cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phytosterols, phytostanols, and their conjugates in foods: structural diversity, quantitative analysis, and health-promoting uses

Phytosterols (plant sterols) are triterpenes that are important structural components of plant membranes, and free phytosterols serve to stabilize phospholipid bilayers in plant cell membranes just as cholesterol does in animal cell membranes. Most phytosterols contain 28 or 29 carbons and one or two carbon-carbon double bonds, typically one in the sterol nucleus and sometimes a second in the alkyl side chain. Phytostanols are a fully-saturated subgroup of phytosterols (contain no double bonds). Phytostanols occur in trace levels in many plant species and they occur in high levels in tissues of only in a few cereal species. Phytosterols can be converted to phytostanols by chemical hydrogenation. More than 200 different types of phytosterols have been reported in plant species. In addition to the free form, phytosterols occur as four types of "conjugates," in which the 3beta-OH group is esterified to a fatty acid or a hydroxycinnamic acid, or glycosylated with a hexose (usually glucose) or a 6-fatty-acyl hexose. The most popular methods for phytosterol analysis involve hydrolysis of the esters (and sometimes the glycosides) and capillary GLC of the total phytosterols, either in the free form or as TMS or acetylated derivatives. Several alternative methods have been reported for analysis of free phytosterols and intact phytosteryl conjugates. Phytosterols and phytostanols have received much attention in the last five years because of their cholesterol-lowering properties. Early phytosterol-enriched products contained free phytosterols and relatively large dosages were required to significantly lower serum cholesterol. In the last several years two spreads, one containing phytostanyl fatty-acid esters and the other phytosteryl fatty-acid esters, have been commercialized and were shown to significantly lower serum cholesterol at dosages of 1-3 g per day. The popularity of these products has caused the medical and biochemical community to focus much attention on phytosterols and consequently research activity on phytosterols has increased dramatically.
Leukotrienes in Asthma: The Potential Therapeutic Role of Antileukotriene Agents

Recent advances in research have led to the identification of an inflammatory component to asthma. Although many endogenous mediators are involved in inflammation, leukotrienes appear to play an especially important role in asthma. The leukotrienes produce tissue edema, mucus secretion, and smooth-muscle proliferation, along with a powerful bronchoconstriction. In addition, antileukotriene drugs have emerged as potential therapeutic agents for asthma. This study was designed to review the current information on these new agents. In this review, full-length articles of antileukotriene agents are examined. These articles were found through MEDLINE under the following medical headings: asthma, inflammation, leukotriene, leukotriene-receptor antagonist, and leukotriene-synthesis inhibitor. Most clinical studies cited are placebo-controlled trials involving healthy individuals and patients with asthma. These studies indicate that antileukotriene agents improve lung function and reduce the symptoms of asthma and the need for additional medication. Drugs that inhibit leukotriene-receptor binding and leukotriene synthesis hold promise as new additions to the armamentarium of clinicians who treat asthma. Furthermore, these drugs have already helped to elucidate some details of the pathophysiological features of asthma. Arch Intern Med. 1996;156:2181-2189
Corticosteroids in the management of unresected plasma cell granuloma (inflammatory pseudotumor) of the lung

The case of a 10-year-old girl with plasma cell granuloma of the lung and an associated hypergammaglobulinemia is reported. A thoracotomy and biopsy were done. Total resection would have required a pneumonectomy. She was treated with an immunosuppressive course of prednisone, which resulted in a reversal of the infiltrative process and the hypergammaglobulinemia.
Optimal Control Strategies for an SSVEP-Based Brain-Computer Interface

We evaluate the performance of 18 healthy subjects on a steady-state visually evoked potential brain–computer interface (BCI) under variation of two general control parameters. The BCI is a simple game amenable to performance measures such as the bitrate, decision accuracy, and optimality ratios based on an ideal human–machine system. The two parameters studied are the electroencephalography recording history length used to form a decision and the number of consecutive identical decisions that must be recognized before feedback is provided. To maximize the bitrate, it appears optimal to minimize the number of consecutive identical decisions required for feedback. When the task of interest often requires making the same decision multiple times in a row, a larger history of data seems preferable. When good performance on a task demands that decisions change rapidly, a smaller history seems optimal. Ultimately, we plan to connect this work to choosing appropriate control parameters for efficient wheelchair c...
Challenges to be overcome using population-based sampling methods to recruit veterans for a study of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury

Many investigators are interested in recruiting veterans from recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq with Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and/or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Researchers pursuing such studies may experience problems in recruiting sufficient numbers unless effective strategies are used. Currently, there is very little information on recruitment strategies for individuals with TBI and/or PTSD. It is known that groups of patients with medical conditions may be less likely to volunteer for clinical research. This study investigated the feasibility of recruiting veterans returning from recent military conflicts— Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) - using a population-based sampling method. Individuals were sampled from a previous epidemiological study. Three study sites focused on recruiting survey respondents (n = 445) who lived within a 60 mile radius of one of the sites. Overall, the successful recruitment of veterans using a population-based sampling method was dependent on the ability to contact potential participants following mass mailing. Study enrollment of participants with probable TBI and/or PTSD had a recruitment yield (enrolled/total identified) of 5.4%. We were able to contact 146 individuals, representing a contact rate of 33%. Sixty-six of the individuals contacted were screened. The major reasons for not screening included a stated lack of interest in the study (n = 37), a failure to answer screening calls after initial contact (n = 30), and an unwillingness or inability to travel to a study site (n = 10). Based on the phone screening, 36 veterans were eligible for the study. Twenty-four veterans were enrolled, (recruitment yield = 5.4%) and twelve were not enrolled for a variety of reasons. Our experience with a population-based sampling method for recruitment of recent combat veterans illustrates the challenges encountered, particularly contacting and screening potential participants. The screening and enrollment data will help guide recruitment for future studies using population-based methods.
Liquid Chromatographic Analysis of Adriamycin and Metabolites in Biological Fluids

Abstract A definitive approach to the analysis of plasma, bile, and urine levels of the widely used antitumor drug Adriamycin using two complementary high performance liquid chromatographic systems, one normal phase and the other reversed phase, is described. Sensitivity in the 2–10 picomole per sample range is achieved by means of fluorescence detection. The use of the two systems in parallel provides an unequivocal basis for the characterization and determination of Adriamycin and its principal metabolite, adriamycinol, and enables the measurement of anthracycline fluorescent aglycones and conjugates, as well.
Neurocognitive outcomes in pediatric and adolescent patients with central nervous system germinoma treated with a strategy of chemotherapy followed by reduced-dose and volume irradiation.

Background Evaluation of neurocognitive outcomes after a treatment strategy of chemotherapy followed by reduced-dose and volume irradiation for primary central nervous system (CNS) germinoma. Methods Neuropsychological evaluations including measures of verbal and nonverbal intellectual functioning, working memory, processing speed, verbal and nonverbal memory, executive functioning, depression, anxiety, and social functioning were analyzed for all patients (N = 20) with histologically diagnosed CNS germinoma diagnosed at our institution between 2003 and 2009. All 20 patients underwent at least one neuropsychological evaluation, 14 patients had at least two evaluations, 7 patients had at least three, and 2 had four, generating a total of 43 test batteries at a mean of 3.0 years from diagnosis. Results The 20 patients performed as a group in the average range on all neurocognitive measures administered when compared to the nonmedical normative group. No decline over time was indicated on any of the neurocognitive measures. An improvement over time was indicated for nonverbal reasoning, nonverbal memory, processing speed, working memory, response inhibition, and cognitive flexibility. No significant differences were found by tumor location, age at diagnosis, or hydrocephalus at presentation. Conclusions For pediatric and adolescent patients with newly diagnosed CNS germinoma, modest chemotherapy followed by reduced dose ventricular field irradiation with simultaneous integrated boost to the primary site, is associated with preservation of neurocognitive, social and emotional functioning. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011; 57: 669–673. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Radiofrequency treatment of tonsillar hypertrophy.

Objective: To describe radiofrequency electrosurgery and the devices and techniques available for using this technology to treat tonsillar hypertrophy. Study Design: Review. Methods: Electrosurgical devices, which include the Bovie, Elmed, somnoplasty, and coblation systems and argon plasma coagulators, use energy transfer by means of electromagnetic radiation to generate heat within tissue for cutting and coagulation. With these devices, tonsillar tissue can be removed completely, partly ablated, or decreased in volume. Results: Tissue ablation with radiofrequency that preserves the outer portion of the tonsillar capsule may reduce postoperative pain and allow earlier return to normal diet and activity. Removal of the entire tonsil using the coblation method may produce less damage in adjacent tissue than standard electrosurgery, thereby decreasing postoperative pain and healing time. Tissue reduction procedures may have a reduced risk of bleeding and produce less patient discomfort than other methods and can be performed in the office setting in some patients. Conclusion: Use of radiofrequency technology may decrease the morbidity associated with treatment of tonsillar hypertrophy. Preliminary trials of radiofrequency procedures have yielded promising results, but larger studies evaluating costs and benefits are needed.
Unaffected family members report improvements in daily routine sun protection 2 years following melanoma genetic testing.

