cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Magneto-optical studies of the uniform critical state in bulk MgB2

We present a detailed magneto-optical investigation of the magnetic flux penetration in polycrystalline MgB2 slabs made by direct reaction of B and Mg. Our results unambiguously indicate a uniform, Bean critical state magnetization behaviour with almost no electromagnetic granularity. From the measured magnetic flux profiles we were able to extract the temperature dependence of the critical current density Jc(T). The Jc(T) value reaches 1.8×105 A cm-2 at 10 K and 0.12 T, in good agreement with global magnetization measurements.
Temporal correlation of graded reversible inspiratory inhibition with discharge patterns of late inspiratory neurons located in the dorsal respiratory group in cats

Summary Respiratory neurons were recorded with microelectrodes in the medullary dorsal respiratory group of pentobarbital-anesthetized cats. The animals were ventilated with a phrenic-driven servorespirator that allowed manipulation of phasic volume feedback. By increasing or decreasing the gain of the servorespirator, graded reversible inhibition could be temporally advanced or delayed, respectively. Fourteen percent of the neurons were late inspiratory (1.I.) and received a facilitatory volume input and, hence, are classified as 1.I. beta neurons. When the time of onset of graded inhibition was advanced, the onset of firing of 1.I. beta neurons was advanced, and, similarly, when graded inhibition was delayed, the onset of 1.I. beta neuron firing was delayed. The lag between the onset of firing and the onset of graded inhibition ranged from −240 msec to +760 msec, but each neuron displayed a relatively constant lag as servorespirator gain was changed. When transient inspiratory inhibition was produced by inflating the lungs and then withdrawing volume during the graded reversible inhibitory period, the 1.I. beta neurons fired during the transient inhibitory period but decreased their firing as inspiratory activity recovered. This indicates that 1.I. beta activity is associated with graded inhibition, not with the irreversible stage of phase transition.
Fast and efficient mode and quantizer selection in the rate distortion sense for H.263

In this paper, a fast and efficient method for selecting the encoding modes and the quantizers for the ITU H.263 standard is presented. H.263 is a very low bit rate video coder which produces satisfactory results at bit rates around 24 kbits/second for low motion quarter common intermediate format (QCIF) color sequences such as 'mother and daughter.' Two major target applications for H.263 are video telephony using public switched telephone network lines and video telephony over wireless channels. In both cases, the channel bandwidth is very small, hence the efficiency of the video coder needs to be as high as possible. The presented algorithm addresses this problem by finding the smallest frame distortion for a given frame bit budget. The presented scheme is based on Lagrangian relaxation and dynamic programming (DP). It employs a fast evaluation of the operational rate distortion curve in the DCT domain and a fast iterative search which is based on a Bezier function.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Psychogenic Basis for Abdominal Pain in Children and Adolescents

Abstract Eighteen girls and 13 boys, referred to a pediatrie gastroenterology clinic for recurrent abdominal pain, were compared with matched classroom control subjects on measures of school functioning, family environment, life events, and social and behavioral traits. All patients and their parents were interviewed by a child psychiatrist. This disorder was found more often in anxious, internalizing children who had been exposed to traumatic events and whose family members had a history of abdominal pain. The persistence of this disorder in most patients over a mean 9.5-month follow-up period suggests that methods for dealing with anxiety would be beneficial to these children. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry , 1988, 27, 2:179–184.
The Technological and Economic Impact of High Volume Instrument (HVI) Systems on the Cotton and Cotton Textile Industries

The development and use of HVI systems have resulted in significant technological and economic changes in the production and mill consumption of cotton. This paper explains how the testing systems are used and examines and discusses the impact of changes on the cotton and cotton textile industries. The paper also examines the trends and future development capabilities of such HVI systems and concludes that such changes may he only a small portion of what is forthcoming in the continuous improvement of cotton textile quality.
Towards environmental systems biology of Shewanella

Bacteria of the genus Shewanella are known for their versatile electron-accepting capacities, which allow them to couple the decomposition of organic matter to the reduction of the various terminal electron acceptors that they encounter in their stratified environments. Owing to their diverse metabolic capabilities, shewanellae are important for carbon cycling and have considerable potential for the remediation of contaminated environments and use in microbial fuel cells. Systems-level analysis of the model species Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 and other members of this genus has provided new insights into the signal-transduction proteins, regulators, and metabolic and respiratory subsystems that govern the remarkable versatility of the shewanellae.
Characteristic curves for photographic emulsions from nonlinear fitting: a study of statistical and model error

The intensity calibration of photographic emulsions is examined from the standpoint of nonlinear least-squares fits to analytic expressions. A simple but widely neglected expression for computing the propagated statistical error is used to examine the error in the relative exposure as determined from the fitted calibration function. The statistical error is also compared with the dependence on the choice of fit function, or model error. In the present applications, which replicate those obtainable routinely in emission spectroscopy, the relative intensity is obtainable to better than 10% over a 2-order-of-magnitude change in intensity.
Exact solutions of the unsteady hydrodynamic and hydromagnetic boundary layer equations in a rotating fluid system

