cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
John Eccles' studies of spinal cord presynaptic inhibition.

Abstract Presynaptic inhibition is one of many areas of neurophysiology in which Sir John Eccles did pioneering work. Frank and Fuortes first described presynaptic inhibition in 1957. Subsequently, Eccles and his colleagues characterized the process more fully and showed its relationship to primary afferent depolarization. Eccles’ studies emphasized presynaptic inhibition of the group Ia monosynaptic reflex pathway but also included group Ib, II and cutaneous afferent pathways, and the dorsal column nuclei. Presynaptic inhibition of the group Ia afferent pathway was demonstrated by depression of monosynaptic excitatory postsynaptic potentials and inhibition of monosynaptic reflex discharges. Primary afferent depolarization was investigated by recordings of dorsal root potentials, dorsal root reflexes, cord dorsum and spinal cord field potentials, and tests of the excitability of primary afferent terminals. Primary afferent depolarization was proposed to result in presynaptic inhibition by reducing the amplitude of the action potential as it invades presynaptic terminals. This resulted in less calcium influx and, therefore, less transmitter release. Presynaptic inhibition and primary afferent depolarization could be blocked by antagonists of GABA A receptors, implying a role of interneurons that release gamma aminobutyric acid in the inhibitory circuit. The reason why afferent terminals were depolarized was later explained by a high intracellular concentration of Cl − ions in primary sensory neurons. Activation of GABA A receptors opens Cl − channels, and Cl − efflux results in depolarization. Another proposed mechanism of depolarization was an increase in extracellular concentration of K + following neural activity. Eccles’ work on presynaptic inhibition has since been extended in a variety of ways.
The Ambiguous Pronouncement of the Centurion and the Shrouding of Meaning in Mark

The pronouncement of the centurion in Mk 15.39 is commonly understood as the end of the messianic secret in Mark's narrative. This paper challenges that interpretation on the basis of the syntax of the pronouncement, the connection of the pronouncement with the portents surrounding Jesus' death, and the audience's expectation that can be assumed from the literary parallels. As the narrative continues we see continuing confusion in the reaction to Jesus' death and resurrection. The pronouncement is intentionally ambiguous and is used by Mark to allow his audience to hear a deeper meaning while leaving the veil of secrecy, an essential part of Mark's religious world view, intact.
Space lower bounds for distance approximation in the data stream model

(MATH) We consider the problem of approximating the distance of two d-dimensional vectors x and y in the data stream model. In this model, the 2d coordinates are presented as a "stream" of data in some arbitrary order, where each data item includes the index and value of some coordinate and a bit that identifies the vector (x or y) to which it belongs. The goal is to minimize the amount of memory needed to approximate the distance. For the case of Lp-distance with p e [1,2], there are good approximation algorithms that run in polylogarithmic space in d (here we assume that each coordinate is an integer with O(log d) bits). Here we prove that they do not exist for pL∞ distance of two vectors. We show that any randomized algorithm that approximates L∞ distance of two length d vectors within factor of dδ requires ω(d1—4δ) space. As a consequence we show that for pLp distance of two length d vectors within a factor dδ requires ω(d 1— 2p—4δ) space.The lower bound follows from a lower bound on the two-party one-round communication complexity of this problem. This lower bound is proved using a combination of information theory and Fourier analysis.
Charge deformation maps, molecular moments, and high‐energy electron scattering

We review the progress which was made during the last 6 years in the attempts to use electron diffraction data to gain insights into the electronic charge densities of isolated molecules and their moments. In regard to theory, we investigated the sensitivity of the elastic differential high-energy cross sections to the basis sets in the wave function calculations. Extensive calculations on H2O showed that there is no significant change by the molecular vibrations on the static charge density deformation maps. Finally new relations could be derived which allow the determination of nuclear and electronic moments from the differential cross sections at small angles. In regard to experimental data, new sets of purely elastic cross sections are available for He, Ne, CO2, N2, and CH4, which are compared with Hartree-Fock and limited configuration interaction wave function results. The differences are discussed. New experimental values for some moments for N2 and CH4 are reported.
Shallow stratigraphy and sedimentation history during high-frequency sea-level changes on the central California shelf

Abstract Analyses of high-resolution seismic-reflection data and sediment cores indicate that an extensive sediment deposit on the central California continental shelf is comprised of several late-Pleistocene to Holocene age facies. Offshore of the littoral zone, in water depths of 30–90 m, a 3–6 m thick veneer of fine sediment referred to as the mid-shelf mudbelt has formed along 50–100 km of the coast. The mudbelt drapes a parasequence characterized by prograding clinoforms that in places overlies a 1–3 m thick basal transgressive lag deposit. These facies overlie a prominent erosional unconformity that extends from the shore to the outer shelf. Eighteen calibrated 14 C AMS ages of marine molluscs and terrestrial wood detritus sampled in cores range 15,800 yr BP to modern indicating a postglacial age for these sediments (one >55,000 yr BP represents relict sand). We model accumulation of these facies using (1) the topography of the underlying erosional unconformity interpreted from seismic reflection profiles, (2) observed sediment facies (grain size) distribution across the shelf (a proxy for wave/current sediment partitioning), and published estimates of (3) eustatic sea-level history, and (4) regional tectonics. Our model and data indicate that deposition of the transgressive lag began during early, slow postglacial sea-level rise and that a notable change in depositional environment occurred across an area of more than 200 km 2 of the outer shelf likely in response to abrupt drowning during Meltwater Pulse 1B (11,500 yr BP). We propose that rapid progradation of clinoforms may have occurred during transgression because of the unique interaction of modest rates of sediment input and tectonic uplift, variable rates of eustatic sea-level rise and a complex stepped antecedent topography.
Photoluminescene in liquid phase epitaxially grown Hg0·3Cd0.7Te at 77K

