cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Leveraging object-orientation for real-time imaging systems

Imaging systems are traditionally developed using structured analysis and design techniques at best. Such approaches tend to be rigid with respect to changing needs, technologies, devices and algorithms--for example, when additional compression algorithms are needed or attached devices are changed large parts of software applications employing those techniques and interfacing with those devices must be modified to accommodate the change. In a larger perspective, these systems are difficult or impossible to reuse; each new problem requires a new solution.This is generally undesirable and often not necessary, but only if best practices in software engineering are employed. These best practices have been explored and documented in detail with regard to object-oriented systems, which suggests that it is an appropriate paradigm to employ in the development of future imaging systems. This work examines these best practices, in the form of patterns and design principles, with reference to imaging systems and within the context of the Java imaging APIs.
Neuromuscular fatigue in prostate cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy

Abstract Objective: To determine the etiology of fatigue in prostate cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT). Methods: Thirteen prescreened men (60 to 76 years in age, 58 to 130kg in body weight) were evaluated for neuromuscular fatigue (NMF) of the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle, cardiopulmonary fatigue (CPF), and psychological-subjective fatigue (PSF) at 1 to 2 weeks before RT (Pre), at the end of 8 weeks of RT (RT), and at 5 to 6 weeks after completion of RT (Post). Outcome Measures: For NMF, the TA muscle was fatigued by sustained isometric contraction at 80% of maximum voluntary contraction for 60 seconds on a force dynamometer. Neuromuscular efficiency (NME) expressed as a ratio of isometric force (in Newtons) and respective integrated electromyograms were measured. For CPF, stress testing was performed on a treadmill using the modified Bruce protocol. Piper Fatigue Scale, Beck Depression Inventory, and Epworth Sleepiness Scale were administered to evaluate PSF. Data Analysis: Paired t tests, single factor analysis of variance, and nonparametric analysis. Results: At RT, there was a significant decline in NME of TA at the beginning (18.4%, p p Conclusion: Results provide definitive evidence of transient decline in NME in prostate cancer patients at the completion of RT. The effect seems to be specific for neuromuscular performance alone and is independent of the cardiovascular or psychological status of the patients.
Standard formats for electronic transfer of clinical data.

Excerpt Technical progress depends on standards. Standards for gauge and size make it possible to thread nuts onto bolts. Standards for voltage and frequency permit the use of an electrical applian...
Fourier transform infrared imaging showing reduced unsaturated lipid content in the hippocampus of a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential to brain functions such as membrane fluidity, signal transduction, and cell survival. It is also thought that low levels of unsaturated lipid in the brain may contribute to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk or severity. However, it is not known how accumulation of unsaturated lipids is affected in different regions of the hippocampus, which is a central target of AD plaque pathology, during aging. In this study, we used Fourier transform infrared imaging (FTIRI) to visualize the unsaturated lipid content in specific regions of the hippocampus in the PSAPP mouse model of AD as a function of plaque formation. Specifically, the unsaturated lipid content was imaged using the olefinic ═CH stretching mode at 3012 cm−1. The axonal, dendritic, and somatic layers of the hippocampus were examined in the mice at 13, 24, 40, and 56 weeks old. Results showed that lipid unsaturation in the axonal layer was significantly increased with normal aging in control (CNT) mice (p < 0.01) b...
Rhomb- and bickerstaff encephalitis: two clinical phenotypes?

We report unusual cases of brainstem encephalitis in two young boys. Both presented with acute febrile illness, progressive encephalopathy, and marked cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis. Case one shared some of the clinical features that have been seen in previously reported cases of brainstem encephalitis, such as ophthalmoplegia, ataxia, and progressive encephalopathy. Case two presented with similar clinical features, although without ophthalmoplegia and ataxia. A review of magnetic resonance imaging revealed mild differences with respect to anatomic lesion localization and confirmed a neuroanatomic basis for the variance in each patient's symptoms. The features of these cases deviate from the classical symptoms described in the Miller-Fisher syndrome/Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis/Guillain-Barre syndrome spectrum, although the cause for variability in clinical phenotypes is unknown.
1H-PYRROLO(3,2-C)PYRIDINE-4,6(5H,7H)DIONE (3,7-DIDEAZAXANTHINE)

A facile chemical synthesis of 1H-pyrrolo[3,2-c]pyridin-4,6(5H,7H)dione (3,7-dideazaxanthine) has been accomplished from ethyl 3-ethoxycarbonylpyrrole-2-acetate.
Absorption spectrum of Pm+3 in D2O, DCI