Unaffected family members report improvements in daily routine sun protection 2 years following melanoma genetic testing
Onyx Embolization of a Ruptured Lenticulostriate Artery Aneurysm in a Patient with Moyamoya Disease

Background Lenticulostriate artery (LSA) aneurysms are uncommon. Most reported cases have been surgically treated. There are only three reports of LSA aneurysms treated with endovascular techniques. Case Description We report the case of a 49-year-old man who presented with a hemorrhage in the basal ganglia. An angiogram revealed a distal LSA aneurysm in the setting of moyamoya disease. The patient's aneurysm was successfully embolized by the use of Onyx 18. In this report, we present the first case of onyx embolization of a LSA aneurysm and review all the previous cases that were managed with endovascular techniques. Conclusion Treatment of these lesions with either surgery or endovascular therapy is challenging and requires specialized expertise. Given the risks of surgery, we believe that LSA aneurysms are best treated by endovascular means, especially in the setting of moyamoya disease.
Engineering schools and the changed conditions

How are American schools of electrical engineering to adapt themselves to changed conditions in industry? According to this well-known engineering educator “an analytical scholarly faculty is the key.” A rather thoroughgoing reform in methods and contents of engineering instruction is believed inevitable.
Strategies of shape representation in macaque visual area V2

Contours and surface textures provide powerful cues used in image segmentation and the analysis of object shape. To learn more about how the visual system extracts and represents these visual cues, we studied the responses of V2 neurons in awake, fixating monkeys to complex contour stimuli (angles, intersections, arcs, and circles) and texture patterns such as non-Cartesian gratings, along with conventional bars and sinusoidal gratings. Substantial proportions of V2 cells conveyed information about many contour and texture characteristics associated with our stimuli, including shape, size, orientation, and spatial frequency. However, the cells differed considerably in terms of their degree of selectivity for the various stimulus characteristics. On average, V2 cells responded better to grating stimuli but were more selective for contour stimuli. Metric multidimensional scaling and principal components analysis showed that, as a population, V2 cells show strong correlations in how they respond to different stimulus types. The first two and five principal components accounted for 69% and 85% of the overall response variation, respectively, suggesting that the response correlations simplified the population representation of shape information with relatively little loss of information. Moreover, smaller random subsets of the population carried response correlation patterns very similar to the population as a whole, indicating that the response correlations were a widespread property of V2 cells. Thus, V2 cells extract information about a number of higher order shape cues related to contours and surface textures and about similarities among many of these shape cues. This may reflect an efficient strategy of representing cues for image segmentation and object shape using finite neuronal resources.
Mobilities of slow electrons in low- and high-pressure gases and liquids☆

Abstract The mobility, μ, of thermal electrons in molecular gases decreases with increasing magnitude of the permanent molecular electric dipole moment D . For small values of D (→0), μ decreases with increasing static polarizability. In addition to these molecular parameters, distinct submolecular characteristics of the molecular structure affect μ. Thus μ was found to decrease with increasing number of doubly occupied π-electron orbitals for a number of linear, cyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons. For linear hydrocarbons with two doubly occupied π-electron orbitals, μ increases with increasing separation of the two π-orbitals. The dependence of μ on the mean electron energy is also given for a number of organic molecules. The recently discovered large and varying effects of pressure on the electron mobility in high-pressure gases are summarized and discussed. These, as well as the thermal electron mobilities in low-pressure gases, are related to the molecular structure and are compared with the electron mobilities in the liquid phase. The importance of an electron capture and loss process in delaying the electron drift is elaborated upon. For a number of relatively spherical hydrocarbons, and for the heavier rare-gas atoms, thermal electrons seem to be more mobile in the liquid than in the gaseous phase. The experimental evidence seems to indicate that this behavior is due to scattering potentials in the liquid state reminescent of those giving rise to the Ramsauer-Townsend effect in the heavier rare gases. The importance of an integrated approach, encompassing low pressure, high-pressure and liquid-state information, in understanding this and similar problems is stressed.
The effect of estrogen replacement therapy on total plasma homocysteine in healthy postmenopausal women.

Objective To clarify the effect of estrogen on total plasma homocysteine concentration and on the concentration of vitamins required for homocysteine metabolism (folate, vitamin B l2 , and vitamin B 6 ). Methods and Results We measured total fasting plasma homocysteine in 16 healthy postmenopausal women before and 6 hours after a methionine load (100 mg/kg); fasting concentrations of folate, vitamin B 12 , vitamin B 6 total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were also determined. After 6 months of estrogen replacement therapy with estradiol, 2 mg daily, and 1 cycle of quarterly methoxyprogesterone acetate, 5 mg daily administered on the 91st through 100th days, measurements were repeated. There was no significant change in mean ± SD fasting homocysteine concentration (8.8±2.5 vs 8.5±2.0 μmol/L; P =.30); homocysteine concentrations after methionine load increased from 38.8±12.3 to 51.1±12.5 μmol/L ( P =.0l). During this time period, no significant changes occurred in the concentrations of folate (11.7±4.4 vs 9.8±4.1 μmol/L; P =.06), vitamin B I2 (394±182 vs 411±155 pmol/L; P =.40), or vitamin B, (pyridoxal phosphate) (26±21 vs 36±25 nmol/L; P =.15). The mean ± SD concentration of low-density cholesterol declined 20% (from 147±32 to 118±37 mg/dL) and high-density lipoprotein increased 16% (from 40±13 to 46±19 mg/dL) during the study period. Conclusions Six months of estrogen replacement therapy did not lower fasting plasma total homocysteine concentrations and raised homocysteine concentrations following a methionine load. Lipid profiles improved significantly during the study period. A reduction in homocysteine concentrations is not likely to contribute to the reduction in cardiovascular events seen with estrogen replacement therapy.
Responses of single units in the medulla to genital stimulation in estrous and anestrous cats

