cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
For Gastroesophageal Junction Cancers, Does an “Esophageal” or “Gastric” Surgical Approach Offer Better Perioperative and Oncologic Outcomes?

The optimal surgical approach to the resection of gastoesophageal junction cancer is unknown. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to further compare the esophageal and gastric approaches to gastroesophageal junction cancer. A systematic review of the literature from January 1990 to May 2018 was performed to determine whether an esophageal or gastric surgical approach offers better perioperative and oncologic outcomes. A total of 179 abstracts were identified and after excluding publications for non-English language, primary focus on neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant treatment, lack of comparison of surgical approaches or not addressing morbidity, mortality, or survival-related outcomes, a total of 14 nonrandomized, comparative studies were reviewed in detail. The proximal and distant extent of the tumor based on Siewert type classification greatly influences choice of operation. Overall survival rates and surgical outcomes are comparable, and surgical approach should be dictated by patient factors.
Electroencephalographic Signatures of the Neural Representation of Speech during Selective Attention

The ability to selectively attend to speech in the presence of other competing talkers is critical for everyday communication; yet the neural mechanisms facilitating this process are poorly understood. Here, we use electroencephalography (EEG) to study how a mixture of two speech streams is represented in the brain as subjects attend to one stream or the other. To characterize the speech-EEG relationships and how they are modulated by attention, we estimate the statistical association between each canonical EEG frequency band (delta, theta, alpha, beta, low-gamma, and high-gamma) and the envelope of each of ten different frequency bands in the input speech. Consistent with previous literature, we find that low-frequency (delta and theta) bands show greater speech-EEG coherence when the speech stream is attended compared to when it is ignored. We also find that the envelope of the low-gamma band shows a similar attention effect, a result not previously reported with EEG. This is consistent with the prevailing theory that neural dynamics in the gamma range are important for attention-dependent routing of information in cortical circuits. In addition, we also find that the greatest attention-dependent increases in speech-EEG coherence are seen in the mid-frequency acoustic bands (0.5-3 kHz) of input speech and the temporal-parietal EEG sensors. Finally, we find individual differences in the following: (1) the specific set of speech-EEG associations that are the strongest, (2) the EEG and speech features that are the most informative about attentional focus, and (3) the overall magnitude of attentional enhancement of speech-EEG coherence.
Multivariate analysis of variance for multilevel data: a simulation study comparing methods

Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) is widely used to test the null hypothesis of equal multivariate means across 2 or more groups. MANOVA rests upon an assumption that error terms are indep...
Valproic Acid for the Management of Agitation and Delirium in the Intensive Care Setting: A Retrospective Analysis

Abstract Purpose Valproic acid has been proposed as an alternative agent for treatment of agitation and delirium in the intensive care unit (ICU). Clinical data to support the use of valproic acid for this indication are limited. The objective of this analysis was to assess the efficacy and safety associated with the use of valproic acid for the management of agitation and delirium in the ICU. Methods This retrospective descriptive analysis included patients who were prescribed valproic acid for a minimum of 3 days for the treatment of agitation and/or delirium in the cardiac, surgical, or medical ICU from May 31, 2015 to December 31, 2017. The prevalence of agitation and delirium was assessed during valproic acid therapy for up to 7 days. Additional data analyzed included opioid, sedative, and antipsychotic requirements and safety outcomes. Findings A total of 47 patients met the inclusion criteria. There was an observed downward trend in the prevalence of agitation (47.8% vs 16.7%) and delirium (84.8% vs. 63.3%) throughout valproic acid therapy. In addition, the proportion of patients who required dexmedetomidine, benzodiazepines, antipsychotics, and opioids decreased while patients were taking valproic acid. No adverse effects attributed to valproic acid occurred in this patient population. Implications Valproic acid may be an alternative option to assist in the management of agitation and delirium in the ICU. Additional prospective data are needed to validate the use of this agent for the treatment of agitation and delirium in critically ill patients.
Latina Sexual Health Care (IN) the US: Community-based Participatory Research and Her Lived Experience

There is a continuous upward trend in the number of Latinas living in the US; thus, their need for safe and accessible sexual health care ever-growing. This article addresses the sexual health of L...
Prevalence and clinical indices of risk for sexual and gender minority youth in an adolescent inpatient sample.

Abstract Objective Rates of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors have increased in adolescents over the past two decades. Sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth report elevated rates of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors compared to heterosexual and cisgender youth. Studies of factors influencing suicide risk in SGM youth remain limited, however, and have largely been conducted in community or epidemiological samples. Method The present study aimed to address these limitations by examining the prevalence and clinical characteristics of sexual and gender minority youth in a sample of 515 youth admitted to an adolescent inpatient unit. In addition, the present study aimed to compare rates of self-reported self-injurious thoughts and behaviors, adverse early childhood experiences, and rates of rehospitalization in sexual and gender minority compared to non-sexual and gender minority youth. Results Results show that nearly 40% of the sample identified as sexual and/or gender minority. Sexual minority youth reported higher rates of suicidal ideation (t = −6.19, p Conclusions The study illuminates the importance of assessing SGM status in clinical care and highlights the need to evaluate sexual and gender minority specific risk factors for self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in youth.
Evaluation of an airborne alpha and beta particle detection capability using an environmental continuous air monitor system.