The absorption spectra is reported for Pm/sup 3+/ in 0.023 M DCl (98% D/ sub 2/O) from 2600 to 19000 A under higher resolution than previously reported. Additional structure was observed in the ultraviolet region. Molar extinction coefficients were calculated for all peaks from 2600 to 8233 A. No additioiial peaks were observed from 8233 to 1900 A. An emissionspectrum analysis of Pm/sup 3+/ in lM HCI indicated impurities of Nd, Sm, Al. Ca, and Am. Following purification with Dowex-50 cation-exchange column and separation of rareearth impurities. the column was converted to a 12N HCl column and Pm/sup 3+/ was separated from actinide impurities. The PmCl/sub 3/ solution was completely dried, and 30 ml of DCl-D/sub 2/O solution were added. The procedure was repeated which resulted in a final solution of PmCl/sub 3/ in D/sub 2/ODCI. Measurements were made of Pm/sup 3+/, Cl/sup -/, and H/sub 2/O content. A Cary 14 spectrometer was used in measuring the absorption spectra. (B.O.G.)
Excess enthalpies for inorganic liquids with supercritical carbon dioxide: Equation of state correlations

Abstract Excess enthalpies along isotherm/isobars for binary mixtures of liquid neopentane, SnCl4, and TiCl4, in supercritical CO2 are correlated with two equations of state. Both equations use a Percus-Yevick hard-sphere repulsive pressure term added to an attractive term, and temperature dependent size parameters. One attractive term is empirical, the other is based on a square-well potential. Calculations for pure component enthalpies fit data better than molecular dynamics simulations, but the simulations better predict the excess enthalpies.
Relative age inference in paleontology

Fossil taxa often occur in a regular vertical order in strata, yet, this regularity does not necessarily imply that the taxa succeeded one another in the same order in time. An argument for the time significance of such a regular pattern is strengthened if (1) the taxa involved were preserved in a wide range of depositional environments, and (2) the Eldredge-Gould model of evolution is correct: by contrast, (3) the areal extent of the pattern and (4) the inferred phylogeny of the taxa involved are not relevant. Paleontologists commonly do conclude that a homotaxial pattern, i.e. a definite orderly succession of fossil taxa, results from the taxa having occurred in essentially the same order in time. The conclusion may be justified as follows: If it is false, there should have been some local areas studied where the taxa (or first and last occurrences of taxa) occur in reverse order, or where two or more allegedly sequential taxa occur together in the same strata. But this is not the case: so the taxa probably succeeded one another in essentially the same order in time. The argument is broadly applicable, yet compelling only if (1) certain constraints involving the prior probability of the conclusion apply, and (2) transgression/regression can be ruled out as a cause of the pattern observed. Subsidiary defenses of the time significance of a homotaxial pattern involve other-group, radiometric, marker-bed, magnetic, seismic, or stable-isotope data. The use of fossils for time correlation of strata does not involve circular reasoning.
The Relationship between Barrier Courses and Persistence in Engineering

Attrition in engineering programs continues to be an important issue for universities across the country. This study examined the connection between student performance in barrier courses and persistence in engineering. Quantitative results showed that high school academic experience, student behaviors (including study habits, work habits, coping strategies), students' perceptions about faculty behavior (including teaching styles and the “weed-out” culture), the perceived culture of support in the engineering school, and motivation to succeed in engineering all impact students' performance in barrier courses. Qualitative results showed that motivation to succeed might be the reason why some students persist even when they “struggle” with barrier courses.
Dual functional roles of Tie-2/angiopoietin in TNF-α-mediated angiogenesis

Inflammation and angiogenesis are associated with pathological disorders. TNF-α is a major inflammatory cytokine that also regulates angiogenesis. TNF-α has been shown to regulate Tie-2 and angiopo...
An Infinitistic Rule of Proof

In this paper we consider a fonnal system of second-order Peano arithmetic with a rule of inference stronger than the ω-rule [3]. We also consider the relation to a class of models for analysis (i.e. second-order arithmetic) which lies between the class of ω-models and the class of β-models [5]. The notation used is largely that of [3] and [5]. We assume that the reader has some familiarity with at least the ideas of the former. The formal system ( A ) of Peano arithmetic employed in [3] includes the comprehension axioms and the second-order induction axiom.
Generalized rank annihilation method: standard errors in the estimated eigenvalues if the instrumental errors are heteroscedastic and correlated

The generalized rank annihilation method (GRAM) is a method for curve resolution and calibration that uses two data matrices simultaneously, i.e. one for the unknown and one for the calibration sample. The method is known to become an eigenvalue problem for which the eigenvalues are the ratios of the concentrations for the samples under scrutiny. Previously derived standard errors in the estimated eigenvalues of GRAM have very recently been shown to be based on unrealistic assumptions about the measurement errors. In this paper a systematic notation is introduced that enables the propagation of errors that are based on realistic assumptions concerning the data-generating process. The error propagation will be performed in detail for the case that one data order modulates the second one. Extensions to more complicated error models are indicated.
Same-day thyroidectomy program: Eligibility and safety evaluation

