cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Two mechanisms of adriamycin-DNA interaction in L1210 cells.

Abstract Among the effects exerted by adriamycin (ADR), interaction with DNA is closely related to cytotoxicity. The interaction results in the formation of protein-associated DNA single-strand breaks (PA-SSB) and, at drug levels ⩾ 2.8 × 10 −6 M, also in “direct” (nonenzymatic) DNA single-strand breaks (D-SSB). To characterize the two types of DNA lesions, euoxic mouse leukemia L1210 cells were treated with various antioxidant agents in the presence of 2.8 × 10 −6 , × 10 −5 , or × 10 −4 M concentrations of ADR. The enzymes superoxide dismutase (200 μg/ml) or catalase (250 μg/ml), the OH scavengers dimethyl sulfoxide (70 mM) or ethanol (70 mM), and an inhibitor of superoxide production, 2-deoxy-glucose (1 and 10 mM), reduced the frequency of D-SSB to 18.3 to 68.2% of its level in ADR-treated controls, while the frequency of PA-SSB remained unchanged. These observations seem to indicate that ADR-mediated free radicals cause discernible DNA damage in euoxic cells only at very high drug concentrations, greater than the peak plasma level achievable clinically following i.v. bolus. At lower ADR levels, relevant to clinical use, another type of interaction between the drug and DNA prevails, which apparently does not involve a free-radical mechanism.
Child and parent characteristics, parental expectations, and child behaviours related to preschool children's interest in literacy

The current study examined the relations between children's literacy interest and parent and child characteristics (i.e. parents' education level and child's gender), parental expectations of their child's school attainment and achievement and the child's positive and problem behaviours. Participants were 61 preschoolers from predominately low‐income families enrolled in local preschool programmes. Parents completed questionnaires reporting demographic characteristics, parents' expectations and their child's literacy interest. Preschool teachers reported on children's behaviours in the classroom using standard behaviour‐rating scales. Child gender was marginally related to child literacy interest, but parent education was not significantly correlated with interest. Parents' expectation of their child's school achievement was significantly correlated with child literacy interest, but parental expectations about attainment were not. Overall, teachers' reports of children's positive and problem behaviours we...
Echo peak shift spectroscopy of quantum well excitons

Three-pulse four-wave-mixing is used to observe the loss of optical phase memory in an inhomogeneous quantum well. The system?s ability to form a photon echo is almost entirely lost due to spectral diffusion of excitons.
Prevalence of laryngeal irritation signs associated with reflux in asymptomatic volunteers: impact of endoscopic technique (rigid vs. flexible laryngoscope).

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to 1) determine the prevalence of ENT findings in the normal asymptomatic population and 2) to compare findings between flexible and rigid laryngoscopes in an attempt to increase specificity of diagnosis of reflux in endoscopic laryngeal examinations. Study Design: Prospective study. Methods: Fifty-two nonsmoker volunteers (24 male, 28 female), mean age of 42.7 years, with no history of ENT abnormalities or gastroesophageal reflux disease, underwent both rigid and flexible videolaryngologic examinations with a digital endoscopic unit. A group of three expert judges reviewed the oral and transnasal examinations blindly and independently for physical signs of irritation/inflammation commonly associated with reflux. Results: Atleast one sign of tissue irritation was detected in 93% and 83% of the population when using a flexible and a rigid laryngoscope, respectively. Results showed a high incidence of posterior commissure bar (53.2% and 51.9%), arytenoid complex edema/erythema (76.3% and 53.2%), and pseudosulcus (37.2% and 7.7%). Most signs were more frequently detected on flexible transasal examinations than with rigid transoral examinations: posterior pharyngeal wall (<0.01), interarytenoid irritation (<0.01), arytenoids complex irritation (<0.01), ventricular obliteration (<0.01), and pseudosulcus (<0.01). Conclusions: Several signs of posterior laryngeal irritation (e.g., interarytenoid bar, erythema of the medial wall of the arytenoids), which are generally considered to be signs of laryngopharyngeal reflux, are present in a high percentage of nonsymptomatic individuals, raising question about their diagnostic specificity. In addition, these signs were more often detected with flexible than with rigid laryngoscopes, suggesting that flexible laryngoscopy is more sensitive but less specific in identifying laryngeal tissue irritation.
A quantum mechanical investigation of the relation between impact sensitivity and the charge distribution in energetic molecules

Quantum mechanically determined electrostatic potentials for isosurfaces of electron density of a variety of CHNO explosive molecules are analyzed to identify features that are indicative of sensit...
Not-Knowing Gives Way to Knowing

SUMMARY One of the few truly reassuring features of not-knowing among youth workers is the realization that not-knowing cannot last forever. Eventually, some feature of the situation shifts, and youth workers move back into the capacity for action. This chapter describes the last of five themes associated with youth workers' experiences of not knowing what to do: Not-knowing gives way to knowing. In addition to presenting the dominant theme, this chapter discusses the three variations on it, as described by youth worker participants: (a) The rousing power of someone else, (b) I have to respond, because no one else will, and (c) The power of winging it.
A 695 pW standby power optical wake-up receiver for wireless sensor nodes

