cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Systems And Cost Issues Of Flat Panel Displays For Automotive Application

The automobile instrument panel is undergoing a revolutionary transition from mechanical and electromechanical displays to all-electronic displays. This is not an easy transition in that the "ideal" automotive display does not exist and all principal candidates have significant limitations. To identify the obstacles standing in the way of successful application of these candidate displays, we examine these limitations from the view of system performance and cost, concluding that innovative approaches to implementing the electronic control of the display can both improve display performance and reduce system cost. Specifically, the development of a high performance, cost effective thin-film transistor (TFT) technology is essential to the successful implementation of automotive quality flat panel dot matrix displays. The potential of competitor TFT technologies will be assessed for their ability to provide the performance required in mature flat panel displays.
My Computational Education

This paper discusses the experience of the author as a scientist and as a learner of astronomy/physics with the aid of computers. The author also discussed the advantages of knowing how to create a computer program for his profession
Recent developments in solids mixing

Abstract This review covers the major development in solids mixing since 1976. The publications on the subject have been divided into three major categories: characterization of states of solids mixtures, rates and mechanisms of solids mixing processes, and design and scale-up of mixers or blenders. Possible future work has been proposed.
Sunscreen protection for lip mucosa: a review and update

It has been stated that the key to prevention of oral cancer is to avoid the "five Ss: smoking, spirits, spices, sepsis, and syphilis." There is certainly enough evidence to add another "S"--sunlight. Although there is a paucity of information in the dental literature on the use of sunscreens, the following dermatologic recommendation is noteworthy: "Persons with Skin Types I and II should never sunbathe and should adopt a program of daily application of effective sunscreens (SPF 15) as a habit and from an early age--in much the same manner as daily brushing of the teeth is adopted to prevent dental caries." The dentist should advise patients at high risk for squamous cell carcinoma and those with recurrent herpes labialis to use a sunscreen for the lips of at least SPF 15. The best sunscreen formulation at the present time is a combination of either PABA or an ester of PABA along with a benzophenone. A frequent combination seen on product labels is Padimate O and oxybenzone. Sunscreens should be used year-round on the lips with two applications 1 hour before sun exposure, and hourly reapplication while in the sun. If the convenience of a "lipstick" product is not important to the patient, then a skin product of the liquid or gel type should be used. If the appearance is not important, a white opaque cream containing titanium dioxide, talc, or zinc oxide may be used as a physical barrier. Women may use an opaque lipstick, but should first apply a chemical sunscreen of at least SPF 15.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Islam, Gender, and Slavery in West Africa Circa 1500: A Spatial Archaeology of the Kano Palace, Northern Nigeria

Abstract Using field data from the Kano palace, this paper highlights the utility of a reworked Foucauldian mode of spatial analysis (spatial archaeology) in understanding the dynamics of state formation in Islamicized West Africa. It is argued that the palace was built circa 1500 as an Islamic palace within which North African political cultural innovations were intorudced and given material force. The most important of these were seclusion, massive concubinage, a state council and treasury, and the use of male slaves (including eunuchs) as important state functionaries. These innovations established a new and gendered spatial dynamic of state formation that registered clearly in palace design. Most notably, gender constructions were mediated through spatial oppositions which emphasized the importance of paternity and royal motherhood in increasing the authority of the king. Accordingly “male”“state” affairs were sited in or near public domains while female “state-household” activities were located in th...
Neurophysiological Determinism and Human Action

Recent contributors to the freedom-determinism debate continue to complain that compatibilists ignore the question of the determinants of choices. An appropriate task, then, at this stage of the dispute is to examine carefully an actual deterministic theory of human behaviour and motivation to see its implications for our notion of the human agent as a morally responsible being. With the success of mechanical simulation of intelligence and advances in neurophysiology, commentators have turned to neurophysiological theory, seeing it as a threat to our concept of the human agent and to our moral attitudes. These considerations make it worth examining the incompatibilist case put forward by Ted Honderich in a recent article.1 He concludes that empirical findings, primarily in neurophysiology, support some theses which express a 'neurophysiological determinism' of human behaviour. In Honderich's view, these theses imply that we are not responsible agents, in particular, that responses such as 'holding something against someone' or 'being grateful to someone' are ruled out. The following are the theses which Honderich advances: (i) brain states are caused by other physical states; (ii) many brain states are correlates, i.e. accompaniments, of experiences including the important decidings and choosings; and (iii) some brain states have as their results certain movements of the body. These movements are actions, Honderich holds. This identity assumption is so crucial to his incompatibilism that it must rank as a fourth thesis. Honderich holds a notion of the power to act which is also essential to his incompatibilistic conclusion. In his view, to say that Claire's raising her knee in a certain situation has a cause, is to say that Claire cannot do other than raise her knee. This notion of power, together with the four theses, yields Honderich's conclusion 'that on every occasion when we act, we can only act as in fact we do'. Given Honderich's concept of responsibility, 'it follows too that we are not responsible for our actions, and, what is most fundamental, that we do not possess selves of a certain character' (p. I87). In Honderich's words, 'It is essential, however, to any determinism of a forceful kind, that it give an account of the place of decision, choice, and consciousness generally' (p. 214). Moreover, the theory of human action which is employed must be plausible and adequate, and the conceptions of power and responsibility should be appropriate and cogent. I shall try to show that Honderich's determinism fails to satisfy these requirements. The failure is instructive in helping us to discern the features of our actions and ourselves as agents which are essential to the maintenance of our familiar moral attitudes. In the course of the
Nighttime sleep and daytime nap patterns in school age children with and without asthma.

