cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Clinical significance of the positive response to the hollander test

Summary During the past seven years, 206 of the 527 patients operated upon for duodenal ulcer had a Hollander test performed. Due to the morbidity associated with the test it has been used only in younger patients without heart disease, especially those who return with symptoms. One hundred ninety-five of those tested were evaluated clinically within the past three months. Eighty-one (41.5 per cent) of the tests initially gave positive results using the criteria of gastric acidity rising 10 mEq L on two consecutive samples if previously achlorhydric, or 20 mEq/L above the fasting level. In forty patients the rise occurred in the first hour and an additional forty-one showed a rise by the end of two hours. By the criteria of weight gain, recurrent ulceration, diarrhea, or dumping syndrome, there is little difference between the patient with an early or late positive response to the Hollander test and the others. Our follow-up data suggest that although insulin hypoglycemia evokes gastric secretion, even if a few vagal fibers remain, the ulcer diathesis is still controlled with less than complete vagotomy. The Hollander test may be too sensitive. However, it is the best available to show completeness of vagal division, but cannot be used to predict clinical response of vagotomy and pyloroplasty.
Traumatic ventricular septal defect disruption of the descending thoracic aorta

Abstract A case is presented of a 17-year-old man with combined myocardial contusion, traumatic ventricular septal defect, and disruption of the descending thoracic aorta after a rapid deceleration injury to the chest.
Template-Free Hydrothermal Synthesis of Novel Three-Dimensional Dendritic CdS Nanoarchitectures

Novel three-dimensional (3D) dendritic CdS nanoarchitectures were synthesized via a facile template-free hydrothermal process only using CdSO4 and thiourea as precursors and cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) as a capping reagent. The morphology of CdS nanoarchitecture is strongly dependent on the reaction conditions such as the ratio of thiourea/CdSO4, concentration of CPC, and hydrothermal time. A growth mechanism of dendritic CdS nanoarchitectures is proposed by capturing the shape evolution based on SEM observation, and the detailed formation procedures are as follows: (a) formation of CdS nanoparticles; (b) CdS nanoparticles form larger aggregates via hydrogen-bond interaction; (c) formation of nanopetal by H-bonding effects; (d) formation of the dendritic CdS nanoarchitectures by Ostwald Ripening. Furthermore, the photocatalytic activity experiment illustrated that as-synthesized dendritic CdS nanoarchitectures exhibited an excellent photocatalytic performance to decolorize methyl orange aqueous solutio...
The generality of surface vanadium oxide phases in mixed oxide catalysts

Abstract The nature of VO x sites in mixed oxides of supported VO x (on both pure oxide and mixed oxide supports), molecular sieves, zeolites, clays, hydrotalcites, stochiometric bulk oxides and bulk solid solutions were investigated. For supported metal oxides, zeolites and molecular sieves, the VO x species are exclusively present as surface VO x phases below monolayer coverage or the maximum dispersion limits. For layered clays and hydrotalcites, the VO x is present in the hydroxide layers at modest temperatures and react with the clays and hydrotalcites at higher temperatures (>350 °C) when their layered structures decompose. Surface VO x species are always also present for bulk oxides and bulk solid solutions. The rapid diffusion kinetics of VO x , due to its low Tammann temperature, coupled with the lower surface free-energy of vanadium oxide are responsible for the universal presence of surface VO x sites on all mixed oxide materials. Furthermore, surface reactivity studies demonstrate that the surface VO x sites are the catalytic active sites for all V-containing mixed oxide catalytic materials.
Transient Vasopressin-Sensitive Diabetes Insipidus Associated with Pregnancy: Case Report and Review of Literature

An uncommon complication of pregnancy, diabetes insipidus (DI), is described. Polydipsia and copious, dilute urine despite rising serum osmolality are cardinal features of the disorder. The two principal subtypes of DI are presented, with emphasis on the vasopressin-sensitive variant. Effective treatment strategies are outlined for both central and nephrogenic DI.
Micromechanics of collective buckling in CNT turfs