We propose an ultra-low power optical wake-up receiver with a novel front-end circuit and communication scheme suitable for miniature wireless sensor node applications. Named “FLOW” for Free-space Low-Power Optical Wake-up, the receiver consumes 695pW in standby mode, which is ∼6,000× lower than previously reported RF and ultrasound wake-up radios. In active mode, it consumes 140pJ/bit at 91bps. A pulse width modulated communication encoding scheme is used, and chip-ID masking enables selective batch-programming and synchronization of multiple sensor nodes.
A Raman Study of Etching Silicon in Aqueous KOH

Orientation‐dependent etching of silicon by aqueous is a standard procedure in the microelectronics industry. We have measured the etching products by recording the Raman spectra in real time as the etching of {100} silicon progressed in a solution. The primary etching species has been determined to be OH−, and the etching products have been determined to be the silicate . Isopropyl alcohol does not appear to participate chemically in the etching process.
Direct measurement of tunable optical delays on chip analogue to electromagnetically induced transparency

Direct time-domain measurement of tunable optical delay in a silicon resonating structure is presented. The structure is composed by a double-ring resonator, whose spectrum has a narrow transparency peak with low group velocity analogous to that in electromagnetically induced transparency. Effective group indices from 90 to 290 are obtained by tuning the resonator thermally. The measurements agree well with the theoretical analysis.
Nutrient Transport in Human Annulus Fibrosus is Affected by Compressive Strain and Anisotropy

The avascular intervertebral disc (IVD) receives nutrition via transport from surrounding vasculature; poor nutrition is believed to be a main cause of disc degeneration. In this study, we investigated the effects of mechanical deformation and anisotropy on the transport of two important nutrients--oxygen and glucose--in human annulus fibrosus (AF). The diffusivities of oxygen and glucose were measured under three levels of uniaxial confined compression--0, 10, and 20%--and in three directions--axial, circumferential, and radial. The glucose partition coefficient was also measured at three compression levels. Results for glucose and oxygen diffusivity in AF ranged from 4.46 × 10(-7) to 9.77 × 10(-6) cm(2)/s and were comparable to previous studies; the glucose partition coefficient ranged from 0.71 to 0.82 and was also similar to previous results. Transport properties were found to decrease with increasing deformation, likely caused by fluid exudation during tissue compression and reduction in pore size. Furthermore, diffusivity in the radial direction was lower than in the axial or circumferential directions, indicating that nutrient transport in human AF is anisotropic. This behavior is likely a consequence of the layered structure and unique collagen architecture of AF tissue. These findings are important for better understanding nutritional supply in IVD and related disc degeneration.
Insulations with Low Thermal Conductivity

Appliances would be more energy efficient if thermal insulations could be developed with apparent thermal conductivity (λ) below 0.01 W/m·K. In an effort to identify candidate materials, λ was measured from 300 to 335 K for unevacuated and evacuated systems of angstrom- and micron-size particles.
Recovery of soil nitrate by Kjeldahl analysis

Abstract Recovery of 15N‐labeled and non‐labeled NO3 ‐‐N (100 μg) during total N determination by a semimicro‐Kjeldahl procedure, not modified to include NO3 ‐‐N quantitatively, was studied in the presence and absence of soils varying in organic C. Recovery of NO3 ‐‐N was negligible in non‐soil systems, irrespective of whether water was present or not, unless an oxidizable C source, octyl alcohol (0.04 g), was added to the digestion mixture; addition of octyl alcohol resulted in a recovery of 78 and 87 μg NO3 ‐‐N in the presence and absence of water, respectively. Recovery of 100 μg NO3 ‐‐N added to soils containing from 0.1 to 3.8 g of C/cg of soil ranged from 34 to 90 pg NO3 ‐‐N in the absence of water. The recovery of the added NO3 ‐‐N was in the same order, but not proportional to, the organic C content of these soils. Addition of soil NO3 ‐‐N, determined by a separate method of analysis, to a regular Kjeldahl‐N value is not a satisfactory method for determining total soil N.
The Maternal-Zygotic Transition: Death and Birth of RNAs

Maternal gene products drive early development when the newly formed embryo is transcriptionally inactive. During the maternal-zygotic transition, embryonic transcription is initiated and many maternal RNAs are degraded. Multiple mechanisms regulate the birth of zygotic RNAs and the death of maternal RNAs. Genome activation appears to rely in part on the sequestration of transcriptional repressors by the exponentially increasing amount of DNA during cleavage divisions. Maternal RNA degradation is induced by the binding of proteins and microRNAs to the 3' untranslated region of target RNAs.
Glycine site NMDA receptor antagonists provide protection against ischemia-induced neuronal damage in hippocampal slice cultures

Abstract Ischemia-induced neuronal injury can be reduced by glutamate antagonists acting at the N -methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptor. 7-Chlorokynurenic acid and the recently synthesized compound Acea 1021 block NMDA receptors by acting at the strychnine-insensitive glycine site. The anti-ischemic properties of these compounds were tested by evaluating their ability to reduce CA1 neuronal damage in hippocampal slice cultures deprived of oxygen and glucose. Acea 1021 and 7-chlorokynurenic acid significantly reduced CA1 injury produced by oxygen and glucose deprivation in a dose-dependent manner. The neuroprotective effect of these compounds was reversed by the addition of glycine. The phencyclidine site NMDA antagonist MK-801 also provided significant protection to CA1 neurons against the same insult, and this protection was not affected by the addition of glycine. These results indicate that Acea 1021 and 7-chlorokynurenic acid can provide protection to CA1 neurons against ischemia-induced injury by a glycine-sensitive mechanism.
Composition, assembly and activation of the avian progesterone receptor.