ABSTRACT:Objective:This research examines subjective and objective report of naps and nighttime sleep in 9- to 11-year-old children with and without asthma.Methods:This between subjects study collected prospective self-report diary and objective actigraphy measures of sleep from 27 children with and
Complications in pediatric deep neck space abscesses.

Objectives. To determine the incidence and demographic profile of children who develop complications from deep neck space abscess.Study Design. Case series.Setting. Tertiary children’s hospital.Subjects and Methods. One hundred thirty-eight patients admitted for deep neck space abscesses between 1998 and 2008. Inclusion criteria were age younger than 18 years and computed tomography scan demonstrating an abscess in the retropharyngeal, parapharyngeal, or peritonsillar spaces. Children were diagnosed with abscess if purulence was encountered on operative incision and drainage.Results. In the first 5 years of the study, 45 children met the inclusion criteria, whereas in the latter 5 years, 93 children were treated for abscesses. There were no differences between these cohorts in terms of age (P = .70), gender (P = .08), abscess site (P = .23), or rate of surgical intervention (P = .83). The total major complication rate was 9.4% (n = 13) with mediastinitis being the most frequent (n = 9) complication. The n...
Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) studies of a conjugated polyelectrolyte in aqueous solution

Abstract Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) by the conjugated polyelectrolyte, poly[5-methoxy-2-(4-sulfobutoxy)-1,4-phenylene-vinylene], was studied in semi-dilute solutions. A broad peak appears at high momentum transfer (q) for all concentrations. The peak position ( q m ) and intensity ( I ( q m )) scale with polymer concentration as q m ∼ c 1/2 and I ( q m )/ c ∼ c −1/2 , consistent with polyelectrolyte theory. The upturn of I ( q ) at q A −1 indicates chain aggregation. Addition of excess salt removes the broad peak from I ( q ). In high-salt solutions, I ( q )∼ q −1 implying a rod-like conformation with a persistence length larger than 800 A.
Roward a public philosophy of public administration: a civic perspective of the public

The thesis of this article is that a publicphilosophy of public administration needs to be formulated. It must not be based upon romantic and technocratic approaches as past efforts have been. It must rest instead upon a revitalized concept of the public that stresses the importance of public interdependency, public learning, public language, and a critical evaluation of the relationship between the role of the state and public administration. This emphasis has important implications for the respective responsibilities of both academicians and practicing administrators.
The Promise of Restorative Practices to Transform Teacher-Student Relationships and Achieve Equity in School Discipline

ABSTRACTRestorative approaches to school discipline are increasingly being implemented throughout the United States in an attempt to reduce reliance on suspension and eradicate the racial discipline gap. Yet, little is known about the experience of students in classrooms utilizing restorative practices (RP). This study draws on student surveys (N = 412) in 29 high school classrooms. Hierarchical linear modeling and regression analyses show that high RP-implementing teachers had more positive relationships with their diverse students. Students perceived them as more respectful and they issued fewer exclusionary discipline referrals compared with low RP implementers. In addition, the findings demonstrate some initial promise of well-implemented RP for narrowing the racial discipline gap. The study found that higher RP implementers issued fewer discipline referrals to Latino and African American students compared with lower RP implementers. The study findings have implications for equity-focused consultation...
Toward data standards for proteomics.

Biologists have traditionally worked with relatively small data sets and shared results only with others working on similar biological systems. With the advent of genomics, and now proteomics, they are faced with exponentially growing sets of highly interrelated, heterogeneous, complex and rapidly evolving types of data. The lack of cohesion between heterogeneous proteomics data, resulting from the diverse structure and organization of independently produced data sets, poses a serious problem for progress in the field. We argue here that the adoption of consensus standards for the interpretation, handling and dissemination of specific types of protein data should be a priority for the proteomics community.
Increasing antidumping effect of intestinal pacing with motor-active agents.