This paper provides a general study of the unsteady hydrodynamic and hydromagnetic boundary layer flows including the effects of the pressure gradient and uniform suction or blowing. Exact solutions of the boundary layer equations are obtained by using the Laplace transform treatment. Asymptotic analysis is carried out to determine the unsteady flow field for small and large times. The structure of the velocity distribution and the associated boundary layers is investigated for resonant and, non-resonant cases with physical significance. The ultimate steady-state hydrodynamic and hydromagnetic boundary layer flows are examined for various cases related to uniform suction or blowing, resonant and non-resonant frequencies. It is shown that the ultimate steady-state flows are eventually established through inertial oscillations and the propagation of diffused waves. The non-existence of the ultimate steady-state hydrodynamic solution for the case of resonance and blowing is investigated with physical significance. In the hydromagnetic situation, the ultimate boundary layer flow is found to exist for all cases involved in the problem including the case of blowing and resonance. Several special results of interest are discussed. Es handelt sich um eine allgemeine Untersuchung der hydrodynamischen und der magneto-hydrodynamischen Grenzschichtstromungen einschlieslich des Einflusses eines Druckgradienten und gleichformigen Absaugens bzw. Ausblasens. Es wurden exakte Losungen der Grenzschichtgleichungen durch Benutzung der Laplace-Transformation erhalten. Eine asymtotische Betrachtung wurde durchgefuhrt, um das instationare Stromungsfeld fur kleine und grose Zeiten zu gewinnen. Die Struktur der Geschwindigkeitsverteilung und der zugeordneten Grenzschichten wurde fur die physikalisch bedeutungsvollen Falle der Resonanz und der Nicht-Resonant untersucht. Der stationare Endzustand der hydrodynamischen und magnetohydrodynamischen Grenzschichtstromungen wurde untersucht fur verschiedene Falle des Absaugens und Ausblasens, sowohl fur Resonanz- als auch fur Nicht-Resonanz-frequenzen. Es wird gezeigt, das die stationaren Stromungen moglicherweise durch Tragheitsschwingungen und durch die Ausbreitung von Diffusionswellen aufrechterhalten werden. Die Nichtexistenz einer Losung, welche den stationaren Endzustand im hydrodynamischen Fall fur Resonanz und Ausblasen beschreibt, wird in bezug auf ihre physikalische Bedeutung untersucht. Im magnetohydrodynamischen Fall haben wir gefunden, das die stationare Grenzschichtstromung in allen Fallen existiert, einschlieslich Ausblasen und Resonanz. Es wird eine Reihe von Einzelergebnissen diskutiert.
Inverted nutcracker syndrome: a case of persistent hematuria and pain in the presence of a left-sided inferior vena cava.

Nutcracker syndrome is described as the symptomatic compression of left renal vein between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery, resulting in outflow congestion of the left kidney. We present the case of a 51-year-old male with a left-sided inferior vena cava, resulting in compression of the right renal vein by the superior mesenteric artery. Secondary to this anatomic anomaly, the patient experienced a many-year history of flank pain and intermittent gross hematuria. We have termed this unusual anatomic finding and its associated symptoms as the “inverted nutcracker syndrome”, and describe its successful management with nephrectomy and autotransplantation.
Fitting the Coulomb potential variationally in Xα molecular calculations

The method of Mintmire and Dunlap which variationally fits the Coulomb potential rather than the charge density is extended to linear combination of Gaussian‐type orbitals Xα calculations on molecules. This approach is more efficient than fitting the charge density since the same integrals are used to treat the Coulomb and exchange potentials. Furthermore, the required Fock matrix elements are simple overlap rather than Coulomb integrals. However, the method is somewhat less accurate than fitting the charge density in a test on H2.
Operator-stable distributions and stable marginals

Sharpe has shown that full operator-stable distributions μ on Rn are infinitely divisible and for a suitable automorphism B depending on μ satisfy the relation μt = μt−B ∗ δ(b(t)) for all t > 0. B is called an exponent for μ. It is proved here that if an operator-stable distribution on Rn has n linearly independent univariate stable marginals, then its exponents are semi-simple operators. In addition necessary and sufficient conditions are given for such a distribution on R2 to have univariate stable marginals. The proofs use a hitherto unpublished result of Sharpe's that all full operator-stable distributions are absolutely continuous. His proof is provided here.
Rat lung phospholipid fatty acid composition in prepregnant, pregnant, and lactating rats: Relationship to ozone-induced pulmonary toxicity

