cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cortical Spreading Depression Impairs Oxygen Delivery and Metabolism in Mice

Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is associated with severe hypoperfusion in mice. Using minimally invasive multimodal optical imaging, we show that severe flow reductions during and after spreading depression are associated with a steep decline in cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen. Concurrent severe hemoglobin desaturation suggests that the oxygen metabolism becomes at least in part supply limited, and the decrease in cortical blood volume implicates vasoconstriction as the mechanism. In support of oxygen supply-demand mismatch, cortical nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) fluorescence increases during spreading depression for at least 5 minutes, particularly away from parenchymal arterioles. However, modeling of tissue oxygen delivery shows that cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen drops more than predicted by a purely supply-limited model, raising the possibility of a concurrent reduction in oxygen demand during spreading depression. Importantly, a subsequent spreading depression triggered within 15 minutes evokes a monophasic flow increase superimposed on the oligemic baseline, which markedly differs from the response to the preceding spreading depression triggered in naive cortex. Altogether, these data suggest that CSD is associated with long-lasting oxygen supply-demand mismatch linked to severe vasoconstriction in mice.
Effects of Testosterone on Genital Organs of Female Rats Treated from Date of Birth.

Conclusions1. Testosterone propionate injected into female rats from the day of birth arrests follicular development beyond the stage of the antrum and prevents corpus luteum formation. 2. These fi...
Evidence for Constitutive Expression of Bovine Adrenal a3β4* Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors

Many pathological conditions involve alterations in expression of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). The following studies were designed to investigate cellular mechanisms involved with expression and turnover of alpha3beta4* nAChRs. These studies support constitutive turnover of adrenal alpha3beta4* nAChRs and the use of cultured adrenal chromaffin cells to study nAChR regulation.
Highly coordinated gene regulation in mouse skeletal muscle regeneration

Mammalian skeletal muscles are capable of regeneration after injury. Quiescent satellite cells are activated to reenter the cell cycle and to differentiate for repair, recapitulating features of myogenesis during embryonic development. To understand better the molecular mechanism involved in this process in vivo, we employed high density cDNA microarrays for gene expression profiling in mouse tibialis anterior muscles after a cardiotoxin injection. Among 16,267 gene elements surveyed, 3,532 elements showed at least a 2.5-fold change at one or more time points during a 14-day time course. Hierarchical cluster analysis and semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR showed induction of genes important for cell cycle control and DNA replication during the early phase of muscle regeneration. Subsequently, genes for myogenic regulatory factors, a group of imprinted genes and genes with functions to inhibit cell cycle progression and promote myogenic differentiation, were induced when myogenic stem cells started to differentiate. Induction of a majority of these genes, including E2f1 and E2f2, was abolished in muscles lacking satellite cell activity after gamma radiation. Regeneration was severely compromised in E2f1 null mice but not affected in E2f2 null mice. This study identifies novel genes potentially important for muscle regeneration and reveals highly coordinated myogenic cell proliferation and differentiation programs in adult skeletal muscle regeneration in vivo.
Organizing for scientific performance: The impact of organizational affiliation on scientific productivity in Nano Science & Technology

The relationship between scientific productivity and organizational structure has not been studied extensively to date and further research on this topic is needed to elucidate the role of this potentially important determinant of research productivity. This paper draws on a large and unique data set of more than 14,000 scientists in the multidisciplinary area of Nano Science & Technology (NST) and their publication behavior over a three-year period. The particular form of organization of interest is the specialized NSF-funded NSEC Centers, and it is shown that scientists affiliated with these research centers are more productive than their counterparts in academic departments, University Research Centers and Federal Laboratories.
Vagal circuitry mediating cephalic-phase responses to food ☆

The dorsal vagal complex in the medulla oblongata is the hub of the central nervous system network that produces vagal cephalic-phase reflexes. The preganglionic motor neurons controlling these cephalic responses of digestion and metabolism are organized topographically in longitudinal columnar subnuclei in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus. Gustatory and other visceral afferent inputs project into different subnuclei of the nucleus of the solitary tract capping the dorsal motor nucleus. Descending projections from more rostral stations of the neuroaxis project to the nuclei of the dorsal vagal complex, providing input both from exteroceptive senses, such as olfaction and vision, and from forebrain areas that modulate reflex strength. Recent structural analyses of the dorsal vagal complex, as well as characterizations of the region's inputs and neurochemistry, have provided a more complete understanding of the neural basis of cephalic-phase responses.
Phase transitions in a multiple quantum well in strong magnetic fields.

