cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaporation decay and associated gamma multiplicity forRn204via three fusion channels

Near-barrier excitation functions for 2n, 3n, 4n, 5n, 2n1p, 3n1p, and 4n1p evaporation from $^{204}\mathrm{Rn}$ following the fusion of $^{35}\mathrm{Cl}$+$^{169}\mathrm{Tm}$, $^{48}\mathrm{Ti}$+$^{156}\mathrm{Gd}$, and $^{65}\mathrm{Cu}$+$^{139}\mathrm{La}$ are compared between reactions and with statistical decay codes. First and second gamma multiplicity moments were obtained for all three systems at 50 MeV excitation energy. General agreement with statistical decay code predictions is found in all cases.
bHLH genes cath5 and cNSCL1 promote bFGF-stimulated RPE cells to transdifferentiate toward retinal ganglion cells

The molecular mechanism of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) genesis and development is not well understood. Published data suggest that the process may involve two bHLH genes, ath5 and NSCL1. Gain-of-function studies show that ath5 increases RGC production in the developing retina. We examined whether two chick genes, cath5 and cNSCL1, can guide retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells to transdifferentiate toward RGCs. Ectopic expression of cath5 and cNSCL1 in cultured chick RPE cells was achieved through retroviral transduction. cath5 alone was unable to induce de novo expression of early RGC markers, such as RA4 antigen, neurofilament (160 kDa), and a neurofilament-associated antigen. However, cath5 induced the expression of these proteins when the RPE cells were cultured with medium supplemented with bFGF. Since bFGF alone can induce only RA4 antigen, the expression of the additional RGC markers reflects a synergism between cath5 and bFGF in promoting RPE transdifferentiation toward RGCs. Morphologically, the RA4(+) cells in bFGF + cath5 cultures appeared more neuron-like than those generated by bFGF alone. cNSCL1 also promoted bFGF-stimulated RPE cells to transdifferentiate toward RGCs that expressed RA4 antigen, N-CAM, Islet-1, neurofilament, and neurofilament-associated antigen. We found that cath5 induced cNSCL1 expression, but not vice versa. Our data suggest that cath5 or cNSCL1 alone was insufficient to induce RPE transdifferentiation into RGCs, but could further neural differentiation initiated by bFGF. We propose that intrinsic factors act synergistically with extrinsic factors during RGC genesis and development.
Passive and hybrid control systems for seismic protection of a benchmark cable‐stayed bridge

In this paper, the effectiveness of passive dampers and a hybrid control system consisting of passive viscous dampers installed in parallel with semi-active dampers is investigated. Recently, the authors proposed an analytical model for long-period pulses in near-field ground motions. The effectiveness of passive dampers is investigated using the analytical pulses model and 44 recorded near-field ground motions. Numerical results show that the pulse model successfully captured the behavior of the bridge subject to near-field ground motions with pulse periods in the vicinity or larger than the fundamental period of the bridge. For this condition, passive dampers are quite effective. However, their effectiveness degrades significantly when the period of pulses is significantly smaller than the fundamental period of the bridge. A nonlinear semi-active controller based on optimal polynomial control theory has been developed for the proposed hybrid control system. In the proposed hybrid control systems, passive dampers continuously reduce the vibration of the bridge. Semi-active dampers are triggered only when the required control force to meet vibration control objectives exceeds the capacity of passive dampers installed in the bridge. Hence, the proposed hybrid control system not only reduces response quantities, but also protects passive dampers by reducing force demand on passive dampers during very strong earthquakes. The performance of the proposed hybrid control system has been investigated using 3 prescribed and 50 other ground motions. Numerical simulation results show that the proposed hybrid control system is quite effective in reducing peak response quantities of the bridge subject to impulsive type near-field ground motions. Simulation results also show that semi-active dampers are triggered only a few times during near-field ground motions. For far-field or long-period ground motions, e.g. Mexico earthquakes, only passive dampers are adequate to meet control objectives. Hence, notable advantages of the proposed hybrid control systems are the reduced use of external energy, lesser heating of the control devices and protection of passive system hardware during strong earthquakes. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Clinical Epidemiology of Urban Violence: Responding to Children Exposed to Violence in Ten Communities

This study explores the clinical epidemiology of children's exposure to violence as addressed by a program in which mental health clinicians work with law-enforcement agents in 10 U.S. cities. Data were collected on all participants contacted by the Child Development Community Policing Program (N = 7,313 individuals involved in 2,466 community incidents). Multivariate regression was used to examine sociodemographic and clinical correlates of the role of participants (victim, offender, or witness), location, and type of incident. The majority of incidents occurred in participants' homes. Adolescents were at a higher risk than children of being: (a) victimized, (b) involved in incidents outside their home, (c) experiencing a threat to their lives, and (d) suffering physical injuries. Males were more likely to be offenders than females, and to be subjected to physical injuries or involved in incidents that imposed a threat to their life. Females were significantly more likely to be victimized.
Digestibility of Roughage Materials Ensiled with Sodium Chlorite

