cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Background Parenchymal Uptake on Molecular Breast Imaging and Breast Cancer Risk: A Cohort Study

BACKGROUND. Background parenchymal uptake (BPU) on molecular breast imaging (MBI) was identified in a case-control study as a breast cancer risk factor beyond mammographic density. To our knowledge, this finding has not yet been confirmed in a cohort study. OBJECTIVE. The objectives of this study were to examine the association of BPU with breast cancer and to estimate the absolute risk and discriminatory accuracy of BPU in a cohort study. METHODS. A retrospective cohort was established that included women without a history of breast cancer who underwent MBI from 2004 to 2015. Radiologists who were blinded to future breast cancer diagnoses assessed BPU on baseline MBI examinations as low (photopenic or minimal) or elevated (mild, moderate, or marked). Associations of BPU with breast cancer were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models of the time to diagnosis. The 5-year absolute risk was calculated for study subgroups. The discriminatory accuracy of BPU was also assessed. RESULTS. Among 2992 women (mean age, 56.3 years; SD, 10.6 years) who underwent MBI, breast cancer events occurred in 144 women (median follow-up, 7.3 years). Median time to diagnosis after MBI was 4.2 years (range, 0.5-11.6 years). Elevated BPU was associated with a greater breast cancer risk (hazard ratio [HR], 2.39; 95% CI, 1.68-3.41; p ≤ .001). This association remained in postmenopausal women (HR, 3.50; 95% CI, 2.31-5.31; p < .001) but was not significant in premenopausal women (HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 0.72-2.32; p = .39). The 5-year absolute risk of breast cancer was 4.3% (95% CI, 2.9-5.7%) for women with elevated BPU versus 2.5% (95% CI, 1.8-3.1%) for those with low BPU. Postmenopausal women with dense breasts and elevated BPU had a 5-year absolute risk of 8.1% (95% CI, 4.3-11.8%) versus 2.8% (1.8-3.8%) for those with low BPU. Among postmenopausal women, discriminatory accuracy for invasive cancer was improved with the addition of BPU versus use of the Gail risk score alone (C statistic, 65.1 vs 59.1; p = .04) or use of the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium risk score alone (C statistic, 66.4 vs 60.4; p = .04). CONCLUSION. BPU on MBI is an independent risk factor for breast cancer, with the strongest association observed among postmenopausal women with dense breasts. In postmenopausal women, BPU provides incremental discrimination in predicting breast cancer when combined with either the Gail model or the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium model. CLINICAL IMPACT. Observation of elevated BPU on MBI may identify a subset of women with dense breasts who would benefit most from supplemental screening or preventive options.
Social Distancing to Mitigate COVID-19 Risks Is Associated With COVID-19 Discriminatory Attitudes Among People Living with HIV.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is an emerging pandemic with heightened concerns for people with compromised immune systems, including people living with HIV. PURPOSE: In the absence of a vaccine, public health messaging to mitigate risks for COVID-19 primarily focuses on social distancing. Because people living with HIV commonly experience mistreatment associated with HIV, their response to social distancing may be complicated by psychosocial attitudes associated with COVID-19. METHODS: To evaluate these relationships, we conducted a rapid-response, cross-sectional survey with people living with HIV (N = 149) to assess social distancing practices, COVID-19 discriminatory attitudes, COVID-19 xenophobic attitudes, HIV microaggressions, and concern over contracting COVID-19. Data were collected from participants enrolled in a larger ongoing study between March 30, 2020 and April 17, 2020. RESULTS: Results indicated that choosing to socially distance to reduce COVID-19 exposure was associated with COVID-19 discriminatory attitudes, concerns of contracting COVID-19, and identifying as transgender. Likewise, social distancing imposed by others (e.g., cancelations and restrictions) was associated with concerns of contracting COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrate that social distancing measures are related to concerns of contracting the virus and discriminatory attitudes toward those who are presumed to be living with COVID-19. These potentially negative psychosocial attitudes toward people perceived to have COVID-19 echo the discriminatory actions and attitudes that we continue to observe in HIV social sciences research.
Non‐Book Items in US Public Libraries

Libraries tend to be associated with books, but in practice they have lent a variety of media to meet the interests and media practices of their users. Early in the twentieth century, public libraries circulated images, such as photographs, prints, and lantern slides. They also lent music scores and player piano rolls. Early in the twenty‐first century, audio recordings and video disks account for roughly 25% of public libraries' total circulation. Libraries have adapted to media change in the past and they are likely to continue to adapt to media change in the future. This article is a companion piece to Galbi's article, Book Circulation Per US Public Library User Since 1856, which appeared in PLQ, 27:4 (2008).
Depression and worry symptoms predict future executive functioning impairment via inflammation.