We study the phases of a multiple-quantum-well system of layered two-dimensional electrons in a strong perpendicular magnetic field. Solid phases are found at small fillings of the lowest Landau level which are the hexagonal-close-packed lattice at large interlayer separations and the body-centered-tetragonal lattice at small separations. We find that a sequence of incompressible-Laughlin-liquid-like states occurs at larger fillings. The energies and correlation functions of these states have been calculated by using Monte Carlo simulations. We also discuss the quasiparticle and collective excitations of the liquid states. We find that the electric charge carried by a quasiparticle can have a contribution in one layer which is an irrational fraction of the electron charge. It should be possible to observe the transitions between different Laughlin-like phases experimentally. Transport and microwave experiments are particularly promising in this regard.
“If You Don't Tell Me, How Can I Know?”: A Case Study of Four International Students Learning to Write the U.S. Way

This study examined the problems that four international graduate students of various linguistic and cultural backgrounds encountered in the process of adapting to the requirements of discipline-sp...
Designing and Testing a Computer-Based Screening System for Transfusion-Related Acute Lung Injury

Computer-based systems can detect underreported adverse events. We hypothesized that a system could be designed to detect potential or unreported cases of transfusion-related acute lung injury (TRALI). We developed and tested a computer screening system using retrospective computer blood gas data after transfusions during a 45-day period at a tertiary care academic hospital. The program identified cases of posttransfusion hypoxemia. Medical records of identified cases were reviewed to diagnose TRALI. During the 45-day period, 820 patients received 6,888 blood products. Seven cases of TRALI were diagnosed, whereas only 2 had been reported. The system had 99% accuracy and 26% positive predictive value for detecting potential TRALI. Computer screening finds more cases of TRALI than are reported voluntarily, and a prospective study using this system is feasible and needed to validate this method of detecting this important adverse transfusion reaction.
Three-dimensional structure of the ATPase fragment of a 70K heat-shock cognate protein

The three-dimensional structure of the amino-terminal 44K ATPase fragment of the 70K bovine heat-shock cognate protein has been solved to a resolution of 2.2 A. The ATPase fragment has two structural lobes with a deep cleft between them; ATP binds at the base of the cleft. Surprisingly, the nucleotide-binding 'core' of the ATPase fragment has a tertiary structure similar to that of hexokinase, although the remainder of the structures of the two proteins are completely dissimilar, suggesting that both the phosphotransferase mechanism and the substrate-induced conformational change intrinsic to the hexokinases may be used by the 70K heat shock-related proteins.
Energy Conservation Policies of the Federal Energy Office: Economic Demand Analysis

Forecasts for crude petroleum consumption are presented which take into account attempts by the Federal Energy Office to regulate residential and commercial thermostats. On the basis of an economic demand model, it is found that lowering all thermostats by 6°F would lower the projected residential and commercial petroleum demand in 1973 by 12 percent. This amount is compared to forecasts made by the Federal Energy Office and to the eflect of a price increase of $0.10 per gallon for heating oil.
Loop-space formulation of gauge theories

Some intricate properties of the integrability conditions of the loop-space chiral equations, which do not have their correspondence in the ordinary chiral equations, are pointed out.
The visible absorption spectrum of S2O

Abstract The visible absorption spectrum of S2O vapor has been studied by spectrographic and laser optoacoustic techniques. Magnetic rotation spectroscopy was used to establish the triplet-singlet nature of the transition. Vibrational analysis gave ν′1 = 1089, ν′2 = 505, and ν′3 = 332 cm−1.
Rational use of medications: if Canada can't do it ...

See related research paper by Jackevicius and colleagues, page [E19][1] In this issue, Jackevicius and colleagues offer a provocative evaluation of temporal changes in the use of cardiovascular drugs in Canada. [1][2] By examining information from a national database managed by the prescription-
A Kinetic Model for Redox Replacement of UPD Layers

The redox replacement at open-circuit potential OCP of the underpotentially deposited UPD metal layer in the presence ofoxygen and/or more noble metal ions is discussed and an analytical model describing this process is proposed. The modelestablishes a functional relationship between time and potential during the replacement of the UPD layer featuring eitherLangmuir- or Frumkin-type adsorption behavior. A model validation is performed by ﬁtting experimental OCP transients foroxidative Pb stripping from Cu 111 and Ag 111 substrates. The excellent agreement between theory and experiment enablesquantitative prediction and control of the replacement reaction kinetics in a wide variety of systems.© 2007 The Electrochemical Society. DOI: 10.1149/1.2735817 All rights reserved.Manuscript submitted February 7, 2007; revised manuscript received March 8, 2007. Available electronically May 9, 2007.
The Recoverability of P-technique Factor Analysis

It seems that just when we are about to lay P-technique factor analysis finally to rest as obsolete because of newer, more sophisticated multivariate time-series models using latent variables-dynamic factor models-it rears its head to inform us that an obituary may be premature. We present the results of some simulations demonstrating that even though it does not explicitly model lagged information, P-technique's ability to recover the parameters of underlying dynamic processes involving lagged relations among the manifest variables is apparently robust and accurate. An empirical example is presented using 103 days of affective mood self-ratings from a young pregnant woman. Implications of the simulation and empirical findings are briefly discussed.
An Unpublished Treatise on Medicine and Magic from the Age of Charlemagne

