cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In vivo electrochemical recording of acetaminophen in non human primate brain

In vivo electrochemical recordings were obtained from the caudate nucleus of three young adult pigtail monkeys (M. nemestrina) following the oral administration of acetaminophen (APAP) (75 mg/kg). Using linear sweep voltammetry, electrodes in the right and left caudate were scanned alternately every five minutes. The electrochemical peak resulting from the APAP was monitored for at least 140 minutes following drug administration. Maximum APAP levels were detected in the monkey caudate 40 minutes following drug administration. Both right and left caudate displayed an identical time course, with oxidation potentials (Eox) similar on both sides of the brain. Blood samples were collected from one monkey by means of an intravenous catheter. Samples were obtained at approximately 5-minute intervals and over a period of 140 minutes following oral administration of APAP. Concentration of APAP in serum peaked 25 minutes after administration. In this animal the maximum electrochemical peak height was detected 40 minutes following APAP administration. These findings demonstrate the ability to measure APAP in the caudate nucleus of awake monkeys by means of electrochemical detection. This method may be useful for calibrating electrochemical electrodes in vivo, and it also provides a model system for studying drug kinetics in the brain.
Adaptive representation for flexible job-shop scheduling and rescheduling

The flexible job-shop scheduling problem (FJSP) is one of the most popular scheduling problems, due to its relative simplicity, compared to real-world scheduling problems, and its NP-hardness. There are two types of decisions involved in solving FJSP problems: (1) assigning machines to operations, or routing, and (2) assigning a time slot in the assigned machines to the operations, or scheduling. Most approaches commit all routing (machine assignment) decisions before the scheduling process. Our proposed representation, AdRep, encodes simple heuristics, such as routing rules, instead of explicit machine assignments, delaying the explicit routing decision until absolutely necessary. This allows the scheduler to take the current state of the system into account before assigning a machine to an operation. We also utilize similar paradigms in the scheduling process. Experimental results show that our method is as capable, makespan-wise, as other published methods. Also, our method performs adequately against disruption.
DNA Structural Elements Required for FEN-1 Binding

In eukaryotic cells, a 5'-flap DNA endonuclease and a double-stranded DNA 5'-exonuclease activity reside within a 42-kDa enzyme called FEN-1 (flap endonuclease-1 and 5(five)'-exonuclease). This endo/exonuclease has been shown to be highly homologous to human XP-G, Saccharomyces cerevisiae RAD2, and S. cerevisiae YKL510. Like FEN-1, these related structure-specific nucleases recognize and cleave a branched DNA structure called a DNA flap and its derivative, called a pseudo Y-structure. To dissect the important structural components of the DNA flap structure, we have developed a mobility shift assay. We find that the Fadj strand (located adjacent to the displaced flap strand) is necessary for efficient binding and cleavage of flap structures by FEN-1. When this strand is absent or when it is present, but recessed from the elbow of the flap strand, binding efficiency drops. Further investigation of the role of the Fadj strand using double flap structures reveals that the Fadj strand is necessary to provide a double-stranded template upon which FEN-1 can bind near the elbow of the flap strand. These results provide a basis for understanding how this structure-specific nuclease recognizes a variety of DNA substrates.
Finite convergence of nonsmooth equation based methods for affine variational inequalities

Abstract This note shows that several nonsmooth equation based methods proposed recently for affine variational inequalities converge finitely under some standard assumptions.
Assuring the safe use of microbial biocontrol agents: a need for policy based on real rather than perceived risks

Agriculture makes relatively little use of microorganisms which are introduced/applied for pest and disease control, yet such microorganisms represent enormous resources with proven potential as biological control agents. One reason for their underemployment is the lack of fundamental information on their biology and ecology, needed to achieve more consistent biological control. Another reason is the requirement that each strain, formulation, and use be registered based on a policy to treat microbes as "pesticides." The costs of registration, especially the costs of obtaining the necessary toxicological data patterned after requirements for chemical pesticides, rarely can be justified because the specific nature of microbial biocontrol agents limits their use to small and niche markets. Typically, a different biocontrol agent is needed for each pest or disease, or different agents are needed in different environments to control the same pest or disease. Studies are needed to identify the real risks of microbial biocontrol agents to human health and to the environment as a basis for appropriate regulation of these beneficial organisms. Furthermore, greater use should be made of microbial biocontrol, no matter how minor the use, including the use of genetically modified microbial biocontrol agents, so as to increase experience and familiarity with environmental uses of microorganisms among producers, processors, consumers, and the public.
Evaluation of Inoculation Methods for Screening Horseradish Cultivars for Resistance to Verticillium dahliae.

