cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Survival After Repair of Postinfarction Ventricular Septal Defects in Patients Over the Age of 70

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is an infrequent but extremely serious complication of myocardial infarction. Operative mortality rates tend to be higher in the elderly population; however, long-term follow-up has not been specifically studied. It is, therefore, important to assess not only the early but also the long-term results of VSD repair in patients over 70 years of age to determine its value for the elderly patient. Between June 1968 and May 1991, 86 patients who experienced a myocardial infarction underwent surgical repair of an infarct related VSD at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH). Group I (n = 57) includes those patients younger than 70 years, and group II (n = 29) represents those patients age 70 years and older. Follow-up of hospital survivors ranged from 1 month to 24 years and was compiled in April and May, 1991. Three patients were lost to follow-up (4%), and these were younger than 70 years of age. There were no differences in the values of the preoperative variables for the younger and older groups with respect to sex, concomitant procedures performed (bypass vs no bypass), use of an intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP), location of VSD, presence of shock, total hospital days, or days between infarction and operation. There was, however, a difference between the two groups relative to the era when surgery was performed. More patients over the age of 70 underwent surgery after 1978 than before 1978 (p = 0.0012). The majority of survivors are in New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class I or II, and there was no difference between the younger and older groups in functional class at the time of follow-up (83.3% vs 91.7% of survivors in Class I or II, respectively). Using the generalized Wilcoxon test to analyze these survival data, there was no apparent difference in long-term survival (p = 0.97) when comparing the two age groups. The mean follow-up period was 77.02 months for the younger group and 80.52 months for the older group. The fact that more older patients were repaired after we had significant experience in the surgical management of patients with VSDs probably accounted for our excellent results in the older age group. Our data reveal that patients over the age of 70 can expect excellent long-term survival, with over 90% of these survivors remaining in NYHA Functional Class I or II.
Why eating-disordered patients resist sex therapy: a response to Simpson and Ramberg.

Abstract Patients with eating disorders struggle with a plethora of sexual dysfunctions and yet are found to resist sex therapy interventions that might be particularly helpful to them. This paper suggests that patients resist sex therapy interventions because they have fragile self-structures. Usually plagued by more than one additional DSM-III-R diagnosis, the eating-disordered patient's treatment is usually complex, and it is difficult for the patient to focus on one specific problematic area. Possessing punitive superego structures, they are also quite critical of their sexual responses. Tending to come from families that are rife with marital discord, they have few role models for an adaptive, mature partnership. Sexual and physical abuse may also contribute to the sexual aversion found in eating-disordered patients. As clinicians comprehend more fully the multifaceted areas of resistance to treatment, they will be able to help their eating-disordered patients traverse a therapeutic impasse. Further ...
The fetal membranes and unusual giant cell placenta of the jerboa (Jaculus) and jumping mouse (Zapus).

The development of the fetal membranes of the North African jerboa (Jaculus) and the North American jumping mouse (Zapus) were examined by light microscopy, and the interhemal membrane of Zapus was studied by electron microscopy. Early stages of Jaculus show implantation to be antimesometrial with the embryonic disc oriented mesometrially. Amniogenesis is by folding and there is a distinct epamnionic cavity. Yolk sac inversion is complete, but the disappearance of the parietal segment occurs relatively late, during the early fetal period. Those early stages of Zapus which were available indicated a close similarity to Jaculus. Both Jaculus and Zapus are unusual in the manner of development and composition of the chorio-allantoic placenta. Development of cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast is arrested early and these layers eventually disappear. Trophoblastic giant cells migrate into the allantoic mesenchyme to form the maternal blood channels of the labyrinth. In Jaculus, a complex interdigitation exists between yolk sac villi and arterial channels bringing maternal blood to the labyrinth. This relationship is much less intimate and extensive in Zapus. Electron microscopic examination of the interhemal membrane of Zapus shows it to be hemomonochorial, its only trophoblastic element being the giant cell cytoplasm. Thus, the Zapus placenta is to date one of very few hemochorial placentas known to lack trophoblastic syncytium in its interhemal membrane. Comparison of the total development and structure of the fetal membranes in these two genera with that of other rodents indicates that the membranes of the Dipodoidea, like the Geomyoidea, are intermediate in type between those of the Sciuromorpha and Myomorpha.
Experimental study of wave dynamics in coastal wetlands

