cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hysteroscopy versus hysterectomy for the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding: a comparison of cost.

Objective To compare the costs of hysteroscopic treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding with the costs associated with abdominal and vaginal hysterectomy. Design Retrospective review. Setting Academic medical center and outpatient gynecology paractice. Patients A list of all women undergoing an endometrial ablation (n = 60), hysteroscopic myomectomy (n = 14), abdominal (n = 192), or vaginal (n = 37) hysterectomy between June 1, 1987 and June 1, 1992 for the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding was generated by a computer search of billing records using the appropriate ICD-9-CM codes. Main Outcome Measure The direct cost per case for each patient were defined as the sum of the surgeon's fee, all related hospital and operating room charges, the anesthesiologist's fee, and the cost of preoperative medications. When the initial procedure failed, the cost associated with any additional surgery was accounted for in the determination of the direct cost per case. Indirect costs per case were calculated based on known demographic data, recovery time, and the cost in lost productivity during recuperation. Mean direct and indirect costs per case were determined for each procedure and compared. Results The mean direct cost per case for endometrial ablation was $5,159 and for myomectomy and ablation was $5,525. The direct cost per case was not different between the hysteroscopic procedures but both were significantly less expensive than either vaginal ($8,132) or abdominal ($8,833) hysterectomy. Total hospital cost also was significantly less for the hysteroscopic procedures than for hysterectomy by either technique. The indirect costs associated with the hysteroscopic procedures were significantly less than those incurred by abdominal and vaginal hysterectomy. Conclusions The total direct and indirect cost per case of an hysteroscopic approach to the treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding is significantly less than that associated with vaginal or abdominal hysterectomy. This difference persists when the cost of failure of an hysteroscopic procedure is accounted for.
Toxicant Transport by P‐Glycoprotein

Toxicant Transport by P-Glycoprotein (Lisa J. Bain, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas).This unit describes several different methods of measuring active transport of toxicants by P-glycoprotein uptake of a radiolabeled toxicant, uptake of an unlabeled toxicant with detection by HPLC or GC, uptake of radiolabeled toxicant in membrane vesicles; movement of radiolabeled toxicant from the basal to apical compartment using polarized epithelial cells grown in Transwell culture. P-glygoprotein is an important protein for limiting entry into the brain through the blood-bain barrier. It also alters the rates of uptake and elimination.
Microinjection of Follicle-Enclosed Mouse Oocytes

The mammalian oocyte develops within a complex of somatic cells known as a follicle, within which signals from the somatic cells regulate the oocyte, and signals from the oocyte regulate the somatic cells. Because isolation of the oocyte from the follicle disrupts these communication pathways, oocyte physiology is best studied within an intact follicle. Here we describe methods for quantitative microinjection of follicle-enclosed mouse oocytes, thus allowing the introduction of signaling molecules as well as optical probes into the oocyte within its physiological environment.
Did Massive Primordial Stars Preenrich the Lyα Forest

We examine the dynamical evolution and statistical properties of the supernova ejecta of massive primordial stars in a cosmological framework to determine whether this first population of stars could have enriched the universe to the levels and dispersions seen by the most recent observations of the Lyα forest. We evolve a Λ cold dark matter model in a 1 Mpc3 volume to a redshift of z = 15 and add "bubbles" of metal corresponding to the supernova ejecta of the first generation of massive stars in all dark matter halos with masses greater than 5 × 105 M☉. These initial conditions are then evolved to z = 3, and the distribution and levels of metals are compared to observations. In the absence of further star formation, the primordial metal is initially contained in halos and filaments. Photoevaporation of metal-enriched gas due to the metagalactic ultraviolet background radiation at the epoch of reionization (z ~ 6) causes a sharp increase of the metal volume filling factor. At z = 3, ~2.5% of the simulation volume (≈20% of the total gas mass) is filled with gas enriched above a metallicity of 10-4 Z☉, and less than 0.6% of the volume is enriched above a metallicity of 10-3 Z☉. This suggests that even with the most optimistic prescription for placement of primordial supernovae and the amount of metals produced by each supernova, this population of stars cannot entirely be responsible for the enrichment of the Lyα forest to the levels and dispersions seen by current observations unless we have severely underestimated the duration of the Population III epoch. However, comparison to observations using carbon as a tracer of metals shows that Population III supernovae can be significant contributors to the very low overdensity Lyα forest.
Combining multiple OCRs for optimizing word recognition

We present a method of combining multiple classifiers for optimizing word recognition. The proposed method combines the results of individual classifiers in such a way that the correct word is more likely to be hypothesized. This method provides a solution to the crucial issue of assigning reliable cost to the edges of the segmentation graph in the popular over-segmentation followed by dynamic programming approach for word recognition. Three combination functions are proposed and implemented. Experiments show that proposed method has a significant improvement on the word recognition accuracy.
PROTEMPA: A Method for Specifying and Identifying Temporal Sequences in Retrospective Data for Patient Selection