Abstract The medulla of decerebrated or anesthetized female cats was explored for neuronal responses to genital stimulation. Activity of 126 single units responding to vaginal probing was analyzed in anestrous and estrous urethane-anesthetized, ovatiectomized cats. These cells were located predominately in the ventrolateral medulla, including the medial portions of the lateral reticular nucleus and the region extending dorsomedially to the nucleus ambigus. Eight different patterns of unit response to vaginal probing were identified. Most of the units responding to probing were unaffected by a tail pinch or other somatic stimuli and the responses did not appear to result from arousal level changes. Cells exhibiting a decrease in firing rate after the termination of probing were more common in estrous cats, and in anestrous cats more neurons showed elevated post-probing firing rates. Differences in the medullary distribution of units were seen between the estrous and anestrous animals as well. Stimulation of several brain sites, particularly the medial midbrain tegmentum and hypothalamus, exerted marked effects on the firing of many units which were responsive to vaginal stimulation. The properties of the medullary neuron responses to vaginal probing were discussed in relation to specific characteristics of behavioral responses to genital stimuli.
If Our Messages Are To Be Heard

Olson and Dean present two rather different approaches scientists can take to improve their ability to communicate with the public.
GENETIC ANALYSIS OF HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED ROTAVIRUS INFECTION: IDENTIFICATION OF THE MECHANISMS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROLONGED INFECTION

We prospectively evaluated rotavirus (RV) excretion in daily fecal specimens from 16 hospitalized children who were originally hospitalized for reasons other than acute gastroenteritis (GE). Seven of the 16 infants were initially evaluated during the course of noscomially-acquired RV GE. The other 9 children, who were selected because they were judged to be likely to have prolonged hospital stays, were asymptomatic and RV(−) at the time of initial study. All of these 9 children shed RV during the study period (1/84-4/84), but RV excretion was associated with clinically apparent GE in only 2 of these 9 patients. RV were shed for a mean of 23 days (range, 4-59 days) in the 16 hospitalized patients. Sequential analysis of RV shedding indicated that many of the children passed RV(+) specimens interspersed with RV(−) specimens as assayed by EM, immunoassay, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Genetic analysis of RV from asymptomatic and symptomatic periods indicated that several mechanisms were responsible for prolonged periods of RV excretion: reinfection by different strains of RV, persistent infection with a single RV strain, and simultaneous infection with more than one RV strain. It is also likely that genetic reassortment occurred among RV strains. The excretion of RV in hospitalized patients may not be detected by standard assays performed at a single point in time. These patients may serve as unrecognized reservoirs for transmission of RV infection.
Effects of Inlet Flow Field Conditions on the Stall Onset of Centrifugal Compressor Vaned Diffusers

This paper considers the performance and operating range of vaned diffusers for use in high performance centrifugal compressors. An experimental and numerical investigation is performed to determine the effects of inlet flow field conditions on pressure recovery and stall onset of different type vaned diffusers, such as discrete-passage and straight-channel diffusers. Diffuser inlet flow conditions examined include Mach number, flow angle, blockage, and axial flow non-uniformity. The investigation was carried out in a specially built test facility, designed to provide a controlled inlet flow field to the test diffusers. Unsteady pressure measurements showed the operating range of a compressor stage was limited by the onset of rotating stall, triggered by the loss of stability in the vaned diffuser, independent of the impeller operating point. For both diffusers investigated, loss of flow stability in the diffuser occurred at a critical value of the momentum-averaged flow angle into the diffuser. To provide additional information on diffuser flow development and to complement previous experimental work performed on straight-channel type diffuser, a computational investigation has been undertaken and important results are presented.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Captives of Revolution: The Socialist Revolutionaries and the Bolshevik Dictatorship, 1918–1923. By Scott B. Smith. (Pittsburgh, PA: University of Pittsburgh Press, 2011. Pp. 432. $45.00.)

Although published recently, this book should have been germinated long before now when Soviet/Russian studies and especially the nature of the regime in Moscow were the subjects of heated academic...
The mechanical properties of tail tendon fascicles from lubricin knockout, wild type and heterozygous mice.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of lubricin on tendon stiffness and viscoelasticity. A total of 36 mice were tested with 12 mice in each of the following groups: lubricin knock-out (−/−), heterozygous (+/−) and wild-type (+/+). A ramp test was used to determine the elastic modulus by pulling the fascicles to 2.5% strain amplitude at a rate of 0.05 mm/s. Then, followed by a relaxation test that pulled the fascicles to 5% strain amplitude at a rate of 2 mm/s. The fascicles were allowed to relax for 2 min at the maximum strain and a single-cycle relaxation ratio was used to characterize viscoelastic properties. There was no significant difference in the Young’s modulus between the three groups (p > 0.05), but the knockout mice had a significantly (p < 0.05) lower relaxation ratio than the wild type mice. Based on these data, we concluded that lubricin expression has an effect on the viscoelastic properties of tendon fascicles. The clinical significance of this finding, if any, remains to be demonstrated.
Global and regional functional assessment of ischemic heart disease with cardiac MR imaging.