Abstract The photoluminescence spectra of liquid phase epitaxially grown Hg 0·3 Cd 0·7 Te consists of a high energy narrow line D and a low energy broad peak E. The E line is a deep level whose energy is consistent with deep level transient spectroscopy measurements. From its lineshape and energy, the D line is due to free exciton recombination.
Incremental Failure of an Expansion Joint During Combined Pressure and Expansion Loading

Incremental failure was observed when two different loading conditions, pressure and expansion, were applied alternatively to an expansion joint. Neither of the conditions was capable independently of failing the expansion joint. When the conditions occurred together, only a small amount of plasticity was observed. But when the expansion was cycled while holding pressure constant, incremental plastic deformation occurred during each cycle which was cumulative to that of past cycles. The joint was dimensionally unstable over a large number of expansion cycles. Analytical and experimental results are presented in an attempt to explain the observed phenomenon.
Imputation of Ramp Flow Data for Freeway Traffic Simulation

The Tools for Operational Planning is a suite of tools that uses the link—node cell transmission model for macroscopic freeway traffic simulations for specifying operational strategies such as ramp metering and demand and incident management. Traffic flow and occupancy data from loop detectors are used for calibrating these models and specifying the inputs to the simulation. Flow data from ramps, however, are often found to be missing or incorrect. This paper elaborates an imputation procedure used to determine these ramp flows. This automated imputation procedure is based on an adaptive identification technique that attempts to minimize the error between the simulated and the measured densities. Simulation results using the imputed flow data indicate good conformation with loop detector measurements.
Vibrational spectroscopy of acetylene decomposition on palladium (111) and (100) surfaces

Abstract Vibrational spectra for thermal decomposition of acetylene (C 2 H 2 ) on (111) and (100) surfaces of palladium obtained with high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) are described. Of particular interest is the formation of CCH species on both surfaces, which are identified spectroscopically in this context for the first time. On Pd(110), CCH forms with thermal processing of chemisorbed acetylene to ∼ 400 K but on Pd(111) is co-adsorbed with a CCH 3 species following 300 K C 2 H 2 adsorption. With further annealing to 450 K, CCH is the dominant species on both surfaces. The EEL spectra indicate that both carbon atoms are involved in the CCH interaction with the surface as implied by a C-C bond order between 1 and 2. In view of recent reports of acetylene trimerization to benzene (C 6 H 6 ) on Pd surfaces, the EEL spectra of C 6 H 6 and isotopic mixtures were also analyzed but no evidence for this reaction was found.
Impact of Shear Strain and Quantum Confinement on $ \langle\hbox{110}\rangle$ Channel nMOSFET With High-Stress CESL

In this paper, we propose a new analytical electron mobility model in strained Si inversion layers suitable for implementation in a drift-diffusion simulator. Using our new model, a numerical study in conjunction with comprehensive bending experiments has demonstrated that (100)-Si has the optimum channel direction along in terms of the device performance of strained 65-nm-node nMOSFETs with contact etch stop layer and that both the shear-strain component and the quantum confinement effect are key factors in contributing to this superiority.
The development of piebald spotting in mice

Abstract The site of action of piebald, a major spotting gene in the mouse, was investigated according to a method by which embryonic neural tube and skin of various genotypes were grafted in combination to White Leghorn chick embryo hosts. Melanoblasts from the embryonic neural tube migrated into the adjacent developing skin, and the importance of these two components in pattern formation was thereby analyzed. Combination grafts of neural tube and skin from solC57BL 6J embryos produced extensive pigmentation in the hair and dermis of the grafted skin and in the tissues of the host embryo. Grafts of normal neural tube and piebald skin yielded identical results. Grafts of pieblad neural tube and normal skin produced pigmentation only in the hair follicles. The dermis of the grafted skin and the host tissues were devoid of pigment. Melanoblasts of the piebald genotype therefore differentiated only in the tissue environment of the hair follicle. A descriptive study of the pigment content of the Harderian gland, ankle skin, leg musculature, membranous labyrinth of the ear, and the choroid layer of the eye was made of normal, s s , and heterozygous ( s + mice. Each of these tissues possessed melanocytes in large numbers in normal C57BL mice. A significant reduction of the pigment content of the Harderian gland, ankle skin, leg musculature, and choroid was found in s s mice. The melanocyte content of the membranous labyrinth was the same in both genotypes. Heterozygous mice were intermediate between these two groups in the pigment content of the leg musculature and the ankle skin. The results of this study place a determining role in the development of white spotting on the neural crest of piebald mice. A secondary but important factor is the tissue environment in which the melanoblast is developing. The following mechanism of action of the piebald gene is proposed. Piebald melanoblasts differ from the normal by being more sensitive to different levels of melanogenic stimuli in the various tissue environments of the mouse. Those tissues which have a low melanogenic activity therefore will lack melanocytes of the piebald genotype. Coat spotting may be due to the existence of similar regional differences in the skin to which piebald melanoblasts are more sensitive than normal.
Prediction of Particle Deposition onto Indoor Surfaces by CFD with a Modified Lagrangian Method

