cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prostacyclin promotes degenerative pathology in a model of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer9s disease (AD) is an incurable neurodegenerative disorder that is the most common cause of dementia in aged populations. A substantial amount of data demonstrates that chronic neuroinflammation can accelerate neurodegenerative pathologies, while epidemiological and experimental evidence suggests that the use of anti-inflammatory agents may be neuroprotective. In AD, chronic neuroinflammation results in the upregulation of cyclooxygenase and increased production of prostaglandin H2, a precursor for many vasoactive prostanoids. While it is well-established that many prostaglandins can modulate the progression of neurodegenerative disorders, the role of prostacyclin (PGI2) in the brain is poorly understood. We have conducted studies to assess the effect of elevated prostacyclin biosynthesis in a mouse model of AD. Upregulated prostacyclin expression significantly worsened multiple measures associated with amyloid disease pathologies. Mice overexpressing both amyloid and PGI2exhibited impaired learning and memory and increased anxiety-like behavior compared with non-transgenic and PGI2control mice. PGI2overexpression accelerated the development of amyloid accumulation in the brain and selectively increased the production of soluble amyloid-β 42. PGI2 damaged the microvasculature through alterations in vascular length and branching; amyloid expression exacerbated these effects. Our findings demonstrate that chronic prostacyclin expression plays a novel and unexpected role that hastens the development of the AD phenotype.
A Combination of Radiotherapy, Hyperthermia, and Immunotherapy Inhibits Pancreatic Tumor Growth and Prolongs the Survival of Mice

Background: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the fourth-most-deadly cancer in the United States with a 5-year survival rate of only 8%. Unfortunately, only 10–20% of PC patients are candidates for surgery, with the vast majority of patients with locally-advanced disease undergoing chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy (RT). Current treatments are clearly inadequate and novel strategies are crucially required. We investigated a novel tripartite treatment (combination of tumor targeted hyperthermia (HT), radiation therapy (RT), and immunotherapy (IT)) to alter immunosuppressive PC-tumor microenvironment (TME). (2). Methods: In a syngeneic PC murine tumor model, HT was delivered before tumor-targeted RT, by a small animal radiation research platform (SARRP) followed by intraperitoneal injections of cytotoxic T-cell agonist antibody against OX40 (also known as CD134 or Tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 4; TNFRSF4) that can promote T-effector cell activation and inhibit T-regulatory (T-reg) function. (3). Results: Tripartite treatment demonstrated significant inhibition of tumor growth (p < 0.01) up to 45 days post-treatment with an increased survival rate compared to any monotherapy. Flow cytometric analysis showed a significant increase (p < 0.01) in cytotoxic CD8 and CD4+ T-cells in the TME of the tripartite treatment groups. There was no tripartite-treatment-related toxicity observed in mice. (4). Conclusions: Tripartite treatment could be a novel therapeutic option for PC patients.
On the development and implementation of multi-CPU parallel versions of accurate, general purpose, methods of multireference perturbation theories

Abstract Algorithms, and pilot implementations, of multi-CPU parallel versions of the second-order Generalized Van Vleck Perturbation Theory method for molecular electronic structure (GVVPT2) and of the perturbatively corrected multireference configuration interaction method including single and double electron replacements [nR-MRCISD(TQ)] are presented and analyzed. It is shown that a cornerstone of the organization of the original, serial methods, macroconfigurations, is also effective for organizing parallel versions. In fact, the use of macroconfigurations, and specifically pairs of macroconfigurations between interacting subspaces, suggests a natural framework that allows optimization of the parallel algorithms. As with the earlier serial versions, a graphical implementation of orbital configurations, which in turn allows efficient use of unitary group approach coupling coefficients, runs below organization at the macroconfiguration level. Consequently, resulting wave functions are rigorously spin adapted, and spatial symmetry has also been implemented at the level of Abelian point groups. Numerical results are presented and analyzed for illumination of future directions for improvement. The parallelization scheme is oriented to departmental and university class computer clusters (or supercomputers) and is expected to facilitate the effective use of GVVPT2 for many molecules of interest to computational chemistry, and shows that the highly accurate nR-MRCISD(TQ) can now be considered as available for investigating problematic molecules outside the applicability of more commonly available methods.
Slow wave monolithic variable phase shifter

Monolithic technology development in the microwave and millimeter wave frequency regimes has put a burden on the device and circuit designers to increase component compatibility with solid state processing methods, including reduction of real estate area utilized, decreased cost per device, and increased yield. The phase shifter is no exception to this trend. Presently, several elements like GaAs MESFET's, lumped capacitors and inductors, diodes, and different electrical length (and impedance) transmission lines are used to realize phase shifters with between 3 through 5 bit capability, each bit being, for example, 22.5° or 45°. Depending upon the frequency region of operation, the number of elements, or their sizes, may present unacceptable levels of complexity or excessive use of GaAs real estate area.
Transforming surgical morbidity and mortality into a systematic case review.

