cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Global health: where do cardiologists fit in?

The United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals aim to reduce deaths from non-communicable diseases by one-third by 2030. In addition, the member states of the UN have agreed in principle to take action to decrease cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality by 25% by 2025.1 While there was a decrease in age-specific deaths globally from 2007 to 2017, total CVD deaths rose by 21% during the same time period.2 The primary drivers for this were the ageing of populations, overall population growth and epidemiological trends in CVD. In low-income and middle-income countries, increases in gross domestic product per capita and associated predicted decreases in the CVD burden did not reduce mortality overall.3 Improvements in education and wealth have historically been associated with improvements in the overall health of communities. However, the reality is that there is an initial phase of adoption of deleterious risk behaviours, like consumption of high-caloric/high-fat diets, increased smoking and adherence to sedentary lifestyles, that may undo any potential gains expected from prosperity.4 5 The poorest in society and those …
Case Report: An Intracranial Complication of COVID-19 Nasopharyngeal Swab

Author(s): Holmes, Alexandria; Allen, Bryant | Abstract: Introduction: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are often the result of trauma or recent surgical procedures; however, a subset can develop from non-traumatic etiologies. Cerebrospinal fluid leaks from congenital and spontaneous encephaloceles can be clinically occult and have devastating consequences if undetected for prolonged periods of time. This report highlights a unique case of meningitis after CSF leak caused by ruptured congenital meningocele during a routine nasopharyngeal swab.Case Report: A 54-year-old female with diagnosed CSF leak presented to the emergency department (ED) with acute onset of severe headache, and neck and back pain. Prior to this presentation, the patient had experienced two months of persistent headache and rhinorrhea since her coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) nasopharyngeal swab. As part of her outpatient workup, an otolaryngology consultation with subsequent beta-2 transferrin testing and magnetic resonance imaging was performed and she was diagnosed with a CSF leak from ruptured congenital meningocele. On ED presentation, she was afebrile, but with mild tachycardia, leukocytosis, and meningismus. Lumbar puncture revealed acute streptococcal meningitis. This patient’s meningitis developed due to prolonged occult CSF leak after her COVID-19 nasopharyngeal swab ruptured a pre-existing congenital meningocele.Conclusion: Nasopharyngeal swabs are being performed much more frequently due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All front-line providers should be aware of the potential presence and rupture of congenital meningoceles in patients who have undergone recent nasopharyngeal swab when risk-stratifying for potential CSF leak and meningitis.
Thermal aging of heteroatom substituted Keggin type aluminum oxo polycation solutions: Aggregation behavior and impacts on dissolved organic carbon and turbidity removal

Coagulation processes within water treatment plays an important role in contaminant removal and aluminum-oxo Keggin polycations are proved to be an effective coagulating agents. Previous work demonstrated that heteroatom substitution within the Keggin-type polycation e-Al13 to form e-GaAl12 and e-GeAl12 can enhance removal of bacteria, DOC, and turbidity from wastewater. Additional hydrolysis of the e-Al13 species to form larger Al30 species has also been shown to improve coagulation, but this aspect has not been evaluated for the e-GaAl12 and e-GeAl12 systems. In the current study, hydrolysis of e-Al13, e-GaAl12 and e-GeAl12 was promoted through hydrothermal aging to evaluate the overall solution stability/behavior and water treatment efficiency. Turbidity measurement of aged solution indicated that Ga substituted aluminum-oxo Keggin polycations remain stable in solution and DLS studies demonstrated greater diversity in particle sizes within the system. Additional thermogravimetric analyses of metal hydroxide precipitates formed from the aging studies indicate that the GaAl12 system behaves more like an amorphous Al(OH)3 phase, which has higher solubility than other aluminum hydroxide phases. Hydrothermal aging did not significantly change %DOC removal as all solution showed high efficiency for removal across a range of pH values. GaAl12 solutions demonstrated good turbidity removal efficiency in all pH range, with enhanced performance at pH 5. The study suggests that larger, relatively stable oligomers do exist within the aged GaAl12 solutions that may contribute to enhanced contaminant removal in a similar manner to what is observed within the PACl-Al30 coagulant.
Wave Forces on a Stationary Platform of Elliptical Shape

Exciting forces and moments due to plane incident waves on a stationary platform are studied in the report. The platform is a vertical cylinder with a finite draft and elliptical cross section. The mathematical solution to the diffraction problem is obtained on the basis of the linearized long-wave approximation. Numerical results via Mathieu functions are presented for a shiplike body with beam-to-length ratio approximately equal to 0.2. Various draft-to-depth ratios and angles of incidence are considered. Results have been checked with the limiting case of a circular cylinder for the long-wavelength range. Aside from its own practical interest, the present theory provides a basis for comparison with other approximate theories of slender-body type and serves as a prelude to the corresponding calculations for arbitrary wavelengths. (Author)
Fundamentals of aerospace navigation and guidance