Background Scar models posit that heightened anxiety and depression can increase the risk for subsequent reduced executive function (EF) through increased inflammation across months. However, the majority of past research on this subject used cross-sectional designs. We therefore examined if elevated generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), major depressive disorder (MDD), and panic disorder (PD) symptoms forecasted lower EF after 20 months through heightened inflammation. Methods Community-dwelling adults partook in this study (n = 614; MAGE = 51.80 years, 50% females). Time 1 (T1) symptom severity (Composite International Diagnostic Interview - Short Form), T2 (2 months after T1) inflammation serum levels (C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, interleukin-6), and T3 (20 months after T1) EF (Brief Test of Adult Cognition by Telephone) were assessed. Structural equation mediation modeling was performed. Results Greater T1 MDD and GAD (but not PD) severity predicted increased T2 inflammation (Cohen's d = 0.21-1.92). Moreover, heightened T2 inflammation forecasted lower T3 EF (d = -1.98 to -1.87). T2 inflammation explained 25-32% of the negative relations between T1 MDD or GAD and T3 EF. T1 GAD severity predicting T3 EF via T2 inflammation path was stronger among younger (v. older) adults. Direct effects of T1 MDD, GAD, and PD forecasting decreased T3 EF were found (d = -2.02 to -1.92). Results remained when controlling for socio-demographic, physical health, and lifestyle factors. Conclusions Inflammation can function as a mechanism of the T1 MDD or GAD-T3 EF associations. Interventions that successfully treat depression, anxiety, and inflammation-linked disorders may avert EF decrements.
Hepatitis E Infection in a Longitudinal Cohort of Hepatitis C Virus and HCV/HIV Coinfected Persons.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is thought to be common in the United States with increased prevalence in those with concomitant hepatitis C virus (HCV) or HCV/HIV coinfection. Little is known regarding tr...
An Exceptionally Rare Cause of Refractory Gastrointestinal Bleed: Choriocarcinoma Syndrome.

Testicular choriocarcinomas comprise less than 1% of all testicular tumors and are often highly vascular with early hematogenous metastasis. Choriocarcinoma syndrome (CS) is a rare entity distinguished by diffuse tumor burden and often fatal bleeding from metastatic sites. Most reported cases describe pulmonary hemorrhage secondary to initiation of chemotherapy. We present a fatal case of a young, previously healthy male with overwhelming gastrointestinal bleeding as the presenting sign of CS. Our case demonstrates that CS should be considered in the differential diagnosis for refractory anemia due to gastrointestinal hemorrhage in a young male with a testicular mass.
Dual antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention: Personalize the duration

The recommended duration of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after percutaneous coronary intervention with a drug-eluting stent has changed from 1 year for all to a more personalized approach based on the patient's risks of ischemia and bleeding. The trend is toward shorter treatment in view of lower rates of late and very late stent thrombosis with newer drug-eluting stents and the risk of bleeding with DAPT. But some patients at high risk of ischemic events and low risk of bleeding may benefit from longer treatment.
Research Needs in Aquatic Toxicology and Hazard Assessment: A Sojourner's Perspective

To establish itself as a legitimate discipline, aquatic toxicology must not become static-content with resolving old problems-but must always be willing to move into new and different areas. There are a number of researchneeds in aquatic toxicology which deserve the attention of investigators. We need research programs in aquatic toxicology which ask the question of how chemicals affect aquatic organisms. Generally, in the past we have only been concerned if a chemical kills an organism or if it prevents reproduction, but not with how it does these things. More research is needed to illucidate the chemical mechanisms and modes of action. Perhaps from this we can develop better chemical structure-activity relationships. Basic research into anatomy, physiology, nutritional requirements, pathology, and life histories of our test organisms is needed. We need a major research program to determine if the chronic effects we observe in our laboratories, such as depressed reproduction and growth, have ecological significances. Through better knowledge of life histories and the use of population modeling, perhaps it will be possible to meet this need. It is essential that we develop test methods and a data base which identify how chemicals affect an ecosystem's functional processes. Ecologists recognize the value of protecting ecosystem functions but have only primitive tools with which to assess the potential impacts of chemicals on these functional processes. Studies must be conducted to identify when a chemical is biologically available. Are sorbed materials biologically available? Finally, researchers in aquatic toxicology should explore the efficacy of aquatic test organisms as surrogates for humans. Screening chemicals for potential health effects by using fish or other aquatic organisms has many advantages over currently used mammalian toxicology test species, low cost being a prime example. However, knowledge of the metabolism and physiology of aquatic test species must be established.
Nonpolar Interactions of Inhibitors with the Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide-binding Sites of l-α-Glycerophosphate Dehydrogenase

Abstract l-α-Glycerophosphate dehydrogenase was shown to be inhibited by a homologous series of aliphatic carboxylic acids ranging in size from formic to dodecanoic acid, inclusive. The inhibition obtained was observed to be competitive with respect to the coenzyme, NAD, and noncompetitive with respect to substrate. The binding of carboxylic acids to the enzyme was shown to increase with increasing chain length of these inhibitors. Multiple inhibition studies were used to show that, in binding to the dehydrogenase, the carboxylic acids utilize the pyrophosphate and hydrophobic regions of the NAD-binding sites. It is suggested that nonpolar interactions with the same hydrophobic region facilitate the binding of carboxylic acids, N1-alkylnicotinamide chlorides, and n-alkylammonium chlorides to this enzyme.
Limitation in collective learnings and its possible remedy