Abstract When isolated from chick oviduct cytosol by antibody adsorption, the inactive progesterone receptor is associated with the two heat shock proteins, hsp90 and hsp70, plus three additional proteins termed p54, p50, and p23 according to their molecular weights. While their functions remain unknown, all of these receptor associated proteins are dissociated upon receptor activation in intact cells. To better understand the assembly and activation mechanisms of progesterone receptor complexes, we have developed a cell-free system for studying receptor interactions with hsp90 and hsp70 and have used this system to examine requirements for hsp90 binding to the receptor. Purified receptor, free of hsp90 and immobilized on an antibody affinity resin, will rebind hsp90 in rabbit reticulocyte lysate when several conditions are met. These include: (1) absence of progesterone, (2) elevated temperature (30°C), (3) presence of ATP, and (4) presence of Mg 2+ . We have obtained maximal hsp90 binding to receptor when lysate is supplemented with 3 mM MgCl 2 and an ATP regenerating system. ATP depletion of lysate by dialysis or ATPase addition blocks hsp90 binding to the receptor. When progesterone is added to pre-formed receptor complexes in reticulocyte lysate it promotes activation and the dissociation of hsp90. This process is also dependent upon ATP. Thus, both the assembly, and activation of the progesterone receptor can be accomplished in the reticulocyte lysate system.
Potential role of increased oxygenation in altering perinatal adrenal steroidogenesis

At birth, the large fetal adrenal involutes rapidly, and the patterns of steroidogenesis change dramatically; the event(s) triggering these changes remain largely unexplored. Fetal abdominal viscera receive hypoxic blood having a partial pressure of oxygen of only ~2 kPa (20–23 mm Hg); perinatal circulatory changes change this to adult values (~20 kPa). We hypothesized that transition from fetal hypoxia to postnatal normoxia participates in altering perinatal steroidogenesis. We grew midgestation human fetal adrenal cells and human NCI-H295A adrenocortical carcinoma cells in 2% O2, then transitioned them to 20% O2 and quantitated steroidogenic mRNAs by quantitative PCR and microarrays. Transitioning fetal adrenal cells from hypoxia to normoxia increased mRNAs for 17α-hydroxylase/17,20 lyase (P450c17), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3βHSD2), and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). We repeated the protocol with NCI-H295A cells acclimated to hypoxia for 15 d, quantitating 31,255 transcripts by microarray. Using an arbitrary 1.5-fold difference, 1 d of normoxia increased 4 transcripts and decreased 56, whereas 2 d of normoxia increased 62 transcripts and decreased 105. P450c17, 3βHSD2, and StAR were ranked among the top eight increased transcripts. These data suggest that the hypoxic/normoxic transition at birth contributes to perinatal changes in adrenal steroidogenesis.
The Mechanism of Glucocorticoid Effects in Fibroblasts

In vivo, the glucocorticoid steroids inhibit fibroblast growth and the production of specific cell products such as collagen and mucopolysaccharide. Depending on the source of the fibroblasts and their growth conditions, several responses can be observed in cultured cells; the proliferation of L cells is inhibited, the growth of synovial fibroblasts is usually stimulated, and some cultured fibroblasts do not respond. The inhibition of L cell growth is preceded by alterations in the rates of hexose and amino acid transport. As in other cell types, there is evidence that the effects of glucocorticoids in fibroblasts are mediated via the induction of new protein synthesis. The specific induced proteins responsible for inhibiting the growth of mouse L929 fibroblasts (or any other cell type) have not been identified. It is possible that glucocorticoids induce the synthesis of a few proteins that, by virtue of their ability to modify (either during or after translation) other proteins involved in several key cellular events, are able to compromise multiple systems and produce growth inhibition. Glucocorticoid-mediated alteration of protein phosphorylation could account for the pleiotropic nature of the hormone effect. To cause a glucocorticoid-specific response in the cell, these hormones must first bind to a cellular receptor. A significant amount of evidence suggests (a) that glucocorticoid receptors may undergo an energy-dependent cycling in the cell and (b) that a single receptor may be able to participate several times in the process of steroid binding and gene activation. Maximal physiological response to, and consequently the clinical response achieved with, a glucocorticoid is usually a function of the extent to which the hormone can be bound in a specific manner. Investigators have proposed that the specific glucocorticoid-binding capacity of a cell is determined by a phosphorylation-dephosphorylation mechanism.
On the motion of charged particles in the geomagnetic field