ABSTRACT Four inoculation methods—colonized oatseed, root dip, infested soil, and set dip—were tested in the greenhouse for their effectiveness in identifying horseradish cultivars that are resistant to Verticillium wilt of horseradish. Examination of the inoculum density-disease relationships derived with each of these methods on susceptible (647A) and resistant (769A) cultivars showed that all were effective, though at varying degrees, in differentiating between susceptible and resistant reactions. Results were more consistent with the root dip method as it produced the largest least-squares means difference in wilt index between the two cultivars, the highest r 2, the lowest coefficient of variation, the shortest incubation periods, and the highest incidence of foliar symptoms. Overall, inoculum concentrations accounted for only a small amount of the total variation in wilt index (0.14 ≤ r 2 ≤ 0.73). This observation, in accord with previous reports on other hosts of Verticillium dahliae, would suggest...
Measurement of θ13 with reactor neutrinos

Recent experimental results have provided unambiguous evidence that neutrinos have a small but finite mass and mix from one type into another. The phenomenon of neutrino mixing is characterized by the coupling between the neutrino flavor ( ν e , μ , τ ) and mass eigenstates ( ν 1,2,3 ) and the associated mixing angles. Previous neutrino oscillation experiments have determined two of the three mixing angles in the neutrino mixing matrix, U M , N , S , P . Using multiple neutrino detectors placed at different distances from a nuclear power plant, a future reactor neutrino experiment has the potential to discover and measure the coupling of the electron neutrino flavor to the third mass eigenstate, U e 3 , the last undetermined element of the neutrino mixing matrix.
PERCEPTION OF GREY-TONE SYMBOLS1

The visual effectiveness of monochromatic maps can be increased by skillful use of uniform grey tones, which enhance the clarity, readability, and aesthetic quality of such maps. The psychophysical properties of symbols printed in grey do not deviate significantly from those printed in black. This is demon- strated by examining the perception of graduated circles and line widths, utilizing both black and grey symbolization. The perception of black and grey-tone symbols number of geographers and cartogra- A phers are presently using grey tones in the construction of monochromatic maps on the assumption that greyltone symbols are aesthetically superior to the traditional black and white symbols. This assumption has never been critically evaluated, however, nor have any tests determined whether the effective- ness of grey symbols is equal to that of black symbolization. The purpose of this study is to investigate the implications of the use of grey- tone symbols on monochromatic thematic maps. It is designed to test two hypotheses. First, that grey tones do in fact enhance the clarity, readability, and aesthetic quality of monochromatic maps. Second, that grey-tone point and line symbols transmit the same cantographic signal to the map reader as traditional black and white symbols. MONOCHROMATIC THEMATIC MAPS There is no simple objective measure of the clarity, readability, and aesthetic quality of monochromatic thematic maps, and cartog- raphers have been forced to be subjective in their evaluation of these attributes. If pre-
National Values and Tipping Customs: A Replication and Extension

This study examines the relationships between national values and tipping customs in a sample of 45 nations. The results of the study conceptually replicate and extend the work of Lynn, Zinkhan and Harris (1993) by demonstrating for the first time that national values predict international differences in customary tip sizes as well as international differences in the number of tipped professions. They also indicate that customary tip sizes for different service professions are related to different values, suggesting that the important functions of tipping vary across service contexts.
Application of Monte Carlo simulations to the prediction of the effective elastic moduli of hydrated Nafion

Application of Rotational Isomeric State (RIS) theory to the prediction of Young's modulus of a solvated ionomer is considered. RIS theory directly addresses polymer chain conformation as it relates to mechanical response trends. Successful adaptation of this methodology to the prediction of elastic moduli would thus provide a powerful tool for guiding ionomer fabrication. The Mark-Curro Monte Carlo methodology is applied to generate a statistically valid number of end-to-end chain lengths via RIS theory for a solvated Nafion case. The distribution of chain lengths is then fitted to a Probability Density Function by the Johnson Bounded distribution method. The fitting parameters, as they relate to the model predictions and physical structure of the polymer, are studied so that a means to extend RIS theory to the reliable prediction of ionomer stiffness may be identified.
Influence of Well Water Quality Variability on Sampling Decisions and Monitoring

: Local governmental agencies responsible for decisions in ground water quality management need not only data on ground water quality but they also must understand the relationship of accuracies and risks associated with this data as related to the number of wells to sample. In this report we address this problem by using the philosophical doctrines of probabilism and relativism with simple statistical procedures. This requires a reasonable estimate of the population variance in a quality parameter for a given management-unit area, and requires that the decisionmaker formulate constraints with an acceptable standard error of the sample mean and be willing to accept some level of probability of being Wrong. This technique is illustrated using a 21-year data base of well water chemical data in a 653 km2 ground water quality study area in the San Joaquin Valley of California.
Robot manipulator control for hazardous waste‐handling applications

