cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Orthogonal-plane Fluorescence Optical Sectioning: Three-Dimensional Imaging of Macroscopic Biological Specimens

An imaging technique called orthogonal-plane fluorescence optical sectioning (OPFOS) was developed to image the internal architecture of the cochlea. Expressions for the three-dimensional point spread function and the axial and lateral resolution are derived. Methodologies for tissue preparation and for construction, alignment, calibration and characterization of an OPFOS apparatus are presented. The instrument described produced focused, high-resolution images of optical sections of an intact, excised guinea-pig cochlea. The lateral and axial resolutions of the images were 10 and 26 microns, respectively, within a 1.5-mm field of view.
TU‐C‐330A‐04: Preliminary Study of Glu and Gln Metabolites in Brain Tumors at a 4T System

Purpose: in vitro 1H MRS studies have suggested that Gln/Glu ratio is useful in detecting an early stage of malignant transformation. Due in part to the technical difficulty, in vivo detection of well‐separated Gln and Glu of human tumors has not been reported. A recent study proposed that a standard STEAM sequence with optimized TE/TM (80/50 ms) can be used to simultaneously detect Gln and Glu peaks around 2.4 ppm with virtually no spectral overlap at 4T. In this study, we report preliminary results of the application of this technique for braintumors.Method and Materials: 1H MRS of eight patients with braintumors were acquired with a quadrature head coil in a 4T system. Four patients had biopsies within two weeks of their respective MRS study, and the remainder had biopsies prior to their scans. A standard STEAM sequence was used with TE=80ms, TM=50 ms, TR = 2–3 seconds, spatial resolution = 4–12 cm3, and acquisition time = 15–30 minutes. All data sets were processed using LCModel. Results: In addition to providing “typical” characteristics of NAA, Cho, and Cr for braintumors, one of the striking observations is consistent and remarkable increase in Gln concentration (water as reference) and Gln/Cr ratio for all cases studied; while decrease in Glu concentration (water as reference) but wide variability in Glu/Cr ratio (0–3 times of corresponding contralateral control). The results also demonstrate occurrences of opposite changes between Gln and Glu content for braintumors, illustrating the importance of simultaneously detecting Gln and Glu for the study of tumor metabolism. The consistent and remarkable increases in Gln content suggest direct Gln involvement in tumor metabolism, in agreement with previous biochemical analysis. Conclusion: In vivo Glu, Gln can provide useful information to help diagnosis of braintumors.
Comparison of tunable bandpass reaction cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry with conventional inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry for the determination of heavy metals in whole blood and urine

Abstract A Dynamic Reaction Cell™ inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (DRC-ICP-MS) was evaluated for the determination of arsenic, lead, cadmium, mercury, and thallium in urine and whole blood. Reaction cell conditions were evaluated for suppression of ArCl + and CaCl + polyatomic interferences. The reaction gas was 5% hydrogen in argon. Lead, cadmium, mercury, and thallium were determined with the reaction cell vented. Mixture of 2.5% t -butanol, 0.5% HCl, and 2 mg Au/l plus Ga, Rh, and Bi internal standards was used to dilute whole blood and urine. Calibration was achieved using aqueous acidic standards spiked into urine matrix. Urine and whole blood addition calibration curves were nearly identical for all five elements. DRC-ICP-MS detection limits were equivalent or better than conventional ICP-MS. Within run coefficients of variation (CV's) were nearly the same for DRC-ICP-MS and conventional ICP-MS for National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) SRM 2670 and BioRad Lyphochek Urine Metals Control. DRC-ICP-MS within run CV's for As, Pb, Cd, and Hg were 1.9%, 4%, 1.7%, and 1.7%, respectively, for NIST 2670 and 2.9%, 1.8%, 3.4%, 1.7%, and 1.0% for BioRad urine. BioRad Lyphochek Whole Blood control concentrations and CV's were: 78 μg/l (3.8%), 284 μg/l (0.52%), and 544 μg/l (0.9%). With the exception of mercury day-to-day CV's for certified whole blood and urine controls were less than 4% on both the DRC-ICP-MS and conventional ICP-MS.
A simplified solution to the problem of multiple diffraction over rounded obstacles

A simplified solution to the problem of the radio wave diffraction over terrain irregularities is presented. The theoretical analysis assumes that each obstacle can be represented by a cylinder with a radius equal to the radius of curvature at the obstacle top. The solution is based on the method proposed by Deygout for the knife-edge case. The experimental results have shown a good agreement with the theoretical calculation.
Parental genetic distance and patterns in nonrandom mating and seed yield in predominately selfing Arabidopsis thaliana