The aim was to determine whether cholecystokinin-octapeptide (CCK-OP), bethanechol Cl, or metoclopramide HCl would increase the antidumping effect of intestinal pacing in five dogs with truncal vagotomy and Roux gastrectomy. While recording electrical activity from the conscious animals, the amount of a 100-ml, 25% dextrose gastric instillate emptied in 20 min was determined during control tests, during tests with CCk-OP (500 ng/kg/hr), bethanechol (80 μg/kg/hr), or metoclopramide alone (600 μg/kg/hr) given intravenously or during tests using combinations of pacing and drugs. In other tests, intraluminal gastrointestinal pressure was measured during control and drug infusions. CCK-OP, which relaxed the proximal stomach, slowed emptying of the dextrose instillates (mean±sem emptied, no pacing, no drug=74±5 ml; CCK-OP alone=34±5 mlP<0.05). CCK-OP also enhanced the slowing effect produced by pacing (pacing alone=41±7 ml; pacing plus, CCK-OP=19±8 ml;P<0.05). In contrast, bethanechol and metoclopramide, which did not alter proximal gastric motility, did not alter emptying or augment or diminish the effect of pacing. The conclusion was that the combination of pacing and CCK-OP slowed gastric emptying of the dextrose more than pacing alone and thus had a greater antidumping effect. In contrast, neither bethanechol nor metoclopramide enhanced the pacing effect.
Darwin's historical sketch – an American predecessor: C. S. Rafinesque

When early reviewers of Darwin's "On the origin of species" chided him for neglecting to mention predecessors to his theory of evolution, he added an "historical sketch" in later editions. Among the predecessors he cited was a French emigre to American named Constantine Samuel Rafinesque, who in the mid-1830s had written about the emergence of new species at a time when most naturalists (including Darwin initially) accepted the biblical story of creation and assumed the immutability of species. Rafinesque discovered and named thousands of new plants and animals in his American travels and flooded the taxonomic literature with reports, which seemed incomplete, confusing, and excessive to other naturalists. He alienated many who later dismissed his findings and excluded them from the biological literature. Soon after Rafinesque's death in 1840, Asa Gray, the young American botanist, wrote a damning critique of his work and suggested it be ignored. How Darwin learned of Rafinesque and his views on species is the focus of this essay, which also mentions briefly the two other American naturalists cited by Darwin in his sketch. Gray seems the likely informant through his correspondence with Darwin or his close associates.
Chronic stridor in early life due to persistent right aortic arch

Summary 1. Stridor was the presenting symptom in two cases of persistent right aortic arch discoverd in early life and led to the appropriate x-ray investigation which established the diagnosis. 2. In congenital or chronic stridor not due to obvious causes, persistent right aortic arch should always be considered and investigated. The diagnosis of enlarged thymus and “thymic stridor,” based on a broad shadow in the upper mediastinum, should not be accepted until persistent right arch has been excluded.
A comparison of the ontogeny of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission in the CA1 region and dentate gyrus of the rat hippocampal formation

In vivo electrophysiological experiments were used to chart the ontogeny of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission in the hippocampal formation of rats. Using standardized protocols, responses in the dentate gyrus were quantified and systematically compared to similar measurements obtained in the CA1 region. Measurements were taken at numerous ages, ranging from postnatal day (PN) 6 to adults (PN 60). Excitation was monitored by two parameters recorded with extracellular electrodes in response to monosynaptic inputs to CA1 pyramidal cells or to dentate gyrus granule cells: maximum population spike (PSmax) amplitudes and maximum population excitatory postsynaptic potential slopes (pEPSP slopemax). Inhibition was assessed by a paired-pulse protocol to measure maximal inhibition (the potency of inhibition at an interpulse interval of 20 ms) and duration of inhibition (the interpulse interval at which paired-pulse inhibition changed to paired-pulse facilitation). Excitatory parameters matured later in the dentate gyrus than in CA1, consistent with the later appearance of granule cells. Until PN 21, pEPSPmax values in the dentate gyrus paralleled those in CA1; thereafter they diverged with far larger values in the dentate gyrus. Inhibitory parameters reached adult values between PN 14 and 18. In both regions paired-pulse responses consisted of three phases: (1) an initial inhibition; (2) a second facilitatory phase; and (3) a later inhibition. The maximal inhibition in the initial phase was comparable in both regions, but lasted longer in the CA1 region. The facilitation in the second phase was greater in the dentate gyrus, and the inhibition in the third phase was greater in the dentate gyrus. Results are discussed in terms of neurogenesis of principal cells and GABAergic cells in the regions of interest.
Whole-Genome Sequence of Borrelia garinii Strain 935T Isolated from Ixodes persulcatus in South Korea.

ABSTRACT We report here the genome sequence of Borrelia garinii strain 935T isolated from Ixodes persulcatus in South Korea. The 1,176,739 bp (G+C content, 27.73%) genome consists of 1,194 coding regions, 4 rRNA genes, and 33 aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase genes. This is the first whole-genome report of a Korean Borrelia species isolate.
Marginal zinc deficiency increases oxidative DNA damage in the prostate after chronic exercise.