RESUME Cette recherche s?inscrit dans le cadre du traitement des informations fragmentaires et incertaines (IFI) de veille strategique. Le traitement des IFI est un probleme peu structure, pour lequel il existe peu de recherches utiles aux dirigeants d?entreprises. Devenu un axe de recherche assez recent, les recherches sur ce probleme sont assez rares. La conception d'un systeme de traitement est alors utile pour aider a comprendre le processus du traitement des IFI, capitaliser de nouvelles connaissances par retour d'experiences et suggerer de nouvelles perspectives. L'article decrit la conception de la methodologie, le prototype developpe et les enseignements tires a partir des premieres formes de validation. ABSTRACT Interpretating weak signs of business intelligence is an ill-structured problem encountered by many companies' managers. Those managers do not know how to interpret weak signs in order to extract meaning from anticipatory and fragmentary information elements. Surveys and action researches performed by our team confirm this problem and therefore, it becomes our main research focus. Because there is little underlying theory available on the subject, the design of a system helps to collect the reactions of end-users and to pick up relevant observations with a view to increase the understanding both weak sign interpretation and the business intelligence process. The method, the system and the issues that emerge from their validation are described.
Monitoring repair of DNA damage in cell lines and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells

We introduce a method to follow DNA repair that is suitable for both clinical and laboratory samples. An episomal construct with a unique 8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG) base at a defined position was prepared in vitro using single-stranded phage harboring a 678-bp tract from exons 5 to 9 of the human P53 gene. Mixing curve experiments showed that the real-time PCR method has a linear response to damage, suggesting that it is useful for DNA repair studies. The episomal construct with a unique 8-oxoG base was introduced into AD293 cells or human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and plasmids were recovered as a function of time. The quantitative real-time PCR assay demonstrated that repair of the 8-oxoG was 80% complete in less than 48 h in AD293 cells. Transfection of small interfering RNAs down-regulated OGG1 expression in AD293 cells and reduced the repair of 8-oxoG to 30%. Transfection of the episome into unstimulated white blood cells showed that 8-oxoG repair had a half-life of 2 to 5 h. This method is a rapid, reproducible, and robust way to monitor repair of specific adducts in virtually any cell type.
A METHODOLOGICAL COMPARISON BETWEEN STANDARD AND TWO STAGE MIXED INTEGER APPROACHES FOR DISCRIMINANT ANALYSIS

A standard mixed integer programming (MIP) approach is compared with a two-stage MIP approach. A computational difference between the two DA (discriminant analysis) approaches is that the former uses a single MIP model to solve various classification problems and the latter uses two MIP models that classify all observations into one of two groups or an overlap at the first stage and then reclassify the overlapped observations at the second stage. In this study, the two MIP approaches are methodologically compared and then applied to a published data set related to Japanese banks. These classification performances are assessed by four hit rates. Based upon the comparison, it is confirmed that the two-stage approach performs at least as well as the standard approach.
A role for brassinosteroids in light-dependent development of Arabidopsis

Although steroid hormones are important for animal development, the physiological role of plant steroids is unknown. The Arabidopsis DET2 gene encodes a protein that shares significant sequence identity with mammalian steroid 5α-reductases. A mutation of glutamate 204, which is absolutely required for the activity of human steroid reductase, abolishes the in vivo activity of DET2 and leads to defects in light-regulated development that can be ameliorated by application of a plant steroid, brassinolide. Thus, DET2 may encode a reductase in the brassinolide biosynthetic pathway, and brassinosteroids may constitute a distinct class of phytohormones with an important role in light-regulated development of higher plants.
Antagonism of orexin receptor-1 in the retrotrapezoid nucleus inhibits the ventilatory response to hypercapnia predominantly in wakefulness.

Recent data from transgenic mice suggest that orexin plays an important role in the ventilatory response to CO2 during wakefulness. We hypothesized that orexin receptor-1 (OX1R) in the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) contributes to chemoreception. In unanaesthetized rats, we measured ventilation using a whole-body plethysmograph, together with EEG and EMG. We dialysed the vehicle and then SB-334867 (OX1R antagonist) into the RTN to focally inhibit OX1R and studied the effects of both treatments on breathing in air and in 7% CO2. During wakefulness, SB-334867 caused a 30% reduction of the hyperventilation induced by 7% CO2 (mean ± S.E.M., 135 ± 10 ml (100 g)−1 min−1) compared with vehicle (182 ± 10 ml (100 g)−1 min−1) (P < 0.01). This effect was due to both decreased tidal volume and breathing frequency. There was a much smaller, though significant, effect in sleep (9% reduction). Neither basal ventilation nor oxygen consumption was affected. The number and duration of apnoeas were similar between control and treatment periods. No effect was observed in a separate group of animals who had the microdialysis probe misplaced (peri-RTN). We conclude that projections of orexin-containing neurons to the RTN contribute, via OX1Rs in the region, to the hypercapnic chemoreflex control during wakefulness and to a lesser extent, non-rapid eye movement sleep.
A new photopolymerizable blood vessel glue that seals human vessel anastomoses without augmenting thrombogenicity

