cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Improving the Efficiency of Reasoning Through Structure-Based Reformulation

We investigate the possibility of improving the efficiency of reasoning through structure-based partitioning of logical theories, combined with partition-based logical reasoning strategies. To this end, we provide algorithms for reasoning with partitions of axioms in first-order and propositional logic. We analyze the computational benefit of our algorithms and detect those parameters of a partitioning that influence the efficiency of computation. These parameters are the number of symbols shared by a pair of partitions, the size of each partition, and the topology of the partitioning. Finally, we provide a greedy algorithm that automatically reformulates a given theory into partitions, exploiting the parameters that influence the efficiency of computation.
Sphingolipids in the Pathogenesis of Head and Neck and Lung Cancers: Translational Aspects for Therapy and Biomarker Development

Sphingolipids have garnered tremendous attention in the last two decades as a class of the bioactive lipids that regulate multiple biological events in addition to being important for membrane structures. With the identification of enzymes involved in metabolism of various bioactive molecules of the sphingolipid pathway, a better and broader understanding has been gained of how cells control signaling events, such as proliferation and apoptosis, through regulating levels of sphingolipids. This chapter will focus on recent findings relating to functions of sphingolipids in the pathogenesis of lung and head and neck cancers. Specifically, recent discoveries on the roles of sphingolipids in the regulation of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and lung cancers will be discussed. Moreover, recent efforts on the identification of sphingolipid metabolism related biomarker development will be deliberated.
Abstract 186: Identification of Novel Protein Kinase G I Alpha Antiremodeling Substrates in the Myocardium

Protein kinase G I α (PKGIα) inhibits cardiac remodeling, and this effect requires the PKGIα leucine zipper (LZ) binding domain. However, PKGIα LZ-dependent cardiac substrates remain poorly understood. Clinical trials of PKGI activating drugs have been limited to date by hypotension arising from vascular PKGI activation. Therefore, we explored downstream PKGIα substrates in the heart which may inhibit remodeling, yet circumvent the hypotensive effects of systemic PKGI activation. A screen for PKGIα LZ-interacting proteins identified: 1)cardiac myosin binding protein-C (cMyBP-C) and 2) mixed lineage kinase 3 (MLK3). cMyBP-C is a cardiac myocyte protein known to inhibit remodeling when phosphorylated. Co-precipitations with cGMP-conjugated beads confirmed the PKGIα-cMyBP-C interaction. Purified PKGIα phosphorylated cMyBP-C in vitro at Ser-273, Ser-282, and Ser-302. cGMP induced cMyBP-C phosphorylation at these sites in COS cells transfected with WT PKGIα, but not in cells transfected with either LZ mutant P...
High art as tourist art, tourist art as high art: Comparing the New Guinea Sculpture Garden at Stanford University and Sepik River tourist art

This paper compares two contemporary aesthetic expressions: tourist art from the Sepik River in Papua New Guinea and the New Guinea Sculpture Garden at Stanford University. Both aesthetic expressions undermine the conventional categories that classify art. Sepik River tourist art is motivated not by the drive to lend individual, subjective experience a material expression but by monetary desire. The New Guinea Sculpture Garden was expressly created so that Sepik artisans could expand beyond the confines of village traditions and create unfettered aesthetic expressions. But seemingly inauthentic Tourist Art actually represents many of the ideals normally ascribed to Western masterpieces, or High Art. Conversely, the High Art of the Sculpture Garden in many respects resembles inauthentic reproductions and the tenacity of traditional forms. Both tourist art and the sculpture Garden, however, have one key quality in common: they rupture conventional artistic cattegories.
Notoginseng enhances anti-cancer effect of 5-fluorouracil on human colorectal cancer cells

Purpose Panax notoginseng is a commonly used Chinese herb. Although a few studies have found that notoginseng shows anti-tumor effects, the effect of this herb on colorectal cancer cells has not been investigated. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of colorectal cancer that interferes with the growth of cancer cells. However, this compound has serious side effects at high doses. In this study, using HCT-116 human colorectal cancer cell line, we investigated the possible synergistic anti-cancer effects between notoginseng flower extract (NGF) and 5-FU on colon cancer cells.
Carotid endarterectomy in female patients: are the concerns of the Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis Study valid?

