cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bowel obstruction after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.

Background: Bowel obstruction has been frequently reported after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGBP). The aim of this study was to review our experience with bowel obstruction following LRYGBP, specifically examining its etiology and management and to strategize maneuvers to minimize this complication. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 9 patients who developed postoperative bowel obstruction after LRYGBP. Each chart was reviewed for demographics, timing of bowel obstruction from the primary operation, etiology of obstruction, and management. Results: 9 of our initial 225 patients (4%) who underwent LRYGBP developed postoperative bowel obstruction. The mean age was 46 ± 12 years, with mean BMI 47 ± 9 kg/m2. 6 patients developed early bowel obstruction, and 3 patients developed late bowel obstruction. The mean time interval for development of early bowel obstruction was 16 ±16 days. The causes for early bowel obstruction included narrowing of the jejunojenunostomy anastomosis (n=3), angulation of the Roux limb (n=2), and obstruction of the Roux limb at the level of the transverse mesocolon (n=1). The mean time interval for development of late bowel obstruction was 7.4 ± 0.5 months. The causes for late bowel obstruction included internal herniation (n=2) and adhesions (n=1). 6 of 9 bowel obstructions (66%) were considered technically related to the learning curve of the laparoscopic approach. Eight of the 9 patients required operative intervention, and 6 of the 8 reoperations were managed laparoscopically. Management included laparoscopic bypass of the jejunojejunostomy obstruction site (n=5), open reduction of internal hernia (n=2), and laparoscopic lysis of adhesion (n=1). Conclusions: Bowel obstruction is a frequent complication after LRYGBP, particularly during the learn ing curve of the laparoscopic approach. Specific measures should be instituted to minimize bowel obstruction after LRYGBP as most of these complications are considered technically preventable.
Analytic inversion in synthetic aperture radar

Abstract A method of processing synthetic aperture radar signals that avoids some of the approximations currently in use that appear to be responsible for severe phase distortions is described. As a practical matter, this method requires N3 numerical operations, as opposed to the N2 ln N currently the case, but N3 is now easily managed, for N in the range of interest.
Transdermal and topical pharmacotherapy for male sexual dysfunction

Transdermal and topical pharmacotherapies have been used for the treatment of male sexual dysfunctions for some time and are well-accepted treatment modalities for these conditions. A Medline searc...
A new southern limit along the Pacific Rim of North America for Mochlonyx cinctipes (Diptera: Chaoboridae), Eucorethra underwoodi (Diptera: Chaoboridae) and Aedes fitchii (Diptera: Culicidae)

Abstract A survey of the upper Eel River watershed in the high North Coast Ranges of California resulted in the identification of four species of Chaoboridae and 12 species of Culicidae. The boreal species Mochlonyx cinctipes (Coquillett), Eucorethra underwoodi Underwood and Aedes fitchii (Felt and Young) were collected south of previously known distributions within the Pacific Coast Ranges of North America. Biogeographical, physical, seasonal and water quality characteristics of the larval habitats are described. We also describe and discuss species associations and the taxonomic, distributional and ecological details of the new records both within the study area and in comparison to other localities in North America.
The mission of the j-blog Recapturing journalistic authority online

Drawing from normative journalism theory, this textual analysis argues that mainstream journalism weblogs are now occupying a role serving to reify traditional norms even as the j-bloggers shift those standard values. When journalists blog, they engage in postmodern reporting and writing even as they are attempting to reclaim journalism authority online. The j-blog has already begun to evolve traditional notions of the mainstream press. Readers and other non-journalists help craft the story. News format changes. Ultimately, this evolution will affect what we know as the ‘truth’ about our society and ourselves, what we mean by ‘community’, and how we understand reality.
Retinotopic patterns of connections of area 17 with visual areas V‐II and MT in macaque monkeys

Patterns of connections of Area 17 with extrastriate visual areas V-II and MT were studied in macaque monkeys by using 3H-proline and HRP as anatomical tracers. The results support previous conclusions that V-II is a split representation of the visual hemifield with most of the outer border formed by the zero horizontal meridian, and that MT is a topological representation of the visual hemifield. V-II was estimated to be about 10-12 mm wide, 110 mm long along its shared border with V-I, and 920 mm2 in surface area, thereby almost equaling Area 17 in size. MT was judged to be 7 mm wide and 12 mm long, with a surface area of 68 mm2, or roughly 7% of the area of Area 17. In some cases, there was evidence for projections from Area 17 to a third area (or areas) of cortex of about 2 mm wide and of uncertain length on the outer boundary of V-II. Terminations in V-II and MT were concentrated in layer IV and extended into inner layer III. Cells projecting back to Area 17 were largely in layers III and V in V-II and in layers III and VI in MT.
Boundary Versions of the Worpitzky Theorem for Two-Dimensional Continued Fractions

For a two-dimensional continued fraction another generalization of the Worpitzky theorem is proved and the limit sets are proposed for Worpitzky-like theorems in the case where the element sets of the twodimensional continued fraction are replaced by their boundaries.
The evolution of growth modes and activity of growth sources on canavalin investigated by in situ atomic force microscopy