Abstract We construct an approximate first integral of the equations of motion of a charged particle in a static magnetic field. The integral is analogous to the Stormer integral, but it is not required that the field have axial symmetry in order for the integral to be exact. The integral reduces to that of Stormer when the field does possess axial symmetry. It is used to obtain results concerning trapped particles and cosmic rays previously derived by various people using a variety of techniques. The new technique can readily be extended to cover situations not previously tractable.
All-Copper Chip-to-Substrate Interconnects Part I. Fabrication and Characterization

A fabrication process has been developed and characterized to create all-copper chip-to-substrate input/output connections. Electroless copper plating followed by low-temperature annealing in a nitrogen environment was used to create an all-copper bond between copper pillars. The ability to fuse the two copper surfaces at modest temperature and pressure is demonstrated. The bond strength for the all-copper structure exceeded 165 MPa after annealing at 180°C. During the anneal process, a significant microstructural transformation in the bonded copper-copper interface was observed. The changes were correlated to an increase in the bond strength. The process was characterized with respect to in-plane misalignment of bond sites. Significant planar misalignment, greater than the diameter of the pillars, could be tolerated. Through-plane mismatches between the pillars (pillar gap) as large as 65 μm could be overcome, resulting in good pillar-to-pillar bonding. Successful silicon-on-silicon and silicon-on-FR-4 bonding was achieved with no degradation of the organic board.
Changes in plasma follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, estrogen and progesterone during growth of ovulatory follicles in the pig.

This experiment was conducted to determine the changes in secretion of LH, FSH, estrogen and progesterone during follicle maturation. Ovaries were recovered from 11 non-treated (control) gilts, three on day 13, four on day 16, and four on day 19 of the estrous cycle, and from four altrenogest-treated gilts on day 19. Altrenogest, a progesterone agonist, was fed at a dose of 20 mg once daily from days 13 to 18 to block spontaneous follicle maturation. Gilts were bled daily from day 12 until slaughter. For control gilts, the number of follicles/gilt 1-6 mm in diameter decreased (P less than .05) from 93.5 on day 13 to 21.5 on day 19, and the number of large (greater than 6 mm) follicles increased (P less than .05) from 5.3 to 13.2. Altrenogest treatment blocked loss of small follicles and growth of large follicles between days 13 and 19. Plasma progesterone decreased (P less than .001) between days 12 and 16 in both control and altrenogest-treated gilts. Plasma FSH decreased (P less than .05) between days 12 and 16 only in control gilts. Plasma LH was not significantly affected by day or altrenogest treatment. Plasma estrogen increased (P less than .05) between days 15 and 19 only in control gilts. These results indicate that 1) no increased LH secretion was detected in conjunction with emergence of ovulatory follicles, and 2) atresia of nonovulatory follicles was associated with decreased secretion of FSH. Both atresia and decreasing FSH secretion began before estrogen concentration increased in the systemic circulation.
Moral reasoning and personality components in gifted and average students

101 students, gifted and of average ability in Grades 5, 8, and 10, completed the Defining Issues Test and the Offer Self-image Questionnaire. Significant differences occurred between groups of gifted and average ability on the Defining Issues Test, between the average and gifted girls, and between the boys and girls on Offer's Social Relationships subscale. A regression analysis indicated that the Social Relationships subscale and being gifted were predictors of Rest's p index.
Association Between Vitamin D Levels During Pregnancy and Postpartum Depression

Objective: To evaluate evidence regarding 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OD)D) levels during pregnancy and its association with postpartum depression (PPD). Data Sources: Primary literature was accessed through MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and International Pharmaceutical Abstracts searches through January 2015. Data from published trials were retrieved for analysis using the following search terms: vitamin D, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25(OH)D, postpartum, pregnancy, and depression. Data Extraction: Inclusion criteria were human subjects, English language, vitamin D as the sole micronutrient under study, and measurement of vitamin D level during pregnancy. Studies measuring vitamin D levels after delivery were excluded. Also any antenatal or prepartum depression was excluded. Data Synthesis: Although a variety factors may contribute to the likelihood and severity of PPD, there are 3 published prospective cohort studies specifically evaluating the relationship between vitamin D and PPD. The results are conflicting: 2 of these studies found a significant correlation between patients with low vitamin D level and PPD, but the third found that high vitamin D levels are associated with a greater incidence of PPD. Conclusion: Available evidence suggests a possible correlation between vitamin D levels at midpregnancy and PPD. Women with risk factors for PPD should be educated on this potential association and ways to maintain normal vitamin D levels. Further study is needed to determine the benefit of vitamin D supplementation in preventing PPD.
An improved implicit-explicit time integration method for structural dynamics

An explicit predictor-corrector algorithm is derived from the implicit α-method. This explicit algorithm is shown to have better stability and accuracy properties than its Newmark-based predecessor. This algorithm is then combined with the implicit α-method, resulting in an implicit-explicit α-method which can be effectively utilized for linear and non-linear structural dynamics calculations.
Toxic response of Nitrosomonas europaea to copper in inorganic medium and wastewater