Objective: To specify and identify disease and patient care processes represented by temporal patterns in clinical events and observations, and retrieve patient populations containing those patterns from clinical data repositories, in support of clinical research, outcomes studies, and quality assurance. Design: A data processing method called PROTEMPA (Process-oriented Temporal Analysis) was developed for defining and detecting clinically relevant temporal and mathematical patterns in retrospective data. PROTEMPA provides for portability across data sources, "pluggable" data processing environments, and the creation of libraries of pattern definitions and data processing algorithms. Measurements: A proof-of-concept implementation of PROTEMPA in Java was evaluated against standard SQL queries for its ability to identify patients from a large clinical data repository who show the features of HELLP syndrome, and categorize those patients by disease severity and progression based on time sequence characteristics in their clinical laboratory test results. Results were verified by manual case review. Results: The proof-of-concept implementation was more accurate than SQL in identifying patients with HELLP and correctly assigned severity and disease progression categories, which was not possible using SQL only. Conclusions: PROTEMPA supports the identification and categorization of patients with complex disease based on the characteristics of and relationships between time sequences in multiple data types. Identifying patient populations who share these types of patterns may be useful when patient features of interest do not have standard codes, are poorly-expressed in coding schemes, may be inaccurately or incompletely coded, or are not represented explicitly as data values.
Heterocyclic Extended Peptide Surrogates for β-Strand Stabilization

Peptidomimetic scaffolds designed to stabilize biologically relevant secondary structures play a key role in ligand-based drug design. Approaches aimed at stabilizing extended peptide conformations hold particular promise for targeting β-strand and β-sheet interactions. An understanding of how specific constraints impact extended backbone conformations is needed to expand their potential utility and to inform the design of novel templates. This chapter describes peptide orthotic and prosthetic approaches toward β-strand stabilization using heterocyclic motifs. Syntheses and conformational analyses are described for selected extended peptide surrogates suitable for incorporation into native sequences.
An integrated solution to distributed data requirements

Recent developments within the World Wide Web (WWW) and attendant user interfaces (e.g. Mosaic, Netscape) have produced well defined protocols for describing, communicating, and viewing hypertext information. This ability to uniformly handle different types of information has created tremendous opportunities for re-engineering the means by which disparate information is managed and communicated among individuals and organizations. In the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) at the Georgia Institute of Technology, this technology is being used as the building block for integrating administrative, instructional, and research services. The paper describes some of our experiences as well lessons that we have learned while migrating our services to this technology.
Combining expert system and GIS technology to implement a state-transition model of oak woodlands

Abstract Ecosystem management, which is aimed at maintaining resources such as wildlife diversity, water quality, fire protection or aesthetic values, requires a regional or landscape perspective. Using a spatially explicit simulation model to test ‘what-if’ scenarios can facilitate the development of appropriate management practices at the landscape level. The state-and-transition model may provide a methodology that strikes an appropriate balance between simplicity and realism. We present a brief review of the state-and-transition methodology and then describe a computer-based implementation of a spatially explicit state-and-transition model. The implementation method is to link a rule-based qualitative simulation model with a geographic information system.
TNAP, TrAP, ecto-purinergic signaling, and bone remodeling.

Bone remodeling is a process of continuous resorption and formation/mineralization carried out by osteoclasts and osteoblasts, which, along with osteocytes, comprise the bone multicellular unit (BMU). A key component of the BMU is the bone remodeling compartment (BRC), isolated from the marrow by a canopy of osteoblast-like lining cells. Although much progress has been made regarding the cytokine-dependent and hormonal regulation of bone remodeling, less attention has been placed on the role of extracellular pH (pHe). Osteoclastic bone resorption occurs at acidic pHe. Furthermore, osteoclasts can be regarded as epithelial-like cells, due to their polarized structure and ability to form a seal against bone, isolating the lacunar space. The major ecto-phosphatases of osteoclasts and osteoblasts, acid and alkaline phosphatases, both have ATPase activity with pH optima several units different from neutrality. Furthermore, osteoclasts and osteoblasts express plasma membrane purinergic P2 receptors that, upon activation by ATP, accelerate bone osteoclast resorption and impair osteoblast mineralization. We hypothesize that these ecto-phosphatases help regulate [ATP]e and localized pHe at the sites of bone resorption and mineralization by pH-dependent ATP hydrolysis coupled with P2Y-dependent regulation of osteoclast and osteoblast function. Furthermore, osteoclast cellular HCO, formed as a product of lacunar V-ATPase H+ secretion, is secreted into the BRC, which could elevate BRC pHe, in turn affecting osteoblast function. We will review the existing data addressing regulation of BRC pHe, present a hypothesis regarding its regulation, and discuss the hypothesis in the context of the function of proteins that regulate pHe. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 655–662, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Modulation of β-adrenergic receptors in the pituitary gland following adrenalectomy in rats