In this study, we ask two questions: (1) Is reproductive success independent of parental genetic distance in predominately selfing plants? (2) In the absence of early inbreeding depression, is there substantial maternal and/or paternal variation in reproductive success in natural populations? Seed yield in single pollinations and proportion of seeds sired in mixed pollinations were studied in genetically defined accessions of the predominately selfing plant Arabidopsis thaliana by conducting two diallel crosses. The first diallel was a standard, single pollination design that we used to examine variance in seed yield. The second diallel was a mixed pollination design that utilized a standard pollen competitor to examine variance in proportion of seeds sired. We found no correlation between reproductive success and parental genetic distance, and self-pollen does not systematically differ in reproductive success compared to outcross pollen, suggesting that Arabidopsis populations do not experience embryo lethality due to early-acting inbreeding or outbreeding depression. We used these data to partition the contributions to total phenotypic variation from six sources, including maternal contributions, paternal contributions and parental interactions. For seed yield in single pollinations, maternal effects accounted for the most significant source of variance (16.6 %). For proportion of seeds sired in mixed pollinations, the most significant source of variance was paternal effects (17.9 %). Thus, we show that population-level genetic similarities, including selfing, do not correlate with reproductive success, yet there is still significant paternal variance under competition. This suggests two things. First, since these differences are unlikely due to early-acting inbreeding depression or differential pollen viability, this implicates natural variation in pollen germination and tube growth dynamics. Second, this strongly supports a model of fixation of pollen performance genes in populations, offering a focus for future genetic studies in differential reproductive success.
Direct hydroxylation of fats and derivatives with a hydrogen peroxide tungstic acid system

The direct preparation ofthreo-1,2-glycols without isolation of intermediates from oleic acid, methyl oleate, and oleyl alcohol by oxidation with a hydrogen peroxide (70%)-tungstic acid system at pH 0–1 and 45–55C without solvent has now been shown to be an efficient, high-yield reaction. Thethreo-isomers are formed from intermediate epoxides by in situ hydration with accompanying inversion. Preincorporation of about 2% of the glycol reaction product into oleic acid or methyl oleate speeds up the oxidation reactions markedly and adds to their control and reproducibility. With oleyl alcohol, addition of reaction product is not necessary.
The role of protein kinase C in ischemic/reperfused preconditioned isolated rat hearts

Protein kinase C (PKC) has been implicated in the preconditioning-induced cardiac protection in ischemic/reperfused myocardium. We studied the effect of PKC inhibition with calphostin C (25, 50, 100, 200, 400, and 800 nM), a potent and specific inhibitor of PKC, in isolated working nonpreconditioned and preconditioned ischemic/reperfused hearts. In the nonpreconditioned groups, all hearts underwent 30 min of normothermic global ischemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion. In the preconditioned groups, hearts were subjected to four cycles of ischemic preconditioning by using 5 min of ischemia followed by 10 min reperfusion, before the induction of 30 min ischemia and reperfusion. At low concentrations of calphostin C (25, 50, and 100 nM), the PKC inhibitor had no effect on the incidence or arrhythmias or postischemic cardiac function in the nonpreconditioned ischemic/reperfused groups. With 200 and 400 nM of calphostin C, a significant increase in postischemic function and a reduction in the incidence of arrhythmias were observed in the nonpreconditioned ischemic/reperfused groups. Increasing the concentration of calphostin C to 800 NM, the recovery of postischemic cardiac function was similar to that of the drug-free control group. In preconditioned hearts, lower concentrations (< 100 nM) of calphostin C did not change the response of the myocardium to ischemia and reperfusion in comparison to the preconditioned drug-free myocardium. Two hundred and 400 nM of the PKC inhibitor further reduced the incidence of ventricular fibrillation (VF) from the preconditioned drug-free value of 50% to 0 (p < 0.05) and 0 (p < 0.05), respectively, indicating that the combination of the two, preconditioning and calphostin C, affords significant additional protection. Increasing the concentration of calphostin C to 800 nM blocked the cardioprotective effect of preconditioning (100% incidence of VF). The recovery of cardiac function was similarly improved at calphostin C doses of 200 and 400 nM and was reduced at 800 nM (p < 0.05). With 200 and 400 nM of calphostin C, both cytosolic and particulate PKC activity were reduced by approximately 40 and 60%, respectively, in both preconditioned and preconditioned/ischemic/reperfused hearts. The highest concentration of calphostin C (800 nM) resulted in almost a complete inhibition of cytosolic (100%) and particulate (85%) PKC activity correlated with the abolition of preconditioning-induced cardiac protection. In conclusion, calphostin C protects the ischemic myocardium obtained from intact animals, provides significant additional protection to preconditioning at moderate doses, and blocks the protective effect of preconditioning at high concentrations. The dual effects of calphostin C appear to be strictly dose and "enzyme inhibition" related.
Rawls and the Forgotten Figure of the Most Advantaged: In Defense of Reasonable Envy toward the Superrich—ERRATUM

This article aims to correct the widespread imbalance in contemporary liberal thought, which makes explicit appeal to the “least advantaged” without parallel attention to the “most advantaged” as a distinct group in need of regulatory attention. Rawls's influential theory of justice is perhaps the paradigmatic instance of this imbalance, but I show how a Rawlsian framework nonetheless provides three justifications for why implementers of liberal justice—above all, legislators—should regulate the economic prospects of a polity's richest citizens: as a heuristic device for ensuring that a system of inequalities not reach a level at which inequalities cease being mutually advantageous, as protection against excessive inequalities threatening civic liberty, and as redress for a liberal society's inability to fully realize fair equality of opportunity with regard to education and politics. Against the objection that such arguments amount to a defense of envy, insofar as they support policies that in certain instances impose economic costs on the most advantaged with negative or neutral economic impact on the rest of society, I attend to Rawls's often overlooked distinction between irrational and reasonable forms of envy, showing that any envy involved in the proposed regulation of the most advantaged falls within this latter category.
Landscape Trends (1753-1993) of Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis) Forests in the West Big Hole Range of Idaho/Montana, U.S.A.

