cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A light and transmission electron microscope study of the distribution and ultrastructural features of peripheral nerve processes in the extra-retinal layers of the zebrafish eye

The distribution and ultrastructural features of peripheral nerve processes in the extra-retinal layers of the eyes of the zebrafish, Danio rerio (Hamilton), were investigated using light and transmission electron microscopy. A comparative study of the quality of preservation provided by three different fixation procedures revealed no consistently striking general differences. However, somewhat subjectively, the fixative containing Millonig's buffer did consistently provide better fixation of myelin. Overall, nerve processes, depending on the site studied, were distributed as either (1) bundles (in the choroid near the optic nerve head and in the choroid adjacent to the limbus), (2) linear arrays (in the junction between the sclera and cartilage and in the choroid adjacent to the retina) or (3) individual units (in the choroid under the cartilage or in the sclera). Both myelinated and unmyelinated processes were identified in these locations. Myelinated processes usually contained both neurofilaments and neurotubules, but a few apparently contained only neurofilaments. Unmyelinated processes usually contained mainly neurotubules, but a few apparently contained only neurofilaments. Taken together, these findings indicate innervation of extra-retinal structures, as seen in zebrafish, is highly conserved among vertebrates, further supporting the use of zebrafish as a model for the vertebrate visual system.
Hollow waveguides for gas sensing and near-IR applications

Coiled hollow glass waveguides (HGWs) were studied for use as gas sensors in the near and mid-IR regions of the spectrum. An analytic expression was obtained for the loss as a function of the number of turns, N, in the coil. The expected linear dependence of loss on N holds for radii greater than 13 cm, but deviates for smaller radii. The loss of HGWs is also shown to depend on silvering time and surface roughness.
Hospital Reimbursement Incentives: An Empirical Analysis

บทคดยอ วตถประสงคของการวจยนคอ 1) เพอศกษาระดบกจกรรม 5ส ในกระบวนการผลตของโรงงานนำตาลเขตภาคตะวนออกเฉยงเหนอของประเทศไทย 2) เพอศกษาระดบการลดความสญเปลาในกระบวนการการผลตของโรงงานนำตาลเขตภาคตะวนออกเฉยงเหนอของประเทศไทย และ 3) เพอศกษาความสมพนธระหวางกจกรรม 5ส กบการลดความสญเปลาในกระบวนการผลตของโรงงานนำตาลเขตภาคตะวนออกเฉยงเหนอของประเทศไทย กลมตวอยางทใชในงานวจย คอ พนกงานฝายผลตของโรงงานนำตาลในเขตภาคตะวนออกเฉยงเหนอจำนวน 107 คน เครองมอทใชในการวจย คอ แบบสอบถาม สถตทใชในการวจย ไดแก คารอยละ คาเฉลยเลขคณต สวนเบยงเบนมาตรฐาน และการทดสอบสมมตฐานดวยการวเคราะหสหสมพนธของเพยรสน ผลการวจยพบวา 1) ระดบของการทำกจกรรม 5ส ในกระบวนการผลตของโรงงานนำตาลเขตภาคตะวนออกเฉยงเหนออยในระดบมาก 2) ระดบการลดความสญเปลาในกระบวนการผลตของโรงงานนำตาลเขตภาคตะวนออกเฉยงเหนออยในระดบมาก และ 3) กจกรรม 5ส มความสมพนธตอระดบการลดความสญเปลาในทศทางเดยวกน อยางมนยสาคญทางสถตทระดบ 0.01 ในระดบมาก คำสำคญ: กจกรรม 5ส การลดความสญเปลา โรงงานนำตาล กระบวนการผลต ABSTRACT The objectives of this research were: 1) to study the level of 5S activities in the production process of sugar factories in the northeastern part of Thailand 2) to study the level of waste reduction in the production process of sugar factories in this area; and 3) to study the relationships among 5S activities and the waste reduction in the production process of the sugar factories in that area. The sample size was 146 production staff members in the sugar factories and questionnaires were used as the research instrument. The statistics included percentage, arithmetic mean, and standard deviation; and Pearson correlation were used for the hypothesis testing. The research results showed that the 5S activities in the production process at a sugar factory in the northeastern area were at a high level. Secondly, the waste reduction in the production process at a sugar factory in the northeastern area was also at a high level. Lastly, the 5S activities were related to the waste reduction process at a statistical significance level of 0.01. Keywords: 5S Activities, Waste Reduction, Sugar Factory, Production Process
Evidence for multispecificity of antibody molecules

