cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cognitive dysfunction induced by chronic administration of common cancer chemotherapeutics in rats

Although cognitive dysfunction manifested by severe memory and attention deficits has been reported in up to 70% of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, the mechanisms of this serious side effect have not been defined. In particular, it has not been decisively resolved whether the dysfunction is attributable to the chemotherapy or to the malignancy itself. In the present study we tested whether cognitive dysfunction can be induced in an experimental setting by the administration of commonly used chemotherapeutics to rats. Female 10 month old Sprague–Dawley rats were injected intraperitoneally with a combination of 2.5 mg/kg of adriamycin (ADR) and 25 mg/kg of cytoxan (CTX). A total of four doses were given at weekly intervals. The control group was treated with saline only. No mortality and no apparent morbidity were observed in either group. However, the chemotherapeutic treatment severely impaired memory function of rats as measured by a passive avoidance test. This memory deficiency was fully prevented by the administration of an antioxidant, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) injected subcutaneously three times a week at 200 mg/kg in the course of chemotherapeutic treatment. These results indicate that chemotherapeutic agents alone, i.e., in the absence of malignancy, damage the brain resulting in memory dysfunction. Moreover, the results strongly indicate that the damaging effect is mediated by oxidative stress, as memory dysfunction is preventable by the co-administration of NAC.
Effect of temperature on nitrogen transformation in Hawaiian soils

In a field experiment soil samples buried at the warmer temperature regime nitrified added ammonium faster than soils buried at the cooler temperature regime. Nitrification occurred more rapidly under both regimes in a soil which had developed in a warm climatic zone than in two other soils developed under cooler conditions. The rate of nitrification of added ammonium in soils incubated at 5, 15, 25 and 40°C in the laboratory increased with increase in the temperature up to 25°C in three out of four soils. In the fourth soil nitrification was as active at 40°C as at 25°C. The temperature range for appreciable nitrification to occur in a soil was related to the environmental conditions where the soil was formed. Mineralization of organic nitrogen occurred to a greater extent at 40°C than at three lower incubating temperatures of 5, 15, and 25°C. Rapid and active mineralization was associated with high organic matter and C/N ratio in soils
Coalitions and Conflict: the Case of the Palestinian-Israeli Negotiations Over the West Bank:

This paper examines the relative influence of leaders and coalitions in the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations over the West Bank. It uses an Expected Utiliiy model in conjunction with empirical anal...
Reaching with cerebral tunnel vision

Abstract We studied reaching movements in a 48-year-old man with bilateral lesions of the calcarine cortex which spared the foveal representation and caused severe tunnel vision. Three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction of brain MR images showed no evidence of damage beyond area 18. The patient could not see his hand during reaching movements, providing a unique opportunity to test the role of peripheral visual cues in limb control. Optoelectronic recordings of upper limb movements showed normal hand paths and trajectories to fixated extrinsic targets. There was no slowing, tremor, or ataxia. Self-bound movements were also preserved. Analyses of limb orientation at the endpoints of reaches showed that the patient could transform an extrinsic target's visual coordinates to an appropriate upper limb configuration for target acquisition. There was no disadvantage created by blocking the view of the reaching arm. Moreover, the patient could not locate targets presented in the hemianopic fields by pointing. Thus, residual nonconscious vision or `blindsight' in the aberrant fields was not a factor in our patient's reaching performance. The findings in this study show that peripheral visual cues on the position and velocity of the moving limb are not critical to the control of goal directed reaches, at least not until the hand is close to target. Other cues such as kinesthetic feedback can suffice. It also appears that the visuomotor transformations for reaching do not take place before area 19 in humans.
THEORETICAL INTERPRETATION OF CONDUCTIVITY MEASUREMENTS OF A THIOTOLANE SANDWICH. A MOLECULAR SCALE ELECTRONIC CONTROLLER

Quantum density functional theory and classical molecular dynamics studies of tolane molecules are carried out to interpret results of conductivity measurements on a monolayer of thiotolane molecules self-assembled on a gold surface and sandwiched by a titanium layer. Density functional theory techniques have been used to determine the ground state conformations and electronic structure, while classical molecular dynamics accounts for the effects of pressure and temperature for a cluster of five thiotolane molecules arranged between titanium and gold surfaces used to simulate the experimental system. On the basis of the theoretical results, it can be concluded, in agreement with the experimental findings, that the relative angle between two benzene rings in each tolane molecule determines its conductivity, with a maximum at 0° and a minimum at 90°. Therefore, this system would work as an unbiased controller, where the current through the molecule is controlled by the angle of one phenyl ring with respect ...
Is the mechanism of the [2+2] cycloaddition of cyclopentyne to ethylene concerted or biradical? A completely renormalized coupled cluster study.