Abstract The effects of adrenalectomy on β-adrenergic receptors in the rat pituitary were examined using quantitative in vitro autoradiography with 125 I-iodocyanopindolol ( 125 ICYP). 125 ICYP binding in the anterior, intermediate and posterior lobes of the pituitary gland was significantly increased in chronically adrenalectomized rats. The increase in 125 ICYP binding sites in the rat pituitary following adrenalectomy was not reversed by glucocorticoid replacement with dexamethasone. These data indicate that catecholamines of adrenomedullary origin are capable of modulating β-adrenergic receptors in the pituitary gland and suggest that peripheral epinephrine may be important in regulating pituitary hormone secretion.
A psychoeducational approach to methadone maintenance treatment

Methadone maintenance has become the treatment of choice for heroin addiction because of its beneficial effects on illicit opiate use and criminality. Yet methadone maintenance falls short in a variety of ways; methadone clients continue to use drugs, experience high rates of psychopathology and alcoholism, and fail to become employed and integrated into the community. These problems are endemic in addicts, but also can be attributed to a host of strategic and tactical failures in methadone maintenance treatment itself. Traditional counseling is an inadequate and confused way to provide clients with the living skills, psychotherapy, and limit setting they need. S.T.A.R. is a methadone program in Portland, Oregon, that emphasizes direct training of educational, recreational, and personal skills. Group treatment is employed to create social support for clients while psychotherapy and crisis counseling are available on an as-needed basis. Implementation of the model has caused some difficulties and has led to creative and promising results.
Molluscan live-dead agreement in anthropogenically stressed seagrass habitats: Siliciclastic versus carbonate environments

Abstract Molluscan live–dead fidelity studies investigate the influences of anthropogenic activities on marine ecosystems by comparing the taxonomic composition of a living community to its corresponding death assemblage. Environments subjected to intense anthropogenic stresses tend to yield low fidelity (high discordance) in rank-order abundance and taxonomic similarity between living and dead assemblages. This project assesses the sensitivity of the live–dead approach by applying various fidelity metrics – community richness (Delta-S), evenness (Delta-PIE), rank-order correlation (Spearman rho), and taxonomic similarity (Jaccard–Chao) – to molluscan assemblages in seagrass habitats exposed to anthropogenic stresses in different sedimentary environments. Our study sites include siliciclastic sites in North Carolina, carbonate sites in Florida Bay, and a siliciclastic–carbonate transition locality along the coast of southern Florida. The dominant forms of human stresses at these seagrass sites consist of increased freshwater runoff, increased nutrient runoff, and physical substrate disturbance by dredging (North Carolina) and propeller scarring (Florida Bay). As a result of such anthropogenic stresses, we expected to find low live–dead fidelity results at all of our study sites. We also anticipated variations in the results between sedimentary environments, reflecting intrinsic differences in how molluscan material accumulates and is preserved in siliciclastic versus carbonate settings. Using bulk sediment samples, fidelity analyses consistently yield greater live–dead disagreement at the siliciclastic sites. Despite well-documented historical human stresses to Florida Bay and sediment cores indicating multiple ecological shifts in response to human impacts over time, results from carbonate localities yield higher fidelity and provide little evidence for ecological change. We argue that greater time averaging allows for the death assemblages at the siliciclastic sites to retain a longer memory of the local communities, thus preserving evidence of local ecological changes. In contrast, less time averaging and more rapid live–dead equilibration in carbonate sediments reduces the signal of community changes. Thus we propose that the live–dead fidelity approach is more sensitive at detecting recent ecological changes in siliciclastic versus carbonate environments, confirming the conservative nature of the approach and demonstrating the role of taphonomic bias in live–dead methodology.
Directions for Health Education: New Spokes in the Wheel... Or a New Wheel

This paper, presented as a Presidential Address at the 25th Annual Meeting of the Society for Public Health Education, examines the current state of SOPHE and the practice of health education. It begins with a review of current issues impacting on SOPHE and health education, and then assesses the current directions both are pursuing. Needs to be addressed and implications for the future are suggested
Replication of bacteriophage PM2 deoxyribonucleic acid: A closed circular double-stranded molecule

Shortly after infection with bacteriophage PM2, host DNA synthesis is inhibited while synthesis of the supercoiled viral DNA begins at a low rate. This rate increases at about ten minutes after infection to reach a value that is thereafter maintained until lysis of the cells. Pulse-chase experiments suggest the existence of several precursors of supercoiled PM2 DNA. Two of them, one which sediments as nicked circular PM2 DNA (21 s) and another, appearing earlier in time, sedimenting 1.15 times faster (24 s), have been partially characterized. The 24 s component seems to contain linear single strands both longer and shorter than the strands of PM2 DNA. It has been purified, examined in the electron microscope and shown to consist of double-stranded rings of the circumference of PM2 DNA, with one double-stranded DNA branch of distinct length, but always shorter than PM2 DNA. From these characteristics the 24 s precursor seems to be a PM2 DNA molecule with a growing chain in accordance with the hypothesis that chain growth involves addition of nucleotides to the end of one parental strand while a second strand is initiated de novo. The pulse-labeled precursor which sediments like nicked circular PM2 DNA does not contain label in single-strand rings but only in open strands. Experiments based on transfer of the infected cell from heavy to light medium suggest a mechanism of replication which involves random selection of the viral DNA molecule to be duplicated from among these present in the cell.
Pointwise and Internal Controllability for the Wave Equation