In situ atomic force microscopy has been used to investigate the evolution of growth modes and the activity of dislocation sources as a function of supersaturation during canavalin crystal growth. The results presented here show that, depending on the supersaturation, growth occurs on monomolecular steps generated either by simple or complex screw dislocation sources, 2D nucleating islands, or macroclusters that sediment onto the surface before spreading laterally as step bunches. We have observed the process of an individual dislocation source generating new steps which can be used to directly measure the critical length necessary for steps to advance. The activity of various dislocation sources are investigated as a function of supersaturation. A comparison of fundamental materials parameters for canavalin and a variety of other systems show systematic scaling. The kinetic coefficient decreases as the molecular complexity increases and the supersaturation at which 2D nucleation is observed increases with step free energy.
The Rotordynamic Coefficients of Mechanical Seals Having Two Flexibly Mounted Rotors

The Reynolds equation is derived for a mechanical seal in which both elements are flexibly mounted to rotating shafts. Stiffness and damping coefficients for the fluid film are calculated for the three degrees of freedom of each element based upon a small perturbation analysis. The analogous coefficients for simpler configurations {e.g., flexibly mounted rotor, flexibly mounted stator) contained in the literature are shown to be obtainable as degenerate cases of the more general results presented in this work.
Experimental and CFD analyses of bubble parameters in a variable-thickness fluidized bed

Bubble characteristics in a variable-thickness fluidized bed containing nine tubes were experimentally investigated by analyzing absolute and differential pressure fluctuations. The latter were obtained from vertically aligned probes traversing the bed interior for three bed thicknesses: thin, square, and full. The important bubble parameters, namely, frequencies, effective diameters, and velocities, were determined by analyzing autocorrelations and cross-correlations obtained from these differential pressure signals for the thin and square beds. Wall effects were assessed by comparing the pressure fluctuations as the bed thickness was increased from thin to square. It was found that bubbles move faster within and above the tube bank than below it. This behavior was also found to be more pronounced in the wall regions of the full bed, which might explain why some commercial fluidized-bed combustors experience unusual metal wastage near their tube supports. Although bubble sizes consistently agreed between thin and square beds, bubble velocity reduction was observed for the thin bed. The experimental thin-bed differential pressure measurements were analyzed using a two-phase computational fluid dynamics (CFD) hydrodynamic model. Excellent agreement was obtained between the experimental results and predictions from our hydrodynamic model for autocorrelations, cross-correlations, power spectral densities, and bubble parameters.
Primary cultures of rabbit renal proximal tubule cells: I. Growth and biochemical characteristics

Before the usefulness of a new in vitro model can be ascertained, the model must be properly defined and characterized. This study presents the growth rate and biochemical characteristics of rabbit renal proximal tubule cells in primary culture over a 2-wk culture period. When grown in a hormonally defined, antibiotic-free medium these cells form confluent monolayer cultures within 7 d after plating. Multicellular done formation, an indicator of transepithelial solute transport, was expressed after confluent cultures were formed. The activity of the cytosolic enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase, and the lysosomal enzyme,N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, increased 14- and 2-fold during the first 8 d of culture. respectively. In contrast, the activity of a brush border enzyme, alkaline phosphatase, decreased 85% within the first 8 d of culture. Release of these enzyme markers into the culture medium, which are routinely used to measure cytoxicity, stabilized after 8 d in culture. The ratio of cellular protein to DNA changed according to the state of cellular growth. Values rose from 0.035 mg protein/μg DNA in preconfluent cultures to 0.059 mg protein/μg DNA in confluent cultures. These results document the characteristics of a primary proximal tubule cell culture system for future studies in in vitro toxicology.
Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Child Feeding Questionnaire: A Measure of Parental Attitudes, Beliefs and Practices About Child Feeding and Obesity Proneness

The Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ) is a self-report measure to assess parental beliefs, attitudes, and practices regarding child feeding, with a focus on obesity proneness in children. Confirmatory factor analysis tested a 7-factor model, which included four factors measuring parental beliefs related to child's obesity proneness, and three factors measuring parental control practices and attitudes regarding child feeding. Using a sample of 394 mothers and fathers, three models were tested, and the third model confirmed an acceptable fit, including correlated factors. Internal consistencies for the seven factors were above 0.70. With minor changes, this same 7-factor model was also confirmed in a second sample of 148 mothers and fathers, and a third sample of 126 Hispanic mothers and fathers. As predicted, four of the seven factors were related to an independent measure of children's weight status, providing initial support for the validity of the instrument. The CFQ can be used to assess aspects of child-feeding perceptions, attitudes, and practices and their relationships to children's developing food acceptance patterns, the controls of food intake, and obesity. The CFQ is designed for use with parents of children ranging in age from about 2 to 11 years of age.
Improving the efficiency of CTDIw annual measurements with established 16 cm: 32 cm phantom ratios