A legality condition is derived theoretically for any given mapping relations to be learned collectively by a two-layered perceptron. When the mapping is legal and the number of mapping relations to be learned is not greater than the number of input nodes, a simple one-step method can be used to reach the goal of collective learning. This legality condition can be generalized to be used in the design of a 'universal' multilayered learning machine. >
Compulsory versus Voluntary Voting Mechanisms: An Experimental Study

We report on an experiment comparing compulsory and voluntary voting mechanisms. Theory predicts that these dierent mechanisms have important implications both for the sincerity of voting decisions and for the participation decisions of voters, and we nd strong support for these theoretical predictions in our experimental data. Voters are able to adapt the sincerity of their votes or their participation decisions to the dierent voting mechanisms in such a way as to make the welfare dierences between these mechanisms negligible. We argue that this nding may account for the
Planning and analysis tools to evaluate distribution automation implementation and benefits

The concept of distribution automation dates back to the 70's. The main motivation was to use evolving computer and communications technology to improve operating performance of distribution systems. Efficiency improvement was the main driver of distribution automation in its initial stages. Now, distribution automation has to address enhancements in efficiency as well as reliability and quality of power distribution. This paper discusses the new tools to quantify benefits of distribution automation. These tools are able to include the functionality of new devices and the benefits provided by them. Specific tools that need attention for implementation of advanced distribution automation include tools for cost/benefit evaluation, system analysis, and reliability evaluation.
Sedimentology and paleoenvironment from the Maar Lac du Bouchet for the last climatic cycle, 0-120,000 years (Massif Central, France)

This paper summarizes sedimentological and geochemical studies from seven cores taken from the Bouchet crater lake, France. It includes studies of water and soils from the drainage basin. The sedimentary record is subdivided into 14 distinct sedimentary units, which comprise different combinations of 8 recurring lithofacies. The lithostratigraphic results are correlated with prior information from magnetic-, pollen-, diatom-, and chrono-stratigraphy to define the sedimentary dynamics during the last 120, 000 years.
Developmental physiology of cestodes. IV. In vitro development of Hymenolepis diminuta in presence and absence of oxygen.

Abstract After 6 days postinfection in vivo, Hymenolepis diminuta was cultured in vitro for 12 days under gas phases containing 0, 1, 5, and 20% oxygen. Worms from all groups increased significantly in mass and produced substantial numbers of proglottids and viable progeny. Some morphological and reproductive abnormalities were observed. Total carbohydrate concentration of worms cultured in vitro approximated normal, but lipid concentration was somewhat less than normal in in vivo grown worms. No effect of oxygen presence or concentration was detected.
Capturing, sharing, and discovering product data at a semantic level - moving forward to the semantic web for advancing the engineering product design process

Along with the greater productivity that CAD automation provides nowadays, the product data of engineering applications needs to be shared and managed efficiently to gain a competitive edge for the engineering product design. However, exchanging and sharing the heterogeneous product data is still challenging. This dissertation first presents a detailed exploration on semantic strategies based on ontology models for integrating product data between multiple engineering applications, including two typical CAD applications in Product Design Domain, and one CAE application in Assembly Simulation Domain. It is concluded that the semantic approach is superior for exchanging and sharing heterogeneous product data at a semantic level. Further, this dissertation postulates an approach to introduce reasoning capability into the engineering ontologies in product assembly domain to truly exploit this logic-based and formal representation for product data. A layered architecture for semantic applications containing reasoning units is proposed. Retrieval specifications and inference rules in SWRL/SQWRL are defined in these reasoning units. It is concluded that the reasoning mechanism extends the semantic representation made possible through the ontology and holds promise for improving design knowledge understanding and discovery. Finally, based on research achievements on ontology modeling and reasoning, this dissertation presents an online Product Design Semantic Knowledge Management System (PD-SKMS) for presenting, querying/reasoning, and authoring/updating product data semantics by incorporating Semantic Web technologies. The Product Semantic Repositories (PSR) in a Host Hybrid-Data Repository (HDR) preserves product data semantics for the product assembly domain. A Semantic Data Management Engine (SDME) provides querying/reasoning and authoring/updating services on PSRs. By linking to public linked data, the capability of PD-SKMS is extended to external data sources. It is concluded that the PD-SKMS delivers an interactive and knowledgecontextual design environment for the engineers on the Web and it greatly improves the traditional behaviors for exchanging and sharing product design knowledge. In summary, this dissertation proposes, discusses, and implements semantic approaches to support design activities for capturing, sharing, and discovering product data semantics in a knowledge-contextual environment. Several practical scenarios successfully demonstrate the proposed approaches and reveal the great potential of semantic approaches for advancing the traditional engineering product design process.
Verification and Arms Control Treaties