Abstract Objectives: Although the results of the Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis Study clearly demonstrated the benefit of surgical over medical management of severe carotid artery stenosis, the results for women in particular were less certain. This was to some extent because of the higher perioperative complication rate observed in the 281 women (3.6% vs 1.7% in men). The objective of this study was to review a large experience with carotid endarterectomy in female patients and to determine whether the perioperative results differed from those of male patients. Methods: A review was conducted of a prospectively compiled database on all carotid endarterectomies performed between 1982 and 1997. Operations performed in 991 female patients were compared with those performed in 1485 male patients. Results: Female patients had a significantly lower incidence of diabetes, coronary artery disease, and contralateral carotid artery occlusion than did male patients. Female patients had a significantly higher incidence of hypertension. There were no significant differences in the age, smoking history, anesthetic route, shunt use, or clamp tolerance between the two groups. Of 991 female patients, 659 (66.5%) had preoperative symptoms, whereas 332 (33.5%) cases were performed for asymptomatic stenosis. Among 1485 male patients, 1041 (70.1%) had symptoms, and 444 (29.9%) were symptom free before surgery. There were no significant differences noted in the perioperative stroke rates between men and women overall (2.3% vs 2.4%, P =.92), or when divided into symptomatic (2.5% vs 3.0%, P =.52) and asymptomatic (2.0% vs 1.2%, P =.55) cases. Conclusions: Carotid endarterectomy can be performed with equally low perioperative stroke rates in men and women in both symptomatic and asymptomatic cases. In this series, symptom-free female patients had the lowest overall stroke rate. The concerns of the Asymptomatic Carotid Atherosclerosis Study regarding the benefit of carotid endarterectomy in female patients should therefore not prevent clinicians from recommending and performing carotid endarterectomy in appropriately selected symptom-free female patients. (J Vasc Surg 2001;33:236-41.)
Aspects of digestion and in vitro fermentation in the caecum of some East African herbivores

Caecal digestive functions were compared in 22 species of East African herbivores. Comparisons were made between ruminant pseudo-ruminant, and non-ruminant herbivores to assess the relative in vitro fermentation rate and composition of caecal contents from these species observed in their natural habitat. Measurements were made of caecal fermentation rate, organic acid composition, osmolality, pH and dry matter content. The data were compared by foregut structure, feed preference and body weight of the herbivores.
An overview of risk assessment in coronary artery disease.

Abstract Risk assessment is a central activity in virtually all aspects of the examination and treatment of patients. Methods to standardize this process and improve its accuracy can only improve the quality of medical care. Since health care is undergoing reform in this country, it seems likely that physicians will increasingly need objective justification for their decision making. Risk assessment models offer a potentially useful tool. The Duke Treadmill Score is well-validated and clinically useful for risk assessment in patients with either established or suspected coronary artery disease for whom the desirability of additional invasive testing must be determined. One of the major goals of risk assessment is to identify the low-risk patients for whom no additional testing is required. Whereas multiple valid strategies for accomplishing this exist, there is no consensus on the optimal approach. Cost-containment pressures may indicate the use of exercise testing as the preferred initial strategy in patients who are able to exercise and have an interpretable electrocardiogram. Exercise nuclear testing could thus be reserved for patients in the intermediate-risk group for whom the additional accuracy of these latter tests would provide a more precise risk-stratification estimate. For patients unable to exercise, a pharmacologic stress test (such as echocardiography with dobutamine or an adenosine isonitril study) would be an acceptable alternative.
Bromido(2,2′:6′,2′′-terpyridine)platinum(II) dibromidoaurate(I) dimethyl sulfoxide solvate

The crystal structure of the title compound, [PtBr(C15H11N3)][AuBr2]·(CH3)2SO, exhibits infinite chains of {PtAuPt}∞ metallophilic inter­actions along the b axis. Two cations and one anion stack in a trimer with a unique Pt⋯Au distance of 3.3361 (5) A and Pt⋯Pt contacts of 3.4335 (6) A. The remaining [AuBr2]− anion forms no close contacts.
Distribution and synaptic localization of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors containing a novel α7 subunit isoform in embryonic rat cortical neurons

Abstract Neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) containing the α7 subunit isoform, α7-2 (α7-2-nAChRs), have previously been found to form functional homopentameric channels that desensitize slowly and bind α-bungarotoxin (αBgt) in a rapidly reversible manner. This isoform incorporates a novel cassette exon in the extracellular, ligand binding domain of the native receptor. Although this α7 subunit isoform has been detected in peripheral ganglia as well as in the central nervous system, little is known about the cellular function of α7-2-nAChRs. Co-localization immunocytochemical studies were conducted in an embryonic rat cultured cortical neuron model using a polyclonal antibody (Ab 87) raised against the amino acid sequence of the cassette exon, in combination with (1) an antibody that recognizes all known α7-nAChRs, (2) αBgt, and (3) antibodies directed against multiple cellular markers. The pattern of α7-2-nAChR expression was consistent with α7 staining in general, based on co-distribution of mAb319 and αBgt signals. However, α7-2-nAChRs clearly represent a distinct subset of α7 receptors. The α7-2-nAChR subtype was found throughout the cell-soma surface and was localized to a subpopulation of dendrites. Punctate staining characteristic of synaptic α7-2 targeting was observed at post-synaptic densities and intermittently at pre-synaptic locations. The α7-2 subunit was expressed on both GABAergic and non-GABAergic neurons. These studies reveal that receptors containing the α7-2 subunit constitute a subpopulation of α7-nAChRs and likely participate in cell-to-cell signaling in developing synapses of central neurons.
Changes in Milk Products Sham Fed to Calves. II. Relation of Prefeeding Heat Treatments and Open-Pail and Nipple Systems of Feeding on Lipolysis in Whole and Separated Milks