Our laboratory has demonstrated recently that pulmonary inflammation induced by acute ozone exposure is much more severe in late stage pregnant and lactating rats than in postlactating rats or age-matched virgin females. It is currently widely believed that such pulmonary damage results, at least in part, from the reaction of ozone at sites of unsaturation in phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) molecules located in the epithelial fluid layer lining the lung surfaces and/or the plasma membranes of epithelial cells underlying this fluid layer. The objective of this study was to compare the PLFA composition of lung tissue and surfactant from ozonesensitive late stage pregnant and lactating rats with comparable tissue from relatively ozone-insensitive age-matched prepregnant (virgin female) rats to explore the possibility that changes in lung PLFA composition during pregnancy and/or lactation contribute to the enhanced sensitivity of these physiologic states to ozone. In addition, the correlation of changes in plasma PLFA composition with those in lung was investigated. There were minor differences in the composition of lung tissue and surfactant PLFAs between prepregnant rats and pregnant rats at day 17 of gestation and only slightly greater differences between prepregnant and lactating rats. Changes from the prepregnant state in the PLFA composition of lung tissue, but not surfactant, correlated with changes in the plasma only in lactating rats and not in pregnant rats. Overall, the double bond index of PLFAs in surfactant and lung tissue was decreased in pregnant and lactating rats compared with prepregnant rats. Thus, the increased sensitivity of pregnant and lactating rats to ozone-induced lung injury cannot be attributed to an increased availability of unsaturated fatty acids. In addition, the arachidonic acid composition of phospholipids did not appear to explain differences between prepregnant rats and pregnant or lactating rats in their inflammatory response to ozone. In conclusion, there is no evidence that the relatively minor changes in lung tissue PLFA composition which occur during pregnancy and lactation predispose rats in these physiologic states to ozone-induced pulmonary toxicity.
Testing a Published Model of Health-Related Quality of Life in Heart Failure

Abstract Background Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with heart failure is compromised and associated with increased mortality and rehospitalization. Inadequate conceptualization of variables related to HRQOL has hampered clinicians' efforts to enhance HRQOL. The purpose of this study was to test the Wilson and Cleary model (WCM) of HRQOL in patients with heart failure. Methods and Results Data from 293 patients with heart failure were analyzed to determine the best multivariate HRQOL model given variables derived from WCM. HRQOL was measured using the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ). Health perception, symptom status, and age predicted the total MLHFQ ( P P P Conclusion The most influential variables associated with HRQOL were the subjective variables: health perception and symptom status. Objective variables proposed by WCM to drive the model were not significant predictors. Mediator effects hypothesized in the WCM were not fully demonstrated in this sample. Thus modification of the WCM is warranted.
Locally adaptive subspace and similarity metric learning for visual data clustering and retrieval

Subspace and similarity metric learning are important issues for image and video analysis in the scenarios of both computer vision and multimedia fields. Many real-world applications, such as image clustering/labeling and video indexing/retrieval, involve feature space dimensionality reduction as well as feature matching metric learning. However, the loss of information from dimensionality reduction may degrade the accuracy of similarity matching. In practice, such basic conflicting requirements for both feature representation efficiency and similarity matching accuracy need to be appropriately addressed. In the style of ''Thinking Globally and Fitting Locally'', we develop Locally Embedded Analysis (LEA) based solutions for visual data clustering and retrieval. LEA reveals the essential low-dimensional manifold structure of the data by preserving the local nearest neighbor affinity, and allowing a linear subspace embedding through solving a graph embedded eigenvalue decomposition problem. A visual data clustering algorithm, called Locally Embedded Clustering (LEC), and a local similarity metric learning algorithm for robust video retrieval, called Locally Adaptive Retrieval (LAR), are both designed upon the LEA approach, with variations in local affinity graph modeling. For large size database applications, instead of learning a global metric, we localize the metric learning space with kd-tree partition to localities identified by the indexing process. Simulation results demonstrate the effective performance of proposed solutions in both accuracy and speed aspects.
Searching for new antimalarial therapeutics amongst known drugs

The need to discover and develop new antimalarial therapeutics is overwhelming. The annual mortality attributed to malaria, currently approximately 2.5 million, is increasing due primarily to widespread resistance to currently used drugs. One strategy to identify new treatment alternatives for malaria is to examine libraries of diverse compounds for the possible identification of novel scaffolds. Beginning with libraries of drug or drug-like compounds is an ideal starting point because, in the case of approved drugs, substantial pharmacokinetic and toxicologic data should be available for each compound series. We have employed a high-throughput screen of the MicroSource Spectrum and Killer Collections, a library of known drugs, bioactive compounds, and natural products. Our screening assay identifies compounds that inhibit growth of Plasmodium falciparum cultured in human erythrocytes. We have identified 36 novel inhibitors of P. falciparum, of which 19 are therapeutics, and five of these drugs exhibit effective 50% inhibitory concentrations within similar ranges to therapeutic serum concentrations for their recently indicated uses: propafenone, thioridazine, chlorprothixene, perhexiline, and azlocillin. The findings we report here indicate that this is an effective strategy to identify novel scaffolds and therefore aid in antimalarial drug discovery efforts.
Folic acid supplementation —when and how

The periconceptional intake of 400 μ g of folic acid can prevent 50–70% of neural tube defects. It is difficult to achieve this intake with diet alone, even with the recently approved levels for grain-food fortification. Therefore, a daily multivitamin with folic acid is recommended for all women of childbearing potential. Obstetrician-gynecologists should exercise every opportunity to educate their patients to this end. Although raised as a concern, the potential of masking the megaloblastic anemia of pernicious anemia is unlikely with these levels of supplementation, and considering the rarity of the disease in women of reproductive age.
Functional correlates of low molecular weight peptide synthesis inAplysia neurons