This paper presents laboratory experiments of wave-driven hydrodynamics in a three-dimensional laboratory model of constructed coastal wetlands. The simulated wetland plants were placed on the tops of conically-shaped mounds, such that the laboratory model was dynamically similar to marsh mounds constructed in Dalehite Cove in Galveston Bay, Texas. Three marsh mounds were placed in the three-dimensional wave basin of the Haynes Coastal Engineering Laboratory at Texas A&M University, with the center of the central wetland mound located in the center of the tank along a plane of symmetry in the alongshore direction. The experiments included two water depths, corresponding to emergent and submerged vegetation, and four wave conditions, typical of wind-driven waves and ocean swell. The wave conditions were designed so that the waves would break on the offshore slope of the wetland mounds, sending a strong swash current through the vegetated patches. Three different spacings between the wetland mounds were tested. To understand the effects of vegetation, all experiments were repeated with and without simulated plants. Measurements were made throughout the nearshore region surrounding the wetland mounds using a dense array of acoustic Doppler velocimeters and capacitance wave gauges. These data were analyzed to quantify the significant wave height, phase average wave field and phase lags, wave energy dissipation over the vegetated patches, mean surface water levels, and the near-bottom current field. The significant wave height and energy dissipation results demonstrated that the bathymetry is the dominant mechanism for wave attenuation for this design. The presence of plants primarily increases the rate of wave attenuation through the vegetation and causes a blockage effect on flow through the vegetation. The nearshore circulation is most evident in the water level and velocity data. In the narrowest mound spacing, flow is obstructed in the channel between mounds by the mound slope and forced over the wetlands. The close mound spacing also retains water in the nearshore, resulting in a large setup and lower flows through the channel. As the spacing increases, flow is less obstructed in the channel. This allows for more refraction of waves off the mounds and deflection of flow around the plant patches, yielding higher recirculating flow through the channel between mounds. An optimal balance of unobstructed flow in the channel, wave dissipation over the mounds, and modest setup in the nearshore results when the edge-to-edge plant spacing is equal to the mound base diameter.
A big data urban growth simulation at a national scale: Configuring the GIS and neural network based Land Transformation Model to run in a High Performance Computing (HPC) environment

The Land Transformation Model (LTM) is a Land Use Land Cover Change (LUCC) model which was originally developed to simulate local scale LUCC patterns. The model uses a commercial windows-based GIS program to process and manage spatial data and an artificial neural network (ANN) program within a series of batch routines to learn about spatial patterns in data. In this paper, we provide an overview of a redesigned LTM capable of running at continental scales and at a fine (30m) resolution using a new architecture that employs a windows-based High Performance Computing (HPC) cluster. This paper provides an overview of the new architecture which we discuss within the context of modeling LUCC that requires: (1) using an HPC to run a modified version of our LTM; (2) managing large datasets in terms of size and quantity of files; (3) integration of tools that are executed using different scripting languages; and (4) a large number of steps necessitating several aspects of job management. Display Omitted Reconfigure the Land Transformation Model (LTM) using high performance computing.We present the design of software for managing big data simulations.We integrate software environments, such as Python, XML, ArcGIS, SNNS, and the .NET framework.We executed 285 instances of ArcGIS on an HPC.
Identification of a Minimal Myosin Va Binding Site within an Intrinsically Unstructured Domain of Melanophilin

Myosin V is a molecular motor that transports a variety of cellular cargo, including organelles, vesicles, and messenger RNA. The proper peripheral distribution of melanosomes, a dense pigment-containing organelle, is dependent on actin and the activity of myosin Va. The recruitment of myosin Va to the melanosome and proper transport of the melanosome requires melanophilin, which directly binds to myosin Va and is tethered to the melanosome membrane via Rab27a. Here we use highly purified proteins to demonstrate that the globular tail domain of myosin Va binds directly to an intrinsically unstructured domain of melanophilin. The myosin Va binding domain of melanophilin lacks stable secondary structure, and 1H NMR measurements indicate that the protein is unfolded. This domain is extremely sensitive to mild proteolysis and has a hydrodynamic radius that is consistent with a random coil-like polypeptide. We show that myosin Va binding does not induce the global folding of melanophilin. Truncations of melanophilin were utilized to define a short peptide sequence (26 residues) within melanophilin that is critical for myosin Va binding. We demonstrate that a peptide corresponding to these residues binds directly to the globular tail domain with the same affinity as melanophilin. We discuss the possible implications of protein intrinsic disorder in recruitment and maintenance of myosin Va on melanosome membranes.
The dysphonic videolaryngoscopy with stroboscopy paradox and challenge of acquired subglottic stenosis after laryngotracheal reconstruction