Abstract Feasibility of increasing the digestibility of roughage materials was investigated by both in vitro and in vivo techniques. Various substrates were ensiled at 18% dry matter with 0 to 7% NaClO 2 (wet basis). Cell wall content, generally hemicellulose and lignin, decreased with increasing rates of NaClO 2 treatment. Rice hulls and peanut hulls contain cutin, which was hydrolyzed upon treatment with sodium chlorite. Wheat straw lignin was decreased most efficiently with sodium chlorite (2.81. g/g of NaClO 2 ), but peanut hull lignin was not decreased. The in vitro disappearance of total cell wall increased greatly by this approach. In vitro digestible cell wall consistently increased with increasing rate of NaClO 2 treatment. Ground barley straw with water added (about 80% moisture) was ensiled for 60 days in 1.2 × 2.4-m wooden silos. Silage treatments were control, sodium chloride (10% or air-dry straw), and sodinm chlorite (15% of the air-dry straw). Dried silages and the original barley straw were ground and pelleted into four nutritionally balanced diets and fed to eight yearling wethers to determine ad libitum intake and digestibility in a Latin square design. Ad libitum digestible organic-matter intakes were similar for all diets, 1.53% of body weight, except for control silage (1.34%). Nitrogen retentions and urine outputs were higher for diets containing additional sodium. Diet digestibilities for organic matter and cell walls were ground straw, 55 and 28%; control silage, 52 and 22%; sodium chlorid silage, 55 and 28%; and sodium chlorite silage, 62 and 44%. Relative diet differences in organic matter and cell wall in vitro digestibility measurements agreed closely with in vivo values.
Cross-reactivity of 75 monoclonal antibodies to human immunoglobulin with sera of non-human primates

We systematically analyzed a panel of 75 murine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) reactive with human immunoglobulins IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, and kappa and lambda light chains for reactivity with serum immunoglobulins of higher primates. In the great apes, and to a lesser extent in other primates, epitopes related to human light chains, IgM, IgA, IgD, and all 4 IgG subclasses were identified with many of the mAbs. Those mAbs identified as reactive with a given species may be useful for immunologic studies of these species. Cladistic analysis of antigenic relatedness generated a phylogenetic tree consistent with current anatomic or molecular taxonomies.
Estrogen receptor‐β: Implications for the prostate gland

Estrogens can have profound effects on prostate growth and differentiation. These effects were thought to be mediated by the classical estrogen receptor; however, the discovery of a second estrogen receptor has redefined the estrogen signaling pathway and may have broad implications on estrogen-responsive tissues, including the prostate. The new estrogen receptor, named estrogen receptor-beta (ERbeta), is preferentially expressed in the prostate and maintains some characteristics that are different from ERalpha. Establishing the distribution and function of ERbeta in the various estrogen-responsive tissues is critical to defining its pharmacological and physiological impact. Differential expression of ERbeta may facilitate development of tissue-specific estrogen agonists and antagonists, a goal in the treatment of diseases in estrogen-sensitive tissues such as breast cancer. This article reviews the current knowledge on ERbeta and its potential impact on the prostate.
Quantum model for space-time

It is suggested that a recently constructed condensate wave function for a three-dimensional anyonic superfluid can be reinterpreted as a coherent state for gravitons. This wave function provides for the first time a mathematical model showing how macroscopic space-time might emerge from microscopic fluctuations in topology, and suggests that the observable universe may be in a nearly pure quantum state.
Race and Sex Differences in the Longitudinal Effects of Body Size on Blood Pressure in Adolescence

Race and Sex Differences in the Longitudinal Effects of Body Size on Blood Pressure in Adolescence
Origin and emplacement of Mariana forearc seamounts

Large seamounts occur on the outer half of the Mariana forearc. They represent a new class of seamounts consisting of horsts and diapirs of metamorphosed forearc material. The degree of metamorphism in this material depends on the amount of water available and the pressure-temperature regime of the forearc wedge. The major source for the water involved in the metamorphism is most likely the descending slab. Theoretical models for thermal regimes in convergent margins suggest that the lower grade metamorphic facies will be restricted to the outermost part of a forearc. Zeolite and chlorite facies rocks predominate in dredge hauls from horsts on the outer 50 km of the Mariana forearc. Thermal models indicate that higher grade greenschist facies should occur farther from the trench. Seamounts that were probably formed in response to diapiric emplacement of serpentinite predominate from 50 to 120 km from the trench. Uplift of the horsts and emplacement of the serpentinite diapirs were probably facilitated by vertical tectonic movement in response to subduction of plate seamounts and by fracturing of the Mariana forearc.
Using Menus to Access Computers via Phone-Based Interfaces

Phone-based interfaces allow users easy access to information stored in distant computers. Applications include gaining credit card information, information about financial aid and registration at universities, and banking services. One interface tool that is often used in these applications is the menu. Unfortunately, the use of menus in these types of interfaces is not well investigated. The current study was developed to investigate issues related to the use of menus in auditory interfaces using computer synthesized speech as the output medium. Variables of interest included: 1) menu-page configuration (organized versus random); 2) menu-hierarchy configuration (top-down versus bottom-up); 3) individual differences in short-term memory capabilities; and 4) user anxiety. Subjects performed 20 menu selection trials from one of four menu arrangements. Subjects were given a digit-span task to assess short-term memory capacity and a Sternberg task to assess speed of recall from short-term memory. Finally, su...
Meshless repair of perineal hernia after abdominoperineal resection: case report.