An attempt was made to determine whether the synthesis of low molecular weight proteins by certain neurons of Aplysia could be correlated with either pacemaker activity or neurosecretion. Electrophysiological tests indicated that the spontaneous generation of action potentials in cells L8 and L9 is due to an endogenous pacemaker mechanism. Gel electrophoresis of proteins synthesized by these neurons showed no evidence of low molecular weight material. The non-neurosecretory interneuron L10 synthesizes a 12,000 dalton protein, whereas the silent neurosecretory cell L5 synthesizes a lower molecular weight peptide. Taken with previous findings, these results indicate that there is no correlation between pacemaker activity and the synthesis of these peptides. There is, however, a strict correlation between neurosecretory activity and the synthesis of proteins of molecular weights lower than 12,000 daltons.
Effective charge transfer and covalent bonding in III-V compounds

Abstract Difference in electron charge transfer from the two kinds of atoms in III–V compounds to the bond is equivalent to effective charge transfer from one kind of atom to the other, resulting in a net dipole moment. The conclusion that the charge transfer to the bond is proportional to the effective charge transfer is supported by analysis of the Mossbauer, thermal conductivity and elasticity data. In an analysis of the short-range force parameters, the central force parameter α is charge-independent whereas the noncentral force parameter β is highly correlated with the effective charge transfer. Further, α is correlated with C 0 = e 2 r 4 whereas β is not. The quite different correlations observed for α and β suggest that other physical properties be reexamined for relation to central and noncentral force effects. The apparent shift of the centroid of the bonding charge towards the V atom is due to the larger transfer of charge from the V atom to the bond. The role of the relative occupation of valence states must be accounted for in the comparison of physical properties for the different groups of semiconductors.
Pulsar recoil and gravitational radiation due to asymmetrical stellar collapse and explosion.

New data imply that the average velocity of radio pulsars is large. Under the assumption that these data imply that a pulsar is born with an ``intrinsic'' kick, we investigate whether such kicks can be a consequence of asymmetrical stellar collapse and explosion. We calculate the gravitational wave signature of such asymmetries due to anisotropic neutrino radiation and mass motions. We predict that any recoils imparted to the neutron star at birth will result in a gravitational wave strain ${h}_{\mathrm{zz}}^{\mathrm{TT}}$ that does not go to zero with time. Hence, there may be ``memory'' in the gravitational wave form from a protoneutron star that is correlated with its recoil and neutrino emissions.
Personal health information management

Integrating personal health information helps people manage their lives and actively participate in their own health care.
Superior and subordinate communication profiles: Implications for independent‐mindedness and upward effectiveness

A framework is explained that maintains corporate productivity is enhanced when organizations nurture employee independent‐mindedness. An argumentative‐low verbally aggressive organizational communication climate is believed to create the freedom which nurtures independent‐mindedness. A study of 131 superior‐subordinate dyads in a large number of organizations investigated some of these assumptions.
Plastic deformation and ductility of magnesium AZ31B-H24 alloy sheet from 22 to 450 °C

Abstract Mg alloy AZ31B-H24 sheet was investigated through microstructural characterization and mechanical testing. Tension tests were conducted across a broad range of strain rates for temperatures from 22 up to 450 °C, as were gas-pressure bulge tests for several forming pressures at 350 °C. Tensile data were used to calculate flow stresses, tensile elongations, activation energies for creep and the Lankford coefficient, or R-value. The AZ31B material exhibits strong plastic anisotropy (R=7) at room temperature because of its basal crystallographic texture. Plastic anisotropy decreases with increasing temperature but demonstrates no sensitivity to strain rate until recrystallization occurs. Upon recrystallization, the R-value becomes sensitive to strain rate and continues decreasing with increasing temperature until it reaches a minimum (R=1–3) near approximately 300 °C. Plastic anisotropy at these high temperatures is greatest at the fastest strain rate. This sensitivity to strain rate is attributed to a competition between dislocation-climb creep, which produces anisotropic flow and dominates at fast strain rates, and grain-boundary-sliding creep, which produces isotropic flow and dominates at slow strain rates. The mechanistic understanding developed for plastic flow in AZ31B was implemented in a material constitutive model for deformation at 350 °C. A new aspect of this model is the inclusion of dislocation pipe diffusion as a potential accommodation mechanism for dislocation-climb creep. This model was validated against independent gas-pressure bulge test data through the predictions of a finite-element-method simulation, and the model provided quite accurate predictions of the experimental data.
The risk of coronary heart disease in non-smokers exposed to environmental tobacco smoke revisited: response to Ellison and Morrison and to Brown

This response is in two parts. First, the critique of Ellison and Morrison (1998) is addressed. This is followed, then, by addressing Brown's (1998) criticisms. While I am appreciative of the efforts put forth in these rejoinders to Gross (1998), I cannot, in any good conscience, alter my overall belief that environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is yet to be established as a risk factor for coronary heart disease. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Memorial: Howard S. Barrows, MD (1928–2011)

