cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A randomized controlled trial of emergency treatment of bleeding esophageal varices in cirrhosis for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Abstract Background Ninety percent of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have cirrhosis. Bleeding esophageal varices (BEV) is a frequent complication of cirrhosis. Detection of HCC in cirrhotic patients with BEV has not been studied. Methods Two hundred eleven unselected patients with cirrhosis and BEV were randomized to endoscopic sclerotherapy (n = 106) or emergency portacaval shunt (n = 105). Diagnostic workup and treatment were initiated within 8 hours. Ninety-six percent had >10 years of follow-up. HCC screening involved serum α-fetoprotein (AFP) every 3 months, ultrasonography every 6 months, and selective computed tomography (CT). Results HCC occurred in 15 patients, all incurable, a mean of 2.94 years after entry. They died a mean 1.33 years after discovery. Serial AFP and ultrasound examinations were unrevealing over a mean of 2.3 years. The mean model of end-stage liver disease score was 12.7 at entry and 17.4 at HCC diagnosis. Conclusions Long-term screening by AFP and ultrasound plus selective CT failed to detect HCC at a curable stage. The detection of HCC in cirrhotic patients with BEV remains a serious, unsolved problem. The use of CT for routine screening warrants consideration despite increased costs.
Bone Marrow in the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Excerpt To the editor: The letter by Franco and associates (1) addresses the poorly understood phenomenon of bone marrow depression in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. We recently completed ...
L'intégration des populations immigrées

En remettant, le 13 novembre 2002, le Prix Balzan pour la sociologie a Dominique Schnapper, le president de la Republique Italienne Carlo Azelio Ciampi rendait un hommage eclatant a la recipiendaire qui, « par ses analyses pertinentes et perspicaces de l’evolution des societes contemporaines, a bâti une œuvre magistrale couvrant les manifestations les plus diverses allant de la sociologie de la ­culture a celle de l’administration et des problemes de l’integration sociale et de la citoyennete...
Anger and denial as predictors of cardiovascular reactivity in women

The relationship between behavioral and physiological reactivity and cardiovascular disease has been extensively researched in men, indicating that the expression of anger may be a contributory factor in the development of coronary heart disease. Few studies, however, have focused on women. Among these, women generally have been found to be less reactive to laboratory tasks than men. In the present study, 45 women aged 19–21 years were selected to represent three groups—(1) low anger/low denial, (2) high anger/low denial, and (3) low anger/high denial—based on their scores on the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory and the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale. Subjects received three conditions: (1) no feedback, (2) error feedback without observer present, and (3) error feedback with observer present. As hypothesized, women who reported a high level of denial and low anger exhibited elevated stress-related reactivity. The results are suggestive of a subgroup of highly reactive women not previously identified within the literature. The hypothesis that all groups would display greater reactivity in a condition providing error feedback with observation was not supported.
To Write Love through the indie imaginary: The narrative argument of a mediated movement

To Write Love on Her Arms (TWLOHA) is a social-justice nonprofit combating suicide, self-infliction, addiction and depression. TWLOHA is a mediated movement. It was born out of and relies upon social media to spread its message. It also identifies with and contributes to ‘indie’ youth subculture as an integral part of its argument for activism. Here, I explore how TWLOHA constructs an argument for engagement. TWLOHA and its supporters use narrative argument to advocate for prosocial involvement. This argument draws on the values of indie subculture, emphasizing identification with an indie ‘social imaginary’.
What Does New Haven Have to Do with Lubbock? Texts, Techniques, and Sociology

This note examines some pedagogical strategies for the formation of students who read the Bible both confessionally and critically. Some students in both church-related and secular colleges and universities enter courses with confessional views of the Bible that inspire a literal interpretation of the text, what the author calls a flat reading. Teachers struggle to lead students to a more nuanced view of the text in a way that is both sensitive to the students' development and academically responsible. The author indicates how he approaches this challenge through: (1) a discussion of texts that have been used to enable students to see the nature of the biblical text and to transform their understanding of it; (2) a description of techniques and exercises that work toward the same goal; and (3) reflection on the application of sociological research on group change in the transformation of individuals.
Validity of Darcy’s law at low flow-rates in liquid chromatography

Abstract The applicability of Darcy’s law at extremely low flow velocities has been questioned in the scientific literature. It was investigated using a simple chromatographic system. Ethylene glycol (viscosity, 19.9 cP at 20°C) was pumped through 10 to 25 cm long chromatographic columns packed with small porous spherical particles (size, 5 to 10 μm). The dependence of the linear velocity of this liquid on the inlet pressure was found to be linear in the range of Reynolds numbers (based on particle diameter) between Re=1·10−6 and 1·10−4. These results contradict earlier reports by Fand et al. and more recent findings by Kececioglu and Jiang that suggest a limited applicability of Darcy’s law to the range Re=0.3 to 0.7.
Expression of voltage-activated chloride currents in acute slices of human gliomas