Perineal hernia is a rare complication after major pelvic surgery. Placing non–biodegradable mesh across the pelvic inlet is the best method of repair. A 72–year–old man presented with a perineal hernia 8 years after undergoing an abdominoperineal resection because of rectal cancer. During the repair operation, intestinal spillage occurred, making it impossible to place permanent mesh as planned. Instead, we used the bladder to cover the pelvic inlet. The patient recovered well and after 35 months of follow–up, there was no evidence of hernia recurrence. When mesh placement is not feasible, this bladder mobilization technique can replace it.
ERP Implementation in Higher Education: An Account of Pre-Implementation and Implementation Phases

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems long have been known as systems that bring integration to numerous business activities within complex organizations. However, in todayâ€™s contemporary organizations, ERP systems are becoming a standard information system, irrespective of size and nature of the business. This case focuses on the implementation of an ERP system in higher education. The case covers the key stages of implementation. Particular emphasis is placed on the selection of the ERP system and the organizational dynamics involved. The implementation of the first two modules and the views of users are discussed. The depth of the case can enable managers to understand the complexity of an ERP system selection and the organizational issues involved. The analysis of the case sheds light on the activities involved in ERP projects and what to expect during the implementation stage.
Microcomputer management of instruction: The advanced learning system

Abstract The Advanced Learning System, developed at Western Illinois University is a micro-computer managed, self-paced, multi-media, and student centered system of instruction which is currently being used to teach two beginning courses in economics. Students progress through the course by accomplishing the objectives established for each unit of instruction. Learning is individualized in that each student chooses the materials which help him to learn best. Traditional textbooks are used along with videotape presentations, audiotape/workbook combinations, discussion groups, and written exercises. Students determine when they are ready to display their understanding of the objectives by testing on the micro-processor controlled CRTs. Each student receives a randomly selected test. Upon completing the test, the student immediately receives feedback on whether or not he passed, which questions he missed, why they were wrong, and in which areas he needs restudy. The system has been in operation for four years and evaluation of results reveals that students perform as well or better than students in traditional classroom settings. Of particular interest is the fact that slower students seem to gain even more from te system than do the brighter ones. The authors indicate that the Advanced Learning System can be used in many disciplines almost without modification.
Illumination decomposition for material recoloring with consistent interreflections

Changing the color of an object is a basic image editing operation, but a high quality result must also preserve natural shading. A common approach is to first compute reflectance and illumination intrinsic images. Reflectances can then be edited independently, and recomposed with the illumination. However, manipulating only the reflectance color does not account for diffuse interreflections, and can result in inconsistent shading in the edited image. We propose an approach for further decomposing illumination into direct lighting, and indirect diffuse illumination from each material. This decomposition allows us to change indirect illumination from an individual material independently, so it matches the modified reflectance color. To address the underconstrained problem of decomposing illumination into multiple components, we take advantage of its smooth nature, as well as user-provided constraints. We demonstrate our approach on a number of examples, where we consistently edit material colors and the associated interreflections.
An in vitro model to study adipose differentiation in serum-free medium.

Abstract Adipose differentiation was studied in a teratoma-derived fibroadipogenic cell line (1246) cultured in serum-free medium. The addition of dexamethasone and 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine to the serum-free medium induced confluent 1246 cells to differentiate into adipocyte-like cells as evidenced by triglyceride accumulation and increased levels of lipolytic enzyme activities. Hormone-sensitive lipase activity measured 5 days after the addition of dexamethasone and 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine increased 17-fold and was activated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Neutral diglyceride lipase, monoglyceride lipase, and cholesterol ester hydrolase specific activities increased 23-, 75-, and 73-fold, respectively. Among these three activities, only cholesterol ester hydrolase was activated by cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Differentiated 1246 cells expressed receptors to lipolytic hormones as shown by the stimulation of glycerol release by epinephrine (8.6-fold), glucagon (2.2-fold), and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (5.5-fold). Heparin treatment of 1246 cells in serum-free medium resulted in the release of lipoprotein lipase activity into the culture medium. Thus, 1246 cells can serve as a model for the study of adipose differentiation under defined culture conditions since they are capable of growth and survival in the absence of serum while retaining their ability to differentiate into adipocytes.
Scoring Method and the Detection of Person Misfit in a Personality Assessment Context.