Dr. Howard Barrows was one of those medical educators who many of us believed would live in perpetuity. The news of his passing was not only sad, but shocking. Another one of the giants in medical ...
Direct microscopic observation of particle deposition in porous media: Role of the secondary energy minimum

Abstract A flow-cell has been constructed where micrometer-sized particles flow horizontally through a single layer of packed glass beads. Deposition is viewed through a fluorescent microscope with phase contrast capabilities. This allows the visualization of particle deposition in porous media in real time and provides insight into phenomena such as secondary minimum deposition of particles and microbial pathogens during physicochemical filtration. At low ionic strengths (1–3 mM), no deposition was observed on the collector beads. As the monovalent salt concentration was raised to moderate ionic strengths (10–30 mM), the particles became trapped in the secondary minimum and translated along the glass bead surface, accumulating near the rear of the spherical collectors. At high ionic strength (100 mM), no calculated electrostatic energy barrier to deposition exists and particles deposited over the entire surface of the spherical collector. It is concluded that deposition in the secondary energy minimum is an important removal mechanism for micrometer-sized particles in flow through granular porous media.
Differential effects of aging on binding sites of the activated NMDA receptor complex in mice

Abstract The NMDA receptor site has been shown to be vulnerable to the effects of aging. Decreases in binding to the receptor site of up to 50% have been reported in aged animals. The present study was designed to quantitate and compare the effects of aging on multiple binding sites of the NMDA receptor complex in various brain regions. Autoradiography with [3H]glutamate, [3H]CPP, [3H]glycine, [3H]MK801 and [3H]TCP was performed on brain sections from 3, 10 and 28–30 month old C57B1 6 mice. The percent declines between 3 and 28–30 months of age in [3H]-glutamate (15–35% declines) and [3H]CPP (20–42% declines) binding were similar within most cortical regions and the caudate nucleus but [3H]glutamate binding showed less change (0–11% declines) than [3H]CPP (13–27% declines) in the occipital/temporal cortex and hippocampal regions. [3H]MK801 and [3H]TCP binding, stimulated by 10 μM glutamate, exhibited intermediate aging changes between the glycine and NMDA sites, both in percent decline (3–28% and 0–26%, respectively) and in the number of brain regions involved. [3H]Glycine binding, stimulated by 10 μM glutamate, showed no significant overall effect of age (declines ranged from 0–34%). [3H]CPP binding was significantly more affected than [3H]glycine binding in many regions. These results suggest that aging has heterogeneous effects on different sites on the NMDA receptor complex throughout the brain and on NMDA receptor agonist versus antagonist binding in selected brain regions.
Converting enzyme inhibition causes hypocitraturia independent of acidosis or hypokalemia

Converting enzyme inhibition causes hypocitraturia independent of acidosis or hypokalemia Background Angiotensin II stimulates the proximal tubular Na/H antiporter and increases proximal tubular cell pH. Because intracellular pH may affect urinary citrate excretion and enzymes responsible for renal citrate metabolism, the present studies examined the effect of enalapril, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, on the activity of renal cortical ATP citrate lyase and urinary citrate excretion. Methods Enalapril was given to rats (15mg/kg/day) for seven days and to humans (10mg twice daily) for 10days. Blood and 24-hour urine samples were obtained in both groups. Renal cortical tissue from rats was analyzed for enzyme activity. Results In rats, enalapril decreased urinary citrate excretion by 88%. The change in urinary citrate was not associated with a difference in plasma pH, bicarbonate nor potassium concentration. However, similar to metabolic acidosis and hypokalemia, enalapril caused a 42% increase in renal cortical ATP citrate lyase activity. When given to humans, enalapril significantly decreased urinary citrate excretion and urine citrate concentration by 12% and 16%, respectively, without affecting plasma pH or electrolytes. Conclusions Enalapril decreases urinary citrate in rats and humans. This is due, at least in part, to increases in cytosolic citrate metabolism through ATP citrate lyase in rats similar to that seen with chronic metabolic acidosis and hypokalemia. The effects of enalapril on urinary citrate and renal cortical ATP citrate lyase occur independently of acidosis or hypokalemia but may be due to intracellular acidosis that is common to all three conditions.
Image migration: measured retrieval rates

When the Indianapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center changed Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS) vendors, we chose to use "on demand" image migration as the more cost effective solution. The legacy PACS stores the image data on optical disks in multi-platter jukeboxes. The estimated size of the legacy image data is about 5 terabytes containing studies from ~1997 to ~2003. Both the legacy and the new PACS support a manual DICOM query/retrieve. We implemented workflow rules to determine when to fetch the relevant priors from the legacy PACS. When a patient presents for a new radiology study, we used the following rules to initiate the manual DICOM query/retrieve. For general radiography we retrieved the two most recent prior examinations and for the modalities MR and CT we retrieved the clinically relevant prior examinations. We monitored the number of studies retrieved each week for about a 12 month period. For our facility which performs about 70,000 radiology examinations per year, we observed an essentially constant retrieval rate of slightly less than 50 studies per week. Some explanations for what may be considered an anomalous result maybe related to the fact that we are a tertiary care facility and a teaching hospital.
OSCILLATORY CORTICOTHALAMIC RESPONSE TO SOMATOSENSORY INPUT