Abstract We evaluate the ability of the Canberra Alpha Beta Environmental Continuous Air Monitor (ECAM) to detect and quantify airborne radiological contamination. The ECAM essentially consists of a passively-implanted planar silicon (PIPS) detector near a particulate filter through which outside air is pulled. Three years’ worth of background measurements on three different systems were assessed and calibrated to compensate for changing conditions and develop an average background response for the systems. The ECAM was also exposed to several radionuclides of interest, including 235U and 239Pu, to measure the response to alpha and beta particle sources. Both standard calibration sources and custom sources consisting of aqueous radioisotope solutions absorbed into clean filters. The ECAM responses to these sources were then scaled to quantities of interest and injected on the averaged background. Various alarm algorithms were evaluated on the source-injected spectra for minimum detectable air concentration for a given false alarm rate. Even in the worst case, the ECAM was able to detect radionuclides of interest at 10% of the Derived Response Level (DRL) for each isotope based on early-phase Protective Action Guides (PAG). Quantification of the radionuclides was also evaluated for the various algorithms, with mixed results, but overall clearly indicating the optimal algorithms for alpha and beta particle alarm and quantification. Finally, a limited evaluation of the beta particle detection efficiency points to a detection energy threshold of approximately 290 keV.
Optical property engineering via alloyed metal nanostructures

Traditional metal nanostructures and thin-films are the fundamental building blocks for photonic devices, yet they are intrinsically limited by the pre-defined dielectric function, i.e. permittivity. Alternatively, the permittivity of alloyed structures can be engineered by tuning their chemical compositions, which allows for customization of the optical responses. Here we present several alloy-based systems (including Ag-Au, Al-Cu, Pd-Au, among others) and demonstrate how their optical properties are tailored with varying chemical compositions. Examples of their applications in super-absorbing, hydrogen sensing and hot carrier devices are also introduced.
Water Vapor Sorption Behavior of Wildfire-Burnt Soil

AbstractWildfires and associated wetting-induced slope stability issues (i.e., erosion, shallow landslides, and debris flows) are common problems all around the world. The water-retention mechanism...
Oral Health in Children

Promoting good oral health in children encompasses preventing and controlling disease in a number of different structures including the oral mucosa, gingiva, periodontium and dental hard tissues. The most common cause of poor oral health in children is dental caries which can cause significant pain and discomfort. Caries development can be directly attributed to dietary factors and poor oral hygiene and can have a significant impact on the child’s growth and development. Gingival and periodontal conditions are rarer in children and are usually related to either genetic or systemic conditions. The oral mucosa is directly related to the gastrointestinal mucosa as well as the skin and oral lesions can therefore help to diagnose systemic conditions such as infections, haematological oncology, anaemias, nutritional deficiencies and gastrointestinal conditions for example coeliac disease, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
Sense of direction: General factor saturation and associations with the Big-Five traits

article i nfo The ability to locate and orient ourselves with respect to environmental space is known as sense of direction ("SOD"). While there is considerable evidence for the predictive utility of self-report measures of this psycholog- ical construct, relatively little research has investigated the psychometric properties of the self-report scale by which it is most commonly measured - the Santa Barbara Sense of Direction scale (SBSOD, Hegarty et al., 2002) - or the broader personality correlates. The present study evaluated the factor structure of the SBSOD fol- lowing administration to 12,155 individuals and situated it among prominent sources of individual differences, specifically the Big Five personality traits and intelligence. Findings suggest that the SBSOD scale has relatively high general factor saturation, and that a considerable portion of the variance in SBSOD scores is explained by other personality traits, including Conscientiousness (r = 0.33), Intellect (r = 0.27), Emotional Stability (r = 0.26), and Extraversion (r = 0.23). Cognitive ability was less highly correlated with SBSOD scores when mea- sured at the level of general intelligence (r = 0.11) and in terms of mental rotation ability (r = .07). Recommen- dations are given for revision of the SBSOD scale based on item-level analyses.
A Critical Review of Minimal Vitamin B6 Requirements for Growth in Various Species with a Proposed Method of Calculation

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a critical review of minimal vitamin B6 requirements for growth in various species with a proposed method of calculation. Vitamin B6 is associated with a greater variety of reactions than most other vitamins. This molecule is also interconverted to seven common forms in most species and to additional forms in some species. The major vitamin B6 pool in animals is in muscle, where pyridoxal phosphate is bound primarily to glycogen phosphorylase. The Pyridoxal5′- phosphate is the most thoroughly studied cofactor form of this vitamin and has a role in regulating steroid hormone receptors through a strictly chemical Schiff base mechanism. The possibility of an interaction between vitamin B6 and steroid hormone action is strengthened by the observation that pyridoxine kinase activity is higher in the adrenal gland than in any other tissue examined. Several factors make quantitative measurement of vitamin B6 in biological samples difficult. Vitamin B6, exists in multiple forms and no method responds to all forms equally. The phosphorylated forms are usually protein bound and must be released for assay.
Fast transcription of unstructured audio recordings