ONE of the salient questions in immunology concerns the means by which the immune system is capable of recognising an apparently limitless variety of antigenic determinants, including many that presumably did not exist during its evolution. Three major hypotheses have been put forward to explain the diversity of the immune response: a stringent germ line hypothesis, a recombinational germ line hypothesis and a somatic mutation hypothesis (see ref. 1 for discussion). If the assumption is made that an antibody-combining site has a single antigenic specificity, the first of the above hypotheses postulates about 1,000 variable genes and 1,000 constant genes to code for about 106 antigenic determinants. The second and, especially, the third hypotheses require the presence of many fewer genes in the germ line. Even fewer genes would be required if antibody-combining sites were multispecific. Evidence has been put forward to support the concept of multispecificity2. Moreover, the ability of single myeloma globulins to bind structurally diverse molecules3 and the multispecific character of a Bence-Jones4 dimer can be taken as additional supportive evidence. In an earlier paper5, we attempted to investigate the question of multispecificity by studying the binding specificities of a population of antibodies of limited heterogeneity generated by immunisation with a conjugate of adenosine-5′-phosphate and gramicidin S: (AMP)2–gramicidin S (ref. 6). Immunised rabbits produced predominantly three or four globulin proteins specific for AMP. Binding studies on the sera of one of the rabbits, in which there were three major AMP-specific globulins, yielded data that could be interpreted as evidence for multispecificity of antibody-combining sites. We have now succeeded in isolating three homogeneous anti-AMP antibodies from one of the rabbits immunised with (AMP)2–gramicidin S and have studied the ability of each globulin to bind AMP and other ligands. The isoelectric pattern of the specifically purified7 population of antibodies obtained from the serum of rabbit 449 (ref. 5) showed three major bands. The three bands were separated and isolated by preparative isoelectric focusing in polyacrylamide by an adaption of the procedure of Wrigley8, and were shown to be homogeneous by analytical isoelectric focusing. They were designated fractions A, B and C.
Relation between axial and appendicular skeletal calcium and body weight in the rat

The total calcium content as well as the calcium content of individual long bones has been measured in male and female rats from weaning to maturity and were found to be linear functions of body weight in both sexes. The calcium content of the total skeleton was a constant percentage of body weight in males but was a continuously increasing percentage of body weight in females. The calcium content of the tibia and femur expressed as a percentage of total body weight changed ten-fold between weaning and maturity in females but hardly changed at all in males. In mature animals above 250 gm, calcium is distributed in the different bones of the skeleton in the same proportions in both sexes though females contain much more calcium at any given body weight than males.
Delayed healing of mandibular fracture in idiopathic myxedema.

Abstract Lack of adequate amounts of thyroid hormone may interfere with healing. A patient in whom a fracture of the mandible failed to heal in the 2 years following surgical treatment is presented. When thyroid hormone supplementation was introduced, the fracture progressed to union. The physical findings of hypothyroidism and the role of thyroid hormone in healing are discussed.
Achieving standardization in clinical research: changing cacophony into harmony

Clinical research is especially robust in the field of acute coronary syndromes. Enormous efforts in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment research over the past 2 decades have resulted in decreased morbidity and mortality for patients with this disease and improved risk stratification in the emergency setting. Multiple investigators at sites throughout the world have studied and reported various aspects of acute coronary syndrome in the literature. Thousands of articles have been published in dozens of specialty journals. The variability in patient populations, methods used to risk stratify patients, and definitions for acute outcomes can make interpreting and comparing trials extremely difficult.
Effect of altitude on taste thresholds.

This study was designed to evaluate what effect altitude has on a person's ability to detect the four basic tastes (salt, sour, bitter, and sweet). Increasing molar concentrations of compounds representative of the four tastes were presented to a 6-member panel and their threshold value for each taste determined. To simulate altitude, a chamber equipped with vacuum and pressure controls and controlled temperature and humidity was used. The altitudes studied were sea level, 5,000 and 10,000 ft. above sea level. The altitude and sample sequence for each member was varied since the panel had been accustomed to living at 5,000 ft. The results were evaluated by the split-plot analysis of variance method. When the four tastes were considered as a unit, a significant difference (α = 0.05) resulted between sea level and 5,000 ft. since the lower the altitude the more sensitive was the composite taste response. However, no significant difference resulted in going from 5,000 to 10,000 ft. This study demonstrates th...
Different mutations in Ashkenazi Jewish and non-Jewish French Canadians with Tay-Sachs disease

Tay-Sachs disease patients of Ashkenazi Jewish and non-Jewish French Canadian origin are affected with a clinically identical form of this inherited disease. Both have a similar gene frequency for the disorder, which is tenfold higher than that found in the general population. Unlike other patients with the disease, who often display variation at the clinical or biochemical level, the absence of such differences between these two groups has prompted the idea that they may harbor the same mutation. In this report, a complementary DNA clone coding for the alpha chain of human beta-hexosaminidase has been used to analyze the genetic lesions in the alpha-chain locus of two patients with Tay-Sachs disease from each of these groups. On the basis of DNA hybridization analyses, the alpha-chain gene of the Ashkenazi patients appears intact while the alpha-chain gene of French Canadian patients has a 5' deletion of approximately 5 to 8 kilobases.
Calcium-45 uptake as a measurement of freeze-thaw injury to chicken spermatozoa in the presence or absence of cryopreservatives

