cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Caffeine promotes in vitro fertilization of mouse ova within 15 minutes

Epididymal sperm were collected from C57Bl6/J X DBA2/J (B6D2) males and allowed to capacitate for 2 hr. When cumulus-free oocytes were exposed to sperm for 15 min in either the presence (6.0 mM) or absence of caffeine, fertilization did not occur. However, when cumulus cells were left intact, 23% of oocytes were fertilized in caffeine-free medium and 62% in caffeine-containing medium. When cumulus-free oocytes were incubated with sperm for 30 min, none was fertilized in the absence of caffeine, but 33% were fertilized when 6.0 mM caffeine was present (P less than .02). These effects of caffeine were on the sperm, as sperm exposed to caffeine and then coincubated with oocytes for 15 min in essentially caffeine-free media fertilized a similar percent of oocytes (93%) as when sperm and oocytes were exposed to caffeine during the fertilization period (86%). When sperm were capacitated in caffeine-containing medium, the percentage of ova fertilized was similar to capacitation without caffeine. We conclude that both cumulus cells and caffeine speed up the fertilization process with mouse gametes and that the effect of caffeine is on the sperm, but not due to more rapid capacitation.
The Relationship Between Childhood Sexual Abuse and Adult Mental Health Among Undergraduates: Victim Gender Doesn't Matter

A large body of research has documented the harmful effects of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) on adult mental health among females, but less work has examined this issue among males. This study examined whether gender moderated the relationship between CSA and adult mental health among a mixed-gender sample of 406 undergraduates. A Pearson chi-square test indicated that a significantly greater proportion of females (41.6%) than males (30.7%) reported a history of CSA. ANCOVAs tested whether gender, CSA status, and their interaction were related to adult mental health symptomatology as measured by Brief Symptom Inventory gender-normed t scores. Participants with a history of CSA reported significantly higher levels of global mental health problems, hostility, paranoid ideation, and psychoticism. The gender by CSA status interaction was not significant for any scale, indicating that the harmful effects of CSA on adult mental health did not vary by gender.
Persistent Vaginal Cornification in Goldthioglucose-Treated BALB/c/Ki Mice

A single injection of various concentrations of goldthioglucose (GTG) was administered to adult female BALB/c/Ki mice. The characteristic weight gain following GTG was proportional to the dose. Animals that attained a body weight of 40 g or more by 90 days after GTG demonstrated persistent vaginal cornification. Animals that weighed less than 40 g after 90 days continued to have regular vaginal cycles. However, the persistent vaginal cornification started approximately 15 days after GTG, when the body weights were comparable to those of controls. A quantitative determination was made of the amount of damage present in the ventral medial region of the hypothalamus of the treated animals. Those animals having greater than a “critical” amount of damage in this region of the hypothalamus attained body weights more than 40 g plus persistent vaginal cornification; animals with less hypothalamic damage attained body weights less than 40 g and cycled regularly. Ovaries from animals with persistent vaginal cornifi...
On the stability of the transport equation

We consider boundary value problems associated with the equation Tϕ′=−Aϕ in a Hilbert Space, where T and A are bounded, self adjoint, injective, and A has a bounded inverse. We discuss the stability of the solution ϕ when A is perturbed by a self adjoint operator.
Computer-aided schema for instructional gaming

Game construction is of importance in disciplines where programming expertise is generally lacking. An experimental implementation of an instructional gaming system, APLGAME, has been developed for use within IBM. It is based on the APL system and features two modes: Author and Player. Both modes are conversational and terminal oriented. The Author Mode enables the author to construct a game scenario by natural language communication and prompting. It utilizes the concept of frame presentation. The Player Mode presents the scenario to the player.Application of APLGAME is illustrated by an experimental instructional game, The Ecology Decision Game.
Beyond session segmentation: predicting changes in search intent with client-side user interactions

Effective search session segmentation "grouping queries according to common task or intent" can be useful for improving relevance, search evaluation, and query suggestion. Previous work has largely attempted to segment search sessions off-line, after the fact. In contrast, we present preliminary investigation of predicting, in real time, whether a user is about to switch interest - that is, whether the user is about to finish the current search and switch to another search task (or stop searching altogether). We explore an approach for this task using client-side user behavior such as clicks, scrolls, and mouse movements, contextualized by the content of the search result pages and previous searches. Our experiments over thousands of real searches show that we can identify context and user behavior patterns that indicate that a user is about to switch to a new search task. These preliminary results can be helpful for more effective query suggestion and personalization.
Titanium-based coatings on steel: dip coating and plasma spray

Abstract Coatings deposited by plasma spraying and dip coating were compared. The coating material was a TiNi eutectic. Steel rod substrates were coated using each technique. Some of the coated rods were then selectively oxidized or nitrided to form an external layer of TiO 2 or TiN. Cross-sections showing the morphologies of the coatings and the microstructures of the substrates are presented and discussed.
Defining, designing, and evaluating digital communication systems

The fundamental relationships in defining, designing, and evaluating digital communication system performance are reviewed. The concept of bandwidth-limited and power-limited systems and how such conditions influence the design when the choices are confined to M-ary phase-shift keying (MPSK) and M-ary frequency-shift keying (MFSK) modulation are examined. The definitions and computations involved in transforming from data bits to channel bits to symbols to chips are discussed. It is suggested that since most digital communication systems share these concepts, understanding them should enable one to evaluate other such systems in a similar way. >
Reward Conditions and Socioeconomic Status in the Learning of Older Adults.