1. Introduction 2. Deterministic systems theory 3. Stochastic systems theory 4. Navigation 5. Homing guidance 6. Ballistic guidance 7. Midcourse guidance 8. Optimization 9. Optimal guidance 10. Introduction to differential games Epilogue A. Useful definitions and mathematical results A.1. Results from topology A.2. Results from linear algebra A.3. Taylor's theorem A.4. Newton's method A.5. The implicit function theorem.
Antisense Approaches and the Modulation of Potassium Channel Function in the Cardiovascular System

Potassium channels are key regulators of resting membrane potential and tightly control the patterns of electrical excitability in cardiac myocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells. Under typical conditions of physiological variability in vivo, the level of K+ channel expression in cardiovascular membranes appears to be dynamically regulated to permit normal tissue-specific electrophysiological function. However, in some cardiovascular pathologies, as reviewed in other chapters in this book, alterations in K+ channels appear to contribute to, rather than buffer, abnormalities in cell excitation patterns. For example, mutations in myocardial K+ channels are linked to cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death (see Chapters 17 and 36), and in the pulmonary vasculature, the downregulation of K+ channels may contribute to the etiology of primary pulmonary hypertension (see Chapters 27 and 40). Thus, it is not surprising that tremendous efforts are being directed toward understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern the gene and protein expression levels of K+ channel subunits, as well as the phenotypic profile of K+ channels in cardiac yocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells. Similarly, new therapeutic approaches are being considered to treat ion channel abnormalities in cardiovascular disease states.
Hardness of Low Congestion Routing in Directed Graphs

We prove a strong inapproximability result for routing on directed graphs with low congestion. Given as input a directed graph on N vertices and a set of source-destination pairs that can be connected via edge-disjoint paths, we prove that it is hard, assuming NP doesn’t have
Hemolytic disease of the newborn due to both anti-Rh (D) and anti-Kell (K) antibodies.

Abstract 1. 1. Hemolytic disease of the newborn due to both anti-Rh and anti-Kell antibodies is described. 2. 2. The importance of an indirect Coombs test employing donor blood, mother's serum, and Coombs reagent before instituting exchange transfusions in hemolytic anemia of the newborn is emphasized.
Replication of Poliovirus in Phytohemagglutinin-stimulated Human Lymphocytes

Poliovirus replication has been studied in human lymphocytes during the course of blastogenesis under phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation. Enhancement of virus replication in PHA-stimulated leukocyte cultures was due to an increase in number of virus-producing cells. Virus yield was approximately 10 plaque-forming units (PFU) per producing cell, both in stimulated and in nonstimulated cultures. Adsorption and penetration studies showed that freshly drawn lymphocytes (unlike other leukocytes) were resistant to virus infection, but they became susceptible to the virus during PHA stimulation. Also, the eclipse of the virus after penetration was enhanced during blastogenesis of the lymphocytes. Our findings suggested that the monocytes in the leukocyte cultures were infected initially. In PHA-stimulated cultures, the virus then spread to lymphocytes which became susceptible to virus infection during blastogenesis. Polymorphonuclear cells died within 24 to 48 hr after initiation of the cultures and apparently could not support poliovirus replication.
Trimethyloxonium 2,4,6‐Trinitrobenzenesulfonate

Trimethyloxonium 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonate reactant: 2,4,6-Trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (14.7 g., 0.050 mole) product: trimethyloxonium 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonate byproduct: methyl 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonate Keywords: alkylation, O-alkylation; diazomethane, solution in xylene; diazomethane, explosive, toxic; apparatus, for preparation, of trimethyloxonium 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonate using diazomethane
From OBJ to Maude and Beyond

The OBJ algebraic specification language and its Eqlog and FOOPS multiparadigm extensions are revisited from the perspective of the Maude language design. A common thread is the quest for ever more expressive computational logics, on which executable formal specifications of increasingly broader classes of systems can be based. Several recent extensions, beyond Maude itself, are also discussed.
High-resolution reduced field of view diffusion tensor imaging using spatially selective RF pulses.

Purpose Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) plays a vital role in identifying white matter fiber bundles. Achievable imaging resolution and imaging time demands remain the major challenges in detecting small fiber bundles with current clinical DTI sequences. Methods A novel reduced field of view ultra-high–resolution DTI technique named eZOOM (elliptically refocused zonally oblique multislice) was developed. A small circular disk was imaged using spatially selective radiofrequency (RF) pulses, reducing the imaging matrix size. The frequency profile of the spectral-spatial refocusing RF pulse provided intrinsic fat suppression, eliminating the need for fat saturation pulses. Results Multislice DTI at a resolution of 0.35 × 0.35 mm in a celery fiber phantom was successfully performed by scanning an 8-cm field of view at 3T. An adequate diffusion-to-noise ratio (DNR >20) was achieved for a 25-min acquisition using a direct-sampling RF receiver. Human subjects (n = 7) were scanned at resolutions of 0.47 × 0.47 mm having a DNR <20 within a 75-min scanning time, requiring further enhancements to increase the signal-to-noise ratio. Conclusions The new eZOOM-DTI method offers multislice DTI at ultra-high imaging resolutions substantially exceeding those available with current echo-planar DTI techniques. Parallel and fast spin echo methods can be combined with eZOOM to improve SNR and DNR in humans. Magn Reson Med 72:1668–1679, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Chlorquinaldol (Sterosan) and Chlorquinaldolneomycin for Preoperative Preparation of the Colon