Abstract. Problems of internal and pointwise observation and control for the one-dimensional wave equation arise in the simulation of control and identification processes in electrical engineering, flaw detection, and medical tomography. The generally accepted way of modelling sensors and actuators as pointlike objects leads to results which may make no apparent physical sense: they may depend, for instance, on the rationality or irrationality of the location for a point sensor or actuator. We propose a new formulation of sensor (actuator) action, expressed mathematically by using somewhat unconventional spaces for data presentation and processing. For interaction restricted to an interval of length e , the limit system of observation (or control) now makes sense when e tends to zero without a sensitive dependence on the precise location of the limiting point.
A BAC-bacterial recombination method to generate physically linked multiple gene reporter DNA constructs

Reporter gene mice are valuable animal models for biological research providing a gene expression readout that can contribute to cellular characterization within the context of a developmental process. With the advancement of bacterial recombination techniques to engineer reporter gene constructs from BAC genomic clones and the generation of optically distinguishable fluorescent protein reporter genes, there is an unprecedented capability to engineer more informative transgenic reporter mouse models relative to what has been traditionally available. We demonstrate here our first effort on the development of a three stage bacterial recombination strategy to physically link multiple genes together with their respective fluorescent protein (FP) reporters in one DNA fragment. This strategy uses bacterial recombination techniques to: (1) subclone genes of interest into BAC linking vectors, (2) insert desired reporter genes into respective genes and (3) link different gene-reporters together. As proof of concept, we have generated a single DNA fragment containing the genes Trap, Dmp1, and Ibsp driving the expression of ECFP, mCherry, and Topaz FP reporter genes, respectively. Using this DNA construct, we have successfully generated transgenic reporter mice that retain two to three gene readouts. The three stage methodology to link multiple genes with their respective fluorescent protein reporter works with reasonable efficiency. Moreover, gene linkage allows for their common chromosomal integration into a single locus. However, the testing of this multi-reporter DNA construct by transgenesis does suggest that the linkage of two different genes together, despite their large size, can still create a positional effect. We believe that gene choice, genomic DNA fragment size and the presence of endogenous insulator elements are critical variables.
Survey of vitamin A supplementation for extremely-low-birth-weight infants: is clinical practice consistent with the evidence?

Abstract Objective To survey the attitudes and practices among level III neonatal intensive care units in the United States regarding vitamin A supplementation for extremely-low-birth-weight (ELBW; birth weight ≤1000 g) infants. Study design A pretested questionnaire regarding vitamin A supplementation was distributed to all (n = 102) neonatal-perinatal training program directors (TPD) and 105 randomly selected directors of level III neonatal intensive care units (nontraining program directors, NTPD). Results Ninety-nine percent of TPD and 94% of NTPD responded. In a minority of programs (20% TPD, 13% NTPD), >90% of eligible extremely-low-birth-weight neonates are supplemented with vitamin A, whereas in most programs (69% TPD, 82% NTPD), routine supplementation is not practiced. Most centers (91% TPD, 81% NTPD) supplementing vitamin A use a dose of 5000 IU IM 3 times per week for 4 weeks. The most common reason that TPD give for not supplementing vitamin A is the perceived small benefit, whereas the most common reason for NTPD is that they consider the intervention unproven. Conclusions These findings indicate inconsistency in practicing evidence-based medicine in neonatal practice, where therapies are often administered on the basis of weaker evidence of safety and benefit than supports vitamin A supplementation. Educational interventions may be required to endorse the benefits and safety of vitamin A supplementation.
Continuing Progress Toward Racial and Gender Pay Equality in the Federal Service: An Update

Although White men continue to dominate the middle management and higher levels of the federal service, representation of Blacks, Hispanics, and White women is increasing at an accelerating pace Al...
Dancing with humans: Interaction as unintended consequence

Parallels to Shanker & King's (S&K's) proposal for a model of language teaching that values dyadic interaction have long existed in language development, for the neotenous human infant requires care, which is inherently interactive. Interaction with talking caregivers facilitates language learning. The “new” paradigm thus has a decidedly familiar look. It would be surprising if some other paradigm worked better in animals that have no evolutionary linguistic history.
Affinity of cholinergic ligands for the partially purified acetylcholine receptor from mammalian skeletal muscle