It was hypothesized that older adults do not perform well in laboratory learning tasks, not so much because they do not learn well as because they are reluctant to demonstrate what they have learned by venturing responses when uncertain. This hypothesis was tested by contrasting the performance of older subjects who were rewarded for responding, right or wrong (experimental group) with subjects who were rewarded for only correct responses (control group). Older subjects from a wide range of SES levels learned most efficiently under the control condition. However, for older subjects from high SES vs low SES levels, differential results were obtained. The high SES subjects learned more efficiently under the control condition, whereas there was a trend for the low SES subjects to learn more efficiently under the experimental condition. The hypothesis therefore received at least partial support in this study.
Multiple human detection and tracking by using multiple-stage HOG detector and PFGPDM

Detection and tracking of a varying number of people is very essential in surveillance sensor systems. In the real applications, due to various human appearance and confusors, as well as various environmental conditions, multiple targets detection and tracking become even more challenging. In this paper, we proposed a new framework integrating a Multiple-Stage Histogram of Oriented Gradients (HOG) based human detector and the Particle Filter Gaussian Process Dynamical Model (PFGPDM) for multiple targets detection and tracking. The Multiple-Stage HOG human detector takes advantage from both the HOG feature set and the human motion cues. The detector enables the framework detecting new targets entering the scene as well as providing potential hypotheses for particle sampling in the PFGPDM. After processing the detection results, the motion of each new target is calculated and projected to the low dimensional latent space of the GPDM to find the most similar trained motion trajectory. In addition, the particle propagation of existing targets integrates both the motion trajectory prediction in the latent space of GPDM and the hypotheses detected by the HOG human detector. Experimental tests are conducted on the IDIAP data set. The test results demonstrate that the proposed approach can robustly detect and track a varying number of targets with reasonable run-time overhead and performance.
A parametric model for evaporating liquid jets in dilute gas–solid flows

Abstract A parametric model has been developed for the study of liquid jet evaporation in gas–solid suspension flows. The model takes into account the phase interactions with phase changes in the mass, momentum and energy conservation equations of all the gas, liquid, and solid phases. Parametric effects on the mixing characteristics such as evaporation length, temperature and velocity of each phase, trajectories, and the phase volume fraction distributions are illustrated. It is found that the evaporation length is shortened in the presence of particles in a liquid jet of any injection angle. The evaporation length decreases with the increase of solids loading as well as the increase of jetting angle from co-current to counter-current. Comparison of jet evaporation length between the previously reported experimental results and modeling predictions shows a good qualitative agreement.
Effect of a gonadotropin inhibiting substance on the ovarian histology in mice.

Abstract The effect of a gonadotropin inhibiting substance, which was prepared from the precipitate of acidified urine of adult males by extraction with a borate buffer solution, on the ovarian structure and the ovulation in immature mice given HCG was studied. No ovulation occurred in the mice injected HCG with the inhibitor. Atretic and enlarged ovarian follicles with proliferated granulosa cells and developed antra were formed 18 hours after the injection in these animals. Later the enlarged follicle which failed to rupture without the stimulation of LH reached a stage of atresia or a corpus luteum of atresia at the center of which the ovum was present. These findings confirmed that the inhibiting substance suppressed mainly the action of LH and that its action was not a delay of ovulation but its suppression.
BY THEIR (NEW) WORDS SHALL YE KNOW THEM : EDITH WHARTON, MARION MAINWARING, AND THE BUCCANEERS

Reviewers are sharply divided about the success with which Marion Mainwaring “completed” Edith Wharton's unfinished novelThe Buccaneers. To gauge the “seamlessness” of the fit between Wharton's portion of the novel and the chapters that Mainwaring added, the present study presents a chapter-by-chapter analysis of the ratio of new types (i.e., words that did not appear in previous chapters) to tokens. Analysis of Wharton's classic novelsThe House of Mirth, Ethan Frome, andThe Age of Innocence indicates that the ratio of new types to tokens followed a standard progression in her work. Analysis of Wharton's twenty-nine chapters ofThe Buccaneers indicates that here, too, she was following the same course. However, analysis of the “completed” version ofThe Buccaneers reveals that the substitution of Mainwaring for Wharton as author caused a decisive break from the well established pattern.
Are there active glaciers on Mars? Reply

