cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multicenter, placebo-controlled trial comparing acarbose (BAY g 5421) with placebo, tolbutamide, and tolbutamide-plus-acarbose in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

background Acarbose delays release of glucose from complex carbohydrates and disaccharides by inhibiting intestinal a-glucosidases, thereby attenuating postprandial increments in blood glucose and insulin. This multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study compared the efficacy and safety of diet alone, acarbose, tolbutamide, and acarbose-plus-tolbutamide in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) patients. patients and methods A total of 290 patients with NIDDM and fasting plasma glucose levels of at least 140 mg/dL were randomized to receive treatment tid with acarbose 200 mg, tolbutamide 250 to 1,000 mg, a combination of both drugs, or placebo. A 6-week run-in period was followed by double-blind treatment for 24 weeks, then a 6-week follow-up period. results All active treatments were superior ( P 1c levels. The ranking in order of efficacy was: acarbose-plus-tolbutamide, tolbutamide, acarbose, and placebo. The postprandial reductions in glucose were approximately 85 mg/dL for acarbose-plus-tolbutamide, 71 mg/dL for tolbutamide, 56 mg/dL for acarbose, and 13 mg/dL for placebo. Tolbutamide was associated with increases in body weight and postprandial insulin levels when taken alone, but these were ameliorated when tolbutamide was taken in combination with acarbose. Acarbose alone or in combination with tolbutamide caused significantly more gastrointestinal adverse events (mainly flatulence and soft stools or diarrhea) than tolbutamide or placebo, but these were generally well tolerated. Clinically significant elevations in hepatic transaminase levels occurred in 3 patients in the acarbose group and 2 in the acarbose-plus-tolbutamide group. Transaminase levels returned to normal when therapy was discontinued. conclusions Acarbose was effective and well tolerated in the treatment of NIDDM. Control of glycemia was significantly better with acarbose compared with diet alone. Acarbose-plus-tolbutamide was superior to tolbutamide alone.
The Name of the Embryo

What is above all needed is to let the meaning choose the word, and not the other way around. --George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language" The embryonic stem cell debate has stimulated discussion of ethical and policy issues that as recently as a few years ago were either fairly far down the list of moral controversies, such as payment for oocytes and the creation of human-nonhuman chimeras, or were only fictional. The use of human blastocysts created by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) falls into the latter category. Like the stem cell debate more generally, the idea of using the products of SCNT to generate lines of human embryonic stem cells has thrust a remarkably esoteric matter into the political scene. During the 2004 campaign for the California stem cell research initiative, which ultimately passed, opponents accused the initiative's sponsors of deception in using the term "SCNT" rather than "cloning." They argued that the use of a neutral expression deliberately obfuscated what was "really going on" in the initiative. For a time it looked as though the whole political campaign might degenerate into a seminar on the philosophy of language. Now come Insoo Hyun and Kyu Won Jung, authoring a feature article on cloning in this issue of the Hastings Center Report, to throw another problem of meaning and reference into the stem cell soup. Commentators and policy-makers have generally believed that the hundreds of thousands of embryos remaining in fertility clinics are the least ethically problematic source of human embryonic stem cells. They could be freely donated, and they will never be implanted so will never be in a position to continue to develop, the standard argument goes. However, critics often assert that there is in this argument a suppressed appeal to a notorious premise that these leftover embryos "will die anyway," thus associating the feared massacre of human embryos in fertility clinics with a previous holocaust. The proposal by Hyun and Jung--that the products of SCNT, even though they may appear to be embryos, really are not, and therefore are a wholly unobjectionable source of cells--should therefore appease the opponents. But is their argument about the moral status of the product of SCNT sound? Well, as the professor said, it depends. They assert, first, that the technique that makes it possible to create SCNT blastocysts may make it impossible for those blastocysts to develop further. …
Picosecond Time-Resolved Fourier-Transform Raman Spectroscopy and Normal-Mode Analysis of the Ground State and Singlet Excited State of Anthracene†

Time-resolved Fourier-transform Raman spectra of the first singlet excited states of anthracene and deuterated anthracene have been measured with photoexcitation at 355 nm. Raman scattering was excited by 100-ps pulses at 1064 nm, resonant with the S3 ← S1 transition. Continuous wave (CW) Fourier-transform Raman spectra were also measured for anthracene and anthracene-d10 in the ground state. Ab initio calculations were carried out at the HF/6-31G and HF/6-31G* levels for the ground state and at the CIS/6-31G and CIS/6-31G* levels for the excited state to generate a complete normal-mode analysis of both ground and excited states. Excellent agreement between the computational and experimental Raman frequencies is observed for anthracene and anthracene-d10 for both the ground and excited states after the computed frequencies were scaled by a single scaling factor of 0.9. In several cases, comparison with calculated frequencies allows previously ambiguous vibrational assignments to be clarified. Evidence of ...
Structural and Functional Studies of the Corneal Endothelium in Diabetes Mellitus