Abstract Accurate prediction of particle deposition indoors is important to estimate exposure risk of building occupants to particulate matter. The prediction requires accurate modeling of airflow, turbulence, and interactions between particles and eddies close to indoor surfaces. This study used a v ′ 2 ¯ − f turbulence model with a modified Lagrangian method to predict the particle deposition in enclosed environments. The v ′ 2 ¯ − f model can accurately calculate the normal turbulence fluctuation v ′ 2 ¯ , which mainly represents the anisotropy of turbulence near walls. Based on the predicted v ′ 2 ¯ , we proposed an anisotropic particle–eddy interaction model for the prediction of particle deposition by the Lagrangian method. The model performance was assessed by comparing the computed particle deposition onto differently oriented surfaces with the experimental data in a turbulent channel flow and in a naturally convected cavity available from the literature. The predicted particle deposition velocities agreed reasonably with the experimental data for different sizes of particles ranging from 0.01 μm to 50 μm in diameter. This study concluded that the Lagrangian method can predict indoor particle deposition with reasonable accuracy provided the near-wall turbulence and its interactions with particles are correctly modeled.
Mephenytoin hydroxylation deficiency: Kinetics after repeated doses

Deficient aromatic hydroxylation of S-mephenytoin was observed in an index subject during a kinetic study of stereoselective metabolism of mephenytoin. A genetic basis for this defect was suggested by decreased urinary recovery of 3-methyl-5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-ethylhydantoin (4-OH-M) in the 24 hr after oral racemic mephenytoin in two brothers of the propositus. The parents and a third brother had urinary recoveries of 4-OH-M of the same order as in a group of 20 normal subjects. The kinetic implications of this defect were studied in the index subject and compared with four normal subjects after a single oral dose of differentially radiolabeled pseudoracemic mephenytoin (5 µCi of 14C-S-mephenytoin, 45 µCi of H3-R-mephenytoin, and 11.5 µmol/kg of both S- and R-mephenytoin) followed by single oral doses of 1.4 mmol of unlabeled racemic mephenytoin daily the next 4 days. In normal subjects, there was substrate stereoselective metabolism with the S-enantiomer rapidly excreted as 4-OH-M and the R-enantiomer slowly excreted as 5-phenyl-5-ethylhydantoin (PEH). Stereoselective metabolism persisted during repeated dosing. In the hydroxylation-deficient subject, there was no evidence of stereoselective metabolism, recovery of 4-OH-M was low, and both enantiomers were slowly excreted, predominantly as PEH. Plasma PEH concentrations and urinary PEH excretion rates were approximately twice that in normal subjects. Thus a genetic deficiency in ability to hydroxylate S-mephenytoin results in the S-enantiomer metabolization by the alternate route of demethylation to PEH that cumulates, thereby, in comparison to the normal, effectively doubling the dose of total hydantoin. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1984) 35, 33–39; doi:10.1038/clpt.1984.5
Making Capitalism: The Social and Cultural Construction of a South Korean Conglomerate

Making Capitalism: The Social and Cultural Construction of. South Korean Conglomerate. ROGER L. JANELLI. with DAWNHEE YIM. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press, 1993. + 276 pp., figures, tables, notes, bibliography, romanizations, index.
Coronary α-adrenergic tone and contraction of ischemic myocardium in awake dog