The mechanism of the [2+2] cycloaddition reaction of cyclopentyne to ethylene has been studied using the completely renormalized coupled cluster method with singles, doubles, and noniterative triples (CR−CCSD(T)). In agreement with the experimentally observed stereochemistry, the CR−CCSD(T) method favors the concerted pathway involving a [2+1] transition state, whereas the popular CCSD(T) method, which is often regarded as the “gold standard” of electronic structure theory, and low-order multireference methods support the less probable biradical mechanism. In addition, the CCSD(T) approach produces an erroneous description of some transition states and intermediates, particularly those which have a significant biradical character. The CR−CCSD(T) calculations indicate that the reaction is a highly exothermic (Δ = −68 kcal/mol), predominantly concerted process with a relatively low activation barrier on the order of 13−16 kcal/mol which permits its thermal occurrence.
Groin hernia and surgical truth

Abstract Background: Surgeons have used many methods to repair groin hernia since 1889. In that year, both Halsted and Bassini described the first effective operation. All operative solutions to groin hernia since then have used a suture repair. The differences have been related to the anatomic structures that are joined by the sutures. Recently, laparoscopy has forced most surgeons to question their approach to groin hernia. Common questions are: Is laparoscopy superior? When should mesh be used? Which of the many available techniques give superior results? Data Sources: This review presents an opinion-based review of the classical and recent literature. In addition, this review considers the manner in which surgeons search for answers to such questions. Conclusion: The result of this search, for the author, is an acceptance of the mesh plug repair as superior to all others currently available.
Acoustic radiation force of high-order Bessel beam standing wave tweezers on a rigid sphere.

Abstract Background and objective Particle manipulation using the acoustic radiation force of Bessel beams is an active field of research. In a previous investigation, [F.G. Mitri, Acoustic radiation force on a sphere in standing and quasi-standing zero-order Bessel beam tweezers, Annals of Physics 323 (2008) 1604–1620] an expression for the radiation force of a zero-order Bessel beam standing wave experienced by a sphere was derived. The present work extends the analysis of the radiation force to the case of a high-order Bessel beam (HOBB) of positive order m having an angular dependence on the phase ϕ . Method The derivation for the general expression of the force is based on the formulation for the total acoustic scattering field of a HOBB by a sphere [F.G. Mitri, Acoustic scattering of a high-order Bessel beam by an elastic sphere, Annals of Physics 323 (2008) 2840–2850; F.G. Mitri, Equivalence of expressions for the acoustic scattering of a progressive high order Bessel beam by an elastic sphere, IEEE Transactions on Ultrasonics Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control 56 (2009) 1100–1103] to derive the general expression for the radiation force function Y J m , st ( ka , β , m ) , which is the radiation force per unit characteristic energy density and unit cross-sectional surface. The radiation force function is expressed as a generalized partial wave series involving the half-cone angle β of the wave-number components and the order m of the HOBB. Results Numerical results for the radiation force function of a first and a second-order Bessel beam standing wave incident upon a rigid sphere immersed in non-viscous water are computed. The rigid sphere calculations for Y J m , st ( ka , β , m ) show that the force is generally directed to a pressure node when m is a positive even integer number (i.e. Y J m , st ( ka , β , m ) > 0 ), whereas the force is generally directed toward a pressure antinode when m is a positive odd integer number (i.e. Y J m , st ( ka , β , m ) 0 ). Conclusion An expression is derived for the radiation force on a rigid sphere placed along the axis of an ideal non-diffracting HOBB of acoustic standing (or stationary) waves propagating in an ideal fluid. The formulation includes results of a previous work done for a zero-order Bessel beam standing wave ( m = 0). The proposed theory is of particular interest essentially due to its inherent value as a canonical problem in particle manipulation using the acoustic radiation force of a HOBB standing wave on a sphere. It may also serve as the benchmark for comparison to other solutions obtained by strictly numerical or asymptotic approaches.
Epitope dominance, competition and T cell affinity maturation.

Competition for limited resources is a common theme throughout nature, and immunology is no exception. Competition between T cells has been observed in one form or another for a number of decades. Recent advances have allowed the detection of multiple populations of T cells specific for either the same or disparate antigens during a response to a common stimuli. The interplay of these populations of cells dictates both the quality and quantity of the overall T cell response in the host.
Knowledge and use of contraceptive methods amongst deaf people in Ghana

