cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Slotted gyrotron cavities

Computer simulations predict that narrow, longitudinal slots in the walls of a gyrotron cavity tend not to affect modes such as the TE 1,5 while lowering the Q factor of competing modes. Available experimental data' from cold test cavities will be presented.
One electron reduction transforms high-valent low-spin cobalt alkylidene into high-spin cobalt(II) carbene radical

One electron reduction of formally CoIV(OR)2(CPh2) forms the [CoII(OR)2(CPh2)]- anion. Whereas low-spin Co(OR)2([double bond, length as m-dash]CPh2) demonstrated significant alkylidene character, the high-spin [Co(OR)2(CPh2)]- anion features a rare Co(ii)-carbene radical. Treatment of [Co(OR)2(CPh2)][CoCp*2] with xylyl isocyanide triggers formation of two new C-C bonds, and is likely mediated by nucleophilic attack of deprotonated CoCp*2+ on a transient ketenimine.
“Grit” Assessment of First Year Design Students

Author Angela Duckworth’s book “Grit” [1] raises interesting questions about the idea of how perseverance and passion play into the development of young design students. Talented students are well appreciated but sometimes talent isn’t enough to address complex design problems, sometimes one needs hustle to overcome obstacles. This study uses Duckworth’s “Grit Test” and “Activity Test” to quantify the level of “grit” of a student population entering the first year of an intensive industrial design program. The resulting data was used to identify and track “gritty” students through the summer and fall semesters. While grit is an incredibly important attribute for students to have in the industrial design profession, subsequent assessment reveals the grittiest students did not necessarily improve academically over the two semesters. This paper identifies the methods of research and speculates how grit applies to students beginning their studies within an established industrial design curriculum.
Easy Perturbation EEG Algorithm for Spectral Importance (easyPEASI): A Simple Method to Identify Important Spectral Features of EEG in Deep Learning Models

Efforts into understanding neurological differences between populations is an active area of research. Deep learning has recently shown promising results using EEG as input to distinguish recordings of subjects based on neurological activity. However, only about one quarter of these studies investigate the underlying neurophysiological implications. This work proposes and validates a method to investigate frequency bands important to EEG-driven deep learning models. Easy perturbation EEG algorithm for spectral importance (easyPEASI) is simpler than previous methods and requires only perturbations to input data. We validate easyPEASI on EEG pathology classification using the Temple University Health EEG Corpus. easyPEASI is further applied to characterize the effects of patients' medications on brain rhythms. We investigate classifications of patients taking one of two anticonvulsant medications, Dilantin (phenytoin) and Keppra (levetiracetam), and subjects taking no medications. We find that for recordings of subjects with clinically-determined normal EEG that these medications effect the Theta and Alpha band most significantly. For recordings with clinically-determined abnormal EEG these medications affected the Delta, Theta, and Alpha bands most significantly. We also find the Beta band to be affected differently by the two medications. Results found here show promise for a method of obtaining explainable artificial intelligence and interpretable models from EEG-driven deep learning through a simpler more accessible method perturbing only input data. Overall, this work provides a fast, easy, and reproducible method to automatically determine salient spectral features of neural activity that have been learned by machine learning models, such as deep learning.
Mechanisms and biomarkers of inflammatory endotypes in chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) is a common disease that is characterized by multiple inflammatory endotypes. However, the molecular mechanisms in CRSsNP are poorly understood compared with those of polypoid CRS. Objective Our aim was to identify mechanisms and biomarkers associated with inflammatory endotypes underpinning CRSsNP. Methods Ethmoid tissues and nasal lavage fluids (NLFs) were obtained from control patients and patients with CRS. The gene expression profiles were determined by microarray analysis and quantitative RT-PCR, and expression of proteins was measured by ELISA and Luminex analysis. Results Microarray found that compared with their levels of expression in control tissue, the levels of expression of 126, 241, and 545 genes were more than 3-fold and significantly elevated in CRSsNP with type 1 (T1) endotype, type 2 (T2) endotype, and type 3 (T3) endotype, respectively. Selected identified genes were confirmed by RT-PCR. Gene set enrichment analysis suggested that T1 CRSsNP was associated with IFN-γ signaling and antiviral immunity controlled by T cells (TH1 and CD8+), natural killer cells, and antigen-presenting cells; T2 CRSsNP was associated with STAT6 signaling and IgE-mediated activation controlled by eosinophils, mast cells, TH2 cells, group 2 innate lymphoid cells, and antigen-presenting cells; and T3 CRSsNP was associated with IL-17 signaling, acute inflammatory response, complement-mediated inflammation, and infection controlled by neutrophils, TH17 cells, B cells, and antigen-presenting cells. The results suggest that T1 (CXCL9 and CXCL10), T2 (eosinophilic proteins and CCL26), and T3 (CSF3) endotypic biomarkers in NLF may be able to distinguish tissue endotypes in CRSsNP. Conclusions Inflammatory endotypes in CRSsNP were controlled by different molecular mechanisms. NLF biomarker assays may allow for more precise and personalized medical treatments in CRS.
Three-dimensional visualization and improved quantification with super-resolution ultrasound imaging - Validation framework for analysis of microvascular morphology using a chicken embryo model

