cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of γ-Glutamyl Transpeptidase in the Diagnosis of Biliary Atresia

• A simple, nonsurgical means of differentiating biliary atresia (BA) from neonatal hepatitis has remained elusive. To determine its diagnostic usefulness, serum γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGTP) levels were measured prospectively in 17 infants (aged 5 to 16 weeks) admitted consecutively to rule out BA. Seven patients were found to have BA, seven had neonatal hepatitis (NH), and three had α 1 -antitrypsin (A 1 A) deficiency. The mean maximal GGTP level in those patients with NH (183 ± 54 IU/L) was significantly lower than that found in patients with BA (760 ± 492 IU/L) or A 1 A deficiency (1,725 ± 921 IU/L). In the 14 patients without A 1 A deficiency, a serum GGTP level greater than 300 IU/L correctly identified six of seven patients with BA, while a GGTP level less than 300 IU/L correctly identified seven of seven patients with NH, although including one false-negative finding, in a patient with choledochal cyst and BA. ( Am J Dis Child 1981;135:134-136)
Construct Validity of Adolescent Antisocial Personality Disorder

This study examined the construct validity of antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) diagnosed in adolescence. Boys and girls were grouped by history of DSM-III-R conduct disorder (CD) and ASPD: Controls (n=340) had neither diagnosis; CD Only (n=77) had CD by age 17 but no ASPD through age 20; Adolescent ASPD (n = 64) had ASPD by age 17. The Adolescent ASPD group was then compared to 20 young adult men who met criteria for ASPD (ASPD group). As expected, the Adolescent ASPD group had significantly more depression and substance use disorders, a greater performance>verbal IQ discrepancy, more deviant peers, and poorer academic functioning than the CD Only group and Controls. The Adolescent ASPD and ASPD groups did not differ on most variables. Results support the construct validity of Adolescent ASPD and suggest that such a diagnosis could help identify adolescents at risk for persistent antisocial behavior.
Transient Pressure Analysis in Piping Networks due to Valve Closing and Outlet Pressure Pulsation

This paper investigates the transient flow and pressure developments in a piping network due to design parametric and operational variations. Numerical simulations using both the method of characteristics and the finite difference formulation are performed and compared. The transient fluid pressure pulsations in the pipes are examined in both the tie and frequency domains using a Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) algorithm. The parametric studies consider changes in (1) the main pipe size, (2) the valve closing time at the branch outlet, (3) the piping system configuration (both single and multiple branched systems), and (4) the frequency of pressure pulsation at the branch outlet (manifold effect). The paper discusses the sensitivity of the transient fluid pressure and the excitability of the piping natural frequencies at various locations of the pipes, due to valve closing and manifold effects at the branch outlet. The effects of resonance due to pressure frequency variation at the branch outlet are also studied and general conclusions are drawn from these results.
Suicide By Fire: a Contemporary Method of Political Protest:

Suicide by fire (self-incineration)for the purpose of political protest has appeared in several countries during the previous decade. In this paper, the history of this form of suicide has been explored. The authors examined all cases of suicide by fire reported in the London Times and New York Times between 1790 and 1972. Seventy-one per cent of these reported suicides occurred during the most recent decade, 1963 to 1972, with all cases of political self-incineration occurring during this period. The socio-cultural context in which this form of protest may occur, and the psychological factors in individuals who choose this method of suicide are both discussed. It is suggested that the occurrence of self-incineration as a means of political protest may be yielding to more aggressive acts of terrorism as popular methods of forcing political change.
Mothers’ vagal regulation during the Still-Face Paradigm: Normative reactivity and impact of depression symptoms

This study examined mothers' physiological reactivity in response to infant distress during the Still-Face Paradigm. We aimed to explore normative regulatory profiles and associated physiological and behavioral processes in order to further our understanding of what constitutes regulation in this dyadic context. We examined physiological patterns--vagal tone, indexed by respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA)--while mothers maintained a neutral expression over the course of the still face episode, as well as differential reactivity patterns in mothers with depression symptoms compared to non-depressed mothers. Behavioral and physiological data were collected from mothers of 5-month-old infants during the emotion suppression phase of the Still-Face Paradigm. We used Hierarchical Linear Modeling to examine changes in mothers' RSA during infant distress and explored maternal depression as a predictor of physiological profiles. Mothers were generally able to maintain a neutral expression and simultaneously demonstrated a mean-level increase in RSA during the still face episode compared to baseline, indicating an active regulatory response overall. A more detailed time-course examination of RSA trajectories revealed that an initial RSA increase was typically followed by a decrease in response to peak infant distress, suggesting a physiological mobilization response. However, this was not true of mothers with elevated depressive symptoms, who showed no change in RSA during infant distress. These distinct patterns of infant distress-related physiological activation may help to explain differences in maternal sensitivity and adaptive parenting.
Multi-dimensional pulsed field gradient magic angle spinning NMR experiments on membranes.