Pinus albicaulis (whitebark pine) is an important tree species in subalpine forests of the Northern Rocky Mountains. Populations have been declining at unprecedented rates due to the introduction of an exotic pathogen and fire suppression. We initiated this study to evaluate historical trends in Pinus albicaulis abundance along with associated subalpine conifers within a small biogeographically disjunct mountain range. The central objective was to estimate historic trends in subalpine forest composition and structure at the species and community scales. Reconstruction of forest stands reveals an 85% increase in tree volume among all species since the 1870s. Pinus albicaulis has historically dominated most stands associated with Abies bifolia (subalpine fir) and Picea engelmannii (Engelmann spruce) but dominance has shifted to these late-seral species for most of the study area since the early 1900s. We estimate, that since 1753, nearly 50% of the study area has shifted to later successional stages while only 3% has receded to earlier stages. We discuss the implications for Pinus albicaulis and suggest that careful reintroduction of fire can aid in the maintenance of ecological integrity at the community and landscape scales.
Worked-out Examples in a Computer Science Intelligent Tutoring System

Our CS Intelligent Tutoring System (ITS), ChiQat-Tutor, aims at aiding students in overcoming the initial difficulties in CS education, such as learning data structures. Here, we show our work on utilizing Worked-out Examples (WOE) in our linked list lesson. Despite being a promising strategy, we find that it can be detrimental to student growth.
Turf Quality and Freezing Tolerance of ‘Tifway’ Bermudagrass as Affected by Late-Season Nitrogen and Trinexapac-Ethyl

Bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] is the most widely used species for intensively managed turf sites in the southern United States and in the transition zone. However, the lack of cold tolerance in many cultivars can result in significant winter injury. There is a limited body of information in the literature regarding management of bermudagrass to enhance cold tolerance, especially as it relates to N nutrition and the use of plant growth regulators (PGRs). As such, a 2-yr field study (1998-1999 and 1999-2000) was conducted to examine the effects of late season N fertilization and trinexapac-ethyl (TE) applications on morphology, quality, and freezing tolerance of 'Tifway' bermudagrass. During both years, monthly N applications were terminated on either 15 July, 15 August, or 15 September, while applications of TE were made on 15 August; 15 August and 15 September; or 15 August, 15 September, and 15 October. Late season applications of N and TE enhanced the fall green color retention of bermudagrass and promoted early spring green-up (SGU). Neither N nor TE had a consistent effect on growth and development of bermudagrass rhizomes or stolons, and neither treatment had a consistent effect on the freeze tolerance of rhizomes. However, a positive attribute of these treatments is a significant increase in the overall green period of bermudagrass (20-25 d), which can prolong the playability of high maintenance sports facilities. From these studies we have concluded that, contrary to what is commonly believed, late season applications of N did not affect the freeze tolerance of bermudagrass rhizomes.
Shannon capacities and error-correction codes for optical atmospheric turbulent channels

Feature Issue on Optical Wireless Communications (OWC) The propagation of an on-off keying modulated optical signal through an optical atmospheric turbulent channel is considered. The intensity fluctuations of the signal observed at the receiver are modeled using a gamma-gamma distribution. The capacity of this channel is determined for a wide range of turbulence conditions. For a zero inner scale, the capacity decreases monotonically as the turbulence strengthens. For non-zero inner scale, the capacity is not monotonic with turbulence strength. Two error-correction schemes, based on low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes, are investigated as a means to improve the bit-error rate (BER) performance of the system. Very large coding gains--ranging from 5.5 to 14 dB, depending on the turbulence conditions--are obtained by these LDPC codes compared with Reed-Solomon error-correction codes of similar rates and lengths.
Classical Conditioning since Pavlov

In the three quarters of a century following Pavlov's work, the accumulation of factual information about classical conditioning has continued, but there has been little conceptual progress. The only thing we have now that approximates a workable general theory of conditioning was introduced more than 30 years ago and continues to receive a good deal of respectful consideration despite a variety of generally recognized shortcomings that little has been done to repair; nor does a systematic review of recent papers in leading journals give any good reason to think that a more satisfactory theory is in the making. A remedial strategy, recommended long ago by C. L. Hull and by E. R. Hilgard, is proposed and exemplified by some research with honeybees.
Type Specimens of Birds in the American Museum of Natural History Part 8. Passeriformes: Pachycephalidae, Aegithalidae, Remizidae, Paridae, Sittidae, Neosittidae, Certhiidae, Rhabdornithidae, Climacteridae, Dicaeidae, Pardalotidae, and Nectariniidae