Abstract Using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings, we identified a novel voltage-activated chloride current that was selectively expressed in glioma cells from 23 patient biopsies. Chloride currents were identified in 64% of glioma cells studied in acute slices of nine patient biopsies. These derived from gliomas of various pathological grades. In addition, 98% of cells acutely isolated or in short-term culture from 23 patients diagnosed with gliomas showed chloride current expression. These currents, which we termed glioma chloride currents activated at potentials >45 mV, showed pronounced outward rectification, and were sensitive to bath application of the presumed Cl − channel specific peptide chlorotoxin (∼600 nM) derived from Leiurus scorpion venom. Interestingly, low grade tumours (e.g., pilocytic astrocytomas), containing more differentiated, astrocyte-like cells showed expression of glioma chloride currents in concert with voltage-activated sodium and potassium currents also seen in normal astrocytes. By contrast, high grade tumours (e.g., glioblastoma multiforme) expressed almost exclusively chloride currents, suggesting a gradual loss of Na + currents and gain of Cl − currents with increasing pathological tumour grade. To expand on the observation that these chloride currents are glioma-specific, we introduced experimental tumours in scid mice by intracranial injection of D54MG glioma cells and subsequently recorded from tumour cells and adjacent normal glial cells in acute slices. We consistently observed expression of chlorotoxin-sensitive chloride channels in implanted glioma cells, but without evidence for expression of chloride channels in surrounding “normal” host glial cells, suggesting that these chloride channels are probably a glioma-specific feature. Finding of this novel glioma specific Cl − channel in gliomas in situ and it's selective binding of chlorotoxin may provide a way to identify or target glioma cells in the future.
Toward detection of marine vehicles on horizon from buoy camera

This paper presents a new technique for automatic detection of marine vehicles in open sea from a buoy camera system using computer vision approach. Users of such system include border guards, military, port safety and flow management, sanctuary protection personnel. The system is intended to work autonomously, taking images of the surrounding ocean surface and analyzing them on the subject of presence of marine vehicles. The goal of the system is to detect an approximate window around the ship and prepare the small image for transmission and human evaluation. The proposed computer vision-based algorithm combines horizon detection method with edge detection and post-processing. The dataset of 100 images is used to evaluate the performance of proposed technique. We discuss promising results of ship detection and suggest necessary improvements for achieving better performance.
Individual and Social Correlates of Efficacious Beliefs: Assessing the Moderating Effects of Parent-Daughter Relationship Among Urban African American Female Adolescents

African American adolescents living in inner-city environments have been disproportionately affected by a variety of social ills. Evidence has linked self-efficacy to several positive outcomes in adolescence including ability to negotiate risk, academic achievement, and greater orientation toward the future. This study assesses multiple factors that might influence self-efficacy among female African American youth living in public housing developments. Results show that a youth's attitude toward deviance was positively related to self-efficacy. Peer influence was related to efficacious belief. Maternal support was also associated with an increase in self-efficacy. Further, the quality of the mother-daughter relationship was important in predicting efficacious beliefs. Paternal behavior was inversely related to self-efficacy. Implications for practice and research are discussed.
Teaching the Importance of Accuracy in Preparing References

This article outlines and evaluates a technique for teaching students to recognize and prepare references for four types of works commonly used in research reports. Subsequent performance on the reference section of their research reports earns either an A or F grade (after Crown-Hillix, 1988). This technique helps students learn to prepare accurate reference lists and appears to sensitize them to other aspects of APA style.
The F-BAR protein Hof1 tunes formin activity to sculpt actin cables during polarized growth

Asymmetric cell growth and division rely on polarized actin cytoskeleton remodeling events, the regulation of which is poorly understood. In budding yeast, formins stimulate the assembly of an organized network of actin cables that direct polarized secretion. Here we show that the Fer/Cip4 homology–Bin amphiphysin Rvs protein Hof1, which has known roles in cytokinesis, also functions during polarized growth by directly controlling the activities of the formin Bnr1. A mutant lacking the C-terminal half of Hof1 displays misoriented and architecturally altered cables, along with impaired secretory vesicle traffic. In vitro, Hof1 inhibits the actin nucleation and elongation activities of Bnr1 without displacing the formin from filament ends. These effects depend on the Src homology 3 domain of Hof1, the formin homology 1 (FH1) domain of Bnr1, and Hof1 dimerization, suggesting a mechanism by which Hof1 “restrains” the otherwise flexible FH1-FH2 apparatus. In vivo, loss of inhibition does not alter actin levels in cables but, instead, cable shape and functionality. Thus Hof1 tunes formins to sculpt the actin cable network.
REL. OF SOMATIC GROWTH AND LENGTH OF GESTATION TO NEWBORM HEUPOLOGIC MATURITY