Abstract Objective There's no greater challenge in pediatric laryngology than diagnosis and treatment of chronic dysphonia following laryngotracheal reconstruction of acquired subglottic stenosis. Videolaryngoscopy with stroboscopy provides incomparable diagnostic information to fiberoptic endoscopy. Unfortunately, this pediatric subpopulation which would benefit the most from videolaryngoscopy with stroboscopy infrequently does. We present the unique videolaryngostroboscopic patterns with their diagnostic and treatment implications in this complex population. Methods From a total database of 113 children with histories of subglottic stenosis and/or airway reconstruction between January 1, 2000 and September 30, 2011, successive frames of recorded videolaryngostroboscopies in twenty-three dysphonic children were reviewed. These stroboscopies were compared to age and gender matched controls with dysphonia due to vocal nodules consecutively analyzed from the time period 2009–2011. To validate the similarity of our patient population to others previously reported, we also collected the standardized perceptual, acoustic, and aerodynamic measures of voice analysis and parent/patient reported quality of life. Results The voices of patients’ pre- and post-airway reconstruction are typically moderately breathy and harsh in voice quality with the majority exhibiting a restricted pitch range and vocal strain. Reduced vocal volume intensity and low habitual speaking pitch were common. Overall, the severity of voice fell within the moderately dysphonic range. Despite universal glottic aperture incompetence, muscle tension dysphonia of the true vocal cords was seen. The glottic muscle tension was confirmed indirectly by noting a consistent “posterior cricoarytenoid bulge.” In addition, our group termed a unique pattern of “circumferential supraglottic squeeze” which included both lateral plica ventricularis (false vocal folds) and anteroposterior squeeze opposing the arytenoids to the epiglottic petiole (termed by our group as “arytenoid hooding”). In no patients were the true vocal cords fully visualized. While superficially appearing as hyperfunction, these findings paradoxically represented compensation for laryngeal hypofunction marking the hyperfunction not the problem but a symptom. Actual “mucosal waves” were seen involving the false vocal cords. Conclusions Videolaryngoscopy with stroboscopy results in patterns that are not only unique to patients after airway reconstruction for subglottic stenosis but are also critical for both surgical and non-surgical treatment of chronic dysphonia in these children.
The dissociation of cerebral blood flow, metabolism, and function in the early stages of developing cerebral infarction.

Temporal and site correlation of local cerebral blood flow (l-CBF), tissue redox state, energy metabolism, tissue pH, and cerebral electrophysiological activity in induced cerebral ischemia was performed in rats in an effort to obtain helpful clues for the management of occlusive cerebrovascular disease. CBF decreased acutely in both the embolized and nonembolized hemispheres but returned toward normal in 5 minutes. However, total cerebral oxidative metabolism remained depressed throughout the 30-minute observation period despite improved perfusion. The change in CBF correlated with the development and resolution of tissue acidosis, which was maximal 3 minutes after embolization but became alkaline after 30 minutes, possibly due to accumulation of sodium lactate. Oxidized form of nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide and cytochrome a,a3 quickly became reduced in the ischemic core, but a tardy, spontaneous postischemic tissue perfusion resulted in their hyperoxidation. The CBF-metabolism uncoupling as well as postischemic hyperoxidation of the electron transport system, which is associated with accumulation of pyruvate and lactate, probably resulted from stagnation of electron flow at the entrance to the mitochondrial respiratory processes. Seizures could not account for these results, as paroxysmal changes in the EEG usually appeared only in the nonembolized hemisphere and were not dependent upon lack of energy. These studies confirm that metabolic failure may persist in ischemic tissue despite adequate reperfusion, which may, in fact, contribute to tissue damage through hyperoxidation.
The effect of takeover defenses on the dividend decision

Many firms have sought protection from hostile takeovers by passing defensive amendments to their corporate charter and/or lobbying their state legislatures for statutory protection. Agency theory would suggest that any such takeover defenses alter the principal-agent relationship. A consequence of such a change may be a change in corporate decision making. The objective of this research is to test the effect that passage of antitakeover amendments has on a firm's dividend policy. We use six alternate measures of dividend activity: total dividends paid, dividends per share and dividends relative to earnings, cash flow, market value, and book value. Our results indicate that firms that adopt antitakeover amendments, when compared to an industry control sample, tend to have a slower rate of growth in dividend payout as measured by the proxy variables. These results suggest that entrenchment is not a likely outcome of such amendments.
Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry of nucleosides and nucleotides

The positive and negative fast atom bombardment spectra of two nucleosides, 10 mononucleotides, two derivatized mononucleotides and 11 dinucleoside monophosphates have been recorded. Molecular ions (protonated or deprotonated) and some structurally significant fragments, sometimes involving cationization, were obtained. The spectra were compared with field desorption and thermospray ionization spectra whenever possible.
Field-induced piezoelectric resonances in the superparaelectric phase of ktn

Abstract A new type of dielectric resonances has been observed in mixed ferroelectric, KTa1−xNb x O3 (KTN), also known to belong to the family of Relaxor Ferroelectrics. These resonances and their metastability in KTN provide clear evidence for the presence of permanent polar nanoregions with a local spontaneous polarization and a local strain field. The application of a small dc bias field can align these regions and activate a strong polarization-strain coupling that give rise to the observed dielectric/mechanical resonances. These resonances are found to persist over long periods of time, indicating that the field-induced macroscopic polarization is stabilized by this coupling. Their frequencies can be calculated from the elastic constant, which reveals the unexpected clamped nature of the resonance. These results constitute an important piece of evidence in support of the role of polar regions in explaining the Relaxor behavior.
A quadratic programming dual algorithm for minimax control

The optimal control problem with peak weighting on trajectory error is related to quadratic programming through a duality, transformation. A series of finite dimensional quadratic programs yields finitely convergent solutions from which the optimal control may be recovered. Each program yields upper and lower bounds on the optimal cost.
Recovery after ambulatory anesthesia.