We construct a model of the thalamocortical feedback loop using the Random Neural Network model to provide a theoretical explanation for cortical and thalamic damped rapid (circa 60-100 Hz) oscillations which have been observed in lightly anesthesized rats with somatosensory input Nicolelis (1997). Experimental data corroborates the choice of model parameter settings. Model predictions indicate that positive feedback loops and large signaling delays within cortex significantly determine the oscillatory phenomenon and its duration (i.e. its decay), while positive feedback from cortex to thalamus is needed to exhibit oscillations in thalamus.
Effects of high-density lipoprotein on acetylcholine-induced coronary vasoreactivity.

Abstract Recent evidence suggests that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol has important vasoactive properties which may contribute to its beneficial effects on atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. The endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine has been used in a number of experimental studies to assess endothelial function. The relation between serum lipoproteins and acetylcholine-induced coronary vasoreactivity was investigated in patients (n = 27) undergoing elective coronary arteriography. Mean serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels were 189 ± 7 (4.84 ± 0.18 mmol/liter), 134 ± 6 (3.47 ± 0.15 mmol/liter), 41 ± 3 (1.06 ± 0.08 mmol/ liter) and 106 ± 30 mg/dl (1.20 ± 0.03 mmol/ liter), respectively. After a baseline arteriogram, acetylcholine was infused into the left main coronary artery and percent change from baseline dimension was determined in 27 angiographically smooth coronary artery segments and in 14 arterial segments with evidence of mild atherosclerotic disease. Intact vascular smooth muscle function was then confirmed in all segments by dilation to intracoronary nitroglycerin. Acetylcholine produced significant vasoconstriction of both angiographically smooth (13 ± 4%, p
Regulation of myosin IIA and filamentous actin during insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Insulin stimulated glucose uptake requires the colocalization of myosin IIA (MyoIIA) and the insulin-responsive glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) at the plasma membrane for proper GLUT4 fusion. MyoIIA facilitates filamentous actin (F-actin) reorganization in various cell types. In adipocytes F-actin reorganization is required for insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. What is not known is whether MyoIIA interacts with F-actin to regulate insulin-induced GLUT4 fusion at the plasma membrane. To elucidate the relationship between MyoIIA and F-actin, we examined the colocalization of MyoIIA and F-actin at the plasma membrane upon insulin stimulation as well as the regulation of this interaction. Our findings demonstrated that MyoIIA and F-actin colocalized at the site of GLUT4 fusion with the plasma membrane upon insulin stimulation. Furthermore, inhibition of MyoII with blebbistatin impaired F-actin localization at the plasma membrane. Next we examined the regulatory role of calcium in MyoIIA-F-actin colocalization. Reduced calcium or calmodulin levels decreased colocalization of MyoIIA and F-actin at the plasma membrane. While calcium alone can translocate MyoIIA it did not stimulate F-actin accumulation at the plasma membrane. Taken together, we established that while MyoIIA activity is required for F-actin localization at the plasma membrane, it alone is insufficient to localize F-actin to the plasma membrane.
The effect of recombinant human osteogenic protein‐1 (bone morphogenetic protein‐7) impregnation on allografts in a canine intercalary bone defect

Abstract The utility of cortical allografts in repairing large bone defects is limited by their slow and incomplete incorporation into host bone. In order to determine the effects of recombinant human osteogenic protein-1 (rhOP-1) impregnation on allograft incorporation, we used a canine intercalary bone defect model. Bilateral resection of a 4 cm segment of the femoral diaphysis and reconstruction with structural bone allografts were performed. In one limb, the allograft was soaked in solution with rhOP-1 for 1 h before implantation. In the other limb, the allograft was soaked in the same solution without rhOP-1. Dynamic load-bearing, radiographic analysis, biomechanical testing, and histomorphometric analysis were conducted. Radiographic analysis showed significantly larger periosteal callus area in the rhOP-1 treated group at week 2. The rhOP-1 significantly increased allograft bone porosity and significantly increased the number of active osteons in the allografts. There were no significant differences between the rhOP-1 treated and non-treated allografts in load bearing and biomechanical analyses. These findings indicate that rhOP-1 increases intercalary allograft remodeling without deleterious effects in mechanical and functional strength.
Bioaccumulation of four heavy metals in two populations of grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio.