Summary Chlorquinaldol alone is an unsatisfactory agent for preoperative preparation of the colon. Chlorquinaldol-neomycin, combined with a low-residue diet and mechanical cleansing of the colon, is a satisfactory method for preoperative preparation of the colon.
Controlled Active Mobilization Following Surgical Repair of the Avulsed Radial Attachment of the Biceps Brachii Muscle: A Case Report

Traumatic disruption of the radial attachment of the biceps brachii muscle may require surgical reattachment to obtain and maintain optimum anatomical relationships and ensure return to full, unlimited activity, particularly in the young athletic patient with high muscle performance demands. Postoperative evaluation and care following surgical reattachment of the avulsed radial tendon of the biceps brachii muscle has not previously been reported in the rehabilitation literature. The purpose of this case study is to report successful treatment of a gymnast using static splinting, controlled active mobilization of the elbow, and strengthening exercises following surgical reattachment of the avulsed radial attachment of the biceps brachii muscle.
Generation of large-scale quadratic programs for use as global optimization test problems

A method is presented for the generation of test problems for global optimization algorithms. Given a bounded polyhedron in R and a vertex, the method constructs nonconvex quadratic functions (concave or indefinite) whose global minimum is attained at the selected vertex. The construction requires only the use of linear programming and linear systems of equations.
Growth and Dissipation of Phytoplankton in Chesapeake Bay. I. Response to a Large Pulse of Rainfall

Approximately 90 Km2 of Chesapeake Bay contiguous with the Severn, South, Rhode and West Rivers were surveyed by in vivo chlorophyll fluorescence and captured samples following a large pulse of rainfall in summer, 1971. The growth and subsequent dissipation of blooms containing chlorophyll a concentrations up to 40 x pre-bloom values were completed within 21 days. A distinction is made between the blooms produced by nutrient pulses and dinoflagellate blooms normally observed in the fall. In the former, there is a complete change of phytoplankton relative species composition. The latter is a phototactic segregation of species already existing within the water column. The methodology is presented and a mathematical description is attempted.
Plutonium valence state distributions

A method for ascertaining equilibrium valence state distributions of plutonium in acid solutions as a function of the plutonium oxidation number and the solution acidity is illustrated with an example. The method may be more practical for manual use than methods based upon polynomial equations.
An Evaluation of the HVAC Load Potential for Providing Load Balancing Service

This paper investigates the potential of providing intra-hour load balancing services using aggregated heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) loads. A directload control algorithm is presented. A temperature-priority-list method is used to dispatch the HVAC loads optimally to maintain customer-desired indoor temperatures and load diversity. Realistic intra-hour load balancing signals are used to evaluate the operational characteristics of the HVAC load under different outdoor temperature profiles and different indoor temperature settings. The number of HVAC units needed is also investigated. Modeling results suggest that the number of HVAC units needed to provide a ±1-MW load balancing service 24 hours a day varies significantly with baseline settings, high and low temperature settings, and outdoor temperatures. The results demonstrate that the intra-hour load balancing service provided by HVAC loads meets the performance requirements and can become a major source of revenue for load-serving entities where the two-way communication smart grid infrastructure enables direct load control over the HVAC loads.
Conjectural variations and the nature of equilibrium in rent-seeking models

In a symmetric two-person rent-seeking game, it is shown that nonzero conjectural variations can be incorporated to yield a larger class of solutions than has been hitherto analyzed. The author shows that the fraction of rents dissipated as expenditures by seekers depends on the conjectural variation which is assumed, and that Posner's assertion of full dissipation in his model only holds under a Bertrand conjecture. All admissible constant conjectural variations which are held by both players yield conjecturally consistent equilibria, but the result no longer holds if the game has a systematic bias toward one player.
Characterization of the wettability of solid particles by film flotation 2. Theoretical analysis

Abstract This paper presents a model of the film flotation process, which is a useful technique for characterizing the wetting behavior of particulates, especially those with heterogeneous surfaces. Two different approaches were used, one involving the total and the other the differential free energy for the process of transferring particles from a liquid/vapor interface into the liquid phase in film flotation. Analysis shows that interfacial energy has dominant control over the behavior of particles in film flotation over a wide range of particle size and solid density. This study confirms theoretically that the critical wetting surface tension of a particle is equal to the value of the surface tension of a wetting liquid at which particles are just imbibed into the wetting liquid.
Effect of Metal Chlorides on the Sintering and Densification of Hydroxyapatite Adsorbent

This work is part of a series of studies dealing with the evaluation of the effects of major elements of solid waste, especially metallic oxides, nitrates, sulfates, and chlorides, on the sintering and the densification of calcium hydroxyapatite (Ca-HAP) adsorbent. The effects of chloride salts of potassium (KCl) and zinc (ZnCl2) on sintering and densification of Ca-HAP were studied using surface area reduction and shrinkage measurements. The addition of KCl (2% w/w) activated the sintering process by bringing a swift reduction in surface area and lowering the densification temperature. However, a low final densification was achieved. Increasing the amount of this additive to 10% w/w further lowered the final densification and lowered the densification temperature of hydroxyapatite by 150 degrees C. On the other hand, the addition of 2 wt % of ZnCl2 deactivated the sintering process by slowing down the densification process and raising the densification temperature. However, the reduction of surface area was comparable to that of Ca-HAP. The densification rate contained two or more rate maxima indicating the additives (salts) bring multiple speeds in the densification process.
Predictive eye movements in natural vision