Abstract Liquid scintillation analysis of Ca45 uptake from chicken seminal plasma was used to evaluate pre- and postfreeze injury in the absence or presence of cryopreservatives (DMSO, glycerol, sucrose, and glucose). Three freezing methods evaluated were: 1) direct immersion in liquid nitrogen (fast), 2) controlled freezing 1 °C per min (slow), and 3) 1 °C per min to −6 °C followed by 85 °C per min to −196 °C (slow-fast). Freezing, slow or fast, significantly increased Ca45 uptake in the absence of any cryopreservative. A glycerol level of 12% was necessary to obtain any reduction in freeze-thaw damage with slow or fast freezing. However, a slow-fast combination resulted in a protective effect at lower glycerol levels. DMSO was completely unsuccessful as a cryopreservative with high or low cooling velocities. Neither glycerol nor DMSO affected Ca45 transport before freezing. Glucose and sucrose stimulated Ca45 uptake before freezing, making it difficult to evaluate freeze damage. Glucose increased the amount of damage to slow frozen spermatozoa. However, it gave some protection at the highest level (0.08 g) to fast frozen semen. Sucrose levels at or above 0.08 g reduced the amount of freeze-thaw damage from fast freezing. A higher level (0.16 g) was needed to prevent significantly the injury of slow freezing. The liquid scintillation method using Ca45 appears to be a reliable method for evaluating freeze-thaw injury to spermatozoa.
Functional assays as prismatic views of drug activity: Relevance to new drug discovery

The two main processes involved in new drug discovery are screening and lead optimization; the latter process encompasses the dialogue between pharmacologists and medicinal chemists with the aim of maximizing primary activity and druglike properties of compounds. The pharmacological assay is the main tool in both of these processes; this will be discussed with special attention to new information regarding the signaling and networking of seven transmembrane receptors. In particular, the assays used for lead optimization will be discussed in terms of detecting and developing drugs that specifically emphasize some signaling pathways and not others, all through the stabilization of unique receptor protein conformations. There is considerable data to indicate that these are real phenomena that may be exploited for therapeutic advantage. A therapeutically relevant example will be discussed from a recent program designed to block entry of HIV-1 for the prevention and therapy of AIDS. The allosteric modulator ap...
Whole body magnesium concentration as an indicator of magnesium status in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

Whole body magnesium concentrations were found to reflect the magnesium status of juvenile rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) fed semi-purified diets containing graded levels of magnesium (36–2120 mg/kg diet). Low whole body concentrations (<300 mg/kg wet basis) preceded growth reduction or other signs of clinical deficiency. Whole body concentrations greater than 370 mg/kg were indicative of magnesium sufficiency. Trout met a considerable portion of their requirement by direct uptake from the environment in fresh water containing a low level of magnesium (1.3 mg/l). Analysis of growth and whole body Mg concentration data using analysis of variance suggests that trout require about 0.06% of their diet as Mg. Analysis of the same data using dose-response curves indicates an optimum dietary Mg level near 0.14% of the diet.
Fixed-base poles and eigenvectors from transmission zeros

Abstract An approach to identify building eigenproperties for fixed base conditions, applicable to cases where measurements are from seismic excitation is presented. The approach extracts the fixed base poles from a state space realization where the input is the free field and the output is the base motion, which is assumed rigid. The formulation holds for arbitrary damping distributions and provides, in addition to the poles, the fixed base eigenvectors at any point where the structural response is measured. The approach is built on the fact that the transmission zeros of the foundation transfer matrix can be extracted from measurements and that these zeros are the poles of the fixed base system. Under the premise of linearity and finite dimensionality the method is exact when the map from the free field to the foundation coordinates is itself exact. In practice modal truncation is inevitable and approximation from this source is mitigated using a pseudo-static correction that for a half-space proves a function of the foundation geometry but not of the shear wave velocity. Performance of the approach is examined in simulations and an application in a real structure is illustrated.
Laser-assisted dielectronic recombination.

The effects of a laser beam on the dielectronic recombination (DR) of H-like ions with continuum electrons was investigated for a single-mode, circularly polarized laser with irradiance ${10}^{12}$--${10}^{17}$ W/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ and photon energy 0.1--5.0 eV. Laser-induced increases in the value of the DR rate coefficient, up to \ensuremath{\sim}100\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}, were found for recombinations via the lowest-lying intermediate states, over a narrow range of the ionic charge Z, centered near Z=5. Within this range of Z, the DR rate coefficient summed over all accessible intermediate states was increased by a factor of \ensuremath{\sim}10 over its zero-field value.
Can SSDI and SSI Beneficiaries With Mental Illness Benefit From Evidence-Based Supported Employment?