The benefits of gradient techniques in the study of lipid membranes are demonstrated on a sample of 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3 phosphocholine (POPC) liposomes embedded with ibuprofen. Most techniques from gradient NMR spectroscopy on solution samples are directly applicable to membrane samples subjected to magic angle spinning (MAS). Gradient-enhanced homo- and heteronuclear chemical shift correlation techniques were used to make resonance assignments. Gradient NOESY experiments provide insight into the location and dynamics of lipids, ibuprofen and water. Application of gradients not only reduces experiment time but also the t1 noise in the multi-dimensional spectra. Diffusion measurements with pulsed field gradients characterize lateral movements of lipid and drug molecules in membranes. The theoretical framework for data analysis of MAS diffusion experiments on randomly oriented multilamellar liposomes is presented. Published in 2004 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dephosphorylated Cardiac Myosin-Binding Protein C (cMyBP-C) Activates Native Cardiac Thin Filaments within the C-Zone of Native Cardiac Thick Filaments

cMyBP-C is a potent modulator of actomyosin motion generation within two distinct ∼350nm regions (C-zones) flanking the myosin thick filament bare zone. cMyBP-C's modulatory capacity is tunable by phosphorylation of 4 serines within the cMyBP-C motif. To determine cMyBP-C's phosphorylation-dependent impact on calcium activation of fully regulated actin thin filaments (i.e. containing troponin and tropomyosin), we observed rhodamine-phalloidin labeled native thin filament shards (∼250nm) moving over native thick filaments isolated from mouse ventricular tissue (Previs et al., 2012). For these experiments, the state of cMyBP-C phosphorylation in native thick filaments was either ∼64% on each of the 4 serines upon isolation (wild-type) or reduced to ∼22% by lambda-phosphatase treatment. Native thin filament movement was observed by TIRF microscopy at 25mM KCl, 100µM ATP, 20°C. At pCa 5, thin filaments landed on wild-type thick filaments and moved for 402±21nm at an initial fast velocity of 2.2±0.1µm/s before slowing abruptly to 0.9±0.1µm/s for 311±19nm within the C-zone. Similar trajectories were observed on phosphatase-treated thick filaments (fast velocity: 2.0±0.1 µm/s, 392±16nm; slow velocity: 0.8±0.1µm/s, 347±15nm within the C-zone). At pCa 7, little to no thin filament motion was observed on wild-type thick filaments but surprisingly, on phosphatase-treated thick filaments, a single slow phase of velocity (0.6±0.1µm/s) with a run length (397±137nm) similar to the C-zone length was observed. We conclude that cMyBP C plays two mechanistic roles within the thick filament C-zone in vivo: 1) allowing for cMyBP-C phosphorylation-dependent activation of the thin filaments at resting calcium levels; 2) providing an internal load that governs the speed of thin filaments once the muscle is calcium activated.
On secondary variants formed at intersections of ϵ martensite variants

Abstract Crystallographic analysis and TEM observations on the orientatiin relationships of various ϵ martensite variants have been carried out in connection with their basal plane rotations. Some new variants, which do not originate directly from the matrix by the well-known {111} 2 > simple shear process for the f.c.c. to h.c.p. transformation, have been observed and distinguished as secondary variants. Formation mechanisms of these variants have been proposed based on the intersecting shears associated with intersecting initial variants. These successfully interpret the microstructural features of various variants and their intervariant relationships.
Using Product Archaeology to Embed Context in Engineering Design

Many engineering departments often struggle with meeting “the broad education necessary to understand the impact of engineering solutions in a global, economic, environmental, and societal context” (outcome h) that is required by ABET. The already packed curricula provide few opportunities to offer meaningful experiences to address this outcome, and most departments relegate this requirement to an early cornerstone or later capstone design experience as a result, making these courses an ineffective “catch all” for many ABET requirements. We address this issue by using the paradigm of product archaeology, defined as the process of reconstructing the lifecycle of a product — the customer requirements, design specifications, and manufacturing processes used to produce it — to understand the decisions that led to its development. By considering products as designed artifacts with a history rooted in their development, we embed context as a central component in developing design solutions. Specifically, in our work we have implemented several approaches to integrate contextual thinking into a senior level engineering design course. Following Kolb’s model of experiential learning and an instructional framework adapted for product archaeology (inclusive of evaluate-explain-prepare-excavate activities) we have restructured the course to embed specific and targeted reflection, dissection, and analysis activities so that students teams effectively address the global, economic, environmental, and societal factors in their design solutions. This paper provides the theoretical framework of our instructional approach, describes the specific instructional activities we implemented, and results from our pre and post survey assessments that describe the impact on students’ understanding of contextual as well engineering design topics.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Testing Homogeneity of Ordered Variances