The purpose of this study was to improve the morphological analysis of microvascular networks depicted in three-dimensional (3D) super-resolution ultrasound (SR-US) images. This was supported by qualitative and quantitative validation by comparison to matched brightfield microscopy and traditional B-mode ultrasound (US) images. Contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) images were collected using a preclinical US scanner (Vevo 3100, FUJIFILM VisualSonics Inc.) equipped with an MX250 linear array transducer. CEUS imaging was performed after administration of a microbubble (MB) contrast agent into the vitelline network of a developing chicken embryo. Volume data was collected by mechanically scanning the US transducer throughout a tissue volume-of-interest in 90μm step increments. CEUS images were collected at each increment and stored as in-phase/quadrature data (2000 frames at 152 frames per sec). SR-US images were created for each cross-sectional plane using established data processing methods. All SR-US images were then used to reconstruct a final 3D volume for vessel diameter (VD) quantification and for surface rendering. VD quantification from the 3D SR-US data exhibited an average error of 6.1% ± 6.0% when compared with matched brightfield microscopy images, whereas measurements from B-mode US images had an average error of 77.1% ± 68.9%. Volume and surface renderings in 3D space enabled qualitative validation and improved visualization of small vessels below the axial resolution of the US system. Overall, 3D SR-US image reconstructions depicted the microvascular network of the developing chicken embryos. Improved visualization of isolated vessels and quantification of microvascular morphology from SR-US images achieved a considerably greater accuracy compared to B-mode US measurements.
Olympic sustainability or Olympian smokescreen

The International Olympic Committee has long trumpeted its own sustainability credibility. But are the Olympic Games actually sustainable or are they greenwashing gold?
Acute spondylodiscitis - A rare presentation of sacrocolpopexy complicated with chronic left iliac fossa discharging sinus

Spondylodiscitis following sacrocolopopexy is a rare complication. Many cases of spondylodiscitis are preceded by infection elsewhere, most commonly the genitourinary tract. Inadvertent placement of bone anchors into the L5-S1 disc space likely results in an L5-S1 inflammatory process with infection often tracking along the suspension sutures attached to the bone anchors. Commonly onset of spondylodiscitis is in
Claiming an Individual: Party, Family and the Politics of Memorialization in the Lebanese Civil War

Imad Nuwayhid (1944–1975) was a young Lebanese leftist intellectual, hotel employee, and fighter for the Lebanese Communist Party. Alongside thousands of others, he died during the first phase of t...
Automobility and the Politics of Bicycling in New York City

This article examines the regulatory frameworks and practices that deter bicycling as a mode of protest. Through an in‐depth case study of New York City's legal, policing and enforcement practices towards bicyclists in the wake of the 2004 Republican National Convention, I explore the assumptions underpinning the regulation of bicycling as a mode of protest. In addition to analyzing these regulatory and legal frameworks to highlight how they suppress bicycling as protest, this case study illustrates how police practices work in tandem with the law to erode the potential for alternative mobilities and citizenships to flourish. Through ‘command and control’ policing and regulatory tactics, the New York Police Department is deterring cyclists from participating in group bike rides and is carrying out low‐level harassment of ‘ordinary’ cyclists. The experience of New York City's cyclists shows that in addition to changes to infrastructure and transportation policies, changes to the rules, regulations and practices governing protest will be necessary for alternative mobilities to fully flourish.
Salts and Oils

In Havana in 1948 I ate fried dog believing it was Peking duck. Later, in Tampa I bunked with an insane sailor who kept a .38 Smith and Wesson in his shorts. In the same room were twins, oilers from Toledo, who argued for hours each night whose turn it was to get breakfast and should he turn the eggs or not. On the way north I lived for three days on warm water in a DC-6 with a burned out radio on the runway at Athens, Georgia. We sang a song, "Georgia's Big Behind," and prayed for WWIII and complete, unconditional surrender. Napping in an open field near Newport News, I chewed on grass while the shadows of September lengthened; in the distance a man hammered on the roof of a hanger and groaned how he was out of luck and vittles. Bummed a ride in from Mitchell Field and had beet borsch and white bread at 34th and 8th Avenue. I threw up in the alley behind the YMCA and slept until they turned me out. I walked the bridge to Brooklyn while the East River browned below. A mile from Ebbets Field, from all that history, I found Murray, my papa's buddy, in his greasy truck shop, polishing replacement parts. Short, unshaven, puffed, he strutted the filthy aisles, a tiny Ghengis Khan. He sent out for soup
Bidirectional peritoneal transport of immunoglobulin in rats : compartmental kinetics