Gillespie . 1 concur with our interpretation that certain lobate equatorial and mid-latitude features on Mars are due to debris-covered glaciers formed largely during past periods of increased spin-axis obliquity, when climate regimes favoured snow and ice accumulation and glacial flow2. They suggest that the ‘hourglass’ deposit, dated at more than 40 Myr old2, could be active today owing to an additional mechanism that supports “local augmentation of accumulation from snowfall” without climate change on Mars. This mechanism requires the present, or very recent, release of groundwater to the surface to form aufeis (groundwater-fed ‘glaciers’) where the groundwater is generated by dewatering of hydrous compounds or melting by magmatic or impact-generated heat. We assess whether this suggestion applies to the deposits in question — it was previously proposed for much older deposits in other areas of Mars3,4. We make particular reference to the key relationships in the accumulation zones.
Continuous Electronic Fetal Monitoring: Contradictions Between Practice and Research

BIB The reliability, validity, and efficacy of electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) remain matters of controversy. In fact, several professional organizations, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, have endorsed the use of intermittent auscultation for low-risk pregnant women. Nevertheless, in 1996, 83% of laboring women in the United States are monitored electronically. Nurses should encourage healthy, low-risk pregnant women to weigh carefully decisions about the use of EFM.
The UI design process

The root cause of many user interface (UI) design deficiencies is not a lack of knowledge about human-computer interaction principles nor a lack of information on user needs. Rather, many UI deficiencies arise because the UI design process is ad hoc and the design is not communicated successfully to the programmers who will implement it. Many UI designers are seeking and discovering ways to plan, manage, and document UI design work more effectively. This workshop provided an opportunity for participants to share lessons learned and obtain advice from other participants.In the weeks leading up to the workshop, participants selected the specific topics that were of prime concern to them. As a result, we narrowed the focus of the workshop to the following topics:• Division of UI design activities into stages• Division of labor and interdisciplinary collaboration• Collaborating in geographically-dispersed projects• Writing the UI specification• Defining the maturity of the UI design process.The following sections summarize the results of the workshop activities for each of these topics.
B12-mediated, long wavelength photopolymerization of hydrogels

Medical hydrogel applications have expanded rapidly over the past decade. Implantation in patients by noninvasive injection is preferred, but this requires hydrogel solidification from a low viscosity solution to occur in vivo via an applied stimuli. Transdermal photo-cross-linking of acrylated biopolymers with photoinitiators and lights offers a mild, spatiotemporally controlled solidification trigger. However, the current short wavelength initiators limit curing depth and efficacy because they do not absorb within the optical window of tissue (600–900 nm). As a solution to the current wavelength limitations, we report the development of a red light responsive initiator capable of polymerizing a range of acrylated monomers. Photoactivation occurs within a range of skin type models containing high biochromophore concentrations.
Synthesis of C14,15-dihydro-C22,25-epi north unit of cephalostatin 1 via "red-ox" modifications of hecogenin acetate.

The C14,15-Dihydro-C22,25-epi north unit of cephalostatin 1 has been synthesized in 11 operations from commercially available hecogenin acetate via multiple reductions and oxidations. The key transformations include (i) CrVI-catalyzed E-ring opening, (ii) C17 hydroxylation, and (iii) a base-triggered cyclization cascade.
The Postsecondary Preparation of San Joaquin Valley Hispanic Rural High School Students.

In a study of student and school sources of cultural and social capital, small rural high schools were found to prepare college-eligible Hispanic high school students in greater proportions than large urban high schools.
Cultural and biochemical characteristics of a leptospire from frog kidney.

Growth of a leptospire isolated from frog kidney tissue was stimulated by the addition of glucose to a bovine albumin polysorbate 80 medium, did not grow in the absence of polysorbate 80, but did respire on a complex of polysorbate 80 and bovine albumin. Growth was completely inhibited by 2-deoxy-D-glucose in a glucose-free bovine albumin polysorbate 80 medium. A requirement for vitamins B1 (thiamine) and B12 was demonstrated. Oxythiamine and the thiazole fragment of thiamine were nearly equivalent to vitamin B1 in growth supporting activity while thyamine pyrophosphate, thyamine monophosphate, the pyrimidine fragment of vitamin B1 and pyrithiamine were much less effective. The isolate was continually propagated at 31.5, 29, 20, 15, and 9 C. Growth could be initiated at 33.5–34 C. but serial subculture failed. Growth was not initiated at 35 u.c. The organism had a cellular but no extracellular tributyrinase.
Theory of electronic structure evolution in GaAsN and GaPN alloys

Using the empirical pseudopotential method and large atomistically relaxed supercells, we have systematically studied the evolution of the electronic structure of ${\mathrm{GaP}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{N}}_{x}$ and ${\mathrm{GaAs}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{N}}_{x},$ from the dilute nitrogen impurity regime to the nascent nitride alloy. We show how substitutional nitrogen forms perturbed host states (PHS) inside the conduction band, whereas small nitrogen aggregates form localized cluster states (CS) in the band gap. By following the evolution of these states and the ``perturbed host states'' with increasing nitrogen composition, we propose a new model for low-nitrogen-content ${\mathrm{GaAs}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{N}}_{x}$ and ${\mathrm{GaP}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{N}}_{x}$ alloys: As the nitrogen composition increases, the energy of the CS is pinned while the energy of the PHS plunges down as the nitrogen composition increases. The impurity limit (PHS above CS) is characterized by strongly localized wave functions, low pressure coefficients, and sharp emission lines from the CS. The amalgamation limit (PHS overtake the CS) is characterized by a coexistence of localized states (leading to high effective mass, exciton localization, Stokes shift in emission versus absorption) overlapping delocalized PHS (leading to asymmetrically broadened states, low temperature coefficeint, delocalized ${E}_{+}$ band at higher energies). The alloy limit (PHS well below CS) may not have been reached experimentally, but is predicted to be characterized by conventional extended states. Our theory shows that these alloy systems require a polymorphous description, permitting the coexistence of many different local environments, rather than an isomorphous model that focuses on few impurity-host motifs.
Particle removal in the ablation of artificial graphite