The effect of neurogenic coronary vasomotor tone upon contraction in ischemic myocardium was investigated in awake, mongrel dogs. The animals were chronically instrumented with a hydraulic occluder around the left circumflex coronary artery; a small catheter was also implanted within the vessel. Ultra-sound crystal pairs were placed distal to the occluder in myocardium perfused by the left circumflex artery. Pacing electrodes were sutured onto the right ventricular conus. During the experiment (n = 6) the occluder was inflated to stenose the vessel; the imposition of cardiac pacing (210/min) in conjunction with this stenosis resulted in depressed contraction of the myocardium distal to the occluder as assessed by the ultra-sound crystals: Segmental shortening decreased to 45.4 +/- 5.4% of unpaced control. Phentolamine, an alpha-antagonist, was then infused into the left circumflex catheter for ten minutes (0.1 mg/min) and the experiment repeated. After the alpha-blockade the combination of coronary stenosis and heart rate pacing decreased segmental shortening to only 84.6 +/- 10.1% of control, which was significantly (P less than 0.01) improved relative to the unblocked condition. In another experiment (n = 4), a less severe stenosis was imposed upon the left circumflex vessel. During pacing, muscle shortening decreased to 94 +/- 8.5% of control. Infusion of phenylephrine, an alpha-agonist, for ten minutes (0.1 mg/min) resulted in a 56.7 +/- 5.9% decrease in shortening during pacing; this was significantly greater (P less than 0.01) than the previous decrease. These data indicate that coronary alpha-adrenergic tone can significantly compromise regional myocardial function even in ischemic muscle whose coronary blood flow reserve has been exhausted.
Yet another role for the “good” matrix protein: Laminin in regenerating liver

After partial hepatectomy, the liver is capable of complete regeneration, restoring normal hepatic size, architecture, and function. To study the role of the extracellular matrix in regeneration, the temporal and spatial sequence of deposition of several of its components, including collagen types I, III, and IV, laminin, and fibronectin, in rat liver, after an 80% hepatectomy, was characterized by light microscopy immunohistochemistry. A minimum of five animals were studied for each date. In agreement with previous reports, subsequent to 80% hepatectomy, there was a brisk mitosis of hepatocytes. The mitotic activity was maximal at 48 hours, primarily in the periportal and centrilobular zones, and resulted in the formation of hepatocyte clusters and widening of the hepatic plates. Of the extracellular matrix components studied, laminin was the one demonstrating the most dramatic changes. By 24 hours, laminin appeared in the hepatic sinusoids reaching a maximum staining intensity at 48 hours. Intracellular laminin was prominent in numerous nonparenchymal cells, with many having the morphology, location, and desmin content characteristic of Ito cells. Laminin staining decreased in the sinusoids at 4 days; however, some intracellular staining of Ito cells was present even at 8 days after hepatectomy. At the completion of regeneration, there was no evidence of any substantial change in the ratio: extracellular matrix/cell mass. The results indicate that: (a) hepatocytes can divide without prior removal of the subsinusoidal extracellular matrix; (b) during regeneration, hepatocyte division precedes sinusoidal formation; (c) during hepatic regeneration, and in spite of the presence of laminin in Ito cells, no basement membranes are formed; (d) the prominent expression of laminin and its proposed functions in morphogenesis suggest a critical role for this matrix component in the formation and reorganization of the regenerating liver.
Disruption-tolerant content-aware video streaming

Communication between a pair of nodes in the network may get disrupted due to failures of links/nodes resulting in zero effective bandwidth between them during the recovery period. It has been observed that such disruptions are not too uncommon and may last from tens of seconds to minutes. Even an occasional such disruption can drastically degrade the viewing experience of a participant in a video streaming session particularly when a sequence of frames central to the story are lost during the disruption. The conventional approach of prefetching video frames and patching lost ones with retransmissions is not always viable when disruptions are localized and experienced only by a few among many receivers. Error spreading approaches that distribute the losses across the video work well only when the disruptions are quite short. As a better alternative, we propose a disruption-tolerant content-aware video streaming approach that combines the techniques of content summarization and error spreading to enhance viewers experience even when the disruptions are long. We introduce the notion of "substitutable content summary frames" and provide a method to select these frames and also their transmission order to mitigate the impact of a disruption. In the event of a disruption, the already received summary frames are played by the client during disruption and near normal playback is resumed after the disruption. We evaluate our approach and demonstrate that it provides acceptable viewing experience with minimal startup latency and client buffer.
An overview of minimally invasive technologies.

Self-measurement of blood glucose is an integral part of diabetes mellitus therapy. As many as 65% of diabetic people (4-5 million people) perform some degree of self-monitoring and approximately 20-30% do so frequently. Most patients consider this the most onerous part of their diabetes therapy. It requires obtaining blood, frequently in public, and is usually the most painful part of therapy, being significantly more painful than insulin self-administration. Patients therefore are anxious for a less-invasive method for glucose measurement. Methods exist or are being developed for minimally invasive glucose monitoring, which use body fluids other than blood (e.g., sweat and saliva), subcutaneous tissue, or blood measured less invasively. Sweat and saliva are relatively easily obtained but their glucose concentration lags significantly behind blood glucose. Methods to increase sweating have been developed and seem to increase the timeliness of the sweat glucose measurement. Subcutaneous glucose measurement seems to lag only a few minutes behind blood glucose and may actually be a better measurement of the critical values of glucose concentrations in brain, muscle, and other tissue. Glucose can be measured by noninvasive or minimally invasive methods, such as those making skin or mucous membranes permeable to glucose or those placing a reporter molecule in the subcutaneous tissue. Needle-type sensors have been improved in accuracy, size, and stability and can be placed into the subcutaneous tissue or peripheral veins to monitor blood glucose with miniature instruments.
The Effect on National Law of the Customary International Humanitarian Law Study