In the natural world, the brain must handle inherent delays in visual processing. This is a problem particularly during dynamic tasks. A possible solution to visuo-motor delays is prediction of a future state of the environment based on the current state and properties of the environment learned from experience. Prediction is well known to occur in both saccades and pursuit movements and is likely to depend on some kind of internal visual model as the basis for this prediction. However, most evidence comes from controlled laboratory studies using simple paradigms. In this study, we examine eye movements made in the context of demanding natural behavior, while playing squash. We show that prediction is a pervasive component of gaze behavior in this context. We show in addition that these predictive movements are extraordinarily precise and operate continuously in time across multiple trajectories and multiple movements. This suggests that prediction is based on complex dynamic visual models of the way that balls move, accumulated over extensive experience. Since eye, head, arm, and body movements all co-occur, it seems likely that a common internal model of predicted visual state is shared by different effectors to allow flexible coordination patterns. It is generally agreed that internal models are responsible for predicting future sensory state for control of body movements. The present work suggests that model-based prediction is likely to be a pervasive component in natural gaze control as well.
Change in health-related quality of life from before to after destination therapy mechanical circulatory support is similar for older and younger patients: analyses from INTERMACS.

Background Destination therapy left ventricular assist devices (DT LVADs) are being implanted in older adults on an increasing basis. Older patients have a higher risk for mortality and morbidity post-LVAD, which may impact their health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We aimed to determine the change in HRQOL by age from before implant to 1 year after DT LVAD implant and identify factors associated with the change. Methods Data were collected from 1,470 continuous-flow DT LVAD patients at 108 institutions participating in INTERMACS from January 21, 2010 to March 31, 2012. Patients were divided into three cohorts: n = 457); 60 to 69 years of age ( n = 520); and ≥70 years of age ( n = 493). HRQOL was measured using the generic EuroQol instrument (EQ-5D-3L). Data were collected pre-implant and 3, 6 and 12 months post-implant. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Kaplan-Meier survival analyses and multivariable regression analyses. Results HRQOL improved in all patients. Generally, older patients reported better HRQOL than younger patients pre-implant (≥70 years: mean 40; 60 to 69 years: mean 33; and p p = 0.01) using the EQ-5D visual analog scale (VAS), with 0=worst imaginable health state and 100=best imaginable health state. The magnitude of improvement in EQ-5D scores from pre-implant to 1-year post-LVAD implant was similar in all age groups (≥70 years: mean change 33; 60 to 69 years: mean change 35; p = 0.77). Factors associated with improvement in HRQOL from before to 1 year after implant were a lower VAS score pre-implant and fewer rehospitalizations post-implant ( R 2 = 61.3%, p Conclusions Older patients reported better HRQOL than younger patients before and after LVAD implantation. The magnitude of improvement was similar for all age groups, with >70% of all patients showing clinically significant increases (>10 points on the VAS). Rehospitalization appears to reduce the magnitude of improvement.
Violence and the disaggregated society

This paper reviews the evidence that social disaggregation is a major cause of destructive violence in non-human animal societies. The multifactorial theory of agonistic behavior is modified into a polysystemic theory which relates factors on each level to each other in an integrated model. As a result, it is suggested that disaggregation of systems on any level may lead to maladaptive violence. On theoretical grounds it is concluded that disaggregations of ecosystems and social systems are more probable and hence more dangerous than those of physiological and genetic systems. Applications of these findings to human affairs are discussed, both as explanations and as guides to positive action.
Remineralization effect of CPP-ACP and fluoride for white spot lesions in vitro.

Abstract Objectives This in vitro study compared the remineralization effect on white spot lesions of casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate creme, or CPP-ACP (MI Paste™), 1.1% NaF dentifrice containing 5000 ppm of fluoride (ControlRX™), or CPP-ACP creme with 900 ppm of fluoride (MI Paste Plus™) with that of a control. Methods Artificial white spot lesions were created on smooth enamel surfaces of sound molars using a previously reported demineralization model. Specimens were randomly assigned to four treatments ( n = 35) with a pH-cycling model over 30 days: Control (no treatment); MI Paste (10% CPP-ACP creme); F5000 (1.1% NaF dentifrice); or MI Paste Plus (10% CPP-ACP plus 900 ppm fluoride creme). Products were applied following manufacturers’ directions. Changes in mean lesion depth expressed by percent fluorescence loss (Δ F %), and lesion area (mm 2 ) from baseline to after treatment were measured with light-induced fluorescence (QLF). Mean values of each parameter were compared between groups ( p Results The remineralization pattern for the F5000 group was unique with marked initial remineralization during the first 10 days and little subsequent change. Based on mean lesion area, the F5000 demonstrated greater remineralization than Control, MI Paste and MI Paste Plus groups. Based on mean fluorescence loss, the F5000 group showed improved remineralization relative to MI Paste Plus, but did not differ statistically from the Control at the end of 30 days. Conclusions The 1.1% NaF dentifrice demonstrated overall greater remineralization ability than 10% CPP-ACP creme. However, the 1.1% NaF dentifrice was only as effective as the Control to reduce fluorescence loss. Clinical significance This study showed that a 1.1% NaF dentifrice (5000 ppm) demonstrated greater remineralization ability than the CPP-ACP topical tooth creme and that the addition of fluoride to its formulation seems to enhance remineralization. Saliva also has the ability to exert an important remineralization effect over time.
Cognitive behavioral interventions for sexually abused children exhibiting PTSD symptomatology