Background Same-day thyroidectomy has not gained widespread acceptance owing to concerns of life-threatening complications. The aim of this study is to describe a single institution same-day thyroidectomy results. Methods We included patients who underwent thyroid surgery between 2005 and 2011 by a single surgeon. The outcomes of patients who underwent inpatient (IP) and same-day thyroidectomy were compared. Routine postoperative parathyroid hormone testing for same-day thyroidectomy commenced in 2010, and results were also compared after that date. Results Thyroid surgery was performed in 608 patients; 298 (49%) were performed as same-day thyroidectomy. Patients undergoing same-day thyroid lobectomy had similar, low documented complication rate as IP lobectomy. Patients with same-day total thyroidectomy (SDTT) had similar rates of documented transient hypocalcemia and neck hematoma compared with IPs. After 2010, all patients without restrictive underlying comorbidities were scheduled for same-day thyroidectomy unless otherwise specifically requested by the patient. Only 4 (3%) patients scheduled for SDTT were converted to IPs, all without neck complications. Conclusion Same-day thyroidectomy is safe and can be routinely performed by experienced surgeons who have low complication rates and a patient support system.
The Impact of Demographic Factors and Comorbidities on Distal Radius Fracture Outcomes

Background Despite the prevalence and consequences of distal radius fracture (DRF), there is limited research that analyzes the effects of demographic factors and comorbidities as they relate to pain, perceived disability, and functional outcomes.
Trends in the distribution and abundance of Hexagenia spp. in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron, 1954–2012: Moving towards recovery?

Abstract Since at least the 1940s, multiple anthropogenic disturbances to the Laurentian Great Lakes have had detrimental effects on benthic habitats and biota including decimating the environmentally sensitive burrowing mayfly genus Hexagenia around the mid-1950s. While remediation efforts have facilitated recovery of some populations, benthic surveys in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron in the last 50 years have only occasionally discovered Hexagenia nymphs. Recently, adult Hexagenia swarms have been reported near the bay; therefore, we corroborated the local presence of Hexagenia adults and evaluated the current status of Saginaw Bay Hexagenia nymphs. We quantified adults during mayfly emergence events in 2010 at three Tawas City, Michigan, USA area locations, and found > 17 Hexagenia /m 2 /site. We quantified nymphs from Ponar grab samples collected at 57 sites in Saginaw Bay between 2009 and 2012, and found 1.5 nymphs/m 2 overall with nymphs present at 15.8% of sites sampled, their greatest documented distribution in Saginaw Bay since 1956. Additionally, we mapped bay sediment composition and related sampling site abiotic conditions with both Hexagenia presence and abundance using Zero-Inflated Poisson regression. Model results indicate that the probability of observed Hexagenia absence being true absence is positively related to both sediment sandiness and surficial dissolved oxygen concentration while Hexagenia abundance is greatest where surficial temperatures are ~ 18.6 °C and is also related to sediment sand content. The documentation of nearby adults and in bay nymphs may indicate the beginning of a Hexagenia return to Saginaw Bay, and, therefore, a possible improvement of the ecosystem's benthic health.
Implementation of Kalman filter with multicore system on chip using function — Level parallelism

Kalman filter is a very popular estimation technique used widely for linear tracking. It uses a set of noisy data as input and produces state estimates with minimum error rate. This study aims to explore how to implement implicit parallelism in multi-core processor and object tracking with task-level parallelism and Kalman Filter is parallelized on Multi-core system on chip. The novelty of this study is the introduction of Adaptive Load Balancing Approach (ALBA) to compute the nonrecursive algorithm. This approach can be applied on all form of multicore computers. The parallel Kalman Filter is developed in C# for multicore using .Net framework 4.0. It uses combination of C and CUDA for its implementation on GPU.
Differential school effects among low, middle, and high social class composition schools: a multiple group, multilevel latent growth curve analysis

This study uses large-scale survey data and a multiple group, multilevel latent growth curve model to examine differential school effects between low, middle, and high social class composition public schools. The results show that the effects of school inputs and school practices on learning differ across the 3 subpopulations. Moreover, student learning in low social class schools is far more sensitive to school factors than in middle and high social class schools. Yet, even after controlling for an extensive set of student background characteristics and school inputs, students attending low social class schools continued to learn at significantly slower rates. Widespread differences in the characteristics of schools across the subpopulations, which consistently challenge the educational milieu in low social class schools, likely contribute to differential school effects, as well as to the disparity in learning rates. The findings of this study accentuate the importance of school effectiveness research th...
Human milk oligosaccharides - the plot thickens.

Human milk is a complex physiological fluid that provides nutrients as well as bioactive factors for the infant ( 1 ) . A distinctive property of human milk among all other species is its remarkable content and structural diversity of oligosaccharides ( 2 – 4 ) .
Partial characterization of endogenous phosphorylation conditions for hen brain cytosolic and membrane proteins.