The purpose of this research was to explore psycho metric issues pertinent to the application of an IRT based person-fit (response aberrancy) detection statistic in the personality measurement domain. Monte carlo data analyses were conducted to address issues regarding the lz person-fit statistic. The major issues explored were characteristics of the null distribution of lz and its power to identify nonfitting response patterns under different scoring strategies. There were two main results. First, the lz index null distribution was not well standardized when item parameters of personality scales were used; the lz null distribution variance was significantly less than the hypothesized value of 1.0 under several conditions. Second, the power of l z to detect response misfit was affected by the scoring method. Detection power was optimal when a biweight estimator of θ was used. Recommendations are made regarding proper implementation of person-fit statistics in personality measurement.
Selecting Qualified Managers

(1987). Selecting Qualified Managers. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 58, No. 5, pp. 81-85.
Measurements of Solid Spheres Bouncing Off Flat Plates

Recent years have seen a substantial increase of interest in the flows of granular materials whose rheology is dominated by the physical contact between particles and between particles and the containing walls. Considerable advances in the theoretical understanding of rapid granular material flows have been made by the application of the statistical methods of molecular gas dynamics (e.g., Jenkins and Savage (1983), Lun et al. (1984)) and by the use of computers simulations of these flows (e.g., Campbell and Brennen (1985), Walton (1984)). Experimental studies aimed at measurements of the fundamental rheology properties are much less numerous and are understandably limited by the great difficulties involved in trying to measure velocity profiles, solid fraction profiles, and fluctuating velocities within a flowing granular material. Nevertheless, it has become clear that one of the most severe problems encountered when trying to compare experimental data with the theoretical models is the uncertainty in the material properties governing particle/particle or particle/wall collisions. Many of the theoretical models and computer simulations assume a constant coefficient of restitution (and, in some cases, a coefficient of friction). The purpose of the present project was to provide some documentation for particle/wall collisions by means of a set of relatively simple experiments in which solid spheres of various diameters and materials were bounced off plates of various thickness and material. The objective was to provide the kind of information on individual particle/wall collisions needed for the theoretical rheological models and computer simulations of granular material flows: in particular, to help resolve some of the issues associated with the boundary condition at a solid wall. For discussion of the complex issues associated with dynamic elastic or inelastic impact, reference is made to Goldsmith (1960) and the recent text by Johnson (1985).
Suboptimal control using a second-order parameter-optimization method

The optimal control problem is reduced to a suboptimal control problem by assuming the control histories to have particular functional forms involving a number of undetermined constants (Raleigh-Ritz method). A second-order parameter optimization method is discussed and applied to the suboptimal control problem. Also, it is shown that this approach can be used to obtain approximate Lagrange multiplier distributions for optimal control problems.
Automatically classifying and interpreting polar datasets with Apache Tika

The Arctic and Antarctic are undergoing rapid change attributed to the Earth's changing climate. This change is captured via space and airborne remote sensing, in-situ measurement, and climate modeling. Those observations and simulations record data in myriad formats across a number of pertinent data archives funded by NSF, NASA, NOAA, and other federal agencies. Simply finding data may be hard, but we restrict our focus in this paper to the subject of what to do with the data (and metadata) once it is found — the "complexity" portion of the Big Data challenge. We present our current efforts for dealing with the complexity and heterogeneity of Arctic and Antarctic data — Apache Tika. Apache Tika is an open source framework for metadata exploration, automatic text mining, and information retrieval of 1200 of the most widely used data file formats and 20 rich metadata models to go along with those formats. Our current research efforts are targeted at expanding Apache Tika to parse, extract, and analyze common data formats used in Artie and Antarctic research making them more easily accessible, searchable, and retrievable by all major content management systems (Plone, Drupal, Alfresco, etc.). Furthermore, expanding Tika to handle common Polar data formats will also naturally invite the technology/open source community to deal with Polar use cases, helping to draw attention to and increase understanding of these remote regions.
Heart Rate Response to Adenosine in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus and Normal Myocardial Perfusion Imaging

Adenosine infusion, as is used in stress single photon-emission computed tomographic (SPECT) imaging, produces an increase in heart rate (HR) and a decrease in blood pressure (BP). The increase in HR is most likely due to direct sympathetic stimulation rather than a reflex to the decrease in BP. In this study, it was hypothesized that the HR response to adenosine is different in patients with versus without diabetes mellitus (DM) in the setting of normal SPECT imaging results. We studied 60 patients with DM (53% women, mean age 62 ± 10 years) and 60 controls (50% women, mean age 61 ± 12 years) (p = NS). All patients underwent adenosine SPECT imaging (140 μg/kg/min for 5 minutes) for clinical indications and had normal perfusion and systolic left ventricular function. HR and BP were measured at baseline and during adenosine infusion. HR ratio was defined as peak HR divided by baseline HR and the change as peak HR minus baseline HR. The change in HR (17 ± 12 vs 22 ± 14 beats/min, p = 0.034) and the ratio (1.24 ± 0.20 vs 1.33 ± 0.25, p = 0.048) were significantly lower in patients with DM compared with those without DM. The baseline and change in mean BP were not significantly different between the 2 groups. In a stepwise regression analysis model, DM was identified as a predictor of the change in HR (p = 0.022). In conclusion, HR response to adenosine infusion is diminished in patients with DM with normal SPECT imaging results. This is likely due to cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and may carry important prognostic information.
Fibroblast contraction occurs on release of tension in attached collagen lattices: Dependency on an organized actin cytoskeleton and serum