Particle removal in ablation of artificial graphite linked to oxidation, using high speed motion pictures in analysis
Grain boundary self-diffusion in evaporated Au films at low temperatures

Abstract Direct self-diffusion measurements in vapor-deposited polycrystalline Au films have been made using 195 Au radioactive tracer and an r.f. back-sputtering technique for serial sectioning. A temperature range of 117°–177°C was investigated. It has been demonstrated that self-diffusion in thin Au films at these low temperatures takes place by rapid transport of the tracer atoms along the grain boundaries. The grain boundary self-diffusion parameters are Q b =1.0±0.1 eV and δD b 0 = 9 × 10 −10 cm 3 /sec, which compare well with those in bulk polycrystalline Au.
Monte Carlo simulation of nonadiabatic expansion in cometry atmospheres: Halley

Monte Carlo methods developed for the characterization of velocity-dependent collision processes and ballistic transports in planetary exospheres form the basis of the present computer simulation of icy comet atmospheres, which iteratively undertakes the simultaneous determination of velocity distribution for five neutral species (water, together with suprathermal OH, H2, O, and H) in a flow regime varying from the hydrodynamic to the ballistic. Experimental data from the neutral mass spectrometer carried by Giotto for its March, 1986 encounter with Halley are compared with a model atmosphere.
Prolactin stimulation of tyrosyl phosphorylation of Shc proteins in Nb2 lymphoma cells, but not mammary tissues

Prolactin (PRL) stimulates lactogenesis in mammary cells and mitogenesis in a variety of cell types including Nb(2) cells. Studies indicate that a different composite of signaling pathways is involved in the PRL stimulation of mitogenesis as compared to lactogenesis. In the present studies, PRL is shown to stimulate the tyrosyl phosphorylation of all three isoforms of Shc proteins in Nb(2) cells (mitogenesis), but not in the mammary gland. Maximal phosphorylation of the Shc proteins is expressed between 10 and 15 min after a 50-ng/ml PRL treatment. In addition, there is an increased association between the Grb2 protein and Shc proteins upon PRL stimulation. However, no increased association between JAK2 and Shc proteins was observed in either the Nb(2) cells or mammary tissues.
Impact of mitral stenosis and aortic atresia on survival in hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Background Aortic atresia has been implicated as a risk factor for decreased survival after stage 1 palliation. Prior studies evaluating the association of anatomic subtypes and mortality report conflicting results. Our objective was to determine if mitral valve patency with aortic atresia is associated with increased mortality in hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). Methods All patients (n = 72) with classic HLHS born between August 1996 and May 2002, who underwent stage I Norwood palliation, had presenting echocardiograms reviewed for patency of the mitral and aortic valves. The cohort was divided into three groups: aortic atresia-mitral atresia (AA-MA), aortic stenosis-mitral stenosis (AS-MS), and aortic atresia-mitral stenosis (AA-MS). Analysis included analysis of variance techniques for continuous variables and the 2-tailed Fisher exact test for categoric variables. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method with log-rank testing. Results Of the 72 patients, 36 had AA-MA, 17 had AS-MS, and 19 had AA-MS. The stage 1 hospital survival was 92% for the entire cohort, 97% for AA-MA, 94% for AS-MS, and 79% for AA-MS (p = 0.05). Interstage mortality was 8% (6 of 72) overall, but was 21% (4 of 19) for AA-MS versus 6% (2 of 36) for AA-MA and 0% for AS/MS. Overall survival to date was 79% for the entire cohort but was 58% for AA-MS, 86% for AA/MA, and 88% for AA-MS (p = 0.015). Aortic atresia alone was not associated with increased mortality (p = 0.2). Conclusions In patients with HLHS, aortic atresia was associated with increased mortality only in the presence of a patent mitral valve. The highest incidence of death was observed primarily during the interstage period.
The Not-So-New Social History at Colonial Williamsburg

Richard Handler and Eric Gable The New History in an Old Museum. Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1997. 235 pp.
Radon transfer from groundwater used in showers to indoor air