Abstract Sources and intensity of lipolytic activity in sham-fed whole and separated milks were explored by determining the relative changes effected by prefeeding pasteurization and by the system of feeding the milks. Nonfed milks, controls, were compared with those sham fed from either an open-pail or a nipple feeder to two rumen-fistulated calves. Portions of controls and sham-fed milks were incubated 12 hours at 38 C. Samples were collected before incubation and at two-hour intervals during incubation for measuring lipolytic activity and accompanying changes in pH and bacterial counts. Sham feeding effected immediate increases in lipolysis and in bacterial counts of both whole and separated milks and decreases in pH in whole milk. These changes involving lipolysis were accentuated by nipple feeding but were modified only slightly and inconsistently by prefeeding pasteurizations. Initiation of lipolysis through sham feeding and amplification by nipple consumption indicate that the activity of the lipolytic enzymes is related closely to the exposure of the milks in the oral and esophageal areas of the calf. Preponderance of volatile fatty acids in the sham-fed complex of milk and secretory fluids suggests that the enzymes involved preferentially released short-chain fatty acids. During incubation, particularly after four hours, bacterial counts and free fatty acids (FFA) increased in the sham-fed milks, but lipolytic activity therein showed no marked changes. Thus, the increased FFA probably were due to microbial metabolism. Neither the lipolytic agents normally present in the milks nor those added by bacterial action in sham feeding affected lipolysis to a marked degree, but the acids present in milk contributed a small and highly variable percentage of total acidity in the sham-fed complexes.
Atomic parameters and rate coefficients for selected transitions in A1(XII)

Abstract Improved values for the electron impact excitation Gaunt factor, cross section and rate coefficients are obtained in the distorted wave approximation for the 1s→np and 2s→np (n ⩽ 5) transitions in A1(XII). Also presented are the results of calculations for the oscillator strength for these transitions.
Block of neurotensin receptor down-regulation by an aminosteroid in N1E-115 cells

Abstract We have demonstrated that the aminosteroid, U-73122 (1-{6-{[17s-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-trien-17-yl]amino}hexyl}1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione) blocks agonist induced down-regulation of neurotensin receptors in murine neuroblastoma clone N1E-115 cells. U 73122 is known to inhibit polyphosphoinositide hydrolysis by affecting the coupling of GTP-binding proteins. Our results may indicate that GTP-binding proteins play a role in the mechanism of down-regulation of the neurotensin receptor.
Exposure of apple thinners to parathion residues.

In studies of potential exposure of a volunteer working under controlled conditions during apple hand-thinning operations at 1, 24, 48, 72, 96, 168, and 240 hr after application of conventional 0.03% parathion spray, both dermal and respiratory exposure values were greater where water-wettable powder formulations were used than where emulsifiables were used. Residue levels of parathion on leaves from the two types of applications were about the same. Only trace amounts of paraoxon could be detected at one and seven days after application. Highest exposure values (14.2 mg/hr dermally and 0.15 mg/hr respiratorily) were obtained within 24 hr of application. Exposure was considerably less after residues were 72 hr old. Greatest exposure was on the forearms and hands. Urinaryp-nitrophenol excretion indicated slightly more absorption following exposure in water-wettable powder experimental plots. Potential exposure values indicate that absorption could reach hazardous levels after one or two hr of work, even at the 96-hr residue period, if all the pesticide were absorbed. Considering that only a small fraction of the total amount would be absorbed, it is calculated that at 72-hr residue period poisoning should not occur. There was no significant change in blood cholinesterase activity of the volunteer worker. Variation in spray deposit within an orchard due to poor tank mixing did not appear to be great enough to be considered an important factor affecting exposure.
The effect of patient position on proximal urethral mobility

Objective: To determine the effect of patient position on the mobility of the urethrovesical junction. Methods: Q-tip tests in the supine and standing positions were performed on forty-six consecutive female patients with a variety of urogynecologic complaints. Wilcoxon signed-rank test and McNemar test were used to compare urethral mobility in the supine and standing positions. Results: Both the maximum straining Q-tip angle and the difference between the resting and straining angles were significantly greater in the supine position than in the standing position ( P Conclusion: Patient position has a significant effect on mobility of the urethrovesical junction, in that the female urethra is more mobile in the supine than in the standing position. Because the selection of a surgical procedure for a woman with genuine stress incontinence depends in part on the presence or absence of urethral hypermobility, this observation has important implications for the evaluation of women with genuine stress incontinence.
Relationship characteristics and contraceptive use among dating and cohabiting young adult couples.