The generation of tension in granulation tissue undergoing contraction is believed to be a cell-mediated event. In this study we used attached collagen lattices as a model system for studying the cellular mechanisms of tension generation by fibroblasts in an extracellular matrix. Fibroblasts in attached collagen lattices developed stress fibers, surface associated fibronectin fibrils, and a fibronexus-like transmembrane association interconnecting the two structural components. Release of the attached collagen lattice from its points of attachment resulted in a rapid, symmetrical contraction of the collagen lattice. Rapid contraction occurred within the first 10 minutes after release of the lattice from the substratum, with greater than 70% of the contraction occurring within the first 2 minutes. Rapid contraction resulted in a shortening of the elongate fibroblasts and compaction of the stress fibers with their subsequent disappearance from the cell. Cytochalasin D treatment prior to release disrupted the actin cytoskeleton and completely inhibited rapid contraction. The removal of serum prior to release inhibited rapid contraction, while the re-addition of serum restored rapid contraction. These results demonstrate that fibroblasts can develop tension in an attached collagen lattice and that upon release of tension the fibroblasts undergo contraction resulting in a rapid contraction of the collagen lattice. Fibroblast contraction is dependent upon an organized actin cytoskeleton and is promoted by the presence of serum.
Genetically Encoded Gas Nanostructures as Biophyically Tunable Molecular Reporters for MRI and Ultrasound

The study of cellular and molecular processes occurring deep inside living organisms requires new technologies for non-invasive molecular imaging. In particular, there is a need for “magnetic” and “acoustic” analogs of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) that can be used to sensitively observe gene expression using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound. We are developing genetic reporters for both of these modalities based on the unique biophysical properties of genetically encoded gas nanostructures known as gas vesicles (GVs). Expressed by aquatic microorganism as a means to control buoyancy, GVs are hollow protein-shelled nano-compartments that exclude water but are permeable to gas. We have adapted GVs as the first genetically encoded reporters for hyperpolarized MRI - a form of imaging in which nuclei such as the biocompatible noble gas xenon are introduced into tissues in a non-equilibrium state with 10^4 - 10^5 stronger polarization compared to conventional 1H-MRI. Xenon partitioning into GVs enables their detection using chemical exchange saturation transfer at sub-nanomolar reporter concentrations. In parallel, we have shown that GVs can be detected with high frequency ultrasound, their physical properties enabling linear, harmonic and collapse-mode imaging in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, inter-species differences in the genetically encoded biophysical properties of gas vesicles enable multiplexed imaging with both MRI and ultrasound and provide clues for genetic-level biophysical tuning of these unique nanostructures.
Atomistic Nature Of Molecular Beam Epitaxially Grown GaAs/Al x Ga 1-x As - As Revealed In Luminescence And Raman Spectroscopies

The reliability of using commonly employed expressions for extracting the alloy concentration from Raman and photoluminescence peak energies is examined. Study of molecular beam epitaxically grown AlxGa1-xAs alloys shows disagreement in Al% of as large as 20% between the value derived from Raman data and that derived from PL data using these expressions. The atomistic nature of the heterostructure interface imperfection is examined through the study of single quantum well luminescence. Luminescence linewidth as a function of single quantum well width (dw) shows a dw-1 behavior and not the dw-3 behavior as predicted by the well-width-fluctuation model. This measured behavior brought out the importance of the fluctuation in the alloy concentration in both the lateral and growth directions arising from the kinectics of growth.
Computationally efficient spectral analysis of an FEL oscillator using a Green function analysis

Abstract Previous work on a Green function approach to the evolution of the small gain linear FEL oscillator assumed a long electron pulse. Here this restriction is eliminated and a new expression for the complex amplitude of the optical field at the nth pass is obtained. The fully causal formalism includes arbitrary temporal profiles of the electron and optical beams and cavity detuning and losses. In our formalism, the solution for the field at the nth pass requires exponentiating a single matrix rather than sequentially evaluating the field at each pass. Various numerical studies are presented.
Honing in on Optimal Ventricular Pacing Sites: an Argument for His Bundle Pacing

Frequent ventricular pacing is often or completely unavoidable in patients with high-grade or complete heart block. Over time, patients with high-burden RV pacing are at risk for developing symptomatic cardiomyopathy due to pacing-induced ventricular dyssynchrony. Growing awareness of this concern has generated interest in alternative pacing sites like the septum and outflow tract, the thinking being that these sites will more closely mimic His-Purkinje-mediated ventricular activation. Numerous studies have met with mixed results likely due to the fact that—to quote Marvin Gaye—there ain’t nothing like the real thing. Herein lies the advantage of His bundle pacing (HBP), as it is the only pacing modality capable of physiological ventricular activation. HBP has been demonstrated to be safe and reliable in various forms of AV block with minimal drawbacks, namely modestly higher pacing thresholds when compared with other RV sites. Additionally, HBP is a truly physiologic alternative to biventricular pacing to effect cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), a concept supported by small observational and prospective studies. In our view, His bundle pacing should be considered in nearly all patients requiring ventricular pacing.
Effects of an every other day rapid kindling procedure in prenatally protein malnourished rats.