IN a medical manuscript of the Paris BibliothEque Nationale (Ms. lat. 9332) that was written at about 800, probably somewhere in the Loire Valley, there is a curious one-page treatise that has escaped the attention of historians, paleographers, mediaevalists, medical historians, and folk lorists.1 This neglect is understandable when one notes that the treatise is very brief and that it was inserted on a blank page toward the end of book i of Dioscorides' Materia Medica. The Epistula Vulturis comprises seventeen medical and magical recipes compounded from portions of vulture and other substances. About half of the recipes (numbers 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, and 16) bear such a close resemblance to passages in the Natural History of the first-century Roman, Pliny the Elder, that obviously they were derived from bis work. The wording of most of them, however, is closer to that of a sixth-century work by Sextus Placitus Papyriensis which was itself derived largely from Pliny. Therefore it seems certain that the material in question came originally from Pliny, but through the medium of Sextus' Book of Medicine from Animals, Cattle, Beasts, and Birds.2 Of the nine other recipes, one (number 11) is traceable to Sextus only; none of the rest appears in any of the extant Roman handbooks, and they were doubtless derived from the unwritten folk medicine and magic of the period. It is noteworthy that most of them are magical rather than medical in character (viz., numbers 3, 4, 10, 14, 15, 17). Interestingly enough, additional recipes of a similarly magical character appear in later manuscript versions of the Epistula. An eleventh-century version in a manuscript at Bonn (Universititsbibliothek 218, fol. 83) has four additional magical recipes; and a fifteenth-century version in a manuscript of Italian origin now at Montpellier (Ecole Medecine 277, fol. 81) has fourteen additional recipes, practically all of which are magical in character. The fact that the treatise is found in at least four other manuscripts ranging from the ninth to the twelfth century and from Switzerland, France, and England3 would seem to indicate that vulture lore was widely prevalent during the centuries after Charlemagne. The Latin text (Paris B. N., 9332, fol. 251v) reads as follows:4
Lower Susceptibility of Female Mice to Acetaminophen Hepatotoxicity: Role of Mitochondrial Glutathione, Oxidant Stress and c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase

Abstract Acetaminophen (APAP) overdose causes severe hepatotoxicity in animals and humans. However, the mechanisms underlying the gender differences in susceptibility to APAP overdose in mice have not been clarified. In our study, APAP (300 mg/kg) caused severe liver injury in male mice but 69–77% lower injury in females. No gender difference in metabolic activation of APAP was found. Hepatic glutathione (GSH) was rapidly depleted in both genders, while GSH recovery in female mice was 2.6 fold higher in the mitochondria at 4 h, and 2.5 and 3.3 fold higher in the total liver at 4 h and 6 h, respectively. This faster recovery of GSH, which correlated with greater induction of glutamate-cysteine ligase, attenuated mitochondrial oxidative stress in female mice, as suggested by a lower GSSG/GSH ratio at 6 h (3.8% in males vs. 1.4% in females) and minimal centrilobular nitrotyrosine staining. While c-jun N -terminal kinase (JNK) activation was similar at 2 and 4 h post-APAP, it was 3.1 fold lower at 6 h in female mice. However, female mice were still protected by the JNK inhibitor SP600125. 17β-Estradiol pretreatment moderately decreased liver injury and oxidative stress in male mice without affecting GSH recovery. Conclusion: The lower susceptibility of female mice is achieved by the improved detoxification of reactive oxygen due to accelerated recovery of mitochondrial GSH levels, which attenuates late JNK activation and liver injury. However, even the reduced injury in female mice was still dependent on JNK. While 17β-estradiol partially protects male mice, it does not affect hepatic GSH recovery.
The self-care approach as a new tool in modern health care. carpal tunnel syndrome, an ideal model to evaluate the efficacy of an instructional video

Objective: The proliferation of medical knowledge (including media attention for health) and this emergence of chronic disease laid fertile ground for the self-care movement and revision of the doctor-patient relationship. The growing emphasis on self-care has led to increasing needs for accurate patient information on alternative approaches to clinical problems. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most frequent focal neuropathy. Postures are relevant for development worsening or improvement of CTS. Hence, CTS exemplifies a pathology in which patients can be instructed by the use of a video, avoiding wrong positions that can worsen the pathology. Materials and Methods: We developed an instructional video for CTS patients to educate themselves on how to avoid postures that could worse the median nerve entrapment. Furthermore, we performed the first steps of validation. Results: The first steps of validation showed that the video is able to transfer the arguments we believe are relevant to avoid negative posture. To complete the validation, a randomised controlled trial is ongoing to evaluate the efficacy of the video. Discussion: We can imagine self-care as a low-cost program for promoting health self-management, improving elements of health status while reducing care costs in populations with diverse chronic diseases. CTS is an ideal model to evaluate the efficacy of the self-care approach. The developed video was able to instruct patients about the importance of posture on this disease and how to avoid/modify daily activities negative for the entrapment syndrome. Note that the use of the video was explicitly intended to augment the usual doctor-patient interaction, not to substitute it.
Logarithmic convexity of push-forward measures.