URL to conference session list. Title is under heading: Wed-Ses1-P1: Phonetics, Phonology, cross-language comparisons, pathology
Finding analytical solution for mirror inverse gate operations in quantum systems with diagonal interactions

We present an analytical solution for implementing mirror inverse (MI) gate operations directly in quantum systems with diagonal Ising interactions. To achieve this, we use a dynamic learning algorithm as a tool for finding parameters of the system Hamiltonian that realizes the desired MI gate operation directly in systems with fewer qubits. By carefully analyzing the parameter values obtained in these systems, we find analytical solutions that can be extended to calculate parameter values to achieve MI gate operations in systems with larger numbers of qubits without the need for training.
An Analysis of Merger Induced Non-Stationarity in Market Model Parameters of Acquiring Firms

This paper formulates a modification of the market model methodology that allows direct testing for the impact of mergers on market model parameters, while simultaneously estimating acquiring firm abnormal stockholder returns. A large sample of merger events is stratified in three ways: conglomerate versus non conglomerate, stock versus cash transactions, and by merger activity level. Results of prior studies are examined for sensitivity to a failure to appropriately incorporate the impact of merger on market model parameters. Results indicate that negative drift in post announcement returns for acquiring firms is partly the result of parameter shifts.
A 2D autoregressive method for deformation evaluation in registration of remote sensing data

A registration method is developed based on an A* algorithm in conjunction with a 2D autoregressive model used for image representation. The A* algorithm serves for obtaining the initial pixels which used further for determining the innovation process. Prior to this step the 2D autoregressive parameters are calculated using an initial set of pixels from the original image. The error measured between the innovation and the primitive pixels of the subject image is then considered as the exact function for the A* algorithm. The process is recursively applied until the whole set of primitives is registered. An example illustrates the approach. >
The microbiology of lung disease in ataxia telangiectasia (A-T)

Background: A-T is a progressive, neurodegenerative disease causing immunodeficiency, an increased risk of malignancy & respiratory system complications, like chronic sinopulmonary disease, bronchiectesis, interstitial lung disease & aspiration. The high early age mortality is due to cancer & respiratory disease. Little is known about what causes lung infections in A-T (Ped Pul 2010;45:847-59). Aim: To describe the microbiology of Respiratory tract in patients attending the UK National A-T clinic in order to guide blind antimicrobial therapy, & to inform future studies to improve the evidence base for A-T treatment. Methods: We prospectively obtained cough swabs or sputum cultures as age-appropriate & throat swabs for virology. We collected data on new treatment prescribed, current maintenance antibiotic or immune replacement therapy. Results: 56 children (68 consuls) were seen in the clinic (May 09 to January 12).We could not obtain a sample in some children (Bacteria, n= 14; Viruses, n= 33). Conclusions: Our findings are similar to smaller series (n=15) ( Acta Paedia 2007; 96: 1021–24) but with no opportunistic infections; bacterial infection is common and current management is based on extrapolation from other lung conditions. A-T specific evidence based guidelines are urgently needed.
BOOK REVIEW: The Landscape of Reform: Civic Pragmatism and Environmental Thought in America . Ben Minteer. 2006. The MIT Press, Cambridge, MA. 264 pp. $15.00 paperback.

Ben Minteer's The Landscape of Reform is a rare book, a work that is both a detailed intellectual history of a nearly forgotten pragmatic tradition that once existed within American environmental c...
Repeated developmental exposure to chlorpyrifos and methyl parathion causes persistent alterations in nicotinic acetylcholine subunit mRNA expression with chlorpyrifos altering dopamine metabolite levels.

Abstract Organophosphates (OPs), commonly used as insecticides, inhibit acetylcholinesterase, the enzyme responsible for the inactivation of synaptic acetylcholine, which results in elevated acetylcholine neurotransmission. Nigrostriatal dopamine neurons receive substantial cholinergic innervation and express a number of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits. Since epidemiological data have implicated pesticides in the incidence of Parkinson's disease, the current experiment investigated how repeated, developmental exposure to the OPs chlorpyrifos (CPS) or methyl parathion (MPT) affects striatal dopamine levels and dopamine neuron gene expression. Newborn rats were treated daily via oral gavage with corn oil vehicle, CPS, or MPT from postnatal days (PND) 1–21. Rats were sacrificed at PND 22 and 50. Levels of dopamine and its metabolites 3,4 dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) and homovanillic acid (HVA) were measured in the striatum and mRNA expression was measured in the substantia nigra. At 22 days of age, CPS and MPT treatment had no effect on dopamine, DOPAC or HVA levels. At 50 days of age, CPS significantly elevated DOPAC levels and elevated dopamine turnover (DOPAC/dopamine) but did not affect dopamine or HVA levels. MPT had no significant effects on any of these parameters. Interestingly, both CPS and MPT treatments caused a significant alteration in the ratio of α7 to α6 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) subunit expression in the substantia nigra with a non-significant elevation in α6 and a reduction in α7 at 22 days. At 50 days of age, a significant elevation in α6 nAChR subunit was observed in the MPT treated rats. No differences in dopamine neuron transcription factors ( Nurr1 or Lmx1b ) or neurotransmission genes were observed. These data demonstrate that repeated exposure to OPs during postnatal maturation can have a significant effect on dopamine neurochemistry, primarily by modifying dopamine metabolism, which can persist for up to 1 month (CPS) and alter acetylcholine subunit expression (CPS and MPT).
Long-Term Evaluation of Tamsulosin in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia: Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind Extension of Phase III Trial