Protein transport to and from fluid in the peritoneal cavity is observed during clinical procedures. Dialysate osmolality is a major determinant of net fluid flux into the cavity. We carried out experiments in rats to determine the plasma, peritoneal, and tissue concentrations of immunoglobulin (Ig) G resulting from either intravenous (iv) or intraperitoneal (ip) administration during hypertonic or isotonic dialyses. After iv injection of IgG, overall mass transfer into the cavity was not affected by the osmolality. After ip injection, tissue concentrations were dependent on the dialysis duration. Protein absorption from the hypertonic dialysate into the surrounding tissue was quantitatively less than the absorption from an isotonic dialysis solution at 20 min. By 200 min, total protein transport was not affected by dialysate osmolality. Lymphatic transport to the plasma amounted to 20-25% of the total protein loss from the peritoneal cavity; approximately 60% of the absorbed dose was found in tissues surrounding the cavity at both 20 and 200 min, with particularly high concentrations in parietal areas. We conclude that immunoglobulin transport in the peritoneal tissue, resulting from either iv or ip injection, is influenced by route of administration but is little affected by dialysate osmolality. Peritoneal absorption of proteins occurs directly into the surrounding tissue interstitial space as a result of hydrostatic pressure-driven convection and diffusion.
When Ubiquitin Meets NF-κB: A trove for anti-cancer drug development

During the last two decades, the studies on ubiquitination in regulating transcription factor NF-κB activation have elucidated the expanding role of ubiquitination in modulating cellular events by non-proteolytic mechanisms, as well as by proteasomal degradation. The significance of ubiquitination has also been recognized in regulating gene transcription, epigenetic modifications, kinase activation, DNA repair and subcellular translocation. This progress has been translated into novel strategies for developing anti-cancer therapeutics, exemplified by the success of the first FDA-approved proteasome inhibitor drug Bortezomib. Here we discuss the current understanding of the ubiquitin-proteasome system and how it is involved in regulating NF-κB signaling pathways in response to a variety of stimuli. We also focus on the recent progress of anti-cancer drug development targeting various steps of ubiquitination process, and the potential of these drugs in cancer treatment as related to their impact on NF-κB activation.
Consumer Preference for Neotraditional Neighborhood Characteristics

Abstract Much research on residential mobility relies on examining people's choices within the context of what is available in a local housing market. However, it is difficult to determine the demand for alternative housing or neighborhood types that may not be available or are available only in limited quantities. Hence, the market may not accurately reveal consumer preferences for such alternatives. We estimate a discrete choice model of neighborhood choice by using data from a choice‐based conjoint analysis survey that allows us to vary characteristics experimentally. The model is used to determine consumer preferences for neotraditional neighborhood design features, including neighborhood layout, housing density, surrounding open space, and commuting time, while holding other characteristics, including school quality and neighborhood safety, constant. The results indicate that the neotraditional design with higher density is less preferred on average, but that niche marketing, additional open space, o...
A Ribbon Hopf Algebra Approach to the Irreducible Representations of Centralizer Algebras: The Brauer, Birman–Wenzl, and Type A Iwahori–Hecke Algebras

Abstract We show how the ribbon Hopf algebra structure on the Drinfel'd–Jimbo quantum groups of Types A, B, C, and D can be used to derive formulas giving explicit realizations of the irreducible representations of the Iwahori–Hecke algebras of type A and the Birman–Wenzl algebras. We use this derivation to give explicit realizations of the irreducible representations of the Brauer algebras as well. The derivation is accomplished by way of a combination of techniques from operator algebras, quantum groups, and the theory of 3-manifold invariants. Although our applications are in the cases of the quantum groups of Types A, B, C, and D, most of the aspects of our approach apply in the general setting of ribbon Hopf algebras.
SU-FF-T-357: Physical and Biological Characteristics of Megavoltage Grid Radiation Therapy

Purpose:Dosimetric characteristics of a newly designed GRID block for megavoltage radiotherapy were investigated using TLD, film, and ionization chamber.Therapeutic advantage of this treatment modality was determined using a linear quadratic model in terms of treatmentdose, GRID hole size, center‐to‐center spacing between the holes, and sensitivity of tissues to radiation.Method and Materials: Recently a newly redesigned GRID block has been introduced by Radiation Product Design, Inc. for different linear accelerators.Dosimetric characteristics (i.e. GRID output, dose profiles, and %DD) of three GRID blocks with different hole size and spacing were experimentally investigated. These GRID blocks were designed for a Varian 21EX linear accelerator. The measurements were performed using radiographic films and thermoluminescent dosimeters(TLDs) in Solid Water™ phantom materials and an ionization chamber in water. The measured dose profiles were then utilized to evaluate the therapeutic advantage of the GRID therapy as a function of dose, grid hole size and spacing, and also radiosensitivity of tissues with a linear‐quadratic (LQ) model. Therapeutic advantage of these GRID blocks was determined for a single fraction dose of up to 30 Gy. Results:Dosimetric characteristics of the GRID field were determined as a function of field size, beam energy, and Grid geometry. The results had shown that the therapeutic advantage of GRID increases by increasing the hole size, decreasing the spacing between the holes, and increasing the treatmentdose. Moreover, the advantage of the GRID therapy was more pronounced for the radioresistant cells than radiosensitive cells. Conclusion: GRID radiotherapy exhibited a significant therapeutic advantage over the open field radiotherapy when the tumor cells were more radioresistant than normal cells. In addition, the therapeutic advantage of the GRID therapy is dependent on the treatmentdose, GRID hole size and spacing between the holes.
Numerical simulation of temperature and velocity in a refrigerated warehouse