Let M be a compact symplectic manifold with a Hamiltonian action o f a compact torus T, and moment map q5 : M --~ t*. The push-forward by q5 of the symplectic measure on M equals Lebesgue measure on q~(M) multiplied by an "interpolating function" f . These interpolating functions are important because if M is a smooth projective variety, and the symplectic form on M represents the first Chern class o f a T-equivariant ample line bundle L -~ M, then the interpolating function f describes the asymptotic behavior of the multiplicities o f the representation of T on H~ | ([He], [GS2]). One striking property of the moment map is that its image qS(M) is a convex polytope in t* ([A], [GS1]). The purpose of this paper is to show that if the symplectic form is K~ihler, then the interpolating function also possesses a certain convexity property. Recall that a continuous function h on a convex set C is called convex if
Witnessing an Accidental Shooting at the Police Training Academy

Abstract After an accidental shooting at a police training academy, outcomes of the class involved (n = 45) were compared with those of several comparison classes (n = 154) immediately and one year later. Results revealed a modest impact, but an increase in PTSD symptomology was observed from academy training to the one-year follow-up. Recruits in the affected class demonstrated more prejudicial attitudes toward women in law enforcement, perhaps because the shooter was a woman. The findings suggest that mistakes made by women within law enforcement may be generalized as stereotypes, and that further research is needed on the psychological impact of becoming a police officer.
The Origin of the Dispute over the Discovery of Heparin

L'article relate les faits qui ont suivi la decouverte de l'heparine, notamment la dispute pour l'appropriation de la decouverte de cet anticoagulant qui fut a la base de nombreux progres dans le domaine medical et chirurgical.
Effect of Immunosuppressive Therapies for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease on Response to Routine Vaccinations: A Meta-Analysis

Several studies have evaluated the effect of immunosuppressive therapy for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on response to routine vaccinations. The overall effect of specific classes of medications (i.e., immunomodulator vs. biologics) on vaccine response remains undefined. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of each class of immunosuppressive therapy in IBD patients on response to routine vaccinations. A comprehensive search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases was performed (December 2014). All studies on adults comparing vaccine response among IBD patients on immunosuppression with non-immunosuppressed patients were included. Meta-analysis was performed using the Mantel–Haenszel (fixed effects) model with odds ratio (OR) to assess for adequate vaccine response. In the pooled analysis of nine studies (N = 1474), we found that there was nearly a 60 % lower chance of achieving adequate seroprotection in the group that received immunosuppressive therapy compared to the group that was not on any immunosuppressive therapies (OR 0.41 95 % CI 0.30, 0.55, p < 0.001). Specifically, we also demonstrated that patients on immunomodulator monotherapy had a twofold higher probability of achieving adequate immune response to vaccination, compared to patients on anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) monotherapy (OR 1.92 95 % CI 1.30, 2.84). In conclusion, IBD patients on immunosuppressive therapy have a significantly lower response to routine vaccinations. The greatest effect is seen among patients on anti-TNF and combination immunosuppressive therapy. Routine monitoring of vaccine titers post-vaccination is important to ensure that adequate immunologic response has been achieved among IBD patients.
Current trends in narcotic use in pregnancy and neonatal outcomes.

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate trends and prevalence of chronic prescription narcotic use during pregnancy and the subsequent neonatal outcomes. Study Design We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all deliveries at Mayo Clinic from 1998 through 2009; the data was obtained from prospectively maintained obstetrics and neonatal databases. Results Over the study time period, there were 26,314 deliveries; 167 women used prescription narcotics chronically during pregnancy. The prevalence of women who used chronic narcotics during their pregnancy increased over the time period from 1998-2009 ( P Conclusion Chronic narcotic use during pregnancy is increasing in prevalence. Neonatal withdrawal syndrome occurred in 5.6% of the exposed neonates. Although neonatal withdrawal syndrome is uncommon, it is clinically significant. Physicians need to consider the risks and benefits carefully when prescribing narcotic pain medications during pregnancy.
Aquaculture pond ecosystem model: temperature and dissolved oxygen prediction — mechanism and application

Accurate characterization of temperature and dissolved oxygen stratification in ponds used for aquaculture is of critical importance in understanding how these ponds may be constructed, oriented, or otherwise managed biophysically when one wishes to provide optimal environmental conditions for the organisms being cultured. While field studies can provide characterizations of water quality stratification at a single locale, to date there have been few attempts at developing reliable models which can be used at a variety of sites after initialization with appropriate local geographic and atmospheric data. In conjunction with the Pond Dynamics/Aquaculture Collaborative Research Support Program (PD/A CRSP), the authors have developed a water quality model (the Aquaculture Pond Ecosystem Model, A.P.E.M.) which predicts temperature and dissolved oxygen stratification at several sites, including Thailand, Rwanda, and Honduras. Advances in model structure and reduction of data requirements relative to previous models reflect the desire to provide for culturists the ability to predict stratification events with commonly available data, obtained either by hand or from a simple weather station located at or near the pond site. Strategies used for dealing with the reduced data sets, and the associated assumptions made, are also presented. Lastly, a series of simulation runs is performed to assess the quantitative effects on temperature and dissolved oxygen concentration generated by varying pond depth and phytoplankton density input values.
The effects of low literacy and cognitive impairment on medication adherence in HIV-positive injecting drug users