This chapter describes monitoring and verification technologies, which are discussed within the context of arms control treaties. Nations remain in arms control treaties because they judge the disadvantage of controls on nuclear weapons to be far less dangerous than a system with no controls. The failure of the United States to ratify the Comprehensive–Test–Ban Treaty (CTBT) and its subsequent withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty are exceptions to a global consensus; the world awaits what is in store for arms control.
Integrating Mobile-Based Systems with Healthcare Databases

Healthcare organizations are constantly designing effective systems aiming to help achieve customer satisfaction. Web-based and mobile-based technologies are two forms of information technologies that healthcare executives are increasingly looking to merge as an opportunity to develop such systems. Web Mobile-Based Applications for Healthcare Management addresses the difficult task of managing admissions and waiting lists while ensuring a quick and convincing response to unanticipated changes of the clinical needs. Web Mobile-Based Applications for Healthcare Management tackles the limitations of traditional systems, and takes into consideration the dynamic nature of clinical needs, scarce resources, alternative strategies, and customer satisfaction in an environment that often imposes unexpected deviation from planned activities.
A Nonparametric Test for the Parallelism of Two First-Order Autoregressive Processes

A nonparametric testing procedure for the parallelism of two first-order autoregressive processes is presented. This paper discuss the Mann–Whitney statistic, its natural competitor two-sample t-test, and the bootstrap method. It studies the asymptotic efficacies of the studentized Mann–Whitney statistic and the t-test statistic with their relative efficiency. Simulation results for comparing the powers of these test statistics are also presented.
EPSP-IPSP interactions in cat visual cortex studied with in vivo whole- cell patch recording

Postsynaptic inhibition can operate by two distinct mechanisms: (1) membrane hyperpolarization and (2) shunting of excitatory postsynaptic currents. The arithmetic operations--either addition or multiplication-- that synapses are able to perform during neuronal computations are determined by which of these two inhibitory mechanisms predominates. Hyperpolarizing IPSPs interact linearly with EPSPs; their negative and positive synaptic currents sum to produce a net change in membrane potential (Eccles, 1961). Shunting synapses interact nonlinearly with EPSPs; the shunt-induced increase in membrane conductance directly reduces the amplitude of EPSPs by a constant multiplicative factor (Fatt and Katz, 1953; Blomfield, 1974). This property of shunting inhibition has provided the basis for models of synaptic interaction in which shunting inhibition acts as an AND-NOT gate for excitatory inputs (Torre and Poggio, 1978; Koch et al., 1983). Using an in vivo variant of the whole-cell patch technique (Blanton et al., 1989), we have examined the effect of visually evoked inhibition on the size of EPSPs in cortical simple cells and found that the predominant inhibitory mechanism is hyperpolarization. We conclude that these inhibitory synapses operate primarily in the linear mode.
BP and Renal Outcomes in Diabetic Kidney Disease: The Veterans Affairs Nephropathy in Diabetes Trial

Background and objectives Proteinuric diabetic kidney disease frequently progresses to ESRD. Control of BP delays progression, but the optimal BP to improve outcomes remains unclear. The objective of this analysis was to evaluate the relationship between BP and renal outcomes in proteinuric diabetic kidney disease. Design, setting, participants, & measurements BP data from all 1448 randomized participants in the Veterans Affairs Nephropathy in Diabetes Trial were included in a post hoc analysis. The associations of mean on–treatment BP with the primary end point (decline in eGFR, ESRD, or death), renal end point (decline in eGFR or ESRD), rate of eGFR decline, and mortality were measured. Results The median (25th, 75th percentile) follow-up time was 2.2 (1.2, 3.0) years. There were 284 primary end points. In univariate analyses, both mean systolic and mean diastolic BPs were strongly associated ( P P =0.02), with a significantly higher hazard ratio for 140–149 versus 120–129 mmHg (1.51 [1.06, 2.15]; P =0.02). There was also a significant association of mean diastolic BP with the hazard of developing the primary end point ( P P =0.03); there was also a strong trend when mean diastolic BP was Conclusions In patients with proteinuric diabetic kidney disease, mean systolic BP ≥140 mmHg and mean diastolic BP ≥80 mmHg were associated with worse renal outcomes.
Inhibition of thrombin generation in human plasma by phospholipid transfer protein

Plasma phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) transfers lipids between donors and acceptors (e.g., from HDL to VLDL) and modulates lipoprotein composition, size, and levels. No study has reported an assessment of the effects of PLTP on blood clotting reactions, such as reflected in thrombin generation assays, or on the association of venous thrombosis (VTE) risk with PLTP activity. The in vitro effects of PLTP on blood coagulation reactions and the correlations between plasma PLTP activity levels and VTE were studied. Recombinant (r) PLTP concentration-dependently inhibited plasma thrombin generation and factor XII-dependent kallikrein generation when sulfatide was used to stimulate factor XII autoactivation in plasma. However, rPLTP did not inhibit thrombin generation in plasma induced by factor XIa or tissue factor, implicating an effect of PLTP on contact activation reactions. In purified systems, rPLTP inhibited factor XII autoactivation stimulated by sulfatide in the presence of VLDL. In surface plasmon resonance studies, purified factor XII bound to immobilized rPLTP, implying that rPLTP inhibits factor XII-dependent contact activation by binding factor XII in the presence of lipoproteins. Analysis of plasmas from 40 male patients with unprovoked VTE and 40 matched controls indicated that low PLTP lipid transfer activity (≤25th percentile) was associated with an increased risk of VTE after adjustment for body mass index, plasma lipids, and two known thrombophilic genetic risk factors. These data imply that PLTP may be an antithrombotic plasma protein by inhibiting generation of prothrombotic factor XIIa in the presence of VLDL. This newly discovered anticoagulant activity of PLTP merits further clinical and biochemical studies.
Antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes protect against lethal West Nile virus encephalitis