Abstract Cardiac MR imaging (CMR) combines assessment of myocardial function and tissue characterization, and is therefore ideally suited to evaluating patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD). This article discusses evaluation of left ventricular global function at CMR, reviewing the literature supporting global parameters in risk stratification and assessment of treatment response in IHD. Techniques for assessment of regional myocardial function are reviewed, and normal myocardial motion and fiber arrangement discussed. Despite barriers to clinical adoption, integration of this assessment into clinical routine should improve the ability to detect functional consequences of early myocardial structural alterations in patients with IHD.
A COMPUTATIONAL STUDY OF STRUCTURE, BONDING, AND AGGREGATION OF N-LITHIOAZIRIDINE

Abstract Semiempirical, ab initio, and density functional methods were used to determine the aggregation states of unsolvated and solvated N–lithioaziridine. Among the aggregated forms studied, the computational results suggest that in the absence of solvating ligands, N–lithioaziridine will exist primarily as a mixture of trimers and tetramers. The THF solvated lithioaziridines favored a tetrameric state whereas the HMPA and TMEDA solvated forms favored lower aggregation states.
An unusual change in the Jovian Lyman‐alpha bulge

A very unusual change is reported in the morphology of the Jovian Ly-α bulge, a region of enhanced Ly-α emission near the Jovian spin equator at a fixed system III magnetic longitude (λIII) that has persisted since its discovery in the late 1970s. Observations from 1979-March 1989 consistently showed Ly-α emission that peaked near λIII∼100° then dropped and remained constant in the nonbulge region from λIII∼200-360°. During this time the bulge had a full width half maximum (FWHM) of ∼100-130°. In September 1989 and March and May 1991 this nominal morphology was substantially different: the Ly-α brightness showed a much broader peak (FWHM ∼200°) centered near 40° meaning that the bulge encompassed nearly the entire equatorial region of the planet and the previously flat nonbulge region was virtually nonexistent. These observations show a fundamental change in the morphology of the Ly-α bulge which was not observed in the previous 11 years. Present theories for the bulge invoke asymmetric processes or densities in the Jovian ionosphere. The change in bulge morphology may imply a significant change in the pattern of large-scale magnetospheric convection, in turn implying a possible change in longitudinal density structure of the Io plasma torus between March and Sept 1989. The possibility that the observed change in bulge morphology is related to long-term solar activity also cannot be ruled out.
Urethroplasty Practice and Surveillance Patterns: A Survey of Reconstructive Urologists

Objective To survey urologic reconstruction experts to determine practice and surveillance patterns used after urethroplasty. Methods We conducted an international survey of the members of the Society of Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgeons between July 23 and October 13, 2010 through email. Participants were surveyed regarding the nomenclature used to define strictures, urethroplasty practice patterns, follow-up practice patterns, and methods used to screen for stricture recurrence. Results The response rate was 48.9% (n = 90). Urethroplasty failure was commonly defined as the need for a secondary urethral procedure (60.0%), significant narrowing on imaging (14.4%), urethral narrowing preventing passage of 16F cystoscope (12.2%) or poor uroflow, or American Urological Association Symptom Score (7.8%). Only one-third of responders followed up their patients >3 years after surgery. To screen for stricture recurrence, 85% used uroflowmetry, 56% used postvoid residual, 19% used flexible cystoscopy, and 17% used retrograde urethrography. Nearly half (48%) of the surgeons did not use validated instruments to evaluate the quality of life after urethroplasty. For those who used validated questionnaires, the ones most often used were the American Urological Association Symptom Score (41%) and Sexual Health Inventory for Men (19%). Conclusion There is no consensus regarding follow-up practices after urethroplasty. Most experts define urethroplasty failure as “need for a secondary procedure,” do not follow-up patients for a long-term, and do not use validated questionnaires. A standardized definition for stricture recurrence and a standardized follow-up protocol are desperately needed to allow for effective comparison of results between studies.
Local legislation and municipal law: The New York City experience

Abstract Local law represents a difficult terrain for reference service. Using the New York City experience as an example all the major sources of local law are examined, including city codes, local legislative proceedings, mayoralty orders and administrative regulations. Comparisons are made to state and federal law and omissions and difficulties in legal publishing on the local level are also noted. A bibliography of some of the major reference sources available on New York City legislation is included.
Satellite observations of soft particle fluxes in the auroral zone

THIS is a preliminary report of measurements of electron and proton precipitation in the auroral zone by a soft particle spectrometer (SPS) in the ISIS-1 satellite. The recordings were made at the telemetry station at Tromso, Norway, in late September 1969 during a period of moderate auroral activity, with the satellite at altitudes near 1,000 km.
Biased procurement auctions