Objectives. To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of once-daily tamsulosin (0.4 and 0.8 mg), a unique selective alpha1A-adrenoceptor antagonist in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods. This trial extended a 13-week, Phase III multicenter placebo-controlled, double-blind outpatient trial for an additional 40 weeks. Of 618 patients, 418 (68%) continued into the extension phase on the same double-blind medication and dose. The primary efficacy parameters were total American Urological Association (AUA) symptom score and maximum urinary flow (Qmax). Results. The mean changes in AUA symptom score from baseline to end point were statistically significant in all groups (P <0.001). Significant improvements were observed in Qmax for both tamsulosin groups but not for the placebo group. The statistically significant improvements from baseline in efficacy parameters observed for each tamsulosin group at the end of the 13-week Phase III trial were maintained during the long-term extension phase. Tamsulosin at both dosages was well tolerated as maintenance therapy. Clinically significant orthostatic hypotension was not observed. Vital sign changes in either hypertensive or normotensive patients were not clinically significantly different across the three groups. Conclusions. Tamsulosin once-daily at 0.4 or 0.8 mg was shown to be effective, safe, and well tolerated in the target BPH population during long-term use.
Method of regularization for second-order stochastic ∗

The paper is concerned with the strong solution of secondorder stochastic evolution equations in a Hilbert space. We introduce the method of regularization to prove the existence, uniqueness of strong solution for such equations without the usual coercivity assumption. The result is applied to stochastic wave and plate equations to yield the existence of a unique strong solution for each of such problems arising from physical application.
High temperature synthesis of silicalite-1 in cationic microemulsions

The current investigation reports on the synthesis and characterization of silicalite-1 made in cationic microemulsions using conventional synthesis conditions (polymeric silica sources, alkaline media, high temperatures (433 K)). Silicalite-1 materials formed in microemulsion-mediated syntheses possess different morphological properties as compared to samples grown using the same synthesis mixture in the absence of the microemulsion. Syntheses are also performed to ascertain how the microemulsion composition, silica precursor, alkali content, presence of salt, and the surfactant identity influence material properties, most notably crystal morphology. The morphology of the crystals obtained is fairly insensitive to surfactant structure and salt, but highly sensitive to the silica source. Polymeric silica sources lead to silicalite-1, whereas monomeric silica sources (e.g. TEOS) lead to amorphous solids. The results also indicate that a key parameter is the ratio of surfactant to structure-directing agent, suggesting that electrostatic forces are important in determining the synthesis outcome. Control experiments show all components of the microemulsion are necessary to obtain the observed crystal morphology. Based on the results presented it is concluded that the surfactant-silicate electrostatic forces are primarily responsible for the modulation of crystal morphology observed. The results indicate that surfactant adsorption on the growing crystal surface, not the confined space afforded by the microemulsion, is essential. The results suggest that this may be a useful approach to controlling zeolite crystal morphology and growth of crystals obtained from conventional high-silica zeolite synthesis procedures.
The spaceborne imaging radar experiments

The Spaceborne Imaging Radar (SIR), a multifrequency multipolarization synthetic aperture radar (SAR) with variable image geometry, is being developed, as part of the Space Station's Earth Observing System (Eos), for the launching of the SIR-C and SIR-D planned for the early 1990's. This SAR will operate in L-band, C-band and X-band, with quadpolarization available for the L-band and C-band. Multiincidence data will be acquired using electronic beam steering and other imaging geometries by mechanically pitching, yawing, and rolling the antenna. The present SIR-C design includes a bandwidth of 20 MHz, to provide better resolution than that available on SIR-B with four looks, and a 10-MHz bandwidth for a low resolution mode which will increase the swath for a given available data rate.
Explicit treatment of the gallium 3d electrons in GaN using the plane-wave pseudopotential method.