Abstract This eighth part of “Type Specimens of Birds in the American Museum of Natural History” includes taxa covered in volume 12 of the Check-list of Birds of the World (Paynter, 1967) except for the families Zosteropidae and Meliphagidae, which will comprise a separate part. The original description of each form has been consulted unless otherwise noted, coordinates for type localities are given when possible, currently accepted names for the taxa included, and comments on taxonomic history provided. In all, 419 names are treated, five of these being replacement names; 102 of them were introduced by G.M. Mathews. Types of 12 of these names are not in AMNH or were not found. Four paratypes are discussed, the holotypes of which were almost certainly destroyed in World War II. This part of the type list, as well as all previous parts, are searchable and available for download from the AMNH Library web site: http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/.
Characteristics of Patients Who Refuse Do-Not-Resuscitate Orders Upon Admission to an Acute Palliative Care Unit in a Comprehensive Cancer Center

BACKGROUND: Refusal of appropriately indicated do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders may cause harm and distress for patients, families, and the medical team. We conducted a retrospective study to determine the frequency and predictors of refusals of DNR in advanced cancer patients admitted to an acute palliative care unit. METHODS: A total of 2538 consecutive admissions were reviewed. Demographic and clinical characteristics from 200 consecutive patients with DNR orders and 100 consecutive patients who refused DNR were collected, and differences between the groups were determined by multivariate regression and recursive partitioning analysis. RESULTS: Of 2538 admissions, 2530 (99%) were appropriate for DNR discussion. Of the 2530 admissions, 2374 were unique patients, and 100 (4%) of 2374 refused DNR. Refusers had median (interquartile range, IQR) pain of 7 (4-9) versus 5 (3-8, P = .0005), nausea of 2 (0-7) versus 1 (0-4, P = .05), and dyspnea of 1 (0-5) versus 4 (0-7, P = .002) as compared with DNR nonrefusers, respectively. Patients with hematological malignancies and advance directives had a lower DNR refusal risk (odds ratio [OR], 0.38; P = .02, and OR, 0.36; P < .0001, respectively). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that patients with moderate-severe pain (OR, 3.19; P = .002) and with no advance directives (OR, 2.94; P ≤ .001) had higher DNR refusal risk. There were more inpatient deaths among DNR nonrefusers (87 of 200 vs 1 of 100, P < .0001). Median (IQR) time from discharge to death was 18 (8-35) days for those with DNR orders and 85 (25-206) days for DNR refusers (P ≤ .0001). CONCLUSIONS: DNR refusal in patients admitted to the acute palliative care unit is low, more frequent in patients with more pain and nausea and no advance directives, and associated with longer survival. This study demonstrates possible predictors of complicated DNR discussions. Cancer 2010. © 2010 American Cancer Society.
Termination Factor-Mediated DNA Loop between Termination and Initiation Sites Drives Mitochondrial rRNA Synthesis

The human mitochondrial transcription termination factor mTERF plays a central role in the control of heavy-strand rDNA transcription by promoting initiation, besides termination, of this transcription. However, until now, the mechanism underlying this stimulation of transcription by mTERF was not understood. In the present work, addition of mTERF to a HeLa cell mitochondrial lysate-based reaction mixture containing an artificial rDNA template did indeed specifically stimulate rDNA transcription. This stimulation required that mTERF be simultaneously bound to the rDNA transcription termination and initiation sites in the same molecule, thus forming a loop. Most significantly, a double binding of mTERF to the rDNA molecule, with resulting loop formation, was also shown in vivo. These results strongly suggest that, to satisfy the need for high rate of rDNA transcription, human mitochondrial rRNA synthesis involves mTERF-mediated rDNA looping that promotes recycling of the transcription machinery.
Prefilled syringes: safe and effective.

Background. Preloaded syringes are time savers, but questions have arisen anecdotally about the risk of infection from this procedure and the possible loss of potency, especially when performed with buffered syringes. Objective. To show that preloaded syringes do not develop colonies of bacterial organisms and to confirm that anesthetic potency is maintained for at least 2 weeks. Methods. Thirty-six syringes were stored for a period of 2 weeks on a shelf in our clinical procedure area with no protection from heat or light. The majority of these were then cultured for bacteria and fungi and one of them was used on one of the authors to determine the potency of the anesthetic. Results. Preloaded syringes do not appear to be prone to the development of bacterial contamination for at least a 2-week period and potency of the anesthetic is maintained. Conclusion. Preloaded syringes are time savers and are a safe modality for use in the practicing dermatology office.
Quality of life following radical excision of rectovaginal endometriosis associated with complete obliteration of the posterior cul de sac