Background: Persons with disabilities in general face serious barriers to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services due to institutional and attitudinal barriers. However, because deaf people have unique communication and linguistic needs, which are often misunderstood or ignored, they face greater barriers than other persons with disabilities. Whilst available data indicated that there is a wide gap between knowledge and usage of contraceptive amongst Ghanaians, little is known about the level of contraceptive knowledge and usage amongst deaf people. Objectives: The objective of the study was to investigate the level of knowledge and use of contraceptive methods amongst deaf people in Ghana with the aim of understanding their contraceptive behaviour and to improve access. Method: The study was a participatory SRH needs assessment utilising a two-phase, sequential, mixed methods design. The study included 179 participants, consisting of focus groups with seven executives of Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD), 10 male deaf adults, and 9 deaf female adults. A total of 152 deaf people, made up of students, women, and men participated in a survey, whilst one hearing person served as a key informant. Results: The findings of the study indicated that of the 13 methods shown in the survey, only three were known to about 70% of the adults and 60% of the students. Level of knowledge of the remaining nine methods was low. Conclusion: Clear and effective policies are needed to guide the provision of SRH information and services for deaf people in Ghana.
The role of occupational therapy in providing person‐centred transition services: implications for school‐based practice

Two case study vignettes are presented to demonstrate the potential role of occupational therapy in the provision of person-centred transition services. Related to the study, the five aspects of performance described by the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA): performance skills, performance patterns, client factors, activity demands, and contexts, are examined. Based on the results of the study, the following suggestions are offered for incorporating person-centred principles into school-based occupational therapy service delivery. These are: (1) increasing the number and variety of community places students know and use; (2) assisting students in developing and expressing autonomy in both everyday and life-defining matters; (3) building experiences and supports so students can perform functional, age-appropriate, and meaningful activities; (4) ensuring that students develop valued roles and places in community life; and (5) creating access for students to the social network of community and ensuring the development of personal relationships and friendships. Since the transition experiences of only two students are presented in an anecdotal fashion rather than through more formal quantitative or qualitative research the results are limited and further research is recommended.
Modulation of Systemic Immune Responses through Commensal Gastrointestinal Microbiota

Colonization of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is initiated during birth and continually seeded from the individual’s environment. Gastrointestinal microorganisms play a central role in developing and modulating host immune responses and have been the subject of investigation over the last decades. Animal studies have demonstrated the impact of GI tract microbiota on local gastrointestinal immune responses; however, the full spectrum of action of early gastrointestinal tract stimulation and subsequent modulation of systemic immune responses is poorly understood. This study explored the utility of an oral microbial inoculum as a therapeutic tool to affect porcine systemic immune responses. For this study a litter of 12 pigs was split into two groups. One group of pigs was inoculated with a non-pathogenic oral inoculum (modulated), while another group (control) was not. DNA extracted from nasal swabs and fecal samples collected throughout the study was sequenced to determine the effects of the oral inoculation on GI and respiratory microbial communities. The effects of GI microbial modulation on systemic immune responses were evaluated by experimentally infecting with the pathogen Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Coughing levels, pathology, toll-like receptors 2 and 6, and cytokine production were measured throughout the study. Sequencing results show a successful modulation of the GI and respiratory microbiomes through oral inoculation. Delayed type hypersensitivity responses were stronger (p = 0.07), and the average coughing levels and respiratory TNF-α variance were significantly lower in the modulated group (p<0.0001 and p = 0.0153, respectively). The M. hyopneumoniae infection study showed beneficial effects of the oral inoculum on systemic immune responses including antibody production, severity of infection and cytokine levels. These results suggest that an oral microbial inoculation can be used to modulate microbial communities, as well as have a beneficial effect on systemic immune responses as demonstrated with M. hyopneumoniae infection.
Citation Patterns of the Cardiovascular Serial Literature.

In an attempt to further amplify the characteristics of the cardiovascular serial literature, citation patterns were studied. As previously shown, one-third of the 5,860 papers from the National Heart Institute grantees for 1967 appeared within 13 journals (3). After the exclusion of the abstract journals, the remaining journals were used to obtain a basic pool of 300 cardiovascular related articles. Science Citation Index was used to gather statistics relative to citing author, journal and year. The 300 articles in the basic pool were cited a total of 2,545 times during this four-year period (1967-1970). The figures concerning citation rate by year serve to uphold the idea that journal citation reaches a peak during the third year after publication. Also some definite patterns of self-citation were noted. It was found that, when analyzed on the basis of first author, 15 percent of the 2,545 citations were self-citations. The ten basic journals tend to be cited mostly within themselves; one-third of the citations were found in these journals. Although the citations were found throughout 349 journals, indicating an extensive scatter, a relatively high percentage of papers were found in few journals.
Hen's eggs with retarded gas exchange. I. Chrorioallantoic capillary growth

Abstract The diffusing capacity of the hen's egg for carbon monoxide (D τ CO ) increases during incubation, reflecting the development of the chrioallantoic circulation. Previous work showed that the increase in D τ CO could be diminished by incubating eggs in a 60% oxygen environment. The present work explored the effects of impeding gas exchange on the development of D τ CO . Half the shell area was covered during incubation by a removable neoprene membrane which limited D τ CO by approximately 20%. No difference could be detected between the D τ CO values (measured with the membrane removed) of these eggs and control eggs in incubated in the same 21% oxygen environment without a neoprene membrane. We conclude that the development of the chorioallantoic circulation is at its maximum under normal conditions of incubation and cannot be accelerated by restricting gas exchange.
Sharp disparity reconstruction using sparse disparity measurement and color information