Abstract The optimal conditions for endogenous protein phosphorylation with 5μM [γ- 32 P]ATP, 10 mM MgCl 2 in preparations containing synaptosomal cytosol or membranes (shocked crude mitochondrial fraction P 2 ) from adult hen brains were determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, autoradiography and microdensitometry. Phosphate incorporation increased linearly with protein concentration from 75–125μg/200 μ1 in brain cytosol and was maximal at 75 μg/200 μl in brain membranes. Optimal incubation times were 60–90s for brain cytosol and 10–15 s for brain membranes. With the exception of the 20 kilodalton myelin basic protein in the membrane fraction, pH 6.5 is generally optimal. While temperature optima varied considerably with different bands, most of them were found between 35 and 45 °C. When identical preparations from hen and rat brain were co-electrophoresed, one of the most striking differences was that the enhancement of phosphorylation of a 55 kilodalton doublet, which may be tubulin, by addition of 50 μM Ca 2+ was at least 3 times greater in rat than in hen brain cytosol. Another species difference was apparent in the membrane fractions in which the 20 kilodalton hen brain persumptive myelin basic protein (MBP) was phosphorylated to approximately the same extent as that of the 16 and 20 kilodalton rat brain MBPs combineb.
It Takes a Village: Developing Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms

The Library of Congress (LC) is in the process of developing a separate thesaurus of genre/form terms, which describe what a work or expression is, rather than what it is about. From the beginning, LC policy specialists realized that to accomplish this undertaking, it would be both necessary and desirable to collaborate with the library community. This article examines and evaluates the various methods of collaboration used by LC in the creation of the genre/form thesaurus.
Ohmic effects in quasioptical resonators

Several properties of the Fabry-Perot-type open resonator used in the quasioptical gyrotron (QOG) and the quasioptical induced resonance electron cyclotron (IREC) maser are derived. The electric fields of the normal modes are given for the general case of the resonator axis tilted with respect to the direction perpendicular to the electron beam axis. The ohmic quality factor and the power dissipated in the mirrors are derived, as is the energy stored in the resonator. The time dependence of the mirror heating, relevant for pulsed experiments, is also derived. The formulae are applied to an example of current relevance, the quasioptical IREC maser resonator.
Role of viruses and bacteria-virus interactions in autoimmunity

A potential role for viral and bacterial-viral interactions in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disease has been long recognized. Recently, intensive investigation has begun to decipher interactions between specific microbes with the host that contribute toward autoimmunity. This work has primarily focused on known viral and bacterial pathogens. A major challenge is to determine the role of bacteria that are typically considered as commensals as well as chronic viruses. Furthermore, equally challenging is to prove causality given the potential complexity of microbe-microbe interactions. Important initial contributions to this field have shown that specific interactions of microbes with hosts that contain a background of genetic susceptibility can play a role in autoimmune pathogenesis. In this review, we describe principles of immune tolerance with a focus on its breakdown during pathogenic as well as commensal relationships between the host and the microbial world.
Ultramicro chelometric titrations with potentiometric end point detection

Abstract Ultramicro chelometric determinations at concentrations well below the range of conventional electrometric methods are reported. For example, the titration of 0.006 microgram copper in a total volume of 0.1 ml. is entirely feasible. The mercury indicator electrode is highly sensitive and easily employed without the fatigue experienced when visual indicators are used. The determination of microgram amounts of different cations with potentiometric end point detection requires careful adherence to precautions that may be overlooked for titrations on a macroscale. A full description of these precautions is given. The procedure is a general one, applicable to the determination of microgram amounts of many metal ions over a wide range of pH, using different buffer solutions and several types of chelons.
Environmental Conditions Constrain the Distribution and Diversity of Archaeal merA in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, U.S.A.

The distribution and phylogeny of extant protein-encoding genes recovered from geochemically diverse environments can provide insight into the physical and chemical parameters that led to the origin and which constrained the evolution of a functional process. Mercuric reductase (MerA) plays an integral role in mercury (Hg) biogeochemistry by catalyzing the transformation of Hg(II) to Hg(0). Putative merA sequences were amplified from DNA extracts of microbial communities associated with mats and sulfur precipitates from physicochemically diverse Hg-containing springs in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, using four PCR primer sets that were designed to capture the known diversity of merA. The recovery of novel and deeply rooted MerA lineages from these habitats supports previous evidence that indicates merA originated in a thermophilic environment. Generalized linear models indicate that the distribution of putative archaeal merA lineages was constrained by a combination of pH, dissolved organic carbon, dissolved total mercury and sulfide. The models failed to identify statistically well supported trends for the distribution of putative bacterial merA lineages as a function of these or other measured environmental variables, suggesting that these lineages were either influenced by environmental parameters not considered in the present study, or the bacterial primer sets were designed to target too broad of a class of genes which may have responded differently to environmental stimuli. The widespread occurrence of merA in the geothermal environments implies a prominent role for Hg detoxification in these environments. Moreover, the differences in the distribution of the merA genes amplified with the four merA primer sets suggests that the organisms putatively engaged in this activity have evolved to occupy different ecological niches within the geothermal gradient.
The emergence of m-commerce

Driven by a widespread understanding of the Internet's capabilities, the power of electronic commerce, and advances in wireless technologies and devices, mobile commerce (m-commerce) is rapidly approaching the business forefront. According to independent research findings, m-commerce, the conducting of business and services over portable, wireless devices, will soon be a dominant force in business and society. The viability of these projections depends on the power of the underlying technology drivers and the attractiveness of m-commerce applications. To compete in a marketplace dominated by wireless devices, businesses must devise effective m-commerce strategies. Building successful strategies begins by recognizing the forces driving m-commerce's emergence.
Androgens Stimulate Proximal Tubule Transport