Objective: Individuals with psychiatric disabilities are the fastest-growing subgroup of Social Security Administration disability beneficiaries and have negligible rates of return to competitive employment. Nevertheless, a new approach to vocational rehabilitation, termed supported employment, has increased the optimism regarding employment for this population. Methods: Aggregating data from four randomized controlled trials of evidence-based supported employment for persons with severe mental illness, the investigators compared 546 Social Security Administration disability beneficiaries with 131 nonbeneficiaries. Three employment measures were examined: job acquisition, weeks worked, and job tenure. Results: Beneficiaries receiving supported employment had better employment outcomes than those receiving other vocational services. Similar results were found for nonbeneficiaries. Overall, nonbeneficiaries had better employment outcomes than beneficiaries. However, the effect sizes measuring the improved outcomes with supported employment were similar for beneficiaries (d=.52-1.10) and nonbeneficiaries (d=.78-.89). Conclusions: Evidence-based supported employment could enable many Social Security Administration beneficiaries with psychiatric disabilities to attain competitive employment even though receipt of disability benefits operates as a barrier to employment.
A new steerable pressure force for parametric deformable models

Active contour models have been widely used in various image analysis applications. Despite their usefulness, there are problems limiting their utility, such as capture range, concavity conformation, and convergence rate. This paper presents a new pressure-like force that not only improves contour convergence rate, but also encourages contours to conform to concave regions. Unlike the traditional pressure force, this new force does not require users' input for the force direction and is steerable according to the image content. Better convergence rate as well as force normalization consistency of this new force are presented when compared with those of the gradient vector flow force field on synthetic images. Accuracies of these two methods are compared against the manual markups on a set of cardiac MRI images. Moreover, results on a MRI image smoothed at different levels demonstrate the robustness of this new force to noise.
Preschoolers’ Perceptions of Parental Roles in Single‐Earner and Dual‐Earner Families

Preschoolers were interviewed and parents were surveyed to examine the division of labor for household management and caregiving tasks in single‐earner and dual‐earner families. Children with nonemployed mothers underestimated mother's responsibilities both in home management and in child care. They also believed their parents shared more caregiving tasks than their parents reported sharing. Children in both family types believed parents shared more housework responsibilities than parents acknowledged sharing. Daughters in dual‐earner families believed their fathers engaged in more caregiving than parental reports indicated.
The human and mouse methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genes: genomic organization, mRNA structure and linkage to the CLCN6 gene.

Abstract Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), a pivotal enzyme in folate metabolism, regulates the proportional distribution of one-carbon moieties between cellular methylation reactions and nucleic acid synthesis. The organization of the MTHFR gene and the structure of its mRNA were characterized in human and mouse. There are three mRNA transcripts of 2.8, 7.2 and 9.8 kb in human and two of 3.2 and 7.5 kb in mouse. Northern blot analysis revealed that human MTHFR MRNA is only present at low abundance in most tissues tested. Five kilobases of sequence flanking the 3′ end of the human gene were isolated, and polyadenylation sites were defined by 3′ RACE. The shorter 2.8 kb transcript and the two larger 7.2 and 9.8 kb transcripts utilize different polyadenylation signal sequences, 629 and 4937 bp downstream of the stop codon, respectively. The two mRNA species in mouse also result from differential polyadenylation. Approximately 7 and 3.5 kb upstream of the human and mouse genes, respectively, were isolated and sequenced. Transcription start sites in human MTHFR were mapped using 5′ RACE. The 2.8 and 7.2 kb mRNAs originate from one of two transcription start sites that are 206 and 243 bp upstream of the ATG initiation codon, whereas transcription of the 9.8 kb mRNA is initiated at a start site located 2.8 kb upstream of the translation start codon. The putative MTHFR promoter does not have a TATA box but contains CpG islands and multiple potential Sp1 binding sites. The MTHFR gene was finely mapped to interval 16 of chromosome 1p36.3, a region deleted in many tumors, by establishing a close linkage to CLCN6, a putative chloride channel gene. A novel CA-repeat polymorphism identified within intron 2 of the CLCN6 gene may be useful in assessing loss of heterozygosity in such tumors. The multiple MTHFR mRNA species identified in this report may reflect an underlying complex set of gene regulatory mechanisms acting through an alternative transcription start site and/or polyadenylation signal sequence utilization.
Decorrelation functions in laser speckle photography

The recording and filtering processes of speckle photography are analyzed in detail using statistical optics. We show that the Fourier transforms of the autocorrelation and cross-correlation functions of speckle fields result, respectively, in the diffraction halo function and the Young fringe pattern enveloped by the halo function. A generalized decorrelation factor, defined as the ratio of the Weiner spectra of the cross-correlation and autocorrelation functions, is introduced to explain the degradation of Young’s fringes. It is shown that this factor’s magnitude controls the fringe contrast, whereas its phase may distort the fringe shape. Examples including the effect of lens aberration are presented to show the utility of this decorrelation factor and of that introduced by Yamaguchi [ J. Opt. Soc. Am. A1, 81 ( 1984)].
Molecular interactions of syndecans during development.