[“HI Acetylated-cu-bungarotoxin has been used to determine the numbers, densities and precise location of acetylcholine receptor (ACh.R) molecules in normal and denervated mammalian muscle [l-4] . Two labeled components specifically binding a-bungarotoxin (BuTX) have been solubilized from rat diaphragm muscle and shown to have apparent molecular weights (by gel filtration in 0.2% Triton X-100) of 550 000 and 200 000, respectively [4]. Only the former is found at the endplates and is thought to contain the native AChaR. After denervation, a 20-fold increase occurs in a BuTX-binding component with an apparent mol. wt. of 550 000, but this is then distributed throughout the whole muscle. Unlabeled ACh-R with the same mol. wt. has been solubilized from denervated mammalian muscle, extensively purified (100-200 fold) and shown to bind choline@ ligands [4-61. A detailed description of the purification and properties of the ACh-R from denervated cat leg muscles will be described elsewhere [7,8] . A partially purified preparation of AChaR from rat denervated diaphragm has been reconstituted into artificial lipid membranes [9]. Here we show, by the protective effects on the binding of BuTX, that cholinergic agonists and antagonists bind with high affinities to this partially purified ACh-R preparation from cat denervated muscles.
Immediate reconstruction of distal extensor tendon loss with a tendon graft

An open injury at the distal dorsal finger with loss of the teminal extensor tendon mechanism is challenging to treat, particularly if there is associated overlying soft tissue loss as well. Current options for this type of injury include joint fusion or revision amputation (in severe cases). We present a case of a patient who had a 1.5-cm loss of the terminal extensor tendon with associated loss of the overlying skin that was successfully reconstructed with a palmaris longus tendon graft and covered with a reversed cross-finger flap in the immediate postinjury setting. This technique has allowed restoration of active flexion and extension of the distal interphalangeal joint.
Impact of cesarean section on intermediate and late preterm births: United States, 2000-2003.

ABSTRACT: Background: Cesarean section appears to be associated with increased risk of neonatal mortality among infants of low-risk term pregnancies, but it may offer some survival advantage among the most extremely preterm infants. The impact on intermediate (32–33 wk) and late preterm (34–36 wk) deliveries remains uncertain. The objective of this analysis was to compare the neonatal mortality rate (death at 0–27 days), the mechanical ventilation usage rate, and the incidence of hyaline membrane disease among intermediate and late preterm infants delivered by primary cesarean section compared with those delivered vaginally.Methods: United States Linked Birth and Infant Death Certificate files from the years 2000 to 2003 were used. Maternal demographic characteristics, medical complications, and labor and delivery complications were abstracted from the files along with infant information. Because of concern for misclassification of gestational age, a procedure was used to trim away births in which the birthweight of an infant for a specific gestational age was inconsistent. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated using logistic regression for the risk of the three outcomes of interest relative to the mode of delivery.Results: A total of 422,001 live births were available with complete data from the trimmed data set (60% of untrimmed data). After adjustment by logistic regression for infant size at birth, birthweight, sex, Apgar score at 5 minutes less than 4, multiple births, breech presentation, presence of an anomaly, the presence of any maternal medical condition or complication of labor and delivery, labor induction, maternal race, age, education, and gravidity, the adjusted odds ratios (95% CI for neonatal mortality at gestational ages of 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 wk) were, respectively, 1.69 (1.31–2.20), 1.79 (1.40–2.29), 1.08 (0.83–1.40), 2.31 (1.78–3.00), and 1.98 (1.50–2.62).Conclusions: These data suggest that for low-risk preterm infants at 32 to 36 weeks’ gestation, independent of any reported risk factors, primary cesarean section may pose an increased risk of neonatal mortality and morbidity. (BIRTH 36:1 March 2009)
Maximizing the probability of pest extinction on a stochastic pest-predator model

Abstract A pest-predator stochastic model proposed by Bartoszynski (1977) is adapted to cover control variables. The model assumes that the pest population is influenced by predation and can only increase at breeding seasons while the predator population follows a linear birth-and-death process. This paper extends the model by writing the part of death rate of the pest which is unrelated to predation as a function of pesticides level. Under the assumption of a fixed and non-transferable budget, this paper seeks to find an optimal policy for determining the best allocation of resources between purchasing new predators and purchasing the pesticide. The criterion for optimization is to maximize the probability of extinction for the pest population by a target time.
An ionospheric precursor to the Tohoku earthquake

Most scientists believe that earthquakes are inherently unpredictable, and reports of various kinds of earthquake precursor signals have been difficult to verify. However, in a new study, Heki reports a possible ionospheric precursor to the devastating 11 March 2011 magnitude 9 Tohoku earthquake in Japan. Analyzing data from the Japanese GPS network, he detected an increase in the total electron content (TEC) in the ionosphere above the focal region of the earthquake beginning about 40 minutes before the quake. The TEC enhancement reached about 8% above the background electron content. The increase in TEC was greatest above the earthquake epicenter and diminished with distance from the epicenter. The author also analyzed GPS records from previous earthquakes and found that similar ionospheric anomalies occurred before the 2010 Mw 8.8 Chile earthquake and possibly the 2004 Sumatra Mw 9.2 earthquake and the 1994 Mw 8.3 Hokkaido earthquake, but TEC enhancements were not seen before smaller earthquakes.
Petrology and Structure of the Southern Wet Mountains, Colorado