This paper presents air velocity and temperature distribution in a refrigerated warehouse. The refrigerated space under study has a set of ceiling-type cooling units installed in front of the arrays of stacks of palletized product packages. Numerical solutions of the steady-state airflow and heat transfer were done using a complete three-dimensional model and an equivalent two-dimensional model. The results obtained from both models were found to be in good agreement with each other. A parametric analysis was performed using the equivalent model with various values of blowing air velocity and locations of the cooling units. It was found that a better cooling effectiveness and uniformity of temperature in the refrigerated space could be achieved by using higher blowing air velocity and/or locating the cooling units lower and closer toward the arrays of product packages.
Identification of a Genetic Signature of Activated Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 in Human Tumors

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a transcription factor that is activated in diverse human tumors and may play a direct role in malignant transformation. However, the full complement of target genes that STAT3 regulates to promote oncogenesis is not known. We created a system to express a constitutively active form of STAT3, STAT3-C, in mouse fibroblasts and used it to identify STAT3 targets. We showed that a subset of these targets, which include transcription factors regulating cell growth, survival, and differentiation, are coexpressed in a range of human tumors. Using immunohistochemical staining of tissue microarrays, we showed that these targets are enriched in breast and prostate tumors harboring activated STAT3. Finally, we showed that STAT3 is required for the expression of these genes in a breast cancer cell line. Taken together, these results identify a cohort of STAT3 targets that may mediate its role in oncogenesis.
Stimulated Modulation Instability in Silicon for Energy Efficient Supercontinuum Generation

Nonlinear losses limit supercontinuum efficiency in silicon. This fundamental limitation can be relaxed and higher energy efficiency and a more stable output can be obtained by stimulating modulation instability with an off-resonant weak seed.
Altruistic QoS routing with multimedia dispersion

Effective use of limited network resources is crucial in supporting network-based multimedia applications. A K-metric altruistic Qos routing algorithm is proposed to tackle the issue of network resource overcommitmnent. based on this algorithm, a multimedia dispersion scheme is developed to alleviate the high blocking ratio problem caused by high bandwidth requirement. Our evaluation shows that the proposed scheme is capable of achieving at 30% improvement in terms of reducing the average blocking ratio.
Older Adult Family Stress and Adaptation Before and After Bereavement

As a part of a larger study, interviews were obtained from 63 older adults who had experienced the death of a spouse, parent, or child, and from 387 older adults who had not been bereaved. Three interviews were conducted before the death, one after. The study found that: (a) Bereavement itself did not affect health; (b) family stress increased as the time of death approached but diminished thereafter; (c) before the death, family stress was associated with worsening health; (d) after the death, health worsened if there had been no family stress preceding the death, but otherwise it improved; (e) after the death, however, psychological distress increased sharply, regardless of the level of prebereavement stress. Implications of the study for conceptualizations of grief and for understanding the life experiences of older adults are discussed.
Galling50, a Stochastic Measure of Galling Resistance

A new parameter called the Galling 50 value is proposed to provide a statistically relevant measure of galling resistance. The Galling 50 value represents the stress value where galling is expected to occur in 50% of the specimens tested. Galling 50 is determined from the analysis of a series of tests that measure the probability of galling at different applied stresses. A method for graphically representing experimental galling data is presented. A sigmoidal function is used to mathematically represent the overall performance of the galling results. Similar to previous test methods, the proposed method provides a single parameter for reporting galling resistance results, making it suitable for comparison between different materials and test conditions. Test results for type 303, 304, and 316 stainless steels are given as an example of the testing and data reduction technique.
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) inducible monooxygenases in rabbits and mice: Species and organ specificities

Abstract The effects of the PCBs mixture, Aroclor 1254, as modifiers of monooxygenases were studied in rabbits and mice. From data presented, it is not possible to generalize the biological effects of PCBs observed with rats, namely, that they are potent, nonspecific inducers of monooxygenase activities. This environmental pollutant enhanced microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes in livers of rabbits and C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice. In rabbit lung, it inhibited, and in rabbit kidney, it enhanced the metabolism of ethylmorphine. Further, at dosages used, PCBs were poor inducers of aryl (benzo(a)pyrene) hydroxylase activity in livers of C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice; they enhanced aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in rabbit kidney but caused a significant depression of its activity in rabbit lung. These studies demonstrate that the biologic impact of the widely distributed environmental pollutant, PCBs, may differ in different species and emphasize the need to carry out toxicological studies in more than one species of animals. The differential effects observed on various organs may also be important determinants of organ-targeted chemical toxicity.
Multi-species measurements in 1-butanol pyrolysis behind reflected shock waves