We performed specular microscopy, anterior segment ocular fluorophotometry, corneal pachymetry, and tonometry on 14 patients with chronic type I diabetes and nonproliferative retinopathy and on 14 age-matched control subjects. The eyes of patients with diabetes had an increased coefficient of variation of endothelial cell area, a decreased percentage of hexagonal endothelial cells, increased corneal autofluorescence, and increased intraocular pressure, which confirmed previous studies. There was no difference, however, in corneal thickness or endothelial permeability to fluorescein. Thus, we were unable to detect any abnormality in endothelial function in these diabetic corneas in the unstressed state, despite structurally abnormal endothelial cells.
A shallow-liquid theory in magnetohydrodynamics

The non-linear and linear ‘shallow-water’ theories, which describe long gravity waves on the free surface of an inviscid liquid, are extended to the case of an electrically conducting liquid on a horizontal bottom, in the presence of a vertical magnetic field. The dish holding the liquid, and the medium outside it, are assumed to be non-conducting. The approximate equations are based on a small ratio of depth to wavelength, on the properties of mercury, and on a moderate magnetic field strength. These equations have a ‘magneto-hydraulic’ character, for in the shallow liquid layer the horizontal fluid velocity and current density are independent of the vertical co-ordinate.Some explicit solutions of the linear equations are obtained for plane flows and for axi-symmetric flows in which the velocity vector lies in a vertical, meridional plane. The amplitudes of waves in a dish, and the amplitudes behind wave fronts progressing into undisturbed liquid, are found to be exponentially damped, the mechanical energy associated with a disturbance being dissipated by Joule heating.The approximate non-linear equations for plane flow are studied by means of characteristic variables, and it appears that, because of the magnetic damping effect, there is less qualitative difference between solutions of the non-linear and linear approximate equations at large times than is the case when the magnetic field is absent. In particular, the characteristic curves depart only a finite distance from their ‘undisturbed positions’.
Investigation of roller interactions with flexible tape medium

Lateral tape displacement and roller axial runout are measured on an experimental tape transport. The effect of roller axial runout on lateral displacement of tape is investigated. Tape lateral displacement is found to be generated at the roller surface, and is observed to be correlated to roller axial runout. A number of typical roller types are investigated to determine the mechanism causing lateral tape displacement. Edge contact and friction are each shown to play a role in the creation of lateral tape displacement in the tape path.
A decomposition framework for the scheduling of single- and multi-stage processes

A decomposition framework for the scheduling of single- and multi-stage batch chemical processes is presented. The problem is decomposed into an assignment and a sequencing subproblem. The assignment subproblem is solved using mixed-integer methods, while the sequencing subproblem is solved using efficient sequencing algorithms. The proposed method integrates mathematical programming with special-purpose sequencing algorithms. In addition to solving the sequencing subproblem more effectively, this also allows us to generate strong cuts for the assignment subproblem. A novel preprocessing algorithm that identifies infeasible assignments and generates tightening constraints for the assignment subproblem is also developed. This significantly reduces the number of sequencing subproblems needed to find the optimal solution and prove optimality. Computational results show that the proposed algorithm is considerably faster than state of the art methods.
Comparison of CHF enhancement on microstructured surfaces with a predictive model

An experimental investigation on the role of surface structure in pool boiling critical heat flux (CHF) enhancement on randomly roughened and structured surfaces is considered. In the first set of experiments, CHF was measured on a horizontal circular brass surface with root mean square (RMS) surface roughness varying from 0.15 to 5 μm using pentane, hexane, and FC-72 as working fluids at system pressures varying from 150 to 450 kPa. CHF is observed to increase with increasing surface roughness, although the enhancement diminishes with increasing pressure. A maximum enhancement factor of 1.15 is observed for the surface with 5 μm RMS roughness. CHF enhancement was measured for a second set of experiments with FC-72 and hexane on new reentrant interconnected microstructured hoodoo surfaces, and hoodoo sizes range from 10 to 80 μm. The measured CHF enhancement factor on the hoodoo surfaces varies from 1.05 to 1.67. The enhancement generally increases with decreasing hoodoo size, and the maximum enhancement ...
Effect of seven new vasoactive immunoconjugates on the enhancement of monoclonal antibody uptake in tumors

Background. To enhance monoclonal antibody uptake in tumors, seven novel vasoactive immunoconjugates were developed that selectively alter the vascular permeability and/or blood volume of tumors in vivo. These immunoconjugates, composed of IL-1β, IL-2, TNF-α, physalaemin, leukotriene B 4 , histamine, and bradykinin chemically linked to TNT-1, a murine monoclonal antibody that binds necrotic regions in tumors, have been tested for their effects on antibody uptake in vivo. Methods. Groups of four mice, each bearing the ME-180 human cervical carcinoma, were pretreated either 3 or 24 hours before the administration of I-125 labeled TNT-1 F(ab') 2 fragment
Time-dependent correlation functions in systems with interactions and surface diffusion measurements