The Precambrian core of the southern Wet Mountains consists in part of metasedimentary gneiss and schist concordantly foliated with granite gneiss and composite rocks—migmatite and lit-par-lit gneiss. These rocks developed by alteration during intrusion of the San Isabel Granite batholith and associated smaller plutons. Migmatite borders the batholith and grades outward into lit-par-lit gneiss as a result of more intensive reconstitution and metasomatism nearer the igneous mass. Foliation in the metamorphic and composite units tends to “wrap around” the plutons and is discordant to the foliation (planar flow structure) of these bodies. Lineation, which developed in the metamorphic and composite rocks during folding and neocrystallization of the sequence, plunges northward. Lineation (linear flow structure) of the granite plutons also generally plunges northward and supports the belief that the plutons are of common origin. Field relations and petrographic investigations, including heavy-mineral studies, indicate a genetic relation among the granite bodies; the smaller plutons are probably contaminated differentiates of the magma which formed the San Isabel batholith. Lead-alpha age dating of zircon from the San Isabel Granite indicates that this batholith represents part of the orogenic activity which occurred about 1500 m. y. ago. The southern Wet Mountains form a southeast-plunging anticline with the dominant fracture pattern striking N. 60° W., parallel to the range axis, and a minor trend N. 40° E. Complex structural relations reflect both Precambrian deformation and later superimposed fracturing. Late Paleozoic uplift (Ancestral Rocky Mountains) occurred along pre-existing lines of weakness; Laramide deformation and Tertiary block faulting, although influenced by these trends, formed additional fracture patterns. The Wet Mountains were uplifted to present heights from mid-Tertiary to Pleistocene. Probably the Wet Mountain massif acted as a resistant block to regional compression and yielded by upward movement, although uplift may be the result of solely vertical stresses. Movement occurred in stages along prominent high-angle boundary faults and by slight displacements along innumerable joints.
Characterizing the Sources of Current Generated by a Membrane-Based Hair Cell Sensor

Recently, researchers have developed a method to construct a membrane-based hair cell sensor that generates a measurable current in response to physical disturbance of the hair. Representing the cell membrane, a phospholipid bilayer is formed at the interface of two lipid-encased hydrophilic volumes and a hair is located in a center of one of the volumes act a shaking element. In this work, we study the current generated by free vibration of the hair in a revised hair cell embodiment that uses a hair that is physically supported by the surrounding substrate. The current generated by the sensor is measured by a patch clamp amplifier, and the net charge displaced across the membrane during motion of the hair is computed. Experiments performed with a complete hair cell sensor and various control cases that lack a bilayer indicate that the current measured at 0mV applied across the membrane is due to vibration of the positive electrode that changes the local electromagnetic field. Experiments conducted with both geland liquid-supported membranes indicate that gel-supported membranes have a higher sensitivity of (0.066 pC/mV) than liquid-supported membranes (0.015 pC/mV) as the applied voltage increases. Lastly, the motion of the tip of the hair is imaged using a high-speed camera. This test shows that the hair oscillates at the same frequency observed in the measured current traces, which indicates that transverse bending of the bilayer is the cause for the time rate of change in capacitance in the membrane that produces a voltage-dependent current.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Photorefractive conical diffraction in BaTiO3

Abstract A laser beam incident on BaTiO 3 can cause a cone of light to exit the crystal. If the incident beam is polarized as an extraordinary ray, the cone of light is formed by ordinary rays. The cone angle is fixed by a phase-matching condition for the incident and cone beams. Measurement of this cone angle as a function of the incident angle is a simple and sensitive method for determining the birefringence of a BaTiO 3 crystal over the entire range of wavelengths where the sample is photorefractive.
Lighting trends and challenges for the aviation market

Solid state lighting (SSL) has made substantial inroads into the aviation lighting market in recent years. In many aircraft applications, the unique characteristics of this technology make it superior to the light sources presently employed. However, the novelty of this technology also brings new challenges to successful implementation within rigorous aerospace environs. This paper provides an overview of how the advent of solid state lighting has benefited the aerospace lighting industry, examines some of the current applications and looks forward to future uses of SSL in the aviation market. The discussion will include an examination of aerospace requirements and how SSL technology meets those requirements. The authors will address some of the challenges presented by solid state light relative to the aerospace industry and explore how these issues can be overcome.
On periodic solutions of systems of linear finite-difference equations in the critical case

We establish sufficient conditions for the existence and a method for the construction of periodic solutions of systems of linear difference equations in the critical case.
Instantaneous spectral moments