Approximately 12% of Americans do not consume the recommended level of zinc and could be at risk for marginal zinc deficiency. Zinc functions in antioxidant defense and DNA repair and could be important for prostate health. We hypothesized that marginal zinc deficiency sensitizes the prostate to oxidative stress and DNA damage. Rats were fed a zinc-adequate (ZA; 30 mg Zn/kg) or marginally zinc-deficient (MZD; 5–6 mg Zn/kg) diet for 6 weeks. MZD increased p53 and PARP expression but no change in 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine levels was detected. To examine the susceptibility to exogenous oxidative stress, rats fed a ZA or MZD diet were assigned to exercising (EXE) or sedentary (SED) groups for 9 weeks. MZD or EXE alone did not affect oxidative DNA damage in the prostate; however, combined MZD + EXE increased DNA damage in the dorsolateral lobe. PARP and p53 expression was not further induced with MZD + EXE, suggesting that MZD interferes with DNA repair responses to stress. Finally, the addition of phytase to the MZD diet successfully restored zinc levels in the prostate and decreased DNA damage back to ZA levels. Overall, this study suggests that marginal zinc deficiency sensitizes the prostate to oxidative stress and demonstrates the importance of maintaining optimal zinc nutrition in physically active populations.
Material removal mechanism of Ni(200) when eroded by a slurry at 30° incidence

Abstract Ni(200) samples were eroded under steady state conditions by a slurry consisting of 30 wt.% 88–150 μm glass beads in 1 M NaClO 4 at 30° incidence angle and 30 m s −1 velocity. Detailed optical and scanning electron microscopy examination was performed on the eroded surfaces and metallographic sections. A wavy surface topography formed by plastic deformation was observed. At the downstream sides of the wavecrests thin tongues are formed when the plastically deformed surface layer is gradually pushed over the crest of the waves. Material is removed when the tongues or fractions of them are torn off. Hence the material removal mechanism is a process of plastic flow and tearing of tongues.
A Statistical-Climatological Tropical Cyclone Track Prediction Technique Using an EOF Representation of the Synoptic Forcing

Abstract An empirical orthogonal function (EOF) analysis is performed on a series of 504 normalized D-value fields at 500 mb. Each field is defined on a 120-point grid that is centered on the geographical position of a tropical cyclone. The EOF representation (eigenvectors) of the environmental flow field requires less than 10% of the storage needed for the original grid points. Each eigenvector represents a distinctly different synoptic-scale forcing pattern for the tropical cyclone motion. Statistical regression equations are developed to predict the zonal and meridional displacements of the tropical cyclone at 12 h intervals to 84 h. The EOF coefficients are used to represent the synoptic-scale forcing in the equations. The track forecast errors are competitive with other statistical schemes. The average displacement errors in an independent sample were ∼15% smaller than the official Joint Typhoon Warning Center forecasts. Thus, the EOF-based regression approach provides a simple and low cost technique...
A comparison of the in vitro binding of α-tocopherol to microsomes of lung, liver, heart and brain of the rat

The in vitro binding of alpha-tocopherol to microsomes of lung, liver, heart and brain of the rat was studied with the insoluble tocopherol ligand presented as a complex with bovine serum albumin. Under these conditions, all microsomes showed nonsaturable binding of alpha-tocopherol and the amount bound to microsomes was linearly proportional to the concentration of albumin-complexed tocopherol. Increasing the amount of alpha-tocopherol bound to microsomes in this manner reduced the extent of lipid peroxidation induced by added ferrous iron. The apparent affinities of the microsomes for alpha-tocopherol, as indicated by the amount bound at a given concentration of albumin-complexed tocopherol, decreased in the order brain greater than liver approximately equal to heart greater than lung. The differences in affinity did not correlate with total fatty acid content (r = -0.39), total unsaturated fatty acid content (r = -0.26), or with the content of fatty acids containing two or more double bonds (r = -0.01). A high positive correlation was found with the content of fatty acids containing three or more double bonds (r = +0.96). Since lung microsomes contain approx. 6-times the tocopherol levels of liver and brain and about twice that of heart microsomes, these results show that the in vivo levels of microsomal tocopherol do not reflect microsomal affinity for this biological antioxidant.
Endovascular perforation subarachnoid hemorrhage fails to cause Morris water maze deficits in the mouse

Cognitive dysfunction is the primary driver of poor long-term outcome in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) survivors; modeling such deficits preclinically is thus key for mechanistic and translational investigation. Although rat SAH causes long-term deficits in learning and memory, it remains unknown whether similar deficits are seen in the mouse, a species particularly amenable to powerful, targeted genetic manipulation. We thus subjected mice to endovascular perforation SAH and assessed long-term cognitive outcome via the Morris water maze (MWM), the most commonly used metric for rodent neurocognition. No significant differences in MWM performance (by either of two protocols) were seen in SAH versus sham mice. Moreover, SAH caused negligible hippocampal CA1 injury. These results undercut the potential of commonly used methods (of SAH induction and assessment of long-term neurocognitive outcome) for use in targeted molecular studies of SAH-induced cognitive deficits in the mouse.
Interactive computer-assisted instruction in acid-base physiology for mobile computer platforms