CONTEXT: Contraceptive decision making occurs in the context of relationships. Although many individual-level characteristics have been linked to youths contraceptive use less is known about associations between contraceptive use and relationship-level characteristics. METHODS: Data from the 2001-2002 romantic pair subsample of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health were used to describe characteristics of 322 dating relationships and 406 cohabiting relationships among young adults aged at least 18 years. Logistic regression was employed to assess associations between these characteristics and hormonal or long-acting contraceptive use and condom use. Data from both partners allowed discordance in reports between partners in some measures to be examined. RESULTS: Cohabiting couples were less likely than dating couples to have used condoms (19% vs. 37%) and hormonal or long-acting methods (40% vs. 57%) at last sex. In dating relationships couples reporting discordant levels of intimacy and couples in which neither partner reported a high level of intimacy had greater odds of condom use than couples in which both partners reported high intimacy (odds ratios 4.5 and 3.3 respectively); mistrust and male problem drinking were negatively associated with condom use (0.3 for each). For cohabiting couples frequency of sex was negatively associated with condom use and hormonal method use (0.8 for each). CONCLUSIONS: At least for dating couples contraceptive use is linked to multiple dimensions of relationships particularly measures reflecting relationship quality-both positive and negative. Copyright (c) 2015 by the Guttmacher Institute.
Practical Interdomain Routing Security

This article reviews risks and vulnerabilities in interdomain routing and best practices that can have near-term benefits for routing security. It includes examples of routing failures and common attacks on routers, and countermeasures to reduce router vulnerabilities.
Design and simulation of a vacuum micropump

The majority of micropumps developed result in pressure differences of less than about 3 mH2O. In this work, a vacuum micropump with cascaded chambers is proposed; it is composed of two layers of reciprocal actuated membranes and two layers of check valves. Design of the vacuum micropump with electrostatic and piezoelectric actuators as well as cantilever check valves is proposed. The selection of actuation modes and actuation valves is addressed. Two theoretical design functions are derived to calculate the maximum attainable vacuum with the operation rounds of the membranes and the cascaded stage number. The analyses suggest that large membrane displacement, small dead volume of the chamber, and small backward leakage rate are preferred in obtaining higher vacuum. The increase of chamber stage numbers results in an exponential increase of the vacuum. The relationship between the vacuum and operation rounds is also similar to that between the vacuum and stage numbers: the more rounds the vacuum micropump is operated for, the higher the vacuum is obtained. The designed vacuum micropump can be integrated into the current IC techniques with batch production and high pumping ability.© (2001) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Recorded, use of books in the yale medical library†

Explores the amount of use of books by categories of borrowers in the Yale Medical Library, with a view to discovering the proportion of the catalogue which should be put in machinable form.
Primary hepatic aspergillosis following induction chemotherapy for acute leukemia

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) contributes significantly to the burden of infectious complications in heavily immunosuppressed patients with acute leukemia. The infection is typically acquired via inhalation into the respiratory tract, and the lungs are most commonly involved. However, disseminated disease may occur and reports of isolated extrapulmonary infection suggest the gastrointestinal tract is likely an additional portal of entry for this organism. We describe a case of primary hepatic aspergillosis in a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia. The patient did not respond to medical therapy with antifungals and ultimately required surgical exploration and drainage. IA should be considered in an immunosuppressed patient with hepatic abscesses and may require a combined surgical and medical approach to therapy.
Intensifying the dominant response II: nonconscious negative affect, cognitive demand and conversations

The current studies examine mechanisms that may account for why evaluations made by participants involved in conversations are more influenced by subliminal negative cues than are evaluations made by observers. In Study 1 a subliminal priming task was used to induce a positive, a negative, or no affective response toward a confederate. Participants under either a low or high cognitive load (CL) then evaluated a confederate engaged in a conversation. Evaluations made by high CL participants were most affected by the negative subliminal prime. In Study 2 an alternative CL induction was used and, in addition, we also induced self-presentation (SP) concerns. High SP participants rated confederates more positively, however, SP did not interact with priming. High CL participants again were most affected by the negative subliminal prime. Yet another CL induction was used in Study 3. The results of Study 3 replicate findings from Study 2. Results suggest that people are more susceptible to nonconscious processes ...
An Aggregate Production Planning Model Incorporating Dynamic Productivity: Part I. Model Development

Abstract All aggregate planning models, except two, utilize a constant productivity factor throughout the planning horizon. The two models which allow changing productivity factors have limitations and unrealistic assumptions. This article incorporates into an aggregate planning model the effects of manpower-level transactions on productivity.
SYSTEMIC HEMODYNAMIC EFFECTS OF AMYL NITRITE IN NORMAL MAN.