Abstract Density functions find application in many fields of science, math and engineering. In many cases, the density can be sufficiently characterized by some of its moments, particularly the mean, variance, skew and kurtosis. In signal analysis, densities of interest are the instantaneous power of the signal, the spectral density, and for signals with time-varying spectral content, the joint time–frequency density. As with densities in general, these signal densities may also be characterized by their low-order moments. For the case of the joint density, the moments are conditional moments, e.g., the mean frequency at a particular time. The first- and second-conditional moments of a time–frequency density have been well-studied in the past two decades; the third, fourth and higher conditional moments have not. In this paper, we propose candidates, utilizing an operator-theoretic approach, for the instantaneous spectral moments of a signal, in terms of its amplitude and phase. From these instantaneous spectral moments, we obtain expressions for the instantaneous spectral mean, variance, skew and kurtosis. We also address the question of designing kernels in the Cohen class of time–frequency distributions to obtain distributions with these moments.
I04 Identification and characterization of antiviral interferon effectors across the viral phylogeny

The type I interferon (IFN) response protects cells from invading viral pathogens by triggering the transcription of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs). Although hundreds of ISGs have been identified, relatively few have been characterized with respect to antiviral activity. For most, little is known about their antiviral potential, their target specificity, and their mechanisms of action. We have established an overexpression screening platform to evaluate the antiviral potential of more than 350 ISGs against a diverse panel of animal viruses spanning the viral phylogeny. To date, we have screened 13 plus-strand RNA viruses, 7 negative-strand RNA viruses, and one DNA virus. Hierarchical clustering of top ISG hits indicates that viruses segregate based on their genomic content, with plus-stranded RNA viruses exhibiting the highest sensitivity to the greatest number of ISGs. We have also probed the mechanisms of action of select antiviral ISGs against hepatitis C virus, dengue virus, and influenza A virus. Many of these ISGs feed back into antiviral programs, while others appear to have more targeted effector functions. Using a variety of experimental techniques, we show that inhibition of early viral life cycle events is a common mechanism targeted by numerous IFN effectors. Gaining additional insight into the cellular and biochemical mechanisms if ISG-mediated inhibition may provide a platform for the development of novel antiviral therapies.
High-voltage paper electrophoresis of nucleotides

Abstract Thirteen nucleotides were completely separated from each other in 70 min by high-voltage paper electrophoresis, employing Whatman ET 31 paper and a citrate buffer containing EDTA.
Geminin-deficient neural stem cells exhibit normal cell division and normal neurogenesis.

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are the progenitors of neurons and glial cells during both embryonic development and adult life. The unstable regulatory protein Geminin (Gmnn) is thought to maintain neural stem cells in an undifferentiated state while they proliferate. Geminin inhibits neuronal differentiation in cultured cells by antagonizing interactions between the chromatin remodeling protein Brg1 and the neural-specific transcription factors Neurogenin and NeuroD. Geminin is widely expressed in the CNS during throughout embryonic development, and Geminin expression is down-regulated when neuronal precursor cells undergo terminal differentiation. Over-expression of Geminin in gastrula-stage Xenopus embryos can expand the size of the neural plate. The role of Geminin in regulating vertebrate neurogenesis in vivo has not been rigorously examined. To address this question, we created a strain of Nestin-Cre/Gmnnfl/fl mice in which the Geminin gene was specifically deleted from NSCs. Interestingly, we found no major defects in the development or function of the central nervous system. Neural-specific GmnnΔ/Δ mice are viable and fertile and display no obvious neurological or neuroanatomical abnormalities. They have normal numbers of BrdU+ NSCs in the subgranular zone of the dentate gyrus, and GmnnΔ/Δ NSCs give rise to normal numbers of mature neurons in pulse-chase experiments. GmnnΔ/Δ neurosphere cells differentiate normally into both neurons and glial cells when grown in growth factor-deficient medium. Both the growth rate and the cell cycle distribution of cultured GmnnΔ/Δ neurosphere cells are indistinguishable from controls. We conclude that Geminin is largely dispensable for most of embryonic and adult mammalian neurogenesis.
Pulmonary delivery of low molecular weight heparins.

Purpose. To investigate if pulmonary delivery of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) formulated with tetradecyl-β-maltoside (TDM) or dimethyl-β-cyclodextrin (DMβCD) could be a feasible alternative to subcutaneous injections for the treatment of pulmonary embolism.
Leaf bisection for the enzymatic isolation of mesophyll protoplasts fromSaintpaulia ionantha

We describe a rapid and efficient procedure for isolating leaf mesophyll protoplasts fromSaintpaulia ionantha (African violet). Because of the unusual surface properties of the leaf, efficient digestion required bisection of the lamina into abaxial and adaxial halves to expose the mesophyll. Enzymatic digestion occurred during a 3 h incubation with 2% (m/v) driselase in 0.50 M mannitol, yielding 2–3 × 105 protoplasts g−1 (f.m.), with 70% viability. Protoplasts ranged in size from 50 to 100μm, and were derived from mostly non-photosynthetic mesophyll parenchyma.
A new species of Byrsonima (Malpighiaceae) from Panama

Byrsonima dressleri is newly described as endemic to the low cloud forests of Panama adjacent to the Canal Zone. Its closest relationship appears to be with those taxa of the Guayana Highland and Amazonia.
Using location color size and depth to characterize and identify endometriosis lesions in a cohort of 133 women.