Abstract The kinetics of 1-butanol pyrolysis were investigated by measuring multi-species time histories using shock tube/laser absorption methods. Species time histories of OH, H 2 O, C 2 H 4 , CO, and CH 4 were measured behind reflected shock waves using UV and IR laser absorption during the high-temperature decomposition of 1% 1-butanol/argon mixtures. Initial reflected shock temperatures and pressures for these experiments covered 1250–1650 K and 1.3–1.9 atm. Measured OH and H 2 O time histories are in good agreement with previous experimental studies; measured C 2 H 4 , CO, and CH 4 time histories are the first reported for this fuel in shock tube experiments. Production pathways and sensitivities for the measured species are analyzed using the recent Sarathy et al. (2012) [37] detailed mechanism. Simulations using this mechanism underpredict H 2 O, OH, and C 2 H 4 mole fractions, overpredict CH 4 mole fractions, and significantly underpredict CO mole fractions at early times. As discussed in past papers and confirmed in this study, the branching ratios of H abstraction rates from 1-butanol, which are not precisely known, can significantly affect H 2 O time history simulations. These simulations show that H 2 O is produced primarily through H-atom abstraction from 1-butanol by OH, and therefore H 2 O time histories are extremely sensitive to 1-butanol decomposition channels that contribute to the OH radical pool. Simulations also show that more C 2 H 4 would be produced by faster decomposition of 1-butanol through several channels that also affect H 2 O production. Finally, simulations show that CO time histories are strongly sensitive to 1-butanol decomposition into nC 3 H 7 and CH 2 OH, especially at early times. Evidence is presented that indicates this decomposition pathway is too slow in the simulations by a factor of three to five at conditions of the current study.
"Colossal" interstitial supersaturation in delta ferrite in stainless steels - I. Low-temperature carburization

Abstract Low-temperature carburization has been successfully used to surface harden 17-7 precipitation-hardening (PH) and 2205 duplex stainless steels. After carburization, the delta ferrite grains in both alloys near the free surface show a uniform weak contrast under conventional transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Spatially resolved compositional analysis shows that these delta ferrite grains possess enormous carbon contents (as high as 18 at.%) in solid solution, but structurally there is no detectable tetragonality (
Development and Operation of a Prototype Superconducting Linac for Heavy-Ion Acceleration

A prototype superconducting-helix accelerator is described and design considerations are discussed. The results obtained during 120 hours of beam acceleration are given. These include a wealth of practical engineering experience, the demonstration of stable operation with external phase control, and measurements of various kinds of accelerator-physics data.
How and why is price perceived: a commentary on Cheng and Monroe

In this commentary, I build on Cheng and Monroe’s paper on price perception and discuss how and why price is perceived in the manner in which it is, and how understanding this process can benefit theory and practice.
Tudor: a versatile family of histone methylation ‘readers’

The Tudor domain comprises a family of motifs that mediate protein-protein interactions required for various DNA-templated biological processes. Emerging evidence demonstrates a versatility of the Tudor family domains by identifying their specific interactions to a wide variety of histone methylation marks. Here, we discuss novel functions of a number of Tudor-containing proteins [including Jumonji domain-containing 2A (JMJD2A), p53-binding protein 1 (53BP1), SAGA-associated factor 29 (SGF29), Spindlin1, ubiquitin-like with PHD and RING finger domains 1 (UHRF1), PHD finger protein 1 (PHF1), PHD finger protein 19 (PHF19), and SAWADEE homeodomain homolog 1 (SHH1)] in 'reading' unique methylation events on histones in order to facilitate DNA damage repair or regulate transcription. This review covers our recent understanding of the molecular bases for histone-Tudor interactions and their biological outcomes. As deregulation of Tudor-containing proteins is associated with certain human disorders, pharmacological targeting of Tudor interactions could provide new avenues for therapeutic intervention.
Rescue of Female Infertility from the Loss of Cyclooxygenase-2 by Compensatory Up-regulation of Cyclooxygenase-1 Is a Function of Genetic Makeup