Abstract In spite of the increasing use of amyl nitrite in the auscultatory, phonocardiographic, and hemodynamic diagnosis of heart disease, data on its circulatory effects in normal man were incomplete. Because of this, observations were made on 25 normal young subjects under conditions similar to those employed when the drug is used as a diagnostic agent in the assessment of the cardiac patient. The studies indicate that amyl nitrite causes: (1) a decrease in systemic arterial pressure, vascular resistance, stroke work, circulation time, level of the dicrotic notch, amplitude of the dicrotic wave, and duration of left ventricular contraction, ejection, and diastolic filling period; (2) an increase in heart rate, cardiac index, and ejection velocity; and (3) no change in stroke volume or minute work. Phonocardiographic implications are briefly discussed.
VIV Model Test Data Comparison With Shear7 V4.5

The prediction of riser and tendon fatigue damage due to vortex-induced vibration (VIV) remains an active area of research in the offshore industry. In 2003, ExxonMobil performed VIV testing on a 10-m long, 20-mm diameter model in an effort to better understand the mechanics of VIV response of a long flexible pipe. Measured results from these tests, summarized in terms of response frequency, strain, and damage, were published in a series of papers in OTC 2004. Due to the dense array of instrumentation (17 cross flow and 35 inline stations along the riser span) and the use of strain gages in the experiments, the 2003 ExxonMobil data allows for a direct estimation of fatigue response and provides an excellent benchmark for validation of VIV predictions. This paper extends our previous work by comparing the measured test results to simulations of the test conditions (for example, model properties, boundary conditions, and current profiles) using the widely used VIV prediction tool, Shear7. We compared measured and predicted response in terms of a “damage index” for bare, fully straked, and partially straked risers. The damage index, defined as response frequency times the third power of RMS strain ( f×erms 3 ), is proportional to the fatigue life and thus can be used as a basis to assess the accuracy of predictions. For the comparison work presented in this paper, ExxonMobil has utilized a latest version of Shear7 (version 4.5) which provides added functionality and increased user control over analysis assumptions through assignment of key input parameters. In order to investigate the influence of the analysis assumptions on the predictions, a matrix of 64 distinct input parameter sets was defined. The study indicated that the new “time-sharing” model in general can generate prediction results with reasonable bias and scatter for bare risers. However, prediction errors for straked risers are still high even when the most favorable parameters are selected for the analysis. These comparisons highlight the continuing need for improved formulations with smaller prediction bias and scatter and for high quality benchmarking data and benchmarking methods for objective assessment of VIV prediction accuracy.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Long-term survivor of primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus treated with surgical resection

Introduction Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus is a rare diagnosis with only a few hundred cases reported in the literature. Due to the aggressive nature of this disease, long-term survivors are exceedingly rare with only a handful of case reports.
Method for measurement of diffusivity: Calorimetric studies of Fe/Ni multilayer thin films

A calorimetric method for the measurement of diffusivity in thin film multilayers is introduced and applied to the Fe Ni system. Using this method, the diffusivity in [Fe (25 nm)/Ni (25 nm)](20) multilayer thin films is measured as 4 x 10(-3)exp(-1.6 +/- 0.1 eV/ k(B)T) cm(2)/s, respectively. The diffusion mechanism in the multilayers and its relevance to laboratory synthesis of L1(0) ordered FeNi are discussed. (C) 2015 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
An evidence-based review of natalizumab therapy in the management of Crohn's disease.

Treatment options for Crohn’s disease have evolved beyond the early goals of induction and remission and are now more focused on preventing complications by altering the natural history of the disease. The advent of biologic therapies has revolutionized the management of Crohn’s disease. Specifically, antibodies to tumor necrosis factor alpha induce rapid mucosal healing. This translates into improved patient outcomes. However, many patients will fail these and other therapies. Natalizumab is a new biologic agent that has been approved for the treatment of moderately to severely active Crohn’s disease in patients who have failed or are intolerant to immunosuppressants and/or tumor necrosis factor inhibitors. It is a selective adhesion molecule inhibitor to alpha-4 integrin resulting in inhibition of the migration of inflammatory cells across the endothelium. This unique mechanism of action has been shown to be effective in the treatment of Crohn’s disease, making it an important option for otherwise refractory patients. Its use has been limited to these refractory patients because of concerns about the development of complications, especially progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. In this review, evidence-based data on the indications, efficacy and safety of natalizumab will be presented and its role in the management of patients with Crohn’s disease will be defined.
Regression Models for Categorical and Limited Dependent Variables

Introduction Continuous Outcomes Binary Outcomes Testing and Fit Ordinal Outcomes Nominal Outcomes Limited Outcomes Count Outcomes Conclusions
Event-related simulation of neural processing in complex visual scenes