Abstract Different surface diffusion coefficients are measured from the time dependence of different statistical quantities such as the mean square displacement R2, and the correlation function C(t) of concentration fluctuations within a probe region. For non-interacting systems, R2 grows linearly with time and C(t) has the characteristic 1 (Dt) tail in the long time regime. We have performed Monte Carlo simulations on a lattice gas model with nearest-neighbor repulsive interactions at coverage υ = 0.5, over a wide temperature range ( T T c > 0.7 ) to test whether these expressions also hold in systems with interactions. We find that R2 still grows linearly with time but the single site correlation function Cs(t) deviates from the non-interacting form. No 1 (Dt) tails are observed within the range of a measurable signal in the decay of Cs(t) when the temperature is within the ordered region T T c . The form of Cs(t) is relevant for a newly developed method that analyses the time dependence of the STM current fluctuations to measure the collective diffusion coefficient.
Single-Incision Transaxillary Robotic Thyroidectomy: Challenges and Limitations in a North American Population

ObjectiveWe reviewed our initial experience with robotic thy-roidectomy to identify challenges and limitations of this new surgical approach when applied to a North American population.Study Design...
The early diagnosis of primary lung cancer by cytologic methods.

Summary 1)Six thousand two hundred and eighty-one specimens of sputum or bronchial secretions from 2,066 patients were studied by cytologic techniques. Two hundred and forty-one patients had bronchogenic cancer diagnosed by pathologic studies. 2)A positive cytologic diagnosis was made in 55 per cent of these 241 patients. When five or more sputum specimens were examined, the accuracy rose to 90 per cent. 3)The clinical applications of cytologic diagnostic techniques are discussed: a)Cytology is of value to the thoracic surgeon in establishing a reliable preoperative morphologic diagnosis of lung cancer. b)A positive cytologic diagnosis may be made in many cases where the lesions are located in the periphery of the lung or upper lobe bronchi where bronchoscopic examinations are of limited value. c)Difficult diagnostic problems may be solved when a definite morphologic diagnosis of cancer is made by positive cytologic studies. d)In patients with coexistent pulmonary tuberculosis and bronchogenic carcinoma, cytologic studies may clarify a confusing clinical picture. e)Cytologic studies of sputum may be utilized as routine screening procedures on patients with minimal or no pulmonary symptoms. 4)In our series of pathologically proved bronchogenic cancer, a positive cytologic diagnosis was made oftener and sooner than other morphologic diagnoses. In 47 per cent of these cases cytology was the first diagnostic procedure to establish a morphologic diagnosis. 5)Earlier diagnoses will be made when cytologic techniques are applied immediately after cancer is suspected. 6)Earlier diagnoses will be made when this diagnostic method is utilized on patients with equivocal lung lesions detected by routine roentgen surveys. 7)Earlier diagnoses will be made when patients with cough and sputum—whether cancer is suspected or not—are routinely studied by cytologic techniques.
Becoming a university library director

Abstract Given that a large number of university library directorships have become available in recent years, and that this trend will probably continue for the foreseeable future, it is likely that not everyone who applies for these positions and is invited for an interview knows how to prepare for the experience, or how to read organizational and institutional climates. Based on interviews with 10 first-time and seasoned directors, this study reviews the process from the perspective of those who have recently accepted a directorship.
Bounded query machines: On NP() and NPQUERY()

Abstract The NP() and NPQUERY() operators are studied in order to develop necessary and sufficient conditions for the class PSPACE to be equal to the union of the polynomial-time hierarchy.
Extension of the visual search models of inspection

Human performance in a visual search task is generally measured by a cumulative probability distribution of locating a target in a given time period. In this paper, this cumulative probability function has been derived for two systematic search strategies, non-overlapping and overlapping; with both infinitesimal and finite defect length. Moreover, for the infinitesimal defect size case, economic models are derived under the assumption that the number of defects on the search line follows a one-dimensional Spatial Poisson distribution to determine the best inspection stopping time. This research first extends the typical infinitesimal defect size assumption to a finite defect length assumption. Then, it extends the single infinitesimal defect case to the case of random number of infinitesimal defects and develops economic models for two extreme systematic search strategies.
Studies on dark adaptation. III. Pre-exposure tolerance of the human fovea as measured by contrast sensitivity.