Recently, the work on dense disparity map reconstruction from 5% sparse initial estimates containing edges in disparity, has been proposed [1]. Practically, however, edges in disparity is unknown unless a dense disparity map has already been generated. In this paper, we present a realistic reconstruction framework for obtaining sharp and dense disparity maps from fixed number of sparse initial estimates with the aid of color image information. Experimental results show that sharp and dense disparity maps can be reconstructed at the cost of one pixel accuracy.
Reduction of pressure surges by minimax optimization

Abstract The control of pressure surges in a pipeline is an important problem in many areas of industry, including hydroelectric power generation, oil refineries and chemical processing plants. This paper deals with the control of pressure surges in a simple system consisting of a single horizontal pipe. The methodology, however, is easily extended to more complex systems and is quite easily implemented. The control problem is formulated as a nonlinear minimax optimization problem. Due to the large-scale nature of such problems, a successive linear programming (LP) method is adopted. The convergence of the method is accelerated by a conjugate gradient type search. Computational results are also provided.
Project synopsis: evaluating STRIP

Ths paper describes preliminary efforts at evaluating the performance of the Stanford realtime information processor (STRIP We desribe a benchmark for active real-time databases based on a program trading application and report STRIP's performance on benchmark. Keywords: derived data, view maintenance, active database system, transaction scheduling, program trading, real-time database system.
On the use of the cyclomatic number to measure program complexity

The October 1977 issue of SIGPLAN Notices carries an article that compares functionally equivalent programs that differ in their internal structure. The basis for comparing the programs is a measure called cyclomatic complexity whose value is the cyclomatic number of the graph that corresponds to the flow of control of the program. One program is of particular interest since all of the well-structured versions of the program that are discussed have a higher cyclomatic complexity than the unstructured version. In this paper another well-structured version of the program is presented for which the cyclomatic complexity is reduced to that of the original unstructured version. In the process, some of the shortcomings of the cyclomatic number as a complexity measure are revealed.
Age contrasts in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: The M. D. Anderson cancer center experience

Background. This study reviews the experience at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center with elderly patients treated for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer with cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy. Methods. From 1978 through 1988, 215 patients with Stage III or IV, Grade 2 or 3 epithelial ovarian cancer were entered onto one of three consecutive trials involving cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy
Current concepts: Organophosphate toxicity

Recent cases of nosocomial poisoning associated with the treatment of patients contaminated with organophosphate (OP) insecticides and the increasing potential for exposure to these chemicals elevate into sharper focus the continuing clinical and public health problem of pesticide poisoning. Despite a number of reports on the multiple aspects of OPs insecticides and their health effects, the general public and health services professionals, broadly defined, remain confused and misinformed about this class of chemicals. In this article we examine sources of exposure and current knowledge of health effects of OPs. The protection of health care workers is also discussed.
Cognitive and Emotional Disturbances in Multiple Sclerosis

The nature, prevalence, and course of cognitive and emotional disturbances in multiple sclerosis (MS) are described in this article. Mild to moderate cognitive impairment is common in MS and may be more incapacitating than physical symptoms for some patients. Although existing neurologic and neuroimaging procedures can detect some cognitively impaired patients, they lack sensitivity. Development of a brief neuropsychological screening battery, suitable for routine clinical use, is an important objective that may be achieved in the near future.
Unfolded protein response transcription factor XBP-1 does not influence prion replication or pathogenesis

The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a conserved adaptive reaction that increases cell survival under endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress conditions. X-box-binding protein-1 (XBP-1) is a key transcriptional regulator of the UPR that activates genes involved in protein folding, secretion, and degradation to restore ER function. The occurrence of chronic ER stress has been extensively described in neurodegenerative conditions linked to protein misfolding and aggregation. However, the role of the UPR in the CNS has not been addressed directly. Here we describe the generation of a brain-specific XBP-1 conditional KO strain (XBP-1Nes−/−). XBP-1Nes−/− mice are viable and do not develop any spontaneous neurological dysfunction, although ER stress signaling in XBP-1Nes−/− primary neuronal cell cultures was impaired. To assess the function of XBP-1 in pathological conditions involving protein misfolding and ER stress, we infected XBP-1Nes−/− mice with murine prions. To our surprise, the activation of stress responses triggered by prion replication was not influenced by XBP-1 deficiency. Neither prion aggregation, neuronal loss, nor animal survival was affected. Hence, this most highly conserved arm of the UPR may not contribute to the occurrence or pathology of neurodegenerative conditions associated with prion protein misfolding despite predictions that such diseases are related to ER stress and irreversible neuronal damage.
The crystal structure of human quinolinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase in complex with its inhibitor phthalic acid.