Understanding the neural processing of complex visual scenes is facilitated by tools that allow efficient simulation of large neural systems. We here present an environment for the implementation of large networks of generalized integrate-and-fire neurons which uses an asynchronous event-based algorithm. It allows accurate (up to machine precision) calculation of neuronal spike times. Its efficiency arises from its ability to solve the subthreshold dynamics of the model analytically. The simulator is implemented in JAVA and it can run in parallel on a large number of computers with different architectures without the need for compilation. The neuronal network to be simulated and all parameters are defined in extendible markup language. A model of the primate early visual system is implemented. The use of the tool is illustrated by simulating the processing of both simple and complex visual scenes through retina, thalamus and primary visual cortex.
Validation of a 3D computational fluid–structure interaction model simulating flow through an elastic aperture

This work presents a validation of a fluid-structure interaction computational model simulating the flow conditions in an in vitro mock heart chamber modeling mitral valve regurgitation during the ejection phase during which the trans-valvular pressure drop and valve displacement are not as large. The mock heart chamber was developed to study the use of 2D and 3D color Doppler techniques in imaging the clinically relevant complex intra-cardiac flow events associated with mitral regurgitation. Computational models are expected to play an important role in supporting, refining, and reinforcing the emerging 3D echocardiographic applications. We have developed a 3D computational fluid-structure interaction algorithm based on a semi-implicit, monolithic method, combined with an arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian approach to capture the fluid domain motion. The mock regurgitant mitral valve corresponding to an elastic plate with a geometric orifice, was modeled using 3D elasticity, while the blood flow was modeled using the 3D Navier-Stokes equations for an incompressible, viscous fluid. The two are coupled via the kinematic and dynamic conditions describing the two-way coupling. The pressure, the flow rate, and orifice plate displacement were measured and compared with numerical simulation results. In-line flow meter was used to measure the flow, pressure transducers were used to measure the pressure, and a Doppler method developed by one of the authors was used to measure the axial displacement of the orifice plate. The maximum recorded difference between experiment and numerical simulation for the flow rate was 4%, the pressure 3.6%, and for the orifice displacement 15%, showing excellent agreement between the two.
Relative contributions of cardiopulmonary and sinoaortic baroreflexes in causing sympathetic activation in the human skeletal muscle circulation during orthostatic stress

The aim of this study was to reexamine the hypothesis that cardiopulmonary baroreflexes are more important than sinoaortic baroreflexes in causing vasoconstriction in the skeletal muscle circulation during orthostatic stress. We recorded muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) with microelectrodes in the peroneal nerve (and forearm blood flow with venous occlusion plethysmography) in normal subjects (innervated ventricles) and in heart transplant recipients (denervated ventricles) during graded lower body negative pressure (LBNP) performed alone and in combination with intravenous infusion of phenylephrine, which was titrated to eliminate the orthostatically induced fall in blood pressure and thus the unloading of both carotid and aortic baroreceptors. The principal new findings are as follows: (1) The increases in both MSNA and forearm vascular resistance during multiple levels of LBNP were not attenuated by heart transplantation, which causes ventricular but not sinoaortic deafferentation. (2) In heart transplant recipients, a small increase in MSNA during mild LBNP was dependent on a decrease in arterial pressure, but in normal subjects, a similar increase in MSNA occurred in the absence of any detectable decrease in the aortic pressure stimulus to the sinoaortic baroreceptors. (3) In normal subjects, the large increase in MSNA during a high level of LBNP was dependent on a decrease in arterial pressure and could be dissociated from the decrease in central venous pressure. Taken together, the findings strongly suggest that sinoaortic baroreflexes are much more important and ventricular baroreflexes are much less important than previously thought in causing reflex sympathetic activation and vasoconstriction in the human skeletal muscle circulation during orthostatic stress.
The Acts and Conditions of the Caregiving Environment

Abstract In this response to McCartney and Black (1995), the point is made that our purpose in presenting the two-tiered approach to classifying the acts and conditions of caregiving was to offer a framework that was more in keeping with current ecological developmental theories than most other approaches to measuring or classifying the elements of caregiving. Their idea of constructing a system that could reliably capture all the dynamic features of transactions, including a child′s subjective responses, although laudatory, seems very difficult to achieve. Thus, the proposed approach focuses on an objective system of classification that moves in the direction of capturing the dynamics of transactions while still meeting scientific criteria for reliable placement into categories. The argument is made that scientifically useful descriptions of caregiving environments can be attained using a systematic, objective approach to classifying acts and conditions of the environment even while recognizing that all children do not respond the same to those acts and conditions.
Structural testing of rule-based expert systems