The effect of pre-exposures of brief duration and relatively low brightness on the contrast sensitivity of fovea was investigated. Monocular measurements on two observers were made with a centrally fixated one-degree square testpatch against a surround 27° in diameter. First the contrast threshold was measured after 10 minutes of adaptation to brightnesses of 0.010, 0.10, and 1.0 ft-L. Then the course of adaptation was measured by the contrast threshold after pre-exposures which immediately followed the aforementioned adaptation brightnesses. (Adaptation brightness served as the background brightness for the contrast threshold.) The pre-exposures were 0.10, 1.0, and 10 ft-L for 1, 10, and 100 sec. Not all combinations of adaptation brightness and pre-exposure were used. Contrast threshold increased as background brightness increased and the eye’s sensitivity to contrast decreased with increasing duration and brightness of pre-exposure above a critical value of 100 ft-L-sec.
Analysis of SAXS data from ionomer systems

Abstract A model was proposed earlier for the microstructure of ionomers which attributes the small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) peak observed in these materials to interparticle interference between small ionic domains arranged in the hydrocarbon matrix with a liquid-like degree of order. In this work, that model is used to interpret SAXS results obtained for a number of different ionomer systems. In addition, the effect of swelling of sulphonated polystyrene ionomers with water is investigated using this approach. Finally, the effect of temperature on the scattering was studied. The results reveal some interesting differences in domain size between different ionomer systems. The ethylene/methacrylic acid ionomers contain very small domains consistent with the concept of a multiplet, while the sulphonated EPDM rubbers have rather large domains. The results of the water absorption studies were inconsistent with the assumption that there is no change in the number of ionic domains upon swelling but if that assumption is not made, the data can be rationalized with the model. The elevated temperature measurements demonstrated the stability of the ionic domains even at temperatures well above those where the materials can be processed, leading to speculation regarding the mechanism of melt flow in ionomers.
Diagnosis of interhemispheric subdural empyema by computerized tomography

Abstract Three cases of surgically proven interhemispheric subdural empyema are presented. One case had a convexity subdural empyema also. Angiograms were obtained in two cases. The computerized tomography (CT) appearence of interhemispheric subdural empyema to be characteristic. A fluid accumulation is seen adjacent to the falx, bounded laterally by a zone of increased density following injection of contrast medium. CT scans are very helpful in the early diagnosis of subdural empyema.
High temperature alkali corrosion of SiC and Si3N4

Abstract The high temperature alkali corrosion kinetics of SiC and Si 3 N 4 were investigated from 950°C to 1100°C in dry air containing 0.98 vol.% alkali. For both materials linear reaction rates were observed at all temperatures indicating that the alkali corrosion of SiC and Si 3 N 4 is surface reaction controlled with activation energies of 104 and 199 kJ/mol, respectively. The average composition of the sodium silicate reaction layer was (Na 2 O)·(SiO 2 ) 2.22 for Si 3 N 4 and (Na 2 O)·(SiO 2 ) 2.55 for SiC as determined by atomic absorption analysis. The overall corrosion reactions are complex involving absorption, decomposition, dissolution, diffusion and surface reaction processes, but the rate-controlling step in the corrosion process for both materials appears to be the interfacial oxidation of SiC or Si 3 N 4 to SiO 2 . A comparison of the reaction kinetics and mechanism between the oxidation of each material with and without alkalis present is presented.
SIMULATION OF PORTFOLIO RETURNS: VARYING NUMBERS OF SECURITIES AND HOLDING PERIODS

Variability may be measured around the long-run market return by combining the well-developed area of security diversification with the notion of time diversification. This non-traditional concept of diversifiable risk is illustrated with results of a very large scale simulation. The results are very general since the data used in the simulation consist of all firms on the Center for Research in Security Prices (CRSP) monthly return file from January 1926 through December 1977.
Dopamine β-hydroxylase: Determination of half-life and appearance in lymph fluid after IV injection of 125I-DBH into rats

Abstract A 4 day half-life of dopamine beta-hydroxylase (DBH) was determined for rats injected IV with 125 I-rat DBH from the slow exponential component of radioactivity appearing in plasma, urine, feces and combined urine and feces. Half-life estimates for 125 I-rat DBH injected IV into WKY and SHR animals did not differ from Sprague Dawley (Zivic Miller) rats. Radioactivity declined in parallel in plasma, urine and feces following IV 125 I-rat DBH administration and each radioactivity falloff curve could be resolved into two components. The slow phase of the decline of radioactivity excreted into urine and feces from which DBH half-life was calculated occurred between 5 and 25 days after 125 I-rat DBH injection. The early fast phase which is associated with distribution of the exogenous protein in body fluids and tissues continued for approximately the first 140 hr after DBH injection. The distribution characteristics of IV administered active bovine DBH and 125 I-rat DBH into the lymphatic system were examined. After active bovine DBH or 125 I-rat DBH was injected IV into rats, active DBH or radioactivity, respectively, appeared in lymph fluid (thoracic duct) within 20 min; reached peak concentrations within 90 min, and thereafter, declined in parallel with the plasma concentration. The concentration of radioactivity in plasma and lymph fluid were found to be unequal at 9 hr but were equivalent 68–75 hrs after IV injection of 125 I-rat DBH. Based on the amount of active DBH or radioactivity which accumulates in lymph fluid it is clear that'a substantial amount (> 50%) of the DBH in blood circulates through the lymphatic channels. Analysis of parallel experiments with labelled serum albumin indicate that use of these methods to study plasma proteins do provide sensitive measures of biological half-life and lymphatic distribution characteristics. Specifically for DBH, the results of our study suggest that DBH normally circulates in plasma and lymph fluid with a biological half-life of 4 days.
The relationship between physician practice characteristics and physician adoption of electronic health records