Abstract Estimation of Rn transfer from water to indoor air based on multi-day measurements may underestimate alpha exposure that occurs at short time scales in confined spaces, such as from showering, in houses with high Rn activities in the water supply. In order to examine one such incremental increase in exposure, variations in Rn in water and indoor air in 18 houses with private wells in western North Carolina (USA) were investigated. Radon in well water ranged from 158 to 811 Bq L −1 (median 239 Bq L −1 ). After 20-min showers in bathrooms with closed doors, peak Rn in air increases (above background) ranged from 71 to 4420 Bq m −3 (median 1170 Bq m −3 ). Calculated transfer coefficients at the scale of a 40-min closed bathroom (20-min shower plus 20 min post-shower) are described by a lognormal distribution whose geometric mean exceeds the widely-used ∼10 −4 whole-house transfer coefficient by about one order of magnitude. As short-lived decay products grow from shower-derived Rn, short-term alpha energy exposure occurs in bathrooms in addition to the exposure caused by Rn mixed throughout the volume of the house. Due to the increasing ratio of Rn decay products to Rn, alpha energy exposure is greatest several minutes after the shower is turned off. For a 7.2-min shower with 10 min of additional exposure before opening the door, a geometric mean 5.6% increase in exposure over the ∼10 −4 whole-house transfer coefficient derived from longer measurement periods was estimated. In addition to Rn activity in water, short-term shower exposure to Rn progeny depends on exposure time, ventilation, attachment and deposition, among other variable factors that characterize individual houses and residents.
Gain of function of cardiac ryanodine receptor in a rat model of type 1 diabetes

Aims Ventricular myocytes isolated from hearts of streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats exhibit increased spontaneous Ca2+ release. Studies attribute this defect to an enhancement in activity of type 2 ryanodine receptor (RyR2). To date, underlying reasons for RyR2 dysregulation remain undefined. This study assesses whether the responsiveness of RyR2 following stimulation by intrinsic ligands is being altered during experimental type 1 diabetes (T1D). Methods and results M-mode echocardiography established a cardiomyopathy in 8 weeks STZ-diabetic rats. Confocal microscopy confirmed an increase in the spontaneous Ca2+ release in isolated ventricular myocytes. Western blots revealed no significant change in steady-state levels of the RyR2 protein. When purified to homogeneity and incorporated into planar lipid bilayers, RyR2 from STZ-diabetic rats (dRyR2) exhibited reduced current amplitude at ±35 mV. dRyR2 was also more responsive to intrinsic cytoplasmic activators Ca2+, adenosine triphosphate, and cyclic adenosine diphosphate ribose and less responsive to the cytoplasmic deactivator Mg2+. Threshold for the activation of RyR2 by trans (luminal) Ca2+ was also reduced. These changes were independent of phosphorylation at Ser2808 and Ser2814. Two weeks of insulin treatment starting after 6 weeks of diabetes blunted the phenotype change, indicating that the gain of function is specific to the diabetes and not the result of STZ interacting directly with RyR2. Conclusion These data show, for the first time, that RyR2 is acquiring a gain-of-function phenotype independent of its phosphorylation status during T1D and provides new insights for the enhanced spontaneous Ca2+ release in myocytes from T1D rats.
A novel educational programme to improve knowledge regarding health care-associated infection and hand hygiene

Fitzpatrick M, Everett-Thomas R, Nevo I, Shekhter I, Rosen LF, Scheinman SR, Arheart KL, Birnbach DJ. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2011; 17: 269–274 A novel educational programme to improve knowledge regarding health care-associated infection and hand hygiene Lack of hand hygiene by health-care workers is the most significant cause of health care-associated infection. This programme was designed to make health-care workers want to wash their hands, to change their knowledge regarding hand hygiene and health care-associated infection, and influence practice. Improvement between pre- and post-test scores was statistically significant. Compliance is a multifactorial problem that involves knowledge and behaviour. Educational awareness and frequent reminders are critical to maintain high rates of hand hygiene compliance.
Applications of dynamic programming and other optimization methods in pest management

Pest management is a multistage decision process in a stochastic and observable system. A control model of a pest ecosystem is characterized by discontinuous cost functions and nonlinear, stochastic state equations describing the interactions among a large namber of ecosystem components. Dynamic programming has been the optimization technique which has been most widely applied to pest management analysis, but several other optimization methods have also proven useful. This paper reviews a number of data-based applications of optimization methods to pest management. The comparative advantages of alternative optimization methods are discussed.
Juris Hartmanis: the beginnings of computational complexity

The author discusses the early period of Hartmanis' research. He examines the origins of the concepts presented in the early papers and the influence of and effects on other research. Some of the important results are considered. >
Endoscopic appearance and location dictate diagnostic yield of biopsies in eosinophilic oesophagitis