This article discusses whether the Rules formulated in the Customary International Humanitarian Law Study are automatically a part of national law, particularly in common law States. It argues that even if some or all of them accurately reflect customary international law at the present time, their status is only as potential norms of national law. It concludes that they cannot, by themselves and without more, amount to crimes within national law. The author discusses also the relationship between the Rules at common law and any wholly or partially implemented treaty upon which they are based. He concludes that the Rules, as such, will generally have little practical impact upon national criminal law.
Active illumination based 3D surface reconstruction and registration for image guided medialization laryngoplasty

The medialization laryngoplasty is a surgical procedure to improve the voice function of the patient with vocal fold paresis and paralysis. An image guided system for the medialization laryngoplasty will help the surgeons to accurately place the implant and thus reduce the failure rates of the surgery. One of the fundamental challenges in image guided system is to accurately register the preoperative radiological data to the intraoperative anatomical structure of the patient. In this paper, we present a combined surface and fiducial based registration method to register the preoperative 3D CT data to the intraoperative surface of larynx. To accurately model the exposed surface area, a structured light based stereo vision technique is used for the surface reconstruction. We combined the gray code pattern and multi-line shifting to generate the intraoperative surface of the larynx. To register the point clouds from the intraoperative stage to the preoperative 3D CT data, a shape priori based ICP method is proposed to quickly register the two surfaces. The proposed approach is capable of tracking the fiducial markers and reconstructing the surface of larynx with no damage to the anatomical structure. We used off-the-shelf digital cameras, LCD projector and rapid 3D prototyper to develop our experimental system. The final RMS error in the registration is less than 1mm.
Heat shock enhances CMV-IE promoter-driven metabotropic glutamate receptor expression and toxicity in transfected cells.

Abstract In CHO-K1 cells, heat shock strongly activated reporter-gene expression driven by the cytomegalovirus immediate-early (CMV-IE) promoter from adenoviral and plasmid vectors. Heat shock treatment (2 h at 42.5 °C) significantly enhanced the promoter DNA-binding activity in nuclear extracts. In CHO cells expressing mGluR1a and mGluR5a receptors under the control of the CMV promoter, heat shock increased receptor protein expression, mRNA levels and receptor function estimated by measurement of PI hydrolysis, intracellular Ca 2+ and cAMP. Hyperthermia increased average amplitudes of Ca 2+ responses, the number of responding cells, and revealed the toxic properties of mGluR1a receptor. Heat shock also effectively increased the expression of EGFP. Hence, heat shock effects on mGluR expression and function in CHO cells may be attributed to the activation of the CMV promoter. Moreover, this effect was not limited to CHO cells as heat shock also increased EGFP expression in PC-12 and HEK293 cells. Heat shock treatment may be a useful tool to study the function of proteins expressed in heterologous systems under control of the CMV promoter. It may be especially valuable for increasing protein expression in transient transfections, for enhancing receptor expression in drug screening applications and to control the expression of proteins endowed with toxic properties. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled ‘Trends in Neuropharmacology: In Memory of Erminio Costa’.
Interlaboratory interprotocol comparison of indirect immunobead assay for sperm-associated antibodies in serum.

This investigation was designed to study the effect of two different protocols on the indirect sperm-associated antibody test on serum performed using Bio-Rad immunobead (IBT) at two andrology laboratories. Aliquots of 31 serum samples from infertile couples were analyzed by both protocols. The IBT was negative by both protocols (100% concordance) for 18 serum samples. Seven of the 13 remaining samples were positive by both protocols (> or = 10% bead attachment by protocol A and > or = 20% bead attachment by protocol B), for a concordance of 54%. The remaining six samples were positive by one of the two protocols. The overall concordance for positive and negative results was 81% (25 of 31 samples). Protocol A detected a higher percentage of bead attachments for IgG and IgA, while protocol B detected a higher percentage of bead attachments for IgM. The discordance in the results of IgA attachment obtained by the two protocols was statistically significant (p < .05). A standardized, uniform protocol for the indirect IBT is needed.
Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction, Endotoxemia, and Gastrointestinal Symptoms: The ‘Canary in the Coal Mine’ during Exercise-Heat Stress?

Reduced intestinal blood flow and high intestinal temperatures during exercise-heat stress can lead to intestinal barrier dysfunction. Such dysfunction may increase intestinal permeability to endotox
PROSE treatment of corneal ectasia.