The plane-wave pseudopotential (PWPP) method has been used to calculate structural and electronic properties of wurtzite and zinc-blende GaN. In contrast to previous studies using the PWPP method, the gallium 3[ital d] electrons were treated as valence electrons. This yields larger lattice constants and smaller energy gaps as compared with previous PWPP results. For wurtzite, the three structural parameters were found to be [ital a]=3.162 A, [ital c]=5.142 A, and [ital u]=0.377. For zinc blende, the cubic lattice constant was found to be [ital a][sub 0]=4.460 A. The lattice constants are about 1% smaller than measured values and the cubic lattice constant is within about 0.2% of results from full-potential all-electron calculations. This study demonstrates that it is both possible and practical to treat gallium 3[ital d] electrons explicitly using the PWPP method.
Assessing Fit of Nontraditional Assistive Technologies

There is a variety of brain-based interface methods which depend on measuring small changes in brain signals or properties. These methods have typically been used for nontraditional assistive technology applications. Non-traditional assistive technology is generally targeted for users with severe motor disabilities which may last long-term due to illness or injury or short-term due to situational disabilities. Control of a nontraditional assistive technology can vary widely across users depending upon many factors ranging from health to experience. Unfortunately, there is no systematic method for assessing usability of nontraditional assistive technologies to achieve the best control. The current methods to accommodate users through trial-and-error result in the loss of valuable time and resources as users sometimes have diminishing abilities or suffer from terminal illnesses. This work describes a methodology for objectively measuring an individual’s ability to control a specific nontraditional assistive technology, thus expediting the technology-fit process.
Industry Appraises the Psychologist

A symposium in industrial psychology, held during the 22nd annual meeting of the Midwestern Psychological Association at Wayne University, Detroit, Michigan, May 5, 1950.
Single-Molecule Magnets

Abstract Metal cluster complexes with interesting magnetic properties characteristic of nanoscale magnetic particles have become an attractive prospect in the last few years. These complexes exhibit magnetization hysteresis loops and out-of-phase ac magnetic susceptibility signals. The advantages of such clusters over fragmented bulk ferromagnets are their easy synthesis and manipulation, their high solubility, and their potential use in storing a large density of information. Here we will focus our attention on the family of several distorted Mn4 cubane molecules with a [MnIVMnIII 3O3X]6+ core, tetranuclear vanadium (III) complexes with a butterfly structure and dodecanuclear manganese complexes, [Mn12O12(O2CR)16(H2O)4] (where R can be an aliphatic or aromatic group) and their corresponding singly reduced salts [Mn12O12(O2CR)16(H2O)4] (PPh4), which have been extensively studied in our laboratories.
A decade of ARL collection development: a look at the data

Purpose – To trace patterns of collection development expenditures between 1994 and 2004 among Association of Research Libraries' (ARL) largest and smallest public and private academic libraries, to identify the impact of serial inflation, the emergence of electronic resources and changes in the monographic market upon the buying patterns of the largest and smallest academic libraries, public and private, in the USA and Canada.Design/methodology/approach – Analysis of the annual ARL statistics for collection development expenditures between 1994 and 2004, focusing upon the ten largest public, ten largest private, ten smallest public and ten smallest private academic ARL libraries.Findings – Libraries have largely responded to the revolutionary changes of the last decade very conservatively, retaining their commitment to monographic acquisitions and to their paper collections even as they have built new, electronic libraries.Research limitations/implications – ARL statistics present a complex picture, and ...
Grammaticalization through inherent variability: The development of a progressive in Spanish

With the goal of elucidating the diachronic trajectory of a progressive, multivariate analysis is used to track the linguistic factors conditioning variation between the Spanish Progressive and the simple Present, in 13th–15th, 17th, and 19th century texts. The Progressive begins as more of a locative construction, as shown by the early favoring effect of co-occurring locatives. The direction of this co-occurring locative effect is retained over time, but the magnitude weakens relative to aspectual constraints (limited vs. extended duration contexts, dynamic vs. stative verbs), and the Progressive is increasingly disfavored in negatives and interrogatives. Increasing frequency is accompanied by changes in linguistic conditioning. An aspectual opposition arises as, in the course of speakers’ recurrent choices between variant forms, the variants develop functional differentiation.
Modernity: Understanding the Present

Peter WAGNER, Wiley, 2012,, ISBN 978-0-74565-2917, 190 pp. Much of Peter Wagner's book Modernity: Understanding the Present might be addressed to a reader still holding the worldview prevailing in ...
Integrating protein visualisation in the classroom with StarBiochem

Teaching about proteins, how their structure is specified and how in turn this influences their function has become an integral curriculum component for both introductory biology and biochemistry undergraduate courses. To understand how proteins work, students first learn about protein structure and its relationship to protein function. StarBiochem is a protein visualisation tool that is used to assist in teaching key structural biology concepts in an interactive manner. StarBiochem allows for the visualisation and manipulation of protein data bank (PBD) molecules in a 3D environment. In this manuscript, we provide examples of StarBiochem usage within high school and undergraduate curricula. Specifically, we will highlight how StarBiochem is currently used in undergraduate courses at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Brandeis University, and in high school outreach programs at the Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT and at the MIT Museum.
Highly Efficient and Excitation Tunable Two-Photon Luminescence Platform For Targeted Multi-Color MDRB Imaging Using Graphene Oxide