Purpose of reviewThe purview of ambulatory anesthesia continues to broaden in response to national interest in controlling healthcare costs and eliminating unnecessarily expensive hospital stays. Recent advances in anesthesia allow us to minimize side effects and complications of anesthesia and surg
New computational method in the theory of spinodal decomposition

We present a new series of calculations in the theory of spinodal decomposition. The computational scheme is based on a simple ansatz for the two-point distribution function which leads to closure of the hierarchy of equations of motion for the high-order correlation functions. The resulting theory is accurate throughout the spinodal region of the phase diagram, including at the boundaries of this region where the spinodal mechanism is difficult to distinguish from nucleation and growth. The computational scheme is worked out in detail for parameters approximating those of the three-dimensional, kinetic, spin-exchange Ising model with nearest-neighbor interactions. Numerical agreement with recent Monte Carlo data appears to be satisfactory.
Cytidylyltransferase-binding Protein Is Identical to Transcytosis-associated Protein (TAP/p115) and Enhances the Lipid Activation of Cytidylyltransferase

We previously identified a protein from rat liver that binds CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase (CT). We have now purified this protein (cytidylyltransferase-binding protein (CTBP)) from rat liver. The purification involved precipitation at pH 5 and extraction of the precipitate with buffer, followed by sequential chromatography on DEAE-Sepharose and butyl-agarose. Final purification was accomplished by either preparative electrophoresis or hydroxylapatite chromatography. Amino acid sequences from six peptides derived from pure CTBP matched sequences in transcytosis-associated protein (TAP) with 98% identity. Thus, CTBP was positively identified to be TAP. Purified CTBP increased the activity of purified CT measured with phosphatidylcholine (PC)/oleic acid. In the absence of PC/oleic acid, CTBP did not stimulate CT activity. Dilution of CT to reduce the Triton X-100 concentration produced a loss of CT activity. The lost activity was recovered by the addition of CTBP plus PC/oleic acid to the assay, but not by the addition of either PC/oleic acid or CTBP alone. Removal of CTBP from purified preparations by immunoprecipitation with CTBP antibodies eliminated the activation of CT. Both CT and CTBP were shown to bind to PC/oleic acid liposomes. The formation of complexes between CT and CTBP in the absence of PC/oleic acid liposomes could not be demonstrated. These results suggest that CTBP functions to modify the interaction of CT with PC/oleic acid liposomes, resulting in an increase in the catalytic activity perhaps by the formation of a ternary complex between CT, CTBP, and lipid. Overall, these results suggest that CTBP (TAP) may function to coordinate the biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine with vesicle transport.
Bioavailability of seven furosemide tablets in man

A seven-way crossover study was conducted in 14 healthy male volunteers to evaluate the relative bioavailability of seven different marketed 40 mg furosemide tablets. Each dose was administered as a single tablet after an overnight fast, and blood samples were obtained for 16 hours. Plasma was assayed by HPLC. There were no statistically significant differences among the seven products for the mean peak concentration (1.01-1.29 micrograms/ml), mean time of peak (1.2-2.1 h) or mean area under the plasma concentration-time curves, which differed by less than 14 per cent. However, one product exhibited greater intersubject variability, and on this basis was considered inequivalent to the other six products. Furosemide is a potent and widely used diuretic. Currently the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has granted approval to at least twelve manufacturers of 40 mg furosemide tablets, based in part on bioavailability data obtained in human subjects. In addition, the USFDA has granted an 'AB' therapeutic equivalence evaluation to each of these products, which is understood by many to indicate the therapeutic equivalence and interchangeability of these products. The objective of the present investigation was to directly compare the bioavailability of seven 40 mg furosemide tablet products which had previously been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Fitness components associated with alternative reproductive tactics in cliff swallows