Infection with West Nile virus (WNV) causes fatal encephalitis in immunocompromised animals. Previous studies in mice have established that T cell protection is required for clearance of WNV infection from tissues and preventing viral persistence. The current study assessed whether specific WNV peptide epitopes could elicit a cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) response capable of protecting against virus infection. Hidden Markov model analysis was used to identify WNV-encoded peptides that bound the MHC class I proteins Kb or Db. Of the 35 peptides predicted to bind MHC class I molecules, one immunodominant CTL recognition peptide was identified in each of the envelope and non-structural protein 4B genes. Addition of these but not control peptides to CD8+ T cells from WNV-infected mice induced IFN-γ production. CTL clones that were generated ex vivo lysed peptide-pulsed or WNV-infected target cells in an antigen-specific manner. Finally, adoptive transfer of a mixture of envelope- and non-structural protein 4B-specific CTL to recipient mice protected against lethal WNV challenge. Based on this, we conclude that CTL responses against immundominant WNV epitopes confer protective immunity and thus should be targets for inclusion in new vaccines.
Memory enhancement in elderly humans: Effects of glucose ingestion

Recent findings demonstrate that, in rats, posttraining injections of glucose can enhance subsequent memory performance. The purpose of this study was to extend these findings to an elderly human population by testing the hypothesis that acute increases in peripheral blood glucose levels would enhance performance on memory tasks. Eleven subjects ranging in age from 58 to 76 years participated in the study. A within-subject, repeated-measures design was used in which each subject was tested under two different glycemic conditions: with fasting blood glucose levels and with increased blood glucose levels. Blood glucose was manipulated via consumption of beverages sweetened with either saccharin or glucose powder. After beverage consumption, subjects took four tests from the Wechsler Memory Scale. Comparisons of performance under the two glycemic conditions showed that scores were higher after the glucose beverage on narrative memory tests and the total Wechsler Scale. Nine of the eleven subjects had higher total Wechsler Scale scores. These results contribute to the growing evidence that glucose metabolism should be considered in the study of memory processes. The implications of such relationships for age-related memory deficits are discussed.
Sample collection and field analysis of tris-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate used in a study of pesticide spray drift

Abstract Tris-(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate vapour and aerosol were collected in glass adsorber tubes packed with a plug of fine platinum mesh coated with OV-101 and subsequently thermally released into a gas chromatograph for analysis. The capacity of the adsorber was determined to be ca. 700 l of air. Concentrations of pg/l were determined with a precision of better than ± 10%. The aerosol concentration and its drop-size distribution were determined at a picogram level with ± 5% precision using a cascade impactor.
Isogeometric analysis of free-surface flow

Abstract This paper presents the first application of isogeometric analysis, a new computational technology built on higher-order and higher-continuity basis functions employed in Computer-Aided Design and computer graphics, to the computation of free-surface phenomena described using the level set approach. The method is based on the variational framework that is suitable for discretization by standard finite elements as well as the basis functions employed in isogeometric analysis. The underlying numerical formulation globally conserves mass and preserves a sharp air–water interface for the entire length of the simulation. The numerical tests indicate that the proposed methodology gives an accurate description of the free-surface behavior in both quasi-steady and dynamic regimes. Furthermore, very good per-degree-of-freedom accuracy is obtained when higher-order and higher-continuity isogeometric discretizations are employed in free-surface computations.
An updated Banff schema for diagnosis of antibody-mediated rejection in renal allografts.

Purpose of reviewTo introduce the updated Banff schema for antibody-mediated renal allograft rejection and related revisions to definitions within this schema agreed upon during and immediately subsequent to the 2013 Banff Conference on Allograft Pathology.Recent findingsThe original Banff schema fo
The effect of coatings on deuterium retention and permeation in aluminum 6061-T6 APT tritium production tubes