A new nonbiologic photopolymerizable glue, polyethyleneglycol 400 diacrylate, was studied with respect to its mechanical and biochemical interaction with human blood vessels. Using the human placental artery model, we tested the ability of polyethyleneglycol 400 diacrylate to prevent leakage of blood at the site of vascular anastomoses, which are made porous by the presence of tissue gaps and suture puncture sites. Fibrin glue is known to augment local vessel thrombogenicity through the presence of the coagulation enzyme thrombin. We tested the effect of externally applied polyethyleneglycol 400 diacrylate (which does not contain thrombin) on luminal thrombin activity and platelet deposition from flowing human blood. At a shear rate of 312 per second and a transmural pressure of 80 cm H2O, the leakage rate of saline from human placental artery anastomoses was 1.0 +/- 1.2 ml/min (n = 8). When the same anastomoses were then glued, 7 of 8 of the anastomoses leaked less than 0.05 ml/min (p 0.05.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) [on SciFinder (R)]
Predicting shallow surficial failures in the Mississippi River levee system using airborne hyperspectral imagery

Shallow surficial failures or levee slides in the Mississippi River levee system are very common. There is currently no system to identify or predict the location of these slides before they occur....
Bcl‐XL Expression in Stem Cells Facilitates Engraftment and Reduces the Need for Host Conditioning During Bone Marrow Transplantation

The prolonged survival of donor hematopoietic stem cells is crucial to the success of bone marrow transplantation. The anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-xL has been shown to promote survival of cells of the erythroid, myeloid and lymphoid lineages. To evaluate a potential therapeutic role for Bcl-xL, we used a retroviral vector to express Bcl-xL in donor cells used for murine bone marrow transplantation. We find that Bcl-xL expression in bone marrow cells facilitates hematopoietic reconstitution (as assessed by total cellularity) without altering cell differentiation. Most importantly, cells reconstituted with Bcl-xL are able to achieve high levels of donor chimerism even in non-ablative conditioning protocols in a syngeneic model of transplantation. Thus, expression of Bcl-xL by donor cells during bone marrow transplantation may provide a means to minimize host conditioning and toxicity while still achieving therapeutic degrees of mixed chimerism.
Nitration of γ-tocopherol and oxidation of α-tocopherol by copper-zinc superoxide dismutase/H2O2/NO2−: Role of nitrogen dioxide free radical

Copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu,ZnSOD) is the antioxidant enzyme that catalyzes the dismutation of superoxide (O2•−) to O2 and H2O2. In addition, Cu,ZnSOD also exhibits peroxidase activity in the presence of H2O2, leading to self-inactivation and formation of a potent enzyme-bound oxidant. We report in this study that lipid peroxidation of l-α-lecithin liposomes was enhanced greatly during the SOD/H2O2 reaction in the presence of nitrite anion (NO2−) with or without the metal ion chelator, diethylenetriaminepentacetic acid. The presence of NO2− also greatly enhanced α-tocopherol (α-TH) oxidation by SOD/H2O2 in saturated 1,2-dilauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine liposomes. The major product identified by HPLC and UV-studies was α-tocopheryl quinone. When 1,2-diauroyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine liposomes containing γ-tocopherol (γ-TH) were incubated with SOD/H2O2/NO2−, the major product identified was 5-NO2-γ-TH. Nitrone spin traps significantly inhibited the formation of α-tocopheryl quinone and 5-NO2-γ-TH. NO2− inhibited H2O2-dependent inactivation of SOD. A proposed mechanism of this protection involves the oxidation of NO2− by an SOD-bound oxidant to the nitrogen dioxide radical (•NO2). In this study, we have shown a new mechanism of nitration catalyzed by the peroxidase activity of SOD. We conclude that NO2− is a suitable probe for investigating the peroxidase activity of familial Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis-linked SOD mutants.
Burst scheduling for differentiated services in optical burst switching WDM networks

Optical burst switching (OBS) is one of the most important switching technologies for future optical wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) networks and the Internet. The model of differentiated services has been proposed to support quality of service (QoS) in the IP-based Internet. It is also very important to have differentiated service support in OBS networks. When the burst scheduling in an OBS network is set up appropriately, network can support differentiated services. In this paper, we proposed a new burst scheduling scheme, called differentiated scheduling with identical priority offset time (DSIPO). In DSIPO, the same priority offset time is used for all the bursts destined to the same edge node regardless of their priorities. Differentiated services in terms of burst loss probability are achieved by processing the control packets of higher priority class bursts, thus reserving resources for their data bursts, more promptly upon their arrival than those of lower priority class bursts. Each intermediate (core) node can adjust the burst loss probabilities of various burst classes by choosing its own differentiated processing delay value for each priority class or its own differentiated processing delay difference value between any pair of adjacent priority classes. We model and analyse DSIPO in terms of the burst loss probability for each priority class with simulation validation. The performance of DISPO is evaluated by simulation. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Enforcing informed consent requirements: form or substance?