Multiple drug-resistance bacteria (MDRB) infection is one of the top three threats to human health according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Due to the large penetration depth and reduced photodamage, two-photon imaging is an highly promising technique for clinical MDRB diagnostics. Since most commercially available water-soluble organic dyes have low two-photon absorption cross-section and rapid photobleaching tendency, their applications in two-photon imaging is highly limited. Driven by the need, in this article we report extremely high two-photon absorption from aptamer conjugated graphene oxide (σ2PA = 50800 GM) which can be used for highly efficient two-photon fluorescent probe for MDRB imaging. Reported experimental data show that two-photon photoluminescence imaging color, as well as luminescence peak position can be tuned from deep blue to red, just by varying the excitation wavelength without changing its chemical composition and size. We have demonstrated that graphene oxide (GO) based two-photon fluorescence probe is capable of imaging of multiple antibiotics resistance MRSA in the first and second biological transparency windows using 760–1120 nm wavelength range.
Iodine-123 labeled derivatives of methylphenidate : Potential spect radiopharmaceuticals for brain dopamine transporters

Since dl-threo-[ 11 C]methylphenidate (Ritalin) and especially the more active enantiomer, d-threo-[ 11 C]methylphenidate, have favorable properties for PET studies,we prepared two radioiodinated analogs of methylphenidate, p-[ 123 I]icdomethylphenidate and m-[ 123 I]iodo-p-hydroxymethylphenidate with a view to evaluating them as potential SPECT tracers. To prepare p-[ 123 I]iodomethylphenidate, the p-tributyltin derivative was prepared from the previously reported p-bromomethylphenidate and reacted under acidic conditions with I-123 iodide plus chloramine-T at room temperature for 90 seconds. The predominant radioactive product was obtained in 85% radiochemical yield and >10 Ci/μmol specific radioactivity after HPLC purification. It had the same HPLC retention time as a spectroscopically characterized non-radioactive p-iodomethylphenidate standard prepared via nitration of methylphenidate and diazotization, after protection of the secondary amino group by benzoylation. A second radioiodinated methylphenidate derivative, m-[ 123 I]iodo-p-hydroxymethylphenidate was prepared in 80% radiochemical yield by direct iodination of the known p-hydroxymethylphenidate. In this case the non-radioactive standard was prepared by iodination of p-hydroxyritalinic acid using I 2 and iodic acid, followed by esterification
Generation of an anatomically correct human thorax finite element model

A complete three-dimensional finite element model of a human thorax has been constructed from transverse X-ray Computed Tomography scans. The model is composed of uniformly-sized linear elements and includes detailed anatomical structures. The model contains a large number of nodes and elements, but the solution process can be completed in less than one hour. The work described here emphasizes the use of this method in the design and implementation of defibrillation electrode systems, however, we believe that finite element models generated with this technique will also be applicable to other bioengineering problems.
Multidimensional Niche Locations of Independent Film Production Companies in Hollywood

This paper develops an account of how multiple dimensions of an organizationi¯s niche and the mobility inertia that an organization faces in its niche location explain an organizationi¯s likelihood...
Progression of lipid profile and cell structure in a research-scale production pathway for algal biocrude.

Abstract Although there has been a large research effort associated with individual parts of various algal biofuel production pathways, few studies have tracked changes in product composition throughout an integrated biofuel production process. This study uses microscopy and chromatography to analyze the progression of lipid profile and cell structure of algal cells throughout a research-scale production pathway for biocrude. For the specific processing methods used in this pathway, it is shown that TAG content decreased, while DAG and FFA content increased during processing. The changes in the lipid content corresponded to cell degradation that was observed by SEM and TEM throughout processing. These results demonstrate the dynamic nature of lipid composition in an algal culture used for biofuel production and emphasize the need to monitor changes in lipid profile, as those changes can directly impact biofuel productivity.
Substituted 1,3-dihydro-4H-furo[3,4-d]-1,3-benzodiazepin-3-ones: Synthesis and scope of the method

The preparation of a series of 1,3-dihydro-4H-furo[3,4-d]-1,3-benzodiazepiri-3-ones has been studied. This study and the compounds prepared tend to illustrate that the limiting factor in the scope of the synthetic method is similar to that noted generally in the Fisher indole synthesis. The lactone ring is relatively stable under a variety of conditions, and is believed to lend ease of formation to the ring system studied.
Queueing networks with dependent nodes and concurrent movements

Classical queueing network processes are useful for modeling the movement of discrete units in a network in which the nodes operate independently, the routing of units is independent of the congestion, only one unit moves at a time and its equilibrium distribution is a well-understood product form. Actual networks, however, typically have dependent nodes and concurrent movement of units. Imagine the dependencies associated with the network movements of telephone calls, manufacturing material, computer data packets, messages in a parallel-processing simulation, etc. A second generation of queueing network processes is beginning to evolve for modeling such “intelligent” networks with dependent nodes and concurrent movements. This paper describes the following fundamental processes that have been developed in this regard: • A basic queueing network process for dependent nodes and single-unit movements. Examples include the classical Jackson, BCMP, Kelly and Kelly-Whittle networks and networks with interacting subpopulations. • Reversible queueing network processes for dependent nodes and concurrent movements. An example is a multivariate, compound birth-death process. • Miscellaneous partially balanced queueing networks. Examples include extensions of the basic network processes and weakly coupled and quasi-reversible networks.
Ecology of rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) in northwest Pakistan