Abstract Purpose Prosthetic replacement of the ocular surface ecosystem (PROSE) uses custom designed and fabricated prosthetic devices in a treatment that restores vision, supports healing, reduces symptoms and improves quality of life in patients with complex corneal disease. We report the success rate for PROSE treatment of corneal ectasia. Methods Records of 59 patients with corneal ectasia seen in consultation over 6 months were reviewed. Candidacy for treatment, topographic indices, change in visual acuity, achievement of satisfactory fit, device wear status and change in visual function at 6 months were recorded. Results Sixteen eyes were non-candidates because conventional correction was adequate. Trial devices were inserted but not dispensed for 13 eyes. No eyes were excluded for severity of ectasia. In the remaining 89 eyes, satisfactory fit was achieved and a device was dispensed. Twenty-one eyes (15 patients) had undergone penetrating keratoplasty. Device wear at 6 months was documented in 78/89 eyes (88%). NEI VFQ-25 score improved 27.6 points (p Conclusion All candidate eyes with corneal ectasia could be fitted with a PROSE device. PROSE treatment has a high success rate when measured by ability to achieve satisfactory fit, impact on visual acuity and 6 month data on both rate of continued wear and impact on visual function. PROSE treatment is an alternative to penetrating keratoplasty for patients with corneal ectasia who are contact lens intolerant.
The kinetics of baboon fibrinogen adsorption to polymers: in vitro and in vivo studies.

Fibrinogen adsorption on polymers from blood may mediate or potentiate thrombosis because of its involvement in both the intrinsic clotting system and the formation of platelet aggregates. While the kinetics of fibrinogen adsorption from plasma in vitro have previously been found to be very different on polar and nonpolar surfaces [T. A Horbett, “The kinetics of adsorption of plasma proteins to a series of hydrophilic-hydrophobic copolymers,” ACS Org. Coat. Plas. Chem., 40, 642–646 (1979)] the significance of this difference with respect to thrombogenesis in vivo has not been clarified. In this study, the kinetics of deposition of baboon 125I fibrinogen from plasma in vitro or from blood in vivo on a series of polymers was measured. The polymers chosen for this study had previously been found to have a large range in surface polarity and reactivity in the in vivo baboon shunt model. The kinetics of fibrinogen adsorption in vitro were observed to be of three types, depending on the polymer: (1) high initial adsorption decreasing to a lower steady state value; (2) constant throughout the time course; (3) low initial adsorption rising steadily to a plateau value. In vivo, fibrinogen deposition kinetics were of two types: (1) low, constant deposition throughout the time course, independent of heparinization; (2) low deposition initially followed by a second phase of greatly increased deposition (probably as fibrin) which was prevented or greatly decreased by heparinizing the animals. Polymers for which fibrinogen adsorption increased to a plateau in vitro were found to have a heparin inhibitable second phase of enhanced in vivo fibrinogen deposition. These polymers also have been found in previous studies to enhance the rate of platelet destruction when used as in vivo shunts on baboons. Conversely, most polymers with high initial in vitro fibrinogen adsorption followed by a decrease had low fibrinogen deposition behavior in vivo and were also minimally destructive of platelets. The adsorption kinetics of fibrinogen to polymers from blood in vivo and in vitro and the consumption of platelets in vivo induced by the polymers all vary with polymer polarity. More polar polymers had in vitro fibrinogen kinetics characterized by a rise to a plateau, in vivo fibrinogen deposition characterized by a second stage of great increase inhibitable by heparin, and enhanced platelet consumption. The correlation of three separate indicators of surface thrombogenicity with surface polarity suggests that more polar materials may be more thrombogenic because of an influence on the way in which fibrinogen interacts with these surfaces.
Identification and Characterization of Human Surfactant Protein A Binding Protein of Mycoplasma pneumoniae

Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections represent a major primary cause of human respiratory diseases, exacerbate other respiratory disorders, and are associated with extrapulmonary pathologies. Cytadherence is a critical step in mycoplasma colonization, aided by a network of mycoplasma adhesins and cytadherence accessory proteins which mediate binding to host cell receptors. Furthermore, the respiratory mucosa is enriched with extracellular matrix components, including surfactant proteins, fibronectin, and mucin, which provide additional in vivo targets for mycoplasma parasitism. In this study we describe interactions between M. pneumoniae and human surfactant protein-A (hSP-A). Initially, we found that viable M. pneumoniae cells bound to immobilized hSP-A in a dose- and calcium (Ca 2 )-dependent manner. Mild trypsin treatment of intact mycoplasmas reduced binding markedly (80 to 90%) implicating a surface-associated mycoplasma protein(s). Using hSP-A-coupled Sepharose affinity chromatography and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, we identified a 65-kDa hSP-A binding protein of M. pneumoniae. The presence of Ca 2 enhanced binding of the 65-kDa protein to hSP-A, which was reduced by the divalent cation-chelating agent, EDTA. The 65-kDa hSP-A binding protein of M. pneumoniae was identified by sequence analysis as a novel protein (MPN372) possessing a putative S1-like subunit of pertussis toxin at the amino terminus (amino acids 1 to 226), with the remaining amino acids (227 to 591) exhibiting no homology with other subunits of pertussis toxin, other known toxins, or any reported proteins. Recombinant MPN372 (MPN372) bound to hSP-A in a dose-dependent manner, which was markedly reduced by preincubation with mouse recombinant MPN372 antisera. Also, adherence of viable M. pneumoniae cells to hSP-A was inhibited by recombinant MPN372 antisera, demonstrating that MPN372, a previously designated hypothetical protein, is surface exposed and mediates mycoplasma attachment to hSP-A.
Combination Drug Therapy for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