Objectives To review the available literature and studies, both published and unpublished on the effect of radical surgery for obliterative endometriotic cul de sac disease on the quality of life. Design Review of literature and audit studies of rectovaginal disease. Setting Two specialist endometriosis practices, one in the United States and the other in a UK district general hospital. Subjects Patients presenting with rectovaginal endometriosis. Interventions Radical laparoscopic excision. Main outcome measures Reduction of pain as measured on ranked ordinal, scales and quality of life measures. Results Radical laparoscopic surgery for the excision of rectovaginal endometriosis is associated with a significant diminution in symptoms and an improvement in quality of life. This is particularly so for patients who rated their symptoms as severe prior to surgery. Conclusion Initial studies show promising results for radical surgery. There is however, a need for randomized controlled trials and proper audit to assess the efficacy and morbidity of this surgery.
Stopped-flow kinetic analysis of the interaction of cyclo[8]pyrrole with anions

The on and off rates corresponding to the binding of two test anions (acetate, AcO−, and dihydrogen phosphate, H2PO4−, studied as their tetrabutylammonium salts) to diprotonated cyclo[8]pyrrole have been determined in CH3CN using stopped-flow analyses carried out at various temperatures. For dihydrogen phosphate, this afforded the activation enthalpies and entropies associated with both off and on processes. The different dynamic behavior seen for these test anions underscores the utility of kinetic analyses as a possible new tool for the advanced characterization of anion receptors.
The prisoner’s card game

We begin, but do not end, with a famous paradox. A Prisoner has been sentenced to hang. On Saturday morning, the Warden visits the Prisoner in his cell. "You will die at noon, one day in the coming week, Sunday through Saturday. Until they come to take you to the gallows, you will not know on which day you will die." The Prisoner reasons as follows: I cannot die on Saturday. If I wake up Saturday morning, I will know the day of my execution, and the Warden has assured me that I will not know that until they come to take me away. "But, let us now consider Friday. Since I have ruled out Saturday, if I wake up Friday I will know that my execution is set for Friday. So they cannot hang me on Friday. "But now that I have ruled out Friday and Saturday, they cannot hang me on Thursday. And by the same reasoning, I can rule out the other days, one by one. Hah! They cannot hang me at all." Shortly before noon on Tuesday, they came to get the Prisoner. They took him out and hanged him. And he did not know, until they came to get him, that that was the day he was to die.
A Cognitive Task Analysis-based evaluation of Remotely Piloted Aircraft situation awareness transfer mechanisms

Over the past several decades, the military, government and commercial industries have begun to realize the potential benefits that Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) technologies stand to deliver. As a result, the demand for medium to high-altitude RPA operations, especially within the US Air Force, continues to grow. However, the assets and requisite resources to support those operations are far from unlimited and struggle to keep pace. This situation has inevitably led innovators to seek out RPA force-multiplying efficiencies to assist in bridging the resource/demand gap. One such consideration is simultaneous control of multiple aircraft by a single pilot, or Multi Aircraft Control (MAC). Past research has identified several challenges to MAC, to include dynamic and emergency task saturation, communications interruptions, and effective transfer of operational situation awareness (SA) from a losing crew to a gaining crew—called “change-over”. This (poster) paper describes the cognitive tasks, modalities, and transfer mechanisms to best achieve operational Situation Awareness (SA) within RPA operations, focusing on crew change-over. Using information from a Cognitive Task Analysis, tools, tactics and protocols to expedite and improve the change-over process will be identified and analyzed.
Brain Metastatic Lesions

Objective To describe current concepts in the diagnosis and treatment of brain metastases. Results More than 25% of all autopsy-proven brain metastases have a pulmonary source. Most brain metastases manifest with a combination of focal and generalized symptoms and signs. Typically, patients have subacute, progressive symptoms. In most situations, a computed tomographic scan of the head provides sufficient neuroimaging and allows one to monitor the effects of therapy. Magnetic resonance imaging has become increasingly useful in the diagnosis and management of brain metastases. It can detect computed tomographic occult metastases, identify associated leptomeningeal disease, and reveal early therapeutic complications. Conclusion Treatment options for patients with brain metastases include corticosteroids, whole-brain radiation therapy (WBRT), surgical intervention, stereotactic radiosurgical techniques, and chemotherapy. Corticosteroids produce prompt improvement in most patients; however, prolonged use is associated with considerable risks. For most patients, WBRT is the preferred treatment. Nonetheless, it has associated nonneurologic and neurologic complications, some of which are serious. In patients with a single metastasis, surgical removal should be considered. Recent studies have suggested that resection of a single metastatic lesion followed by radiation therapy offers better survival than does radiation therapy alone. The subsequent administration of WBRT after radiosurgical treatment has become standard practice. The role of chemotherapy is uncertain.
Cycle-phase changes in perceived stress in women with varying levels of premenstrual symptomatology