Testing of rule-based expert systems has become a high priority for many organizations as the use of such systems proliferates. Traditional software teting techniques apply to some components of rule-based systems, e.g., the inference engine. However, to structurally test the rule base component requires new techniques or adaptations of existing ones. This paper describes one such adaptation: an extension of data flow path selection in which a graphical representation of a rule base is defined and evaluated. This graphical form, called a logical path graph, captures logical paths through a rule base. These logical paths create precisely the abstractions needed in the testing process. An algorithm for the construction of logical path graphs are analyzed.
The Uterine Myometrium Is a Target for Increased Levels of Activin A during Pregnancy

Activin A is a dimeric protein hormone that regulates numerous cellular functions. A clear physiological role for this molecule in pregnancy is suggested by previous studies in the human, wherein activin A rises dramatically as women approach parturition. To determine whether the rodent is a suitable animal model for further studies of activin action during pregnancy, the serum concentration of activin A was measured in pregnant rats. Activin A was detected in the serum of pregnant rats, beginning on day 12, and the serum concentration rose progressively through gestation (22-fold) and dramatically (140-fold) in labor. The potential target tissues for circulating activin were then identified in two ways. First, iodinated activin was injected into pregnant rats, and the tissues targeted by labeled ligand were identified in vivo. A tissue targeted by activin A in the pregnant rat was the uterine myometrium. To determine the ligand specificity of the uterine myometrial cells, the uteri of pregnant rats were ...
JEWISH NATIONALISM AND THE QUESTION OF PALESTINE

This essay seeks to answer the following two questions. What fears and psychological defenses fuel the various refusals of recognition of Palestinians by Jewish society and the Israeli state? What form of polity can transcend the conditions that gave rise to those fears and defenses, and hence offer hope for a just and lasting solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict? The essay examines the persecution anxieties that have animated Jewish ethnonationalism, using as its case study the metamorphosis of the Tunisian Jew Albert Memmi from a champion of anti-colonial national liberation to a champion of Zionism. It considers the form of polity that might transcend the objective conditions that gave rise to those persecution anxieties by exploring Edward Said's intimations of a new form of political society that combines the opposite ‘moments of truth’ of the age of empire and the age of the nation-state. Multinational empires were characterized not only by the hierarchical authoritarian rule of ‘high people...
An experiment with mathematical statistics

In the United States, a course in mathematical statistics is a part of the undergraduate curriculum in many departments of mathematics. The traditional course in mathematical statistics, it seems, has not really ‘caught on’ with large numbers of students enrolled in it. In this paper an alternative approach to the course is presented. The approach was implemented in an experimental course at Salisbury State College. Observations concerning the advantages and disadvantages of the method are given. Instructors of courses in mathematical statistics might find the approach appropriate for clarifying concepts in the subject.
Systemic Adjuvant Therapy for Patients With High-Risk Melanoma

Question: What is the evidence that systemic adjuvant therapy is of benefit in patients with high-risk resected melanoma? In their study, Verma et al include patients with thick melanomas (at least 4.0 mm in thickness), Clark level V tumor, primary melanoma with in-transit metastases, primary melanoma with clinically apparent lymphnodeinvolvementorapositivesentinellymphnode biopsyresult,resectedlymphnodediseasewithnoknown primary site, and current American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 2002 stage IIB, IIC, and III disease.
Colorectal anastomosis on a gynecologic oncology service

This is an evaluation of our experience with colorectal reanastomosis on a gynecologic oncology service. A retrospective review was carried out on all patients who underwent colorectal resection and reanastomosis on the gynecologic oncology service from October 1, 1987 to September 30, 1992. Thirty-nine procedures were performed: Nine patients underwent sigmoidectomy alone, 20 also underwent cytoreduction, and 10 also underwent exenteration. Thirty-eight percent of the patients had undergone prior radiotherapy. The level of anastomosis above the anal verge was 3-5 cm in 9 patients, 6-9 cm in 20 patients, and 10-14 cm in 10 patients. Sixteen had a protective colostomy which included 13 of the 15 patients with prior radiotherapy. Thirteen of the protective colostomies were taken down, although three of these required a second permanent colostomy. Three other patients required colostomy at a later date, one of whom developed a rectovaginal fistula 10 days following exenteration for postradiation recurrent carcinoma of the cervix. A total of 30 of the 37 evaluable patients (81%) had an ultimately functional colorectal reanastomosis. Problems related to colorectal function included stricture (4), fistula (4), chronic diarrhea (3), tenesmus (1), and fecal incontinence (1). Colorectal anastomosis is a worthwhile endeavor in selected patients with gynecologic cancer.
Effects of the endothelin-converting enzyme inhibitor SM-19712 in a mouse model of dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis.