Purpose: To validate the use of the 16 cm CTDI phantom to estimate the 32 cm phantom CTDI w with tabulated data from previous years. Methods : A retrospective analysis of CTDI measurements was performed from the annual physics testing reports of four Siemens Symbia (Emotion) T6, one Siemens Symbia (Emotion) T16, one Siemens Sensation Open, one Siemens Sensation 16, one Siemens Sensation 32, two GE LightSpeed 16 and five GE VCT CT scanners. For each annual report, the ratio of the 16 cm: 32 cm CTDI phantom measurements was calculated from mAs-normalized CTDI 100 . The ratios from a) the acceptance test, b) one year after the acceptance test or c) an average ratio of all of the previous years (range 4-8 years), were then used to estimate 32 cm CTDI phantom measurements based on active 16 cm CTDI measurements. The average percent difference between measured and calculated CTDI w was determined per scanner for all years. Results: The most accurate results were obtained when using the average ratios of all the previous years, -2% to 3% difference across all scanner models. For the ratios of the year after the acceptance test, the difference ranged from -3% to 7%, while the data estimated from the acceptance testing results yielded the largest percent difference -4% to 8%. The 64-detector row system estimates displayed the greatest variation, followed by the 16-detector row scanners, while the 6-detector row system estimates were the most accurate. Conclusion : Compared to the Siemens and GE specified CTDI limits of ± 15-30% , the variation in the estimated 32 cm phantom CTDI w values was 2-15 times lower, dependent on the scanner model and method of estimation. The variation was considerably less (2-3%) with ratios of all the previous years, perhaps indicative of year to year variations that can result in greater error. ------------------------------ Cite this article as: Dodge C, Gress D. Improving the efficiency of CTDIw annual measurements with established 16 cm: 32 cm phantom ratios. Int J Cancer Ther Oncol 2014; 2(2):020220. DOI: 10.14319/ijcto.0202.20
Computation, reduction, and teleology of consciousness

This paper aims to explore mechanistic and teleological explanations of consciousness. In terms of mechanistic explanations, it critiques various existing views, especially those embodied by existing computational cognitive models. In this regard, the paper argues in favor of the explanation based on the distinction between localist (symbolic) representation and distributed representation (as formulated in the connectionist literature), which reduces the phenomenological difference to a mechanistic difference. Furthermore, to establish a teleological explanation of consciousness, the paper discusses the issue of the functional role of consciousness on the basis of the aforementioned mechanistic explanation. A proposal based on synergistic interaction between the conscious and the unconscious is advanced that encompasses various existing views concerning the functional role of consciousness. This two-step deepening explanation has some empirical support, in the form of a cognitive model and various cognitive data that it captures.
Placebo Analgesia Enhances Descending Pain-Related Effective Connectivity: A Dynamic Causal Modeling Study of Endogenous Pain Modulation

Abstract The use of placebo to reduce pain is well documented; however, knowledge of the neural mechanisms underlying placebo analgesia remains incomplete. This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 30 healthy individuals and dynamic causal modeling to investigate changes in effective connectivity associated with the placebo analgesic response. Before scanning, participants were conditioned to expect less thermal pain at 2 of 4 sites on their feet. Visual analog scale pain ratings revealed a significant but small difference between the baseline and placebo sites (mean difference = 6.63, t(29) = 3.91, P ≤ .001, d = .97), confirming an analgesic effect. However, no significant differences in the magnitude of brain activation between conditions were observed via traditional random effects general linear modeling. Dynamic causal modeling was then used to investigate changes in effective connectivity during placebo analgesia. The results indicate that during placebo analgesia but not baseline condition, couplings between brain regions, including those involved in cognitive processes (eg, attention, expectation, evaluation), were significantly enhanced. Specifically, a significantly consistent decrease in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex → periaqueductal gray coupling was found. These findings highlight the differences between pain processing and modulation at the network level. Moreover, our results suggest that small placebo effects may be better characterized via changes in the temporal dynamics among pain modulatory regions than only via changes in the magnitude of blood oxygenation level dependent activation. Further application of nuanced analytical approaches that are sensitive to temporal dynamics of pain-related processes such as dynamic causal modeling are necessary to better understand the neural mechanisms underlying pain processing in patient populations. Perspective Changes in effective connectivity among pain-related brain regions may be more sensitive detectors of the neural representation of small placebo effects than are changes in the magnitude of brain activation. Knowledge of these mechanisms highlights the importance of integrated neural networks in the understanding of pain modulation.
Interdisciplinary Dimensions in Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship programs and courses are offered by many business schools to support students who aspire to start, own, and operate businesses. Although these offerings are directed primarily toward business majors, based on data the authors collected from over 700 students, many nonbusiness majors also possess entrepreneurial characteristics and perceive the need for entrepreneurship curricula. The findings suggest that although business majors regard their traditional education as adequate preparation to start a new business, the greatest need for entrepreneurship courses and curricula exists within academic disciplines outside of the business school.
An electron microscope study of the parathyroid gland of the frog (Rana clamitans).