Background: Disrupting the enzyme cytochrome P4a14 in mice leads to hypertension, which is more severe in male than in female mice and appears to be due to androgen excess. Androgens are known to increase expression of angiotensinogen,but the effect of androgens on proximal tubule transport is unknown. Objective: These studies aimed to determine the effect of androgens on proximal tubule transport. Methods: Proximal tubules from knockout (KKO) and wild-ttype (WWT) (SSV/1129) mice were perfused in vitro. Volume resorption (JJ v ) was measured using 3 H-methoxy inulin as a volume marker. In separate experiments, male Sprague-Dawley rats were given dihydrotestosterone (DDHT) injections IP for 10 days. Proximal tubule transport was measured in this model using in vivo microperfusion. The renal expression of angiotensinogen was measured by Northern analysis, and brush border membrane protein abundance of the sodium-hhydrogen exchanger isoform 3 (NNHE3) was measured by Western blotting in the control and DHT-ttreated rats. Results: Mean (SSE) Jv was significantly elevated in proximal tubules from KO mice compared with WT mice (11.11 [0.006] vs 0.77 [0.112] nL/mm . mm, respectively; P<0.05). The mean proximal tubule Jv rate was significantly higher in DHT-ttreated rats than in control rats given vehicle injections (44.57 [0.331] vs 3.31 [0.223] nL/mm . min, respectively; P<0.01). Luminal perfusion with either enalaprilat or losartan decreased the proximal tubule J v rate in DHT-ttreated rats to a greater degree than in control rats. The DHT-treated rats had higher blood pressures and lower serum angiotensin II concentrations than did the control rats. Conclusion: Results suggest that androgens may directly upregulate the proximal tubule reninangiotensin system, increase the expression of NHE3, and increase the Jv rate, thereby increasing extracel-lular volume and blood pressure and secondarily decreasing serum angiotensin II concentrations.
QUILOMBOS ON SAO TOME, OR IN SEARCH OF ORIGINAL SOURCES

A few years ago I was reading a doctoral dissertation concerned with the history of Sdo Tome, when one particular word fairly leapt off the page. It came at the end of an episode telling how a particular ethnic group on the island today had arrived there. The story told how a number of Angolan slaves, later called Angolares,' were shipwrecked just off the coast of Sdo Tome in 1544 (or 1554), "though (of course) no accurate date or account of the circumstances exists." The survivors swam to shore and moved into the bush "building there a series of small villages called Quilombos."2 It was that word, "Quilombos," that made me jump to attention, for it is a very important word in Angolan history and a written record of it from either 1544 or 1554 would be sixty to seventy years earlier than the hitherto first-known mention of the word.3 If it were true, profound revisions to the accepted political history in Angola during the sixteenth century would be called for, and even the chronology of the onset of the Lunda (Ruund) kingdom far inland would have to be revised.4 Given these stakes, it is not surprising that, once I found some free time, I began to search for the original sixteenth-century document in which this magic word first appeared. This note describes the wholly unexpected leaps and bounds encountered on this search, something with which other researchers are also familiar. In Angola "quilombo" designated both the temporary settlement of the armed bands and the social organization of the celebrated Jaga, those armed bands of nomads who ravaged Angolan lands west of the Kwango from at least the 1590s. Both were described by a witness who lived among them from 1601 to 1603, but he did not tell us its African name.5 The first known
An Unusual Phycoerythrin from a Marine Cyanobacterium

Phycoerythrin conjugates are reagents for cell sorting and analyses in which the argon-ion laser line at 488 nanometers is used for excitation. Many marine Synechococcus strains contain phycoerythrins with absorption maxima at approximately 490 and 550 nanometers; these maxima indicate the presence of phycourobilin and phycoerythrobilin prosthetic groups in the protein. Phycoerythrins of red algae contain both groups, but those of freshwater and soil cyanobacteria contain only phycoerythrobilin. Phycoerythrin purified from Synechococcus WH8103 has molecular properties typical of red algal phycoerythrins, but its phycourobilin content is higher than that of other phycoerythrins. The protein has absorption maxima at 492 and 543 nanometers and corresponding molar extinction coefficients of 2.78 and 1.14 x 106; it fluoresces maximally at 565 nanometers with a quantum yield of 0.5. Conjugates of Synechococcus WH8103 phycoerythrin could increase the sensitivity of cell analysis techniques to almost twice that possible with other phycoerythrin conjugates.
Strategies for targeting tumour necrosis factor in IBD