BACKGROUND Health information technologies, such as electronic health records (EHRs), can potentially improve patient safety in our health care system. The potential advantages include increased quality and more efficiency in the care of patients. Adoption of EHRs has been slow despite these advantages and a national call for EHR implementation. PURPOSES This article explores factors associated with the adoption of EHR systems using organizational theory to derive hypotheses as to why physicians would adopt EHRs. METHODOLOGY/APPROACH : A survey was administered to all office-based physicians in Nebraska and South Dakota using a modified Dillman technique between July and November 2007. The main outcome variable measured physician EHR adoption status at three levels: not planning to use an EHR, planning to use an EHR, and using an EHR. Factors associated with EHR status were analyzed using a multinomial logistic regression. FINDINGS Approximately 30% of physicians reported using an EHR in his or her practice. Physicians adopting EHRs were younger and had access to internal health information technologies support. In addition, working in an independent practice decreased the likelihood of physicians using and adopting EHRs. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS This research provides further evidence of the barriers impeding EHR adoption. One such barrier includes the lack of access to internal information technology support staff versus having to outsource for technical support services. From a resource dependency perspective, barriers illustrated by this example may place undue dependencies on physicians if they pursue an EHR system. By addressing these barriers, physicians may be in a better position to adopt EHR system into his or her practice.
Estimation of covariance components for random-walk regression parameters

Abstract The Hildreth–Houck (1968) random coefficients method is generalized in order to estimate random-walk regression parameters whose covariance components are unknown. The technique contrasts with existing methods which assume the covariance structure is known at least to a scalar.
Methods of estimation for models of markets with bounded price variation under rational expectations

Abstract The present paper extends the analysis in an earlier paper by Maddala on estimation of disequilibrium market models with controlled prices to the case where the supply function depends on expected prices and expectations are formed rationally as suggested by Muth.
Young infants' retention of information about syllables☆

Abstract This study examines 2- to 3-month-olds' retention of speech information over brief delay intervals. A modified version of the high-amplitude sucking procedure, incorporating a 2-min delay period was used to test the infants' retention of information about a set of syllables to which they had been habituated. A series of four experiments was conducted to obtain information about the degree of detail present in infants' representations and to investigate factors potentially affecting the infants' encoding and retention of speech sounds. The results indicated that infants are able to retain sufficient detail about syllables over a 2-min delay period to detect changes involving a single phonetic feature. The infants were successful even when the members of the familiarization set shared no common phonetic elements. These findings are discussed in terms of their implications for understanding the acquisition of native language sound categories and the development of the mental lexicon.
In vitro assembly of the core catalytic complex of the chloroplast ATP synthase

The regulatory gamma subunit and an alpha beta complex were isolated from the catalytic F1 portion of the chloroplast ATP synthase. The isolated gamma subunit was devoid of catalytic activity, whereas the alpha beta complex exhibited a very low ATPase activity (approximately 200 nmol/min/mg of protein). The alpha beta complex migrated as a hexameric alpha 3 beta 3 complex during ultracentrifugation and gel filtration but reversibly dissociated into alpha and beta monomers after freezing and thawing in the presence of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid and in the absence of nucleotides. Conditions are described in which the gamma and alpha beta preparations were combined to rapidly and efficiently reconstitute a fully functional catalytic core enzyme complex. The reconstituted enzyme exhibited normal tight binding and sensitivity to the inhibitory epsilon subunit and to the allosteric inhibitor tentoxin. However, neither the alpha beta complex nor the isolated gamma subunit alone could bind the epsilon subunit or tentoxin with high affinity. Similarly, high affinity binding sites for ATP and ADP, which are characteristic of the core alpha 3 beta 3 gamma enzyme, were absent from the alpha beta complex. The results indicate that when the gamma subunit binds to the alpha beta complex, it induces a three-dimensional conformation in the enzyme, which is necessary for tight binding of the inhibitors and for high-affinity, asymmetric nucleotide binding.
The Medicalization of Bereavement: (Ab)normal Grief in the DSM-5

This article examines the recently published changes to eliminate the bereavement exclusion (BE) from the criteria for the diagnosis of major depression in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-5). Numerous scholars and critics have expressed concerns by calling these changes a "medicalization" of grief. This article first considers the removal of the BE and then examines the macrolevel and microlevel consequences of this medicalization of grief, including overdiagnosis and overtreatment, a potential expanded market for pharmaceutical companies, and the loss of traditional and cultural methods of adapting to the loss of a loved one.
The Clinical Spectrum of Mitochondrial Disease in 75 Pediatric Patients

The clinical presentation of mitochondrial disorders in childhood is highly variable causing difficulties in diagnosis and management. We assessed records of 75 children (48 male, 27 female) with a biochemically and/or molecularly established mitochondrial disorder in a retrospective, multicentric study. The predominant biochemical defect was an isolated respiratory chain complex IV, followed by respiratory chain complex I, combined respiratory chain, and isolated pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDHC) deficiencies. For the 75 patients, the predominant clinical presentations were a nonspecific encephalomyopathy (n = 34) and Leigh syndrome (n = 17). Classical mitochondrial syndromes with associated mutations of the mitochondrial DNA were rare (n = 12). Eleven children had a lethal infantile mitochondrial disease (LIMD). This group comprised a considerable variety of clinical pictures, and the cohort was big enough to show the high frequency and wide spectrum of nonneuromuscular symptoms in mitochondrial disorders in childhood.
Dietary fat alteration of plasma cholinesterase response to malathion.