Abstract Prenatally protein malnourished (625) rats have been reported to require significantly more stimulations to attain a stage 5 seizure than well-nourished controls (2525) when using either a traditional or rapidevery day, kindling procedure. In the present study, a rapid kindling procedure was utilized where both prenatally malnourished and control rats receivedevery other day perforant path kindling (50 Hz, 10 s train) 12 times a day at 5-min intervals. Using this procedure, stage 5 seizures and a fully kindled state were attained in both nutritional groups at approximately the same rate. It is postulated that it is the every other day component of the present procedure which overcomes seizure-induced inhibition in the625 subjects, thereby allowing them to attain stage 5 seizures at the same rate as controls.
Adequate lymphadenectomy results in accurate nodal staging without an increase in morbidity in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: Proper resection in gastric cancer should include more than 15 lymph nodes for accurate staging. We sought to determine if adequate nodal dissection would result in more accurate N staging without an increase in mortality. METHODS: Data from a prospectively maintained (January 1996 to August 2006) foregut malignancy database were reviewed, and trends in treatment from 3 time periods (1996-1998, 1999-2001, and 2002-2006) were compared. RESULTS: Three hundred fifty-three patients treated had an average number of nodes examined of 13.1, with a significant increase in the number of nodes from years 1996 to 1998 (9.2), 1999 to 2001(10.2), and 2002 to 2005 (15.9) (P = .001). There was a significant decrease in 30-day (11.9% to 11.8% to 3.5%, P = .001) and 60-day mortality (15.2% to 18.6% to 10.6%, P = .001) during those same time periods. CONCLUSIONS: Through an increase in multidisciplinary collaboration, the surgical standards in gastric cancers has improved, with greater lymph node evaluation, greater lymph node staging accuracy, and decreased overall mortality.
The Role of Repetition Units in the Differential Diagnosis of Early Childhood Incipient Stuttering

The role of the number of repetition units as a differentiating factor in the identification of very early stuttering in young children is explored. Speech samples of 1,000 syllables each from 29 e...
Evidence for a Postsecretory Reabsorptive Site for Uric Acid in Man

Urinary uric acid is thought to be derived from two sources: uric acid filtered at the glomerulus and incompletely reabsorbed, and uric acid secreted by the renal tubules. The magnitude of the decrease in urinary uric acid which follows administration of pyrazinamide has been widely accepted as an estimate of the secretory component of urinary uric acid. This estimate is dependent upon the assumption that the site of uric acid reabsorption in the renal tubule is proximal to the site of its secretion. Recently, we have reported that total urinary uric acid excretion increases when urine flow rate increases, and have suggested that this was the result of decreased distal tubular reabsorption of uric acid.
Interlocked Composite Grids Design and Manufacturing

Composite grid structures made from pultruded unidirectional glass or carbon ribs promise to provide unmatched performance/cost combination of any composite panels. A new manufacturing method for a...
Molecular and cellular mechanisms of anthracycline cardiotoxicity.

The molecular and cellular mechanisms that cause cumulative dose-dependent anthracycline-cardiotoxicity remain controversial and incompletely understood. Studies examining the effects of anthracyclines in cardiac myocytes in vitro have demonstrated several forms of cellular injury. Cell death in response to anthracyclines can be observed by one of several mechanisms including apoptosis and necrosis. Cell death by apoptosis can be inhibited by dexrazoxane, the iron chelator that is known to prevent clinical development of heart failure at high cumulative anthracycline exposure. Together with clinical evidence for myocyte death after anthracycline exposure, in the form of elevations in serum troponin, make myocyte cell death a probable mechanism for anthracycline-induced cardiac injury. Other mechanisms of myocyte injury include the development of cellular ‘sarcopenia’ characterized by disruption of normal sarcomere structure. Anthracyclines suppress expression of several cardiac transcription factors, and this may play a role in the development of myocyte death as well as sarcopenia. Degradation of the giant myofilament protein titin may represent an important proximal step that leads to accelerated myofilament degradation. Titin is an entropic spring element in the sarcomere that regulates length-dependent calcium sensitivity. Thus titin degradation may lead to impaired diastolic as well as systolic dysfunction, as well as potentiate the effect of suppression of transcription of sarcomere proteins. An interesting interaction has been noted clinically between anthracyclines and newer cancer therapies that target the erbB2 receptor tyrosine kinase. Studies of erbB2 function in viro suggest that signaling through erbB2 by the growth factor neuregulin may regulate cardiac myocyte sarcomere turnover, as well as myocyte-myocyte/myocyte-matrix force coupling. A combination of further in vitro studies, with more careful monitoring of cardiac function after exposure to these cancer therapies, may help to understand to what extent these mechanisms are at work during clinical exposure of the heart to these important pharmaceuticals.
Inducible Macrolide Resistance in Corynebacterium jeikeium