A twenty item newborn neurologic evaluation and a five item clinical assessment of maturity were related to gestation, and newborn weight, length and head circumference, in 463 liveborn singleton black infants. The relationships with neurologic score were linear; the correlation was only .23 with gestation, but .48 for birthweight, .35 for length, and .34 for head circ. Regression anal. demonstrated that, after controlling for gestation, birthweight added 20.5% to explained variance. On the other hand, neither gestation, nor length or head circumference added any variance to the 25.6% associated with birthweight. To test whether total score might mask interrelationships, factor analysis was performed on the combined neurologic and clinical items. A three factor solution was optimal, and suggests that the items of the exam are not equivalent; and that a simple additive score obscures much potentially valuable information. The correlations of the factors with predictor variables were: The relationships of the factors with the independent variables are different than with total score, and suggest “maturity” in the newborn is multi-dimensional. Joint relationships, and interaction between independent variables, will be presented.
Comparison of closed and open kinetic chain exercise in the anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knee

The purpose of this study was to quantify the amount of anterior tibial displacement occurring in anterior cru ciate ligament-deficient knees during two types of re habilitation exercises: 1) resisted knee extension, an open kinetic chain exercise; and 2) the parallel squat, a closed kinetic chain exercise. An electrogoniometer system was applied to the anterior cruciate ligament- deficient knee of 11 volunteers and to the uninvolved normal knee in 9 of these volunteers. Anterior tibial displacement and the knee flexion angle were meas ured during each exercise using matched quadriceps loads and during the Lachman test. The anterior cru ciate ligament-deficient knee had significantly greater anterior tibial displacement during extension from 64° to 10° in the knee extension exercise as compared to the parallel squat exercise. In addition, the amount of displacement during the Lachman test was significantly less than in the knee extension exercise, but signifi cantly more than in the parallel squat exercis...
Minimum average correlation energy filters

The synthesis of a new category of spatial filters that produces sharp output correlation peaks with controlled peak values is considered. The sharp nature of the correlation peak is the major feature emphasized, since it facilitates target detection. Since these filters minimize the average correlation plane energy as the first step in filter synthesis, we refer to them as minimum average correlation energy filters. Experimental laboratory results from optical implementation of the filters are also presented and discussed.
Deletion of the Amino-Terminus Uncovers an Inactivated State in EAG1 Channels

Ether-a-go-go (Eag) family channels, which include hErg1, are voltage-gated K+ channels that are important in cardiac and neural function and have a well-documented role in disease. Eag1 channels in particular are found throughout the central nervous system and are crucial regulators of cell cycle and tumor progression. Wild-type Eag1 channels exhibit voltage-gated activation and deactivation, but no apparent inactivation. Here we find that deletion of the entire intracellular amino-terminal domain uncovers an inactivated channel state at depolarizing potentials. We characterized this new inactivated state in inside-out patches excised from Xenopus oocytes expressing the mutant Eag1 channels. Intriguingly, we find that application of the membrane-impermeable cysteine modifying reagent MTSES to the intracellular side of the amino-terminal deletion mutant abolishes this inactivation. We have localized this cysteine-modifying effect to one or more of three cysteine residues in the intracellular carboxy-terminal domain. One of these residues resides in a domain that shares sequence similarity with the cyclic nucleotide binding domain (CNBD) of other channels and enzymes, and the other two reside in the C-linker which connects the CNBD-like region to the S6 transmembrane domain. As the CNBD-like region in does not bind to, and these channels are not regulated by cyclic nucleotides, the role of domain in channel gating is unknown. Our results suggest that the entire amino-terminus, or a fraction thereof, may act as a ligand that binds to the CNBD-like region to prevent inactivation in the wild-type channel.
Speaking of History: How Adolescents Use Their Knowledge of History in Reading the Daily News

Academically able history students (n = 10) from 2 high schools reflecting different ideological commitments and approaches to academic excellence were asked to think aloud as they read current newspaper articles on 2 topics: school prayer and Starbucks' treatment of its Guatemalan coffee workers. The purpose was to explore how adolescents use their knowledge of history when interpreting current affairs during an everyday activity of political and cultural life. Principal findings are: (a) Students expressed their thoughts with the aid of background narratives that contrasted how things were at some point "back then" and how things are now, (b) the 2 groups used different historical events and ideas to simultaneously enunciate their background narratives and contextualize each news-story case, and (c) students with different background narratives represented the facts of the same news story differently. Conclusions address cultural resources students exploited (common frameworks of historical eras and of ...
The convergence of information science and communication : a bibliometric analysis

This study asks whether the disciplines of information science and communication are converging, as indicated by a bibliometric study of all core journals of both disciplines in the Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI®) for the period 1977 to 1987. Results show very little convergence between these disciplines, at least on the basis of cross-disciplinary journal citation patterns, although the number of journals involved has increased slightly over time. A few journals are mainly responsible for the cross-disciplinary citing, and they are primarily information science journals citing communication journals. The results may be of interest to those studying scholarly communication or bibliometrics, to faculty constructing curricula in either of the disciplines, to communication and information science scholars seeking new areas of research, and to collection development librarians in drawing the boundaries of these disciplines. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Epimorphin Functions as a Key Morphoregulator for Mammary Epithelial Cells