The feeding ecology of rhesus monkeys,Macaca mulatta, was studied between 1978 and 1981. The study site, located in the Murree Hills of northwestern Pakistan, supported a mixed coniferous-deciduous forest community and was characterized by a high degree of human disturbance. We used a linear transect method to sample the species composition and structure of the vegetation. Comparison of these data with historical records showed that the forest has undergone major changes in the last hundred years. Data on feeding behavior were collected through on-the-minute focal animal sampling. The monkeys spent about 45% of the day feeding. Their preferred foods were grass, clover, and other ground herbs that occur in the disturbed sites. Fruit accounted for less than 9% of feeding records. The rhesus monkey may be pre-adapted to living in disturbed-site, forest-edge communities. The evolutionary history of Macaca mulatta may be tied closely to the disappearance of forest and the spread of meadows and savannahs over the last million years.
Physics of fusion pumped lasers

A novel concept is described which utilizes a liquified rare gas as both an energy converter and high-density lasing media. The concept allows the advantage of the large mean-free path of high energy fusion neutrons together with a highly-efficient mechanism for volumetric production of 1 MeV electrons which causes ionization and excitation throughout the medium. This scheme coupled together with the high efficiency for light production of liquid excimers may provide the possibilities for a new dimension in high power lasers.
Selective use of insecticides for control of armored scale (Homoptera: Diaspididae) in San Joaquin Valley California citrus

A citrus orchard infested with organophosphate-susceptible California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii (Maskell), was given augmentative releases of the scale parasitoid Aphytis melinus DeBach, and groups of trees were sprayed with narrow-range 415 spray oil at 3 different times of the year, an early season application of the organophosphate chlorpyrifos, or 2 applications of the insect growth regulator buprofezin, to determine if these insecticides could be combined with natural enemies to control the scale. Narrow-range oil was not efficacious against A. aurantii when applied to 3rd-instar scale in March and was only moderately effective when applied to high densities of 1st- and 2nd-generation crawlers in May and July, respectively. In addition to only moderate efficacy, the May application of narrow-range oil reduced densities of predaceous mites, increased citrus thrips fruit scarring, and reduced yield. Chlorpyrifos and buprofezin both were more efficacious than narrow-range oil. However, chlorpyrifos reduced densities of Euseius tularensis (Congdon) needed for citrus thrips control and reduced densities of A. melinus and comperiella bifasciata (Howard) needed for scale control. Buprofezin was efficacious, selective and nonphytotoxic, however, it is not yet registered for use. In a 2nd experiment where A. melinus were released, chlorpyrifos and oil in 2 volumes of water were applied to trees infested with organophosphate-resistant yellow scale, Aonidiella citrina (Coquillett). In this situation, chlorpyrifos was ineffective in reducing scale and at the end of the season, the chlorpyrifos-treated trees had substantially more scale-infested fruit than the untreated trees. In this low density yellow scale situation, the narrow-range oils were not needed for control as oil treatments resulted in similar densities of scale compared with the untreated trees.
Radiation-Sterilization of the Mediterranean Fruit Fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) : Comparison of Spermatogenesis in Flies Treated as Pupae or Adults,

Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) were irradiated with 10 kilorad (krad) of gamma radiation from a cobalt-60 source 2 clays prior to and after pupal ecdysis to determine the effects of radiation when administered at these 2 different stages. Testes were removed from adult flies at intervals of 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8 days after emergence, stained with Feulgen, and whole-mounted for microscopic examination. The radiation dose of 10 krad completely stopped spermatogenesis. In irradiated flies, the sperm in the existing sperm bundles completed their maturation, but no additional sperm were produced. The spermatogonial cells, primary and secondary spermatocytes, and the spermatids were completely aborted. The cytological effects of radiation were manifested in full 4 days after treatment. The radiation dose of 10 krad produced dominant lethality in the fully differentiated sperm. Irradiation of adult fruit flies is recommended, since these flies have a higher total number of sperm (carrying dominant lethality) available as compared with the flies which were irradiated as pupae.
Post-translational reduction of cytochrome P450IIE by CCl4, its substrate.