Two common alternative reproductive tactics are intraspecific brood parasitism and extrapair mating. Understanding the evolution of these traits requires estimation of fitness for individuals that do and do not exhibit diem. We analyze fitness components associated with brood parasitism and extrapair mating in cliff swallows (Petrochetidon pyrrhonota). Annual survival probabilities for females known to be parasites, hosts, and nonparasites/nonhosts differed significantly, with highest survival (0.761) for parasites and lowest (0.289) for host females parasitized by egg laying. Survival probabilities did not differ among males paired to females of different status. First-year survival probabilities in die absence of ectoparasitic swallow bugs (Otdocus vicarius) were 0.546 for young raised in die brood parasites' own nests versus 0.354 for young from all other nests; first-year survival probabilities in die presence of swallow bugs were 0.223 for young raised in host nests versus 0.132 for young from nests not brood parasitized. Males that engaged in extrapair copulation attempts had an annual survival probability of 0.413, signficantly lower than die 0.614 estimated for males that were not seen engaging in extrapair mating. Annual reproductive success, measured as recruitment to breeding age, was greatest for brood parasites and similar among other classes of birds in die absence of swallow bugs and was greater for hosts than for birds not brood parasitized in die presence of swallow bugs, likely because hosts occupied less infested nests. Estimated lifetime reproductive success was highest for parasites and their mates. There were no apparent long-term effects of brood parasitism on survival of adult hosts or offspring from host nests, both because hosts did not have enlarged broods and because clutch and brood size did not affect cliff swallow survival. Brood parasites have greater fitness than hosts and nonparasitized birds, probably because parasites are superior individuals in good condition to start with. That males who participated in extrapair mating had lower expectation of survival suggests that extrapair copulations in cliff swallows are perpetrated by inferior males, and females should probably avoid diem. Key xuords: alternative reproductive tactics, brood parasitism, cliff swallows, coloniality, extrapair copulation, fitness, life history, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota, reproductive success, social behavior, survival. [Behav Ecol 9:158-171 (1998)]
REACTIONS OF DIAZOMETHANE WITH GLYCEROLIPIDS IN THE PRESENCE OF SERUM OR INORGANIC SALTS

Diazomethane is widely used for the selective methylation of nonesterified fatty acids in the presence of other lipids. However, when the reaction is carried out directly with plasma or serum, substantial methanolysis of phospholipid acyl groups occurs. Because of the importance of rigorous selectivity in the assay of unesterified fatty acids which are present only in trace amounts in cells and body fluids, we have investigated the diazomethane procedure in detail and reached the following conclusions: (i) When diazomethane reacts with lipid extracts in organic solvent, no ester hydrolysis occurs. (ii) In the presence of serum or plasma, diazomethane reacts with water and inorganic salts, causing the solution to become basic (CH2N2 + NaCl + HOH-->Ch3Cl + Na+ + OH- + N2); methoxide ions are formed from methanol (CH3OH + OH(-)-->CH3O- + HOH) causing extensive methanolysis (CH3O- + RO-CO-R'-->CH3O-CO-R' + RO-). An analogous reaction takes place with ethanol. All esters of glycerol are transesterified in aqueous salt solution by this mechanism. It is therefore essential to prepare a lipid extract prior to the assay of unesterified fatty acids when using the diazomethane procedure.
Planning and Design as the Manufacture of Transcendence

The traditions of design—in natural science, computation, theology, architecture, and literature and art—provide models for some aspects of planning. These models are especially concerned with order, coherence, meaning, structure, and judgment, and parallels or homologies among them. They also show how the making of wholeness (the “manufacture of transcendence”) is in tension with contingency, fetishism, and failure.
Imaging of star clusters from speckle interferometry

Abstract A method is described for the reconstruction of a star cluster image from its autocorrelation as obtained from speckle interferometric techniques. The “trial map” of Baldwin and Warner (Mon. Not. R.A.S. 182 (1978) 411) is considered and its formation is described mathematically.
Effect of early postmortem enhancement of calcium lactate/phosphate on quality attributes of beef round muscles under different packaging systems.

The objective was to determine the influence of calcium lactate/phosphate enhancement on quality of beef round cuts in high-oxygen modified atmosphere (HiOx-MAP; 80% O2/20% CO2). Mm. semimembranosus (SM), semitendinosus (ST), and adductor (AD) were divided and assigned to water-injected control (CON), 3 mM phosphate (STP), or 200 mM calcium lactate/3 mM phosphate (CAL/STP) treatments at 24 h postmortem. Steaks (n = 10) were vacuum packaged (VAC) and stored for 9 days, then displayed for 7 days in VAC or HiOx-MAP. Lipid oxidation, pH, surface color, star probe, and sensory characteristics were evaluated. HiOx-MAP resulted in greater lipid oxidation, more discoloration, and decreased sensory quality of steaks (P < 0.05) compared to VAC. However, CAL/STP enhancement significantly reduced lipid oxidation of all steaks, decreased ST and SM star probe values, and improved tenderness of HiOx-MAP packaged AD and SM (P < 0.05). Results suggest that CAL/STP enhancement has beneficial effects on lipid stability and sensory attributes of beef round cuts under HiOx-MAP.
An evaluation of variables influencing implant fixation by direct bone apposition.