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), an inducible rate-limiting enzyme in prostaglandin biosynthesis, is implicated in various physiological and pathological processes including female fertility, renal function, angiogenesis, inflammation, and tumorigenesis. We showed previously that targeted deletion of Ptgs2 encoding COX-2, but not Ptgs1 encoding COX-1, in C57BL/6J/129 mice produces complete female infertility resulting from multiple reproductive failures spanning ovulation, fertilization, and implantation. Here we show that Ptgs2 null mice on a CD1 background have dramatically improved female fertility including ovulation, fertilization, and implantation, giving rise to live births. We provide evidence that this improved fertility in CD1 Ptgs2 null mice is the result of a compensatory up-regulation of Ptgs1 which does not occur in C57BL/6J/129 mice missing Ptgs2. These results clearly demonstrate for the first time that COX-1 can replace specific functions of COX-2 in vivo in the context of genetic disparity. In light of this finding, the therapeutic use and efficacy of COX-2-specific inhibitors among human populations without regard for genetic and ethnic diversities should be revisited.
Temporal Thresholds for Hyperglycemia-Augmented Ischemic Brain Damage in Rats

Background and Purpose Although acute hyperglycemia is known to increase global ischemic brain damage, the duration of ischemia necessary to elicit such an effect is unknown. Accordingly, an experiment was performed to determine the duration of forebrain ischemia at which hyperglycemia becomes a factor in histological and behavioral outcome in rats. Methods Fasted rats were anesthetized and prepared for forebrain ischemia. Before ischemia, rats received either intravenous saline (plasma glucose, 112±18 mg/dL) or glucose (plasma glucose, 343±50 mg/dL). After 4, 8, 12, or 15 minutes of ischemia (n=12), recovery was allowed. Rats surviving 7 days underwent evaluation of motor function and then histological analysis of damage in the caudate putamen, hippocampal CA1, and substantia nigra pars reticulata. Results After 4 minutes of ischemia, damage was present in all structures. Only in the caudate putamen was hyperglycemia associated with worsened damage, but this did not result in seizures or death. After 8 minutes of ischemia, seizures occurred in 33% of hyperglycemic rats, and a hyperglycemic effect on damage in the CA1 and substantia nigra pars reticulata was observed. No seizures or mortality occurred in normoglycemic rats regardless of duration of ischemia. Longer durations of ischemia resulted in an increased incidence of seizures and mortality in hyperglycemic rats only. Among surviving rats, motor function was worsened in hyperglycemic rats after 12 minutes of ischemia. Conclusions Hyperglycemia-augmented brain damage is evident after global ischemic insults as brief as 4 minutes and becomes critical to survival after 8 minutes of ischemia.
Ventricular remodelling: consequences and therapy

The mammalian left ventricle can change its size and shape in response to a variety of stimuli including loss of tissue and external work. These changes in size and shape, defined as remodelling, are the sum total of a number of processes that involve the myocyte and the interstitial fibrous structures which provide the matrix in which the myocyte functions. The adapted mechanisms which occur are affected by humoral and cellular phenomena and can be modified by pharmacological agents. This paper reviews the remodelling process that occurs in myocardial infarction and heart failure and the effect of various pharmacological agents on this remodelling process.
Pain in frail, elderly women after surgery.

Purpose: To describe the lived experience of postoperative pain in frail, elderly women. Design: Colaizzi's (1978) phenomenological approach. Sample, Method: 16 hospitalized women from ages 75 to 93, who had abdominal surgery. Unstructured, open-ended interviews were conducted in 1992. Findings: Three major themes emerged: the immediate reality of pain, security, and dealing with pain. The immediate reality of pain consisted of the feeling, awareness, and past imposing on the present. Security consisted of comfort and trust. Dealing with pain consisted of endurance, control, and self-discovery of strategies, the most predominant of which was being still to relieve pain. Conclusions: The frail elderly women in this study tended to endure pain and to trust nurses to provide pain-relief measures. Nurses should carefully assess pain and the desire of patients for control of pain-relief measures.
Binocular Vision: An Orientation to Disparity Coding

A new study has shown that neurons in the visual cortex are specialized to encode the larger range of horizontal - relative to vertical - disparities that occurs in central vision. These results challenge the established 'energy' model of disparity processing.
Antibiotics prevent liver injury in rats following long-term exposure to ethanol

Abstract Background/Aims: Kupffer's cells participate in alcohol-induced liver injury, and endotoxemia is observed in human alcoholics and in a rat model. This study evaluated the effect of reducing bacterial endotoxin production by intestinal sterilization on alcohol-induced liver injury. Methods: Male Wistar rats were exposed to ethanol continuously for up to 3 weeks via intragastric feeding. The gut was sterilized with polymyxin B and neomycin. Results: Fecal culture of stool samples from ethanol-fed rats treated with antibiotics showed virtually no growth of gram-negative bacteria. Endotoxin levels of 80–90 pg/mL in plasma of ethanol-fed rats were reduced to
Optimal binary coding matrices for multiplexed x-ray imaging