Abstract Background/Purpose The surgical morbidity and mortality (MM Quality improvement. Level of Evidence Level III.
Implementation and assessment of a telecytology quality assurance program.

Introduction The College of American Pathologists mandates that telepathology services are included in laboratory quality management programs. The aim of this study was to assess a telecytology quality assurance (QA) process that we implemented in 2015. Materials and methods Each month, a cytotechnologist randomly selected 3 telecytology fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cases from each cytopathologist on the FNA service that month. Data were recorded in a monthly worksheet and included onsite telecytology adequacy, final adequacy, concordance, onsite operator, cytopathologist, and reason for discrepancy, if present. The worksheet was reviewed monthly, discordant cases were re-examined, and feedback to cytologists was provided. For this study, worksheets from October 2015 to December 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. Results The QA program captured 488 cases, representing 25% of total cases that utilized telecytology during the evaluation period (n = 1983). The telecytology onsite assessment was concordant with the final cytologic assessment in 84% (410 of 488) of cases. The majority of discordant cases (72 of 78, 92%) were the result of an “Inadequate" onsite telecytology assessment, but a final diagnosis was able to be rendered; 92% of these cases were attributed to diagnostic material being present in cytologic preparations not available during the onsite assessment. Nine telecytology onsite interpretation errors were identified, of which 7 were provided by cytopathologists with less than 2 years of experience. Conclusions Most telecytology cases with onsite assessment errors were evaluated by cytopathologists with less than 2 years of practice experience; therefore, careful monitoring of new staff should be considered when developing a telecytology QA program.
Sampling electronic structure QUBOs with Ocean and Mukai solvers

The most advanced D-Wave Advantage quantum annealer has 5000+ qubits, however, every qubit is connected to a small number of neighbors. As such, implementation of a fully-connected graph results in an order of magnitude reduction in qubit count. To compensate for the reduced number of qubits, one has to rely on special heuristic software such as qbsolv, the purpose of which is to decompose a large problem into smaller pieces that fit onto a quantum annealer. In this work, we compare the performance of two implementations of such software: the original open-source qbsolv which is a part of the D-Wave Ocean tools and a new Mukai QUBO solver from Quantum Computing Inc. (QCI). The comparison is done for solving the electronic structure problem and is implemented in a classical mode (Tabu search techniques). The Quantum Annealer Eigensolver is used to map the electronic structure eigenvalue-eigenvector equation to a type of problem solvable on modern quantum annealers. We find that the Mukai QUBO solver outperforms the Ocean qbsolv for all calculations done in the present work, both the ground and excited state calculations. This work stimulates the development of software to assist in the utilization of modern quantum annealers.
Covid-19 shelter-at-home and work, lifestyle and well-being in desk workers.

BACKGROUND: Emerging cross-sectional reports find that the COVID-19 pandemic and related social restrictions negatively affect lifestyle behaviours and mental health in general populations. AIMS: To study the longitudinal impact of COVID-19 on work practices, lifestyle and well-being among desk workers during shelter-at-home restrictions. METHODS: We added follow-up after completion of a clinical trial among desk workers to longitudinally measure sedentary behaviour, physical activity, sleep, diet, mood, quality of life and work-related health using validated questionnaires and surveys. We compared outcomes assessed before and during COVID-19 shelter-at-home restrictions. We assessed whether changes in outcomes differed by remote working status (always, changed to or never remote) using analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). RESULTS: Participants (N = 112; 69% female; mean (SD) age = 45.4 (12.3) years; follow-up = 13.5 (6.8) months) had substantial changes to work practices, including 72% changing to remote work. Deleterious changes from before to during shelter-at-home included: 1.3 (3.5)-h increase in non-workday sedentary behaviour; 0.7 (2.8)-point worsening of sleep quality; 8.5 (21.2)-point increase in mood disturbance; reductions in five of eight quality of life subscales; 0.5 (1.1)-point decrease in work-related health (P < 0.05). Other outcomes, including diet, physical activity and workday sedentary behaviour, remained stable (P ≥ 0.05). Workers who were remote before and during the pandemic had greater increases in non-workday sedentary behaviour and stress, with greater declines in physical functioning. Wake time was delayed overall by 41 (61) min, and more so in workers who changed to remote. CONCLUSIONS: Employers should consider supporting healthy lifestyle and well-being among desk workers during pandemic-related social restrictions, regardless of remote working status.
An End-To-End Non-Intrusive Model for Subjective and Objective Real-World Speech Assessment Using a Multi-Task Framework

Speech assessment is crucial for many applications, but current intrusive methods cannot be used in real environments. Data-driven approaches have been proposed, but they use simulated speech materials or only estimate objective scores. In this paper, we propose a novel multi-task non-intrusive approach that is capable of simultaneously estimating both subjective and objective scores of real-world speech, to help facilitate learning. This approach enhances our prior work, which estimated subjective mean-opinion scores, where our approach now operates directly on the time-domain signal in an end-to-end fashion. The proposed system is compared against several state-of-the-art systems. The experimental results show that our multi-task and end-to-end framework leads to higher correlation performance and lower prediction errors, according to multiple evaluation measures.
Acute fatty liver of pregnancy leading to a delayed hepatic failure necessitating liver transplantation: A case report