Summary Background Acknowledging that eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a disease with variable involvement throughout the oesophagus, studies have suggested a minimum of five biopsies to diagnose EoE. Although it is accepted that furrows and exudates appear to represent areas of inflammation, no research to date has looked specifically at EoE endoscopic findings to see if eosinophilic infiltrate correlates with specific endoscopic findings. Aim To evaluate the distribution of eosinophils in EoE and determine whether endoscopic appearances predict the degree of eosinophilia at various locations of the oesophagus. Methods We performed a prospective cross sectional study of EoE (treated and untreated) patients to study the distribution of eosinophils according to endoscopic findings. The oesophagus of 10 EoE patients were biopsied up to 32 times in a circumferential manner. The mucosal changes were documented at the site of each biopsy. Histological determination of eosinophil counts and related histopathology of the oesophagus were then correlated with endoscopic findings. Similar biopsy assessments were made in treated (resolved) EoE patients (n = 6) to determine the permanence of specific endoscopic appearances. Results A total of 16 patients were biopsied (10 EoE, 6 treated EoE). A total of 432 biopsies were obtained in all with 294 biopsies from 10 EoE subjects. Eosinophil density was increased distally in the majority of EoE patients. Biopsies performed in areas of exudates and furrows demonstrated higher eosinophil counts. Lines and normal-appearing oesophagi in EoE subjects were not commonly associated with elevated eosinophil counts (>15 eos/HPF). Rings alone without associated furrows or plaques did not demonstrate elevated eosinophil counts and were seen in resolved EoE (Rx-EoE) as well as in active EoE patients. Conclusions Eosinophilic esophagitis remains a variable disease with some patients manifesting extensive disease throughout the oesophagus. Characteristics of furrows and exudates found during endoscopy are associated with higher peak eosinophil counts, requiring fewer biopsies to make a diagnosis. Lines and otherwise normal appearances of the oesophagus suggest a milder mucosal eosinophilia, requiring substantial biopsies to adequately identify fields with diagnostic eosinophil counts.
Enhancing community knowledge and health behaviors to eliminate blinding trachoma in Mali using radio messaging as a strategy

The National Blindness Prevention Program in Mali has broadcast messages on the radio about trachoma as part of the country’s trachoma elimination strategy since 2008. In 2011, a radio impact survey using multi-stage cluster sampling was conducted in the regions of Kayes and Segou to assess radio listening habits, coverage of the broadcasts, community knowledge and behavior specific to trachoma and facial cleanliness of children. Radio access and listening were high, with 60% of respondents having heard a message on the radio about trachoma. The majority of respondents knew about trachoma, its root causes, its impact on health and prevention measures. Additionally, 66% reported washing their children’s faces more than or equal to twice/day and 94% reported latrine disposal of feces. A high percentage of persons who gave a positive response to knowledge and behavior questions reported hearing the trachoma messages on the radio with 60% reporting that the radio is where they learned about trachoma. There was no significant difference in facial cleanliness when comparing children whose primary caregiver had/ had not heard the trachoma messages. Next steps include revising the current messages to include more focused behavior change messaging and to engage in a more robust use of community radios.
Direct and telemetered lead impedance.

OBJECTIVES We undertook this study to determine whether telemetered lead impedance measurements (LIM) can be correlated with direct LIM and to determine the stability of LIM over time when measured directly and via telemetry. METHODS Direct LIM and telemetered LIM were measured in 91 patients; 101 leads during initial implantation and 40 leads during pulse generator replacement. Differences in direct LIM measured during initial implant and pulse generator replacement (direct-direct) were compared in 41 patients (28 atrial leads and 37 ventricular leads). The stability of telemetered LIM obtained immediately postoperatively, at 1 month and 1 year, postimplantation was assessed in 50 patients (23 atrial and 49 ventricular leads). RESULTS In atrial leads acute direct LIM was 633.9 +/- 18.4 omega versus 575.8 +/- 18.5 omega for telemetered LIM (r = 0.58), and chronic direct LIM was 670.9 +/- 49.3 omega versus 607.0 +/- 36.3 omega for telemetered LIM (r = 0.87). In ventricular leads acute direct LIM was 747.3 +/- 16.9 omega and 684.7 +/- 16.4 omega for telemetered LIM (r = 0.69), and chronic direct LIM was 674.8 +/- 29.9 omega and 625.2 +/- 28.5 omega for telemetered LIM (r = 0.68). The mean direct-direct LIM rose 124 omega (P < 0.001) in atrial leads and 10 omega (P = NS) in ventricular leads. Telemetered LIM for atrial leads was 581.0 +/- 27.6 omega immediately postimplantation compared to 625.7 +/- 34.8 omega at 1 month and 754.1 +/- 43.0 omega at 1 year. Telemetered LIM for ventricular leads was 661.3 +/- 17.5 omega at implant, 684.6 +/- 20.7 omega at 1 month and 724.7 +/- 22.7 omega at 1 year. CONCLUSIONS There is a good but limited correlation between direct and telemetered LIM. Mean direct LIM obtained at initial implantation is similar to that measured at pulse generator replacement. The telemetered LIM is stable over the first month postimplantation but tends to rise during the first year of follow-up and substantial changes in impedance are not uncommon in individuals with normal function. There is a tendency for LIM to rise with lead maturation. If telemetered LIM is to be followed over time, a baseline telemetered value should be obtained immediately postoperatively.
Biodegradable polymers: Photolysis and fungal degradation of poly(arylene keto esters)