The parathyroid glands of the frog (Rana clamitans) were processed for electron microscopy at the onset of winter (December). “Dark” and “light” cells were observed in the parenchyma. The blood vessels of the subcapsular plexus and deep within the organ were surrounded by light cells. The main mass of the parenchyma consisted of “dark” cells which contained numerous ribosomes, secretory granules, mitochondria, and active Golgi bodies. The “light” cells contained relatively fewer of these cytoplasmic inclusions. Large pools of glycogen were prominent in the “light” cells. On the basis of a comparison of the fine structure of these cell types with “dark” and “light” cells in the mammalian parathyroid gland they have been designated as active and inactive, respectively. Pleating of the cell membranes and specialized attachment zones resembling desmosomes are described. Opening into the subendothelial space are enlarged intercellular channels. No inclusions identical to the secretory granules were observed in these channels or in the endothelial cells. Dense bodies superficially resembling secretory granules were observed in the endothelial cells. These observations do not support the view that secretory granules are discharged in toto across the endothelial cell cytoplasm into the blood stream.
Calcium–bismuth electrodes for large-scale energy storage (liquid metal batteries)

Calcium is an attractive electrode material for use in grid-scale electrochemical energy storage due to its low electronegativity, earth abundance, and low cost. The feasibility of combining a liquid Ca-Bi positive electrode with a molten salt electrolyte for use in liquid metal batteries at 500-700 degrees C was investigated. Exhibiting excellent reversibility up to current densities of 200 mA cm(-2), the calcium bismuth liquid alloy system is a promising positive electrode candidate for liquid metal batteries. The measurement of low self-discharge current suggests that the solubility of calcium metal in molten salt electrolytes can be sufficiently suppressed to yield high coulombic efficiencies >98%. The mechanisms giving rise to Ca-Bi electrode overpotentials were investigated in terms of associated charge transfer and mass transport resistances. The formation of low density Ca11Bi10 intermetallics at the electrode electrolyte interface limited the calcium deposition rate capability of the electrodes; however, the co-deposition of barium into bismuth from barium-containing molten salts suppressed Ca-Bi intermetallic formation thereby improving the discharge capacity. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Increased Dissolution Rates of Water-Insoluble Cardiac Glycosides and Steroids via Solid Dispersions in Polyethylene Glycol 6000

Dissolution rates of water-insoluble drugs such as digitoxin, 17-methyltestosterone, hydrocortisone acetate, and prednisolone acetate were markedly increased when dispersed in polyethylene glycol 6000. In addition, a supersaturation of each drug could be quickly attained when an excess amount of drug was studied. The increased dissolution rate was believed to be attributed to the molecular and/or the colloidal dispersion of the drug in the matrix of polyethylene glycol 6000.
Reduced order modeling of synchronous machines using singular perturbation

A singular perturbation analysis of the synchronous machine equations in the (d, q) reference frame reveals that several reduced order models can be derived systematically from the fundamental machine equations. Some inconsistencies in the classical approach to model reduction are eliminated, and some assumptions commonly overlooked in the literature are clarified. Ways of accounting for armature transients and amortisseur effects in the electromechanical equations of the reduced models are obtained directly from the theory.
The Examination of a Pullout STEM Program for Urban Upper Elementary Students

The purpose of this study is to determine whether a pullout STEM program (STARBASE) makes reading and math scores decrease and examine its impact on urban fourth, fifth, and sixth grade students’ attitudes and perceptions regarding STEM education and careers. We employed a mixed-methods, case study approach that involved two published and one indigenous instrument composed of Likert scales, semantic differential scales, and open-ended items, along with structured interviews. Results indicate that it is possible for reading, math, and social studies scores to be unaffected when implementing a STEM pullout program, as adjusted trends (for ethnicity and socioeconomic status) are not statistically different from those of non-STARBASE school divisions in the area. Additionally, the Black/White achievement gap, as measured by standardized test scores, was substantially closed over the last decade within STARBASE schools. Quantitative measures revealed few differences in student attitudes from pre- to posttest. Student qualitative responses were overwhelmingly positive. Students wanted more STARBASE time in the regular school year. Students, particularly Black students, also wanted an increase in career education opportunities. Implications regarding curricular changes aimed at STEM education and model adoption are addressed.
POINT-PROJECTION ELECTRON IMAGING OF TOBACCO MOSAIC VIRUS AT 40 EV ELECTRON ENERGY

Abstract In-line electron holograms of Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) lying across holes in Quantifoil were recorded at 40 eV electron energy. The molecule is opaque at this energy and holographic reconstruction shows a projection image of the TMV. Radiation damage at this energy is expected to be confined to a thin surface layer of the molecule. Problems with the holographic reconstruction due to electric field inhomogeneity around the fiber are discussed.
Impedance Investigation of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Employing Outer-Sphere Redox Shuttles