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and EGF have been reported to promote branching morphogenesis of mammary epithelial cells. We now show that it is epimorphin that is primarily responsible for this phenomenon. In vivo, epimorphin was detected in the stromal compartment but not in lumenal epithelial cells of the mammary gland; in culture, however, a subpopulation of mammary epithelial cells produced significant amounts of epimorphin. When epimorphin-expressing epithelial cell clones were cultured in collagen gels they displayed branching morphogenesis in the presence of HGF, EGF, keratinocyte growth factor, or fibroblast growth factor, a process that was inhibited by anti-epimorphin but not anti-HGF antibodies. The branch length, however, was roughly proportional to the ability of the factors to induce growth. Accordingly, epimorphin-negative epithelial cells simply grew in a cluster in response to the growth factors and failed to branch. When recombinant epimorphin was added to these collagen gels, epimorphin-negative cells underwent branching morphogenesis. The mode of action of epimorphin on morphogenesis of the gland, however, was dependent on how it was presented to the mammary cells. If epimorphin was overexpressed in epimorphin-negative epithelial cells under regulation of an inducible promoter or was allowed to coat the surface of each epithelial cell in a nonpolar fashion, the cells formed globular, alveoli-like structures with a large central lumen instead of branching ducts. This process was enhanced also by addition of HGF, EGF, or other growth factors and was inhibited by epimorphin antibodies. These results suggest that epimorphin is the primary morphogen in the mammary gland but that growth factors are necessary to achieve the appropriate cell numbers for the resulting morphogenesis to be visualized.
Health care and the market.

of health care in Las Vegas, "Is This Where We Want To Go?" (HCR, November-December 1997). MacPherson correctly notes the explosive growth of Nevada, particularly Clark County. Migration to Clark County is estimated at 4,000 to 6,000 per month, and MacPherson points out that 33 percent of Las Vegans have arrived since 1990. Juxtaposed with this statement is MacPherson's observation that the market has not been
Retrieval of Aerosol Optical Depth above Clouds from OMI Observations: Sensitivity Analysis and Case Studies

A large fraction of the atmospheric aerosol load reaching the free troposphere is frequently located above low clouds. Most commonly observed aerosols above clouds are carbonaceous particles generally associated with biomassburningandborealforestfires,andmineralaerosolsoriginatingin aridandsemiaridregionsand transported across large distances, often above clouds. Because these aerosols absorb solar radiation, their role in the radiative transfer balance of the earth‐atmosphere system is especially important. The generally negative (cooling) top-of-the-atmosphere direct effect of absorbing aerosols may turn into warming when the light-absorbing particles are located above clouds. The actual effect depends on the aerosol load and the single scattering albedo, and on the geometric cloud fraction. In spite of its potential significance, the role of aerosols above clouds is not adequately accounted for in the assessment of aerosol radiative forcing effects due to the lack of measurements. This paper discusses the basis of a simple technique that uses near-UV observations to simultaneously derive the optical depth of both the aerosol layer and the underlying cloud for overcast conditions. The two-parameter retrieval method described here makes use of the UV aerosol index andreflectancemeasurementsat 388 nm.Adetailedsensitivityanalysisindicatesthatthemeasuredradiances depend mainly on the aerosol absorption exponent and aerosol‐cloud separation. The technique was applied to above-cloud aerosol events over the southern Atlantic Ocean, yielding realistic results as indicated by indirect evaluation methods. An error analysis indicates that for typical overcast cloudy conditions and aerosol loads, the aerosol optical depth can be retrieved with an accuracy of approximately 54% whereas the cloud optical depth can be derived within 17% of the true value.
Effect of Histamine and Histamine Antagonists on Natural and Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity of Human Lymphocytes in Vitro'

The in vitro effect of histamine and its antagonists, cimetidine and clemastine fumarate, on natural killer (NK) and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) activities of human lymphocytes was investigated. The histamine 1 (H1) antagonist, clemastine fumarate, and the histamine 2 (H2) antagonist, cimetidine, but not histamine alone, inhibited the NK and ADCC activities of lymphocytes when added directly to the mixture of effector and target cells in a 51Cr-release assay. This inhibition was proportional to the concentration of drugs added and was observed at various effector to target ratios against several targets. H1 and H2 antagonists also inhibited NK activities of T cells as well as Percoll-separated, NK-enriched effector cells. The inhibition was significantly reversed by histamine. In target binding assays, clemastine fumarate and cimetidine also decreased the target binding capacity of effector lymphocytes. Further, PBL precultured with histamine (10(-3)-10(-4) M) for 24 hr showed a significant decrease in their NK and ADCC activities. In coculture experiments, PBL precultured with histamine suppressed the NK activity of normal autologous effector lymphocytes. PBL precultured with histamine showed an increased number of OKT8+ cells, as estimated using monoclonal antibodies. The suppression of cytotoxicity was not due to either direct toxicity, steric hindrance, crowding, or cell death, but by functionally viable suppressor cells. An immunoregulatory role for histamine in NK and ADCC reactions is proposed.
Developmental Changes in Nitric Oxide Synthesis in the Ovine Placenta