The syndecans, cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs), bind numerous ligands via their HS glycosaminoglycan chains. The response to this binding is flavored by the identity of the core protein that bears the HS chains. Each of the syndecan core proteins has a short cytoplasmic domain that binds cytosolic regulatory factors. The syndecans also contain highly conserved transmembrane domain and extracellular domains for which important activities are slowly emerging. These protein domains, which will be the focus of this review, localize the syndecan to sites at the cell surface during development where they collaborate with other receptors to regulate signaling and cytoskeletal organization.
The State and International Development Management: Commentary from International Development Management Practitioners

E-mail: bertucci@un.org Derick Brinkerhoff rightly argues that the concept of the "developmental state" has evolved in relation to the changing para digms on the role of the state. From the perspective of a practitioner who has been involved for many years in working with developing countries in developing and strengthening their pub lic administration institu tions, I can attest that the advice and support provided by the donor community has very much been influenced by changing theories on the role of the state. To a certain ex
Cathepsin-G and leukocyte elastase inactivate human tumor necrosis factor and lymphotoxin

Abstract The addition of either cathepsin-G or leukocyte elastase to endotoxin-stimulated human peripheral blood monocytes decreased the immunoreactive tumor necrosis factor (TNF) detected in culture supernatants in a concentration-dependent manner. Both enzymes also induced a loss of supernatant cytolytic activity as determined on the WEHI-164 target cell line. Incubation of recombinant human TNF and lymphotoxin (LT) with either cathepsin-G or leukocyte elastase resulted in a loss of cytokine bioactivity. Examination of enzyme-treated recombinant cytokines by gel electrophoresis revealed that cathepsin-G cleaved LT into a 12.6-kDa fragment and leukocyte elastase fragmented LT into a 14.1-kDa product. On Western blots cathepsin-G and leukocyte elastase degraded TNF into 11- and 7.6- k Da fragments, respectively. Incubating leukocyte elastase with plasma elastase inhibitor α-1-antitrypsin prevented the loss of recombinant TNF bioactivity and blocked the degradation of this cytokine. This study suggests that two of the most abundant neutrophil proteases, cathepsin-G and leukocyte elastase, may be important regulators of TNF and LT bioactivity.
Theoretical calculations in gaseous detonation

Abstract Nistenxier Chapman Jougurt, strong and weak detonation properties have been obtained for a five atom [C. H. O. N. A.] system. A digital computer programme has been developed which determines detonation properties in steady one-dimensional equilibrium flow. The equations and method of solution are set forth. Equilibrium and frozen sound speeds are calculated for the hot product mixtures. The effect of initial conditions and comparisons with experiment are given.
Polar nephelometer based on a rotational confocal imaging setup

Rapid measurement of the angular distribution of light scattered by particles, the scattering phase function, is achieved by using a new type of polar nephelometer, a device for measuring the angular scattered-light intensity distribution, with a high angular precision and across many orders of magnitude of intensity. The design offers high-speed measurements and avoids many of the problems often associated with traditional goniometers when they are used for measurements of light scattering from small particles or biological cells in suspension. Our system relies on confocal imaging of the test space with off-axis parabolas, using a rotating mirror to scan the angular field of view at the second focus of a pair of conjugated parabolic mirrors, with the test space located at the first focus. The angular resolution of the system is limited mainly by the data-acquisition sampling frequency. In this proof-of-principle demonstration the system performs multiple scans of a 55 deg⁡ field of view in a very short time (<1 s). To significantly increase the signal-to-noise ratio, we averaged the successively acquired scans during this time. Polystyrene spheres dispersed in water at low concentrations were used to test the system. The scattering patterns obtained were found to be in good agreement with Mie theory calculations.
Electron Microscopy of Autoradiographed Radioactive Particles

THE combination of the techniques of electron microscopy and autoradiography was first described by Liquier-Milward1. O'Brien and one of us (L.A.G.) later described the application of a similar technique to ultra-thin sections of yeast2. This communication describes a further modification of the technique for the identification of radioactive particles collected on millipore filters. This work was in support of an investigation into the effects of the inhalation of radioactive particles.
Phase field model of chemical reactions with an example of a solid electrolyte gas sensor

We present a phase field model that tracks species, phase, and charge distribution in electrochemical systems with chemically active species. The governing partial differential equations are derived from a simple set of assumptions including ideal bulk solution thermodynamics, a method of interpolating between bulk phases, physical balance laws, and the second law of thermodynamics. A source term for the conservation of mass expression captures the behavior of the chemical reactions through the interface and in the bulk phases. As a demonstration, a solid electrolyte gas sensor is modeled. This simulated gas sensor calculates EMF in response to a changing level of an active gas in the bulk gas phase.
In vivo imaging in an ABSL-3 regional biocontainment laboratory

The Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL) at the University of Pittsburgh is a state-of-the-art ABSL-3 facility that supports research on highly pathogenic viruses and bacteria. Recent advances in radiologic imaging provide several noninvasive, in vivo imaging modalities that can be used to longitudinally monitor animals following experimental infection or vaccination. The University of Pittsburgh RBL provides digital radiography, bioluminescence imaging, and PET/CT. Operating these platforms in an ABSL-3 poses unique challenges. This review will discuss the development and refinement of these imaging platforms in high containment, emphasizing specific challenges and how they were overcome.
Long-term follow-up of patients undergoing colectomy for colonic inertia.