Corynebacterium jeikeium is an opportunistic pathogen primarily of immunocompromised (neutropenic) patients. Broad-spectrum resistance to antimicrobial agents is a common feature of C. jeikeium clinical isolates. We studied the profiles of susceptibility of 20 clinical strains of C. jeikeium to a range of antimicrobial agents. The strains were separated into two groups depending on the susceptibility to erythromycin (ERY), with one group (17 strains) representing resistant organisms (MIC > 128 μg/ml) and the second group (3 strains) representing susceptible organisms (MIC ≤ 0.25 μg/ml). The ERY resistance crossed to other members of the macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSb) group. Furthermore, this resistance was inducible with MLSb agents but not non-MLSb agents. Expression of ERY resistance was linked to the presence of an allele of the class X erm genes, erm(X)cj, with >93% identity to other erm genes of this class. Our evidence indicates that erm(X)cj is integrated within the chromosome, which contrasts with previous reports for the plasmid-associated erm(X) genes found in C. diphtheriae and C. xerosis. In 40% of C. jeikeium strains, erm(X)cj is present within the transposon, Tn5432. However, in the remaining strains, the components of Tn5432 (i.e., the erm and transposase genes) have separated within the chromosome. The rearrangement of Tn5432 leads to the possibility that the other drug resistance genes have become included in a new composite transposon bound by the IS1249 elements.
Stimulated emission in In0.5(AlxGa1−x)0.5P quantum well heterostructures

For shorter wavelength lasers (λ<6000 nm), the most prospective III–V alloy system is In1−yGayP lattice matched to GaAs (y∼0.5) and its variant, the case of AlGa substitution, In0.5(AlxGa1−x)0.5P. We report the growth of quantum well heterostructures (QWHs) in this system by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy and the photopumped (77 K) laser operation of InAlGaP QWHs at wavelengths ranging from the orange to the green portions of the spectrum. Continuous wave (CW) photopumped laser operation at 77 K is achieved in the range from ∼5570.0 to ∼550.0 nm (2.175 to 2.25 eV), and pulsed operation to wavelenghts as short as 543.0 nm (2.283 eV). Room temperature pulsed laser operation is demonstrated in the range from ∼610.0 to 590.0 nm (2.032 to 2.101 eV). The shortest lasing wavelengths observed at 77 K (543.0 nm pulsed and 553.0 nm CW) and at 300 K (593.0 nm pulsed and 625.0 nm CW) represent the highest energy lasers yet reported for this material system, or for any III–V alloy system. This paper will describe the epitaxial layers grown, the characterization of these layers using a variety of techniques, including TEM, and the laser operation experiments and results.
A simulation study on the effectiveness of n-guardring/p-guardring on latchup in 0.8 /spl mu/m CMOS technology

The effect of using an n-guardring compared to p-guardring in preventing latchup due to remote transient at drain of I/O buffer n-channel transistor for 0.8 /spl mu/m CMOS technology is studied. Steady state simulations performed using a 2D device simulator TMA-MEDICI, show that the n-guardring is more effective compared to the p-guardring in increasing the remote trigger level for latchup. It is found that an increase in substrate resistance increased the remote trigger current level for latchup.
The Effects of Leader and Subordinate Characteristics in the Development of Leader–Member Exchange Quality1

This study investigated the contribution of both subordinate and leader characteristics in the development of leader-member exchange (LMX) quality. Data from 56 subordinate-superior dyads working at a large West-coast media company revealed that subordinates high in work self-efficacy were liked more by their supervisors, perceived to be more similar to their supervisors, experienced more positive LMX quality, and were rated as better performers than subordinates low in self-efficacy. Previous job experience, was related only to one outcome; supervisor's liking of the subordinate. Subordinates initially low in self-efficacy benefited from high LMX, as evidenced by increased end-of-program self-efficacy. Perceptions of similarity between supervisor and subordinate were found to be more important to LMX quality than actual demographic similarity. Leader self-efficacy and optimism predicted subordinates' ratings of LMX quality only for female supervisors. Unexpectedly, leader self-efficacy and optimism were related to the leaders' own ratings of LMX and subordinate performance.
Individualized Treatment of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: What are Patients Gaining? Or Losing?