A systematic mechanical and histologic evaluation of design variables affecting bone apposition to various biocompatible materials was undertaken. The variables investigated included material elastic modulus, material surface texture, as well as material surface composition. The implant materials included polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), low-temperature isotropic (LTI) pyrolytic carbon, commercially pure (C.P.) titanium, and aluminum oxide (Al2O3). Implant surface texture was varied by either polishing or grit-blasting the various materials. Implant surface composition was varied by applying a coating of ultra-low temperature isotropic (ULTI) pyrolytic carbon to the various implants. A total of 12 types of implants were evaluated in vivo by placement transcortically in the femora of adult mongrel dogs for a period of 32 weeks. Following sacrifice, mechanical push-out testing was performed to determine interface shear strength and interface shear stiffness. The results obtained from mechanical testing indicate that for implants fixed by direct bone apposition, interface stiffness and interface shear strength are not significantly affected by either implant elastic modulus or implant surface composition. Varying surface texture, however, significantly affected the interface response to the implants. For each elastic modulus group the roughened surfaced implants exhibited greater strengths than the corresponding smooth surfaced implants. Undecalcified histologic evaluation of the implants demonstrated that the roughened implants exhibited direct bone apposition, whereas the smooth implants exhibited various degrees of fibrous tissue encasement. Thus, for implants utilizing direct bone apposition fixation, it appears that of the parameters investigated, implant surface texture is the most significant.
Cooling cycles, Heinrich event 1, and the desiccation of Lake Victoria

Abstract East Africa’s enormous Lake Victoria dried out at the close of the last glacial, but the precise timing and origin of that drying event have not been clarified, largely because of uncertainty regarding core stratigraphy and ancient carbon effects on 14 C dates from the lake. New dates and re-examination of evidence from widely distributed cores shows that desiccation occurred some time between 15 900 and 14 200 calendar years BP, and perhaps also ca. 18–17 kyr BP. These lake level minima were briefer than has been previously suggested and were synchronous with pronounced global climate disruptions including North Atlantic ice-rafting Heinrich event 1. Less severe declines occurred during the Older and Younger Dryas intervals. Dansgaard–Oeschger type cooling cycles registered in the GISP2 ice core record tracked major lake level regressions in East Africa and weakenings of Afro-Asian monsoons during the late Quaternary, possibly linking the desiccation of Lake Victoria to century-scale reductions in solar radiation output.
A different face of faith‐based politics: social capital and community organizing in the public arena

Questions whether, in the USA, faith‐based communities can have an important effect on politics. Contends that other areas, where there are poorer communities, are more likely to be influenced politically in civil society although does not preclude other income sectors from being similarly affected just that deprived areas are more likely to listen to faith‐based organizers.
High-speed tunable microwave photonic notch filter based on phase modulator incorporated Lyot filter

A high-speed tunable microwave photonic notch filter with ultrahigh rejection ratio is presented, which is achieved by semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA)-based single-sideband modulation and optical spectral filtering with a phase modulator-incorporated Lyot (PM-Lyot) filter. By varying the birefringence of the phase modulator through electro-optic effect, electrically tuning of the microwave photonic notch filter is experimentally achieved at tens of gigahertz speed. The use of SOA-polarizer based single-sideband modulation scheme provides good sideband suppression over a wide frequency range, resulting in an ultrahigh rejection ratio of the microwave photonic notch filter. Stable filter spectrum with bandstop rejection ratio over 60 dB is observed over a frequency tuning range from 1.8 to 10 GHz. Compare with standard interferometric notch filter, narrower bandwidth and sharper notch profile are achieved with the unique PM-Lyot filter, resulting in better filter selectivity. Moreover, bandwidth tuning is also achieved through polarization adjustment inside the PM-Lyot filter, that the 10-dB filter bandwidth is tuned from 0.81 to 1.85 GHz.
Electronic structure and spectra of finite linear polyenes

Abstract A brief review of the current status of our knowledge of the excited electronic states of finite linear polyene chains is presented. The main conclusion of recent studies is that the neutral molecular species with an even number of carbons greater than or equal to six have a state of Ag symmetry as their lowest excited singlet state. Theoretical studies lead to the conclusion that the proper description of this excited state requires inclusion of electronic configurations involving two or more excitations. The low energy of this state is due to extensive electron correlation in these molecules. This excited Ag state gives rise to transitions that are electric dipole forbidden from the ground state which has the same symmetry. The ordinary absorption spectrum is dominated by the very strong transition to the Bu singlet state, a state well described as a one-electron excitation corresponding to the band gap for the infinite chain. This lack of intensity for the lowest transition and the good agreement obtained between predicted and observed spectra led to the long held, but erroneous, conclusion that the states of these linear chains were well described by simple one-electron theories.
Twentieth Century Glacier Change on Mount Adams, Washington, USA

Abstract Mount Adams is a large glacier-clad stratovolcano located in southern Washington, USA. We examined the area change of the 12 glaciers on the mountain during the 20th century using historical topographic maps and aerial photographs. The total glacier area decreased by 49% (31.5 km2 to 16.2 km2) from 1904 to 2006. The glaciers showed a period of retreat during the first half of the century, followed by either a slowing of retreat or an advance from the 1960s to the 1990s. Subsequently, the glaciers resumed their rapid retreat. Glaciers on Mt. Adams show similar trends to those on both Mt. Hood and Mt. Rainier. The qualitative correlation between area change and trends in winter precipitation and summer temperature indicate a largely temperature-driven glacier shrinkage as the climate warmed since the Little Ice Age of the late 19th Century. No century-scale trends were noted in precipitation but decadal-scale variations in winter precipitation appear to enhance or buffer the effects of temperature ...
Simvastatin ameliorates injury in an experimental model of lung ischemia-reperfusion.