In a complex procurement a buyer may consider biasing the auction rules in order to account for differences in product characteristics offered by the sellers. This paper studies the gathering, disclosure and use of information about this bias. While we also describe the optimal procurement auction in our setting, the main focus of the paper is on the case where the buyer does not have commitment power. We find that without commitment full disclosure of the buyer’s preferences is optimal. Furthermore, lack of commitment distorts the buyer’s incentives to learn about its preferences: unlike the commitment case, without commitment the value of this information can be negative.
Single Ultra Violet Photon Detection with 4H-SiC Avalanche Photodiodes

In this paper we report SiC APDs that achieve gain comparable to PMTs while exhibiting higher quantum efficiency and lower dark current. In addition, we report single photon detection at 265 nm.
Dexamethasone potentiates NMDA receptor-mediated neuronal injury in the postnatal rat

The present study investigated the effect of a synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone, on excitatory amino acid receptor-mediated neurotoxicity in the 7-day-old rat. Pretreatment with dexamethasone (0.7 mg/kg i.p.) 1 h prior to unilateral intrastriatal injection of excitotoxin enhanced damage resulting from N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), but not alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate (AMPA), or kainate receptor activation. The glucocorticoid-induced enhancement of NMDA toxicity was dose dependent. The time of dexamethasone administration appeared critical since only treatment 1 h prior to, but not 24 h prior to, simultaneously with, or 1 h after NMDA injection, affected toxicity. The administration of the adrenal mineralocorticoid aldosterone, or the phospholipase A2 inhibitor mepacrine, did not affect excitotoxicity. Quantitative receptor autoradiography was performed to assess the effect of dexamethasone on NMDA-sensitive [3H]glutamate receptor binding. Neither pretreatment in vivo nor the addition of dexamethasone in vitro affected NMDA-sensitive binding in the striatum. Possible explanations for these observations are discussed.
EPSPS gene amplification in glyphosate-resistant Italian ryegrass (Lolium perenne ssp. multiflorum) from Arkansas

BACKGROUND: Resistance to glyphosate in weed species is a major challenge for the sustainability of glyphosate use in crop and non-crop systems. A glyphosate-resistant Italian ryegrass population has been identified in Arkansas. This research was conducted to elucidate its resistance mechanism. RESULTS: The investigation was conducted on resistant and susceptible plants from a population in Desha County, Arkansas (Des03). The amounts of glyphosate that caused 50% overall visual injury were 7 to 13 times greater than those for susceptible plants from the same population. The EPSPS gene did not contain any point mutation that has previously been associated with resistance to glyphosate, nor were there any other mutations on the EPSPS gene unique to the Des03 resistant plants. The resistant plants had 6-fold higher basal EPSPS enzyme activities than the susceptible plants, but their I50 values in response to glyphosate were similar. The resistant plants contained up to 25 more copies of EPSPS gene than the susceptible plants. The level of resistance to glyphosate correlated with increases in EPSPS enzyme activity and EPSPS copy number. CONCLUSION: Increased EPSPS gene amplification and EPSPS enzyme activity confer resistance to glyphosate in the Des03 population. This is the first report of EPSPS gene amplification in glyphosate-resistant Italian ryegrass. Other resistance mechanism(s) may also be involved. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry
Toward the Empirical Validation of Treatment Targets in Children

Abstract Target selection is the process by which the clinician chooses specific foci for treatment. Target selection is a fallible process due to the operation of cognitive biases and a range of deficiencies evident in the early phases of assessment. These concerns are particularly relevant to intervention with children, who often have limited involvement in determining which behaviors are targeted for change. Following a brief overview of factors that compromise target selection decisions, we provide suggestions to improve the target selection process, and we call for the development and use of empirical strategies to validate treatment targets in children. A literature review reveals negligible use of such tactics in treatment outcome studies with children to date. The use of empirical methods in target selection is illustrated through presentation of two examples: social skill deficits and the management of juvenile diabetes. We conclude with a critique of suggested empirical methods, and we offer recommendations for future research.
In vitro tagging of embryos with nanoparticles.

Purpose: To develop an in vitro method for tagging embryos and to compare the development of the embryos after nanoparticles injection versus externally-applied nanoparticles derived from either polystyrene or polyacrylonitrile. Methods: Each mouse 1-cell embryo (the selected test-model) was either: (a) injected by intracytoplasmic injection or (b) co-incubated with different nanoparticles at 37°C, 5% CO2 in air. The embryos were assessed after 2 and 6 days of culture. Results: Embryo development was similar for externally-applied polystyrene nanoparticles and control (97.6 ± 2.7 versus 100.0 ± 0%) but different for polyacrylonitrile nanoparticles (90.0 ± 2.8 %) on day 2. However, the results were similar on Day 6. Injected embryos were linked to lower percent development on Day 2. Few injected embryos reached blastocyst stage on Day 6 after a brief UV-fluorescence exposure. Conclusions: Tagging embryos by external polystyrene-based nanoparticles was the better method when compared with injected nanoparticles. Larger nanoparticles in microsphere range were easier to qualitate. Inhibited hatching limited their use beyond the blastocyst stage.
Resilient Properties and Fatigue Damage in Stabilized Recycled Aggregate Base Course Material