Fujino (1979) studied several tests for homogeneity of nondecreasing variances and concluded that the modification of Bartlett’s (1937) test, first proposed by Boswell & Brunk (1969), is generally superior to its competitors in terms of power. A weakness of this test, however, is that the null distribution of the test statistic has not been adequately determined for cases other than when the group sample sizes are equal. In this article a class of simple tests for equality of non-decreasing variances is proposed which can be used without special tables for arbitrary sample sizes. Some of these tests have operating characteristics which compare favorably to those of the modification of Bartlett’s test. A prescription is also given for applying the tests in cases where the population variances are constrained by more general partial orders.
Does mitral valve prolapse cause nonspecific symptoms

I studied the prevalence and symptoms of idiopathic mitral valve prolapse by auscultation in 972 consecutive patients in an adult general medical population. Forty-five patients (4.6%) had idiopathic mitral valve prolapse defined by a nonejection click with or without a late systolic murmur. The prevalence was not significantly different in men and women. The mean age (49.9 yr) and age distribution of patients with prolapse were similar to those of patients without prolapse (47.7 yr). The prevalence of dizziness (4.1% vs. 1.5%), fatigue (4.4% vs. 2.6%), and palpitations (4.4% vs. 1.3%), was not significantly greater in patients with or without prolapse. Atypical chest pain (13% vs. 4.3%) and chronic anxiety (8.8% vs. 2.9%) were more frequent (less than 0.05) in the patients with prolapse than in those without prolapse. Of the patients with prolapse, 29 were healthy without clinically identifiable diseases while 16 had medical diseases. In the group without prolapse, 184 patients were healthy and 707 had other diseases. When patients with isolated prolapse without other associated diseases were compared to healthy patients without prolapse, the prevalence of atypical chest pain (17.4% vs. 17.2%) and chronic anxiety (7.1% vs. 10.3%) were not significantly different. When patients with prolapse and other diseases were compared to patients without prolapse and other diseases, the prevalence of atypical chest pain (6.2% vs. 1.1%) and chronic anxiety (6.2% vs. 1.7%) was again not significantly different. Thirty-two patients without prolapse were suspected but not confirmed of having disease and were not included in this analysis. The results would have been unaltered by their inclusion in the diseased group without prolapse.
On stability of sampling-reconstruction models

A useful sampling-reconstruction model should be stable with respect to different kind of small perturbations, regardless whether they result from jitter, measurement errors, or simply from a small change in the model assumptions. In this paper we prove this result for a large class of sampling models. We define different classes of perturbations and present a way of quantifying the robustness of a model with respect to them. We also use the theory of localized frames to study the dual frame method for recovering the original signal from its samples.
Education System Benefits of U.S. Metric Conversion.

This article reviews U.S. metric conversion efforts, particularly as they have affected education. Education system benefits and costs are estimated for three possible measurement system conversion...
Endothelium-Derived Nitric Oxide Regulates Postischemic Myocardial Oxygenation and Oxygen Consumption by Modulation of Mitochondrial Electron Transport

Background— Nitric oxide (NO) production is increased in postischemic myocardium, and NO can control mitochondrial oxygen consumption in vitro. Therefore, we investigated the role of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS)–derived NO on in vivo regulation of oxygen consumption in the postischemic heart. Methods and Results— Mice were subjected to 30 minutes of coronary ligation followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion. Myocardial oxygen tension (Po2) was monitored by electron paramagnetic resonance oximetry. In wild-type, N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)–treated (with 1 mg/mL in drinking water), and eNOS knockout (eNOS−/−) mice, no difference was observed among baseline myocardial Po2 values (8.6±0.7, 10.0±1.2, and 10.1±1.2 mm Hg, respectively) or those measured at 30 minutes of ischemia (1.4±0.6, 2.3±0.9, and 3.1±1.4 mm Hg, respectively). After reperfusion, myocardial Po2 increased markedly (P<0.001 versus baseline in each group) but was much lower in L-NAME–treated and eNOS−/− mice (17.4±1.6 and 20.4±1.9 mm...
Decisions of timing in conflict situations of incomplete information

Games of timing constitute a subclass of two-person, zero-sum, infinite games, where the problem facing the player is not what action to take, but rather when he should take action. The minimax solution to games of timing with incomplete information and equal accuracy functions is presented. An experimental paradigm of such games is provided by a computer-controlled two-person, zero-sum, infinite game that simulates the Western style silent duel. Ten pairs of male subjects each participated for three sessions in a silent duel experiment. Each pair played 450 duels in which both players had the same accuracy functions, but the starting number of bullets available to each player in the dyad was varied systematically. The results of this experiment are analyzed and discussed in terms of variables that relate to predictions arising from the mathematical theory of silent duels. Differences between results from the silent duel and previous research on noisy duels (Kahan & Rapoport, 1971) are discussed.
Quark-gluon amplitudes in the dual expansion