Stress has been documented as a critical factor in understanding a variety of health problems. This study was designed to examine the relationships between symptom severity and perceived stress in women with varying severity levels of premenstrual symptoms. Perceived stress was evaluated before and after menstruation in 104 women. Women who had high levels of premenstrual symptomatology demonstrated significantly greater perceived stress in the premenstrual phase compared to the postmenstrual phase, while women with low levels of premenstrual symptomatology showed no cycle-phase difference.
Results of Predator Reduction on Brook Trout and Brown Trout in 4.2 Miles (6.76 km) of the North Branch of the Au Sable River

Abstract During the autumns of 1964, 1965 and 1966, brown trout 12.0–25.1 inches (305–638 mm) in length were removed from 4.2 miles (6.76 km) of the North Branch of the Au Sable River (Dam 2-County Line), and American mergansers were harassed in the same area each winter as time permitted. The objective was to decrease losses among the smaller salmonids which would otherwise be eaten by the large trout and mergansers. Effects of control efforts were assayed by comparison of 1965–1967 angling results and population estimates with similar data accumulated on the test section and two other stream sections of the North Branch during 1961–1964 when predator manipulation was not carried on. In 1964, 561 large brown throut (66% of the estimated population) were removed. In 1965 and 1966, the actual removals were 346 and 104, or 63 and 40% of the population, respectively. The only major change noted was an increase during 1965, 1966 and 1967 in numbers of brook trout larger than 9 inches (229 ram) in the populati...
Genetically engineered biologically based hemostatic bioassay.

Real-time direct measures of hemostatic parameters in vivo are required for optimizing the dynamic delivery of coagulation modifying pharmacotherapies. Typical sensors of physiologic functions in vivo, however, have only a restricted array of sensory inputs, and thus limited capacity to monitor thrombotic and hemostatic activity. To overcome this limitation we have developed a genetically engineered excitable cell line that can be potentially used for an implantable thrombin biosensor. Specifically, we have generated stem cell-derived cardiac myocyte aggregates overexpressing the human thrombin receptor, protease activated receptor-1 (PAR-1), which exploit the inherent electropotential input–output relationship of the cells to detect local changes in thrombin activity. In vitro, the signaling activity of PAR-1 cardiac myocytes was highly responsive to thrombin, inducing a sixfold increase in intracellular cAMP as compared with a twofold increase in control cells. In vivo, the engineered myocytes also detected alterations in local coagulation potential. Specifically, PAR-1 engineered cells implanted in vivo detected local increases in thrombin with a doubling in chronotropic activity compared with a 50% increase in control aggregates. Overall these studies demonstrate the potential of genetic engineering to expand the physiologic signals recognized by excitable cells, and may facilitate the translation of this approach for the real-time monitoring of hemostatic function in vivo. © 2003 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC2003: 8239Fk, 8780Rb, 8719Hh, 8716Yc
A Model of a Martian Great Dust Storm

The great Martian 1971 dust storm is described using Carrier's (1971) model of a terrestrial hurricane with a somewhat modified thermodynamic drive. The model predicts the course of development and the time elapsing in three different phases: growth, maturity, decay. All the predictions correspond reasonably well to the observed phenomena. Explanations are offered for the rarity of the storms and the time of year and location at which they most commonly commence.
Validation of design procedure and performance modeling of a heat and fluid transport field experiment in the unsaturated zone

Abstract Validation methods which developed in the context of deterministic concepts of past generations often cannot be directly applied to environmental problems, which may be characterized by limited reproducibility of results and highly complex models. Instead, validation is interpreted here as a series of activities, including both theoretical and experimental tests, designed to enhance our confidence in the capability of a proposed model to describe some aspect of reality. We examine the validation process applied to a project concerned with heat and fluid transport in porous media, in which mathematical modeling, simulation, and results of field experiments are evaluated in order to determine the feasibility of a system for seasonal thermal energy storage in shallow unsaturated soils. Technical details of the field experiments are not included, but appear in previous publications. Validation activities are divided into three stages. The first stage, carried out prior to the field experiments, is concerned with modeling the relevant physical processes, optimization of the heat-exchanger configuration and the shape of the storage volume, and multi-year simulation. Subjects requiring further theoretical and experimental study are identified at this stage. The second stage encompasses the planning and evaluation of the initial field experiment. Simulations are made to determine the experimental time scale and optimal sensor locations. Soil thermal parameters and temperature boundary conditions are estimated using an inverse method. Then results of the experiment are compared with model predictions using different parameter values and modeling approximations. In the third stage, results of an experiment performed under different boundary conditions are compared to predictions made by the models developed in the second stage. Various aspects of this theoretical and experimental field study are described as examples of the verification and validation procedure. There is no attempt to validate a specific model, but several models of increasing complexity are compared with experimental results. The outcome is interpreted as a demonstration of the paradigm proposed by van der Heijde,26 that different constituencies have different objectives for the validation process and therefore their acceptance criteria differ also.
Chronic running-wheel activity decreases sensitivity to morphine-induced analgesia in male and female rats