Abstract Complex structures consisting of intertwined, nominally vertical carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are called turfs. Under uniform compression experiments, CNT turfs exhibit irreversible collective buckling of a layer preceded by reorientation of CNT segments. Experimentally observed independence of the buckling stress and the buckling wavelength on the turf width suggests the existence of an intrinsic material length. To investigate the relationship the macroscopic material properties and the statistical parameters describing the nano-scale geometry of the turf (tortuosity, density and connectivity) we develop a nano-scale computational model, based on the representation of CNT segments as elastica finite elements with van der Waals interactions. The virtual turfs are generated by means of a constrained random walk algorithm and subsequent relaxation. The resulting computational model is robust and is capable of modeling the collective behavior of CNTs. We first establish the dependence of statistical parameters on the computational parameters used for turf generation, then establish relationships between post-buckling stress, initial elastic modulus and buckling wavelength on statistical turf parameters. Finally, we analyze the reorientation of buckling planes of individual CNTs during the collective buckling process.
Peer Enhancement of a Brief Motivational Intervention With Mandated College Students

In this pilot study, the authors evaluated whether incorporating a peer in a brief motivational intervention would lead to significant reductions in alcohol use and problems in students mandated to receive treatment after violating campus alcohol policy. Thirty-six participant-peer dyads (66% male) were randomly assigned to receive either two 45-min sessions of an individual motivational intervention (IMI, n = 18) or a peer-enhanced motivational intervention (PMI, n = 18). The IMI included exploration of motivation to change alcohol use, perceived positive and negative effects of drinking, personalized feedback, and goals for changing alcohol consumption and related behaviors. The PMI included all elements of the IMI plus the presence of a supportive peer of the participant during both sessions. Although both groups significantly reduced number of drinking days and heavy drinking days at 1-month follow-up, the magnitude of within-group reductions in alcohol use and problems was 3 times larger on average for the PMI group than for the IMI group, based on effect-size calculations. Peers and participants endorsed high satisfaction ratings on the PMI. Findings indicate the promise of including peers in brief motivational interventions for mandated students.
Efficacy of a topically applied spot-on formulation of a novel insecticide, metaflumizone, applied to cats against a flea strain (KS1) with documented reduced susceptibility to various insecticides

Abstract A spot-on metaflumizone formulation was evaluated in adult domestic short hair cats to determine its adultidical efficacy against a flea strain that has reduced susceptibility to a number of insecticides. Eight cats served as non-treated controls, eight cats were treated with a metaflumizone formulation at 0.2 ml/kg (40 mg metaflumizone/kg) and eight cats were treated with fipronil 10% w/v–(s)-methoprene 12% w/v at 0.075 ml/kg (7.5–7.7 mg fipronil/kg:9.0–9.2 mg (s)-methoprene/kg). On days −1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 each cat was infested with approximately 100 unfed KS1 cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis. At approximately 48 h after treatment or infestation, each cat was combed to remove and count live fleas. Treatment with metaflumizone provided ≥99.3% efficacy for 3 weeks post-treatment and then 97.4, 91.4 and 86.2% efficacy at 4, 5 and 6 weeks post-treatment, respectively. Fipronil–(s)-methoprene provided 99.6% efficacy at 1 week post-treatment and then 97.6, 96.4, 71.3, 22.0 and 13.1% efficacy at weeks 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, respectively. The reductions in flea numbers were significantly greater for the metaflumizone treatment than for fipronil–(s)-methoprene from 3 to 6 weeks after treatment.
Micromechanical membrane switches on silicon

A new class of electronic devices, micromechanical membrane switches, has been developed. These switches have operating characteristics that fill the gap between conventional silicon transistors and mechanical electromagnetic relays. Although they are batch fabricated on silicon using conventional photolithographic and integrated circuit processing techniques, their unique properties allow them to perform functions not ordinarily associated with silicon. The devices are basically extremely small, electrostatically controlled mechanical relays, typically less than 100 µm long. Their high off-to on-state impedance ratio and all-metal conduction paths make them ideally suited for ac signal switching arrays. This paper describes the design, fabrication, operating behavior, and potential applications of these voltage-controlled, micromechanical switches.
Concept Paper: A Virtual Centralized IRB System