In his article "Enforcing Patient Preferences: Linking Payment for Medical Care to Informed Consent," in this issue ofThe Journal, 1 Kapp argues that many medical interventions currently are being imposed on patients in the absence of voluntary, competent, and informed consent. He proposes that utilization review organizations link financial reimbursement for medical services to "a requirement of valid patient (or surrogate) consent." 1 The proposal by Kapp is that individual and institutional health care providers will not be paid for a medical service unless a signed consent form covering that service is found in the patient's chart. There are difficulties in Kapp's formulation of the problem, and many more with his formulation of the solution. With regard to the problem, although empirical research is limited, there is indeed evidence of a gap between the rhetoric of informed consent and the frequency with which physicians involve patients in medical decisions
The Combined Influence of Psychosocial Factors on Illness Behavior Among Women

Distinctions in illness behavior for women, such as use of health services, may result from gender-specific biological risks for disease but could also be explained by the relationships among social, psychological, and behavioral factors. The purpose of this study was to determine if illness behavior in women might be related to associations among social support satisfaction, perceived health status, coping skills, and perceived stress. Data were collected November-December 2005 from 205 female college students through self-report using questionnaires. Structural equation modeling was used to test relationships among psychosocial factors. The final model revealed associations between psychosocial factors and illness behavior for women along two paths. First, high perceived stress and poor perceived health status were associated with more reported illness behavior. Second, greater use of total coping skills, greater social support satisfaction, and good perceived health status were associated with less reported illness behavior. Consideration of multiple health-related factors may provide a more complete picture of how psychosocial factors are related to illness behavior for women. Specifically, interactions among stress, coping, social support, and perceived health status may be important to women's health. Our results suggest that interventions should focus on skill-building and strategies to improve self-perception of health.
Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea and neurocognitive functioning in the Sleep Heart Health Study.

Abstract Background and purpose Obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea (OSAH) is associated with sleep fragmentation and nocturnal hypoxemia. In clinical samples, patients with OSAH frequently are found to have deficits in neuropsychological function. However, the nature and severity of these abnormalities in non-clinical populations is less well defined. Patients and methods One hundred and forty-one participants from the Tucson, AZ and New York, NY field centers of the Sleep Heart Health Study completed a battery of neuropsychological tests for 9–40 months (mean=24 months, SD=7 months) after an unattended home polysomnogram. Sixty-seven participants had OSAH (AHI>10) and 74 did not have OSAH (control (CTL), apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) Results There were no significant differences in any individual neuropsychological test or composite variable between the OSAH and CTL groups. However, when time spent with O 2 saturations less than 85% was dichotomized into those participants in the top quartile of the distribution and those in the lower three quartiles, motor speed was significantly impaired in those who were more hypoxemic. In addition, poorer motor speed (model adjusted R 2 =0.242, P R 2 =0.122, P Conclusions Mild to moderate OSAH has little impact on the selected measures of attention, executive function, motor speed and processing speed. However, hypoxemia adversely affects both motor and processing speed. These results suggest that in middle-aged to elderly adults the neuropsychological effects of clinically unrecognized mild to moderate OSAH are neither global nor large.
Critical point preparations of intact cells for electron microscopy.

SummaryCultured chicken fibroblasts and other cells retain their normal 3-dimensional morphology when dried by the critical point technique yet nuclear structure and cytoplasmic components are well visualized in the electron microscope. A delicate intercellular fibrillar network is described as are some aspects of virus uptake by these cells.
A Special Issue on Religion and Spirituality

With this special issue on religion and spirituality (R/S) and communication, our goal was to increase awareness of the role of R/S in communication phenomena and to stimulate scholarship in this d...
Continuous Measurement Of Optical And Thermal Properties Of Seawater Using A Towed Array

The design of an in-situ digital data acquisition system to measure optical sea truth is described. The system provides efficient collection of data from 74 sensor channels at a 5-Hz rate. Representative array data obtained during field tests is presented.
Storm time evolution of the outer radiation belt: Transport and losses

[1] During geomagnetic storms the magnetic field of the inner magnetosphere exhibits large-scale variations over timescales from minutes to days. Being mainly controlled by the magnetic field the motion of relativistic electrons of the outer radiation belt can be highly susceptible to its variations. This paper investigates evolution of the outer belt during the 7 September 2002 storm. Evolution of electron phase space density is calculated with the use of a test-particle simulation in storm time magnetic and electric fields. The results show that storm time intensification of the ring current produces a large impact on the belt. In contrast to the conventional Dst effect the dominant effects are nonadiabatic and lead to profound and irreversible transformations of the belt. The diamagnetic influence of the partial ring current leads to expansion of electron drift orbits such that their paths intersect the magnetopause leading to rapid electron losses. About 2.5 hr after the storm onset most of the electrons outside L = 5 are lost. The partial ring current pressure also leads to an electron trap in the dayside magnetosphere where electrons stay on closed dayside drift orbits for as long as 11 hours. These sequestered electrons are reinjected into the outer belt due to partial recovery of the ring current. The third adiabatic invariant of these electrons exhibits rapid jumps and changes sign. These jumps produce localized peaks in the L*-profile of electron phase space density which have previously been considered as an observable indication of local electron acceleration.
Liver Microsomal Fatty Acid Composition in Ethanol-Fed Rats: Effect of Different Dietary Fats and Relationship to Liver Injury