Poly(keto esters) were prepared from 4,4′-bis(chloroacetyl) diphenyl ether, 4,4′-bis(bromoacetyl)diphenyl ether, and 4,4′-bis(2-bromopropionyl)-diphenyl ether and aliphatic diacids of 6, 8, 9, 10, and 12 carbon atoms. Low-molecular-weight polymers were found to support the growth of Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus. Introduction of methyl group to the polymer chain decreased the susceptibility of the polymers to fungal attack. Although monomeric model compounds were found to undergo photodegradation the poly(keto esters) underwent mostly crosslinking when irradiated with UV light.
32.4: Influence of H2 Addition to Xe‐Ne Gas Mixtures for the Voltage Lowering of AC Plasma Display Panels

Discharge characteristics of Xe-Ne-H2 gas mixtures are investigated for the improvement of ac plasma display panel. Small amount of H2 addition to Xe-Ne gas mixtures results in lowering of the firing voltage. When H2 gas is mixed 0.01% of the total volume, the firing voltage is lowered by about 10%, and the aging time become bellow 1/10, while the luminous efficacy is almost unchanged compared to those of no H2 added gas mixtures. Surface modification of the MgO surface is suggested.
Reconstruction of digital deformities in rheumatoid arthritis

Digital deformities result from rheumatoid synovitis. These deformities are easier to treat in the early stage, when the deformity is passively correctable. Treatment options become limited as the disease progresses and the deformity becomes fixed. Surgical treatment of digital deformities is last in the priority of surgical procedures for the rheumatoid hand and wrist. It is therefore important to understand the patient's needs and expectations for improvement and attempt to match them with the surgical options that can predictably improve the patient's function. A close collaboration with the patient's rheumatologist is helpful in the overall management of patients.
Linguistic and nonlinguistic turn direction concepts

This paper discusses the conceptualization of turn directions along traveled routes. Foremost, we are interested in the influence that language has on the conceptualization of turn directions. Two experiments are presented that contrast the way people group turns into similarity classes when they expect to verbally label the turns, as compared to when they do not. We are particularly interested in the role that major axes such as the perpendicular left and right axis play--are they boundaries of sectors or central prototypes, or do they have two functions: boundary and prototype? Our results support a) findings that linguistic and nonlinguistic categorization differ and b) that prototypes in linguistic tasks serve additionally as boundaries in nonlinguistic tasks, i.e. they fulfill a double function. We conclude by discussing implications for cognitive models of learning environmental layouts and for route-instruction systems in different modalities.
Scanning for extinct astrobiological residues and current habitats (SEARCH)

SEARCH is a new method to seek evidence of extinct life and potential habitats. SEARCH combines innovative spectroscopic integrated sensing and processing with a hyperspace data-analysis algorithm. Using UV, visible, and near-IR spectroscopic integrated sensing and processing, SEARCH is designed to explore and quantitatively assess a local region on the surface of a planet or moon as a potential habitat for life, past or present. In the course of collecting geological data, SEARCH spectrometry can investigate planetary processes of relevance to past habitability, including the role of water. In addition to its own investigations, SEARCH can be used at a distance to guide a rover to areas of interest for application of other analysis tools. Several prototype implementations of SEARCH have been developed and initial experimental results are presented along with a design for a full-scale version of SEARCH for Mars exploration.
Heart failure risk: effects of red meat, processed red meat, (and enhanced red meat?).

In this issue of Circulation: Heart Failure , Kaluza et al1 report the results from their prospective follow-up trial on 37 035 Swedish men, in which total and processed red meat consumption were associated with greater heart failure (HF) incidence and HF mortality during an ≈12-year follow-up. Compared with men consuming 0.5 servings/d of red meat (1 serving=75 g or 3 oz), those consuming 2.3 servings/d were 20% more likely to develop HF and 30% more likely to die from HF. This effect was largely attributed to processed red meat (eg, sausage and cold cuts); men consuming 1.2 servings/d of processed red meat were 28% more likely to develop HF and 43% more likely to die from HF compared with those consuming 0.2 servings/d. Although no association between unprocessed red meat consumption and HF risk was observed, this negative finding should be interpreted with caution because the difference between the groups with the highest and lowest consumption was <1 serving/d. The findings from Kaluza et al1 support those from a 20-year follow-up on 21 120 male physicians in the United States,2 in which men consuming 1.4 servings/d of total red meat had a 20% higher HF incidence than those consuming 0.2 servings/d. In addition, Nettleton et al3 observed a 27% increase in HF incidence for every 1 serving/d increase in red (mostly processed) meat consumption in 15 143 men and women in the United States; although this association became nonsignificant after accounting for hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, and other factors, this is not entirely surprising, because these factors could be part of the mechanistic connection between red meat intake and HF. From a broader health perspective, it is notable that meta-analyses, each of which represents numerous studies, demonstrated that red meat consumption (especially processed red …
Isolating Rule- versus Evidence-Based Prefrontal Activity during Episodic and Lexical Discrimination: a Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Investigation of Detection Theory Distinctions