The effects of exercise on morphine-induced analgesia were examined in male and female Long-Evans rats. In Experiment 1, 10 male rats were housed in standard laboratory cages, and 10 in activity wheels for 20 days prior to nociceptive testing. Pain thresholds were assessed using a tail-flick (TF) procedure. Morphine sulfate was administered using a cumulative dosing procedure (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, 12.5, and 15.0 mg/kg). TF latencies were measured immediately prior to and 30 min following each injection. In Experiment 2, morphine-induced analgesia was examined in females in an identical manner to that of Experiment 1. Additionally, to determine if the attenuation of morphine-induced analgesia was permanent or reversible, after the initial test nociceptive test, previously active female rats were placed in standard cages, and previously inactive females placed in running wheels for 17 days prior to a second nociceptive test. Baseline TF latencies were significantly shorter in active male rats than in inactive animals. Additionally, both active male and female rats displayed decreased morphine-induced analgesia relative to inactive controls. Moreover, females that had been inactive and then were permitted to run showed a suppression in morphine-induced analgesia relative to presently inactive rats, and to their own nociceptive responses when sedentary. In contrast, morphine-induced analgesia in initially active females who were housed in standard cages during part 2 of Experiment 2 was enhanced relative to their first nociceptive test and to presently active rats. Experiment 3 examined the effects of short-term (24 h) running on antinociception. Baseline TF latencies were shorter in active rats than inactive rats. However, no differences in morphine-induced analgesia were observed as a function of short-term exposure to exercise. Experiment 4 investigated whether differences in body weight contributed to the differences in morphine-induced analgesia between chronically active and inactive animals. %MPEs did not vary among male rats maintained at 100, 85, or 77% of their free-feeding body weight. These results indicate that chronic activity can decrease morphine's analgesic properties. These effects may be due to crosstolerance between endogenous opioid peptides released during exercise and exogenous opioids.
Cost of hospitalization for preterm and low birth weight infants in the United States.

OBJECTIVE. The objective of this study was to estimate national hospital costs for infant admissions that are associated with preterm birth/low birth weight. METHODS. Infant ( 35 million hospital discharges nationwide. Hospital costs, based on weighted cost-to-charge ratios, and lengths of stay were calculated for preterm/low birth weight infants, uncomplicated newborns, and all other infant hospitalizations and assessed by degree of prematurity, major complications, and expected payer. RESULTS. In 2001, 8% (384200) of all 4.6 million infant stays nationwide included a diagnosis of preterm birth/low birth weight. Costs for these preterm/low birth weight admissions totaled $5.8 billion, representing 47% of the costs for all infant hospitalizations and 27% for all pediatric stays. Preterm/low birth weight infant stays averaged $15100, with a mean length of stay of 12.9 days versus $600 and 1.9 days for uncomplicated newborns. Costs were highest for extremely preterm infants ( CONCLUSIONS. Costs per infant hospitalization were highest for extremely preterm infants, although the larger number of moderately preterm/low birth weight infants contributed more to the overall costs. Preterm/low birth weight infants in the United States account for half of infant hospitalization costs and one quarter of pediatric costs, suggesting that major infant and pediatric cost savings could be realized by preventing preterm birth.
N-gram Statistics in English and Chinese: Similarities and Differences

Chinese and English belong to two very different families of human languages. Yet, since the underlying human concepts are universal, one can expect that there are many statistical similarities between Chinese texts and English texts. In this paper, we present results of analyzing the quantity and frequency of N-grams in 200 million randomly-sampled English and Chinese Web pages. The similarities and differences in N-gram frequency distributions yield important insights about the two languages. First, the distribution of the unique number of N-grams is similar between English and Chinese, yet the Chinese distribution is "shifted" to larger N. The distribution indicates that on average, 1.5 Chinese characters correspond to 1 English word. Second, while frequency distributions of uni-grams and bi-grams are very different between Chinese and English, the frequency distribution for 3-grams and 4- grams are strikingly similar between Chinese and English. This leads to the conjecture that in both languages, frequent 3-grams and 4-grams represent the same set of concepts and patterns.
Minimizing Hemodialysis Vascular Access Trauma with an Improved Needle Design