Abstract The dual representation, which gives a simple analytical form for purely gluonic amplitudes, is extended to amplitudes which include a quark-antiquark pair. To minimize the calculations, supersymmetry is used to relate the purely gluonic amplitudes to those including a gluino pair from which the quark-antiquark amplitudes are easily deduced. We explicitly give simple analytical forms for the full amplitudes for those multi-parton processes which involve a quark-antiquark pair plus two, three and four gluons.
Acquisition of spatial knowledge for routes

Abstract An important issue in the study of spatial knowledge has been the distinction between configurational and route knowledge. Route knowledge is characterized by the knowledge of sequential locations without the knowledge of general interrelationships. In contrast, configurational knowledge is characterized by the ability to generalize beyond learned routes and locate objects within a general frame of reference. These two types of knowledge are contrasted in a learning experiment, in which subjects acquire spatial information either from a map or a slide presentation. Furthermore, the structure of their spatial knowledge is derived from free-recall data using the ordered tree clustering algorithm. The results show, first, that subjects in the map condition acquired more accurate configurational knowledge. Second, we found that route knowledge can be acquired either through route presentation or map presentation. Third, there are individual differences within the slide group, such that some subjects were able to acquire configurational knowledge. And fourth, ordered trees are able to account for some of these differences, and thus identify the degree of configurational knowledge acquired by the slide subjects.
Correlation of mutagenic potencies of various petroleum oils and oil coal tar mixtures with DNA adduct levels in vitro.

Abstract An in vitro system was utilized to measure DNA adduct-forming ability of petroleum oils and oil coal tar mixtures to define correlations between DNA adduct levels and their mutagenic potencies. The system consisted of reaction of dimethyl sulfoxide extracts of oils with calf thymus DNA in the presence of Aroclor-induced hamster liver microsomes for 30 min. Following DNA extraction, DNA adducts were measured by the nuclease P1-enhanced postlabeling assay coupled with two-dimensional polyethyleneimine (PEI)-cellulose TLC. Thin layer plates showed putative aromatic DNA adducts, with levels ranging from 60 to 1400 adducts per 10 9 DNA nucleotides. TLC mobilities suggested adducts to be aromatic compounds containing 4 or more rings. A good correlation (coefficient of correlation=0.91) was observed between DNA adduct levels and Salmonella mutagenicity for 19 oils. All 19 samples tested produced DNA adducts. To expedite the TLC procedure, adducts were resolved by one-dimensional TLC and the radioactivity measured using a mechanical scanner. Results were comparable to those obtained by two-dimensional TLC and quantification after scraping. Our data show that the in vitro incubation system coupled with the postlabeling adduct assay is a useful screening method to identify mutagenic and potentially carcinogenic oils.
PREDICTING PRESENCE AND ABUNDANCE OF A SMALL MAMMAL SPECIES: THE EFFECT OF SCALE AND RESOLUTION

Management of small mammal communities in forest ecosystems requires a working knowledge of the scales at which species presence and abundance can best be predicted. Habitat-based models were developed to characterize the distribution of a boreal relict, the southern red-backed vole, Clethrionomys gapperi, in the southern Appalachian Mountains, USA, at three hierarchical scales of analysis. Vole presence and abundance were most evident at the high-resolution (macrohabitat) scale, followed by the intermediate-resolution scale. The low-resolution model was the least effective for predicting presence or abundance and reflects the need for more resolute landscape classification systems if small mammal populations are to be accounted for in an ecologically relevant manner. Tree and shrub communities indicative of suitable vole habitat included Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Tsuga canadensis in the canopy and Carpinus caroliniana in the understory. Vole abundance increased with incidence of tree species such as Bet...
Polaron ground-state energy in two dimensions

The Feynman theory for the ground-state energy of the two-dimensional polaron is compared to a variational ansatz which takes into account angular correlations between pairs of virtual phonons and to the exact perturbation expansion through sixth order.
Influence of the interface morphology on the exchange coupling in Fe/Pd/Fe(0 0 1) structures