Context: As the volume and complexity of research have increased, the amount of time spent on Institutional Review Board (IRB) review has decreased. The complexity of research has expanded, requiring increasingly specialized knowledge to review it. Dilemma: Under the current system, increasing numbers of research studies requiring expertise in ethics, new technologies or diverse study designs place a substantial burden upon local IRBs and often result in substantial variability among their reviews. This lack of uniformity in the review process creates uneven human subjects’ protection thus undermining the intent of the Common Rule. Objectives: To outline a scenario for expert centralized IRB review via implementation of a national virtual IRB review system overseen by the Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP). Conclusions: The complicated ethical issues and science involved in much of current research warrant an expert review panel. Centralized review would enable expert review specific to the rese...
Low-lying states of cs22+

Abstract Using an MC SCF CI method, wavefunctions for the ground state 1 ∑ + g and the excited states of the symmetries 1 ∑ + g , 1 Π g , and 1 Δ g of the Cs 2+ 2 ionic system are generated. The potential curves for eleven 1 ∑ + g twelve 1 Π g , and six 1 Δ g states are calculated. Results suggest a small charge-transfer cross section for the reaction CS + + Cs + → Cs CS 2+ .
Mobility of a tackifying resin in a pressure‐sensitive adhesive

A detailed study of the mobility of a tackifying resin in a pressure-sensitive adhesive (PSA) has been done for the first time. The objective of this work is to relate changes in adhesive performance with tackifier loading to tackifier mobility. Tackifiers are low-molecular weight resins that improve the overall performance of PSAs. They increase the adhesive tack or the ability to form a bond of measurable strength after brief contact under slight applied pressure. In this study the diffusion of n-butyl ester of abietic acid (n-BEAA) in either polyisoprene (PI) (Mw = 195,000 Mw/Mn ∼ 1.05) or poly(ethylene-propylene) (PEP) (Mw = 40,000 Mw/Mn ∼ 2.30) was measured by Pulsed Gradient Spin Echo-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (PGSE-NMR) as a function of both tackifier concentration and temperature. The concentration dependence of the tackifier's diffusion coefficient was weak for both systems. The weak variation in mobility with composition for the PI/n-BEAA system was consistent with that system's weak variation in tack with composition. On the other hand, blends of PEP/n-BEAA showed only modest variation in mobility, even though these adhesive systems showed appreciable enhancement of tack at intermediate compositions. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci B: Polym Phys 36: 373–381, 1998
The Changing Geography of Export Trade in Ghana under Structural Adjustment Programs: Some Socioeconomic and Spatial Implications

Abstract Like many other countries in Africa, Ghana has traditionally depended on a few export products—namely, cocoa, timber, and mineral resources—as the mainstays of its economy. The often-volatile nature of the world market price of these products made the economy very vulnerable to fluctuations in the prices of export commodities. Moreover, the geographical distribution of these resources meant that only a few regions could participate in their production and export. This resulted in wide spatial and socioeconomic disparities between the producing and nonproducing regions. Within the past eighteen years, however, a shift seems to have taken place. Under the auspices of the ongoing structural adjustment programs, emphasis is being placed on nontraditional export goods. This is not only helping to reduce the vulnerability of the economy by diversifying the sources of export earnings, but also engendering participation in the export trade by regions that have been traditionally left behind. This study a...
The switching mechanism in BaFe particles

The magnetization switching mechanisms in barium-ferrite particles are examined using numerical micromagnetic calculations. When the particle's aspect ratio is large, the observed reversal starts at the center of the BaFe platelet and is referred to as central switching. For smaller aspect ratios the coherent rotation mode is observed. The coercivity for BaFe particles is given and is compared with the classical values. The classical Stoner-Wolfarth formula, which used the oblate ellipsoidal demagnetizing factors, is found to introduce considerable errors for the coercivity and is corrected. >
Mutations affecting a putative MutLα endonuclease motif impact multiple mismatch repair functions