PURPOSE: Total abdominal colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis has been the procedure of choice for patients with the established diagnosis of colonic inertia. Previous studies with a limited follow-up of only one to two years have shown acceptable results and a high rate of patient satisfaction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term results of total abdominal colectomy in these patients in terms of complications, bowel function, and overall patient satisfaction. METHODS: Access to the colorectal registry at the Cleveland Clinic Florida identified all patients who underwent total abdominal colectomy for colonic inertia between 1988 and 1993, with a minimum of five-year follow-up. Telephone interviews were designed to assess bowel function, concomitant use of any antidiarrheal medications, postoperative complications, persistence or development of preoperative symptoms such as pain or bloating, and overall satisfaction. Patients were asked to rate their outcome as excellent, good, fair, or poor. RESULTS: Fifty patients underwent total abdominal colectomy for the diagnosis of colonic inertia. Three patients died of unrelated causes and 30 (60 percent) were available for follow-up. The mean follow-up was 106 months, ranging from 61 to 122 months. All 30 patients reported the outcome of surgery as “excellent.” The average frequency of spontaneous bowel movements was 2.5 (range, 1–6) per day. During the period of follow-up, six patients (20 percent) required admission for small-bowel obstruction, three of whom (10 percent) required laparotomy. Four patients complained of mild pelvic pain, only one of whom had the onset of pelvic pain postoperatively that persisted until the time of interview. In the other three patients the pain was present preoperatively but had decreased in intensity since the operation. Two patients (6 percent) still required assistance with bowel movements, one by laxatives and the other by enemas. Only two patients (6 percent) needed antidiarrheal medications to reduce bowel frequency. CONCLUSION: This long-term follow-up revealed a high degree of patient satisfaction and very good bowel habits, with an acceptable long-term rate of bowel obstruction. Based on these results, total abdominal colectomy can be recommended to patients with well-established colonic inertia with expectations of sustained benefit up to ten years after surgery.
MEMS acoustic emission transducers designed with high aspect ratio geometry

In this paper, micro-electro-mechanic systems (MEMS) acoustic emission (AE) transducers are manufactured using an electroplating technique. The transducers use a capacitance change as their transduction principle, and are tuned to the range 50?200?kHz. Through the electroplating technique, a thick metal layer (20??m nickel?+?0.5??m gold) is used to form a freely moving microstructure layer. The presence of the gold layer reduces the potential corrosion of the nickel layer. A dielectric layer is deposited between the two electrodes, thus preventing the stiction phenomenon. The transducers have a measured quality factor in the range 15?30 at atmospheric pressure and are functional without vacuum packaging. The transducers are characterized using electrical and mechanical tests to identify the capacitance, resonance frequency and damping. Ultrasonic wave generation using a Q-switched laser shows the directivity of the transducer sensitivity. The comparison of the MEMS transducers with similar frequency piezoelectric transducers shows that the MEMS AE transducers have better response characteristics and sensitivity at the resonance frequency and well-defined waveform signatures (rise time and decay time) due to pure resonance behavior in the out-of-plane direction. The transducers are sensitive to a unique wave direction, which can be utilized to increase the accuracy of source localization by selecting the correct wave velocity at the structures.
Propensity toward formation of higher aggregates in anionic and cationic iron tetraphenylporphyrin μ-oxo dimers: evidence from 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy

The μ-oxo dimeric form of anionic iron(III) tetra(p-sulfonatophenyl) porphyrin, FeTSPP, and iron(III) tetra(p- carboxyphenyl) porphyrin, FeTCPP, as well as cationic iron(III) tetra(4-N-methylpyridyl) porphyrin, FeTMPYP, and iron(III) tetra(4-N,N,N-trimethylanilyl) porphyrin, FeTMAP, were investigated by 1H and 13C NMR methods in aqueous solution. Concentration dependence, chemical shifts, splitting patterns and line-broadening properties of phenyl/pyridyl and porphyrin β-pyrrolic resonances suggest the aggregation tendencies of these porphyrin dimers increase in the order TMPYP <TMAP<TSPP<TCPP. The diffused nature of positive charge in the N- methylpyridyl group of TMPYP makes this dimer least susceptible to aggregation. On the other hand, the steric/ spatial dimensions of the localized charged groups in the meso-phenyl substituted TMAP, TSPP and TCPP porphyrins are most likely to affect their aggregation tendencies. The resolved splittings of ortho-phenyl protons observed at 50 mM concentration in the anionic systems suggest a tighter stacking of dimer/higher aggregates and slower formation/dissociation processes on the NMR time scale, than those found in the cationic analogs.
A magnetically pulsed neutron time-of-flight spectrometer for inelastic scattering

A time-of-flight spectrometer utilizing a magnetically pulsed beam has been placed in operation at the High Flux Isotope Reactor at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The pulsing is accomplished by rapidly changing the magnetic moment direction in a ferrite crystal that serves to both monochromate and pulse the beam. Good neutron reflectivity is obtained from the ferrite crystal and pulse risetimes of the order of 1 μs are available. The spectrometer is interfaced to a Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-15-30 computer which drives pulsed motors to set up the desired scattering geometry and collects and analyzes the time-of-flight data. The magnetically pulsed beam is ideal for use with the cross-correlation technique and spectra are presented which show the accuracy of the pulsing technique and the power of the cross correlation methods in obtaining neutron scattering data.
Influence of chondroitin sulfate on the biochemical, mechanical and frictional properties of cartilage explants in long-term culture