Previous studies of Fe/Pd/Fe trilayers revealed the presence of oscillatory behavior in exchange coupling superimposed on a ferromagnetic background. These structures were characterized by small size terraces (5 nm on a side) at the first Fe/Pd interface. A number of theoretical and experimental studies have shown that the exchange coupling depends on interface quality. However, systematic studies of this issue have been limited. To study the influence of the interface morphology on exchange coupling we have recently grown a series of Fe/Pd/Fe trilayers on Fe whisker substrates and on GaAs substrates by MBE. These structures exhibit terraces at the first Fe/Pd interface ranging in size from 3 to 1000 nm. We characterized the quality of our structures by RHEED patterns and RHEED intensity oscillations. We used MOKE and BLS techniques to study the strength of the exchange coupling. Whereas previous studies found ferromagnetic coupling for Pd interlayers with thicknesses on the order of six monolayers, we find significant antiferromagnetic coupling in the samples with smooth interfaces. In contrast, the samples with rougher interfaces show weak ferromagnetic coupling or no coupling.
Observers for linear systems with quantized outputs

State estimation via nonlinear observers is described for a linear system with quantized outputs. Although there may be significant quantization error on average, it is possible to design observers with exponentially stable tracking error. Here we show that a Luenberger observer modified, so that feedback is impulsive at the quantizer transitions, is one such observer.
Comprehensive pretreatment and outcome assessment for chronic opioid therapy in nonmalignant pain

Abstract Guidelines currently exist on the use of opioid therapy for chronic nonmalignant pain. Unfortunately, no randomized, prospective, controlled studies have been conducted to verify these guidelines or determine the optimal inclusion. or exclusion criteria for this treatment. The decision to administer opioid therapy is often based on treatment orientation and subjective clinical impressions. This article contains two sections relevant to assessment for chronic opioid therapy in nonmalignant pain. First, a brief review of the literature on opioid therapy is presented. Survey data on opioid use and follow-up helpfulness are also presented. Second, current guidelines for optoid therapy are discussed and areas considered critical in assessing treatment efficacy are reviewed including (1) pain intensity, (2) functional capacity, (3) personality and mood (4) pain beliefs,(5) medication usage, (6) adverse effects, (7) health-care utilization, and (8) medical and psychosocial history. Finally, questions are posed for future investigations of the efficacy of opioid therapy in selected patients with chronic nonmalignant pain. This article identifies important areas to consider when initiating, controlled trials designed to identify those patients most suitable for chronic use of opioids.
Variety of shapes in the mercury and lead isotopes

Abstract Low-spin shape coexistence in the Hg and Pb isotopes is discussed within the shell correction approach with the axial, reflection-asymmetric Woods-Saxon model. For neutron deficient isotopes with N β 2 | ∼ 0.15) to very large (| β 2 | ∼ 0.8). The classification of intruder states in terms of the intruder spin is discussed.
A Comparison of Various Semen Diluters in Maintaining Motility of Bovine Spermatozoa

Summary A comparison of the egg yolk-citrate diluent and the synthetic pabulum diluent with several modifications for preserving semen was made. A formula is presented for the preparation of a diluent for use in the artificial insemination of dairy cattle which appears, under conditions of these experiments, to support significantly greater livability of spermatozoa than previously suggested diluters.
Second harmonic optical activity of tryptophan derivatives adsorbed at the air/water interface

Optical activity in second harmonic reflection from the air/water interface of solutions of simple tryptophan (trp) derivatives has been investigated. The derivatives include d- and l-optical isomers of Boc-trp and dd- and ll-isomers of the dipeptide Boc-trp-trp, where Boc is tert-butyloxycarbonyl. An experimental method based on polarization modulation of fundamental radiation by rotation of a quarter-wave retardation plate has been used to completely characterize the second-order nonlinear susceptibilities of the chiral surfaces, for the fundamental wavelength λ = 564 nm. Boc-trp and Boc-trp-trp show similar chiral contributions to the nonlinear susceptibilities, which indicates that the chiral response does not depend on intramolecular interactions between trp residues. The efficiency of second harmonic reflection has been shown to be resonantly enhanced at the two-photon level, in the region of the near-UV bands (∼280 nm) of the indole chromophore of tryptophan. The origin of the chiral response is di...
Effect on Growth of Supplements to Chick Rations Containing Vitamin B12 and Antibiotics

Abstract THE increased use of vitamin B12 and/or antibiotic feed supplements in practical chick feeding has created much interest in the advisability of removing all of the animal protein feedstuffs from the starting ration. Evidence that chicks fed an all vegetable ration supplemented with vitamin B12 will grow normally has been presented by Ott el al. (1948), Lillie el al. (1948) and Nichol el al. (1949). Shortly thereafter Stokstad and co-workers (1949) observed that certain fermentation products were more effective in promoting growth of young chicks than would be expected from their B12 content. Later Stokstad and Jukes (1950) observed that the addition of crystalline aureomycin hydrochloride to the chick ration also gave a growth response above that obtained by B12 alone. Still later Menge, Combs and Shorb (1949) reported a factor being present in dried liver and whey which increased the rate of growth of chicks when added to a . . .
AA-type amyloidosis associated with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: A case report