Abstract Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) plays an important role in mediating the inflammation of inflammatory bowel disease, in particular, Crohn's disease. Strategies aimed at reducing tumour necrosis factor in patients with inflammatory bowel disease include the mouse/human chimeric monoclonal antibody infliximab, the humanized monoclonal antibody CDP571, the human soluble TNF p55 receptor onercept, the human monoclonal antibody D2E7 (adalimumab), the anti-TNF human antibody Fab′ fragment–polyethelene glycol (PEG) conjugate CDP870, and the small molecules thalidomide and CNI-1493 (MAP-kinase inhibitor). Infliximab is effective for treating active Crohn's disease, maintaining remission, closing fistulas, maintaining fistula closure, and treating ankylosing spondylitis. Infliximab is also being investigated for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. Side-effects occurring in patients treated with infliximab include human anti-chimeric antibodies, infusion reactions, delayed hypersensitivity reactions, formation of autoantibodies, and, in rare circumstances, drug-induced lupus and serious infections, including tuberculosis. CDP571 is effective for treating active Crohn's disease, steroid sparing, and possibly for closing fistulas and maintaining remission. Side-effects occurring in patients treated with CDP571 include anti-idiotype antibodies, infusion reactions and the formation of autoantibodies. A controlled trial of etanercept in patients with Crohn's disease was negative. Pilot studies with onercept, thalidomide, and CNI-1493 have suggested benefit for Crohn's disease. There are no published data on the efficacy of adalimumab (D2E7) or CDP870 for either Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis. Anti-tumour necrosis factor therapies are effective for the treatment of Crohn's disease and are being investigated for ulcerative colitis.
CoMFA analyses of C-2 position Salvinorin A analogs at the kappa-opioid receptor provides insights into epimer selectivity

The highly potent and kappa-opioid (KOP) receptor-selective hallucinogen Salvinorin A and selected analogs have been analyzed using the 3D quantitative structure-affinity relationship technique Comparative Molecular Field Analysis (CoMFA) in an effort to derive a statistically significant and predictive model of salvinorin affinity at the KOP receptor and to provide additional statistical support for the validity of previously proposed structure-based interaction models. Two CoMFA models of Salvinorin A analogs substituted at the C-2 position are presented. Separate models were developed based on the radioligand used in the kappa-opioid binding assay, [(3)H]diprenorphine or [(125)I]6 beta-iodo-3,14-dihydroxy-17-cyclopropylmethyl-4,5 alpha-epoxymorphinan ([(125)I]IOXY). For each dataset, three methods of alignment were employed: a receptor-docked alignment derived from the structure-based docking algorithm GOLD, another from the ligand-based alignment algorithm FlexS, and a rigid realignment of the poses from the receptor-docked alignment. The receptor-docked alignment produced statistically superior results compared to either the FlexS alignment or the realignment in both datasets. The [(125)I]IOXY set (Model 1) and [(3)H]diprenorphine set (Model 2) gave q(2) values of 0.592 and 0.620, respectively, using the receptor-docked alignment, and both models produced similar CoMFA contour maps that reflected the stereoelectronic features of the receptor model from which they were derived. Each model gave significantly predictive CoMFA statistics (Model 1 PSET r(2)=0.833; Model 2 PSET r(2)=0.813). Based on the CoMFA contour maps, a binding mode was proposed for amine-containing Salvinorin A analogs that provides a rationale for the observation that the beta-epimers (R-configuration) of protonated amines at the C-2 position have a higher affinity than the corresponding alpha-epimers (S-configuration).
Reaction of atomic oxygen with polyimide films

The rate of removal of Kaptont by chemical reaction with atomic oxygen impacting at a translational energy of approximately 1 eV has been measured under conditions that approximate atmospheric bombardment of spacecraft surfaces in low Earth orbit. The average reaction efficiency was found to be approximately (2±l)xlO~24 cm3/O atom, independent of surface temperature over the range of 300-400 K. This value is in good agreement with the reaction rates inferred from low Earth orbit exposures on various Space Shuttle flights.
Determination of the lack of a drug interaction between azithromycin and warfarin.

Study Objective. To determine the effect on the international normalized ratio (INR) of adding azithromycin to patients receiving stable dosages of warfarin. Design. Retrospective chart review. Setting. Outpatient clinic. Patients. Ambulatory patients receiving warfarin and azithromycin concurrently who had a documented therapeutic INR value before the start of azithromycin therapy (pre-INR) and a documented INR value within 30 days after the start of azithromycin therapy (post-INR). Measurements and Main Results. Patients given felodipine during long-term warfarin therapy formed a comparative control group. Patient demographics were similar in both treatment groups. Mean age of the azithromycin group (17 patients) was 59 ± 13 years and of the control group (20 patients) 65 ± 12 years. All 17 patients in the azithromycin group and 16 of the controls were women. Mean change from pre-INR to post-INR in the azithromycin and control groups, respectively, was 0.14 ± 0.64 (pre-INR 2.46, post-INR 2.61) and 0.19 ± 0.54 (pre-INR 2.46, post-INR 2.66) (p=0.74). A post hoc power analysis based on a pooled standard deviation of 0.60 revealed that the study had 68% power to detect a 0.5 change in the INR value. Conclusion. No interaction between azithromycin and warfarin was observed in ambulatory patients with therapeutic baseline INR values.
Retardation and repair of fatigue cracks in a microcapsule toughened epoxy composite – Part I: Manual infiltration