Ingestion by mice of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) induces colonic vasoconstriction and inflammation, with some of the effects potentially mediated by the vasoconstrictor endothelin-1 (ET-1). In this study, mice given 5% 40 kD DSS for 5–6 days had elevated colonic immunostaining for ET-1 and platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1). Increased ET-1 can induce microvascular constriction; however, the increase in PECAM-1 is consistent with angiogenesis that could decrease flow resistance. Our measurements of intestinal blood flow, via infused microspheres, suggests that these two factors may offset each other, with only a nonsignificant tendency for a DSS-induced decrease in flow. Daily administration of the endothelin converting enzyme inhibitor SM-19712 (15 mg/kg) attenuated DSS-induced increases in colonic immunostaining of ET-1 and PECAM-1. SM-19712 attenuated histologic signs of tissue injury and inflammation induced by DSS, and decreased the extent of loose stools and fecal blood. However, the inhibitor did not significantly decrease DSS-induced colon shortening or tissue levels of myeloperoxidase (an indicator of neutrophil infiltration).
Design of O-rings as an example of passive adaptive structures

The use of material design to overcome time-dependent material deformation resulting in loss of sealing effectiveness of elastomeric seals was considered. O-ring sections with different stress-strain behavior in different regions of the section were studied. Experimentally validated finite element models were used to characterize the strain energy density distribution and seal-housing contact pressure for various section designs. The design rules extracted from experimental and numerical studies indicate that o-ring sections with lower elastic modulus, softening material located at regions of high strain energy will result in slower growth of permanent seal deformation and so improved seal performance over time. O-ring sections based on this material design were evaluated numerically and improved seal life predicted.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Prediction of inviscid stagnation pressure losses in supersonic inlet flows

An effort is made to quantify the stagnation pressure losses associated with shock-wave systems that may be present in such high Mach number flows as those of scramjet hypersonic diffusers. If the shock-related contribution turns out to be much larger than that attributable to viscous effects, a designer could introduce methods for the minimization of the shock system's scale; in particular, the size of the normal shock should be reduced. The angles presently treated may be approached during vehicle maneuvering or other transients.
A xanthone from Clusia insignis

Abstract A new xanthone, clusone, isolated from the fresh flowers of an Amazonian medicinal plant, Clusia insignis, has been characterized as 1,3,4,5,6-pentamethoxy 9H-xanthen-9-one by means of spectroscopic evidence.
Mobile phone-based asthma self-management aid for adolescents (mASMAA): a feasibility study

PURPOSE Adolescents report high asthma-related morbidity that can be prevented by adequate self-management of the disease. Therefore, there is a need for a developmentally appropriate strategy to promote effective asthma self-management. Mobile phone-based technology is portable, commonly accessible, and well received by adolescents. The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a comprehensive mobile phone-based asthma self-management aid for adolescents (mASMAA) that was designed to facilitate symptom monitoring, treatment adherence, and adolescent-parent partnership. The system used state-of-the-art natural language-understanding technology that allowed teens to use unconstrained English in their texts, and to self-initiate interactions with the system. MATERIALS AND METHODS mASMAA was developed based on an existing natural dialogue system that supports broad coverage of everyday natural conversation in English. Fifteen adolescent-parent dyads participated in a 2-week trial that involved adolescents' daily scheduled and unscheduled interactions with mASMAA and parents responding to daily reports on adolescents' asthma condition automatically generated by mASMAA. Subsequently, four focus groups were conducted to systematically obtain user feedback on the system. Frequency data on the daily usage of mASMAA over the 2-week period were tabulated, and content analysis was conducted for focus group interview data. RESULTS Response rates for daily text messages were 81%-97% in adolescents. The average number of self-initiated messages to mASMAA was 19 per adolescent. Symptoms were the most common topic of teen-initiated messages. Participants concurred that use of mASMAA improved awareness of symptoms and triggers, promoted treatment adherence and sense of control, and facilitated adolescent-parent partnerships. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates the utility and user acceptability of mASMAA as a potential asthma self-management tool in a selective group of adolescents. Further research is needed to replicate the findings in a large group of adolescents from sociodemographically diverse backgrounds to validate the findings.
Effect of metal alkoxide functionalization on hydrogen mobility in metal–organic frameworks

Abstract Equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations were performed to calculate self, corrected, and transport diffusivities of H2 in the metal–organic frameworks NU-100 and UiO-68 with varying numbers of Mg alkoxide functionalizations per organic linker at 243 K. Preferred hydrogen siting locations, as well as H2–H2 radial distribution functions were calculated. Increasing functionalization leads to a decrease in the diffusivity values, especially at low hydrogen loadings. Although the functionalization effects on the mobility of hydrogen molecules are appreciable, diffusivity values are still large in all cases.
A further note on the structure of gas distribution costs in urban areas

This note re-examines the issue of functional form selection in estimating the relationship between gas distribution costs and market and density variables. The study by Guldmann (1983), where only linear and log-linear forms were considered, is expanded by using a general functional form based on the Box-Cox transformation. The maximum-likelihood estimated forms turn out to be different from the log-linear ones previously selected, and their implications for economies of scale and density are discussed.