Abstract A study was conducted to examine potential toxicity of copper(II) and its species in nitrification processes monitoring the oxidation of ammonia by Nitrosomonas europaea . The copper toxicity data were analyzed in terms of chemical speciation computed by a chemical equilibrium model. Increased toxicity with increasing ammonia concentration was observed for both the inorganic medium and the wastewater, that is analogous to the result reported for a full-scale nitrifying activated sludge plant. The 50% inhibition concentration (IC 50 ) of total copper(II) decreased from 0.5 to 0.01 mg l −1 Cu(II) as the total ammonia concentration was raised from 3 to 23 mg l −1 as N. On the basis of statistical correlation, the increasing copper toxicity with increasing ammonia is apparent, which is further explained by the formation of copper-ammine complexes. The toxic response of N. europaea observed in the inorganic medium was defined as a function of the logarithmic activities of copper-ammine complexes.
Machine learning in engineering automation—the present and the future

Abstract This paper describes how engineers can use machine learning techniques to improve their productivity. The current use of machine learning in engineering automation is described, and areas of future research are discussed. Machine learning programs are able to identify useful concepts from data. Recognizing relationships from the plethora of data enhances the knowledge an engineer can use for problem solving. In the future, machine learning programs will interact with existing computer tools to enhance productivity and to assist the engineer by suggesting ideas remembered from past problem solving sessions. Machine learning can increase the power of programs for engineering and can help the engineer learn about problems and domains.
Mechanisms of enzyme control as probed by equilibrium exchange rates: patterns of modifier effects with a two substrate, two product system.

Abstract Measurements of reaction rates at equilibrium by isotopic exchange techniques can give considerable information about the mode of action of modifiers of enzymic reaction rates. To illustrate the various patterns that may be obtained, differing effects of modifiers on the exchange of A with P and of B with Q in the simple enzymic reaction of A + BP + Q are given. For this, reasonable values of rate constants are assumed, and calculations made for random and compulsory binding order systems. Cases where modifiers bind at the catalytic sites of substrate or at other binding sites, and where substrate association, substrate dissociation, covalent interconversion, or total catalytic capacity are modified are considered. Some quite distinctive patterns emerge, among the most interesting being those in which a modifier may block net catalysis yet allow one equilibrium exchange to occur essentially unhindered.
Anaerobic/aerobic treatment of hazardous waste leachate

Abstract In the normal operation of a landfill a liquid effluent, leachate, is generated from incorporated liquids mixed with soluble materials disposed within each trench, and rainwater that infiltrates and percolates through these soluble materials. The wastes within a hazardous waste landfill may vary widely from trench to trench thus generating a highly variable composition leachate that is frequently resistant to conventional aerobic biological treatment. Though this hazardous waste leachate has been commonly disposed of by injection on deep disposal wells, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) has indicated that this practice may be banned in the near future. In response, Chemical Waste Management, Port Arthur (CWM-PA), has joined with the Gulf Coast Hazardous Substance Research Center (GCHSRC) on a joint project to evaluate anaerobic/aerobic biological treatment of the hazardous waste leachate generated at the Chemical Waste Management, Port Arthur closed landfall. The ongoing anaer obic treatment phase of the project is using a reactor with granular activated carbon (GAC) as a support media. The use of GAC has proven effective in treating synthetic toxic wastes and specific wastes, such as the work of Suidan at the University of Illinois on coal gasification and phenolic wastes. Because the effluent from an anaerobic process is not suited for discharge to a receiving water, an aerobic process, initially using sequencing batch reactors, will be used to provide the final polishing before discharge.
Extending the horizon: towards the efficient modeling of large biomolecular complexes in atomic detail

The application of evaluation of implicit solvent methods for the simulation of biomolecules is described. Detailed comparisons with explicit solvent are described for the modeling of peptide and proteins in continuum aqueous solvent. In addition, we are presenting new data on the simulation of DNA with implicit solvent and describe the development of a heterogeneous dielectric model for the simulation of integral membranes. The performance of implicit solvent simulations based on the GBMV generalized Born method is compared with explicit solvent simulations, and implications for the simulation of very large biomolecular complexes is discussed. We are anticipating that the work described herein will lead to new, efficient modeling tools that will allow the simulation of longer timescales and larger system sizes in order to meet current and future challenges by the experimental community.
INCREASES IN BRAIN GLUCOSE AND PLASMA GLUCOSE, GLYCEROL AND β-HYDROXYBUTYRATE AFTER AMINOPHYXLINE