In this project, the traditional lecture hall presentation of acid-base physiology in the first-year medical school curriculum was replaced by interactive, computer-assisted instruction designed primarily for the iPad and other mobile computer platforms. Three learning modules were developed, each with ∼20 screens of information, on the subjects of the CO2-bicarbonate buffer system, other body buffer systems, and acid-base disorders. Five clinical case modules were also developed. For the learning modules, the interactive, active learning activities were primarily step-by-step learner control of explanations of complex physiological concepts, usually presented graphically. For the clinical cases, the active learning activities were primarily question-and-answer exercises that related clinical findings to the relevant basic science concepts. The student response was remarkably positive, with the interactive, active learning aspect of the instruction cited as the most important feature. Also, students cited the self-paced instruction, extensive use of interactive graphics, and side-by-side presentation of text and graphics as positive features. Most students reported that it took less time to study the subject matter with this online instruction compared with subject matter presented in the lecture hall. However, the approach to learning was highly examination driven, with most students delaying the study of the subject matter until a few days before the scheduled examination. Wider implementation of active learning computer-assisted instruction will require that instructors present subject matter interactively, that students fully embrace the responsibilities of independent learning, and that institutional administrations measure instructional effort by criteria other than scheduled hours of instruction.
Mucositis Versus Tumor Control: The Therapeutic Index of Adding Chemotherapy to Irradiation of Head and Neck Cancer

Purpose To determine whether the addition of concurrent chemotherapy to radiation for head and neck cancer (HNSCC) improves the therapeutic ratio regarding tumor control vs. mucositis. Methods and Materials Data were taken from 14 randomized trials of radiation with or without concurrent chemotherapy for HNSCC. Mucositis-bioequivalent dose (mBED) was computed for each study using mBED=D [1 + d/(α/β)] – 0.693(T – Tk)/Tp. An "S-value," relating the increase in the rate of Grade 3 (confluent) mucositis to the increase in mBED with radiation alone, was determined using data from trials of radiation alone with altered fractionation. We then determined the difference in the rate of mucositis and used the S-value to estimate the apparent difference in mBED in the chemoradiation and radiation alone arms for each trial. After accounting for differences in the radiation schedules, we estimated the mBED attributable to adding chemotherapy and compared it with previously published estimates of increases in tumor BED. Results Computed S-values ranged from 0.4 to 1.7. For S=1, the mean increase in mBED attributable to chemotherapy was 8.3 Gy 10 (SD = 6.4). The average difference between tumor-BED and mBED was 2.8 Gy 10 (SD = 6.0). Increasing the S-value decreases the estimated increase in mBED due to chemotherapy. Conclusions Concurrent chemotherapy improves the therapeutic index for radiation of HNSCC. Further refinements are needed in quantifying the therapeutic gain attributable to specific radiosensitizing agents in clinical trials, notably better and more consistent reporting of treatment sequelae.
Validation of diagnostic codes for outpatient-originating sudden cardiac death and ventricular arrhythmia in Medicaid and Medicare claims data †

Purpose Sudden cardiac death (SD) and ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) caused by medications have arisen as an important public health concern in recent years. The validity of diagnostic codes in identifying SD/VA events originating in the ambulatory setting is not well known. This study examined the positive predictive value (PPV) of hospitalization and emergency department encounter diagnoses in identifying SD/VA events originating in the outpatient setting. Methods We selected random samples of hospitalizations and emergency department claims with principal or first-listed discharge diagnosis codes indicative of SD/VA in individuals contributing at least 6 months of baseline time within 1999–2002 Medicaid and Medicare data from five large states. We then obtained and reviewed medical records corresponding to these events to serve as the reference standard. Results We identified 5239 inpatient and 29 135 emergency department events, randomly selected 100 of each, and obtained 119 medical records, 116 of which were for the requested courses of care. The PPVs for an outpatient-originating SD/VA precipitating hospitalization or emergency department treatment were 85.3% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 77.6–91.2) overall, 79.7% (95%CI = 68.3–88.4) for hospitalization claims, and 93.6% (95%CI = 82.5–98.7) for emergency department claims. Conclusions First-listed SD/VA diagnostic codes identified in inpatient or emergency department encounters had very good agreement with clinical diagnoses and functioned well to identify outpatient-originating events. Researchers using such codes can be confident of the PPV when conducting studies of SD/VA originating in the outpatient setting. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of carbenoxolone on the plasma renin activity and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis in congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency*

OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that carbenoxolone, an inhibitor of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, might augment the ACTH-suppressing and mineralocorticoid activities of hydrocortisone without a corresponding increase in peripheral hydrocortisone effects, we assessed the effects of carbenoxolone in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. DESIGN AND PATIENTS Six patients with classic 21-hydroxylase deficiency (5 salt-losing, 1 nonsalt-losing) were enrolled in this study. The study protocol involved 3 treatment periods (except for patient 3): phase 1, hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone; phase 2, hydrocortisone, fludrocortisone and carbenoxolone; phase 3, hydrocortisone and carbenoxolone. Patient 3 was not treated with fludrocortisone at baseline, so she participated only in phase 1 (hydrocortisone only) and phase 2 (hydrocortisone and carbenoxolone). Hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone dosages were kept the same during the study except for the discontinuation of fludrocortisone during phase 3. MEASUREMENTS Plasma adrenal androgens or their precursors (androstenedione, 17-hydroxyprogesterone, and testosterone, and urine pregnanetriol); plasma cortisol, cortisol-binding globulin, ACTH, apparent cortisol metabolic clearance, 24-h urine 17-hydroxysteroids, and urine free cortisol; mineralocorticoid activity, as measured by plasma renin activity, body weight, plasma potassium, and mean blood pressure; fasting insulin/glucose ratio, protein balance, % eosinophils in peripheral blood, and total urine pyridinoline and deoxypyridinoline; TRH stimulation of TSH and pyridostigmine/GHRH stimulation of growth hormone. RESULTS Compared to phase 1, the addition of carbenoxolone (with or without concurrent fludrocortisone administration) produced statistically significant decreases of 20–50% in mean plasma 17-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, and renin activity. Since carbenoxolone also decreased the apparent metabolic clearance rate of cortisol by 20%, other measures of systemic glucocorticoid activity were examined. Carbenoxolone did not produce a cushingoid appearance or increase body weight, blood pressure, blood glucose or plasma insulin levels. Carbenoxolone also did not suppress stimulated GH levels, but did decrease TRH-stimulated TSH levels by approximately 20% (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Carbenoxolone can augment the adrenal androgen-suppressing activity of hydrocortisone in patients with 21-hydroxylase deficiency. These observations support the hypothesis that selective inhibition of enzymes that metabolize cortisol may lead to new approaches to improve the treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia.
Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of physostigmine in the rat after oral administration.

The distribution, metabolism, and pharmacokinetics of physostigmine (Phy) and the time course of butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) in plasma and cholinesterase (ChE) activity in brain and muscle and their relationship to Phy concentration were described after oral administration of 3H-Phy (650 micrograms kg-1) to rats. Physostigmine concentration vs time data was analyzed by nonlinear computer fitting program using one-compartment model. The absorption rate constant (ka) and elimination rate constant (ke) were found to be 0.1 +/- 0.07 min-1 and 0.036 +/- 0.024 min-1, respectively. Cpmax and tmax were 3.3 ng ml-1 and 16 min. The clearance (C1) was found to be 80.9 ml min-1kg-1. Half-life of Phy in brain, muscle, and liver were 33.4 min, 22.5, and 28 min, respectively. The bioavailability (F) was calculated to be 0.02 and the extraction ratio was found to be 0.98 indicating the 'first pass' effect. Butyrylcholinesterase activity in plasma was 76 per cent at 15 min and this activity did not change significantly up to 120 min. However, Phy concentration in plasma was very low; 2.89 ng ml-1 at 15 min and declined to 0.71 ng ml-1 at 90 min. Physostigmine concentration in brain peaked at 22 min to 2.85 +/- 1.09 ng g-1 and declined to 0.33 +/- 0.11 ng g-1 at 60 min. Cholinesterase activity in brain was 96 per cent, 82 per cent and 89 per cent at 10, 45, and 120 min, respectively. Physostigmine concentration in muscle was very low and the ChE activity in the muscle was 66.4 per cent of control at 45 min. The time course of Phy metabolism indicated that at 5 min most of the RA in the tissues was due to metabolites accounting for 94.6 per cent in plasma, 90 per cent in liver, 79.8 per cent in brain and 86.3 per cent in muscle. M1 appeared to be the major metabolite followed by eseroline. The results showed extremely low concentrations of Phy (200 times less in plasma and 350 times less in brain) after oral administration compared to our previous studies with the same dose after i.m. administration.
On Forward Closure and the Finite Variant Property

Equational unification is an important research area with many applications, such as cryptographic protocol analysis. Unification modulo a convergent term rewrite system is undecidable, even with just a single rule. To identify decidable (and tractable) cases, two paradigms have been developed — Basic Syntactic Mutation [14] and the Finite Variant Property [6]. Inspired by the Basic Syntactic Mutation approach, we investigate the notion of forward closure along with suitable redundancy constraints. We show that a convergent term rewriting system R has a finite forward closure if and only if R has the finite variant property. We also show the undecidability of the finiteness of forward closure, therefore determining if a system has the finite variant property is undecidable.
Efficient ordered binary decision diagrams minimization based on heuristics of cover pattern processing