Abstract This study revealed the influence of organophosphate pesticides on cholinesterase levels of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Subjects were fed fat-free, normal-fat, and high-fat test diets. Sub-acute doses of malathion were given subcutaneously and cholinesterase levels were determined. Malathion was chosen because it is the least toxic of the organophosphate cholinesterase-inhibiting pesticides. Statistical analysis of the data showed that malathion does inhibit blood cholinesterase to the greatest degree in normal-fat diet animals, with the least effect on high-fat groups and fat-free subjects fall in between the two groups.
Two-level decoding of (32, 16, 8) quadratic residue code

The Pless construction of the (24, 12, 8) extended Golay code can be modified to construct the (32, 16, 8) extended QR code. Some structural similarities are discovered between the (32, 16, 8) QR code and the (24, 12, 8) Golay code. A simple decoder is developed based on the two-level structure of the (32, 16, 8) QR code. In addition to correcting all three or less bit errors, the proposed algorithm is able to correct some four-bit error patterns. Recently, soft-logic decoding of block codes has found increasing practical applications. The two-level structure renders an extension of Vardy and Be‘ery’s fast algorithm to the (32, 16, 8) QR code. The Vardy-Be‘ery’s algorithm is, so far, the most efficient scheme for the Golay code in the literature, with direct application impact. Its extension to the (32, 16, 8) code is also computationally efficient, as analysed in detail.
Effect of Representational Distance between Meanings on Recognition of Ambiguous Spoken Words.

Previous research indicates that mental representations of word meanings are distributed along both semantic and syntactic dimensions such that nouns and verbs are relatively distinct from one another. Two experiments examined the effect of representational distance between meanings on recognition of ambiguous spoken words by comparing recognition of unambiguous words, noun–verb homonyms, and noun–noun homonyms. In Experiment 1, auditory lexical decision was fastest for unambiguous words, slower for noun–verb homonyms, and slowest for noun–noun homonyms. In Experiment 2, response times for matching spoken words to pictures followed the same pattern and eye fixation time courses revealed converging, gradual time course differences between conditions. These results indicate greater competition between meanings of ambiguous words when the meanings are from the same grammatical class (noun–noun homonyms) than when they are from different grammatical classes (noun–verb homonyms).
THIAMIN AND RIBOFLAVIN ANALYSIS BY HIGH PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY

A technique utilizing high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was developed for the analysis of thiamin and riboflavin in enriched and fortified foods. The vitamins were extracted from cereals and processed cereal products and simultaneously assayed by reverse-phase HPLC. The vitamins eluted as separate peaks within 8 min and were detected by absorbance at 254 nm. The developed technique was compared to the semi-automatic modification of the AOAC method for seven cereal products. There was no statistical difference found in the values obtained from the two procedures.
Spatial and Temporal Analysis of Rac Activation during Live Neutrophil Chemotaxis

The ability of cells to recognize and respond with directed motility to chemoattractant agents is critical to normal physiological function. Neutrophils represent the prototypic chemotactic cell in that they respond to signals initiated through the binding of bacterial peptides and other chemokines to G protein-coupled receptors with speeds of up to 30 μm/min [1, 2]. It has been hypothesized that localized regulation of cytoskeletal dynamics by Rho GTPases is critical to orchestrating cell movement. Using a FRET-based biosensor approach [3], we investigated the dynamics of Rac GTPase activation during chemotaxis of live primary human neutrophils. Rac has been implicated in establishing and maintaining the leading edge of motile cells, and we show that Rac is dynamically activated at specific locations in the extending leading edge. However, we also demonstrate activated Rac in the retracting tail of motile neutrophils. Rac activation is both stimulus and adhesion dependent. Expression of a dominant-negative Rac mutant confirms that Rac is functionally required both for tail retraction and for formation of the leading edge during chemotaxis. These data establish that Rac GTPase is spatially and temporally regulated to coordinate leading-edge extension and tail retraction during a complex motile response, the chemotaxis of human neutrophils.
Optimized ion beam raster for SIMS sputter depth profiling

Presentation d'un systeme de deflexion du faisceau ionique. Application a la mesure des profils de profondeur de pulverisation en spectrometrie SIMS
Decision analysis for designing marine protected areas for multiple species with uncertain fishery status.