Effects of aminophylline (100 mg/kg i.p.) on brain carbohydrate and energy metabolism were studied in 2 litters of normal 17-23-day-old mice (11 animals). Although no clinical effects were seen, 20 min after aminophylline plasma glucose increased 22% (11.79 ± 0.15 vs 8.90 ± 0.80 mM in controls, p = 0.025); plasma β-hydroxybutyrate was 242% of control (443 ± 75 μM vs 183 ± 28, p = 0.031) and plasma glycerol, 258% of control (570 ± 48 μM vs 221 ± 17, p <0.001). Since the methyl xanthines increase tissue cyclic AMP levels and/or catecholamine and glucagon release, these findings may reflect this action (increased hepatic glucose output and lipolysis). Brain cyclic AMP increased 56%, p = 0.014. Brain glucose increased dramatically, 1.47 ± 0.12 vs 0.76 ± 0.08 mmol/kg in controls, p = 0.001. Brain ATP, P-creatine, glycogen and lactate levels were unchanged. In the face of an apparently normal cerebral metabolic rate, the increased brain to plasma glucose concentration ratio, 0.13 ± 0.01 vs 0.09 ± 0.01 in controls, p = 0.048, suggests increased brain glucose transport. β-hydroxybutyrate is a major metabolic fuel of the brains of young animals and glycerol is an effective substrate for hepatic gluconeogenesis; furthermore, in anoxic brain, glucose is the only source of ATP. In view of these facts, the findings presented in this report may explain the mechanisms(s) of the beneficial action of methyl xanthines in apnea of prematurity.
Parallels and distinctions between health care quality improvement and health care disparities reduction

Purpose – This paper aims to compare and contrast quality improvement in the domain of health care disparities with quality improvement in other domains.Design/methodology/approach – The author provides a descriptive essay and review to put forward the findings of their research.Findings – In the USA, health care quality improvement systems have largely been accepted and institutionalized. Most if not all hospital and health care systems now have quality monitoring and improvement teams. In contrast, despite a plethora of stark reports in the literature showing that the US health care system has failed to deliver health care with equity when the care of Whites is compared with that of racial and ethnic minorities, there is not a parallel health care disparities improvement system in most health care settings.Practical implications – Paralleling many steps that have been taken to improve quality in general, health care workers and health systems must take steps to improve structures and processes of care t...
Excisional Surgery for Patients with Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias

Thirty-eight patients with drug refractory ventricular tachycardia have been operated on since 1980. An attempt at preoperative localization of the site of arrhythmia was made in those patients who did not have severe ischemia or multifocal tachycardia. Operation consisted of intraoperative mapping, when feasible, subendocardial resection and cryolesions placed when sites of interest could not be resected. Patients averaged 56 +/- 44 years of age and 25 had associated coronary bypass. The operative mortality was 5/38 (13%) and two deaths were related to recurrent arrhythmia. Of 33 survivors, 21 (64%) were cured of their arrhythmia and an additional nine patients who had been drug refractory were controlled with medication alone. The best results were found in patients with anteroapical scar and unifocal tachycardia. Thus, direct operation for drug refractory ventricular tachycardia can be performed at a reasonable risk and with a high likelihood of successful arrhythmia control.
AVERAGE GLOBAL LOCATIONS

Global distributions are commonly described by maps and tables which emphasize the dispersion of a distribution. The Mean Spheroidal Center (M.S.C.) defines the average location of a world distribution. It is an objectively determined point within the sphere's surface. The M.S.C. calculations are demonstrated using the world's 25 largest cities in each of four time periods.
Recent developments in microalgae for biodiesel production

Biodiesel is a renewable and environmentally friendly alternative fuel, which is comprised of mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from renewable resources. However, biodiesel production is dependent on available feedstocks and the growth of biodiesel as a petroleum diesel substitute is limited by the expensive cost of feedstock. Microalgae are among the most promising of nonfood based biomass fuel feedstock alternatives. Algal biofuels production is challenged by limited oil content, growth rate and economical cultivation and extraction techniques. This article summarizes the current state of research related to potential algal strains, cultivation conditions, biomass production rates and technologies for extraction of algal oil and production of biodiesel.
Modelling of alpha particle slowing down, confinement and redistribution by sawteeth in TFTR using the FPPT code

Results from recent deuterium-tritium (DT) experiments on TFTR to measure the energy spectra and radial profiles of well trapped confined alpha particle distributions using the pellet charge exchange (PCX) diagnostic in quiescent plasmas are compared with a numerical modelling using the Fokker-Planck post-TRANSP (FPPT) processor code and show a classical slowing down behaviour of the alphas (Fisher, R.K., et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 75 (1995) 846). However, in the presence of sawtooth oscillations PCX experimental data indicate a significant broadening of the trapped alpha radial distributions (Petrov, M.P., et al., Nucl. Fusion 35 (1995) 1437). Conventional models consistent with measured sawtooth effects on passing particles do not provide satisfactory simulations of the trapped particle mixing measured by the PCX diagnostic. A mechanism is proposed for fast particle mixing during the sawtooth crash to explain the trapped alpha particle radial profile broadening after the crash. The model is based on the fast particle orbit averaged toroidal drift in a perturbed helical electric field with an adjustable absolute value (similar to that in Kolesnichenko, Ya.I., et al., Nucl. Fusion 36 (1996) 159). Such a drift of the fast particles results in a change of their energy and a redistribution id phase space. To show the sensitivity of trapped particles to sawteeth, the redistribution in toroidal momentum Pphi (or in minor radius) was calculated in two ways. The first is based on the assumption that Pphi redistribution is stochastic with a large diffusion coefficient and was taken to be flat. The second way is to apply Kolesnichenko's inversion formula (Kolesnichenko, Ya.I., et al., Nucl. Fusion 32 (1992) 449). Both methods are compared with PCX data. The distribution function in a pre-sawtooth plasma and its evolution in a post-sawtooth crash plasma are simulated using the FPPT code. It is shown that FPPT calculated alpha particle distributions are consistent with TRANSP Monte Carlo calculations. Compariso
Effects of repeated nicotine administration and footshock stress on rat mesoprefrontal dopamine systems: Evidence for opioid mechanisms.