A metric of dynamic binateness for Boolean functions is introduced. Based on it and on an analogy between an ordered binary decision diagram (OBDD) of a function and the process of recognizing strings of patterns representing the function's cover, a near linear, efficient ordering heuristic for two-level form specified functions is developed. The algorithm stably achieves on average an improvement of over 600% in OBDD size in comparison to results from similar computation complexity heuristics. The results are comparable to those obtained using lexicographic order but are achieved in less CPU time. >
Rhesus Monkeys (Macaca Mulatta) Demonstrate Robust Memory for What and Where, but Not When, in an Open-Field Test of Memory.

Abstract We adapted a paradigm developed by Clayton and Dickinson (1998) , who demonstrated memory for what, where, and when in scrub jays, for use with rhesus monkeys. In the study phase of each trial, monkeys found a preferred and a less-preferred food reward in a trial-unique array of three locations in a large room. After 1 h, monkeys returned to the test room, where they found foods placed as during study. Twenty-five hours after the study phase monkeys again searched the room, but now the preferred food was replaced with a distasteful food remnant, while the less-preferred food was still present. Although monkeys remembered the locations of the foods for up to 25 h, they did not learn that the preferred food was available after the short, but not after the long delay. Thus, monkeys demonstrated long-term memory for the type and location of food but failed to demonstrate sensitivity to when they acquired that knowledge.
Prospects of a polymer-waveguide-based board-level optical interconnect technology

In the long-distance telecom, local-area, and rack-to-rack link classes, optical interconnects have gradually replaced electrical interconnects. We believe that this trend will be continued in the short-distance card-backplane-card datacom link class. Convincing arguments for the predicted transition from electrical to optical interconnects are bandwidth-length advantages, density benefits, crosstalk reduction, and finally cost considerations. Based on this forecast, we currently develop a board-level optical interconnect technology facing several challenges, such as I) the manufacturing of reliable polymer waveguides, II) the elaboration of simple light-coupling concepts, III) the development of high-speed electro-optical modules, and IV) the application of cost-efficient packaging approaches. The successful mastering of all these tasks is a prerequisite for convincing high-speed system designers and porting optical interconnect technology into future product development plans. In this paper, we will present different achievements of our optical interconnect technology, e.g.: - 10 Gb/s per channel over 1 m link length, - optical link propagation loss below 0.05 dB/cm at 850 nm, - linear link densities up to 16 channels/mm, - feasibility of 2D channel arrays (e.g. 4 times 12), - a fully passive, low-cost alignment concept with a position accuracy of les 5 mum, enabling coupling losses < 0.5 dB, and - electro-optical transmitter and receiver modules operating at 10 Gb/s per channel. Finally, we will report on the successful realization of a 12 times 10 Gb/s card-to-card optical link demonstrator.
Methodology to mitigate supplier risk in an aerospace supply chain

Supply chain design is frequently performed from the perspective of a single supplier‐customer relationship. However, as a supplier provides value to different supply chains, it becomes increasingly difficult to optimize each supply chain. Each supply chain has different requirements, procedures, and formats. A member may have requirements placed upon them by one member that contradicts another member. The competitive success of a supplier depends on its ability to participate in different supply chains. This, in turn, affects the competitiveness of each of the other supply chains. This paper presents a generic prescriptive methodology for mitigating risks in an aerospace supply chain and proposes five activities. The methodology provides a mechanism to minimize conflicting objectives. A hypothetical case study is then presented on how the methodology can be applied.
Yeast mitochondrial dynamics: Fusion, division, segregation, and shape

Mitochondria are essential organelles found in virtually all eukaryotic cells that play key roles in a variety of cellular processes. Mitochondria show a striking heterogeneity in their number, location, and shape in many different cell types. Although the dynamic nature of mito- chondria has been known for decades, the molecules and mechanisms that mediate these processes are largely unknown. Recently, several laboratories have isolated and analyzed mutants in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae defective in mitochondrial fusion and division, in the segregation of mitochondria to daughter cells, and in the establishment and maintenance of mitochondrial shape. These studies have identified several proteins that appear to mediate different aspects of mito- chondrial morphogenesis. Although it is clear that many additional components have yet to be identified, some of the newly discovered proteins raise intriguing possibilities for how the processes of mitochondrial division, fusion, and segregation occur. Below we summarize our current under- standing of the molecules known to be required for yeast mitochondrial dynamics. Microsc. Res. Tech. 51:573-583, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Chromosome 3p14 Homozygous Deletions and Sequence Analysis of FRA3B

Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) involving 3p occurs in many carcinomas but is complicated by the identification of four distinct homozygous deletion regions. One putative target, 3p14.2, contains the common fragile site, FRA3B, a hereditary renal carcinoma-associated 3;8 translocation and the candidate tumor suppressor gene, FHIT. Using a approximately 300 kb comsid/lambda contig, we identified homozygous deletions in cervix, breast, lung and colorectal carcinoma cell lines. The smallest deletion (CC19) was shown not to involve FHIT coding exons and no DNA sequence alterations were present in the transcript. We also detected discontinuous deletions as well as deletions in non-tumor DNAs, suggesting that FHIT is not a selective target. Further, we demonstrate that some reported FHIT aberrations represent normal splicing variation. DNA sequence analysis of 110 kb demonstrated that the region is high in A-T content, LINEs and MER repeats, whereas Alu elements are reduced. We note an intriguing similarity in repeat sequence composition between FRA3B and a 152 kb segment from the Fragile-X region. We also identified similarity between a FRA3B segment and a small polydispersed circular DNA. In contrast to the selective loss of a tumor suppressor gene, we propose an alternative hypothesis, that some putative targets including FRA3B may undergo loss as a consequence of genomic instability. This instability is not due to DNA mismatch repair deficiency, but may correlate in part with p53 inactivation.
Mondrian Multidimensional K-Anonymity

K-Anonymity has been proposed as a mechanism for protecting privacy in microdata publishing, and numerous recoding "models" have been considered for achieving 𝑘anonymity. This paper proposes a new multidimensional model, which provides an additional degree of flexibility not seen in previous (single-dimensional) approaches. Often this flexibility leads to higher-quality anonymizations, as measured both by general-purpose metrics and more specific notions of query answerability. Optimal multidimensional anonymization is NP-hard (like previous optimal 𝑘-anonymity problems). However, we introduce a simple greedy approximation algorithm, and experimental results show that this greedy algorithm frequently leads to more desirable anonymizations than exhaustive optimal algorithms for two single-dimensional models.
EXAMINING THE STRUCTURE AND ROLE OF EMOTION: CONTRIBUTIONS OF NEUROBIOLOGY TO THE STUDY OF EMBODIED RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE

Abstract. Certain properties of the body and emotions facilitate the transmission of religious knowledge and the development of religious states through particular qualities of perception and memory. The body, which is the ground of religious experience, can be understood as transformative: the characteristic that recalled emotion is “refelt” in the present enables emotion to be cultivated or developed. Emotions and the stimuli that evoke them are necessarily culturally specific, but the automatic nature of this process is universal. Religious traditions have made use of these processes to educate the feeling toward certain qualities and to develop religious experience, through the use of sacred images, ritual posture and gesture, and repetition of ritual acts. Neuroscience contributes to our understanding of the emotional processes that take place when emotions are evoked, refelt, and developed; the neurobiological processing of emotion parallels experience. Keeping experience central makes it possible to bring religion and neuroscience together in a nonreductive examination of spiritual experience.
Effect of 12 and 20 Weeks of Resistance Training on Lumbar Extension Torque Production

This study compared the effect of varied training frequencies on the development of isometric lumbar extension torque (strength) over 12- and 20-week training periods. Fifty-six subjects were randomly assigned to training once every other week (training group 1, n = 10), once per week (training group 2, n = 12), twice per week (training group 3, n = 12), or three times per week (training group 4, n = 7) or to a nontraining control group (n = 15). Training consisted of one set of 8 to 12 variable-resistance lumbar extensions to volitional muscular fatigue. Prior to and following 12 and 20 weeks of training, subjects were given a test that evaluated isolated isometric lumbar extension torque in a seated position at seven positions (angles) through a 72-degree range of motion. The control group showed no change in isometric torque. All training groups showed significant increases in lumbar extension torque at 12 and 20 weeks of training, whereas no significant differences were found among the groups with respect to the magnitude of torque gained. Pooled training showed a significant time x angle interaction at 12 weeks and a continuing trend at 20 weeks, indicating that the shape of the isometric torque-angle curve changed as a result of training. This effect was due to greater increases in isometric torque at the fully extended position than at the fully flexed position at 12 weeks (92% versus 16%, respectively) and at 20 weeks (123% versus 17%, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
An object-oriented design for distributed knowledge-based systems

Many management information systems have requirements that are inherently distributed, either logically or physically. An architecture for distributed knowledge-based systems (DKBS) is presented which satisfies these requirements. A distributed knowledge-base management system (DKBMS) is described which manages the metaknowledge necessary to coordinate multiple local KBSs. The authors propose an object-oriented design for implementing the DKBMS structure and the communication protocol which connects the DKBMS with each of the local KBSs. An example is described where the DKBS architecture is applied to planning research projects within a university. The resulting architecture is compared with previous research in related topics. >