This investigation examined the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral intervention with 4 sexually abused children exhibiting posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), using a multiple baseline design. Participants ranged in age from 8 to 10 years. Intervention effectiveness was measured with pre-, post-, and 3-month follow-up assessments of PTSD symptomatology and affective (depression and anxiety) measures. In addition, these instruments were administered during baseline and prior to each treatment session. The intervention focused on the training of relaxation skills, positive self-talk, and cognitive restructuring. All 4 participants reported decreases in their PTSD symptomatology. The 3 participants who had elevated levels of depression and anxiety during baseline showed decreases with treatment. The results of this study suggest that cognitive behavioral techniques can be an effective approach for working with this population.
Letter by Daniels et al Regarding Article, “Incidence, Causes, and Survival Trends From Cardiovascular-Related Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Children and Young Adults 0 to 35 Years of Age”

We read with interest the article by Meyer et al1 describing the incidence, causes, and survival trends from cardiovascular-related sudden cardiac arrest among children and young adults younger than 35 years of age. We were surprised to note that over this 30-year period, no cardiac arrests attributed to missed Kawasaki disease were identified. Kawasaki disease, the most common cause of acquired heart disease in US children, is an acute febrile …
Synthesis, Characterization, and Luminescence of Europium(III) Schiff Base Complexes1a

New EuIII Schiff base compounds and polyelectrolytes luminesce with quantum yields consistent with the intramolecular energy transfer mechanism established for EuIII β-diketone complexes. The emission spectra clearly show that the two EuIII ions in Eu2L3 complexes, where L is a tetradentate Schiff base ligand, are in different environments, that the Na[Eu(L)2] complexes exhibit higher quantum yields than the corresponding Eu2L3 species, and that luminescence is negligible when the ligand triplet-state lies below the 5Do state of EuIII.
Minijets and B-pairs: Analytic and numeric results for small x dominated processes

Abstract We can accurately approximate the gluon distribution by a simple power law for processes dominated by small- x physics (such as minijets and diffractive processes). This form is motivated by Regge theory and by considering the stsbility of the Altarelli-Parisi evolution at small Q 2 . We give analytic and numeric results for both massless and massive minijet differential cross sections, and find a simple scaling behavior in the asymptotic limit. Our results compare favorably with the total jet cross sections reported by UA1.
Adaptive changes in postural reactions after unilateral leg amputation

Changes in anticipatory postural adjustment following below-the-knee amputation may be considered as adaptive for reacquiring balance control.
Temperature-sensitive pawns: conditional behavioral mutants of Paramecium aurelia.

"Pawns" are mutants of Paramecium aurelia in which the process of calcium activation during membrane excitation is genetically impaired, with a corresponding loss of avoiding reactions. Mutants are selected that behave normally when grown at 23°C but as pawns at 35°C. The normal excitation can now be disrupted and restored in the same strain at will.
Influence of pyrometer signal absorption due to process gas on temperature control in rapid thermal processing

Influence of Pyrometer Signal Absorption due toProcess Gas on Temperature Control in Rapid Thermal ProcessingJulius C. Chang, Tue Nguyen, James S. Nakos, and JosefW. KorejwaIBM General Technology DivisionEssex Junction, Vermont, USAABSTRACTFuture DRAM devices require higher performance dielectrics for which novel process chemistries must bestudied. Nitrous oxide (N20) has shown promising results as a process gas for rapid thermal oxidation.However, current practice in rapid thermal processing (RTP) has neglected the effect of process gas ontemperature control. For N20, this results in a large temperature offset and oscillation, and poor thicknessuniformity. Evidence is presented indicating that gas-phase absorption of the pyrometer signal produces thedifficulties observed when using N20. These difficulties do not occur if the pyrometer is operated at awavelength not absorbed by the N20. This behavior also does not occur when using 02 as the process gassince it is transparent at the pyrometer wavelengths used. The data shows that one must examine theabsorption spectra of the process gas for compatibility with the pyrometer wavelength used for temperaturemeasurements.2. INTRODUCTIONAccurate temperature control during rapid thermal processing (RTP) is critical for many steps in state-of-the-art semiconductor manufacturing, from oxidation to annealing to forming silicide junctions. Typically,pyrometry is used for remote high-temperature (above 600 °C) measurement and control of a feedback loop.The pyrometer measures the intensity of a specific wavelength of radiation emitted from the backside of awafer. Temperature is computed through a second-order polynomial function of intensity.The accuracy of pyrometry control can be strongly influenced by absorption of the desired wavelength ofradiation by the process gas used for RTP. This absorption can have a negative effect on process control,impacting product development.Consider the example ofa pyrometer that uses a wavelength of4.5 im for temperature measurement.Several commerically available RTP systems use pyrometers that measure temperature using a wavelengthnear this value. Absorption of a 4.5 tm signal by the process gas is not a problem in the present technology.Oxygen, ammonia, and dilute HCI are some ofthe process gases commonly used for formation ofthin gatedielectrics in RTP and their absorption spectra show that these gases are transparent at 4.5 jim.For certain other ambients, however, 4.5 jim may be a poor choice. Current industry practice has notaccounted for the influence of different process gases and the associated problem of signal absorption inpyrometer temperature measurements. For future DRAM technology, it is clear that new process gaschemistries must be explored to develop higher performance dielectrics; therefore, absorption effects must be
SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION TEST USING ACTIVE MEMBERS