Quinolinic acid (QA), a biologically potent but neurodestructive metabolite is catabolized by quinolinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase (QPRT) in the first step of the de novo NAD(+) biosynthesis pathway. This puts QPRT at the junction of two different pathways, that is, de novo NAD(+) biosynthesis and the kynurenine pathway of tryptophan degradation. Thus, QPRT is an important enzyme in terms of its biological impact and its potential as a therapeutic target. Here, we report the crystal structure of human QPRT bound to its inhibitor phthalic acid (PHT) and kinetic analysis of PHT inhibition of human QPRT. This structure, determined at 2.55 A resolution, shows an elaborate hydrogen bonding network that helps in recognition of PHT and consequently its substrate QA. In addition to this hydrogen bonding network, we observe extensive van der Waals contacts with the PHT ring that might be important for correctly orientating the substrate QA during catalysis. Moreover, our crystal form allows us to observe an intact hexamer in both the apo- and PHT-bound forms in the same crystal system, which provides a direct comparison of unique subunit interfaces formed in hexameric human QPRT. We call these interfaces "nondimeric interfaces" to distinguish them from the typical dimeric interfaces observed in all QPRTs. We observe significant changes in the nondimeric interfaces in the QPRT hexamer upon binding PHT. Thus, the new structural and functional features of this enzyme we describe here will aid in understanding the function of hexameric QPRTs, which includes all eukaryotic and select prokaryotic QPRTs.
Methodology for simulation application to virtual manufacturing environments

Supply chain management, enterprise integration and global optimization are all necessary to compete in today's global market. As new products are developed and partnerships are formed, companies will need to focus on "global optimization" across the entire supply chain, not just a portion. This paper describes the application of discrete event simulation for modeling the entire supply chain, or what has been coined "virtual factories." Using simulation during the design and implementation phases provides the supply chain with valuable insight into upstream and downstream processes to allow them to understand impacts before contracts are settled, schedules are defined or facilities are developed. There are many benefits to he realized from virtual factory modeling. The first and most obvious is it provides the means and visibility to make decisions at the global level. This includes areas such as: optimization of shared resources (e.g., shipping containers); schedule alignment (evaluation of strategic inventory); and contingency planning. Secondly, it aids in communication between the suppliers and customers by providing better visibility into all of the business operations, policies and assumptions. Finally, it is the only tool that provides a visual representation of the entire virtual factory. It is the one place where management can see how their products an moving through this virtual factory without traveling from one company to the next. Implementation experience with the IRIDIUM low earth orbit satellite communications system is described. This virtual factory simulation model along with focus on lean manufacturing and global optimization is what has driven Motorola and its partners to produce 66 satellites at an unheard of rate of 1 satellite per week.
Universal sex differences across patriarchal cultures [not equal] evolved psychological dispositions

Schmitt's findings provide little evidence that sex differences in sociosexuality are explained by evolved dispositions. These sex differences are better explained by an evolutionary account that treats the psychological attributes of women and men as emergent, given the biological attributes of the sexes, especially female reproductive capacity, and the economic and social structural aspects of societies.
Association Models for Clustered Data with Binary and Continuous Responses

We consider analysis of clustered data with mixed bivariate responses, i.e., where each member of the cluster has a binary and a continuous outcome. We propose a new bivariate random effects model that induces associations among the binary outcomes within a cluster, among the continuous outcomes within a cluster, between a binary outcome and a continuous outcome from different subjects within a cluster, as well as the direct association between the binary and continuous outcomes within the same subject. For the ease of interpretations of the regression effects, the marginal model of the binary response probability integrated over the random effects preserves the logistic form and the marginal expectation of the continuous response preserves the linear form. We implement maximum likelihood estimation of our model parameters using standard software such as PROC NLMIXED of SAS. Our simulation study demonstrates the robustness of our method with respect to the misspecification of the regression model as well as the random effects model. We illustrate our methodology by analyzing a developmental toxicity study of ethylene glycol in mice.
Analog-to-digital converter survey and analysis

Analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) are ubiquitous, critical components of software radio and other signal processing systems. This paper surveys the state-of-the-art of ADCs, including experimental converters and commercially available parts. The distribution of resolution versus sampling rate provides insight into ADC performance limitations. At sampling rates below 2 million samples per second (Gs/s), resolution appears to be limited by thermal noise. At sampling rates ranging from /spl sim/2 Ms/s to /spl sim/4 giga samples per second (Gs/s), resolution falls off by /spl sim/1 bit for every doubling of the sampling rate. This behavior may be attributed to uncertainty in the sampling instant due to aperture jitter. For ADCs operating at multi-Gs/s rates, the speed of the device technology is also a limiting factor due to comparator ambiguity. Many ADC architectures and integrated circuit technologies have been proposed and implemented to push back these limits. The trend toward single-chip ADCs brings lower power dissipation. However, technological progress as measured by the product of the ADC resolution (bits) times the sampling rate is slow. Average improvement is only /spl sim/1.5 bits for any given sampling frequency over the last six-eight years.
Building layout and interior target imaging with SAR using an efficient beamformer