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy was used to investigate dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) employing outer-sphere redox shuttles. A three-electrode cell was used to overcome limitations associated with a high charge transfer resistance at the counter electrode, accurately compare alumina coated and bare photoanodes, and compare DSSCs with different solution potentials. The effect of an alumina coating, which has been shown to improve the performance of such DSSCs, was determined by comparisons of the chemical capacitance, charge transport and charge recombination. Contrary to previous reports and our expectations, no evidence of recombination from surface states was observed at any potential range for either coated or uncoated electrodes, further confirmed with open circuit voltage decay measurements. Instead, even a single atomic layer deposition cycle of alumina acts as a tunneling barrier layer, which produces the decrease in recombination rate of electrons from the TiO2 to the oxidized redox sh...
Differential effects of stimulative and sedative music on anxiety concentration and performance

30 music majors and 30 psychology majors were tested individually under stimulative, sedative, and no-music conditions. Each subject was exposed to one of five types of music: classical, jazz and b...
An assessment of director and micropolar theories of liquid crystals

Abstract It is shown that of the two prominent theories of liquid crystals, the Micropolar theory is more general than the Director theory. Under special assumptions, for liquid crystals having rigid rod-like molecular elements, the Micropolar theory reduces to the Director theory. The relationship between the two theories is established fully. An assessment is made of the limitations of both theories and on their domain of applicability.
Transiently Active Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Is Not Required but Must Be Silenced for Stem Cell Function during Muscle Regeneration

Adult muscle’s exceptional capacity for regeneration is mediated by muscle stem cells, termed satellite cells. As with many stem cells, Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been proposed to be critical in satellite cells during regeneration. Using new genetic reagents, we explicitly test in vivo whether Wnt/β-catenin signaling is necessary and sufficient within satellite cells and their derivatives for regeneration. We find that signaling is transiently active in transit-amplifying myoblasts, but is not required for regeneration or satellite cell self-renewal. Instead, downregulation of transiently activated β-catenin is important to limit the regenerative response, as continuous regeneration is deleterious. Wnt/β-catenin activation in adult satellite cells may simply be a vestige of their developmental lineage, in which β-catenin signaling is critical for fetal myogenesis. In the adult, surprisingly, we show that it is not activation but rather silencing of Wnt/β-catenin signaling that is important for muscle regeneration.
Heterogeneous Players and Specialized Models

Game theory has been criticized as neglecting key aspects of individual behavior and as relying too heavily on special assumptions. It can, in fact, handle individual heterogeneity if the modeler is willing to carefully specify how people are different, but to the extent that such things as heterogeneity and culture are important, the desire for a single unified model is impossible to satisfy. At the same time, game theory's approach is very useful for building specialized models.
Effect of Guanethidine and Bretylium on the Dog Heart-Lung Preparation

Inotropic and chronotropic effects of guanethidine and bretylium have been observed in heart-lung preparations made from normal and chronically reserpinized dogs. Guanethidine (0.3 to 30 mg.) in the untreated preparation had marked positive inotropic and chronotropic effects, whereas after pretreatment with reserpine it had a striking negative inotropic effect and no effect on heart rate. Guanethidine given to preparations made from animals pretreated with guanethidine had a negative inotropic effect smaller than that seen after reserpine pretreatment. Bretylium (0.3 to 30 mg.) in the untreated preparation had both positive inotropic and positive chronotropic effects. In the chronically reserpinized animal, the positive inotropic effect of bretylium persisted though it was reduced to about one-quarter of the original size. The positive chronotropic effect of bretylium in this circumstance was reversed to a negative chronotropic effect. These effects are interpreted as indirect but strong evidence that: (1) guanethidine and bretylium exert at least part of their initial positive inotropic and chronotropic effects by a release of catecholamines; and (2) in the amine-depleted heart, guanethidine has an intrinsic negative inotropic effect, whereas bretylium has an intrinsic positive inotropic effect.
Multidimensional simulations of pair-instability supernovae

We present preliminary results from multidimensional numerical studies of pair-instability supernova (PSN), studying the fluid instabilities that occur in multiple spatial dimensions. We use the new radiation-hydrodynamics code, CASTRO, and introduce a new mapping procedure that defines the initial conditions for the multidimensional runs in such a way that conservation of physical quantities is guaranteed at any level of resolution.
Keratinocyte Growth Factor: Expression by Endometrial Epithelia of the Porcine Uterus

Keratinocyte growth factor/fibroblast growth factor-7 (KGF/FGF-7) is an established paracrine mediator of hormone-regulated epithelial growth and differentiation. In all organs studied, KGF is uniquely expressed in cells of mesenchymal origin. To determine whether KGF and its receptor, keratinocyte growth factor receptor (KGFR) or fibroblast growth factor receptor-2IIIb, were expressed in the porcine uterus as a potential paracrine system mediating progesterone action, we cloned KGF and KGFR partial cDNAs from the porcine endometrium. KGF and KGFR expression was detected in endometrium by Northern blot hybridization. Interestingly, in situ hybridization results demonstrated that KGF was expressed by endometrial epithelia and was particularly abundant between Days 12 and 15 of the estrous cycle and pregnancy. KGF secretion into the lumen of the porcine uterus was also detected on Day 12 of the estrous cycle and pregnancy. KGFR was expressed in both endometrial epithelia and conceptus trophectoderm. These novel findings suggest that KGF may act on the uterine endometrial epithelium in an autocrine manner and on the conceptus trophectoderm in a paracrine manner in the pig, which is the only species possessing a true epitheliochorial type of placentation.
Functional MRI of visuospatial working memory in schizotypal personality disorder: a region-of-interest analysis.