Nitric oxide (NO), synthesized from l-arginine by NO synthase (NOS), is a key regulator of placental angiogenesis and growth during pregnancy. However, little is known about placental NO synthesis associated with ovine conceptus development. This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that placental NO synthesis is greatest during early gestation. Columbia cross-bred ewes were hysterectomized on Days 30, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, or 140 of gestation (n = 4 per day) to obtain placentomes, intercotyledonary placenta, and intercaruncular endometrium. Tissues were analyzed for constitutive NOS (cNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS) activities, NO synthesis, tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) and NADPH (essential cofactors for NOS), and GTP-cyclohydrolase I (GTP-CH, a rate-controlling enzyme in de novo synthesis of BH4) activity using radiochemical and chromatographic methods. Marked changes in NO synthesis, cNOS and iNOS activities, GTP-CH activity, and concentrations of BH4 and NADPH occurred in all placental and endometrial tissues between Days 30 and 140 of gestation. NO synthesis peaked on Day 60 of gestation in both intercotyledonary placenta and placentomes and on Days 40-60 in intercaruncular endometrium. NO synthesis in placentomes increased 100% between Days 80 and 100 of gestation, when placental and uterine blood flows increase continuously. In all placental and endometrial tissues, NO synthesis was positively correlated with total NOS activity, GTP-CH activity, and concentrations of BH4 and NADPH. Importantly, these results indicate a high degree of metabolic coordination among the several integrated pathways that support high rates of NO synthesis in the conceptus and uterus and establish a new base of information for future studies to define the roles of NO in fetal-placental growth and development.
Resveratrol impairs the 3D aggregation of MDA-MB-231 through a ceramide-mediated mechanism

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 45, 2004 2978 Resveratrol, a polyphenol present in grapes and wine, exerts a drastic growth -inhibitory effect on the human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell line grown in 2D-culture. We recently described the mechanistic relationship between growth inhibitory/proapoptotic effect of resveratrol and de novo synthesis of ceramide (Scarlatti et al FASEB J, 2003). Here we report that ceramide mediates the growth inhibitory effects of resveratrol in MDA-MB-231 cells grown in three-dimensional (3D) cultures. MDA-MB-231 when grown in 3D-cultures can form multicellular spheroids (MCSs). First we treated fully grown MCSs with resveratrol (32 μ M, 48 hours) and observed an accumulation of ceramide in the MCSs, in concomitance with the disruption of the most external spheroid cell layer(s) and loss of the clonogenic potential. Second, we observed that treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with 32 μ M resveratrol significantly impaired the formation (number and size) of 3D-MCSs. This effect correlated with a time-dependent accumulation of endogenous ceramide. In addition, cells disaggregated from the few MCSs that were able to form MCSs after resveratrol treatment lost their clonogenic potential. Thus, resveratrol can both reduce full-grown MCSs and prevent the formation of MCSs by triggering ceramide-dependent pathways. These results indicate that resveratrol-ceramide signaling is independent of the culture substrate. Acknowledgements: This work was supported by CISI, Cancer Drug Targeting Work Package; Cofin 2001.
Towards an advanced nonlinear rotorcraft flight control system design

Traditional rotorcraft flight control designs rely heavily on plant models which have been linearized about various operating set points. These designs are only valid for operating conditions close to the original trim points and suffer performance degradations for significant deviations. Consequently, several linear controllers are designed and scheduled to cover the operational flight envelope. An alternate approach that uses the inherent nonlinearities of the plant model may provide improved performance. Described herein are the initial results of a rotorcraft control design methodology that uses an aircraft-model-based transformation to convert the input-output map of the original nonlinear plant into a linear time-invariant system. The validity of the design technique for attitude stabilization is evaluated in a high-fidelity computer simulation of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. >
Effect of Temperature on the Induction of Interferons by Endotoxin and Virus

Postic, Bosko (University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa.), Catherine DeAngelis, Mary K. Breinig, and Monto Ho. Effect of temperature on the induction of interferons by endotoxin and virus. J. Bacteriol. 91:1277-1281. 1966.-The effect of ambient and body temperature on interferon formation in rabbits injected intravenously with virus differed from that seen after injection of endotoxin. Newcastle disease virus-induced interferon (VII) was elevated by increasing ambient temperature to 35 C, whereas cooling of the rabbit at 4 C resulted in low VII levels. Neither of these conditions affected the titers of endotoxin-induced interferon (EII). However, a significant enhancement of EII levels was found in sera of shorn rabbits, in which the body temperature was lower than in unshorn animals by 1.0 to 1.5 F and the pyrogenic response to endotoxin was less by about 2 F. This enhancement of EII by relatively low body temperatures was also in striking contrast to the reported enhancing effect of high body temperature of the rabbit on the lethal action of endotoxin. It is suggested that the temperature optimum for formation of EII is lower than for formation of VII.
Changes in serum 3,3',5'-triiodothyronine (reverse T3) concentrations with altered thyroid hormone secretion and metabolism.