A modal test using active members as the excitation source has been performed on the Precision Truss. Using the step sine testing technique, the frequency response functions are obtained and the modal parameters are extracted by the curve-fitting method. Total of 10 global modes and 3 local modes are obtained. The results are compared with those obtained by the conventional external excitation test.
The chronically reserpinized rat as a model for cystic fibrosis: alterations in pancreatic enzyme secretion and storage.

Summary: Alterations in the pancreatic secretion of fluid and of enzymes in response to either pilocarpine (15 mg/kg) or an octapeptide of cholecystokinin (0.1 μg/kg) have been found in rats that received daily injections of reserpine (0.5 mg/kg) for 7 days. During a 3-hr secretory period, significant reductions in the volume of pancreatic juice and in the total output of protein, amylase, and trypsin were observed in these animals. In the first hour of the secretory response, however, protease output was increased in the treated animals, particularly that of chymotrypsin, which was also increased in the longer secretory period following pilocarpine, but not cholecystokinin, stimulation. Zymogen granules isolated from the pancreas of the treated rats by differential centrifugation in a 0.3 M sucrose buffer had increased specific activities of the proteases when compared to those of untreated controls. Ultra-structurally, zymogen granules isolated from the pancreas of the treated rats showed changes in density, with bizonal and trizonal configurations being frequently observed, and had less distinct limiting membranes. In some, the membrane appeared broken at intervals, and there was granular material, presumably derived from the granule contents, lining the surface of the granule. It is concluded that pretreatment with reserpine inhibits fluid secretion and alters enzyme secretion in the rat exocrine pancreas. The latter effect is related to a nonparallel storage of amylase and proteases in the secretory granules induced by the drug treatment, probably through an action on protein synthesis or intracellular transport. An accumulation of proteases may lead to activation of these enzymes and to granule lysis. Inasmuch as the reserpinetreated rat has been proposed as an experimental model for cystic fibrosis, these findings are relevant in terms of possible pathogenetic mechanisms in this disease. Speculation: The chronic administration of reserpine to rats causes an increased storage and secretion of proteases, particularly chymotrypsin, in the exocrine pancreas. This may lead to intracellular activation of these enzymes and to alterations in exocrine pancreatic structure and function. Inasmuch as pretreatment with reserpine also causes alterations in fluid and bicarbonate secretion similar to those seen in cystic fibrosis, the effects on pancreatic enzymes suggest a mechanism for the pathogenesis of the exocrine pancreatic disturbance in this disease.
The nonclassical class I molecule CD1d associates with the novel CD8 ligand gp180 on intestinal epithelial cells.

Abstract Previous studies have shown that normal intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) are able to selectively activate CD8+ T cells with suppressor activity, inducing proliferation associated with the activation of both the CD8-associated kinase p56lck and the T cell receptor (TCR)-associated kinase p59fyn. This process appears to relate in part to a 180-kDa IEC surface glycoprotein, gp180, which binds to CD8 and activates CD8-associated p56lck. However, purified gp180 alone is unable to induce T cell proliferation and does not activate p59fyn. Because the class Ib molecule CD1d is expressed by IECs and monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against CD1d inhibit IEC-induced proliferation of CD8+ T cells, co-immunoprecipitation and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay studies were performed, which demonstrated an association of gp180 and CD1d on the IEC surface. Interestingly, the activation of p59fyn in IEC-T cell co-cultures was blocked by the anti-CD1d mAb D5 but not by the anti-gp180 mAb B9. Conversely, treatment of IECs with mAb B9 inhibited IEC-induced activation of p56lck but not p59fyn. More directly, a human CD1d cDNA (FO-1 D5) transfectant was able to activate p59fyn but not p56lck. These data suggest that the CD1d-gp180 complex on the surface of IECs can be recognized by the TCR-CD8 co-receptor, resulting in the activation of CD8+ T cells.
Ileal conduit in era of systemic chemotherapy.