The rat intragastric feeding model for alcoholic liver disease was used to study the effect of different diets on the fatty acid composition of liver microsomes. Rats were fed corn oil and ethanol (CE), saturated fat and ethanol (SF+E) or corn oil and dextrose (CD) for either 2 or 4 weeks. Rats were also fed saturated and dextrose (SF+D) for 4 weeks. In comparison with the CD diet, lower levels of arachidonic acid were detected in rats fed the CE, SF+E, and SF+D diets. However, the diet-induced changes in levels of arachidonic acid varied as a function of length of feeding. In rats fed the CE diet, we detected a significant decrease in the level of arachidonic acid compared with CD animals. Conversely, in rats fed the SF+E diet, the level of arachidonic acid increased compared with the SF+D group. In addition, a significant correlation was noted between levels of oleic acid and arachidonic acid in both corn oil (r = -0.85, p < 0.01) and saturated fat (r = -0.76, p < 0.05) groups. However, the changes in levels of arachidonic acid and oleic acid were in opposite directions in the two groups. Levels of docosahexaenoic acid decreased between the 2 and 4 weeks in animals maintained on the CE diet. Levels of stearic acid increased between 2 and 4 weeks in rats fed the SF+E diet. The lowest level of linoleic acid was detected in the SF+D and SF+E groups, but levels of linoleic acid remained constant in all groups throughout the study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Reconstruction of Target Images in the Sonar of Bats

The echolocating bat, Eptesicus fuscus emits frequency-modulated (FM) sonar signals and perceives target range from echo delay. Reconstruction of the bat’s image of a point-target from behavioral data yields approximately the ambiguity (crosscorrelation) function of echoes with additional sharpening of the function’ s central peak according to the signal-to-noise ratio of echoes. Bats perceive a shift in the phase of this function even though phase conventionally is thought to be discarded during auditory encoding of sounds in the ultrasonic frequency band used by the bat (20 to 100 kHz). The perceived range of target images undergoes amplitude-latency trading indicating that the timing of neural discharges encodes the delay of echoes including echo phase information. The bat’s auditory code resembles a spectrogram of the transmitted and the received signals in which the instantaneous frequency of FM sweeps is represented by the timing of neural discharges to each frequency in succession. A computational model of echo processing using physiologically identified peripheral auditory mechanisms indeed can produce the crosscorrelation function of echoes from a spectrogram representation. The model correlates transmission and echo spectrograms to determine target range and as a parallel process it also can transform the echo spectrum back into the time domain to estimate target shape. The combined algorithms carry out the operations of Spectrogram Correlation and Transformation (SCAT). The critical feature of auditory coding for retention of phase information in the spectrograms is half-wave-rectification of excitation at the receptor-nerve interface.
Five parallel algorithms for production system execution on the DADO machine

In this paper we specify five abstract algorithms for the parallel execution of production systems on the DADO machine. Each algorithm is designed to capture the inherent parallelism in a variety of different production system programs. Ongoing research aims to substantiate our conclusions by empirically evaluating the performance of each algorithm on the DAD02 prototype, presently under construction at Columbia University.
Prevention of wrong site surgery during upper tract endoscopy.

Objective To evaluate the use of radiopaque stickers during endoscopic surgical cases to prevent wrong side surgery. Methods We used radiopaque markers before planned endoscopic surgery to ensure correct side surgery. These markers are labeled "R" and "L" and are identifiable during fluoroscopy. Results These markers were a valuable tool to prevent wrong side endoscopic upper tract procedures. They were also well-accepted by patients at their preoperative surgical verification process. Conclusion Radiopaque stickers can assist in the prevention of wrong side surgery during upper tract endoscopic procedures.
Quality Control in the Secretory Pathway: The Role of Calreticulin, Calnexin and BiP in the Retention of Glycoproteins with C-Terminal Truncations

Unlike properly folded and assembled proteins, most misfolded and incompletely assembled proteins are retained in the endoplasmic reticulum of mammalian cells and degraded without transport to the Golgi complex. To analyze the mechanisms underlying this unique sorting process and its fidelity, the fate of C-terminally truncated fragments of influenza hemagglutinin was determined. An assortment of different fragments was generated by adding puromycin at low concentrations to influenza virus-infected tissue culture cells. Of the fragments generated, <2% was secreted, indicating that the system for detecting defects in newly synthesized proteins is quite stringent. The majority of secreted species corresponded to folding domains within the viral spike glycoprotein. The retained fragments acquired a partially folded structure with intrachain disulfide bonds and conformation-dependent antigenic epitopes. They associated with two lectin-like endoplasmic reticulum chaperones (calnexin and calreticulin) but not BiP/GRP78. Inhibition of the association with calnexin and calreticulin by the addition of castanospermine significantly increased fragment secretion. However, it also caused association with BiP/GRP78. These results indicated that the association with calnexin and calreticulin was involved in retaining the fragments. They also suggested that BiP/GRP78 could serve as a backup for calnexin and calreticulin in retaining the fragments. In summary, the results showed that the quality control system in the secretory pathway was efficient and sensitive to folding defects, and that it involved multiple interactions with endoplasmic reticulum chaperones.
Vestibular Rehabilitation Improves Daily Life Function