Mutations in DNA mismatch repair (MMR) lead to increased mutation rates and higher recombination between similar, but not identical sequences, as well as resistance to certain DNA methylating agents. Recently, a component of human MMR machinery, MutLα, has been shown to display a latent endonuclease activity. The endonuclease active site appears to include a conserved motif, DQHA(X)2E(X)4E, within the COOH-terminus of human PMS2. Substitution of the glutamic acid residue (E705) abolished the endonuclease activity and mismatch-dependent excision in vitro. Previously, we showed that the PMS2-E705K mutation and the corresponding mutation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae were both recessive loss of function alleles for mutation avoidance in vivo. Here, we show that mutations impacting this endonuclease motif also significantly affect MMR-dependent suppression of homeologous recombination in yeast and responses to Sn1-type methylating agents in both yeast and mammalian cells. Thus, our in vivo results suggest that the endonuclease activity of MutLα is important not only in MMR-dependent mutation avoidance but also for recombination and damage response functions.
Geochemistry and hydrodynamics of the Paradox Basin region, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico

Abstract The Paradox Basin region is approximately bounded by the south flank of the Uinta Basin to the north, the Uncompahgre uplift and San Juan Mountains to the east, the Four Corners structural platform to the southeast, the north rim of the Black Mesa Basin and the Grand Canyon to the south and southwest, and the Wasatch Plateau and Hurricane fault system to the west. Some of these geologic features are areas of ground-water recharge or discharge whereas others such as the Four Corners platform do not directly influence fluid movement. The aquifer systems studied were: (1) Mississippian rocks; (2) Pinkerton Trail Limestone of Wengerd and Strickland, 1954; (3) Paradox Member of the Hermosa Formation; (4) Honaker Trail Formation of Wengerd and Matheny, 1958; (5) Permian rocks. Recharge in the Paradox Basin occurs on the west flank of the San Juan Mountains and along the west side of the Uncompahgre uplift. The direction of ground-water movement in each analyzed unit is principally southwest-ward toward the topographically low outcrop areas along the Colorado River in Arizona. However, at any point in the basin, flow may be in some other direction owing to the influence of intrabasin recharge areas or local obstructions to flow, such as faults or dikes. A series of potentiometric surface maps was prepared for the five systems studied. Material used in construction of the maps included outcrop altitudes of springs and streams, drill-stem tests, water-well records, and an electric analog model of the entire basin. Many structurally and topographically high areas within the basin are above the regional potentiometric surface; recharge in these areas will drain rapidly off the high areas and adjust to the regional water level. With a few exceptions, most wells in formations above the Pennsylvanian contain fresh ( 2 ) to moderately saline ( 35,000 mg/l T.D.S.) reported. Most water samples from strata below the Permian are brines of the sodium chloride type but with large amounts of calcium sulfate or calcium chloride type water commonly occurring. Because evaporite facies occur in the Paradox Member, this unit has brines with as much as 400,000 mg/l dissolved solids content. Previous analysis of the San Juan Basin has indicated the presence of an osmotic membrane system. The highly permeable Jurassic formations were postulated to be the outflow side of the membrane. It is also possible that the Upper Paleozoic units with known brines and with an otherwise inexplicably high potentiometric surface in the Four Corners area of New Mexico could be the outflow receptors of the San Juan membrane system.
Right ventricular pacing to assess transisthmus conduction in patients undergoing isthmus-dependent atrial flutter ablation: a new useful technique?