A recent study [Basalo et al., 2007. Chondroitin sulfate reduces the friction coefficient of articular cartilage. J. Biomech. 40(8), 1847-1854] has shown that the friction coefficient of bovine articular cartilage is reduced significantly by the supplementation of chondroitin sulfate (CS) at a concentration of 100mg/ml. This result suggests that intra-articular injection of CS may be used as a prophylactic treatment against the progression of osteoarthritis. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that long-term culture of cartilage explants in CS produces no adverse mechanical, biochemical, or cytotoxic effects, while reducing the friction coefficient relative to the control group. Long-term cultures of live bovine articular cartilage explants were performed with incubation in media containing CS of three different concentrations (0, 10 and 100mg/ml). Frictional tests (cartilage-on-glass) were performed under constant stress (0.5MPa) for 3600s and the time-dependent friction coefficient was measured. Samples incubated in a 100mg/ml of CS solution exhibited a significantly lower equilibrium friction coefficient than the control (0.05+/-0.01 vs. 0.18+/-0.02 on Day 0, 0.04+/-0.01 vs. 0.14+/-0.04 on Day 7 and 0.04+/-0.01 vs. 0.15+/-0.06 on Day 14). Samples incubated in 10mg/ml of CS did not exhibit any significant decrease in the friction coefficient. Cell viability and DNA content were maintained in all groups. However, after 28 days of culture, the Young's modulus and glycosaminoglycan content of explants incubated in 100mg/ml of CS decreased to 5% and 40% of their initial levels, respectively. Based on this adverse outcome the hypothesis of this study is rejected, dampening our enthusiasm for the use of intra-articular CS injections as a prophylactic treatment in osteoarthritis.
Mechanisms of Reaction of Hydratable Aluminas

The reactivities of four hydratable aluminas were investigated. Rates of heat liberation during hydration from 15° to 55°C were determined by isothermal calorimetry. Rates of heat evolution show two peaks. An initial mixing peak is due to wetting and initial dissolution reactions. A second, main heat peak is associated with the hydration step. The hydration product was bayerite in all cases. Although the specific surface areas for the aluminas studied were as high as about 260 m2/g, they did not react completely. The origin of incomplete reaction is related to the microstructure of the hydratable alumina grains. The particles are approximately 10 μm in size. High surface areas are not the result of small particle size, but are the result of high internal surface areas. The Bayerite formation appears to block the porosity in the grains, thereby inhibiting further reaction.
Reverse Gravitative Movement on Earlier Overthrusts, Lemhi Range, Idaho

Two large gravity slide blocks moved up to 5 mi southwestward off the Lemhi Range during the latest stages of basin-range uplift. Both detachment faults coincide in part with folded thrust faults along which 1 to 3 mi of eastward displacement occurred during the Mesozoic Sevier orogeny. The detachment faults, which dip 9° to 12° southwest, are not offset by the normal fault zone at the range margin. Sliding was localized by the interception of west-dipping folded thrust surfaces by the range front normal fault zone.
Modeling the climatic drivers of spatial patterns in vegetation composition since the Last Glacial Maximum

Projecting the future composition and function of communities is a major challenge, and there is an urgent need to develop, improve, and test the predictive capacity of ecological models under different climate states. We tested the effect of climate on spatial patterns of plant community composition over the past 21 000 yr, focusing on whether the spatial relationships between environmental distance and compositional dissimilarity are stable over time. We used a network of fossil-pollen sites in eastern North America, combined with paleoclimate simulations from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM; 21 000 calibrated years before present, 21 kyr BP) to the present. We modeled relationships between climate, geography, and compositional dissimilarity at 1 kyr periods using generalized dissimilarity modeling (GDM) and determined the strongest predictors of compositional dissimilarity. We assessed the performance of models calibrated for one time period (e.g. 14 kyr BP) in predicting patterns in the same period as well as at other times (e.g. 12 kyr BP), and tested whether predictive performance was related to the magnitude of climate change between the calibration and prediction time periods. Finally, we examined whether pooling data from multiple time periods improved predictive performance. Models explained 32 to 51% of compositional dissimilarity between locations within any single time period. The best set of predictors changed across time, with summer temperature and geographic distance the strongest predictors of compositional dissimilarity for most time periods. Models built for one time period explained turnover during nearby time periods relatively well, but performance decayed across time and with increasing climate change. Results were similar regardless of whether models were projected forward or backward through time, and did not improve when data were pooled across time. GDM predicts well the spatial patterns of past compositional dissimilarity and holds promise for modeling the drivers of compositional dissimilarity across space and time. However, the modeled relationships between compositional turnover and environmental distance are non-stationary, so caution is needed when predicting across periods of significant climatic change.
Characterizing the spatial structure of vegetation communities in the Mojave Desert using geostatistical techniques