Background. Functional MRI studies have begun to identify neural networks implicated in visuospatial working memory in healthy volunteers and patients with schizophrenia. The study of schizotypal personality disorder (SPD) provides regional analysis in unmedicated patients in the schizophrenia spectrum. Method. Unmedicated patients with SPD by DSM-IV criteria and normal controls were assessed with fMRI while performing a visuospatial working-memory task. It required the subjects to retain the location of three dots located on the circumference of an imaginary circle and then respond to a query display in which one dot was presented and the subject required to press a button to indicate whether the probe dot location was previously displayed. Subject groups did not differ significantly in spatial memory scores. The exact Talairach and Tournoux coordinates of brain areas previously reported to show activation with spatial memory tasks were assessed. Results. The majority of these locations showed BOLD response activation significantly less in patients during the memory retention period, including the left ventral prefrontal cortex, superior frontal gyrus, intraparietal cortex and posterior inferior gyrus. Regions in the right middle prefrontal and prestriate cortex showed greater activation at a trend level for patients with SPD than for normal controls. In addition, we replicated the findings of increased activation with the task in healthy volunteers in the premotor areas, ventral prefrontal cortex and parietal cortex. Conclusions. SPD patients show decreased activation compared to healthy volunteers in key frontal regions and we also provided a partial replication of findings reported in healthy subjects.
Fluctuations in the instantaneous Stokes parameters of stochastic electromagnetic beams propagating in the turbulent atmosphere

Fluctuations in Stokes parameters of stochastic electromagnetic beams on propagation in turbulent atmosphere are studied. The expressions are derived for the scintillation indexes (contrasts) of the Stokes parameters and their versions normalized by the instantaneous intensity in the case when the beam is generated by the electromagnetic Gaussian Schell-model source with uniform polarization. We illustrate our analytical results by numerical examples.
The effect of coadministration of verapamil on the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of quinidine

We have previously found that verapamil pretreatment significantly inhibits the metabolism of antipyrine. To assess more fully the implications of this observation, we examined the effect of verapamil on the pharmacokinetics and metabolism of quinidine. Pretreatment with verapamil, 80 mg and 120 mg (every 8 hours for 3 days), reduced the oral clearance of quinidine from 17.0 L/hr to 11.6 and 11.3 L/hr, respectively (P less than 0.01). The half-life of quinidine was also significantly prolonged by verapamil. The formation clearance of 3-hydroxyquinidine was reduced by 61.2% and 70.6% after verapamil pretreatment (80 and 120 mg, respectively) (P less than 0.01), whereas the renal clearance of unchanged quinidine was not affected. These results indicate that verapamil impairs the metabolism of quinidine to 3-hydroxyquinidine and reduces the oral clearance of quinidine to a degree that could be of clinical significance given the narrow therapeutic index of this drug.
Modeling Sea Ice Transport Using Incremental Remapping

Sea ice models contain transport equations for the area, volume, and energy of ice and snow in various thickness categories. These equations typically are solved with first-order-accurate upwind schemes, which are very diffusive; with second-order-accurate centered schemes, which are highly oscillatory; or with more sophisticated second-order schemes that are computationally costly if many quantities must be transported [e.g., multidimensional positive-definite advection transport algorithm (MPDATA)]. Here an incremental remapping scheme, originally designed for horizontal transport in ocean models, is adapted for sea ice transport. This scheme has several desirable features: it preserves the monotonicity of both conserved quantities and tracers; it is second-order accurate except where the accuracy is reduced locally to preserve monotonicity; and it efficiently solves the large number of equations in sea ice models with multiple thickness categories and tracers. Remapping outperforms the first-order upwind scheme and basic MPDATA scheme in several simple test problems. In realistic model runs, remapping is less diffusive than the upwind scheme and about twice as fast as MPDATA.
Things from the Bush: A Contemporary History of the Omaheke Bushmen.