Amyloid-associated protein (AA)-type systemic amyloidosis has been referred to as secondary amyloidosis because it is secondary to an associated inflammatory condition. It is extremely rare in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Here we report an autopsy case of follicular small cleaved cell lymphoma with focal large B-cell lymphoma transformation in association with systemic AA-type amyloidosis. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from autopsy and the patient's previous surgical specimen were studied by Congo red stain; electron microscopy; and immunostaining with antibodies against AA protein, P component, and kappa and lambda light chains. There was a marked AA amyloid deposition in the glomeruli of both kidneys, the retroperitoneal lymphoma mass, the blood vessels, the adrenal glands, and the adipose tissues. The patient's previous surgical specimens were negative for amyloid. We propose that this patient's systemic AA-type amyloidosis developed along the course of his NHL.
The pediatric psychologist as “polyglot”: Or training students to communicate clearly in a multidisciplinary world

Abstract This paper describes an internship training program‐within a multi‐disciplinary in‐patient pediatric setting. It views a major task of the pediatric psychologists training experience as the ability to communicate clearly with members from other professional disciplines. The multi‐disciplinary treatment team is conceptualized as an interdependent functioning system in which the psychologist plays an essential role — that of communication specialist. Specific procedures, found to be successful in facilitating communications between team members and patients, and among team members themselves are discussed from the standpoint of pediatric psychology training.
Nucleation and Selective Deposition of Diamond Thin Films

Summary and conclusions 1. lntroduction Diamond has great potential for electronic, optical. mechanical, chemical, and nuclear applications due to its superior properties. However. natural diamond is rare and expensive. being a metastable phase at normal pressure and temperature. The diamond synthesis at high temperatures and high pressures (HTHP), u her-e diamond is a stilble phase [I], was a breakthrough for large scale industrial applications. However, synthetic diamond is used mainly in abrasive and cutting tools industries [I], the crystals obtained by the HTHP method being too small and expensive for many applications in optics, electronics, or other industries [3]. Polycrystalline as well as single-crystal films of diamond on single-crystal diamond substrates were first obtained in the seventies by the Russian team of Spitsyn, Bouilov. Derjaguin, and coworkers [4 to 101 by the gas chemical transport reaction (CTR) method. Crystals of several micrometers in size and polycrystalline films, grown on various foreign substrates (Cu, Au, Si, W, Mo), were reported by the same team [8]. The discovery of the metastable growth of diamond films using atomic hydrogen and carbon containing gases or vapors at pressures belo~v atmospheric and not too high temperatures (600 to 1000 "C), has permitted diamond growth on non-diamond substrates.
Developing verification-driven learning cases

We have proposed a verification-driven learning model that facilitates students' involvement in real-world computing tasks starting from their early computing courses and continuing throughout their entire computing studies. The initial purpose of the verification-driven learning model is to enrich the context of lessons, courses, and the CS programs, especially in the early stage of students' learning. Verification-driven learning cases can serve to supplement other teaching approaches such as process-oriented learning model. Students' independent practice of verification will encourage them to consider the real-world applications throughout the simulation.
Reversal by lymphokines of the age-related hyporesponsiveness to contact sensitization and reduced Ia expression on Langerhans cells.

Contact sensitivity responses were evaluated in young adult (3–5 months) and aged (16–26 months) BALB/c mice which were systemically treated with interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-γ (IFN-γ) or saline. Mice older than 16 months of age have deficient numbers of Ia+ Langerhans cells in addition to their well-known impaired T cell functions. They also have an impaired cell-mediated response to contact sensitization with 1-chloro-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene. This hyporesponsiveness in aged mice can be almost completely reversed by ness in aged mice can be almost completely reversed by IL-2 and is marginally improved by IFN-γ. Exposure of skin from aged mice to interleukin-2 or interferon-γ, both in vivo and invvitro, causes increases in the density of Ia+ Langerhans cells to levels approximating those in young mice. Since IFN-γ causes partial restitution while IL-2 fully restores the contact hypersensitivity in aged animals, we conclude that the hyporesponsiveness in aged mice results both from defective Ia antigen expression on the antigen-presenting Langerhans cells and from deficient T cell function.
The wear behavior of hastelloy B against graphite in a simulated face seal