Acute fatty liver of pregnancy (AFLP) is a potentially fatal metabolic disorder in pregnant patients that requires urgent delivery and aggressive medical and aesthetic management of maternal complications associated with acute liver failure. A 41-year-old female (79 kg) G1P0 at 31 weeks gestation presented with nausea, vomiting, pruritus, and jaundice. A diagnosis of severe liver dysfunction secondary to AFLP was made. We proceeded with urgent delivery under general anaesthesia. The patient had an uncomplicated caesarean section and gave birth to female infant with Apgar scores of 7 and 8. The patient remained stable for the following 2 weeks, however, given the lack of further recovery of hepatic function, a transjugular liver biopsy was performed, revealing persistent AFLP. She received N-acetylcysteine infusion and 4 cycles of plasma exchange with no improvement. Over the next few days her mental status worsened and her liver functions further deteriorated. She was listed for a deceased liver donor transplant and underwent successful orthotopic liver transplantation. She was discharged on post-operative day (POD) 14 of liver transplant.
Feasibility of Same-Day Prostate Fiducial Markers, Perirectal Hydrogel Spacer Placement, and Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Simulation for External Beam Radiation Therapy for Low-Risk and Intermediate-Risk Prostate Cancer.

Abstract Purpose The use of prostate fiducial markers and perirectal hydrogel spacers can reduce the acute and late toxic effects associated with prostate radiation therapy. These procedures are usually performed days to weeks before simulation during a separate clinic visit to ensure resolution of procedure-related inflammation. The purpose of this study was to assess whether same-day intraprostatic fiducial marker placement, perirectal hydrogel injection, and computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) simulation were feasible without adversely affecting hydrogel volume, perirectal spacing, or rectal dose. If feasible, performing these procedures on the same day as simulation would expedite the start of radiation therapy, improve patient convenience, and reduce costs. Methods and Materials Twenty-one patients with clinically localized prostate cancer who were enrolled on a prospective clinical trial (NCT01617161) underwent same-day marker placement, hydrogel injection, and CT and MRI simulation, then underwent T2 MRI verification scans 3 to 4 weeks later. The MRI scans were fused to the CT planning scans by clinical target volumes (CTVs) to generate comparison treatment plans (70 Gy in 28 fractions). Hydrogel volume and symmetry, perirectal spacing, CTV dose, and organ-at-risk dose were evaluated. Results Verification scans occurred a mean of 24.9 ± 4.6 days after simulation and 9.3 ± 4.9 days after treatment start. Prostate volume did not change between scans (median, 67.3 ± 22.1 cm3 vs 64.1 ± 21.8 cm3; P = .64). The median hydrogel change between simulation and verification was −1.8% ± 4.5% (P = .27). No significant differences in perirectal spacing (midgland: 1.33 ± 0.45 cm vs 1.3 ± 0.7 cm; 1 cm superior: 1.25 ± 0.95 cm vs 1.43 ± 0.91 cm; 1 cm inferior: 1.16 ± 0.28 cm vs 1.41 ± 0.49 cm) were identified. No significant differences in rectal V66 (median 2.3 ± 2.18% vs 2.3 ± 2.28%; P = .99), V35 (median 14.79 ± 7.61 vs 14.67 ± 8.4; P = .73), or D1cc (65.7 ± 9.2 Gy vs 68.2 ± 9.0 Gy; P = .80) were found. All plans met CTV and organ-at-risk constraints. Conclusion Same-day placement of intraprostatic fiducial markers, perirectal hydrogel, and simulation scans was feasible and did not significantly affect hydrogel volume, position, CTV coverage, or rectal dose.
Determination of uranium in seawater, biological samples and sediments using laser induced fluorescence spectrometry

Uranium has been determined in seawater, biological samples and sediments using laser induced fluorescence spectrometry (LIFS). The biological samples and sediments are digested with a mixture of HNO3, HClO4 and HF. The conductivity of the seawater should be below 5.0 mS and the pH of the sample should be in the range 6.5–9.0. The volume of the reagent used to enhance the fluorescence intensity was 0.5 ml. Comparison with other methods was favorable, LIFS being rapid, simple and sensitive, and well suited to environmental monitoring.
SU-E-J-220: Assessment of MRI Geometric Distortion in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Scanned in Immobilized Radiation Treatment Position