A sensitive radioimmunoassay was developed for measurement of 3,3′, 5′-triiodothyronine (rT3) in unextracted serum using 8-anilinonaphthalene- 6-sulfonic acid (ANS) to inhibit binding of rT3 to serum proteins. Normal serum r⊂ concentrations were 23 ± 8 (SD) ng/dl. Serum rT3 concentrations were elevated in patients with hyperthyroidism (90 ± 49 ng/dl), T3-hyperthyroidism (36 ± 13 ng/dl), pregnant women (49 ± 9 ng/dl) and in cord blood (280 ± 143 ng/dl). Serum rT3 concentrations were decreased in hypothyroid patients (14 ± 5 ng/dl) and fell during T3 administration to normals. In hypothyroid patients receiving T4 replacement, serum rT3 concentrations varied directly with the dose of T4 between doses of 0.050 and 0.3 mg/day. The ratio of rT3 to T4 was elevated in the sera of hypothyroid and hyperthyroid patients, but was normal in hypothyroid patients receiving T4 replacement therapy. During propylthiouracil administration, serum rT3 concentrations were elevated; during methima-zole administration they did n...
The prevalence of intracranial complications in pediatric frontal sinusitis

Summary Objective Intracranial extension of infection represents a serious complication of sinusitis but with no clearly documented prevalence. The frontal sinus with its unique anatomical characteristics, has been singled out as a catalyst for intracranial spread, but without solid evidence. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of intracranial complications in pediatric acute frontal sinusitis and to test the claimed association. Methods A retrospective chart review of all children (≤16 years of age) admitted over an 18 year period with sinusitis was undertaken in a tertiary children's hosiptal. Included were those with acute disease ( Results In our search 466 patients were included. Of these, 386 did not meet the inclusion criteria. Of the 80 remaining patients, 10 had no films or imaging data available for analysis. The 70 included patients ranged in age from 7 months to 15 years (mean 8.8, median 10). Forty-nine (70%) were males. Twenty-six required medical treatment and 44 (62.9%) required surgical therapy in addition. Forty-nine had orbital complications and 8 (11.4%) had intracranial complications. There was no mortality. The eight patients with intracranial complications ranged in age from 3 to 14 years (mean 12). Six were males. Of the 23 patients with frontal sinus involvement, 7 (30.4%) had intracranial complications. The odds ratio for developing intracranial complications if the frontal sinus was involved in the inflammatory process was 20 (95% CI 2.30–176.4). Conclusion There is a high probability of developing intracranial complications in children who present with acute frontal sinusitis to a tertiary care hospital. This should prompt all involved specialists to insist on detailed radiological evaluation in this group, to halt preventable mortality and morbidity.
Mechanical properties of composites using ultrafine electrospun fibers

The objective of this research was to show the reinforcing effects of nanofibers in an epoxy matrix and in a rubber matrix using electrospun nanofibers of PBI (polybenzimidazole). The average diameter of the electrospun fibers was around 300 nanometers, which is less than one tenth the diameter and 1/100 the cross sectional area of ordinary reinforcing fibers. The ultrafine fibers provide a very high ratio of surface area to volume. The nanofibers toughened the brittle epoxy resin. The fracture toughness and the modulus of the nanofiber (15 wt%)-reinforced epoxy composite were both higher than for an epoxy composite made with PBI fibrids (17 wt%), which are whisker-like particles. In an elastomeric matrix, The Young's modulus and tear strength of the chopped nanofiber-reinforced styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) were higher than those of the pure SBR. Micrographs of the fracture surfaces were obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
OX40:OX40L axis: emerging targets for improving poxvirus-based CD8(+) T-cell vaccines against respiratory viruses.

The human respiratory tract is an entry point for over 200 known viruses that collectively contribute to millions of annual deaths worldwide. Consequently, the World Health Organization has designated respiratory viral infections as a priority for vaccine development. Despite enormous advances in understanding the attributes of a protective mucosal antiviral immune response, current vaccines continue to fail in effectively generating long-lived protective CD8(+) T-cell immunity. To date, the majority of licensed human vaccines afford protection against infectious pathogens through the generation of specific immunoglobulin responses. In recent years, the selective manipulation of specific costimulatory pathways, which are critical in regulating T cell-mediated immune responses, has generated increasing interest. Impressive results in animal models have shown that the tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR) family member OX40 (CD134) and its binding partner OX40L (CD252) are key costimulatory molecules involved in the generation of protective CD8(+) T-cell responses at mucosal surfaces, such as the lung. In this review, we highlight these new findings with a particular emphasis on their potential as immunological adjuvants to enhance poxvirus-based CD8(+) T-cell vaccines.
Managing landmine detection sensors: results from application to AMDS data