Dorsolateral and frontopolar prefrontal cortices (PFCs) are often implicated in neuroimaging studies of memory retrieval, with this activity ascribed to controlled monitoring processes indicative of difficult or demanding retrieval. Difficulty, however, is multiply determined, with success rates governed both by the available evidence andbythenature ofdecisionrules applied tothat evidence. Using event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging, we isolated these factors by 1) contrasting different decision rules across matched evidence and 2) manipulating the level of evidence within a fixed decision rule. For identically constructed retrieval probes (1 old and 1 new item), same--different (are these different?) compared with forced--choice (which one is old?) decision rules yielded bilateral dorsolateral and right frontopolar PFC increases. However, these regions were unaffected when the available evidence was greatly lowered within forced--choice decisions. Thus, the regions were simultaneously sensitive to the type of decision rule and yet insensitive to the level of evidence supporting those decisions. Analogous lexical tasks yielded similar patterns, demonstrating that the PFC responses were not episodic memory specific. We discuss the mechanistic differences between samedifferent versus forced--choice decisions and the implications of these data for current theories of PFC activity during episodic remembering and executive control.
The Linking of Resultative Verbs: Clausal Fusion

The last chapter explored how the CSs of many classes of verbs and deverbal forms are handled by our linking theory, the Isomorphic Linking Hypothesis (ILH). This chapter will focus on a class of verbs that appear to challenge the ILH, resultative verbs like (1).
Social dimensions of gradients in urban ecosystems

Urban ecosystems are complex mosaics in which the biophysical characteristics are transformed over time by a concentrated, diverse set of human activities. Understanding their complexity requires the continuing development of interdisciplinary approaches. The use of gradient approaches has pointed towards the need to examine in greater detail the roles of human influences. In this paper, I propose the addition of three social dimensions to characteristics defining urban gradients: landuse, land management effort, and historical context. These dimensions correspond with major types of social activities that modify the physical environment. They are intended to augment research by explicitly elaborating on the social factors contributing to the variation along the complex, indirect gradients that typify urban areas. The diversity of urban landuses has numerous influences, obvious and subtle, on the complex urban land gradients. Incorporating new information on historical and spatial characteristics of management practices supports more direct fine-scale analyses of the impact of human activities on the environment. This path of inquiry also requires engaging in more detailed research on historical dimensions of urban development in conjunction with biophysical analyses. Examples from Columbia, South Carolina, illustrate the ways that social and historical processes contribute to urban ecology.
Effects of Protein and Fat in the Diets on Hatchability of Eggs and Chick Growth

Abstract An experiment was conducted using Single Comb White Leghorn (S.C.W.L.) hens to study the effect of fat and vitamin B12 (50 μg./kg.) additions to a 32% protein diet; on production parameters, hatchability and chick growth. Levels of protein, fat and vitamin B12 had no significant effect on egg production, however, vitamin B12 supplementation of the 32% protein diet gave a considerable improvement in egg weight. Feed consumption was highest on the 32% protein diet. Adding 8.5% fat to the 16 and 32% protein diets significantly reduced feed intake. The 32% protein diet supported the poorest hatchability. Animal fat (8.5%) or vitamin B12 (50μg./kg.) added to the 32% protein diet supported satisfactory hatchability. On the contrary, addition of 8.5% fat to the 16% protein diet significantly reduced hatchability of eggs. A high level of protein in either the breeder diet or chick diet depressed chick growth, and the combination of both caused a further growth depression. Added fat in the breeder diets had a slight growth depressing effect on chicks. When the chicks were fed a 30% protein diet with 8% added fat, the chicks hatched from hens fed the breeder diets with added fat grew significantly poorer than those hatched from hens fed a similar diet without added fat. Chicks that were hatched with a vitamin B12 carryover were not affected by dietary fat additions. Mortality of chicks hatched from hens fed the diets with added fat was high and adding fat to the chick diet reduced mortality. Vitamin B12 content of egg yolks was increased by adding fat to the 32% protein hen diet. Hatchability of eggs from these hens was higher than for eggs from hens fed a similar diet without added fat. The vitamin B12content of livers of day-old chicks was correlated with increased growth of chicks fed vitamin B12 deficient diets.
Energetic-energetic cocrystals of diacetone diperoxide (DADP): Dramatic and divergent sensitivity modifications via cocrystallization

Here we report a series of energetic–energetic cocrystals that incorporate the primary explosive diacetone diperoxide (DADP) with a series of trihalotrinitrobenzene explosives: 1:1 DADP/1,3,5-trichloro-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TCTNB), 1:1 DADP/1,3,5-tribromo-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TBTNB), and 1:1 DADP/1,3,5-triiodo-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TITNB). Acetone peroxides are attractive for their inexpensive and facile synthesis, but undesirable properties such as poor stability, intractably high sensitivity and low density, an indicator for low explosive power, have limited their application. Here through cocrystallization the density, oxygen balance, and stability of DADP are dramatically improved. Regarding sensitivity, in the case of the DADP/TCTNB cocrystal, the high impact sensitivity of DADP is retained by the cocrystal, making it a denser and less volatile form of DADP that remains viable as a primary explosive. Conversely, the DADP/TITNB cocrystal features impact sensitivity that is greatly reduced relative...