We study a class of binary matrices with excellent noise properties for controlling multiplexing patterns in a multiple-source, single-detector X-ray system. For such a system, turning multiple sources on at a time in a prescribed pattern (multiplexing), can offer noise advantages under certain conditions. The patterns used can be represented by binary matrices which determine the noise properties of the decoded images. Hadamard S-matrices have long been used in spectroscopy, but they are optimal only in systems with little photonic noise. In X-ray systems with energy-integrating detectors, the noise structure may be a mix of constant (electronic) noise and noise proportional to the signal (photonic noise). Under mixed noise conditions, we demonstrate that a certain class of balanced incomplete block design (BIBD) matrices offers better noise performance over a wider range of noise mixes than the Hadamard matrices. Symmetric BIBD matrices are characterized by three parameters: v = the number of sources in the multiplexing array; k = the number of sources on at a time; and λ = the number of multiplexed frames shared by any pair of sources. We compare noise performance in decoded images for several families of BIBD matrices and show that the BIBD matrices with λ = 1 offer the best performance. We also offer insight into how the available matrices affect parameters of system design in a multiplexing X-ray system. We conclude that the BIBD(v,k,λ = 1) matrices or matrices derived from them are the best choices for multiplexing in multi-source X-ray systems.
Disparate WTA–WTP disparities: the influence of human versus natural causes

A host of studies have shown that respondents typically provide larger values reflecting their willingness to accept compensation (WTA) for the loss of a product than amounts they would be willing to pay (WTP) to acquire the same product (Knetsch and Sniden, 1984; Cummings, Brookshire, and Schulze, 1986; Irwin, 1994). Meanwhile, other evidence indicates that causes for the deterioration or the damage of a product (either human or natural) will influence both WTA and WTP (Kahneman et al., 1993; Baron and Ritov, 1992). We conducted two experiments to determine whether human-caused versus naturally occurring events influenced disparities between WTA and WTP values. In the first experiment, residents of a Midwestern city were asked to provide WTA or WTP amounts for the removal of a street tree, either through planned city street widening or because of disease. In the second experiment, students at a large Midwestern university provided WTA and WTP amounts for two environmental scenarios: air quality and the cleanliness of a river. Results of both experiments indicate that the disparity between WTA and WTP is far greater when the damage was caused by humans. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Omnitab-a simple language for statistical computations

The OMNITAB system of computer programming provides a simple, yet extremely versatile means of communicating with the computer using simple English words and phrases, It is written in FORTRAN and is available for implementation on UNIVAC 1108, IBM 360, Burroughs 5500 and CDC 6600 equipment. It is based on a worksheet, stored in the computer, which is a two dimensional array easy to visualize even by beginners. The system has particular use for students of statistics, of all ages, in that it allows them to interact with the data without requiring that they master any diffiicult and esoteric (for statisticians) computer skills. The programming system is described together with several applications to statistical problems. Full program documentation is available from the authors.
Sequential x 2 - and T2-Tests and Their Application to an Acceptance Sampling Problem

The purpose of thii paper is to discuss some sequential multivariate techniques used in testing means both for the one- and two-sample cases. When the population covariance matrix is known, a sequential x 2-test is employed. When the population covariance matrix is not known, this is replaced by a sequential T2-test. Some properties of these tests are discussed and certain other procedures are suggested for use in testing the assumption that the covariance matrix is known. These sequential procedures are then illustrated in a problem involving the acceptance sampling of ballistic missiles.
Varicella-zoster ventriculo-encephalitis and spinal cord infarction in a patient with AIDS

Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection is usually benign and self-limited. However, particularly in the immunosuppressed host, serious central nervous system complications may occur, including encephalitis, myelitis, and cerebral vascular occlusion. We report the case of a 57-year-old male with AIDS, who rapidly developed a sixth cranial nerve palsy and progressive myelopathy. There was no antecedent zoster rash. Autopsy revealed VZV ventriculo-encephalitis and vasculitis, as well as a transverse infarction of the spinal cord without evidence of direct infection of the cord parenchyma. Spinal cord infarction secondary to VZV vasculitis is an unusual cause of myelopathy in immunosuppressed patients.
Analytic structure of two 1D-transport equations with nonlocal fluxes

Abstract We replace the flux term in Burger's equation by two simple alternates that contain contributions depending globally on the solution. In one case, the term is in the form of a hyperbolic equation where the characteristic speed is nonlocal, and in the other the term is in conservation form. In both cases, the nonanalytic is due to the presence of the Hilbert transform. The equations have a loose analogy to the motion of vortex sheets. In particular, they both form singularities in finite time in the absence of viscous effects. Our motivation then is to study the influence of viscosity. In one case, viscosity does not prevent singularity formation. In the other, we can prove solutions exist for all time, and determine the likely weak solution as viscosity vanishes. An interesting aspect of our work is that singularity formation can be viewed as the motion of singularities in the complex physical plane that reach the real axis in finite time. In one case, the singularity is a pole and causes the solution to blow up when it reaches the real axis. In the other, numerical solutions and an asymptotic analysis suggest that the weak solution contains a square root singularity that reaches the real axis in finite time, and then propagates along it. We hope our results will spur further interest in the role of singularities in the complex spatial plane in solutions to transport equations.
Neurosecretory Cells: Daily Rhythmicity in Leiobunum longipes