Purpose: Uncertainties about geometric distortion have somewhat hindered MRI simulation in radiation therapy. Most of the geometric distortion studies were performed with phantom measurements but another major aspect of MR distortion is patient related. We studied the geometric distortion in patient images by comparing their MRI scans with the corresponding CT, using CT as the non-distorted gold standard. Methods: Ten H&N cancer patients were imaged with MRI as part of a prospective IRB approved study. All patients had their treatment planning CT done on the same day or within one week of the MRI. MR Images were acquired with a T2 SE sequence (1×1×2.5mm voxel size) in the same immobilization position as in the CT scans. MRI to CT rigid registration was then done and geometric distortion comparison was done by measuring the corresponding anatomical landmarks on both the MRI and the CT images by two observers. Several skin to skin (9 landmarks), bone to bone (8 landmarks), and soft tissue (3 landmarks) were measured at specific levels in horizontal and vertical planes of both scans. Results: The mean distortion for all landmark measurements in all scans was 1.8±1.9mm. For each patient 11 measurements were done in the horizontal planemore » while 9 were done in the vertical plane. The measured geometric distortion were significantly lower in the horizontal axis compared to the vertical axis (1.3±0.16 mm vs 2.2±0.19 mm, respectively, P=0.003*). The magnitude of distortion was lower in the bone to bone landmarks compared to the combined soft tissue and skin to skin landmarks (1.2±0.19 mm vs 2.3±0.17 mm, P=0.0006*). The mean distortion measured by observer one was not significantly different compared toobserver 2 (2.3 vs 2.4 mm, P=0.4). Conclusion: MRI geometric distortions were quantified in H&N patients with mean error of less than 2 mm. JW received a corporate sponsored research grant from Elekta.« less
Renal Impairment and Outcomes in Heart Failure: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Objectives We estimated the prevalence of renal impairment in heart failure (HF) patients and the magnitude of associated mortality risk using a systematic review of published studies. Background Renal impairment in HF patients is associated with excess mortality, although precise risk estimates are unclear. Methods A systematic search of MEDLINE (through May 2005) identified 16 studies characterizing the association between renal impairment and mortality in 80,098 hospitalized and non-hospitalized HF patients. All-cause mortality risks associated with any renal impairment (creatinine >1.0 mg/dl, creatinine clearance [CrCl] or estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] 1.03 mg/dl) and moderate to severe impairment (creatinine ≥1.5, CrCl or eGFR Results A total of 63% of patients had any renal impairment, and 29% had moderate to severe impairment. After follow-up ≥1 year, 38% of patients with any renal impairment and 51% with moderate to severe impairment died versus 24% without impairment. Adjusted all-cause mortality was increased for patients with any impairment (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.53 to 1.60, p Conclusions Renal impairment is common among HF patients and confers excess mortality. Renal function should be considered in risk stratification and evaluation of therapeutic strategies for HF patients.
Preceptor expectations and issues with nurse practitioner clinical rotations.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was (a) to identify nurse practitioner (NP) preceptor expectations of university faculty members and students, (b) to understand the best methods of communication between university faculty members and the preceptors, and (c) to elicit issues for improvement for the precepting experience. Data sources: This study was a cross-sectional descriptive design. A survey was sent to all clinicians who precepted NP students from the University of Hawaii from 2003 to 2004 (n= 108). Conclusions: The response rate was 67% (28% males and 72% females) with a mean age of 46.3 years. Sixty-eight percent of the respondents were NPs, 28% were doctors, and 4% were nurse midwives. The majority of preceptors expected two site visits per semester (51%), that faculty members should observe two patient visits with students (57%), and 65% said the first site visit should occur in the first 4 weeks of the semester. Implications for practice: Conducting an assessment of preceptor's issues and expectations of faculty site visits can improve relationships with preceptors and secure and maintain clinical placements for NP students. Recommendations include improving communication, establishing guidelines for site visits, and periodic assessment of progress in preceptor–student relationships.
An Aminoacyltransferase Preparation from Beef Liver

Abstract An aminoacyltransferase preparation has been obtained from a beef liver homogenate, and a 44-fold purification of the activity has been achieved. The enzyme preparation catalyzes both peptide synthesis from suitable amino acid esters (e.g. phenylalanine methyl ester, tyrosine methyl ester, leucine methyl ester) and the hydrolysis of such esters, the former process predominating at pH values near 7. Both actions are completely inhibited by diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate. Evidence is presented to show that in the formation of dipeptides (e.g. phenylalanylphenylalanine) from amino acid esters (e.g. phenylalanine methyl ester), the corresponding dipeptide ester is an intermediate. In peptide synthesis, the enzyme preparation exhibits side chain specificity with respect to both the acyl donor and the amine acceptor, but the specificity with respect to the amine acceptor appears to be more restricted, and limited to esters of certain L-amino acids. Amino acid amides and peptide amides corresponding to susceptible esters are resistant to enzymic action.
Creating a plan for building information modeling

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a relatively new technology emerging in the construction industry as it offers many advantages offers over typical construction drawings. However, new technology brings new problems and often uncertainty to an affected industry. Currently, the construction industry is experiencing much uncertainty as to how the BIM process works. There are very few industry standards, guidelines, or case laws assisting to govern the BIM process. Many industry professionals have stayed away from BIM to this point, because they are afraid of ending up in a costly dispute. This project looks at the importance of utilizing a BIM Execution Plan (BEP) in the contracts between the owner - architect and the owner - contractor. The paper will assist in managing the BIM process and define expected deliverables the BIM must model. Companies have already begun to incorporate a BEP into contracts. Nevertheless, each of these BEPs typically varies, because there are conflicting views on how the BIM process is to be conducted. The American Institute of Architects (AIA) published Document E202 in order to address this problem. It is recommended to use this document as a basis to develop a BEP that meets the project's needs.
Effect of exercise on glucose disposal: response to a maximal insulin stimulus.