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are growing in popularity as a conservation tool, and there are increasing calls for additional MPAs. Meta-analyses indicate that most MPAs successfully meet the minimal goal of increasing biomass inside the MPA, while some do not, leaving open the important question of what makes MPAs successful. An often-overlooked aspect of this problem is that the success of fishery management outside MPA boundaries (i.e., whether a population is overfished) affects how well MPAs meet both conservation goals (e.g., increased biomass) and economic goals (e.g., minimal negative effects on fishery yield). Using a simple example of a system with homogeneous habitat and periodically spaced MPAs, we show that, as area in MPAs increases, (1) conservation value (biomass) may initially be zero, implying no benefit, then at some point increases monotonically; and (2) fishery yield may be zero, then increases monotonically to a maximum beyond which further increase in MPA area causes yield to declin...
Contrast‐to‐noise ratios of diffusion anisotropy indices

The degree of diffusion anisotropy in different brain regions is usually measured by a diffusion anisotropy index (DAI) such as relative anisotropy (RA) and fractional anisotropy (FA). FA has been reported to have a higher contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) than RA. The present work compares the CNRs of seven DAIs in theoretical propagation-of-error calculations, in simulations, and in human brain measurements over small and large anisotropy differences. In simulations all seven CNRs were similar for small anisotropy differences. Small differences among the DAIs appeared at higher anisotropy levels and lower signal-to-noise ratios with certain tensor orientations. The DAIs fell into three groups based on algebraic relationships and small CNR differences. The group with RA and FA had the best CNR. Human brain regions with small anisotropy differences had similar CNR for all seven DAIs, and the scatter in the data was greater than any expected differences. With large anisotropy differences, a small advantage appeared for RA over FA in some simulations and for FA over RA in other simulations. The CNR between brain regions with very different anisotropies was different for each DAI. The apparent reported advantage of FA over RA is explained by biologic heterogeneity and by noise-induced bias in the DAI values and their standard deviations.
A test of two measures of semantic satiation

Two presumed measures of semantic satiation, commonality of associates and decision latency, were examined in separate experiments. It was found that Fillenbaum's (1963) results, obtained with the commonality of associates method, could be reproduced without any semantic satiation treatment. The same was found to be true for his decision latency study (1964) . It was concluded that the effects of verbal repetition on the two dependent variables tested must be seriously doubted.
Cotyledon Structure of Resting Peanut (Arachis Hypogaea L. cv. Florunner) Seed Before and After Hydraulic Pressing

The cotyledon structure of resting peanut (Arachis hypogaea L. cv. Florunner) seed before and after hydraulic pressing was investigated with light and scanning electron microscopy. Observations were made of the appearance of cell walls and the major subcellular components: spherosomes (oil reserve bodies), aleurone grains and starch grains. Major findings include previously unreported cell wall damage and surface fissures that may be important to processors who express the oil from peanuts.
Career Assessment and the California Psychological Inventory

The CPI is a 462-item inventory, scored for 20 folk measures, 3 vectors, and 13 optional special-purpose scales. Its goal is to furnish a veridical picture of any individual, stressing descriptors ...
Using Classifiers to Solve Warehouse Location Problems

We present a new technique for finding solutions to facility location problems. Traditional techniques are usually sensitive to small details of the problem. We present a more general method which generates rules that can be applied to a range of problems. Because these rules are more general, they help researchers build intuitions about their models and help managers more easily apply the model's result to real world situations. We use a classifier to learn about the important features of the model. To generate new rules, we use a genetic algorithm. Although classifiers are traditionally used to find key features of documents or other similar objects, we find that they can also discover important attributes of facility location models. Based on these attributes, the classifier chooses what facilities should be built. While still only a proof of concept, our results indicate classifiers are a reasonable tool for solving facility location problems
Aging and Matrix Microdamage Accumulation in Human Compact Bone

Bone matrix microdamage in bone matrix, evidenced as microcracks, occurs consequent to cyclic loading. Microdamage caused by in vivo loading has been described in human rib cortex; however, the existence and extent of microcracks in human long bone cortices are largely unknown. Using histomorphometric methods to examine the incidence and localization of microcracks in human femoral compact bone specimens, we found that the amount of microdamage present in femoral compact bone increases dramatically with increasing age. Least squares regression analysis showed that in males, microcrack density (Cr.De., #/mm2) increases exponentially with age (r2 = 0.70). In females, Cr.De. also increases as an exponential function of increasing age (r2 = 0.79), at a significantly higher rate than in male specimens (p < 0.001). The current studies indicate that with increasing age, bone microdamage accumulates more rapidly than intrinsic processes can effect its repair. A combination of cumulative loading history, focal changes in material properties and alteration in the ability of the tissue to perceive and/or react to microcracks may all play role in this accumulation of bone microdamage with aging. This accumulation of microdamage in bone will contribute to decreased strength and stiffness. In addition, and perhaps most significantly for understanding aging and increased bone fragility, matrix microdamage in composite materials like bone will result in a profoundly reduced resistance to fracture. The importance of this accumulation of matrix microdamage in human bone with increasing age in contributing to the increased fragility of the aging skeleton is discussed.
The twenty‐four hour activity cycle of captive coypus (Myocastor coypus)