Abstract As a first step towards a new crack healing methodology for cyclic loading, this paper examines two promising crack-tip shielding mechanisms during fatigue of a microcapsule toughened epoxy. Artificial crack closure is achieved by injecting precatalyzed monomer into the crack plane to form a polymer wedge at the crack tip. The effect of wedge geometry is also considered, as dictated by crack loading conditions during infiltration. Crack-tip shielding by a polymer wedge formed with the crack held open under the maximum cyclic loading condition (Kmax) yields temporary crack arrest and extends the fatigue life by more than 20 times. Hydrodynamic pressure and viscous damping as a mechanism of crack-tip shielding are also investigated by injecting mineral oil into the crack plane. Viscous fluid flow leads to retardation of crack growth independent of initial loading conditions. The success of these mechanisms for retarding fatigue crack growth demonstrates the potential for in situ self-healing of fatigue damage.
Experiencing Literacy in and Out of School: Case Studies of Two American Indian Youths:

This case-study research focused on the role of multiple literacies in the lives of Lakota and Dakota (Sioux) young adolescents who lived and attended school in a predominately White, rural communi...
Characterization of growth plate mitochondria

The growth plate chondrocyte plays a central role in growth plate function. The purpose of this study was to characterize the respiratory and calcium transport properties of isolated mammalian growth plate chondrocytes and mitochondria obtained from these cells and to quantitate the mitochondrial weight and volume fraction in each zone of the growth plate. A new method was developed for isolation of mitochondria from chondrocyte suspensions. Isolated chondrocyte mitochondria demonstrated an eightfold increase in oxygen consumption in response to calcium and a two- to threefold increase in oxygen consumption in response to adenosine diphosphate. Similar responses were observed in chondrocytes treated with digitonin. The mitochondrial protein content of the growth plate and hyaline cartilage chondrocytes is significantly less than hepatocytes. Conversely, the chondrocyte mitochondrial cytochrome aa3 content is similar to mitochondria from a wide variety of sources. A zonal analysis of the growth plate demonstrates an increase in the mitochondrial weight (protein) fraction from the reserve to the hypertrophic zone whereas the mitochondrial volume fraction decreases from the reserve to the hypertrophic zone. The findings of this study emphasize the dependence of chondrocytes on glycolysis as a prime energy source and support the concept that chondrocyte mitochondria have become specialized in the process of matrix calcification.
A challenging diagnosis of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency: identification of a patient with a novel F/Null phenotype

Alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) deficiency is a genetic disease characterized by low levels and/or function of A1AT protein. A1AT deficiency can result in the development of COPD, liver disease, and certain skin conditions. The disease can be diagnosed by demonstrating a low level of A1AT protein and genotype screening for S and Z mutations, which are the most common. However, there are many genetic variants in A1AT deficiency, and this screening may miss rarer cases, such as those caused by dysfunctional protein. We identified a patient with a previously unreported F/null phenotype that was missed by routine screening. This case highlights the wide variation in possible mutations, limitations in diagnostics, and the importance of combining clinical suspicion with measurement of protein levels, phenotypic analysis, and in appropriate cases expanded genetic analysis.
Detectors for Infrared Astronomy

Many of the recent advances in infrared astronomy have been the result of improved performance of existing infrared detectors or the introduction of new detectors. This paper includes a brief examination of the background photon fluxes encountered in infrared astronomy and the effect on detector performance of the fluctuation in this background. The operating characteristics and limitations of thermal and photon detectors currently utilized in infrared astronomy are also discussed. I. Introduction Most astronomical observations in the infrared have been carried out using ambient temperature telescopes on the ground or carried aloft in airplanes or balloons. Thermal emission from the warm telescope and atmosphere in the line of sight constitutes a very bright background against which astronomical sources must be observed. This background is responsible for two major observational limitations: 1. Source emission must be separated from the background emission. This is generally done by rapidly switching between the source and an adjacent area of the sky and detecting the difference signal. A variety of techniques has been developed to accomplish this modulation without introducing noise above the statistical fluctuations in the background. One such technique in widespread use, the "chopping secondary," is described in Ref. 1. 2. Statistical fluctuations in the background photon flux set a fundamental limit to the detector sensitivity. It is this aspect of the problem that is reviewed in this paper. The rapid advance of infrared astronomy in the last decade has been a result of improvement in many areas, including modulation techniques, instrumentation, cryogenics, and detectors. In particular, the development and application of sensitive infrared detectors has played a crucial role in this advance. The present trend toward higher spectral and spatial resolution observations clearly indicates a continuing need to develop new detectors and upgrade the performance of existing devices. A notable exception to the general use of warm telescopes has been a series of observations using liquid helium cooled telescopes carried above the earth's atmosphere by rockets,2' 3 which showed that the infrared background outside the earth's atmosphere is very low, dominated largely by thermal emission
Treating atopic dermatitis at the source: corrective barrier repair therapy based upon new pathogenic insights