DATA SYNTHESIS: Approximately 80‐90% of patients show healing of reflux esophagitis after 8 weeks of once-daily PPI therapy. Patients taking PPI therapy twice daily still have nocturnal acid breakthrough (periods of gastric pH <4 lasting for ≥60 min during the night) as much as 70% of the time. The clinical application of this finding has not been shown. One trial has shown that omeprazole in the morning plus ranitidine at bedtime is not as effective as omeprazole twice daily given before the morning and evening meals at controlling nocturnal acid breakthrough. Further, 1 small trial in healthy subjects without GERD showed that the addition of a 1time dose of ranitidine at bedtime to a twice-daily regimen of omeprazole may decrease the occurrence of nocturnal acid breakthrough. However, the clinical significance of this finding is not clear. CONCLUSIONS: No studies in patients with GERD demonstrate that the addition of histamine2 receptor antagonists to twice-daily PPI therapy provides any further benefit above that derived from PPIs alone. The parameter used to measure the efficacy of combination regimens for GERD thus far — nocturnal acid breakthrough — has not been proven to correlate with improvement of GERD symptoms in any controlled or prospective clinical trials. Further investigation is needed to determine optimal therapy in patients refractory to standard doses of PPIs.
Gastrointestinal metastases from malignant tumors of the lung

Autopsy data of 423 cases of primary tumor of the lung over a 36-year period were evaluated for the presence of gastrointestinal tract metastases. Fifty-eight cases (14%) were found and were analyzed for histologic nature of tumor, anatomic location, symptomatology and complications. The most common histologic type of lung tumor causing gastrointestinal tract metastasis was squamous cell (19 cases, 33%), followed by large cell (17 cases, 29%), and oat cell (11 cases, 19%). The esophagus was the most common site of involvement (33 cases). Fourteen of the 33 cases were involved by direct extension of the tumor. The middle third of the esophagus had metastases more commonly (16/33, 49%) than the other two sites. Most patients with gastrointestinal metastases had no symptoms. In those patients with symptoms, dysphagia was most common when the tumor involved the proximal gastrointestinal tract (esophagus, stomach), whereas, pain was most commonly seen with involvement of the distal gastrointestinal tract (small bowel, large bowel). Six of 20 patients (30%) with small bowel involvement experienced perforation and peritonitis as complications of metastatic involvement and two patients with large bowel metastasis had obstruction; a third had dehiscence of a previous anastomotic site. Gastrointestinal tract metastases from primary carcinoma of the lung are more common than previously thought and may be associated with serious clinical complications.
BIOSENSORS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING: AN EPA PERSPECTIVE

Due to the expanding scope and budget for environmental monitoring in the U.S., as well as the high cost and slow turnaround times typically associated with the measurement of regulated pollutants, there exists a clear need for novel environmental diagnostics which are fast, portable, and cost-effective. Although there is a clear opportunity for innovative technologies, methods developed to fill this need must overcome a number of challenges before they find widespread acceptance and use for environmental applications. Some of these challenges include: the number of potential pollutants and range of their chemical classes, the complexity of environmental matrices, and the variety of possible co-contaminants. Due primarily to their versatile operating formats, biosensors show the potential to provide solutions for certain environmental screening and monitoring applications. These analytical devices have been used to measure a wide variety of environmentally related chemical and biological parameters including: organics, heavy metals, bacteria, biological oxygen demand. toxicity, and DNA hybridization. Prototype biosensors have been demonstrated using laboratory standards in buffer solutions as well as matrices such as waste water. surface water, and mixed organic solvents. In addition, several of these devices are undergoing field trials in environmental settings.
A one-dimensional MOSFET model for simulation of hot-carrier induced device and circuit degradation

An accurate one-dimensional device model for the simulation of nMOS transistors with hot-carrier-induced oxide damage is presented. The model uses a realistic charge density distribution profile to account for the localization of the oxide-interface charge near the drain. Model simulation results obtained for nMOS transistors with hot-carrier-induced oxide damage demonstrate good agreement with the experimental data. The amount and the location of the hot-carrier-induced oxide damage are introduced into the model by changing only a few parameters, which simplifies the implementation of the model in a reliability simulation environment. The model was implemented in the iSMILE circuit simulator, and the capabilities of the model were explored by various circuit simulation examples. Results of this simulation are given. >
Wh -Subjects in English and the Vacuous Movement Hypothesis

In this squib I consider the Vacuous Movement Hypothesis (henceforth VMH), the notion that in English local overt wh-movement takes place except for subjects (George 1980, Chomsky 1986). There is considerable evidence that a wh-subject does not move locally to [Spec, CP] in English. However, the notion that overt wh-movement in English involves feature licensing/clausal typing with C (Rizzi 1996, Cheng 1991) implies that even in the case of wh-subjects, movement to the domain of C must still occur. Furthermore, wh-islands involving a wh-subject in the embedded clause have raised problems for the VMH under the classical treatment of wh-islands that attributes them to Subjacency. I propose to reconcile the evidence for and against the VMH via a simplification of the feature-checking system advanced in Chomsky 1995 and a treatment of overt movement that separates a feature chain (CHFF) from a category chain (CHCAT). The proposal resolves the discrepancies observed with English wh-subjects in a conceptually d...
A flexible awareness measurement and management architecture for adaptive applications