A stabilized fiber-reinforced base course material composed largely of recycled concrete aggregate with small amounts of portland cement and fly ash was subjected to repeated flexural loading to evaluate its resilient properties and progressive accumulation of fatigue damage. Cyclic load-deformation data were recorded continuously during the entire fatigue life until fracture to determine (a) the magnitude and variation of cumulative plastic strain and dynamic elastic modulus as a function of the number of loading cycles, (b) a range for the resilient modulus, and (c) the effect of fiber inclusions on the dynamic material properties and rate of damage accumulation. The extent of fatigue damage was calculated as a fatigue damage index, which is based on the cumulative energy dissipated (absorbed) during cyclic loading. All beam specimens used in this experimental program contained (by weight) 4 percent cement, 4 percent fly ash, and 92 percent recycled aggregate; the fiber-reinforced specimens contained an...
Car seat safety for preterm neonates: implementation and testing parameters of the infant car seat challenge.

Abstract Background The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all preterm neonates undergo a period of observation in a car safety seat before discharge, known as the Infant Car Seat Challenge (ICSC), to monitor for respiratory immaturity and the risk of adverse cardiopulmonary events in the upright position. However, no universal guidelines exist to define appropriate cutoffs for failure of the ICSC. We sought to evaluate regional neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) implementation of the ICSC and to evaluate variation in failure criteria. Methods We contacted level II and III nurseries/NICUs in New York/New England (n = 119) to determine if each performed ICSCs, their inclusion criteria, duration of testing, and failure criteria. Results We contacted 119 institutions and had an 87% response rate (n = 103). Of the institutions that responded, 89% (n = 89) perform ICSCs. Of these 89 with current protocols, 17% did not follow AAP guidelines to test all neonates born Conclusions Despite AAP guidelines, implementation of ICSCs for preterm neonates is not universal in the region studied. Variation in definition of ICSC failure means that neonates are receiving differential care, not on the basis of their clinical characteristics, but on which institution performs the test. We propose standardizing the test to all infants born at 10 seconds, and for saturation 10 seconds.
A Pivotal Politician and Constitutional Design

“A Pivotal Voter From a Pivotal State” argues that Roger Sherman played a central role at the Constitutional Convention, but it takes a different approach to explaining Sherman's role than “Madison's Opponents and Constitutional Design.” First, the two articles are trying to answer different questions; “A Pivotal Voter” is trying to explain roll call votes, whereas “Madison's Opponents” was trying to explain the Constitution's substantive design. Second, “A Pivotal Voter” assumes that delegates' preferences were fixed, and their votes sincere, but “Madison's Opponents” finds that delegates' preferences often were contingent and votes sometimes insincere. Third, “A Pivotal Voter” ignores the sequence of choices, whereas “Madison's Opponents” argues that sequence is crucial. Finally, “A Pivotal Voter” discounts delegates' efforts to manipulate rules and agendas, whereas “Madison's Opponents” emphasizes these efforts. Together, our findings suggest the value of diversity in political science and the need for more research on the art of political manipulation.
Wave Forces on Pipes Near the Ocean Bottom

Where wake effects are negligible, potential flow calculations predict well the lift and added mass forces acting on pipelines near the ocean floor when subjected to time dependent flows. Wake effects have a significant influence on the flow conditions and measured frequencies of vortex shedding can predict the drag force acting on the cylinder. The Strouhal number is a function of the gap below the cylinder. The added mass coefficient is much larger when the cylinder is near the boundary than when it is a free stream.
Quantitative Live Cell Imaging with Tomographic Phase Microscopy

We developed a tomographic microscopy for quantitative three-dimensional mapping of refractive index in live cells. We performed noninvasive quantification of hemoglobin content in the red blood cells as the disease progression of malaria infection.
Presence of multiple species of polypeptides immunologically related to transcription factor TFIIIA in adult Xenopus tissues.

Abstract Transcription of 5S RNA gene in Xenopus oocytes requires a 38 kDa transcription factor TFIIIA, which interacts with the 50 bp internal control region of the gene. We looked for TFIIIA-like polypeptides in the extracts of adult Xenopus tissues on the basis of their antigenic cross-reactivity to anti-TFIIIA antibody. Several species of polypeptides ranging from 30 to 50 kDa were found in kidney, stomach, liver and testis. Although these polypeptides reacted specifically to anti-TFIIIA antibody, proteolytic peptide mapping of three representative ones did not reveal any mutual similarities. They also seemed to be distinct from TFIIIA. Possible functions of these proteins are discussed.
Portal vein thrombosis: Evolving techniques to attack this old nemesis portal vein thrombosis in patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation: intraoperative endovascular radiological procedures