The twenty-four hour activity cycle of captive coypus was investigated by direct visual observation, automatic recording and by measuring the amount of faeces eliminated at hourly intervals. Coypus were active from just before sunset and the “Zeitgeber” or cue for activity onset may be declining light. The activity period usually ended before sunrise and the interval between the end of the period and dawn was inversely related to temperature. The animals fed and defaecated throughout the active period and 80–86 % of the faecal pellets were produced in water. Refection started shortly after the end of the feeding period, when the animals had returned to the nest, and continued until an hour or two after midday. A model is suggested which involves two passages of food through the gut and a cycle length of 24 hours from ingestion to defaecation. The feeding and defaecation periods were equal in duration, but the refection period was 40% shorter. Hypothetically this may be due to a caecum by-pass mechanism during the second passage of food through the gut so that the defaecation period, like the feeding period, is controlled by the rate at which food passes through the pyloric sphincter. In contrast the period of refection may be controlled by the rate at which food remains are voided from the caecum. Coypus spent the pre-dawn and daylight hours on nests and in contact with familiar conspecifics. These behaviours may have the function of temperature maintenance in the coldest part of the night and of avoiding diurnal predators.
Diversity and evolution of T-cell receptor variable region genes in mammals and birds.

The receptor of a T lymphocyte (TCR) re- cognizes nonself antigens in the company of major his- tocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules presented to it by the antigen-presenting cell. The variable region of TCR is encoded by either a concatenation of varia- ble region (TCR-V), diversity region (TCR-D), and joining region (TCR-J) genes, or a concatenation of TCR-V and TCR-J genes. The TCR-V genes exist as a multigene family in vertebrate species. Here we study the evolutionary relationships of TCR-V genes from humans, sheep, cattle, rabbits, mice, and chicken. These six species can be classified into two groups according to the frequency of gd T-cells in their peripheral T-cell populations. The "gd low" group of species includes humans and mice, in which gd T-cells constitute very limited portion of the T-cell population. The "gd high" group includes sheep, cattle, rabbits, and chicken, in which gd T-cells comprise up to 60% of the T-cell pop- ulation. Here, we compiled TCR-V sequences from the six species and conducted a phylogenetic analysis. We identified various TCR-V gene subgroups based on the analysis. We found that humans and mice have repre- sentatives from nearly all of the subgroups identified, while other species have lost subgroups to different ex- tent. Therefore, the gd low species have a high degree of diversity of TCR-V genes, while gd high species all have limited diversity of TCR-V genes. This pattern is similar to that found for immunoglobulin variable re- gion (IGV) genes.
Comparison of 3-D maximum a posteriori and filtered backprojection algorithms for high-resolution animal imaging with microPET

The authors have evaluated the performance of two three-dimensional (3-D) reconstruction algorithms with data acquired from microPET, a high resolution tomograph dedicated to small animal imaging. The first was a linear filtered-backprojection algorithm (FBP) with reprojection of the missing data, and the second was a statistical maximum a posteriori probability algorithm (MAP). The two algorithms were evaluated in terms of their resolution performance, both in phantoms and in vivo. Sixty independent realizations of a phantom simulating the brain of a baby monkey were acquired, each containing three million counts. Each of these realizations was reconstructed independently with both algorithms. The ensemble of the 60 reconstructed realizations was used to estimate the standard deviation as a measure of the noise for each reconstruction algorithm. More detail was recovered in the MAP reconstruction without an increase in noise relative to FBP. Studies in a simple cylindrical compartment phantom demonstrated improved recovery of known activity ratios with MAP. Finally, in vivo studies also demonstrated a clear improvement in spatial resolution using the MAP algorithm. The quantitative accuracy of the MAP reconstruction was also evaluated by comparison with autoradiography and direct well counting of tissue samples and was shown to be superior.
Alternating convex projection methods for discrete-time covariance control design

The problem of designing a controller for a linear discrete-time system is formulated as a problem of designing an appropriate plant state covariance matrix. Closed loop stability and multiple output covariance inequality constraints are expressed geometrically as requirements that the covariance matrix lies in the intersection of some specified closed convex constraint sets in the space of symmetric matrices. We address the covariance feasibility problem to determine the existence and compute a covariance matrix to satisfy assignability and output covariance inequality constraints. We address the covariance optimization problem to construct an assignable covariance matrix which satisfies covariance inequality constraints and is as close as possible to a given desired covariance. We also treat inconsistent constraints where we look for an assignable covariance which "best" approximates desired but unachievable output performance objectives. Analytical expressions for the projections onto the covariance assignability and the output covariance inequality constraint sets are derived. Finally, the problem of designing low order dynamic controllers is discussed and a numerical technique using alternating projections is suggested for a solution. >