Abstract The records of 62 patients with invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder whose planned treatment was radical cystectomy with ileal conduit urinary diversion and postoperative systemic chemotherapy were reviewed. Seven of the patients received radical cystectomy but not postoperative chemotherapy as planned, 3 of them (5 %)for reasons directly related to complications from the urinary diversion. Fifty-five patients received the planned postoperative chemotherapy. Complications during chemotherapy that were related to the ileal conduit were urinary tract infection in 37 percent and stenosis at the ureteroileal anastomosis requiring percutaneous nephrostomy in 3.6 percent. Chemotherapy was not discontinued in any patient, however, because of complications specifically related to the urinary diversion. We conclude that the ileal conduit is well tolerated by patients who require systemic chemotherapy and is, today, the simplest, safest, and best diversion method when systemic chemotherapy is to follow radical cystoprostatectomy.
Surveillance and management of dysplasia in ulcerative colitis

Background Recently updated practice guidelines give specific recommendations on surveillance and management of dysplasia in patients with ulcerative colitis. Previous studies of gastroenterologists in the United States and the United Kingdom demonstrated inconsistent surveillance techniques and limited understanding of the implications of dysplasia. Objectives To demonstrate current surveillance practices and management of dysplasia among U.S. gastroenterologists. Design An 18-item questionnaire was mailed to 1000 gastroenterologists in the United States who were randomly selected from an American Gastroenterological Association mailing list. Setting United States. Results A total of 334 questionnaires were returned, and 312 were analyzed: 25% of respondents were in academic practice and 75% were in private practice. The majority were in practice more than 10 years. Nearly 80% begin surveillance colonoscopy at 8 to 10 years of disease duration for patients with pancolitis, and 54% report sending at least 31 biopsy specimens. Sixty percent of respondents did not recommend immediate colectomy for a confirmed finding of low-grade dysplasia, instead opting for repeat colonoscopy in 3 to 12 months. Physicians who took fewer biopsy specimens were more likely to recommend continued surveillance for low-grade dysplasia compared with those who took a greater number of biopsy specimens. Limitations Limitations included the response rate of 33% and the potential for recall bias. Conclusions Most U.S. gastroenterologists are practicing surveillance in patients with ulcerative colitis in accordance with published guidelines. There is widespread variation in the management of dysplasia and raised lesions, and the majority of U.S. gastroenterologists do not recommend immediate colectomy for a finding of low-grade dysplasia.
Population Ecology of the Western Harvest Mouse, Reithrodontomys megalotis: A Long-Term Perspective

Twelve years of monthly trapping data were used to analyze the long-term population dynamics and demography of Reithrodontomys megalotis in southeastern Arizona. The population showed large variation in density and in proportion of individuals in reproductive condition. The great variation in proportion of females in reproductive condition suggests that females are reproductively facultative and will reproduce if conditions permit. Harvest mice on the study site show strong source-sink dynamics, because there were wide fluctuations in population density, several local extinction events, few juveniles captured on the site, low persistence, and common long-distance movements. The main characteristic of the population of R. megalotis in this habitat is variation.
Toward Accurate Screening in Computer-Aided Enzyme Design†

The ability to design effective enzymes is one of the most fundamental challenges in biotechnology and in some respects in biochemistry. In fact, such ability would be one of the most convincing manifestations of a full understanding of the origin of enzyme catalysis. In this work, we explore the reliability of different simulation approaches, in terms of their ability to rank different possible active site constructs. This validation is done by comparing the ability of different approaches to evaluate the catalytic contributions of various residues in chorismate mutase. It is demonstrated that the empirical valence bond (EVB) model can serve as a practical yet accurate tool in the final stages of computer-aided enzyme design (CAED). Other approaches for fast screening are also examined and found to be less accurate and mainly useful for qualitative screening of ionized residues. It is pointed out that accurate ranking of different options for enzyme design cannot be accomplished by approaches that cannot capture the electrostatic preorganization effect. This is in particular true with regard to current design approaches that use gas phase or small cluster calculations and then estimate the interaction between the enzyme and the transition state (TS) model rather than the TS binding free energy or the relevant activation free energy. The ability of the EVB model to provide a tool for quantitative ranking in the final stage of CAED may help in progressing toward the design of enzymes whose catalytic power is closer to that of native enzymes than to that of the current generation of designer enzymes.
Bonding and thermal decomposition of propylene, propadiene, and methylacetylene on the Rh(111) single-crystal surface

The reactions of propylene, propadiene, and methylacetylene with Rh(111) crystal faces in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) from 80 to 800 K have been studied by low-energy electron diffraction (LEED), high-resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy (HREELS), and thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). All three hydrocarbons adsorb intact at 80 K. At this temperature, methylacetylene forms a p(2 x 2) LEED pattern while propylene and propadiene adsorb as disordered monolayers. Above 200 K, propylene and propadiene also form p(2 x 2) LEED patterns which are stable up to 270 K. The propylene fragment in this temperature range is propylidyne (CCH/sub 2/CH/sub 3/). By room temperature all the C/sub 3/ hydrocarbons have decomposed to ethylidyne (CCH/sub 3/) and polymerized C/sub x/H fragments. Surface hydrogen is instrumental in the C-C bond breaking, and partial deuteriation studies were performed to determine which C-C bonds break first. The ethylidyne species are stable up to 400 K, above which they decompose to C/sub x/H fragments. The bonding and the thermal decomposition pathways for propylene on Rh(111) are compared to Pt(111) surface chemistry.
Diphtheria Toxin: Specific Competition for Cell Receptors