Low literacy and cognitive impairment have each been separately identified as risks for non-adherence in HIV infection. However, no studies to date have evaluated these skill deficits in combination. We therefore characterized the nature of literacy and cognitive skills in a sample of HIV-positive injecting drug users and assessed their combined effects on adherence. A community-recruited sample of 57 HIV-positive injecting drug users completed the study. Participants were classified into one of four groups based on their performance on a reading test and a brief neuropsychological battery: high literacy/high cognition, low literacy/high cognition, high literacy/low cognition and low literacy/low cognition. Chi-square and bivariate analyses were used to characterize the literacy and cognitive skills of the overall sample and logistic regression analysis was used to test the relation of the four groups to non-adherence (< 95%). In general, performance on measures of literacy and cognitive functioning were below average, with severe deficits noted in psychomotor functioning. Additionally, after adjusting for recent cocaine use, those classified as low literate/low cognition were over nine times more likely to be non-adherent than the referent high literate/high cognition group. Low literacy and cognitive impairment placed HIV-positive drug users at high risk for non-adherence, even after adjusting for recent cocaine use. The findings suggest that targeted interventions to improve these skill deficits in this population may help to improve adherence to HIV medications.
Synthesis of benzylidenated hexopyranosides in ionic liquids

The synthesis of 4,6-O-benzylidenated monosaccharides and disaccharides has been studied using ionic liquids as a unique solvent alternative. An examination of several imidazolium ionic liquids indicates that the benzylidenation of hexopyranosides in 3-butyl-1-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [bmim]BF4, gives the highest yields for most of the substrates, and that this solvent system could be readily recycled.
Relationship between crystal structure and thermo-mechanical properties of kaolinite clay: beyond standard density functional theory.

The structural, mechanical and thermodynamic properties of 1 : 1 layered dioctahedral kaolinite clay, with ideal Al2Si2O5(OH)4 stoichiometry, were investigated using density functional theory corrected for dispersion interactions (DFT-D2). The bulk moduli of 56.2 and 56.0 GPa predicted at 298 K using the Vinet and Birch–Murnaghan equations of state, respectively, are in good agreement with the recent experimental value of 59.7 GPa reported for well-crystallized samples. The isobaric heat capacity computed for uniaxial deformation of kaolinite along the stacking direction reproduces calorimetric data within 0.7–3.0% from room temperature up to its thermal stability limit.
Self-esteem and sexual behavior: Exploring gender differences.

Previous studies have shown that the relationship between sexual permissiveness and self-esteem fluctuates with the social climate. The present study found that high self-esteem males and females had a significantly greater number of sexual partners than low self-esteem subjects. The relationship is particularly strong for males. The greatest difference in self-esteem levels was found between male virgins and nonvirgins. Self-esteem levels did not differ between female virgins and nonvirgins. Sensation seeking, marital status, and age were also found to be significantly related to number of coital partners.
A test of the path-goal theory of leadership with need for clarity as a moderator in research and development organizations

Chez 477 employes est examine le role du besoin de clarte dans les relations entre une propriete du leadership, le rendement et la satisfaction professionnelle
Interaction and rearrangement of trimethylsilyloxy functional groups. The structural significance of the m/e 147 ion in the mass spectra of trimethylsil steroidal ethers

Requirements for trimethylsilyloxy group interaction and rearrangement are discussed. It is evident that formation of the m/e 147 ion is a function of the stereochemistry, steric hindrance and separation of the trimethylsilyloxy groups and reflects the stereochemistry of the steroid itself. It is postulated that ring cleavage is not necessarily a prerequisite for the formation of this ion. The occurrence of the m/e 147 ion can be structurally informative in trimethylsilyl derivatives of steroidal alcohols.
A Course for Innocence: Sexuality and Aesthetics in John Hawkes's Innocence in Extremis

Abstract No doubt my essential obsession with innocence (its light and dark sides) became more conscious as I went from one text to the next. […] Again, I think that thematically my work is driven by innocence, from start to finish.—John Hawkes, Letter
Using fuzzy set theory

Two main trends are mentioned: the fuzzy set theory and the fuzzy logic. Both build upon set theory and logic, respectively. Three features distinguish the approaches: (1) the use of so called linguistic variables, instead of or together with numeric variables; (2) the use of fuzzy conditional statements to represent simple relations between variables; and (3) the characterization of complex relations by fuzzy algorithms. Fuzzy linguistic variables and fuzzy algorithms offer an effective, more flexible way to describe a system's behavior too complex for a classical mathematical model. They are very successful in economics, management science, artificial intelligence, information retrieval systems, pattern recognition, image processing, psychology, biology, and other fields rendered inherently fuzzy do to the unpredictable behavior of their components. Expert systems, fuzzy neural computing and pattern recognition are discussed in some detail.
Self heating in Si0.5Ge0.5/Si and GaAs/Si thin film device structures