We have examined the effects of nicotine pre-treatment on mesoprefrontal dopamine (DA) function in the presence and absence of acute stress, and the involvement of endogenous opiate peptide systems (EOPS). Acute electrical footshock stress preferentially increases DA utilization in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) compared to nucleus accumbens (NAS) and striatal terminal fields, and this is correlated with profound locomotor immobility. Our recent studies have demonstrated that repeated, but not acute, nicotine pre-treatment significantly reduced mPFC DA utilization and footshock stress-induced immobility responses. There is increasing evidence that the biochemical and behavioral effects of nicotine are mediated by EOPS, and we hypothesized that the stress-reducing effects of repeated nicotine administration in these studies were mediated by EOPS. Accordingly, rats pre-treated subcutaneously with repeated nicotine were given a single dose of the opiate receptor antagonist naloxone (0.1-10.0 mg/kg, i.p.) or saline as a co-treatment with nicotine or saline 10 min prior to acute footshock stress. Naloxone had no effects on non-stressed or acute footshock stress-induced mPFC DA utilization, but dose-dependently antagonized repeated nicotine's attenuation of stress-induced mesoprefrontal DA utilization and immobility responses. Furthermore, naloxone dose-dependently blocked repeated nicotine's augmentation of accumbal DA utilization. These results suggest that EOPS may be involved in mediating repeated nicotine administration effects on mesoprefrontal dopaminergic and immobility responses to acute footshock stress.
Mutual information saddle points in channels of exponential family type

This paper extends our prior work on “E-type” (exponential family type) channels. The channels considered here have transition kernels induced by an exponential family with a two-component sufficient statistic composed of an input-output distortion function and an output cost function. We demonstrate the existence of a mutual information saddle point in any E-type channel for which there exists a source distribution such that the induced output distribution is maximum-entropy under an output cost constraint. For additive-noise E-type channels, we provide necessary and sufficient conditions on the existence of saddle points which coincide with convolution divisibility of the additive noise law. This machinery generalizes many well-known saddle-point, capacity, and rate-distortion theorems, including those for the additive Gaussian and exponential-noise channels, and leads to a saddle point result on the non-additive exponential server timing channel, which appears to be new.
Advanced techniques for anesthesia data analysis

The perioperative environment is one of the most technologically advanced areas of the modern healthcare enterprise. From the anesthesia machine to the physiologic monitors in the PACU, the use of computer technology now collects and displays thousands of data points per hour, in thousands of operating rooms across the world. Increasing numbers of modern operating rooms (ORs) are also now equipped with computerized anesthesia information management systems (AIMS), which capture the data from the monitors and anesthesia machines, interface with existing hospital information systems (HIS), and allow the anesthesia staff to construct an electronic version of the perioperative patient record. Most of the AIMS do more than simply recreate a handwritten record on a computer screen or a paper printout; they also store these data in some form of an electronic database. The management of a modern anesthesia service is complicated by many of the same challenges that face healthcare as a whole. The increased scrutiny of medical errors, personnel shortages, cost and billing pressures, privacy and security issues, and medical legal concerns can impact all facets of anesthesia practice. The benefits of documentation automation with an AIMS, and the analysis of the data that are collected, can help address these challenges. Unfortunately, many of the anesthesia departments that have implemented AIMS use them
Early presentation of metastatic medullary carcinoma in multiple endocrine neoplasia, type IIA: Implications for therapy

A girl 5 years 11 months of age, belonging to an extensive kindred with multiple endocrine neoplasia, type IIA (MEN IIA), was found to have multifocal medullary thyroid carcinoma with metastasis in one paraglandular lymph node after positive findings on a calcium-pentagastrin stimulation test. Her sister, 3 years 8 months of age, also had an elevated calcitonin level, and thyroidectomy revealed C-cell hyperplasia and a focus of medullary thyroid carcinoma. These two cases underscore the need for prophylactic thyroidectomies in MEN IIA patients as young as 5 years of age and strict yearly provocative screening beginning at age 1 year.
Nicotine replacement therapy increases quit attempts among unmotivated smokers when added to encouragement to practice quitting

Commentary on: MJ Carpenter, JR Hughes, KM Gray, et al.. Nicotine therapy sampling to induce quit attempts among smokers unmotivated to quit: a randomized clinical trial. Arch Intern Med2011;171:1901–7.
Nontraumatic intracranial internal carotid artery dissection: A case report

