mast cells in various organs (heart, skin, and small intestine) and peritoneal lavage fluid was also assessed. At doses of 1 mg/kg/day and above, the number of mast cells that was undegranulated decreased and the number that was severely degranulated increased. There was no change in mast cell integrity in biopsies from heart and skin, and in peritoneal fluid after 14-day administration of 0.1 mg/kg/day. However, the number of mast cells associated with the small intestine that had undergone degranulation was increased at this dose of malathion. These data indicate that repeated administration of malathion increased macrophage function at doses as low as 1 mg/kg/day and led to mast cell degranulation at doses as low as 0.1 mg/kg/day.
Cell Death Assessment in Thermal Therapies of Human Tonsils

According to a survey by Harris Interactive on behalf of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS), approximately 600,000 tonsillectomies are performed every year. Post-operative pain and risks were found to be the major concerns of 90% of parents of children undergoing this procedure. Various technologies to completely or partially remove the infected tonsils have been developed over the years; the most common of which is the Dissection and snare method, in which the tissue is removed using forceps and scissors. Among other methods is the ablation of tissue by heating it using a CO2 Laser. There is, however, room for improvement on the effectiveness of the treatment in terms of post-operative care and cost. In order to address these issues, a laser-based heating device is proposed by Gradiant Research, LLC, (Concord, MA) which will heat the tonsil tissue using two opposing light-emitting, temperature-controlled surfaces that are pressed against the tonsils to create near-uniform temperature distribution on the bulk tissue. This work presents ex-vivo, thermal treatment experiments on freshly excised tonsil tissues to assess the corresponding cellular damage and support the development of the proposed method. An Arrhenius model uses the obtained results to determine the necessary exposure times.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Analysis of heterogeneous fluorescence decays. Distribution of pyrene derivatives in an octadecylsilane layer in capillary electrochromatography.

The distribution of solute molecules in the stationary phase in capillary electrochromatography (CEC) has been investigated with time-resolved fluorescence in the frequency domain. The analysis of fluorescence decay poses a challenging problem for the complex decay kinetics of heterogeneous systems such as the C18 stationary phase. The nonlinear least-squares (NLLS) method selects the decay model by minimizing the χ2 value. The χ2 criterion, in conjunction with the requirement that the residues should be randomly distributed around zero, frequently leads to a feasible set of multiple decay models that can all fit the data satisfactorily. The maximum entropy method (MEM) further chooses a unique model from the group of feasible ones by maximizing the Shannon−Jaynes entropy. The unique model, however, is not necessarily the most probable one. In this paper, the best model for the fluorescence decays of solute molecules is selected with NLLS using the χ2 statistics, the stability of the fit, and the consiste...
Migratory atelectasis in an asthmatic child following steroid withdrawal.

Abstract Following discontinuation of steroid therapy, a twelve-year-old child developed recurrent episodes of atelectasis involving multiple lung segments. Bronchospasm was not detectable, and mucus plugs could not be demonstrated. After 6 weeks, severe asthma occurred, necessitating the administration of steroid therapy. Since the resumption of maintenance steroids, atelectasis has not recurred. Several possible mechanisms for this series of events are discussed.
Temporal integration in an anuran auditory nerve.

Abstract We determined temporal integration in individual auditory nerve fibers of the arboreal frog, Eleutherodactylus coqui by measuring the change in rate threshold to tonal stimulation for tone burst durations from 20 to 450 ms. Temporal integration was quantified in two ways: (1) we calculated the temporal integration time constant of the fiber (τ) and (2) we calculated the shift in threshold per decade increment of the tone stimulus (dB/decade). In some cases, the procedure was repeated using a continuous, broadband noise masker (20–50 dB/Hz). Our results indicate that low frequency fibers (CF 1.3 kHz) have an intermediate mean integration time (235 ms). Continuous noise increased the integration times of some, but not all fibers and caused some fibers which did not display temporal integration to do so. We investigated the possibility that these changes may be caused by a decrease in the slope of the rate-intensity function (measured between + 5 and + 15 dB re threshold) with the addition of the continuous noise masker. The slope of the rate-intensity function decreased (from 73 spikes/s/dB to 49 spikes/s/dB) with the addition of the continuous noise for those fibers (N = 28) that showed an increase in temporal integration with the addition of noise. However, the slopes of the rate-intensity functions also decreased by 30% for those fibers (N = 8) that did not show increasing temporal integration.