Abstract Geostatistical techniques are used to evaluate spatial characteristics of vegetation communities mapped within a portion of the Mojave Desert, California. Spatial structures of different vegetation communities were characterized using nugget, range and sill parameters of spherical model variograms. Model variograms reveal different vegetation communities have distinctive spatial properties that are quantified effectively by the parameters of these models. Model variograms were fit to experimental variograms calculated from plant width values of ground based vegetation data collected for 96 1000×2 m transects. The maximum model variogram range for all communities was 39 m, suggesting transects must be at least this long to classify them unambiguously into the communities currently recognized. Experimental variograms were calculated for all plants in each of eight mapped vegetation communities. The Bush Seepweed Series has a distinctively long range, for example, and the Creosote Bush Series has a distinctively high nugget and sill. These findings support use of high-resolution remote sensors and geostatistics for determining vegetation community structure. Spatial pattern information produced by these methods could improve broad scale vegetation classifications produced by low-resolution remote sensing systems.
Radiologic diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus: critical analysis of 65 cases.

A recent increase in the number of Barrett's esophagis being diagnosed is probably directly related to a proportional increase in endoscopic biopsies of the esophagus and awareness of premalignant potential of Barrett's mucosa. While the endoscopist can detect Barrett's mucosa with fair degree of accuracy, the radiologic diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus still remains a diagnostic challenge despite several well established radiologic features. We reviewed 65 patients with pathologically proven Barrett's esophagus and found a wide spectrum of radiologic features. These include hiatus hernia in 49, gastroesophageal reflux in 38, strictures in 32, esophagitis in 20, and characteristic Barrett's ulcer in 12. In addition ascending or migrating strictures were found in 10, mucosal pattern simulating areae gastricae in 5, cricopharyngeal dysfunction in 4, and fixed spiral folds in 3 patients. This constellation of radiologic features, some of which have not been previously emphasized, should further assist radiologists in suggesting the diagnosis of Barrett's esophagus.
Reorganization of Neural Activity in Cerebral Cortex during Adaptation to External Force Perturbations of Reaching Movement

Knowledge of the properties of motor cortical neurons is crucial for solving the problem of developing a flexible and robust brain-computer interface (BCI). The results of chronic multielectrode recording from the primary motor cortical area of monkey brain during the animal's performance of a center-out 3D reaching task and adaptation to external force perturbation of the movement are described. Recruitment of new cells was observed in the dorsal premotor and primary motor cortex. This consisted of the gradual, day-to-day development of a directional tuning pattern (DTP) of spike activity. In many neurons an "exploratory" variation of DTP was observed. The intensity of variation gradually decreased by the end of adaptation, usually converging to a new pattern. The resulting DTP was retained for at least several days after perturbations were discontinued. The results suggest that the brain cortex can be viewed as a pool of functionally flexible processing elements that can be dynamically recruited into a system controlling the performance of a given motor task and individually adjusted as required for motor learning
Architectural considerations for a family of multi-functional tactical intelligence terminals

Warfighters across the military operations continuum require timely and accurate information to successfully execute their missions. They employ intelligence data in direct support of command and control, weapons and sensors. As tactical intelligence terminals migrate toward a multi-band, multi-channel and multi-mission architecture, a dilemma exists when trying to satisfy jointly the conflicting intelligence broadcast needs of the small, highly-mobile, tactical user and the needs of the large, mobile or fixed command center. Each user has distinct, differing, mission and platform constraints. Offering the same weight, cost, size, transmit/receive channel functionality, and COTS/NDI solution for both cases is not the optimum solution for either. The highly-mobile tactical user requires a compact, environmentally robust terminal containing embedded message processing, sized sufficiently to his needs, but not so large as to meet the intensive filtering information needs of the command post. The command post, on the other hand, requires environmental robustness only on the military-specific portion of the terminal, i.e. the RF and INFOSEC segments. Computative-intense message processing is best handled in the inhabited cabin or below deck of the command post, where the operator workstation uses evolutionary COTS upgrades. Each of the intelligence terminal interfaces (mission, platform, RF band, correlation, filtering, and formatting, TDP, environmental, and power source) is examined to show that there is a natural division between the two user-types. Unity is best achieved by the use of use of a common set of modules populated in different terminals.
Central blood pressure: A new vital sign?

72-9312/$e seefrontmattera2009A i:10.1016/j.artres.2009.10.179 The ongoing development of non-invasive technology to perform sophisticated pulse wave analysis and accurately determine central blood pressure has facilitated study of central blood pressure as a physiologic parameter or biomarker. It is now possible to systematically compare the magnitude of differences in central and brachial systolic and pulse pressures. Furthermore, the relative importance of central and brachial pressures in relation to both subclinical and clinical cardiovascular disease can now be assessed. Central systolic and pulse pressures are systematically lower than their brachial counterparts due to pulse wave amplification. The major determinants of central systolic pressure include wave reflections, vascular stiffness, left ventricular contractility and heart rate. In theory, central pressure should provide a more accurate representation of the load imposed on the left ventricle and coronary and cerebral vasculature than brachial pressure due to its closer proximity. Arterial stiffening will result in higher central systolic pressure and thereby impose a greater afterload on the left ventricle whereas associated lower diastolic pressure may reduce coronary perfusion pressure. This article