Things from the Bush:. Contemporary History of the Omaheke Bushmen. James Suzman. Klosterberg: P. Schlettwein Publishing, 2000. 191 pp.
Gadd45a sensitizes medulloblastoma cells to irradiation and suppresses MMP-9–mediated EMT

Medulloblastomas are the most common malignant tumors of the central nervous system during childhood. Radiation-induced medulloblastoma tumor recurrences are aggressive and metastatic in nature. In the present study, we demonstrate that Gadd45a expression can sensitize medulloblastoma cells to radiotherapy. We have elucidated the role of Gadd45a in ionizing radiation (IR)-induced G2-M arrest and invasion and metastatic potential of the medulloblastoma cancer cell lines DAOY and D283. We demonstrate that Gadd45a is induced by IR and results in p53 phosphorylation. The role of IR-induced Gadd45a in G2-M arrest is demonstrated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis in the cells treated with siRNA Gadd45a and Ov-exp Gadd45a. We show that Ov-exp Gadd45a aggravates G2-M blockage and also increases binding of Gadd45a to Cdc2 by immunocytochemistry analysis. Furthermore, we show the anti-tumorigenic role of Gadd45a to be mediated by the negative regulation of IR-induced cancer cell invasion and migration-associated proteins, such as matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)-9 and β-catenin. When compared with IR treatment alone, Ov-exp Gadd45a plus IR treatment resulted in decreased nuclear localization and increased membrane localization of β-catenin, and this was further confirmed by membrane distribution. We also show that Ov-exp Gadd45a resulted in downregulation of MMP-9 and suppression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Alternatively, inhibition of MMP-9 (pM) resulted in upregulation of Gadd45a and suppression of EMT. The anti-tumor effect of pM was correlated with increased expression of Gadd45a protein in nude mice intracranial tumors. Taken together, our studies demonstrate that upregulation of Gadd45a or suppression of MMP-9 (pM) with IR retards medulloblastoma tumor metastatic potential.
Uses and interpretations of non‐word repetition tasks in children with and without specific language impairments (SLI)

Background: The non-word repetition task (NRT) has gained wide acceptance in describing language acquisition in both children with normal language development (NL) and children with specific language impairments (SLI). This task has gained wide acceptance because it so closely matches the phonological component of word learning, and correlates with measures of phonological working memory, a deficit in which is hypothesized to underlie SLI. Aims/Methods & Procedures: Recent uses of the NRT seem to accept it as a measure of phonological working memory capacity in spite of the fact that researchers have consistently acknowledged that the task taps many language processes, including speech perception, phonological encoding, phonological memory, phonological assembly and articulation. This paper reviews the literature on the use of the nonword repetition task (NRT) in children with NL and children with SLI, emphasizing the component skills necessary for successful repetition. Main Contribution: For children with NL, discussion has focused on (1) the relationship between non-word repetition ability and vocabulary, and (2) lexical and sublexical influences on repetition accuracy. For children with SLI, discussion has focused on these factors as well, but has also considered other component skills that support non-word repetition. Researchers have examined speech perception and discrimination, phonological encoding, phonological memory, phonological assembly, motor planning, and articulation, and have found evidence that children with SLI exhibit impairments in each of these supporting skills. Conclusions: Because repetition accuracy depends on lexical and sublexical properties, the NRT can be used to examine the structural properties of the lexicon in both children with NL and with SLI. Further, because the task taps so many underlying skills, it is a powerful tool that can be used to identify children with language impairments.
Subbarrier fusion and dynamical deformations

Abstract The effect of dynamic deformation degrees of freedom in subbarrier fusion is calculated numerically in the coupled-channel representation. In the ease we study, we find that the frozen approximation is quite accurate for low-lying collective vibrations. Perturbation theory based on the eikonal approximation is useful for excitation energies extending to the giant resonance frequencies, and it can be used to test the applicability of the frozen approximation. Giant resonances can give a significant contribution to the enhancement of subbarrier fusion.
Central Bank Communication and the Liquidity Trap

Central bank communication plays an important role in shaping market participants' expectations. This paper studies a simple nonlinear model of monetary policy where agents have incomplete information about the economic environment. It shows that agents' learning and the dynamics of the economy are heavily affected by central bank's transparency about its policy rule. A monetary authority that does not communicate its rule can induce “learning equilibria” where the economy experiences prolonged periods of deflation and slow growth. More generally, small expectational errors can result in complex economic dynamics, inducing welfare-reducing fluctuations. On the contrary, central bank communication helps stabilizing expectations around the inflation target equilibrium.
Pedogenic carbonate isotopes as evidence for extreme climatic events preceding the Triassic-Jurassic boundary: Implications for the biotic crisis?