Purpose: To evaluate the usefulness of endovascular procedures for portal vein complications during orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Materials and methods: Between May 1994 and November 2004, we performed 504 OLTs in 464 adults. Seventy-eight patients (16.8%) presented with portal vein thrombosis (PVT). This analysis of patients from May 2000 to September 2004 included 10 patients with PVT, who were treated with endovascular techniques due to low portal flow. We compared this group with patients who were treated surgically with attention to rethrombosis and survival rates. If portal vein problems were due to obstruction, a venoplasty and primary stent placement were performed. We also embolized with coils or surgically ligated remaining competitive portosystemic shunts. Results: Perfusion problems in the allograft were solved in all cases. We placed seven stents and embolized six competitive shunts. One anastomotic dysfunction was repaired. None of the patients died or rethrombosed during surgery or follow-up. Conclusion: Endovascular techniques during OLT can resolve some liver graft perfusion problems due to PVT and "steal" phenomena, especially with unsatisfactory eversion thromboendovenectomy in patients with grade IV PVT. Although primary permeability of stents has been good, these results need to be confirmed.
Technologies of Everyday Life: The Economy of Impotence in Reform China

Ermo is a 1995 film directed by Zhou Xiaowen and distributed mainly in the domestic market in China. Named for its protagonist, a woman who sells her homemade products (noodles, baskets, and the like) in a street market near her village, the film depicts the new rural Chinese economy well. The story includes a brief capitalist/erotic liaison between Ermo and her neighbor, Blindman. He owns a truck and thus is able to introduce his pretty neighbor, the rural producer, to wider markets and salaried labor in a city further from home. In contrast to the mobile and energetic Blindman, Ermo's husband is incompetent and sexually impotent. A retired cadre, he hovers morosely on the sidelines, reminding viewers of the displaced, but not yet forgotten, economic and cultural regime of socialism.
History and physical examination provide little guidance on diagnosis of rotator cuff tears

Commentary on: Hermans J, Luime JJ, Meuffels DE, et al. Does this patient with shoulder pain have rotator cuff disease? The Rational Clinical Examination systematic review. JAMA 2013;310:837–47.[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3][Web of Science][4] Accurate diagnosis of rotator cuff tears can be challenging even for experienced specialists, hence there is a heavy reliance on MRI for aiding diagnosis. This is not only expensive, but can also encourage misdiagnosis, since high percentages of people aged >50 can have cuff tears on imaging but be asymptomatic.1 ,2 Although the structural presence of a tear can be reliably demonstrated using imaging, symptomatic rotator cuff disease is a clinical syndrome, with diagnosis based on the physician's clinical impression alongside radiographical evidence. Herman and colleagues’ article is important, because it aims to provide guidance to clinicians in establishing rotator cuff disease diagnosis based on patient history and physical examination … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DJAMA%26rft.volume%253D310%26rft.spage%253D837%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1001%252Fjama.2013.276187%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F23982370%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.1001/jama.2013.276187&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=23982370&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F19%2F3%2F108.atom [4]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000323561400024&link_type=ISI
Magnetotelluric Probing for Buried Geologic Structures

Few subsurface geometric configurations have been studied in electromagnetic-induction prospecting. In particular, geophysicists have usually considered only models of the earth which are flat and which consist of parallel regions of contrasting electrical conductivity. In order to evaluate the electric and magnetic field over subsurface geologic structure, the earth is modeled by two conductive layers which are joined at an irregular interface. Maxwell's equations are then applied to obtain a set of integral equations for the electromagnetic field which are solved by using a perturbation technique. Horizontal electric field and apparent resistivity master curves are calculated for the case of H-polarization. These curves demonstrate that for a given subsurface structure and resistivity contrast, the horizontal electric-field anomaly is greater when the first layer is more conductive than the second layer than when the first layer is more resistive than the second layer. When the wavelength in the more conductive layer of the electromagnetic field is less than the width of a resistant anticlinal ridge, the horizontal electric field decreases over the ridge. On the other hand, when the wavelength is much greater than the width of a resistant ridge, the horizontal electric field increases over that ridge. Given the resistivity contrast and electric-field anomaly, the depth to the crest of a buried anticlinal ridge may be ascertained. Similarly, overburden thickness determinations accurate to within 10 percent can be made from electric-field anomalies provided that the width of the subsurface structure is small relative to the depth of the structure.
Genetic control of interleukin 12 responsiveness : implications for disease pathogenesis

We examined the effect of genetic background on Th1/Th2 development. We discuss data demonstrating that genetic background is an important determinant of interleukin-12 (IL-12) responsiveness and the potential implications for disease progression in murine experimental leishmaniasis. Genetic analysis of the differential control of IL-12 responsiveness led to the identification of a controlling locus on the middle portion of murine chromosome 11. This genetic region (or its human counterpart, 5q31) has been associated with increased disease susceptibilities for several atopic, infectious, and autoimmune disorders. We discuss potential roles for genetic control of IL-12 responsiveness in the development of these diseases.