Abstract The molecular mechanism of cytochrome P450IIE reduction by CCl 4 was reexamined by measuring its enzyme activity, immunoreactive protein contents, and mRNA levels. Aniline hydroxylase and the amounts of immunoreactive P450IIE were rapidly decreased in a time-dependent manner after a single dose of CCl 4 . No changes were observed in the amounts of immunoreactive P450IIC and P450IA despite significant decreases in their catalytic activities. However, the decreases in P450IIE enzyme activity and immunoreactive protein by CCl 4 were not accompanied by a decline in its mRNA level. The data thus suggested a post-translational reduction of P450IIE by CCl 4 , probably due to specific destruction of the P450IIE protein by its own substrate rather than heme moiety.
Experimental assessment of a combined plasma/catalytic system for hydrogen production via partial oxidation of hydrocarbon fuels

A combined reformation system, which includes both auto-thermal catalytic and non-equilibrium plasma units, is studied experimentally. The system is assessed for the practical application of hydrogen production via reforming of liquid gasoline-like fuels. The catalyst has been previously used for reforming of different types of hydrocarbons, demonstrating good performances in terms of hydrogen production for temperatures as high as 800°C. In this work, a non-equilibrium plasma source is coupled to the catalytic unit. A pulsed corona reactor is used as a non-equilibrium plasma source at atmospheric pressure. The performances of combined reformation system are characterized experimentally in terms of hydrogen yield and electric power consumption. Hydrogen conversion and byproduct composition are determined and quantified with respect to power consumption, reactor temperature, input reactant composition, and configuration of the experimental setup.
Noninfectious ARK mouse embryo cell lines in which each cell has the capacity to be activated to produce infectious murine leukemia virus

Abstract When cells of AKR mouse embryos were grown in tissue culture, only one cell in 250,000 to one in 12,000,000 produced murine leukemia virus within the first few days in culture. By 2.5 weeks in culture, 12–100 times this many cells had spontaneously begun to produce virus. By planting cultures with small numbers of AKR embryo cells, it was possible to obtain two cell lines which contained no detectable virus-producing cells for more than 60 serial transfers, despite exhaustive tests for virus and virus products. However, these lines and all 10 clonally derived sublines have the capacity to produce virus, either spontaneously or after certain experimental manipulations, including X-ray or ultraviolet irradiation, and transformation by SV40 virus. Activation of virus appears to be a very low-frequency event. These findings indicate that the majority, and probably all, of the cells in the AKR cell lines carry the full viral genome in an unexpressed form, and by extrapolation suggest that this is true of all AKR cells.
Determination of amifloxacin and two of its principal metabolites in plasma and urine by high-performance liquid chromatography using automated column switching

The automated determination of amifloxacin and two of its principal metabolites in human plasma and urine by column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography is described. Plasma or urine samples, diluted 1:1 with 0.5 M sodium citrate buffer pH 2.5, were directly injected onto a cation-exchange pre-column. Following a 2.0-min wash of the pre-column with water at a flow-rate of 1.1 ml/min, the effluent from the pre-column was directed to the analytical column by a column-switching device. The precision of the plasma and urine methods ranged from a +/- 1.9 to +/- 3.6% for all compounds. The accuracies of the methods were within a range of -3.3% to 6.4% of the nominal values for all compounds. Linear responses were observed for all the standards in the range 0.10-5.0 micrograms/ml for plasma and 0.50-100 micrograms/ml for urine for all three compounds. The minimum quantifiable levels were 0.10 and 0.50 micrograms/ml for plasma and urine, respectively. The analytical methods may be used to quantify amifloxacin and the piperazinyl-N-desmethyl and piperazinyl-N-oxide metabolites in plasma and urine samples obtained from humans, monkeys, dogs and rats.
Analyzing the performance of diagnostic tests

Abstract When a single diagnostic test is used to assess the disease state of a patient, the classic univariate measures of sensitivity and specificity are used. When combining two or more diagnostic tests, other methods provide alternative methods for assessing the utility of combining these tests. We have written and tested a program in FORTRAN that computes the univariate statistics and bivariate concordant/discordant statistics analyses of all possible combinations of diagnostic tests as compared with the ‘gold standard’.
A neural computation model for decision-making times

Abstract We introduce two new models for decision-making times for a two-choice decision task with no a priori bias. One of the models is the mean-field Curie–Weiss model of neural computation, and the other is based on dynamics near an unstable equilibrium under a small noise perturbation. As in the existing literature, we interpret exit times as reaction times and show that our models lead to a specific shape of the exit time distributions in the vanishing noise limit. We test the distribution shape against experimental data and show that for almost 90% of the participants, reaction times are described well by the model. Among the features of our model are: the dependence of the exit distribution only on two parameters, the elegance of rigorous mathematical analysis, and the microscopic nature of the noise.
Propagation characteristics of magnetostatic waves

The present paper reviews the propagation characteristics of the three magnetostatic wave-types that can exist in a ferrimagnetic film such as the commonly used epitaxial yttrium-iron-garnet (YIG) film, viz., magnetostatic surface waves (MSSWs), magnetostatic forward volume waves (MSFVWs) and magnetostatic backward volume waves (MSBVWs). The pronounced inherent dispersiveness of these waves and methods of controlling or tailoring dispersion are discussed. Other propagation characteristics such as diffraction and propagation loss and the envelope distortion of acw pulse in propagating through such a dispersive medium are briefly described.