Tbis article reviews recent researcb tbat addresses tbe functional outcomes 0/ intervention for veslioular dis­ orders. Vestibular impairments cause disequilibrium, blurred vision, disorientcttion, and I'ertigo. These sen­ SOl)! disturbances and motor impairments in turn cause dysfunction in many actiuities of dail)' Iiuin[!, and in social interactions that traditional medical treatments do not address. Tbe molar sequelae o{ some vestibular disorders can be treated successFtlz), witb programs ofgraded 8yercises and activities. the fu netional implicalions 0/ whicb are descrihed herein. Thejimetional impairments caused by other uestihu­ lar disorders, wbich cannot be treated with graded activities, are also described These disorders include bilateral vestibular loss caused by connective tissue disorders or by tbe use ofototoxic medicotions, tli­ mars 0/ tbe labyrintb or uestibular nerue, and Jien­ iere '.'I disease. Occupational tberapl' inleruentio!7 for tbese conditions may involue prolJiding adaptilJe eqUipment, teacbing alternative strategies for per­ forming activities ofdati)' living, and psychological il1­ tervenlion for depression and anxietl'.
Students' perceptions of large classes

The crucial variable seems to be not so much the size as the effectiveness of the instructor in the class.
Combining model-based meta-reasoning and reinforcement learning for adapting game-playing agents

Human experience with interactive games will be enhanced if the software agents that play the game learn from their failures. Techniques such as reinforcement learning provide one way in which these agents may learn from their failures. Model-based meta-reasoning, a technique in which an agent uses a self-model for blame assignment, provides another. This paper evaluates a framework in which both these approaches are combined. We describe an experimental investigation of a specific task (defending a city) in a computer war strategy game called FreeCiv. Our results indicate that in the task examined, model-based meta-reasoning coupled with reinforcement learning enables the agent to learn the task with performance matching that of an expert designed agent and with speed exceeding that of a pure reinforcement learning agent.
A comparison of the AAPM “Protocol for the determination of absorbed dose from high-energy photon and electron beams” with currently used protocols

A comparison of the AAPM ‘‘Protocol for the determination of absorbed dose from high‐energy photon and electron beams’’ (TG21) with currently used protocols for electron and photondosimetry is presented. These protocols are the International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements Report 21, ‘‘Radiation Dosimetry: Electrons with Initial Energies Between 1 and 50 MeV’’ (ICRU21), and the AAPM ‘‘Protocol for the Dosimetry of X‐ and Gamma Ray Beams with Maximum Energies Between 0.6 and 50 MeV’’ (SCRAD). Assuming a given radiation exposure and chamber parameters, doses to water at d max for electron beams and at 5 g/cm2 for photon beams are calculated using the three protocols and then compared. The doses for photon beams calculated using the TG21 and SCRAD protocols are found to differ by 3% or less at energies below 10 MeV. The largest differences occur in photon doses at high energies where the dose calculated with the TG21 protocol is as much as 5.5% greater than that calculated with the SCRAD protocol for a typical thimble ionization chamber. For low electron beam energies, the doses calculated with the ICRU21 protocol are as much as 5% less than TG21 doses when using thimble chambers constructed of tissue‐equivalent materials in a water phantom. If dosimetry measurements are performed in polystyrene, the dose calculated using TG21 may be greater than the ICRU21 dose, depending on chamber size and composition. An explanation for some of the differences between the protocols is presented emphasizing the dependence on chamber geometry, chamber composition, and phantom composition.
Association of impaired EEG mu wave suppression, negative symptoms and social functioning in biological motion processing in first episode of psychosis

Background Event related desynchronization (ERD) of mu waves, or mu suppression, over sensorimotor cortex has been observed in response to self-generated movement, viewing movement, or imaging movement. Mu suppression is especially pronounced when the movement has social relevance and is being generated by a biological entity indicating successful social adaptation. And since social adaptation problems are common in schizophrenia, the authors designed a study to test mu wave suppression in a first episode of psychosis population.
Area-wide suppression of invasive fire ant Solenopsis spp. populations.