Abstract Wear tests were conducted in a simulated face seal apparatus of Hastelloy B mated against a resin-bonded graphite. The alloy was tested in the solution-annealed (soft) and the aged (hard) conditions in a light wear and a heavy wear regime. The product of the mating pressure and rotational speed was 0.19 × 10 6 N m −1 s −1 for the light wear regime and 1.15 × 10 6 N m −1 s −1 for the heavy wear regime. The coefficient of friction was 0.07 in the light and about 0.12 in the heavy wear regime; the results were the same for the two conditions of the alloy. The wear rate in the light wear regime was immeasurable. In the heavy wear regime, the wear rate of the graphite was the same against either alloy condition and was about 100 times greater than the wear rate of the alloy. The annealed alloy had a wear rate about twice that of the aged alloy. In the light wear regime, graphite smeared and formed a very adherent coating on the alloy. In the heavy wear regime, the graphite wear surface contained holes and deep grooves; the collected wear debris was mainly graphite flakes and the alloy wear tracks were covered with a rather nonadherent graphite coating. The alloy contained numerous abrasive grooves. The graphite has silicon carbide particles embedded in it which probably improve its wear resistance; these hard particles were responsible for the wear damage to the alloy.
The effects of congenital deafness on auditory nerve synapses and globular bushy cells in cats

It is well known that auditory deprivation affects the structure and function of the central nervous system. Congenital deafness represents one form of deprivation, and in the adult white cat, it has been shown to have a clear effect upon the synaptic interface between endbulbs of Held and spherical bushy cells. It is not known, however, whether all primary synapses are affected and/or whether they are affected in the same way and to the same extent. Thus, we studied a second neuronal circuit in the deaf white cat involving modified (small) endbulbs and globular bushy cells. Compared to normal hearing cats, modified endbulbs of congenitally deaf cats were 52.2% smaller but unchanged in structural complexity. There was also a striking loss of extracellular space between ending and cell body. The somata of postsynaptic globular bushy cells were 13.4% smaller and had enlarged postsynaptic densities. These data reveal that axosomatic synapses demonstrate abnormal structure as a consequence of deafness and that the extent of the abnormalities can vary with respect to the circuits involved. The implication of these observations is that synaptic anomalies would introduce differential delays within separate circuits, thereby desynchronizing neural activity from sound stimuli. This loss of synchronization could in turn disrupt temporal processing and compromise a host of related functions, including language comprehension.
The Electronic Resources Librarian in the Health Sciences Library: An Emerging Role

This article will address the evolution of collection devel- opment in the age of e-resources. According to results from a survey conducted by the authors, there are some emerging "best practices" for librarians responsible for e-resources in academic health sciences librar- ies. This paper will present a model for managing e-resources using East Carolina University Laupus Library's Collection Development/Elec- tronic Resources Librarian position. A brief online survey was sent to library directors via the Association of Academic Health Sciences Li- braries (AAHSL) discussion list. It was designed to gather information concerning E-Resources Librarians and how e-resources are handled in this group of libraries. The article will present what has worked for Laupus Library in relation to the responses from the AAHSL survey. The E-Resources Librarian is still closely tied to the technical services functions within the library. However, there are a number of attributes of the E-Resources Librarian position that are similar to Information Service (Reference) and Public Service Librarians. It has also been found that the
Molecular mechanisms of protein induced hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia

The interplay between glucose metabolism and that of the two other primary nutrient classes, amino acids and fatty acids is critical for regulated insulin secretion. Mitochondrial metabolism of glucose, amino acid and fatty acids generates metabolic coupling factors (such as ATP, NADPH, glutamate, long chain acyl-CoA and diacylglycerol) which trigger insulin secretion. The observation of protein induced hypoglycaemia in patients with mutations in GLUD1 gene, encoding the enzyme glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and HADH gene, encoding for the enzyme short-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase has provided new mechanistic insights into the regulation of insulin secretion by amino acid and fatty acid metabolism. Metabolic signals arising from amino acid and fatty acid metabolism converge on the enzyme GDH which integrates both signals from both pathways and controls insulin secretion. Hence GDH seems to play a pivotal role in regulating both amino acid and fatty acid metabolism.
Management of hyperlipidemia among patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the primary care setting.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality but this has not translated to optimal management of traditional cardiovascular risk factors such as hyperlipidemia. The objectives of this study were to 1) determine the prevalence of screening for hyperlipidemia in patients with RA followed by primary care practitioners (PCP); 2) examine initiation of lipid-lowering therapy in patients with an indication, and 3) assess whether proposed modifications to cardiovascular risk calculations change the percentage of RA patients with an indication for therapy. We performed a retrospective cohort study using an academic medical center-based medical record database in the United States. Patients with RA defined by the presence of at least one ICD-9 code between 2005–2010 and followed by a PCP within the health care system were included. The positive predictive value of ICD-9 codes for accurately identifying patients with RA was 96.7 %. Descriptive statistics were used to report the prevalence of screening and use of lipid-lowering therapy among those with an indication. Factors associated with not receiving lipid screening were examined using logistic regression models. Indication for and receipt of therapy were then assessed before and after the application of the European Union League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommended multiplier to the Framingham risk score. Among 1,056 patients with RA followed by PCPs and eligible for lipid screening, lipid screening was ordered for 539 (51 %) within the 3-year follow-up period. Patients with diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, obesity or age >50 were more likely to be screened. Of those with lipid results (N = 290), 25 (9 %) patients had an indication for lipid-lowering therapy based on Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines. Ten (40 %) patients with an indication for lipid-lowering therapy received therapy did not receive therapy. Applying the EULAR multiplier only changed the indication for lipid-lowering therapy in two patients. Screening and management of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, including hyperlipidemia, need to be optimized.
Abductor muscle necrosis due to iliopsoas bursal mass after total hip arthroplasty.