Abstract The accelerator production of tritium project will utilize spallation neutrons incident on thousands of 3 He gas filled metal tubes to produce tritium by way of the exothermic 3 He(n,p) 3 H reaction. Tritons with energies up to 192 keV and protons with energies up to 576 keV are directly implanted into the tube walls. To minimize tritium retention in the tubes and permeation into the coolant surrounding the tubes, it is desirable to have the implanted tritium migrate back to the inner surface of the tubes and rapidly recombine to be released as T2 and HT. Aluminum alloy (Al 6061-T6) is the primary candidate material for fabrication of the tubes. Aluminum alloy samples implanted with deuterons and protons to fluences as high as 3×1022 D (and p)/m 2 were studied. Deuterium retention was measured by mass spectrometry during thermal desorption. Approximately 10% of the implanted deuterium was retained. Copper, nickel and anodized coatings on aluminum alloy were studied as possible methods of reducing retention and permeation of the tritium. In these experiments, the Cu and Ni coatings reduced the retention significantly, whereas retention increased in the anodized coated sample.
Finding the most evident co-clusters on web log dataset using frequent super-sequence mining

It is important to mine the weblog dataset to find interesting and helpful information. There are three kinds of mining on weblog data which are web usage mining, web structure mining and web content mining. In our research, we are going to investigate web pages structure and find the most evident groups of users and web pages. Nowadays, big data is everywhere. Facing huge amount of web logs, it is not always necessary to group all the users in a web log dataset into different clusters, sometimes, finding out the major dominant user groups and the corresponding web pages is more important. In this paper, we are going to investigate a new way to search the most evident co-clusters of users and the corresponding web pages in the web log dataset using frequent super-sequence mining technique. Through experiments we find interesting results.
The hard X-ray periodicity of GX 1 + 4

Pulses that recur with a 4.27 + or - 0.01 minute period were detected on April 2, 1974 in the 20-64 keV X-radiation from the galactic center region. Apparently emanating from GX 1 + 4, a major contributor to the high-energy radiation from that region, the pulses were 1.25 + or - 0.42 minutes in duration. If it is in fact the same source that has been observed on all occasions, the period is twice that previously believed.
Rational distance functions for multidimensional scaling

Abstract A rational distance function is a numerical measure of psychological distance whose geometric properties are deducible from psychological truths about some particular judgmental task. In this paper, we review two theoretical analyses that have led to proposed rational distance functions. These analyses are based on two different tasks: paired-associate learning and similarity judgments. A generalization of the theory on similarity judgments is presented. Empirical results concerning similarity judgments seriously conflict with the basic psychological assumptions in the generalized treatment of similarity judgments. We conclude form these results that the construction of valid psychologically-based distance functions from analysis of choice probabilities in similarity judgments requires, as an initial step, the development of scaling models that take into account the influence of “irrelevant” dimensions on choice probability.
Effect of Personalized Basal Stories on the Reading Comprehension of Fourth-Grade Poor and Average Readers.

Abstract Forty fourth-grade children were assigned randomly on a stratified basis to read either standard or personalized basal stories and answer comprehension questions. The results of the study indicated that children previously identified as poor readers comprehended more information when they read personalized, as opposed to standard, stories. No difference was found among children of average reading ability on this variable.
Selective Ultrasonic Foaming of Polymer for Biomedical Applications

Biocompatible polymeric material with well-defined, interconnected porous structure plays an important role in many biomedical applications, such as tissue engineering, controlled drug release, biochemical sensing, and 3D cell culture for drug discovery. In this study, a novel fabrication process for porous polymer is developed using high intensity focused ultrasound. This acoustic method is solvent-free and capable of creating interconnected porous structures with varying topographical features at designed locations. An experimental study on the selective ultrasonic foaming technique is presented in this paper. We investigated the effects of major process variables, including ultrasound power, scanning speed, and gas concentration. Both pore size and interconnectivity of the created porous structures were examined. It was found that the pore size could be controlled with the scanning speed of the ultrasound insonation and that interconnected porous structures could be obtained using a partial saturation procedure. A concentration-dependent gas diffusion model was developed to predict the gas concentration profiles for partially saturated samples. A cell culture study was conducted to examine cell growth behavior in the fabricated porous structures.
The release of dopamine from synaptosomes from rat striatum by the ionophores X 537A and A 23187.

Abstract The antibiotics X 537A and A 23187 are negatively charged divalent cation ionophores. X 537A may, in addition, be an ionophore for amines including catecholamines. The effects of these ionophores were examined on the uptake and release of dopamine by synaptosomes prepared from rat corpus striatum. Both X 537A and A 23187, at concentrations less than 0.5 μM, release both endogenous and [3H]-dopamine from synaptosomes. They had virtually no effect on the uptake of exogenous dopamine. These compounds act by different mechanisms. X 537A causes divalent ion-independent release in which a large fraction of the effluent consists of deaminated products. X 537A, in addition, releases [3H]dopamine from rat adrenal medullary chromaffin granules. The results suggest that X 537A causes release of dopamine from intrasynaptosomal storage vesicles and perhaps is acting as a catecholamine carrier across the vesicular membrane. A 23187, on the other hand, causes a Ca2+-dependent release in which only a small fraction of the catechol in the effluent is deaminated. A 23187 has little effect on the release of [3H]dopamine from chromaffin granules. These results suggest that A 23187 carries Ca2+ into the synaptosomes and thereby initiates exocytotic release.
THE DETERMINATION OF HEMOGLOBIN IN BLOOD BANKS.