Previous work by the authors using information-based sensor management for static target detection has utilized a probability of error performance metric that assumes knowledge of the number of targets present in a grid of cells. Using this probability of error performance metric, target locations are estimated as the N cells with the largest posterior state probabilities of containing a target. In a realistic application, however, the number of targets is not known a priori. The sequential probability ratio test (SPRT) developed by Wald is therefore implemented within the previously developed sensor management framework to allow cell-level decisions of "target" or "no target" to be made based on the observed sensor data. Using these cell-level decisions, more traditional performance metrics such as probability of detection and probability of false alarm may then be calculated for the entire region of interest. The resulting sensor management framework is implemented on a large set of data from the U.S. Army's autonomous mine detection sensors (AMDS) program that has been collected using both ground penetrating radar (GPR) and electromagnetic induction (EMI) sensors. The performance of the sensor manager is compared to two different direct search techniques, and the sensor manager is found to achieve the same P d performance at a lower cost than either of the direct search techniques. Furthermore, uncertainty in the sensor performance characteristics is also modeled, and the use of uncertainty modeling allows a higher P d to be obtained than is possible when uncertainty is not modeled within the sensor management framework.
Geographical Representation of Large and Small Near-Earth Asteroid (NEA) Discoveries and Observations

Statistics on near-Earth asteroids (NEAs) discovery and follow-up observations as a function of geographical location are presented. The majority of discoveries and follow up observations are made from the northern hemisphere which has the preponderance of facilities. It is suggested that because of the current dearth of observation programs in the southern hemisphere that there are some (high inclination) NEAs less likely to be discovered, tracked, and recovered. To assist in discovering these NEAs and carrying out follow-up (recovery) observations on others, both primary (discovery) and secondary (< 4-m) (follow-up) facilities should be placed in the southern hemisphere and supported by amateur observation follow-up networks. To optimally discover NEAs with orbits inferior to Earth’s, an IR observing satellite should be positioned in an inferior orbit, e.g. between Venus and Mercury. To physically characterize NEOs, additional 2- to 4-m telescopes are needed
Using Virtual Manipulative Instruction to Teach the Concepts of Area and Perimeter to Secondary Students with Learning Disabilities.

Secondary students with a learning disability in mathematics often struggle with the academic demands presented in advanced mathematics courses, such as algebra and geometry. With greater emphasis placed on problem solving and higher level thinking skills in these subject areas, students with a learning disability in mathematics often fail to keep pace with their general education peers. This study sought to address the lack of existing empirical research targeting viable interventions for learning the concepts of area and perimeter for secondary students with a learning disability in mathematics. Through the use of a multiple baseline design across three participants, virtual manipulatives were found to be an effective tool to acquire, maintain, and generalize the concepts of area and perimeter. Results from this study provide new evidence showing virtual manipulatives to be a viable and accessible technology to teach students with learning disabilities advanced mathematical concepts.
The effects of radiation on cognative function in patients with low-grade glioma

Materials and Methods: We analyzed cognitive performance data collected in a prospective intergroup trial (Proc ASCO 17:1545, 1998) which randomized 203 eligible/analyzable adult patients with supratentorial low-grade gliomas to low-dose (50.4 Gy/28 fractions) versus high-dose (64.8 Gy/36 fractions) localized radiation therapy. Median follow-up is 7.4 years in the 101 patients still alive. Folstein mini-mental status exam (MMSE) scores and neurologic function scores (NFS) recorded at baseline and at each study evaluation were analyzed to assess cognitive and physical function over time. A loss or gain of greater than 3 points in MMSE was considered clinically significant.
Ballistic Testing of Polymer Composites to Manufacture Emergency Safe House Shelters

Ballistic impact testing was carried out on panels of both S-2 glass/epoxy system and graphite/epoxy laminates with and without polycarbonate facing. Both the striking velocity and exit velocity were measured using magnetic sensors. The energy absorbed and the ballistic limit for each specimen were calculated using the principal of conservation of momentum. The Florence model was adopted in making theoretical prediction for the absorbed energy and the ballistic limit. The bicomponent composites have demonstrated potential concepts that can provide protection for the shelter against ballistic penetrations.
Ice Core Records of Atmospheric N2O Covering the Last 106,000 Years

Paleoatmospheric records of trace-gas concentrations recovered from ice cores provide important sources of information on many biogeochemical cycles involving carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. Here, we present a 106,000-year record of atmospheric nitrous oxide (N2O) along with corresponding isotopic records spanning the last 30,000 years, which together suggest minimal changes in the ratio of marine to terrestrial N2O production. During the last glacial termination, both marine and oceanic N2O emissions increased by 40 ± 8%. We speculate that our records do not support those hypotheses that invoke enhanced export production to explain low carbon dioxide values during glacial periods.
A mathematical model of the inner medullary collecting duct of the rat: pathways for Na and K transport

A mathematical model of the inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) of the rat has been developed representing Na+, K+, Cl−, HCO 3 − , CO2, H2CO3, phosphate, ammonia, and urea. Novel model features ...
Coaching, Mentoring, and Supervision for Workplace Learning

From their review of the literature on the professional curriculum, the authors confirm that teaching and learning situations vary considerably and instructors in workplace settings are constantly challenged to identify and apply appropriate methods that will help preprofessional students reach their learning goals. With education theory and research showing the complexity of teaching and learning processes in the workplace, the authors of this chapter present research related to teaching methods and strategies that best support learning in the workplace for students pursuing careers in the four professions that are featured in this volume. In addition, the authors discuss areas where teaching methods overlap across the professions and present suggestions to meet the challenges of teaching in the workplace.
The Collapse of Mechanism and the Rise of Sensibility: Science and the Shaping of Modernity, 1680–1760