We used the euglycemic clamp to assess the effects of exercise on maximally insulin-stimulated glucose disposal. In 11 young men, a 60-min bout of exercise had no significant effect on the rate of glucose disposal during a euglycemic clamp performed approximately 30 min postexercise in which plasma insulin was raised to approximately 2,500 microU/ml (a maximal insulin stimulus). The maximal rate of glucose disposal attained during the clamp averaged 15.7 +/- 1.0 mg.kg lean body mass-1.min-1 after exercise vs. a control value of 15.4 mg.kg lean body mass-1.min-1. In a second experiment, eight men performed supine cycle exercise during the 3rd h of a 4-h euglycemic clamp with a plasma insulin concentration of approximately 2,500 microU/ml. Exercise during the hyperinsulinemic clamp resulted in a 70% increase in glucose disposal rate. There was no measurable increase in glucose 6-phosphate in the quadriceps muscle during the insulin infusion at rest. We conclude that prior exercise does not enhance maximally insulin-stimulated glucose disposal in young healthy men. Our results are compatible with the interpretations that glucose availability rather than glucose metabolism limits the rate of glucose disposal in response to a maximal insulin stimulus in resting subjects and that the increase in glucose uptake in response to superimposed exercise is primarily due to an increase in glucose availability.
Respondent Self-Assessment of Research on Crowding Norms in Outdoor Recreation

This study explores the validity of measuring crowding norms in outdoor recreation through the use of respondent self-assessment techniques. Review of the literature on crowding norms, and the rela...
Stand and Deliver: Why I Hate Stand-Up Meetings: Stand-up meetings are an important component of the ’whole team’, which is one of the fundamental practices of extreme programming (XP).

According to the Extreme Programming Web site, the stand-up meeting is one part of the rules and practices of extreme programming: “Communication among the entire team is the purpose of the stand-up meeting. They should take place every morning in order to communicate problems, solutions, and promote team focus. The idea is that everyone stands up in a circle in order to avoid long discussions. It is more efficient to have one short meeting that everyone is required to attend than many meetings with a few developers each.”
Antenatal diagnosis of heart disease

In 180, several reports appeared almost simultaneously of the identification of normal cardiac anatomy in fetal life. The recognition of several different forms of structural cardiac anomaly followed soon after. At this time, cardiac evaluation was confined to pregnancies at increased risk of congenital heart disease (CHD), such as those with a family history of CHD or where extracardiac malformations had been detected. However, up to 90% of CHD occurs in pregnancies where there are no known high risk features. For this reason, in 1985 a group based in Paris put forward the idea of teaching the obstetrician to assess the heart in a simplified form during routine obstetric scanning, which was well established at that time in France. As a result, four chamber view scanning became an integral part of the fetal anatomical survey in many countries by the end of the 1980s. In the early 1990s, some authors suggested extending the cardiac assessment to include great artery scanning in order to detect a higher proportion of cases of major congenital heart disease.1 If cardiac screening is confined to the four chamber view, about 2/1000 studies will be abnormal and would represent about 60% of the major heart disease seen in infants. If the great arteries are also examined, about 3/1000 cases would be abnormal, and over 90% of major heart disease would be detectable prenatally. Therefore, in ideal circumstances, the vast majority of serious heart malformations could be detected before 20 weeks' gestation. Unfortunately, the reality is far from this for several reasons: About 2% of live births have fetal structural malformations, the majority of which can be detected by ultrasound. About 25% of these malformations are cardiac in nature and about half of …
The United Nations in Syria and the Responsibility to Protect

The world has again failed innocent citizens caught up in a civil war. The responsibility to protect and the lessons from Rwanda have not seemingly been learnt. Rwanda saw the world - and to a large extent, the UN - turn its back on 100 days of genocidal killings of near to 1 million people.
A Hydroxymethyl Anion Equivalent: Tributyl[(Methoxymethoxy)Methyl]Stannane

A hydroxymethyl anion equivalent: tributyl[(methoxymethoxy)methyl]stannane intermediate: (tributylstannyl)methanol reactant: Boron trifluoride etherate (13.0 mL, 0.106 mol) product: tributyl[(methoxymethoxy)methyl]stannane Keywords: addition, to CO; metalation reactions, tin; protection, oxygen; assay methods, for butyllithium, with 2-butanol, menthol, 2-pentanol, or 2-propanol, 1,10-phenanthroline indicator; boron trifluoride etherate; dichloromethane (methylene chloride); diisopropylamine; dimethoxymethane, purification; tetrahydrofuran; tributyltin hydride, preparation; organotin compounds, highly toxic; tin alkyls; tributyl[(methoxymethoxy)methyl]stannane, potential poison; (tributylstannyl)methanol, potential poison; flasks, alkaline washed
Banded karyotypes of H-4-IIE-C3 rat hepatoma cells grown in vitro.