Abstract Si 0.5 Ge 0.5 and GaAs films grown on Si substrates were used to measure the interface thermal conductance between the films and the substrate. Transient thermoreflectance technique was used with the one-dimensional heat equation to simulate the experimental results. The results showed that the interface thermal conductance of SiGe/Si interface is 100 MW m −2 K −1 and that of GaAs/Si is 20 MW m −2 K −1 . These values of interface thermal conductance combined with the thermal conductivity of the films were used to conclude that SiGe films are less susceptible to self heating than GaAs films of same thickness.
Assessing Credit Rating Agencies by Bond Issuers and Institutional Investors

We examine how a sample of publicly traded corporate bond issuers and institutional investors, namely corporate bond funds, assess the four major nationally recognized credit rating agencies and their role in capital markets. The results show that these issuers and institutional investors differ dramatically in their assessments about rating agencies. Specifically, the majority of institutional investors require, as a matter of formal policy, only one rating when they buy rated corporate bonds, but most issuers obtain two or more ratings. Issuers and institutional investors also differ in their assessments about whether ratings accurately reflect creditworthiness and whether agencies maintain timely ratings. In aggregate, the results suggest that differences between bond issuers and institutional investors reflect the different roles that rating agencies provide in the market place.
Cell Type-Specific Enhancement of Hepatitis C Virus Internal Ribosome Entry Site-Directed Translation due to 5′ Nontranslated Region Substitutions Selected during Passage of Virus in Lymphoblastoid Cells

Low-level replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in cultured lymphoblastoid cells inoculated with H77 serum inoculum led to the appearance of new virus variants containing identical substitutions at three sites within the viral 5' nontranslated RNA (5'NTR): G(107)-->A, C(204)-->A, and G(243)-->A (N. Nakajima, M. Hijikata, H. Yoshikura, and Y. K. Shimizu, J. Virol. 70:3325-3329, 1996). These results suggest that virus with this 5'NTR sequence may have a greater capacity for replication in such cells, possibly due to more efficient cap-independent translation, since these nucleotide substitutions reside within the viral internal ribosome entry site (IRES). To test this hypothesis, we examined the translation of dicistronic RNAs containing upstream and downstream reporter sequences (Renilla and firefly luciferases, respectively) separated by IRES sequences containing different combinations of these substitutions. The activity of the IRES was assessed by determining the relative firefly and Renilla luciferase activities expressed in transfected cells. Compared with the IRES present in the dominant H77 quasispecies, an IRES containing all three nucleotide substitutions had significantly greater translational activity in three of five human lymphoblastoid cell lines (Raji, Bjab, and Molt4 but not Jurkat or HPBMa10-2 cells). In contrast, these substitutions did not enhance IRES activity in cell lines derived from monocytes or granulocytes (HL-60, KG-1, or THP-1) or hepatocytes (Huh-7) or in cell-free translation assays carried out with rabbit reticulocyte lysates. Each of the three substitutions was required for maximally increased translational activity in the lymphoblastoid cells. The 2- to 2.5-fold increase in translation observed with the modified IRES sequence may facilitate the replication of HCV, possibly accounting for differences in quasispecies variants recovered from liver tissue and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the same patient.
Influence of polysaccharides on neutrophil function: Specific antagonists suggest a model for cooperative saccharide-associated inhibition of immune complex-triggered superoxide production

We have previously shown that certain monoisaccharides (N-acfetyl-D-glucosamine and mannose) could cooperativly inhabit the ability of neutrophils to release superoxide anions in response to immuule complexes. To test the possible orgins of the cooperative inhibition of superoxide releaqe,m we have examined the effect of a panel of particular β-glucan and hyaluronan triggered superoxide pelease from neutrophils, other polysaccharides including chitin and mannan were without effeat. Both chitin and mannan, but not other polysaccharides, inhibited the immune complex-mediated qtimulation of superoxide peleaqe in a dose-dependent fashion, In sharp contrast to the coopepative inhibition mediated by monosaacharides, chiting and mannan exhitbted Hill coefficients of 1. This inhibition of superoxide production was not due to simple blockage of Fc receotirs since fluorescent immune complexes bound equlally well to neutrophils in the presence of mannan of chitin as shown by equfluorescence microscopy and quantitative fluorometpy. Furthermore, this inhibition of superoxide release was lot observed when neutrophils were qtimulated with phorbol myristate aaetate and ionophore A23187 or Hyaluronan. Therefope, the secific inhibition of superoxide production by mannan and hitin aould lot be explailed bu eithep peceptor blockage or by some nolspecific effects on cells. We suggest that there molicules interdere with a step in transmembrace qignalling, presumably involving the intergrin CR3. The obserted Hill Cofficients suggest the possibility that one polysaccharide may simultaniouslybind to two monosaccharide bindine sites yielding a Hill coefficient of 1, wheras individual monosacaharides seperately bind vielding a Hill coefficient of 2.
POLICING OUR CAMPUSES: A NATIONAL REVIEW OF STATUTES