DIPHTHERIA toxin causes the catalytic inactivation of polypeptide chain Elongation Factor 2 when the enzymically active N-terminal fragments of toxin, particularly fragment A, are mixed with broken cells of almost any eukaryotic source1–3 or when complete toxin molecules are incubated with intact susceptible cells4. Incubation of intact cells with fragment A does not lead to EF-2 inactivation. Probably, therefore, an apparatus exists in the membranes of susceptible cells that facilitates the uptake of toxin and generation of its fragment A in the cytoplasm and the entry process involves the C-terminal portion of the toxin molecule, fragment B (ref. 5).
Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia-1 (DISC1): A promising lead in molecular analyzes of schizophrenia

Abstract Although the genetics of schizophrenia (SZ) remains unresolved, recently both linkage/association studies and cytogenetic approaches have clarified several possible genes for SZ. In the neuropathology of SZ, many now agree that there are at least cytoarchitectural abnormalities such as alterations in synaptic, dendritic, and axonal organization, but clear molecular markers unique to SZ are still missing. In this review, we propose an approach relying on Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia-1 (DISC1), a candidate gene for SZ that may shed light on the molecular neuropathology of SZ. DISC1 was originally identified as the sole disrupted gene with an open reading frame, from a ‘unique’ Scottish family in which familial SZ and other major mental illnesses occur in tight association with a hereditary chromosomal abnormality. Additional genetic and biochemical approaches using autopsied brains from patients with SZ from other populations than the Scottish family suggest that DISC1 may be implicated not only in the Scottish family but also in ‘general’ cases of SZ. Furthermore, functional dissection of DISC1 protein indicates that DISC1 is a cytoskeletal protein that plays a key role in neurodevelopment, which may be relevant to the pathogenesis of SZ. Here, we provide a summary of the current updates of studies of DISC1 and their future perspective, especially its possible role in the pathophysiology of SZ, in association with other genetic and environmental factors.
Whither the withering democratic deficit? The impact of the Lisbon Treaty on the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice

This article examines how the Lisbon Treaty's changes to the European Union's (EU's) Area of Freedom, Security and Justice (AFSJ) have affected its ‘democratic deficit’. How this issue is perceived depends on one's conceptual understanding of democratic legitimacy. This article reviews key scholarly perspectives on this matter and organizes these according to Schmidt's concepts of ‘inputs’, ‘throughputs’ and ‘outputs’. The article then applies this framework to specific innovations of the Lisbon Treaty, including new roles for the European Parliament and Court of Justice in the AFSJ. The article concludes that the EU's latest treaty has improved its democratic deficit in some regards, but that many issues of democratic legitimacy remain.
The role of the growth hormone (GH) receptor and JAK1 and JAK2 kinases in the activation of Stats 1, 3, and 5 by GH.

GH has been shown to activate the GH receptor (GHR)-associated tyrosine kinase JAK2 and the Src homology 2 domain-containing transcription factors Stats (signal transducers and activators of transcription) 1, 3, and 5. The present work investigates the role of GHR and JAK2 in the activation of Stats 1, 3, and 5 by GH. The ability of GH to stimulate the tyrosyl phosphorylation of these Stats was assessed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing truncated and mutated GHR. GH was observed to stimulate tyrosyl phosphorylation of Stats 1, 3, and 5 in CHO cells expressing GHRs that bind JAK2 [GHR1-638 (full-length) and GHR1-454 (lacks approximately half of the cytoplasmic domain)] but not in CHO cells expressing GHR that do not bind JAK2 (GHR1-318 or GHR1-294). GH-dependent tyrosyl phosphorylation of Stat5, but not Stats 1 or 3, was reduced in CHO cells expressing GHR1-454. GH-dependent tyrosyl phosphorylation of Stats 3 and 5 was severely reduced and undetectable for Stat1 in cells expressing GHR1-454 i...
In vivo MRI virtual colonography in a mouse model of colon cancer

We have developed a reliable noninvasive method for monitoring colonic tumors and mucosal inflammation in a mouse model of colon cancer using magnetic resonance colonography (MRC). After a mild cleansing enema, the colon is filled with Fluorinert, a perfluorinated liquid that does not produce a proton MR signal. The mouse is placed in a dedicated volume MR receiver coil, and high-resolution images are acquired in three planes. The Fluorinert enema distends the mouse colon, creating an artifact-free black homogeneous background, allowing clear delineation of the inflamed colonic wall and visualization of luminal tumors in various stages of development. A gadolinium-based contrast agent can be administered i.v. to the animal to detect mural inflammation or tumor vascularity. This technique is useful for serial monitoring of the effects of preventive or therapeutic strategies on tumor development without killing the animal or requiring invasive endoscopies. The animal preparation and imaging can be completed in ∼1.5 h.