The accuracy of the copper sulfate method of determining hemoglobin was investigated under usual blood bank conditions. In our hands this method was found to be grossly inaccurate. Using the cyanmethemoglobin technic, it was demonstrated that 83.9 per cent of females and 80.4 per cent of males rejected as having a low hemoglobin by the copper sulfate method, actually had hemoglobin values above minimum requirements for blood donors. Detailed instruction as to technics and pitfalls of the copper sulfate method was ineffectual in correcting errors as encountered by a large nursing staff carrying out the procedure. Donors found to have acceptable hemoglobin values by the copper sulfate method appeared to be safely accepted as donors; cyanmethemoglobin duplicate checks did not reveal any discrepancies in this group.
A new method to radiolabel natural organic matter by chemical reduction with tritiated sodium borohydride.

In this paper, we describe a new method for labeling NOM with the radioisotope tritium (3H) using fulvic acid (FA) as the target NOM fraction. During labeling, FA ketone groups are chemically reduced with tritiated sodium borohydride (NaBH4), while the chemical functionality of the carboxyl and phenol groups is preserved. The labeling procedure was optimized in efficiency experiments that determined the excess concentration of tritiated NaBH4 required for optimum reduction conditions. The chemical characterization of the labeled FA product using FTIR and 1H NMR spectral analysis confirms the proposed reaction mechanism and rules out any significant amounts of impurities or undesirable side reactions. Results from size exclusion chromatography indicate that the tritium label is distributed uniformly over the whole molecular size range of FA and that it is stable over time and under various pH conditions. Potential differences in FA sorption behavior onto mineral surfaces due to labeling were excluded based...
Bottles are men, glasses are women: religion, gender, and secular objects

ABSTRACTRepresentations of objects as gendered appear cross-culturally and include a range of artefacts and natural phenomena, secular as well as religious. Such attribution of gender is one aspect of a broader attribution of human features, including agency, to many of these phenomena. Most broadly, for example, secular figures such as gremlins and abominable snowmen, as well as religious figures such as deities and demons, constitute ascriptions of humanlike agency to the nonhuman world. Gendered religious objects, then, are part of a more general pattern. Attending to this pattern as a whole helps account for its parts. One of these is religion itself.Gendered objects commonly occur in advertising media in the United States, as elsewhere. Their gender sometimes is implicit and sometimes explicit, but usually is stereotyped. Such objects in advertising mostly have escaped scholarly attention, as has the larger question why representations of objects as humanlike are so widespread. This essay attempts a ...
Frog muscle aldolase: purification of the enzyme and structure of the active site.

Abstract Fructose 1,6-diphosphate aldolase has been crystallized from frog muscle. The preparations are homogeneous in ultracentrifugation and disc gel electrophoresis and dissociate in urea or sodium dodecyl sulfate to yield only one type of subunit. The molecular weight of frog muscle aldolase was estimated as 164,000 and the molecular weight of the subunit as 41,000. A comparison of the amino acid compositions of two peptides derived from the active site indicates a high degree of homology with the corresponding peptides from fish aldolases. However, unlike the aldolases from fish muscle, aldolase from frog muscle contains only a single methionine residue per subunit; this methionine residue is present in the active site peptide and appears to occupy the same position in all of the active site peptides thus far examined.
Interruption of DNA injection by X-irradiation of phage λ

Abstract When λ phage is X-irradiated, it loses the capacity to inject all of its DNA into Escherichia coli. Autoradiographic measurement of the amount of DNA injected by X-irradiated phages leads to the conclusion that only a single DNA fragment is injected—a piece extending from the end normally injected first to the first double-strand break. This partial injection accounts for about half of the lethal effects of X-irradiation in phage λ. Loss of adsorptive capacity and gross destruction of the phage head are shown to contribute only very slightly to the inactivation process.
Reengineering fast-track anesthesia: the expanding role of anesthesiologists in perioperative medical care meeting in Abano Terme, Padova, Italy, on June 19-20, 2007.

nesthesiologists are critically involved in patientcare throughout the perioperative period. An intensivedidactic and practical course was organized by Dr.Giovanni Pittoni (Director of Anesthesia and IntensiveCare at Azienda Ospedaliera—Universita, Padova) andDr. Giorgio Davia (Chief of Anesthesia & Intensive Careat Casa di Cura Abano Terme) in Padova, Italy, todiscuss the optimal anesthetic techniques for facilitatingpostoperative recovery and early rehabilitation afterambulatory and inpatient surgical procedures. The for-mal lectures were supplemented by practical tutorials intheoperatingroomswithsurgeonsandnursesatCasadiCura Hospital. Surgical cases being performed concur-rently in the operating rooms at Casa di Cura were usedto facilitate discussions between the faculty and theattendees regarding the advantages and disadvantagesof various anesthetic and analgesic options for the sur-gical procedures.The central role of anesthesiologists as perioperativephysicianswasdiscussedbyDr.PaulF.White(Professor& Holder of the Margaret Milam McDermott Distin-guished Chair of Anesthesiology at the University ofTexas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas), whopresented an evidence-based analysis of anesthetic andanalgesic techniques for common surgical proceduresand also discussed cost-effective approaches to minimiz-ing common side effects after surgery (e.g., incisionalpain, postoperative nausea and vomiting, drowsiness,fatigue, bowel and bladder dysfunction).
Crystallization of the mosquito-larvicidal binary toxin produced by Bacillus sphaericus