Provides a profile of state laws pertaining to campus police. Reveals wide variations across the USA. Notes that statutes are often the state legislature’s ad hoc response to a problem. Many campuses require their police to be deputized by the local police authorities. Finds that the majority of states grant police authority to officers at public institutions and that it is usual for the governing body or chief executive officer to have appointing authority over campus police. Suggests elements for a model campus police statute.
Children in School Cafeterias Select Foods Containing More Saturated Fat and Energy than the Institute of Medicine Recommendations

In this study, we examined if children’s food selection met the School Meals Initiative (SMI) standards and the recently released Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommendations. Mean food selection, plate waste, and food intake were also examined. Food intake of 2049 4th–6th grade students was measured objectively at lunch over 3 d with digital photography in 33 schools. The percent of children whose food selection met the SMI standards and IOM recommendations for energy (kJ), fat and saturated fat, calcium, iron, and vitamin A and C were calculated. The SMI standards provide lower limits for most nutrients; the IOM provides a range of values, including an upper limit for energy. Seventy-seven percent of children’s energy selection met the SMIlowerlimit,but only 16% ofchildrenmet the IOM’srecommended rangeand74% ofchildren exceeded the upper limit. More than 70% of children exceeded the SMI and IOM’s saturated fat recommendations. Children selected (mean 6 SD) 3168 6 621 kJ, discarded 882 6 581 kJ, and consumed 2286 6 716 kJ. Children were less likelyto discard fat than carbohydrate,resultingin proportionally morefat beingconsumed. Most children met SMIandIOM recommendations for protein, calcium, iron, and vitamin A. With few exceptions, energy selection was similar among groups of children, but plate waste differed (P , 0.001), resulting in greater energy intake among boys compared with girls, Caucasians compared with African Americans, and heavier compared with lighter children. Children’s selection was high in saturated fat and, based on IOM criteria, included excess energy. J. Nutr. 140: 1653–1660, 2010.
Computer-Assisted Surgery Planning for Lower Extremity Deformity Correction by the Ilizarov Method

Starting in 1952, Prof. Gavril Ilizarov, a Russian orthopedic surgeon, devised a complex method of long bone deformity correction using an external bone fixation system consisting of rings and wires. We have developed a computer-assisted surgery planning system to aid in correction using the Ilizarov method. The hardware for the system is composed of an ultrasonic digitizer as input device, an HI plotter as output device, a 386/486 personal computer with super VGA monitor, and a mouse interfacing between user and computer. The software includes two separate programs. The main program is a menu-driven two-dimensional graphics program, which divides the planning procedure into several major stages, including preoperative planning and postoperative verification. The second program uses the information generated from the first program to create an image of the ideal three-dimensional frame construction to give a general impression of the appearance of the constructed frame.
Analysis and Optimization of Disk Storage Devices for Time-Sharing Systems

A major limitation for time-sharing systems is the time delay encountered in transferring records between central “fast” memory and peripheral memory devices. In this paper the transfer characteristics of disk storage devices are considered. Expected seek time and expected rotational latency are taken as measures of performance for the disk. The following aspects of disk files and their behavior are considered: the speed profile of the positioning mechanism and its effect on seek time; effects of the probability distribution of information stored on tracks; track overflow of records; dynamic queuing strategies; reduction of rotation time by buffered read techniques; and strategies for using multiple-arm devices.
ret transforming gene encodes a fusion protein homologous to tyrosine kinases.

Abstract The ret transforming gene was activated by recombination between two unlinked segments of human DNA, most likely during transfection of NIH 3T3 cells. To further define this transforming gene, we isolated and sequenced ret cDNA clones. The nucleotide sequence indicates that the active ret transforming gene encodes a fusion protein with a carboxy-terminal domain which is 40 to 50% homologous to members of the tyrosine kinase gene family. This tyrosine kinase domain is preceded by a hydrophobic sequence characteristic of a transmembrane domain. Transcription of the ret tyrosine kinase sequence was detected in the SK-N-SH neuroblastoma, HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia, and THP-1 monocytic leukemia cell lines, but not in 25 other human tumor cell lines surveyed. The ret tyrosine kinase may thus represent a cell surface receptor which is expressed in a restricted range of human cells.
Transition and Change in Adolescents and Young Adults With Autism: Longitudinal Effects on Maternal Well-Being

Abstract We investigated how change in the characteristics of 140 adolescents and young adults with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) would predict subsequent change in maternal well-being and in t...
A National Study of Chinese Youths' Attitudes towards Students with Intellectual Disabilities.