Accurate information about the locations of the targets inside a building and the layouts of the inner rooms of the building is very helpful in many search-and-rescue missions. In this paper the full scale building layout and interior target imaging is investigated using synthetic aperture radar (SAR) with a hybrid beamforming approach. An efficient freespace beamforming algorithm, implemented with the fast Fourier/inverse Fourier transform (FFT/IFFT), is presented for the building layout imaging. The far field layered medium Green's function is then employed in the through-wall beamformer to achieve a focused image of the targets inside the building. Numerical results are presented to show that detailed information of the building layout as well as focused imaging results of the target inside the building can be achieved with the proposed SAR imaging technique.
The diverse values and motivations of family forest owners in the United States: An analysis of an open-ended question in the National Woodland Owner Survey

The number of family forest owners in the USA has increased continuously in recent decades, and the fate of much of US forests lies in the hands of this diverse and dynamic group of people. The National Woodland Owner Survey (NWOS) is a recurring and comprehensive national survey of US private forest owners, including family forest owners. The NWOS includes an open-ended question that explores forest owners’ motivations and values related to their woodland. The open-ended question format allows respondents to express their own frame of reference in their own words, rather than respond to predetermined, fixed-response categories of motivations. This paper describes the system of values and motivations that emerged from analysis of responses to the open-ended question, and compares these findings to a closed-ended, fixed-response question also included in the NWOS. Diverse and multidimensional motives were expressed by respondents. Eight broad categories and 37 sub-categories of motives and values emerged from analysis of the open-ended question. The fixed categories of the closed-ended question failed to capture many dimensions of forest owner motivations. A more detailed, qualitative understanding of forest owner motivations and values is needed to provide extension foresters and others who work with family forest owners important insights and help guide public policy related to private forestland. Open-ended survey questions can help provide such understanding.
Impact of low-flow ischemia on substrate oxidation and glycolysis in the isolated perfused rat heart

Interventions that stimulate carbohydrate oxidation appear to be beneficial in the setting of myocardial ischemia or infarction. However, the mechanisms underlying this protective effect have not been defined, in part because of our limited understanding of substrate utilization under ischemic conditions. Therefore, we used (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy to investigate substrate oxidation and glycolytic rates in a global low-flow model of myocardial ischemia. Isolated male Sprague-Dawley rat hearts were perfused for 30 min under conditions of normal flow (control) and low-flow ischemia (LFI, 0.3 ml/min) with insulin and (13)C-labeled lactate, pyruvate, palmitate, and glucose at concentrations representative of the physiological fed state. Despite a approximately 50-fold reduction in substrate delivery and oxygen consumption, oxidation of all exogenous substrates plus glycogen occurred during LFI. Oxidative metabolism accounted for 97% of total calculated ATP production in the control group and approximately 30% in the LFI group. For controls, lactate oxidation was the major source of ATP; however, in LFI, this shifted to a combination of oxidative and nonoxidative glycogen metabolism. Interestingly, in the LFI group, anaplerosis relative to citrate synthase increased sevenfold compared with controls. These results demonstrate the importance of oxidative energy metabolism for ATP production, even during very-low-flow ischemia. We believe that the approach described here will be valuable for future investigations into the underlying mechanisms related to the protective effect of increasing cardiac carbohydrate utilization and may ultimately lead to identification of new therapeutic targets for treatment of myocardial ischemia.
Remote sensing of coastal ecosystems

Advances in sensor design and data analysis techniques are now making remote sensing systems practical and attractive for coastal ecosystem research and management. Multispectral and hyperspectral imagers are available for mapping coastal land cover and concentrations of organic/inorganic suspended particles and dissolved substances in coastal waters. Thermal infrared scanners can map sea surface temperatures accurately and chart coastal currents, while microwave radiometers can measure ocean salinity, soil moisture and other hydrologic parameters. Radar imagers, scatterometers and altimeters provide information on ocean waves, ocean winds, sea surface height and coastal currents. Using airborne LIDARs one can produce bathymetric maps, even in moderately turbid coastal waters. Since coastal ecosystems have high spatial complexity and temporal variability, they frequently have to be observed from both, satellite and aircraft , in order to obtain the required spatial, spectral and temporal resolutions. A reliable field data collection approach using ships, buoys, and field instruments with a valid sampling scheme is required to calibrate and validate the remotely sensed information. This paper presents a brief overview of recent advances in coastal remote sensing.
Hydrophobic effect and hydrogen bonds account for the improved activity of a complement inhibitor, compstatin.