The fire ants Solenopsis invicta Buren and Solenopsis richteri Forel were inadvertently introduced into the USA early in the 1900s and currently inhabit over 150 million hectares in Puerto Rico and twelve southern states from Texas to Virginia. Imported fire ants have also become established in isolated sites in Arizona, California, Maryland, and New Mexico. The large numbers and potent sting of fire ants have resulted in significant medical, agricultural, and environmental impacts. The population densities in the USA are five to ten times higher than in South America, most likely due to their escape from natural enemies. Recently, biological control agents have become available in the USA, e.g. Pseudacteon spp. decapitating fly parasitoids and a microsporidian pathogen Thelohania solenopsae Knell, Allen & Hazard, setting the stage for integrated fire ant management. An area-wide fire ant management project proposal was funded by United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Services headquarters to demonstrate control of fire ant populations over large areas using commercially available insecticide baits and self-sustaining biological control agents. Untreated, bait control and integrated pest management (IPM) demonstration sites (120 hectares and periphery) were set up in each of five states (Florida, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas). The control and IPM sites both had bait (hydramethylnon and methoprene) applications, but only the IPM site had biological control agents released around the periphery. After 3.5 years, decapitating fly parasites have been established at the demonstration sites. The microsporidian pathogen is established in all sites except Mississippi. Fire ant populations have been reduced by 85-99% in the IPM demonstration sites as compared to untreated areas of the same sites. Environmental assessment has demonstrated that bait toxicants do affect non-target ant species but do not affect the arthropod species richness. Educational outreach activities resulted in informative brochures, the establishment of a programme web site, videos, and general information on fire ants. The research component has responded with additional biological control organisms and better pathogen detection methods.
Effects of Ion Bombardment on Chemical Interactions at SiC Surface and AI/SiC Interfaces

An investigation into the SiC surface and its interaction with aluminum, in particular, focusing on the effect of ion bombardment and adsorption of oxygen, is described. Stoichiometric and carbon rich and SiC surfaces were produced and analyzed “in situ” by Auger electron spectroscopy and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Cubic SiC shows preferential sputtering under Ar ion bombardment, leading to carbon rich surface, whereas high temperature annealing also causes carbon rich surface. Activity of these surfaces was compared with oxygen and aluminum adsorption. Stoichiometrically sputtered surface showed vastly increased oxygen affinity, whereas carbon-rich sputtered surfaces did not. Aluminum deposition caused significant Al-C interaction for the stoichometric ion-bombarded surface. Aluminum carbide was induced catalytically upon heating in the presence of oxygen. Carbon-rich surfaces had, however, no significant interactions with as-deposited Al due to strong surface C-C bonds.
Race and Sex Disparity in Juvenile Justice Processing

This chapter describes the distribution of youths in juvenile justice systems in the USA based on sex and race. If children all shared the same experiences equally, the proportion of youths in the juvenile justice system in one demographic group would mirror that of the general population. That is not the situation now, nor has it ever been. Instead, there are very clear differences based on race, ethnicity, and gender in the prevalence and reasons that children become involved in juvenile justice, and in the type of experiences they have during the process. These disparities should be considered within the context of the distinct system of justice for children that exists in the USA. This chapter describes what is known about race and gender differences in juvenile justice and why they exist, and recommends how official decision makers might intervene with youth more equitably in the future.
Abstract W MP100: Hospital SAH Volume Associated With Better Outcomes

Objective: The net impact of hospital care on outcomes in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has not been well established. We hypothesized that increased experience and technical expertise at high volume hospitals would lead to better outcomes. Methods: We performed a serial cross-sectional retrospective study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample from 2002-2010. All adult (>18 years) discharges with a primary diagnosis of SAH (ICD-9-CM 435) from 2002-2010 were included and records with trauma or AVM were excluded. Survey-weighted descriptive statistics were used to estimate temporal trends. Multi-level logistic regression was used to estimate volume-outcome associations for two outcomes: inpatient mortality and discharge home. Models were adjusted for demographics, year, transfer status, insurance status, all individual Charlson comorbidities, intubation, and APR-DRG mortality. Analyses were repeated by excluding records where aggressive care was not pursued _ no intubation, no procedures and in-hospital death within 48 hours. Results: A total of 66,818 discharges were included in the weighted sample, including 19, 356 who received clipping or coiling. Inpatient mortality declined from 32.2% (30.1%- 33.9%) to 22.2% (20.8%-23.6%) from 2002 to 2010 while discharges to home increased from 28.5% (27.0-30.03%) to 40.8% (39.1%-42.4%). Hospitals in the highest volume quintile (greater than 63 discharges per year) had an unadjusted inpatient mortality of 22.7% (95% CI 22.0%-23.2%) compared to 41.5% (39.0%-43.7%) in quintile 3 (11-21 discharges per year) compared to 51.9% (47.0 -55.7%) in quintile 1 (less than 6 discharges per year). Similar trends were observed when excluding cases where aggressive care was not pursued. The proportion of patients discharged home also increased with hospital volume: 39.3 %( 38.0-39.9%) in quintile 5 vs. 23.2% (21.0%-25.1%) in quintile 3 vs. 16.7% (13.0%-19.7%) in quintile 1. Conclusion: Inpatient SAH mortality has decreased over time while the likelihood of discharge home has increased. High volume hospitals have more favorable outcomes than low volume hospitals and the magnitude of this effect is substantial. SAH volume should be accounted for in developing SAH systems of care.
Doing Business Abroad: The Problem of Training for Cultural Differences in Communication

Effective communication is essential for efficient management. Yet, the problem of communication is exacerbated when the manager is required to function in a foreign culture. Communication in a for...