Background In recent years, there has been a global effort to support the inclusion of students with intellectual disabilities (ID) in schools and classrooms. China in particular has recently enacted laws that provide for inclusive educational opportunities for students with ID. There are many barriers, however, to successfully including students with ID in regular education schools and classrooms, one of which is negative attitudes. Over the past decade, much research has focused on documenting the attitudes of the adult public; however, adults only represent one segment of society as it is youth who play a critical role in the successful inclusion and acceptance of students with ID in schools and classrooms. The aim of this study was to replicate a previous study of middle school-aged youths' attitudes towards the inclusion of peers with ID conducted with youth in the USA with similar aged youth in China. Methods A survey was conducted with a random sample of 4059 middle school-aged youth in China on their attitudes towards students with ID. Students' attitudes were measured in terms of their perceptions of the capabilities of students with ID, their beliefs about and expectations regarding the inclusion of students with ID and their willingness to interact with students with ID both in and out of school. Results The findings indicated that youth in China (1) perceive students with ID as moderately, rather than mildly, impaired; (2) believe that students with ID can not participate in their academic classes; (3) view inclusion as having both positive and negative effects on them personally; and (4) do not want to interact with a peer with ID in school, particularly on academic tasks. Structural equation modelling showed that youths' perceptions of the competence of students with ID significantly influenced their willingness to interact with these students and their support of inclusion. Conclusions The findings replicated previous research conducted with middle school-aged youth in the USA and are discussed from a cultural perspective and in terms of the current special education policies and practices in China.
A Nav1.7 channel mutation associated with hereditary erythromelalgia contributes to neuronal hyperexcitability and displays reduced lidocaine sensitivity

Mutations in the TTX-sensitive voltage-gated sodium channel subtype Nav1.7 have been implicated in the painful inherited neuropathy, hereditary erythromelalgia. Hereditary erythromelalgia can be difficult to treat and, although sodium channels are targeted by local anaesthetics such as lidocaine (lignocaine), some patients do not respond to treatment with local anaesthetics. This study examined electrophysiological differences in Nav1.7 caused by a hereditary erythromelalgia mutation (N395K) that lies within the local anaesthetic binding site of the channel. The N395K mutation produced a hyperpolarized voltage dependence of activation, slower kinetics of deactivation, and impaired steady-state slow inactivation. Computer simulations indicate that the shift in activation is the major determinant of the hyperexcitability induced by erythromelalgia mutations in sensory neurons, but that changes in slow inactivation can modulate the overall impact on excitability. This study also investigated lidocaine inhibition of the Nav1.7-N395K channel. We show that the N395K mutation attenuates the inhibitory effects of lidocaine on both resting and inactivated Nav1.7. The IC50 for lidocaine was estimated at 500 μm for inactivated wild-type Nav1.7 and 2.8 mm for inactivated Nav1.7-N395K. The N395K mutation also significantly reduced use-dependent inhibition of lidocaine on Nav1.7 current. In contrast, a different hereditary erythromelalgia mutation (F216S), not located in the local anaesthetic binding site, had no effect on lidocaine inhibition of Nav1.7 current. Our observation of reduced lidocaine inhibition on Nav1.7-N395K shows that the residue N395 is critical for lidocaine binding to Nav1.7 and suggests that the response of individuals with hereditary erythromelalgia to lidocaine treatment may be determined, at least in part, by their specific genotype.
Prefilter Bivalirudin for Preventing Hemofilter Occlusion in Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy

Objective:To describe a case of successful bivalirudin use as a prefilter anticoagulant in continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CVVH).Case Summary:A 30-year-old male was brought to the hospital by ambulance with an anterior communicating artery subarachnoid hemorrhage, signs of intraparenchymal hemorrhage, and hydrocephalus. During the patient's complicated hospital course, he developed acute renal failure requiring CVVH, as well as hepatic insufficiency (Child-Pugh class B). Unfractionated heparin was used as a prefilter anticoagulant. After he had a positive heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) antibody test, prefilter heparin was discontinued in favor of bivalirudin. Filter survival and systemic activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) values were compared between prefilter heparin (n = 5) and bivalirudin (n = 4). Filter survival was similar (median 26 h with heparin vs 37 h with bivalirudin; p = 0.52). Prefilter bivalirudin 1–2.5 mg/hour (0.009–0.023 mg/kg/h) was effective in maintaining system...
Teaching NeuroImages: Concurrent hemifacial spasm and trigeminal neuralgia due to vertebrobasilar dolichoectasia

A 64-year-old man reported a 2-week worsening of a 2-year history of paroxysmal, lancinating right facial pain and spasms. Head CT demonstrated a tortuous and ectatic vertebral-basilar system. MRI confirmed a dolichoectatic basilar artery that distorted the right trigeminal (figure 1) and facial nerve roots (figure 2). He failed conservative medical management including carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, and levetiracetam. He underwent Gamma Knife radiosurgery with a few months of pain relief and was offered botulinum neurotoxin injection for spasms.