The case presented offers a demonstration of a rare yet devastating condition that may go unrecognized and incompletely worked up by the emergency physician. Internal carotid artery dissection is seen most often in previously healthy, young patients and thus all efforts toward diagnosing this condition and providing proper stabilization must be made. Unfortunately, little advancement in the therapeutic progress of this frequently fatal condition has been made over the past decades. To date, both medical management and surgical techniques have been utilized with variable success. This case should serve to remind physicians evaluating young patients with stroke symptoms or other neurological findings that a negative head CT scan may not be the last test necessary for the definitive diagnosis.
Applied clay mineralogy today and tomorrow

The clay minerals kaolin, smectite and palygorskite-sepiolite are among the world's most important and useful industrial minerals. Clay minerals are important in a number of geological applications such as stratigraphic correlations, indicators of environments of deposition and temperature for generation of hydrocarbons. In agriculture, the clay minerals are a major component of soils and determinant of soil properties. The clay minerals are important in construction where they are a major constituent in brick and tile. The physical and chemical properties of the clay minerals determine their utilization in the process industries. What about tomorrow? Processing techniques will be improved and new equipment will be available so that improved clay mineral products will be available. Pillared clays and nanocomposites will become important. Further developments in organoclay technology and surface treatments will provide new usages for these special clays. Tomorrow will see further growth and utilization of the clay minerals.
THE FINE STRUCTURE OF ELASTIC FIBERS

The fine structure of developing elastic fibers in bovine ligamentum nuchae and rat flexor digital tendon was examined. Elastic fibers were found to contain two distinct morphologic components in sections stained with uranyl acetate and lead. These components are 100 A fibrils and a central, almost amorphous nonstaining area. During development, the first identifiable elastic fibers are composed of aggregates of fine fibrils approximately 100 A in diameter. With advancing age, somewhat amorphous regions appear surrounded by these fibrils. These regions increase in prominence until in mature elastic fibers they are the predominant structure surrounded by a mantle of 100 A fibrils. Specific staining characteristics for each of the two components of the elastic fiber as well as for the collagen fibrils in these tissues can be demonstrated after staining with lead, uranyl acetate, or phosphotungstic acid. The 100 A fibrils stain with both uranyl acetate and lead, whereas the central regions of the elastic fibers stain only with phosphotungstic acid. Collagen fibrils stain with uranyl acetate or phosphotungstic acid, but not with lead. These staining reactions imply either a chemical or an organizational difference in these structures. The significance and possible nature of the two morphologic components of the elastic fiber remain to be elucidated.
Lattice field theory simulations of graphene

We discuss the Monte Carlo method of simulating lattice field theories as a means of studying the low-energy effective theory of graphene. We also report on simulational results obtained using the Metropolis and Hybrid Monte Carlo methods for the chiral condensate, which is the order parameter for the semimetal-insulator transition in graphene, induced by the Coulomb interaction between the massless electronic quasiparticles. The critical coupling and the associated exponents of this transition are determined by means of the logarithmic derivative of the chiral condensate and an equation-of-state analysis. A thorough discussion of finite-size effects is given, along with several tests of our calculational framework. These results strengthen the case for an insulating phase in suspended graphene, and indicate that the semimetal-insulator transition is likely to be of second order, though exhibiting neither classical critical exponents, nor the predicted phenomenon of Miransky scaling.
A framework for interactors in immersive virtual environments

The promise of immersive virtual environment (VE) applications has been that they can make interaction with computer information and processes easier by providing a medium that more closely matches the user's real environment. Meeting this promise, however; has proven to be difficult, as the interface between the user and the computer is not complete, the metaphors for interacting with information are not always obvious, and the tools for including current interaction techniques are not sufficient to the task. We present SVIFT, the Simple Virtual Interactor Framework and Toolkit, which supports efforts to meet the interaction needs of immersive VE applications. SVIFT allows for the design and implementation of various interaction techniques that can be easily incorporated into many VE applications and combined with other interaction techniques to produce more complex interactions. We also discuss the differences between desktop and immersive environment interaction, and the implications of those differences on the design of an interactor framework.
Large-scale DES computations of the forward speed diffraction and pitch and heave problems for a surface combatant

Abstract This paper aims at presenting the most resolved solutions to date for the ship forward speed diffraction and pitch and heave problems, and discuss the method that enables these computations. Large-scale DES computations (60–115 million grid points, 276–500 processors) of ship hydrodynamics problems are presented for the DTMB model 5512 surface combatant. The forward speed diffraction problem is studied at Fr = 0.28 with waves of amplitude a = 0.006 and wavelength λ = 1.5 , with the ship static allowing the overset assembly to be a pre-processing step. In the pitch and heave problem the ship faces head waves at Fr = 0.41 with waves of amplitude a = 0.006 and wavelength λ = 1.5 , with the ship is allowed to pitch and heave, thus requiring dynamic overset grid processing. The code CFDShip-Iowa version 4 and the overset assembly code Suggar were modified to carry out some large scale simulations of free surface ship hydrodynamics. These modifications were focused on reducing the memory requirement and optimizing the per-processor and parallel performance at the implementation and algorithmic levels, plus the addition of a lagged mode for the overset domain connectivity computation. The simulation results show very significant improvements in the local flow and free surface results, but minor in forces and moments when compared with previous URANS computations performed with grids with about three million points.