Advancements in heterogeneous and pervasive computing introduce many dynamic features that require applications to be adaptive. To become adaptive, an application first needs to be aware of its computing environment characteristics (awareness) as well as its peer's awareness. The paper presents flexible awareness measurement and management architectures for adaptive applications in a pervasive computing environment. We investigate how our system can be beneficial to adaptive applications by providing an integrated interface (adding, deleting, and querying) to different types of awareness, measurement extensibility, and application controlled measurement behaviors. To manage awareness efficiently, we then discuss a pull/pull method, and flexible consistency management. A hybrid architecture is used to distribute awareness efficiently for both wired and wireless networks.
Effects of Low-Dose Aspirin on Vascular Sensitivity to Angiotensin II and on 24 Hours Arterial Blood Pressure in Pregnancy

The angiotensin sensitivity test (AST) was performed in a group of 40 high risk pregnant women before and after oral administration of low doses of aspirin (ASA) (100 mg). AST performed before ASA characterized two groups of patients: 18 with positive AST (AST+) (effective pressor dose (EPD) = 6.91±1.69 (mean ± S.D.) ng/Kg/min of angiotensin II (A II)) and 22 with negative AST (AST-) (EPD = 22.44±11.23 ng/Kg/min of All). After ASA administration there was a significant increase in EPD in AST+ patients (15.00±9.54 ng/Kg/min, p<0.001). In AST- patients the mean EPD was significantly but non-homogeneously changed (18.33±8.11 ng/Kg/min). Nineteen pregnant high risk patients also underwent AST between weeks 24 and 39 of gestation. Then systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure were recorded using a portable device for indirect noninvasive automatic arterial pressure measure before and after seven days of low-dose aspirin therapy. In AST- patients no significant difference was observed before and aft...
Model for Developing Educational Research Productivity: The Medical Education Research Group

Introduction: Education research and scholarship are essential for promotion of faculty as well as dissemination of new educational practices. Educational faculty frequently spend the majority of their time on administrative and educational commitments and as a result educators often fall behind on scholarship and research. The objective of this educational advance is to promote scholarly productivity as a template for others to follow. Methods: We formed the Medical Education Research Group (MERG) of education leaders from our emergency medicine residency, fellowship, and clerkship programs, as well as residents with a focus on education. First, we incorporated scholarship into the required activities of our education missions by evaluating the impact of programmatic changes and then submitting the curricula or process as peer-reviewed work. Second, we worked as a team, sharing projects that led to improved motivation, accountability, and work completion. Third, our monthly meetings served as brainstorming sessions for new projects, research skill building, and tracking work completion. Lastly, we incorporated a work-study graduate student to assist with basic but time-consuming tasks of completing manuscripts. Results: The MERG group has been highly productive, achieving the following scholarship over a three-year period: 102 abstract presentations, 46 journal article publications, 13 MedEd Portal publications, 35 national didactic presentations and five faculty promotions to the next academic level. Conclusion: An intentional focus on scholarship has led to a collaborative group of educators successfully improving their scholarship through team productivity, which ultimately leads to faculty promotions and dissemination of innovations in education.
Stability and Load Capacity of Members with No Tensile Strength

A mathematical solution is derived which permits the computation of critical load, deflection and stresses for eccentrically loaded slender prismatic compression members made of materials that have compressive strength but no tensile strength. A graphical presentation of the solution facilitates its applicaiton. In an example of application, the solution is used to compute the strength of masonry walls which were tested by the Structural Clay Products Institute. Even though there are limitations to our ability of predicting the behavior of a complex material such as masonry by a mathematical solution based on a simplified model, there is good agreement between computed and measured strength.
Alteration in fibroblasts treated with steroids in a perfusion chamber.

SummaryThe response of chick and mouse fibroblasts to adrenal and non-adrenal steroids was studied in a perfusion apparatus. Cholic acid, estradiol, and pregnenolone induced no changes in fibroblasts. DOCA, DOCG, and Compound S caused a great increase in the size of the cells. The nucleus and heterochromatic material within the nucleus were greatly increased in size. There was an increase in the number of mitochondria and a tendency to lay down large numbers of fibers.
Time Pressure Has Limited Benefits for Human-Automation Performance

It has been posited that under time pressure, humans tend to comply more often with automation recommendations. Previous research has shown that time pressure can enhance human-automation performance when reliability of the automated aid is high. In the current study, time pressure and difficulty level of the target detection task was manipulated. The results of this study show that human-automation performance was benefited by time pressure, but only in the condition when the task was difficult and the automation was highly reliable.