Mitotic cells from the H-4-IIE-C3 rat hepatoma tissue culture line showed a range of 45 to 53 chromosomes per cell with 75% of the cells displaying a chromosome number between 49 and 52. Analysis of Wright’s-Giemsa banded karyotypes of 22 cells revealed considerable cell to cell variation. Twenty-one structurally abnormal chromosomes were identified in these cells; the origin of nine of the 21 chromosomes were identified in these cells; the origin of nine of the 21 chromosomes could be determined. Of the structurally abnormal chromosomes detected, only one (M-1) occurred with a sufficiently high frequency to be of general use as a marker for these cells. This marker appears to be a Robertsonian translocation involving chromosome number 2 and chromosome number 10.
Purification and characterization of a uracil-DNA glycosylase from the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract An activity which releases free uracil from bacteriophage PBS1 DNA has been purified over 10,000 fold from extracts of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The enzyme is active on both native and denatured PBS1 DNA and is active in the absence of divalent cation, and in the presence of 1 mM EDTA. The enzyme has a negative molecular weight of 27,800 as estimated by glycerol gradient centrifugation and gel filtration. Enzyme activity has been recovered after denaturation in SDS and electrophoresis in an SDS polyacrylamide gel. This analysis suggests that the enzyme consists of a single polypeptide chain of about 27,000 daltons. Normal levels of uracil-DNA glycosylase activity were found in partially purified extracts of the nitrous-acid sensitive rad18-2 mutant of yeast.
Examination of genetic variation in GABRA2 with conduct disorder and alcohol abuse and dependence in a longitudinal study

Previous studies have shown associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in gamma aminobutyric acid receptor alpha 2 (GABRA2) and adolescent conduct disorder (CD) and alcohol dependence in adulthood, but not adolescent alcohol dependence. The present study was intended as a replication and extension of this work, focusing on adolescent CD, adolescent alcohol abuse and dependence (AAD), and adult AAD. Family based association tests were run using Hispanics and non-Hispanic European American subjects from two independent longitudinal samples. Although the analysis provided nominal support for an association with rs9291283 and AAD in adulthood and CD in adolescence, the current study failed to replicate previous associations between two well replicated GABRA2 SNPs and CD and alcohol dependence. Overall, these results emphasize the utility of including an independent replication sample in the study design, so that the results from an individual sample can be weighted in the context of its reproducibility.
Vapor bubble growth in heterogeneous boiling II. Growth rate and thermal fields

In Part I of this study a numerical analysis for vapor bubble growth in heterogeneous boiling has been developed. Four dimensionless parameters governing the bubble growth have been identified : Jacob number, Fourier number, thermal conductivity ratio and thermal diffusivity ratio of the liquid to solid. A systematic investigation on the dependence of the bubble growth rate and the thermal fields of the microlayer and heater on these dimensionless parameters is presented. The results of this investigation assist in the basic understanding of bubble growth in heterogeneous boiling. The numerical study for the solid thermal field elucidates the detailed energy transfer beneath a rapidly growing bubble. In Part I of the present study (1) the governing equa- tions, the boundary conditions, and the initial con- ditions for the unsteady energy transfer from the solid heater through the liquid microlayer to the vapor bub- ble have been systematically formulated. A time vary- ing coordinate system is used to resolve the large tem- perature variations over a small area beneath the vapor bubble. The bubble shape parameter, c, was correlated with Jacob number based on experimental bubble shape protiles, and the microlayer wedge angle parameter, c1, was determined by matching the finite difference solution for the growth rate, R(t), with the existing experimental data over a large range of con- ditions. The numerical results for the bubble growth rate have compared very well with the existing data for the growth rate (2.-7) over a wide range of conditions. From the basic formulation, qualitative analysis, and the result for c~, it is observed that the Prandtl number has little effect on the growth process.
Simple graphic method for estimation of prostate-specific antigen doubling time

The prostate-specific antigen doubling time (PSADT) is of prognostic value in patients with prostate cancer, but computerized algorithms are usually required for PSADT estimation. We present here a simple graphic tool that can be used to estimate the PSADT on the basis of two increasing PSA measurements, separated by 3 to 12 months.
Developing and testing program classification and function theories

Methods used and lessons learned in developing and testing theories about the nature and functioning of adult day care are described.
Room temperature high power mid-IR diode laser bars for atmospheric sensing applications