Bioaccumulation can occur only if the rate of uptake of a chemical by an organism exceeds its rate of elimination. Many aquatic animals are able to excrete a greater proportion of their intake under contaminated conditions and thus maintain trace metal concentration in the body at an approximately normal level. The biological activity or the metabolic rate of an organism often changes due to natural seasonal variations causing the rate of incorporation and release of heavy metals to change. This paper reports on the comparative bioaccumulation of Hg, Cd, Cu, and Zn in two populations of grass shrimp, Palaemontes pugio, one of the few species surviving in highly contaminated estuaries in northern New Jersey. One population they studied was from Piles Creek (PC), a tributary of the Arthur Kill in heavily industrialized Linden, New Jersey, and the other population was from Big Sheepshead Creek (BSC), a relatively pristine creek near non-industrialized Tuckerton, New Jersey.
Intersection bodies and dual mixed volumes

The setting for this article is Euclidean n-space, KY’, n > 2. Let X” denote the set of convex bodies (compact, convex subsets with nonempty interiors) in R”, and let -X; denote the subset of X” that contains the centered (centrally symmetric with respect to the origin) bodies. For UE S”‘, let E, denote the hyperplane, through the origin, that is orthogonal to U, and let KI E, denote the image of the orthogonal projection of the body KE X” onto E,. We shall use V, to denote i-dimensional Lebesgue measure. For V,, and V,-, we shall usually write V and u. Shephard [38] poses the question: If K, L E XE, and
New template based nanoelectrode arrays for organic/inorganic photovoltaic applications

In this Letter, we report on a new nanofabrication technology to yield highly arrayed nanoelectrodes for organic-inorganic solar cells that promise new levels of performance and efficiency. This technology efficiently controls the effective area of highly arrayed nanoelectrodes and allows for the maximum incorporation of organic materials within the voids. Particularly the 3D parameters such as thickness, spacing, and height of the nanostructures are controlled non-lithographically by atomic layer deposition technology.
Filariasis in British Guiana. A comparative study of Filaria bancrofti and Filaria ozzardi infections

A method of data collection and the incidence findings based on this collection are reported. The author studied the occurrence of 2 parasitic infections Filaria bancrofti (Wucherenia bancrofti) and Filaria ozzardi (Mansonella ozzardi) among the population of Guyana when that country was a British colony. The occurrence of these 2 types of parasitic infections was compared and numerous variables were correlated to illuminate the nature of these infections. Infection by F. bancrofti was strictly limited to the population in the coastal regions and river estuaries and the percentage of infection varies according to race: Negroes 40%; East Indians 20%; Chinese rarely affected; and aboriginal Indians and North Europeans no occurrence. Since a person may be heavily populated with filarial organisms and show no symptoms whereas others will manifest the disease syndrome called filariasis the author attempted to elucidate the circumstances governing the nonappearance or otherwise of filarial lesions. It is argued that the initial pathological manifestation exclusively found in F. Bancrofti infections is the varicolymphocele of the spermatic cord in males and of the utero-ovarian lexus in females. This is the main and often only clinical manifestation of filariasis during the hosts lifetime. The theory that so long as the parasites remain confined to genital tissue and escape only through lymphatics which will lead the parasites to sites of destruction within the hosts body few overt symptoms of filarial disease will manifest is discussed and data from 7000 cases including 1000 laparotomies are presented for substantiation.
First-principles analysis of electron-phonon interactions in graphene

The electron-phonon interaction in monolayer graphene is investigated using density-functional perturbation theory. The results indicate that the electron-phonon interaction strength is of comparable magnitude for all four in-plane phonon branches and must be considered simultaneously. Moreover, the calculated scattering rates suggest an acoustic-phonon contribution that is much weaker than previously thought, revealing an important role of optical phonons even at low energies. Accordingly it is predicted, in good agreement with a recent measurement, that the intrinsic mobility of graphene may be more than an order of magnitude larger than the already high values reported in suspended samples.
Effects of Temperature and Larval Diet on Development of the Fall Armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), was reared at seven constant temperatures ranging from 17 to 38°C on an artificial diet, corn ( Zea mays L.), and cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.). Developmental rates, survival, pupal weights, and number of stadia varied among diets. Both linear and nonlinear models of developmental rate as a function of temperature were developed for eggs, each instar, the entire larval stage, and pupae on each diet. Eggs hatched at all temperatures. Larvae completed development on all diets at all temperatures except 38°C. Both larval and pupal rate of development declined between 33 and 35.5°C. Developmental thresholds were similar for all developmental categories on all diets observed and averaged 12.95 ± 0.21°C. In general, the number of stadia increased at temperatures below 25°C. Mean pupal weight increased with increases in number of stadia, but the differences were not statistically significant. Additional stadia generally result in an increase in total developmental time. Larvae took longer to develop, attained a lower pupal weight, and required a greater number of stadia on cotton than on artificial diet or corn.
The risk of hip fracture among noninstitutionalized older adults.