Abstract . The maintenance and longevity of hemodialysis vascular access remains one of the most problematic topics in the care of dialysis patients. Although much attention has focused on neointimal hyperplasia, the repetitive trauma to vessel walls by dialysis needles causes significant cumulative damage that has undergone little investigation. Commercial needles have beveled tips with intentional cutting surfaces to ease insertion. It was hypothesized that a pencil-point conical-shaped needle would cause less damage by taking advantage of the elasticity of native fistulae and produce an improved hole configuration in synthetic materials with minimal ability to stretch. A needle was subsequently designed with a removable pencil-point trocar and a side arm for the dialysis tubing. Once the trocar is removed, the blunt-ended cannula can be advanced or can be subject to inadvertent motion without causing damage to the luminal surface of the access. The new design as well as standard 15-gauge hemodialysis needles were tested on Gore-Tex ® graft material and two bovine carotid artery preparations. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the hole patterns. For all materials, the commercial needle holes had typical crescent shapes, and the cuts sliced sequentially through the various layers. For grafts, the new design caused a linear defect parallel to the axis of the graft that may preserve longitudinal strength. Interestingly, that tear line was nearly perpendicular to the linear hole in the thin polytetrafluoroethylene overwrap, which would be consistent with maintenance of hoop integrity. It is believed that these nonoverlapping defects would also improve hemostasis. The bovine specimens tested the importance of tissue stretching : Fresh carotid artery had experimental holes dramatically smaller than those from standard needles. In the denatured tissue, the experimental needle provided less benefit than that observed in fresh tissue, which is likely due to limited elasticity of the preserved artery. Improvement in needle design thus provides distinct advantages for native vessels and unique less traumatic holes in current synthetic materials. Pencil-point needle designs may be particularly applicable to the development of new elastomeric graft material.
Analysis of serotonin release from single neuron soma using capillary electrophoresis and laser-induced fluorescence with a pulsed deep-UV NeCu laser

The use of capillary electrophoresis (CE) with laser-induced fluorescence excited by ultraviolet (UV) lasers in the range 200–300 nm has been restricted by the available wavelengths and expense of UV lasers. The integration of a NeCu deep UV laser operating at 248.6 nm with a single channel CE system with post-column sheath flow detection allows detection limits for serotonin and tryptophan of 3.9×10-8 M and 4.5×10-8 M respectively. Single cell analysis of serotonergic metacerebral cells from the sea slug Aplysia californica yields a value of 800±85 fmol of serotonin in each cell soma. For the first time, serotonin is directly detected in electrically stimulated release from single metacerebral cell soma, with approximately 4% of the serotonin contained in the soma released from a semi-intact preparation with a 2 min electrical stimulation.
Extensive research on Loma Prieta improves understanding of earthquakes

Research on the 1989 Loma Prieta, California, earthquake, probably the most thoroughly documented in American history, has dramatically improved our understanding of the complexity of earthquakes and of how society can reduce risk and improve response in connection with large natural disasters. The magnitude 6.9 earthquake was the largest and most damaging to strike an American urban area since the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Loma Prieta's 10th anniversary is October 17. Loma Prieta began without immediate foreshock activity about 100 km southeast of San Francisco (37°03.6′N, 121°88.3′W) on October 17, 1989, at 5:04 p.m. PDT (00:04:15.2 UTC., October 18).The quake killed 63 people, and another 350 were hospitalized. Estimates of total property losses range from $6 billion to $10 billion. Its dramatic timing, interrupting the World Series in San Francisco, and its striking images—a pancaked freeway, a fallen span of a major transbay bridge, and burning collapsed apartments—piqued public interest. It also prompted the U.S. Congress to authorize supplemental funding to the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) agencies—USGS, National Science Foundation, Federal Emergency Management Agency and National Institute of Standards and Technology—to support research in order to learn from the tragedy.
The X‐ray and radio jets of quasars on kiloparsec scales

We have observed five quasars (0827+243, 0923+392, 1222+216, 1317+520, and 2209+080) with Chandra at 0.2–8 keV and with the VLA at 5 and 15 GHz. The X-ray emission is detected from all the radio jets except for 0923+392, whose double radio jet only extends out to the edge of the X-ray PSF. We model the spectral energy distribution of the jet features assuming that the X-ray emission originates via inverse Compton scattering off the cosmic microwave background by relativistic electrons. For two sources (0827+243 and 1222+216) proper motion on parsec scales is consistent with the Doppler factors derived from the model, which implies that no deceleration occurs between parsec and kiloparsec jets. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)
Computer-aided detection of colorectal lesions for cathartic-free CT colonography

Cathartic bowel preparation is a major barrier in implementing clinically feasible colorectal screening programs. We developed a fully automated computer-aided detection (CAD) scheme for a cathartic-free computed tomographic colonography (CTC) examination. In a pilot evaluation with 46 clinical cathartic-free CTC cases, the proposed scheme detected 100% (4/4) of large ≥10 mm lesions with 3.7 false-positive (FP) detections per patient (per two volumetric CT scans) and 90% (9/10) of ≥6 mm lesions with 5.0 FP detections per patient, on average. The results indicate that CAD can be used to detect clinically significant lesions with high accuracy in cathartic-free CTC examinations.
Retreatment Decisions—A Comparison Between General Practitioners and Endodontic Postgraduates

One of the most subjective areas with regard to interexaminer variations is the dental radiograph. The variations in radiographic interpretation lead to differences in treatment planning decisions. This study compared the endodontic retreatment planning decisions for endodontically treated teeth between 12 general practitioners and 12 endodontic postgraduate students. Utilizing dental radiographs of completed cases, both groups were asked to make treatment choices based on two hypothetical ages of a case: 1 or 3 yr postoperatively. General practitioners chose to initiate treatment at an earlier date and also chose more extensive treatment modalities. The age of the root filling was looked on as more important in treatment planning by the endodontics postgraduates.