Objective To correlate histology with endometriosis characteristics. Design Secondary data analysis. Setting Government research hospital. Patient(s) One hundred thirty-three women with chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis who underwent laparoscopic surgery between 1999 and 2004. Intervention(s) Laparoscopic excision of lesions, including recording of lesion characteristics and surgical impression of the lesions. Main Outcome Measure(s) All biopsies were sent for histological examination for endometriosis, and surgical and histological findings were compared. Result(s) Three hundred fifty-seven of 544 lesions believed to be endometriosis by the surgeon had positive histology. Mixed-color lesions most commonly contained endometriosis (76%), with the percentage of positive lesions being similar between single-color groups. Among subtle (red or white) lesions, 58% (164/283) were positive for endometriosis. Thirty women had only red or white lesions, and 18 (60%) had at least one lesion positive for endometriosis. Lesions were most commonly located in the cul-de-sac (64%), utero-sacral ligaments (68%), and ovarian fossa (70%). Conclusion(s) Wide, deep, mixed-color lesions in the cul-de-sac, the ovarian fossa, or the utero-sacral ligaments had the highest frequency of endometriosis. More than half of subtle lesions had endometriosis. These results should be considered when diagnosing endometriosis.
Revisiting the stability of hexacenes.

The Strating−Zwanenberg photodecarbonylation was used to prepare hexacene (1). Compound 1 was found to be extremely unstable in solution, undergoing dimerization and oxidation. However, when generated in a polymer matrix, 1 survived for more than 12 h under ambient conditions. Hexacenes substituted at the 6 and 15 positions with the phenyl, p-tert-butylphenyl, and mesityl groups were synthesized using the quinone reduction method, but these compounds were also shown to be unstable in solution.
CARDIAC POWER AND STROKE WORK PREDICT FAVORABLE RESPONSE TO INTRA-AORTIC BALLOON COUNTERPULSATION IN PATIENTS WITH CARDIOGENIC SHOCK PRIOR TO LEFT VENTRICULAR ASSIST DEVICE IMPLANTATION

Stabilization with intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABP) for patients in cardiogenic shock prior to implantation of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) is commonly employed, in the absence of data to guide appropriate use of this strategy. We sought to identify clinical factors that are
A complementary SiGe HBT on SOI low dropout voltage regulator utilizing a nulling resistor

The present work focuses on reducing dropout voltage and noise by exploiting the unique advantages of a complementary silicon-germanium (SiGe) heterojunction bipolar transistor (C-SiGe HBT) on SOI technology. We also explore the impact of utilizing different PNP device types on regulator performance. Design challenges arose from the off-chip load capacitor required to meet the specification of the instantaneous peak output voltage drop. To overcome these challenges, a right-hand plane (RHP) to left-hand plane (LHP) zero conversion technique with a nulling Miller resistor was applied. The complete solutions for the locations of the converted left-hand plane zero and the Miller pole affected by the nulling resistor were derived utilizing signal flow graphs without any assumptions commonly made in the literature. Two C-SiGe LDO regulators with two different types of PNP output devices were fabricated utilizing a commercially-available C-SiGe on SOI technology, and compared with the literature.
Evaporite-karst problems and studies in the USA

Evaporites, including rock salt (halite) and gypsum (or anhydrite), are the most soluble among common rocks; they dissolve readily to form the same types of karst features that commonly are found in limestones and dolomites. Evaporites are present in 32 of the 48 contiguous states in USA, and they underlie about 40% of the land area. Typical evaporite-karst features observed in outcrops include sinkholes, caves, disappearing streams, and springs, whereas other evidence of active evaporite karst includes surface-collapse structures and saline springs or saline plumes that result from salt dissolution. Many evaporites also contain evidence of paleokarst, such as dissolution breccias, breccia pipes, slumped beds, and collapse structures. All these natural karst phenomena can be sources of engineering or environmental problems. Dangerous sinkholes and caves can form rapidly in evaporite rocks, or pre-existing karst features can be reactivated and open up (collapse) under certain hydrologic conditions or when the land is put to new uses. Many karst features also propagate upward through overlying surficial deposits. Human activities also have caused development of evaporite karst, primarily in salt deposits. Boreholes (petroleum tests or solution-mining operations) or underground mines may enable unsaturated water to flow through or against salt deposits, either intentionally or accidentally, thus allowing development of small to large dissolution cavities. If the dissolution cavity is large enough and shallow enough, successive roof failures can cause land subsidence and/or catastrophic collapse. Evaporite karst, natural and human-induced, is far more prevalent than is commonly believed.