Background While symptomatic iliopsoas bursal lesions have been reported after total hip arthroplasty (THA), mass effect of the collection causing abductor muscle damage has not been reported in the literature.
Central control of song in the canary, Serinus canarius

We have traced central nervous pathways controlling bird son in the canary using a combination of behavioral and anatomical techniques. Unilateral electrolytic brain lesions were made in adult male canaries whose son had been previously recorded and analysed on a sound spectrograph. After severral days of postoperative recording, the birds were sacrificed and their brains processed histologically for degeneration staining with the Fink-Heimer technique. Although large lesions in the neostriatum and rostral hyperstriatum had no effect on song, severe song deficits followed damage to a discrete large-celled area in the caudal hyperstriatum ventrale (HVc). Degenerating fibers were traced from this region to two other discrete nuclei in the forebrain: one in the parolfactory lobe (area X, a teardrop-shaped small-celled nucleus) and a round large-celled nucleus in the archistriatum (RA). Unilateral lesions of X had no effect on song; lesions of RA, however, caused severe song deficits. Degenerating fibers from RA joined the occipitomesencephalic tract and had widespread ipsilateral projections to the thalamus, nucleus intercollicularis of the midbrain, reticular formation, and medulla. It is of particular interest that direct connections were found onto the cells of the motor nucleus innervating the syrinx, the organ of song production. Unilateral lesions of n. intercollicularis (previously implicated in the control of vocal behavior) had little effect on song. One bilateral lesion of HVc resulted in permanent (9 months) and complete elimination of the audible components of song, although the bird assumed the posture and movements typical of song. Preliminary data suggest that lesions of the left hemisphere result in greater deficits than lesions of the right one. This finding is consistent with earlier reports that the left syrinx controls the majority of song components. Results reported here suggest a localization of vocal control in the canary brain with an overlying left hemispheric dominance.
Common Snapping Turtle Preys on an Adult Western Grebe

Abstract. The identification of predators of aquatic birds can be difficult. The Common Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentine) is considered a major predator of waterfowl and other aquatic birds, but the evidence for this reputation is based largely on circumstantial or indirect evidence rather than direct observations. Herein, the first documented observations of a snapping turtle attacking and killing an adult Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) are described.
Clonal Multilineage Differentiation of Murine Common Pluripotent Stem Cells Isolated from Skeletal Muscle and Adipose Stromal Cells

Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) with transdifferentiation capacity may provide useful therapeutic modalities in the areas of cellular restoration and regenerative medicine. The utility of PSCs depends on their ability to respond to different stimuli and to adapt to tissue-specific differentiation conditions. Given that a number of cells possessing characteristics of PSCs have been identified and isolated from several adult murine tissues, we hypothesized that a common PSC may exist in multiple murine tissues and that these cells may either reside permanently in specific sites or continue to circulate and colonize tissues as needed. Previous data from our laboratory suggest that PSCs exhibiting an immunophenotype of CD45 - Sca-1 + c-kit - Thy-1 + can be isolated from multiple murine tissues and may represent putative common PSCs (CoPSCs). To investigate whether the multiple tissue differentiation potential observed with these cells resulted from the presence of different tissue-restricted progenitors within CD45 - Sca-1 + c-kit - Thy-1 + cells or was the product of clonal differentiation of CoPSCs, clonality studies were performed. Single skeletal muscle (SM)-derived CoPSCs were expanded for 10 days, and progeny cells were split into three culture conditions designed to stimulate myogenic, adipogenic, and neurogenic differentiation. Analysis of 600 clones indicated that 2.16%, 0.83%, and 0.33% of the total number of plated single cells were capable of unipotent, bipotent, and tripotent differentiation, respectively, into combinations of myocytes, adipocytes, and neuronal cells. Given that SM-derived CoPSCs represent 4.78 % of the total cells analyzed, tripotent CoPSCs made up 0.016% of the total muscle cells. Similar results were obtained in clonal analyses using adipose stromal cell (ASC)-derived CoPSCs, suggesting that both SM- and ASC-derived CoPSCs may he phenotypically and functionally identical. Taken together, these data demonstrate that a common PSC can be identified in different murine tissues and suggest that a small fraction of these cells are capable of clonal differentiation into multiple cell types.