Abstract Objectives Statins are lipid-lowering drugs with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study explores the potential of these commonly prescribed agents to ameliorate lung ischemia-reperfusion injury. Methods Left lungs of Long-Evans rats were rendered ischemic for 90 minutes and reperfused for up to 4 hours. Treated animals received simvastatin orally (0.5 mg/kg) for 5 days before the experiment. Injury was quantitated in terms of tissue myeloperoxidase content, vascular permeability ( 125 I bovine serum albumin extravasation), and bronchoalveolar lavage leukocyte and cytokine content. Changes in nuclear translocation of transcription factors were evaluated by electromobility shift assay. Additional animals received N G -nitro-l-arginine methyl ester before ischemia-reperfusion to assess whether inhibition of nitric oxide synthase could reverse simvastatin's protective effects. The presence of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase was also evaluated using enzyme staining both histologically and in native electrophoresis. Results Lung vascular permeability was reduced in treated animals by 71% compared with positive controls ( P G -nitro-l-arginine methyl ester reversed this protection. The protective effects of statin pretreatment correlated with a 68% reduction in tissue myeloperoxidase content ( P Conclusion In addition to its antioxidant properties, the protective effects of simvastatin are likely mediated by modulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. The potential to pretreat recipients of lung transplantation with statins to ameliorate reperfusion injury is promising.
Heterogeneity of cytokine functions in HIV infection

Immunological responses, especially cytokines, play important roles in determining the persistence of infectious agents in chronic diseases. Th1 responses enhance cellular immunity to control infection whereas Th2 immune responses down-regulate these effector immune responses. It has been suggested that the Th1 to Th2 switch is involved in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease progression. We studied the regulatory role of interleukin-4 (IL-4; Th2 response) on interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma; Th1 response) in HIV infection and its role in the generation of HIV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) in an in vitro system. Forty HIV-infected, asymptomatic individuals and 20 HIV-seronegative individuals were included in this study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin and tetanus toxoid in the presence or absence of IL-4 to determine the effect of IL-4 on IFN-gamma production and HIV-Env-specific CTL activity. IL-4 showed a dual effect on IFN-gamma production in HIV patients. IL-4 down-regulated IFN-gamma production in HIV-seronegative individuals and in 55% of HIV patients whereas it stimulated IFN-gamma production in 45% of HIV patients. IL-4 increased HIV-Env-specific CTL activity in five of seven patients of the latter group. IL-4 has multiple biological activities, e.g. IL-4 inhibits IFN-gamma production as well as stimulates CTL generation which in turn produces IFN-gamma. Understanding the biological significance of these interactions is of importance for immunotherapeutic approaches against HIV infection.
PERFORMANCE AND LEACHING ASSESSMENT OF FLOWABLE SLURRY

This project was conducted to evaluate the performance and leaching of controlled low strength materials (CLSM) incorporating fly ash and foundry sand. Two different CLSM (or flowable slurry) reference mixtures (equivalent to available production CLSM mixtures) were proportioned for unconfined compressive strength levels in the range of 0.3-0.7 MPa (50-100 psi), at 28 days, using two sources of ASTM Class F fly ash. For each reference mixture, other mixtures were proportioned using two sources of foundry sand (molten metal-casting mold sand) as a replacement for fly ash in the range of 30-85%. The ingredients of the slurry mixtures—fly ash, clean foundry sand, and used foundry sand—were tested for their physical and chemical properties and their leachate characteristics. Portland cement used as the primary binder was also tested for its properties. All CLSM mixtures made with and without foundry sand were evaluated for settlement, setting and hardening characteristics, compressive strength, permeability, and leachate characteristics. The leachate results of these CLSM-making materials were below the enforcement standards (ES) of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) ground-water quality standards (GWQS). They also met practically all the parameters of the drinking water standards. A number of CLSM mixtures incorporating fly ash and foundry sand are recommended for construction applications.
Integrating giant magnetoresistive current and thermal sensors in power electronic modules

Motor drive technology relies on power electronic devices and current sensors for motor control. With active thermal control of IGBT junction temperatures, the reliability and full utilization of power devices can be improved. The intent of this research is to introduce the module-level integration of the GMR field detector as both a current and temperature sensor. The integration effort also includes a new type of flexible planar interconnect to replace conventional wire bonds. The integration goal is to improve the reliability and lower the cost of motor drive systems. Cost and reliability will benefit from a lower parts count and fewer interconnections. Because of the small size, inherent galvanic isolation, temperature dependence, high sensitivity and bandwidth, the magnetoresistive field detector offers promising options for both integrated current and temperature sensing methods. This research describes the operation of GMR, as well as the necessary signal conditioning circuitry for integrated current and temperature sensing. The measured performance attributes of the sensor are also shown. Finally, future plans are discussed which involve combining the current and temperature sensing capabilities with the design of an interconnect layout and observers for junction temperature estimation.
Discriminative sparse representations for cervigram image segmentation