Peak CW optical power from single 1-cm diode laser bars is advancing rapidly across all commercial wavelengths and the available range of emission wavelengths also continues to increase. Both high efficiency ~ 50% and > 100-W power InP-based CW bars have been available in bar format around 1500-nm for some time, as required for eye-safe illuminators and for pumping Er-YAG crystals. There is increasing demand for sources at longer wavelengths. Specifically, 1900-nm sources can be used to pump Holmium doped YAG crystals, to produce 2100-nm emission. Emission near 2100-nm is attractive for free-space communications and range-finding applications as the atmosphere has little absorption at this wavelength. Diode lasers that emit at 2100-nm could eliminate the need for the use of a solid-state laser system, at significant cost savings. 2100-nm sources can also be used as pump sources for Thulium doped solid-state crystals to reach even longer wavelengths. In addition, there are several promising medical applications including dental applications such as bone ablation and medical procedures such as opthamology. These long wavelength sources are also key components in infra-red-counter-measure systems. We have extended our high performance 1500-nm material to longer wavelengths through optimization of design and epitaxial growth conditions and report peak CW output powers from single 1-cm diode laser bars of 37W at 1910-nm and 25W at 2070-nm. 1-cm bars with 20% fill factor were tested under step-stress conditions up to 110-A per bar without failure, confirming reasonable robustness of this technology. Stacks of such bars deliver high powers in a collimated beam suitable for pump applications. We demonstrate the natural spectral width of ~ 18nm of these laser bars can be reduced to < 3-nm with use of an external Volume Bragg Grating, as required for pump applications. We review the developments required to reach these powers, latest advances and prospects for longer wavelength, higher power and higher efficiency.
« Une position paradoxale de double contrainte ? » Les interactions entre des soignants confrontés à la maladie grave de leurs parents et des professionnels de santé

Resume L’objectif de cette recherche 2 etait de degager du point de vue psychologique la specificite de la situation des aidants familiaux qui accompagnent leur pere ou mere gravement malade mais qui exercent par ailleurs un metier de soin, medecin, infirmiere, aide-soignante. L’hypothese etait celle d’une « position paradoxale de double contrainte » qui peut se traduire par des repercussions personnelles et familiales, mais egalement au niveau des relations avec les professionnels de sante intervenant aupres du parent malade, voire au niveau des interactions dans le cadre institutionnel, lorsqu’il est soigne dans l’etablissement dans lequel exerce son fils/fille. Nous discuterons ici surtout les resultats concernant les interactions entre les aidants familiaux/soignants 3 et les professionnels de sante qui interviennent aupres du parent malade. Les resultats de notre enquete montrent que les aidants familiaux/soignants sont dans une position paradoxale, mais a des degres tres variables et en fonction d’un certain nombre de facteurs modulateurs. L’interpretation des resultats et la discussion devront permettre d’ouvrir a une reflexion sur les ajustements possibles dans les situations d’accompagnement de familles, dont un membre est soignant.
Permanent alterations in the rat spinal cord following prenatal exposure to N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea

Abstract Pregnant rats between gestational stages E14–E22 were given a single injection of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU). Pups born of these females were sacrificed 60 days after birth and their spinal cords examined qualitatively and quantitatively. Quantitative analysis involved measurement of spinal cord length and volume, estimation of neuron number, and the measurement of individual cell dendritic number and length. Cytoarchitecturally spinal cords appeared normal in all animals regardless of the age when they were exposed to ENU. Animals exposed during the latter portion of neurogenesis in the spinal cord (E14–E16) had significantly ( p p
Validation of a model for predicting aptitude for introductory computing

A double cross-validation design was used to assess the practical predictive value of a logistic classification model developed to predict “high and low aptitude” for introductory computing. The validation study showed that the model would have a predictive accuracy of approximately 75% in actual application. The model variables were checked by formal hypotheses tests. The results of the study indicated that the classification model would be a useful tool for counseling and formation of “high and low aptitude” lecture sections in introductory computing.
Gender differences in religiosity and functional health in the elderly

This secondary analysis of a random, community survey of 271 people over 65 years old examined gender differences in religious coping, importance of faith, and frequency of prayer for their relationship on eight categories of functional physical and mental health, as measured by the Medical Outcomes Study Health Survey Short-Form 36. Mental health was the only outcome related to the spiritual indices for both genders but used differently. Frequency of prayer, a behavioral indicator, was positively related to mental health for men. Reliance on religious coping and a high importance of one's faith were positively related to mental health for women. The results indicated that cognitive coping responses were associated with lower anxiety and depression for women, whereas behavioral spiritual responses were the relevant variables for male mental health in this sample of elders.
Habitat use and activity influence thermoregulation in a tropical lizard, Ameiva exsul