Tryptophans at positions 4 and 7 of compstatin, a peptide complement inhibitor, are crucial for its interaction with C3. However, the nature of their involvement has not been studied to date. Here we investigate the molecular forces involved in the C3−compstatin interactions, mediated by aromatic residues, by incorporating in these two positions various tryptophan analogues (5-methyltryptophan, 5-fluorotryptophan, 1-methyltryptophan, and 2-naphthylalanine) and assessing the resulting peptides for activity by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and binding by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Of all the compstatin analogues, peptides containing 1-methyltryptophan at position 4 exhibited the highest binding affinity (Kd = 15 nM) and activity (IC50 = 0.205 μM), followed by a peptide containing 5-fluorotryptophan at position 7. Our observations suggest that hydrophobic interactions involving residues at position 4 and the hydrogen bond initiated by the indole nitrogen are primarily responsible and...
Item Generation for Questionnaires: The Medium May Determine the Message

The first phase in the construction of a quality of life questionnaire is usually compiling a set of potential items for inclusion in the questionnaire. The preferred method of item generation is, inmost cases, direct solicitation from individuals, usually from focus groups or semistructured interviews. The authors' experience in developing a disease-specific questionnaire for osteoporosis in which the same women were asked to respond in both settings resulted in unique items from both. The type of items and the problems that women were willing to express differed, however, between the two modes. Investigators may want to employ both individual and group interviews in order to identify as many quality of life deficits as possible.
Endovascular coil retrieval using a TrevoProVue stentriever

A 65-year-old man with a left cavernous internal carotid artery cerebral aneurysm experienced a premature detachment of the first framing coil (10 mm × 40 cm Penumbra Complex Standard) during a coil embolization procedure. The coil herniated into the anterior cerebral artery and pericallosal artery. Multiple attempts to retrieve the coil using both a 2 and 4 mm Microsnare (Amplatz GooseNeck) failed. A Trevo ProVue retrievable stent was then used to retrieve the coil without any adverse events. This case report highlights a novel use of a stent for the removal of a foreign body from the cerebrovascular system.
Deficits in Smooth-Pursuit Eye Movements After Muscimol Inactivation Within the Primate's Frontal Eye Field

Shi, Dexiu, Harriet R. Friedman, and Charles J. Bruce. Deficits in smooth-pursuit eye movements after muscimol inactivation within the primate's frontal eye field. J. Neurophysiol. 80: 458–464, 199...
Hormonal Activity in Poultry Excreta Processed for Livestock Feed

Abstract Experiments were conducted to determine the kind and amount of endogenous hormonal activity present in various sources of poultry excreta processed for use as livestock feed. These experiments were conducted to determine: 1) the presence of both androgenic and estrogenic activity in poultry excreta; 2) the amount of activity found; and 3) the effect of processing methods, such as dehydration, upon the level of hormonal activity. Experiments in which chick comb growth was bioassayed showed that caged laying hen excreta processed by house fly larvae contained androgenic activity that ranged from 2.18 to 9.36 μg. of testosterone equivalents per gram of dried excreta. This activity was not present in fresh excreta and was not affected by drying times or temperatures up to 48 hr. at 100°C. In rat uterine growth assays, fresh, dried caged laying hen excreta contained up to 1.6 μg. of estradiol equivalents per gram of dried excreta. Holding excreta for 5 to 7 days under wither aerobic or anaerobic conditions reduced estrogenic activity, but drying temperatures up to 100° C. did not appear to affect the level of these hormones in excreta.
Reanalysis without Radiosondes Using Ensemble Data Assimilation

Abstract Studies using idealized ensemble data assimilation systems have shown that flow-dependent background-error covariances are most beneficial when the observing network is sparse. The computational cost of recently proposed ensemble data assimilation algorithms is directly proportional to the number of observations being assimilated. Therefore, ensemble-based data assimilation should both be more computationally feasible and provide the greatest benefit over current operational schemes in situations when observations are sparse. Reanalysis before the radiosonde era (pre-1931) is just such a situation. The feasibility of reanalysis before radiosondes using an ensemble square root filter (EnSRF) is examined. Real surface pressure observations for 2001 are used, subsampled to resemble the density of observations we estimate to be available for 1915. Analysis errors are defined relative to a three-dimensional variational data assimilation (3DVAR) analysis using several orders of magnitude more observati...
An anthropologist's viewpoint: observations and commentary regarding "Implementation of nursing vocabularies in computer-based systems".