This volume is the second of a projected six-volume work on the shaping of modern cognitive values through ‘the emergence of a scientific culture … in which cognitive values generally are modelled ...
Reizdarmsyndrom – Vom Nihilismus zur pathophysiologisch gesteuerten Therapie

Das Reizdarmsyndrom (RDS) ist eine haufige organische Erkrankung mit erheblicher soziookonomischer Belastung. Die bisher praktizierte symptomenbasierte Definition des RDS durch Symptomen-Cluster ist unzureichend. Neuere Untersuchungen zeigen, dass das RDS mit verschiedenen strukturellen, molekularen, genetischen, immunologischen, nervalen und psychosozialen Veranderungen assoziiert ist. Die nachgewiesenen unterschiedlichen Pathomechanismen sind ein Hinweis auf den multifaktoriellen Charakter des RDS. Das RDS subsumiert daher pathophysiologisch unterschiedliche Erkrankungen. Es ist zu erwarten, dass in Zukunft die weitere Aufklarung pathophysiologisch relevanter Faktoren, und insbesondere deren Korrelation mit den klinischen Symptomen, die Diagnostik und Therapie des Reizdarmsyndroms verbessert. Es wird ein wesentliches Ziel sein, Biomarker zur Charakterisierung der zahlreichen RDS-Untergruppen zu finden, damit eine spezifische Therapieentscheidung moglich ist.
Toxicity of Insecticides to Gypsy Moth Larvae

Laboratory topical application toxicity tests showed that the following compounds were equal to or better than carbaryl against early 3rd instars of Porthetria dispar (L.): resmethrin, Zectran® (4-dimethylamino-3,5-xylyl methylcarbamate), Mobam® (benzo[b]thien-4-yl methylcarbamate); Piperonyl butoxide synergized the action of carbaryl and resmethrin; RO5-8019 (2,4,5-trichlorophenyl-2-propynyl ether) synergized the action of GS-13005 (O,O -dimethyl phosphorodithioate S-ester with 4-(mercaptomethyl)-2-methoxy-∆2-1,3,4-thiadiazolin-5-one). Larvae exhibited some tolerance to DDT and dieldrin; larvae from southern New Jersey showed a higher tolerance to carbaryl than larvae from northern New Jersey. Apanteles melanoscelus (Ratzeburg) and Brachymeria intermedia (Nees), hymenopterous parasites of the gypsy moth, were affected severely by low dosages of carbaryl. Exorista rossica (Mesnil), dipterous parasite of the gypsy moth, was unaffected by high doses of carbaryl.
Effect of insulin upon resting electrical potential of adipose tissue.

SummarySignificant increase of cell membrane resting electrical potential (REP) of adipose tissue obtained from young rats occurred in response to 1-1,000 micro-units/ ml of insulin. Decrease of adipose tissue resting potentials occurred following replacement of insulin by control buffer. Resting electrical potentials of adipose tissue from older rats, weighing 330-405 g, showed no such increase in response to 1,000 micro-units/ml of insulin. Presence or absence of glucose in the buffer medium appeared to have no effect upon the response of cell membrane REP.
Opening Schumer’s Box: The Empirical Foundations of Modern Consumer Finance Disclosure Law (2015 Final)

This Article explores the fundamental failure of Congress’ twenty-five-year quest to utilize disclosure as the primary tool to both regulate credit card issuers and educate consumers. From inception until present, reforms to this disclosure regime, even when premised on judgment and decision-making behavioralism, were nomothetic in orientation and ignored clear differences in population behavior and the heterogeneity of consumers. Current law prohibits credit card issuers from acquiring consumer socio-demographic data and prevents issuers and regulators from using market and policy experimentation to enhance disclosure’s efficacy. To explain why this regime was structured this way and why it must change, this Article contains four key sections: (1) a comprehensive review of the creation of our modern consumer credit card regulatory scheme; (2) a survey of the empirical evidence used to update and expand that disclosure-centered regime over twenty-five years; (3) an account of why the existing scheme’s disclosure function substantially fails, not- withstanding recent reforms; and (4) an argument that to achieve optimal credit card disclosure efficacy, the law must permit issuers to acquire and utilize customer socio-demographic information, including race, gender, and other characteristics.
Optical analysis of the influence of injector hole geometry on mixture formation in gasoline direct injection engines

New and increasingly strict emission standards demand a reduction in the raw emissions from today’s gasoline direct injection engines. The optimisation of mixture formation by means of the injector and, in particular, the injector hole geometry offers significant potential in this respect. To achieve this, however, it is crucial to have a basic understanding of the influence of the geometry on spray breakup. To investigate this influence, a test matrix with ten different injector hole geometries was created. This included cylindrical, convergent, divergent and stepped injector holes. Different measuring techniques were used to analyse the microscopic and macroscopic spray parameters as well as the internal flow in the nozzles.