The Bacillus sphaericus binary toxin is expressed during the early stages of sporulation and is composed of two separately encoded polypeptides: BinA (41.9 kDa) and BinB (51.4 kDa). The binary toxin forms microcrystalline inclusions inside the mother cell that, once ingested, are solubilized in the alkaline pH of the larval gut. B. sphaericus cultures were grown to complete sporulation, harvested and washed. The binary toxin was solubilized with 50 mM NaOH, purified using column chromatography and crystallized. Crystals were grown using the sitting-drop vapor-diffusion method in a glycine-buffered solution containing 0.5 M NaCl and 19.5% PEG 4000 as the precipitant. Native data were collected to a resolution of 2.7 A.
Observation on the apparent mode of formation of “pure” lysosomes

The intracellular site where lysosomal enzymes are revealed by electron histochemical methods appears to be related to the prevailing type of endoplasmic reticulum, i.e., rough- or smooth-surfaced. In rat prostatic and seminal vesicle epithelial cells the rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum predominates. Formation of lysosomes and synthesis of at least some of their enzymes appear to be connected with the ribosome-coated membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum. In sebaceous secretory cells and Euglena cells the endoplasmic reticulum is almost exclusively of the smooth-surface variety. In these cells, formation of lysosomes and synthesis of their enzymes appears to be mediated chiefly through the Golgi apparatus. Lysosomes such as described in the various cell types in this work seem to represent “pure lysosomes,” in the sense that they do not appear to be actively engaged in intracellular lytic processes. That they may do so under various physiological and pathological conditions has been indicated in previous reports (2, 3).
Effects of nicotine on sensorimotor gating impairment induced by long-term treatment with neurotoxic NMDA antagonism

In order to develop a model of persistent sensorimotor gating that did not require acute NMDA (N-methyl-D-aspartate) receptor blockade, adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were pre-treated withN-methyl-scopolamine (1 mg/ kg s.c.), then administered MK-801 (dizocilpine, 5 mg/kg i.p.) along with two separate doses (5 mg/kg) of pilocarpine. The drug regimen was repeated four and eight days later. Controls received saline in lieu of any drug. Ten days after the last neurotoxic treatment, rats had a significant impairment (reduction) in pre-pulse inhibition (PPI). Each treatment group (neurotoxic treated and control) was then divided into two groups for treatment with saline or 0.5 mg/kg nicotine, administered s.c. twice daily from days 10 to 23. The rats were tested for sensorimotor gating on days 17 and 22 shortly after the morning nicotine administration. Nicotine did not affect the PPI in control animals. On day 17, PPI impairment was sustained in neurotoxically treated rats, regardless of saline or nicotine treatment. On day 22, however, the effect of neurotoxic treatment on PPI was totally absent in saline treated rats, whereas in nicotine treated rats, PPI impairment was still evident. Combination of nicotine and neurotoxic treatment also caused an up-regulation of high affinity nicotinic receptors in the cortex and the thalamus and apparent normalization of low affinity nicotinic receptors in the hippocampus. The findings indicate that muscarinic activation, in conjunction with neurotoxic NMDA receptor antagonism, produces relatively long-term impairment in auditory gating, a result relevant to modeling clinical observations of schizophrenia-associated symptoms. Contrary to expectation, nicotine administration in this model resulted in further impairment rather than amelioration of PPI. The results suggest a sustainable model of PPI impairment and possible role of nicotinic receptors in selective brain regions in this behavior.
High-temperature neutron diffraction study of deuterated brucite

To study the structural behavior of brucite at high temperature, we conducted in situ neutron diffraction experiments of a deuterated brucite powder sample, Mg(OD)2, in the temperature range 313–583 K. The sample was stable up to 553 K, above which it started to decompose into periclase (MgO) and D2O vapor. Rietveld analyses of the obtained data were performed using both single-site and three-site split-atom hydrogen models. Our results show that with increasing temperature, unit-cell parameter c increases at a rate ~7.7 times more rapidly than a. This large anisotropy of thermal expansion is primarily due to rapid increase in the interlayer thickness along the c-axis on heating. The amplitudes of thermal vibration for Mg, O, and D increase linearly with increasing temperature; however, the rate of the increase for the lighter D is much larger. In addition, D vibrates anisotropically with a higher magnitude within the (001) plane, as confirmed by our first-principles phonon calculations. On heating, the interatomic distances between a given D and its associated O and D from the adjacent [MgO6] layer increase, whereas the O–D bond length decreases. This behavior suggests weakened D···O and D···D interlayer interactions but strengthened O–D bonding with increasing temperature.