Abstract We examined the contributions of alterations in daily activity and behavioral selection of microhabitat to thermoregulation in a population of the lizard, Ameiva exsul (Teiidae), by combining data on lizard activity with data on the availability of sun-shade patches and operative temperatures (Te). By comparing Te distributions predicted by “no thermoregulation” and “only thermoregulation” hypotheses to those predicted by random use of thermal habitat, we assessed the relative contributions of microhabitat selection and daily activity to regulation of body temperature (Tb). Over the course of a day lizards maintained Tb very close to optimal temperature (Tsel) despite Tes that deviated substantially from Tsel. Data demonstrating a unimodal daily activity pattern reject the hypothesis of uniform activity throughout the day. Also, lizard activity was not positively correlated with the proportion of Tes within Tsel nor negatively correlated with the absolute deviation of available Te from Tsel (de) (“only thermoregulation”). Microsite use by A. exsul deviated significantly from predictions of the “no thermoregulation” hypothesis, but our data could not reject predictions of the “only thermoregulation” hypothesis that lizards would use sun-shade patches relative to the proportion of microsites where Te is within Tsel. Also, lizards appeared to actively select sunlit and partially shaded microsites at different times of day. Thus, despite thermal constraints imposed by the habitat, A. exsul maintained high and relatively constant Tbs throughout its daily activity period and thermoregulated effectively. This appears to be generally representative of West Indian species of Ameiva.
Narrative story telling in autism and Down's syndrome

The present study investigated the ability of high functioning verbal children and adolescents with autism or Down's syndrome to tell a story to a listener. Sixteen subjects with autism and 16 with Down's syndrome (DS), matched on verbal mental age, watched a short puppet show or video sketch and were then asked to tell the story to a listener and answer follow-up questions. The majority of both groups were able to produce recognizable, though primitive, narratives. The groups did not differ in general story characteristics and both groups exhibited errors in language use. Subjects with autism had a greater tendency to produce bizarre language and adopt an ‘externalized’ point of view in which the puppets/actors were seen as objects rather than characters. Also, DS subjects produced significantly more communicative gestures. Although the groups were about equally able to supply information for follow-up questions, autistic subjects produced a higher proportion of bizarre responses. Results indicate that the story recall ability of autistic subjects resembles that of language-matched, mentally retarded persons. However, some autistic subjects appeared to have difficulty grasping the story as a representation of meaningful events. Results are discussed in relation to the autistic person's awareness of listeners' needs and aspects of the social environment.
Meaning and value of free water clearance in injured patients.

Abstract Increased free water clearance (CH2O) in seriously injured patients may precede the onset of renal failure (ARF). CH2O (urine output - osmolar clearance) was measured in 197 injured patients requiring 14 blood transfusions during resuscitation; CH2O was correlated with systemic pressure (MAP), central venous pressure (CVP), plasma volume (PV), interstitial fluid space (IFS), renal plasma flow (ERPF), filtration rate (GFR), and incidence of ARF. Three patient subgroups were seen: 126 patients (Group A) with normal CH2O (CH2O +0.25 ml/min). Group A patients had a good ERPF (445 ml/min ERPF), GFR (106 ml/min), and the lowest incidence of ARF (3%). The PV/IFS ratio, an index of interstitial fluid space compliance, was 0.31. Group B patients had the lowest PV (3.0 liters), GFR (88 ml/min), ERPF (387 ml/min), and urine osmolality (371 mOsm/liter) with the highest incidence of ARF (21%). Group C patients had the highest PV (3.7 liters), cardiac output, ERPF (469 ml/min), CVP (11.6 cm H2O), and PV/IFS (0.41). Increased CH2O in Group C patients likely reflects decreased ADH effect. Increased CH2O in Group B patients was inappropriate and likely reflects tubular dysfunction. The rise in CH2O preceded azotemia in those Group B patients who later developed ARF. Identification of increased CH2O in a seriously injured patient without PV expansion or increased CVP indicates impending ARF for which careful monitoring of vital signs, GFR, and fluid replacement are indicated over the next 24–72 hr until the CH2O has returned to normal.
National Security, Risk, and the Politics of Precaution: Addressing the Military Role in Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

Sources of drinking water have been contaminated by military-related activity for decades, but such environmental pollution has not been recognized as a security threat in its own right. The case of perchlorate in the United States demonstrates the reflexive nature of environmental security risks, as well as the inconsistent burdens of proof required for responses to uncertain threats. A known endocrine disrupter, perchlorate blocks the uptake of iodide in the thyroid, and poses a differential risk to women, children, and other at-risk groups. Despite a conclusion by the National Research Council that known studies of perchlorate indicate no harm at low levels of ingestion (translated roughly to 27 parts per billion in water), newer research indicates a measure of concern for some tens of millions of residents in the southwestern US. This research examines the decision-making process that translated risk assessment studies to regulatory levels, including how endocrine disrupting chemicals pose a methodological dilemma for chemical risk assessment policy.
Monomial Gorenstein ideals

The paper concerns itself with generating sets for monomial Gorenstein ideals in polynomial rings k[x1,..., xr], k an arbitrary field. For r=5 it is shown that for a certain class of these ideals, the number of generators is bounded by 13. To establish the sharpness of this bound an algorithm is established, to obtain all numerical symmetric semigroups with a fixed odd integer 2n+1 as last integer unattained. Finally, a short proof of the known fact is given, that for r=4 the number of elements in a generating set is 3 or 5.