Those who work in the area of vocabularies, like all researchers, bring some assumptions to that work. Such assumptions include both cultural notions and beliefs specific to particular social worlds within the broader society. In this article, assumptions and beliefs expressed by participants during the conference on “Implementation of Nursing Vocabularies in Computer-based Systems” are summarized. Questions are raised concerning the relationship between cultural notions and beliefs and nursing vocabularies.
Erratum to: Vitamin D regulating TGF-β induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition

The online version of the original article can be found under doi:10.1186/s12931-014-0146-6.
An Open Source “Smart Lamp” for the Optimization of Plant Systems and Thermal Comfort of Offices

The article describes the design phase, development and practical application of a smart object integrated in a desk lamp and called "Smart Lamp", useful to optimize the indoor thermal comfort and energy savings that are two important workplace issues where the comfort of the workers and the consumption of the building strongly affect the economic balance of a company. The Smart Lamp was built using a microcontroller, an integrated temperature and relative humidity sensor, some other modules and a 3D printer. This smart device is similar to the desk lamps that are usually found in offices but it allows one to adjust the indoor thermal comfort, by interacting directly with the air conditioner. After the construction phase, the Smart Lamp was installed in an office normally occupied by four workers to evaluate the indoor thermal comfort and the cooling consumption in summer. The results showed how the application of the Smart Lamp effectively reduced the energy consumption, optimizing the thermal comfort. The use of DIY approach combined with read-write functionality of websites, blog and social platforms, also allowed to customize, improve, share, reproduce and interconnect technologies so that anybody could use them in any occupied environment.
History of TMJ TJR

Revisiting the past is an important first step in understanding the use of alloplastic materials in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) reconstruction. The literature cited is intended to demonstrate first, how in the past many surgeons recognized the need for alloplastic TMJ reconstruction devices for the management of particularly difficult clinical situations; and secondly, how the materials in those devices mirrored their introduction into industry, science, and medicine. Further, the history of the resulting material failures in some cases that raised concerns about the use of TMJ devices will be discussed.
POTENCIAL DE TRANSFERÊNCIA PARA O SETOR PRODUTIVO DE UM ARRANJO TECNOLÓGICO PARA TRATAMENTO DE DEJETOS SUÍNOS E PRODUÇÃO DE COMPOSTO ORGÂNICO

Este trabalho apresenta avaliacao de um arranjo tecnologico para tratamento de dejetos de suinos e producao de composto orgânico, quanto ao seu potencial de transferencia para o setor produtivo, atraves da criacao de uma empresa na producao de fertilizante. A metodologia utilizada na construcao do modelo foi o Apoio a Decisao por Multicriterios, com auxilio do software MACBETH. Neste modelo sao apresentados 10 criterios de avaliacao, em tres areas de interesse: estado da arte da tecnologia, atratividade para empresas de base tecnologica e o englobamento de impactos sociais, ambientais e institucionais. A tecnologia mostrou-se com uma boa pontuacao global no modelo, indicando potencial de sucesso no processo de transferencia.
Isozyme Polymorphisms in Boll Weevils and Thurberia Weevils from Arizona

Results of electrophoretic analyses for isozyme gene frequency differences showed high heterozygosity and high levels of polymorphism at isozyme loci in samples from three populations of insects as follows: (1) thurberia weevils, Anthonomus grandis thurberiae Pierce, from bolls of a wild cotton, Gossypium thurberi Todaro, collected in the Santa Rita Mountains of Arizona; (2) boll weevils, A. grandis grandis Boheman, from bolls of Pima cotton, G. barbadense L. collected at Three Points, Ariz.; and (3) boll weevils from pheromone traps positioned around a field of short staple stub cotton, G. hirsutum L., at Theba, Ariz. The three collection points were separated by distances of 50 to 210 km. Of the loci, 60% were significantly different in genotypic distributions in the three collections. Analysis of allelic frequency differences showed that these populations are not from the same random mating population. Calculated genetic distances between the three collections ranged from a value of 0.068 between the thurberia weevils and boll weevils from short-staple stub cotton up to 0.206 between thurberia weevils and the boll weevils from Pima cotton. These genetic distance values are higher than similar values found between pheromone races of insects but lower than genetic distances measured between sibling species of insects and may indicate that host races of boll weevils exist in Arizona.
Economic Stages and Anti-imperialism in Theory and Practice:

The writings of key Marxist thinkers and revolutionary processes are examined with focus on their understanding of the relation between anti-imperialism and socialism. As a result of the class structures associated with imperialist domination, and the deficiencies within approaches that emphasize the need of a capitalist development stage prior to socialist transition, the analysis points toward the feasibility and strategic superiority of moving directly from direct or indirect imperialist domination into the transition to socialism.
Muscles of the pharynx: structural and contractile properties

Pharyngeal muscles are the effector organ by which the brainstem regulates pharyngeal airway size and patency during breathing. These muscles have fast contractile rates, and may be susceptible to develop fatigue when driven at the high levels required to overcome structural pharyngeal narrowing, especially under hypoxic conditions. Diseases with an increased prevalence of sleep apnea are associated with changes in pharyngeal muscle properties, and conversely diseases which primarily alter neuromuscular function have a significant prevalence of sleep apnea. However, further studies are needed to define the precise role of pharyngeal muscle fatigue, and of changes in pharyngeal muscle properties with disease, in the pathophysiology of obstructive sleep apnea.