A fluorometric-analysis procedure, used to quantitate indoles, confirmed the presence of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in an arachnid; there was unimodal cyclic production of 5-HT in brain and intestinal tissues over a 24-hour period. The same tissues produced 5-HT after 80-day culture; bimodal cyclic output was indicated during continuous 24-hour study. One peak occurred at 0200 hours, at the same time as the peak in vivo, suggesting an endogenously controlled mechanism of secretion. The second peak occurred at midmorning, a time when production in vivo was lowest, suggesting that there is a possible feedback-control mechanism in the organism that inhibits the endogenous output of 5-HT.
Erosional feedbacks and the oscillation of ice masses

[1] An analytical solution to the development of a glacier or ice sheet in a region where the underlying rock rises steadily shows that the ice mass oscillates in size, independefntly of changes in the climate, in response to a feedback in which ice thickness is linked to topography by ice-induced erosion. The rate of vertical movement of the underlying rock uplift and the parameters governing ice erosion, ablation, and precipitation determine the period of oscillation. Two-dimensional numerical simulations show that the tectonic uplift rate is the most important control on the period of oscillation and that the feedback period is likely to be between 10 and 100 kyr. An examination of sediment data from the Deep Sea Drilling Project shows evidence of ice mass oscillations in the Chugach-St. Elias Mountains and in the Himalayas with periods consistent with those produced by the proposed mechanism. Localized changes in glacial extent may not therefore always be the consequence of climate change, and care must be taken in interpreting evidence of glacial advance and retreat.
Management of Glycemia in Diabetic Patients with Stage IV and V Chronic Kidney Disease

Diabetic kidney disease is a leading cause of end-stage kidney disease worldwide. Data suggest that prevention of progression to end-stage may lie in excellent blood glucose control; however, as kidney disease progresses, the risk of hypoglycemia increases, due to unpredictable insulin kinetics and altered pharmacokinetics of hypoglycemic agents. In addition, whole classes of hypoglycemic agents become contraindicated and regimens must be adjusted for declining kidney function. There is no consensus regarding the best therapy for the patient with advanced chronic kidney disease. In the best of circumstances, the care of these patients will involve intensive monitoring, with the input of a team of health care providers creating a coordinated care plan, including dietary advice and a drug regimen tailored to the specific issues faced by the individual patient. An open dialogue is necessary at all times, as patients may become frustrated and attempt self-treatment using over the counter alternatives.
Characterizing sooting propensity in biofuel–diesel flames

Abstract As the world’s oil reserves are limited, and as a partial mitigation of greenhouse gas emission, renewable biofuels are being considered as important contributors to the future fuel supply for the transportation sector. The combustion of biofuel–diesel mixtures in practical engines has been shown to be not only feasible but also favorable due to low particulate emission characteristics. This paper demonstrates quantifiable sooting propensity of biofuel–diesel fuel blends using classical smoke point observations and laser induced-incandescence and laser extinction optical methods. In particular, we study mixtures of 0–25% by volume of soybean biofuel in ultra-low sulfur diesel. Following the ASTM D1322 standard, we find that the maximum flame height at the smoke point condition increases linearly with increasing biofuel fraction. An alternative sooting propensity measurement is needed, however, because high biofuel/diesel blends do not produce a smoke point in the standard wick-fed lamp procedure. Using a fixed flame height, laser-based measurements are generally consistent with smoke point trends, and laser extinction calibrations provide quantitative soot volume fractions. The results show the greatest soot concentration for pure diesel fuel, B0, and the least for a 20% blend by volume of biofuel, B20.
From a Simple IFA to a Dual Band PIFA

Printed inverted-F antennas (PIFA) are very popular choice of internal antenna for cellular handsets, owing to its ease of design to achieving multiple frequency resonances. When having multiple resonating frequency structure in a single embodiment, tuning of the resonant frequency can be very tricky. Lherefore, it is desired to have frequency independent tuning of two or more separate frequencies on a single structure. Once the key control element is identified, tuning can be easily managed. Lhis paper illustrates the design of a multi-band PIFA from a simple IFA.
Filamentous Microbes Indigenous to the Murine Small Bowel: A Scanning Electron Microscopic Study of Their Morphology and Attachment to the Epithelium

Segmented, filamentous prokaryotic microorganisms colonize and attach to the cells in the epithelium of the mucosa of the small bowels of mice and rats. Scanning electron micrographs, derived from specimens of mouse small intestine, reveal microbial filaments of at least two types. One type is thin (0.8μm) with only faint lines suggesting septa; the other is thicker (1.4μm) and has distinct segments with pronounced septa. Most of the segments are rounded; a few are thin and elongated. Immediately surrounding the attachment site of these organisms, the surface of the epithelial cells appears roughened and occasionally stringy. The filaments may differ morphologically because they represent different phases in the life cycle of a single microbial type. Alternatively, however, they may differ because they are the cells of different microbial types colonizing the same epithelial habitat.