This paper presents an algorithm using discriminative sparse representations to segment tissues in optical images of the uterine cervix. Because of the large variations in the image appearance caused by the changing of illumination and specular reflection, the different classes of color and texture features in optical images are often overlapped with each other. Using sparse representations they can be transformed to higher dimension with sparse constraints and become more linearly separated. Different from the previous reconstructive sparse representation, the discriminative method considers positive and negative samples simultaneously, which means that these generated dictionaries can be discriminative and perform better for their own classes but worse for the others. New data can be reconstructed from its sparse representations and positive and/or negative dictionaries. Classification can be achieved based on comparing the reconstructive errors. In the experiments we used our method to automatically segment the biomarker AcetoWhite (AW) regions in an archive of the uterine cervix. Compared with the other general methods including SVM, nearest neighbor and reconstructive sparse representations, our approach showed higher sensitivity and specificity.
Homeostasis of iron and hepcidin in erythropoietic protoporphyria

Background Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) and X-linked protoporphyria (XLP) are genetic abnormalities of heme synthesis that result in excess production of protoporphyrin and that manifest as severe photosensitivity. These disorders are often associated with iron deficiency anaemia (IDA). Our aim was to determine whether hepcidin is increased in EPP/XLP patients, resulting in decreased enteral iron absorption and IDA. Material and methods Eight subjects with EPP, one with XLP and nine controls had baseline blood and urine samples collected, and thereafter were given oral ferrous sulphate (660 mg). Post-iron blood and urine samples were collected at 2, 4, 6 and 8 h. Blood counts, serum cytokines, ferritin and iron studies were analysed at baseline. Serum iron studies, serum and urine hepcidin, and erythropoietin (Epo) were analysed at baseline and subsequent time points. Results At baseline, EPP–XLP subjects had lower mean blood haemoglobin (13·9/15·3 g/dL) and serum ferritin (31·6/115 ng/mL) than controls. Serum iron levels increased markedly in both cohorts. Mean serum and urine hepcidin levels were significantly lower in the EPP–XLP group at 4 and 8 h post-iron (serum – 4 h, 3·79/26·6, 8 h, 5·79/34·6 nM; urine – 4 h, 0·85/2·50, 8 h, 1·44/6·63 nM/mM creatinine). Serum cytokines and Epo were normal and not different between groups. Conclusions We conclude that serum and urine hepcidin are not inappropriately increased in EPP/XLP subjects at baseline and do not increase over time as serum iron increases after oral ferrous sulphate. Levels of serum cytokines and Epo are normal in EPP/XLP. The molecular basis for the iron-deficient phenotype in EPP/XLP remains unknown.
Bioengineering Dermo-Epidermal Skin Grafts with Blood and Lymphatic Capillaries

The first bioengineered, autologous, dermo-epidermal skin grafts are presently undergoing clinical trials; hence, it is reasonable to envisage the next clinical step at the forefront of plastic and burn surgery, which is the generation of autologous skin grafts that contain vascular plexuses, preformed in vitro. As the importance of the blood, and particularly the lymphatic vascular system, is increasingly recognized, it is attractive to engineer both human blood and lymphatic vessels in one tissue or organ graft. We show here that functional lymphatic capillaries can be generated using three-dimensional hydrogels. Like normal lymphatics, these capillaries branch, form lumen, and take up fluid in vitro and in vivo after transplantation onto immunocompromised rodents. Formation of lymphatic capillaries could be modulated by both lymphangiogenic and anti-lymphangiogenic stimuli, demonstrating the potential usefulness of this system for in vitro testing. Blood and lymphatic endothelial cells never intermixed during vessel development, nor did blood and lymphatic capillaries anastomose under the described circumstances. After transplantation of the engineered grafts, the human lymphatic capillaries anastomosed to the nude rat's lymphatic plexus and supported fluid drainage. Successful preclinical results suggest that these skin grafts could be applied on patients suffering from severe skin defects.
Improving Higher-Order Thinking and Knowledge Retention in Environmental Science Teaching

We instituted interdepartmental pedagogical and curricular reform across a series of introductory environmental science courses, integrating more field experiences, data analysis, and synthesis. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, we found that the students who took the series of modified courses showed greater improvement in answering more cognitively challenging questions than did the students who experienced an earlier version of the courses. The students attributed their understanding to the fieldwork. In a second year, we used only the new materials but compared students who took two of the courses with a gap between them with students who took these courses consecutively. The students who experienced the gap performed better on questions that tested understanding at the highest cognitive level. Therefore, the scaffolded curriculum with inquiry-based field labs, thematic content, and spacing between courses improved knowledge retention and higher-order thinking.