The widespread use of drugs that bind diffusible vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has revolutionized the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The pivotal ranibizumab and aflibercept registration trials featured monthly intravitreal injections for 12 months, during which visual acuities and macular edema rapidly improved for the first 3 months and modest gains or stabilization continued until the primary endpoint. In many subsequent trials, patients were evaluated monthly and treated as-needed (PRN) according to the results of visual acuity (VA) testing, fundus examinations and optical coherence tomography scans. Compared to monthly-treated control groups, PRN treated patients require fewer injections during the first year but they also experience smaller VA gains (1–3 letters). A small number of prospective trials that directly compared monthly with PRN therapy showed that VA gains with discontinuous therapy lag slightly behind those achieved with monthly injections. Physicians recognize that monthly office visits with frequent intraocular injections challenge patients’ compliance, accrue high drug and professional service costs, and clog office schedules with frequently returning patients. To decrease the numbers of both office visits and anti-VEGF injections without sacrificing VA gains, physicians have embraced the treat-and-extend strategy. Treat-and-extend has not been studied as rigorously as PRN but it has become popular among both vitreoretinal specialists and patients. Despite the possible risks associated with discontinuous therapy (decreased VA and increased macular fluid), most physicians individualize treatment (PRN or treat-and-extend) for the majority of their patients. This review chapter explores the many advantages of individualized therapy, while balancing these against suboptimal responses due to the decreased frequency of anti-VEGF injections.
Association and argument: hypertext in and around the writing process

While hypertext is often claimed to be a tool that especially aids associative thinking, intellectual "work" involves more than association. So, questions arise about the usefulness of hypertext tools in the more disciplined aspects of scholarly and argumentative writing. Examining the phases of scholarly writing reveals that different hypertext tools can aid different phases of intellectual work in ways other than associative thinking. Spatial hypertext is relevant at all phases, while page-and-link hypertext is more appropriate to some phases than others.
High-frequency forward scattering from the sea surface: the characteristic scales of time and angle spreading

Forward scattering from the sea surface is discussed in the contest of a forward bounce path, or channel, through which high-frequency sound energy is transmitted. Such a channel might be used in an underwater communication or imaging task. Both time and angle spreading are inherent to the process of forward scattering by a roughened sea surface. Spreading in each domain relates, via Fourier transform, to a conjugate or coherence separation variable, e.g., angle spreading and spatial coherence. The measurement and modeling of time and angle spreading are discussed, with the modeling incorporating the bistatic cross section of the sea surface. A characteristic scale for each spread variable is defined: L for the time spread and /spl sigma//sub /spl theta/h/ and /spl sigma//sub /spl theta/v/ for the horizontal and vertical angular spread, respectively. Simplified expressions for these characteristic scales as a function of array acquisition geometry and sea surface conditions are also obtained. Data from two field experiments are discussed, one conducted in shallow waters of 30-m depth, and one conducted in deep, pelagic waters of 4000-m depth. Both experiments utilized frequencies /spl ges/20 kHz. The role of bubbles in forward scattering is illustrated using measurements from the deep-water experiment. It was demonstrated that bubbles can attenuate the forward-scattered signal, but otherwise have little effect on L and /spl sigma//sub /spl theta/h,v/ until their concentrations approach those necessary to nearly extinguish the signal scattered from the air/sea interface.
Dislocation pipe diffusion

Abstract A model is developed which attributes the observed enhanced diffusivity in dislocation arrays entirely to processes occurring in the dislocation core. If an atom is transferred from the edge of the inserted plane in an edge dislocation into the row of sites into which that plane might grow by negative climb, this creates a “vacancy” in the edge of the inserted plane and an “interstitial” in the line of sites adjacent to that plane. Motion of these defects along the dislocation core would give rise to a net flux parallel to the dislocation line. The effects of correlated motion of the defects (cf. Lothe (6) ), are discussed and it is demonstrated that motion of the interstitial is essentially uncorrelated in an edge dislocation. The model is consistent with available data on diffusion in edge dislocations in silver, accounts adequately for the observed difference between edge and screw dislocation diffusivities, and leads to qualitative predictions regarding the diffusivity along extended dislocations and solute diffusion in dislocations.
VSPEC and its integrated tool suite

In this paper, we describe an integrated tool suite for VSPEC specifications that addresses systems level correctness. The functional correctness of a design is analyzed using the proof obligation generator. The proof obligation generator identifies various properties that must hold for a design to be correct. It then creates a model of the system in the PVS theorem proving language and also generates the properties as theorems to be proved. The performance constraints of the system are analyzed by extracting the relevant information and modeling it as constraint satisfaction problems to be answered by the PDL analyzer. To test the correspondence between the requirements and implementation, test vectors are generated from the specifications and are used in the simulation of the implementation. Using all these tools, it is possible to analyze the correctness of the abstract design and ensure that the implementation satisfies the original requirements.
Free-space optics optimization models for building sway and atmospheric interference using variable wavelength

The performance of free-space optics (FSO) communication systems are affected by building sway and atmospheric interference. These adverse effects can be mitigated by appropriately adjusting the system parameters. In this paper, two optimization models are established and solved. The desirable transmitter power, transmitter wavelength, transmitter telescope gain, and receiver telescope gain can be determined accordingly. The solution feasibility relies on using the quantum cascade laser (QCL) in transmitters. Details of the numerical experiments are also reported.