Until recently, atopic dermatitis (AD) has been linked to Th1/Th2 cell dysregulation. But now, the opinion that inflammation in AD results from a convergence of inherited and acquired insults to the cutaneous permeability barrier, with variable contributions from inherited abnormalities in innate/adaptive immunity, is becoming increasingly accepted. Current therapy is however, still largely directed towards ameliorating immunologically triggered inflammation, rather than correcting the barrier abnormality. In this article, the authors provide an overview of epidermal barrier function; a review of recent molecular genetic studies pointing to a primary barrier abnormality in AD; a detailed description of new pathogenic insights into AD; and they compare the efficacy of several putative ‘barrier repair’ products currently utilized as adjunctive or primary therapy for AD. The authors also explore the potential of ‘next-generation’ barrier repair approaches that attack specific pathogenic mechanisms in AD (hig...
Estimation of critical properties with group contribution methods

Currently available group-contribution methods for Tc, Pc, and Vc were evaluated using the Ambrose (1980) critical property data compilation. The Ambrose estimation methods were found to be the most accurate. Linear regression methods were also employed to develop alternate estimation methods which were found to have an accuracy comparable to those of Ambrose.
Wavelet Radiative Transfer and Surface Interaction

In this work-in-progress paper, we present a solution to the illumination problem that is intermediate between the conventional local and global approaches to illumination. It involves the representation of radiance on a surface as a finite element expansion in terms of wavelets. By expanding in terms of ``Nusselt coordinates'''', we show how irradiance, transport, and surface interaction can be evaluated simply and directly in terms of wavelet coefficients. We present an example of transport.
Recurrent bilateral dacryocystoceles in Wegener's granulomatosis : a rhinologic perspective

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is a rare, idiopathic, systemic vasculitis of small vessels that manifests in multiple organ systems. Otorhinolaryngic manifestations of this disease include recurrent sinusitis and relapsing polychondritis. Periocular involvement is also a well-documented location of Wegener's disease. We present the case of a 13-year-old girl with severe WG who developed multiple recurrent orbital infections. She underwent multiple incision and drainage surgeries of each orbit and multiple courses of intravenous antibiotics. The patient persistently reaccumulated purulence in her nasolacrimal duct system and was referred to an oculoplastic surgeon for evaluation of these recurrent infections. The diagnosis of dacryocystitis as a complication of WG was made. This unique case represents a patient with severe WG developing bilateral dacryocystitis requiring bilateral dacryocystorhinostomies.
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor (mGluR)‐Mediated Potentiation of Cyclic AMP Responses Does Not Require Phosphoinositide Hydrolysis: Mediation by a Group II‐Like mGluR

: Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) in the CNS are coupled to a variety of second messenger systems, the best characterized of which is activation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis. Recently, we found that activation of mGluRs in rat brain slices by the selective mGluR agonist 1-aminocyclopentane-1S,3R-dicarboxylic acid (1S,3R-ACPD) potentiates cyclic AMP (cAMP) responses elicited by activation of other receptors coupled to Gs. It has been suggested that mGluR-mediated potentiation of cAMP responses is secondary to activation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis. However, preliminary evidence suggests that this is not the case. Therefore, we designed a series of experiments to test more fully the hypothesis that mGluR-mediated potentiation of cAMP responses is secondary to phosphoinositide hydrolysis. Inhibitors of both protein kinase C and intracellular calcium mobilization failed to antagonize 1S,3R-ACPD-stimulated potentiation of cAMP responses. Further, coapplication of phorbol esters and 1S,3R-ACPD induced a cAMP response that was greater than additive. Finally, (RS)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine, a selective agonist of mGluRs coupled to phosphoinositide hydrolysis, failed to potentiate cAMP responses, whereas (2S,1′R,2′R,3′R)-2-(2,3-dicarboxycyclopropyl)glycine, an mGluR agonist that does not activate mGluRs coupled to phosphoinositide hydrolysis, elicited a robust potentiation of cAMP responses. In total, these data strongly suggest that mGluR-mediated potentiation of cAMP responses is not secondary to activation of phosphoinositide hydrolysis and is likely mediated by a group II mGluR.
Effects of Peer Tutoring on the Second Language Acquisition of Mexican American Children in Elementary School

The purpose of the two classroom experiments reported in this article was to examine the effects of a peer-tutoring intervention on the second language acquisition of elementary school children. English acquisition by limited English-speaking Mexican American children was measured in the first experiment, and Spanish acquisition by limited Spanish-speaking Mexican American children was measured in the second experiment. A matched-pairs experimental design was employed. Subjects were matched on an overall language proficiency score and on a verbalinteraction score. They were then assigned to treatment and control groups. The peer-tutoring treatment provided a structured setting for natural language practice between the tutor, who was a limited English-speaking or limited Spanish-speaking child acquiring a second language, and the tutee, a child fluent in the target language. It was found that in Experiment 1, there were significant group differences in frequency of English utterances to peers in a structured setting, with the difference favoring the treatment group. Correlation analyses indicated a significant relationship between English proficiency and verbal interaction in English with peers. For the children in both treatment and control groups in Experiment 2, the frequency of Spanish utterances to peers in free play decreased, resulting in the almost total absence of Spanish use. These findings suggest that peer tutoring may be an effective means of encouraging interaction between Mexican American children acquiring English and their fluent Englishspeaking peers. On the other hand, the study points out the difficulty of helping limited Spanish-speaking children acquire Spanish in an environment in which English is the language with considerably more status.