The risk of hip fracture among the 7,527 respondents to the Longitudinal Study on Aging (LSOA) is prospectively modeled using logistic regression techniques. Based on existing studies, a seven-stage hierarchical model serially introduces ecological, demographic, and social factors as well as general health status before considering symptoms and diseases conductive to hip fracture, falling history and body mass, and previous hip fracture. Interaction terms involving age and White women are then introduced to explore novel hypothesis. Of the LSOA respondents, 368 (4.9%) experienced hip fracture between 1984 and 1991. Significant risks of hip fracture were associated with age, female gender, White race, being hospitalized (for any cause) in the year prior to baseline, having fallen at least once in the year prior to baseline, and leaner body mass. The risk associated with increasing age diminishes over the life course. Similarly, the protective effect of body mass diminishes over the life course. Finally, previous ecological findings are clarified by identifying an elevated risk for White women living in the rural South. Language: en
Cross-modal transfer of a specific discrimination in the rabbit

Classical discrimination conditioning was employed to establish a discrimination between two rates of intermittent stimulation in the auditory modality for two rabbits and in the visual modality for two additional rabbits. Acquisition of the initial discrimination was facilitated in the auditory condition. Following training in the original modality, the stimulus modality contingencies were exchanged and a test of transfer conducted. Transfer from audition to vision and from vision to audition was definitively shown by both the heart-rate and eyeblink responses.
Mining structures for semantics

Online data is available in two avors: unstructured data that resides as free text in HTML pages, and structured data that resides in databases and knowledge bases. Unstructured data is easily accessed as human-readable text on a browser, while structured data is hidden behind web query interfaces (web forms), web services, and custom database APIs. Access to this data, popularly referred to as the hidden web, entails submitting correctly completed web forms or writing code to access web services using protocols such as SOAP.
Probiotics and Commensals Reverse TNF-α– and IFN-γ–Induced Dysfunction in Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells

Background & Aims: Commensal bacteria are crucial for the development of the mucosal immune system. Probiotics are commensals with special characteristics and may protect mucosal surfaces against pathogens. Pathogens cause significant phenotypic alterations in infected epithelial cells, and probiotics reverse these deleterious responses. We hypothesized that probiotics and/or commensals may also reverse epithelial damage produced by cytokines. Methods: Human intestinal epithelial cells were exposed basolaterally to interferon (IFN)-γ (103 U/mL) or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (10 ng/mL) for up to 48 hours and assessed for ion transport, transepithelial resistance (TER), and epithelial permeability in the presence or absence of probiotics (Streptococcus thermophilus [ST] and Lactobacillus acidophilus [LA]), or the commensal, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (BT). Results: Agonist-stimulated chloride secretion was inhibited by IFN-γ, an effect prevented by ST/LA or BT. The ability of ST/LA or BT to restore Cl− secretion was blocked by inhibitors of p38 MAPK, ERK1, 2, and PI3K. The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and the NKCC1 cotransporter were down-regulated by IFN-γ, and ST/LA pretreatment reversed this effect. Both TNF-α and IFN-γ significantly reduced TER and increased epithelial permeability, effects prevented by ST/LA or BT. A Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor synergistically potentiated effects of ST/LA or BT on TER and permeability, but p38, ERK1, 2, or PI3K inhibition did not. Finally, only probiotic-treated epithelial cells exposed to cytokines showed reduced activation of SOCS3 and STAT1,3. Conclusions: Deleterious effects of TNF-α and IFN-γ on epithelial function are prevented by probiotic, and to a lesser extent, commensal pretreatment. These data extend the spectrum of effects of such bacteria on intestinal epithelial function and may justify their use in inflammatory disorders.
The effects of acute or repeated cocaine administration on nerve terminal glutamate within the rat mesolimbic system.

Abstract Cocaine administration alters glutamate function within several brain regions. Using quantitative electron microscopic immunocytochemistry, the present study investigated the effect of repeated intermittent cocaine (resulting in behavioral sensitization) or acute cocaine administration on the density of glutamate immunogold labeling within nerve terminals. Rats were treated daily with saline or cocaine for 7 days. Following a 14-day withdrawal animals were challenged with saline or cocaine. On the challenge day, most (75%) animals that received cocaine repeatedly showed a heightened locomotor response to cocaine compared to the first day of cocaine administration, and were considered behaviorally sensitized. Three days after the challenge, glutamate immunogold labeling was quantified in nerve terminals making asymmetrical synaptic contacts within the core and shell of the nucleus accumbens, ventral tegmental area and medial prefrontal cortex. There was a decrease in such labeling in the nucleus accumbens in the group receiving acute cocaine. Locomotor activity was positively correlated with glutamate immunolabeling within nerve terminals in the nucleus accumbens core only for the cocaine-sensitized group. Nerve terminal glutamate immunolabeling in the nucleus accumbens core, but not the shell, was increased in the non-sensitized compared to the cocaine-sensitized group. In the ventral tegmental area, glutamate immunolabeling was significantly higher in the cocaine-sensitized compared to the acute cocaine group. In the prefrontal cortex, there were no significant differences in glutamate immunogold labeling between treatment groups. This study indicates that acute cocaine administration significantly decreases nerve terminal glutamate immunoreactivity in the nucleus accumbens. We suggest that sensitization results in differential changes in the nucleus accumbens core versus the shell, and may alter presynaptic mechanisms regulating glutamate release or re-uptake in the core.