The Triassic-Jurassic boundary is associated with widespread marine and terrestrial extinctions, but there is disagreement regarding the existence and extent of climatic changes that may have driven the biotic crisis. Here, we apply quantitative isotopic climate proxies in order to construct two age-equivalent, relatively continuous temperature and p CO 2 records that span the eight million years preceding the Triassic-Jurassic boundary and that supersede previous terrestrial records in temporal resolution. The δ 18 O data suggest that mean annual temperatures (MAT) increased by 7–9 °C from the late Norian to the Rhaetian in association with the peak increases in p CO 2 levels. The δ 13 C data suggest relatively low late Norian p CO 2 levels ( 1500 ppmV), and at least two periods of extreme p CO 2 levels (~3000 ppmV) preceding the Triassic-Jurassic boundary. These estimates are consistent with a recent Late Triassic climate model that suggests the effects of increased p CO 2 levels on Pangea would cause severe climatic consequences, including a global MAT increase of 6 °C (>10 °C in some regions). While it is possible that periods of increased aridity could have resulted in erroneously high estimates of both temperature and p CO 2 levels, it is likely that climate was still fluctuating during the end of the Triassic. Although our data precede the Triassic-Jurassic boundary, many studies conclude that the mass extinction took place over a more prolonged period beginning in the Late Triassic. Thus, climate may have been a significant driving mechanism of the Late Triassic extinctions.
Efficient segmentation in multi-layer oscillatory networks

In earlier work, we derived the dynamical behavior of a network of oscillatory units described by the amplitude and phase of oscillations. The dynamics were derived from an objective function that rewards both the faithfulness and the sparseness of representation. After unsupervised learning, the network is capable of separating mixtures of inputs, and also segmenting the inputs into components that most contribute to the classification of a given input object. In the current paper, we extend our analysis to multi-layer networks, and demonstrate that the dynamical equations derived earlier can be successfully applied to multi-layer networks. The topological connectivity between the different layers are derived from biological observations in primate visual cortex, and consist of receptive fields that are topographically mapped between layers. We explore the role of feedback connections, and show that increasing the diffusivity of feedback connections significantly improves segmentation performance, but does not affect separation performance.
Linearized dynamics of spherical bubble clouds

The present work investigates the dynamics of the one-dimensional, steady flow of a spherical bubble cloud subject to harmonic far-field pressure excitation. Bubble dynamics effects and energy dissipation due to viscosity, heat transfer, liquid compressibility and relative motion of the two phases are included. The equations of motion for the average flow and the bubble radius are linearized and a closed-form solution is obtained. The results are then generalized by means of Fourier synthesis to the case of arbitrary far-field pressure excitation. The flow displays various regimes (sub-resonant, trans-resonant and super-resonant) with different properties depending on the value of the relevant flow parameters. Examples are discussed in order to show the effects of the inclusion of the various energy dissipation mechanisms. Finally the results for the case of Gaussian-shaped far-field pressure change are presented and the most important limitations of the theory are briefly discussed. The simple linearized dynamical analysis developed so far clearly deminstrates the importance of the complex phenomena connected to the interaction of the dynamics of the bubbles with the flow and provides an introduction to the more realistic study of the same flows with nonlinear bubble dynamics.
Fast learning process of multilayer neural networks using recursive least squares method

A new approach for the learning process of multilayer perceptron neural networks using the recursive least squares (RLS) type algorithm is proposed. This method minimizes the global sum of the square of the errors between the actual and the desired output values iteratively. The weights in the network are updated upon the arrival of a new training sample and by solving a system of normal equations recursively. To determine the desired target in the hidden layers an analog of the back-propagation strategy used in the conventional learning algorithms is developed. This permits the application of the learning procedure to all the layers. Simulation results on the 4-b parity checker and multiplexer networks were obtained which indicate significant reduction in the total number of iterations when compared with those of the conventional and accelerated back-propagation algorithms. >
Olanzapine Activates Hepatic Mammalian Target of Rapamycin: New Mechanistic Insight into Metabolic Dysregulation with Atypical Antipsychotic Drugs

Olanzapine (OLZ), an effective treatment of schizophrenia and other disorders, causes weight gain and metabolic syndrome. Most studies to date have focused on the potential effects of OLZ on the central nervous system’s mediation of weight; however, peripheral changes in liver or other key metabolic organs may also play a role in the systemic effects of OLZ. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of OLZ on hepatic metabolism in a mouse model of OLZ exposure. Female C57Bl/6J mice were administered OLZ (8 mg/kg per day) or vehicle subcutaneously by osmotic minipumps for 28 days. Liver and plasma were taken at sacrifice for biochemical analyses and for comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography coupled to time-of-flight mass spectrometry metabolomics analysis. OLZ increased body weight, fat pad mass, and liver-to-body weight ratio without commensurate increase in food consumption, indicating that OLZ altered energy expenditure. Expression and biochemical analyses indicated that OLZ induced anaerobic glycolysis and caused a pseudo-fasted state, which depleted hepatic glycogen reserves. OLZ caused similar effects in cultured HepG2 cells, as determined by Seahorse analysis. Metabolomic analysis indicated that OLZ increased hepatic concentrations of amino acids that can alter metabolism via the mTOR pathway; indeed, hepatic mTOR signaling was robustly increased by OLZ. Interestingly, OLZ concomitantly activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling. Taken together, these data suggest that disturbances in glucose and lipid metabolism caused by OLZ in liver may be mediated, at least in part, via simultaneous activation of both catabolic (AMPK) and anabolic (mammalian target of rapamycin) pathways, which yields new insight into the metabolic side effects of this drug.