Background Successful radiofrequency (RF) ablation of typical, isthmus-dependent atrial flutter requires establishment and confirmation of bidirectional conduction block across the cavotricuspid isthmus. Low atrial pacing usually is performed from the bipoles of the 20-pole Halo catheter, septal and lateral to the cavotricuspid isthmus ablation line. However, occasionally this is difficult because of high pacing thresholds and/or saturation of the atrial electrograms recorded near the pacing catheter. Objectives The purpose of this study was to assess if right ventricular (RV) pacing and resulting retrograde atrial activation can be used to assess conduction block from the septum to the lateral wall in a clockwise direction. Methods Thirty-five consecutive male patients (mean age 64 ± 10 years; mean ejection fraction 42 ± 13%; mean left atrial dimension 44 ± 6 mm) with typical isthmus-dependent atrial flutter were studied. The following electrophysiology catheters were used: 20-pole catheter along the tricuspid annulus, quadripolar catheters at the His and/or RV apex, and 8-mm ablation catheter. Following RF ablation of the cavotricuspid isthmus, bidirectional conduction block was confirmed in all 35 patients by pacing at a cycle length of 600 ms from bipoles septal and lateral to the cavotricuspid isthmus ablation line. Conduction times from pacing artifact to adjacent bipolar atrial electrograms and reversal of atrial activation pattern were analyzed. RV pacing was performed and retrograde atrial activation pattern assessed. If retrograde AV nodal conduction was absent, isoproterenol was infused intravenously at 2 μg/min, and RV pacing was repeated. The conduction time between the double potentials across the cavotricuspid isthmus ablation line was measured. Results Mean conduction times across the isthmus during septal (S), lateral (L), and RV pacing were 145 ± 21 ms, 144 ± 24 ms, and 129 ± 20 ms, respectively. Retrograde AV nodal conduction was present in 34 of 35 patients (isoproterenol 8 patients). Evidence of conduction block by a clear change in activation pattern across the isthmus was seen during RV pacing in 33 of 35 patients with bidirectional conduction block. Conclusion RV pacing is a simple and easy maneuver that can be performed to assess isthmus conduction in most patients.
Learning and expectations in dynamic duopoly behavior

How two business competitors are influenced by each other is discussed in this paper. Businessman White bases his actions to a large extent on what he expects his competitor, Black, to do. This expectation is based on Black's previous behavior. As White learns to predict Black's behavior more accurately, a process analogous to a marksman “zeroing-in” on a target takes place. The authors offer a dynamic model of this process.
Freezer anthropology: new uses for old blood.

Archived blood fractions (plasma, settled red cells, white cells) have proved to be a rich and valuable source of DNA for human genetic studies. Large numbers of such samples were collected between 1960 and the present for protein and blood group studies, many of which are languishing in freezers or have already been discarded. More are discarded each year because the usefulness of these samples is not widely understood. Data from DNA derived from 10–35–year–old blood samples have been used to address the peopling of the New World and of the Pacific. Mitochondrial DNA haplotypes from studies using this source DNA support a single wave of migration into the New World (or a single source population for the New World) and that Mongolia was the likely source of the founding population. Data from Melanesia have shown that Polynesians are recent immigrants into the Pacific and did not arise from Melanesia.
Arachidonic acid metabolism by neonatal lungs perfused with krebs bicarbonate buffer

Abstract We characterized and quantified products of exogenous arachidonic acid metabolism by neonatal lamb lungs perfused with Krebs solution and determined effects of alveolar hypoxia upon this metabolism. The predominant metabolite was PGI 2 (62.4 ± 5.8 (SEM)% of the total prostanoids (PGs) produced). An additional 23.1 ± 6.7% was metabolized PGI 2 . PGE 2 (1.7 ± .3.0X) was produced also. Little thromboxane B 2 (TXB 2 ) (3.3 ± 1.7%) was synthesized by these platelet-free lungs. Although the pulmonary vasoconstrictor response to arachidonic acid infusion reached a plateau in 71 ± 19 seconds, the PG efflux was greater 8–15 minutes after beginning arachidonic acid infusion (3066 ± 1353 ng/min) than 1–8 minutes into the infusion (899 ± 343 ng/min). Reduction of F I O2 from 20% to 3% 02 which produces vasoconstriction in the absence of exogenous arachidonic acid, did not alter the PG profile nor quantity produced. With respect to the neonatal lamb pulmonary vasculature perfused with Krebs solution, we conclude; 1) exogenous arachidonic acid ultimately is metabolized predominantly to PGI 2 , 2) arachidonic acid-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction is not caused by TXA 2 , 3) short term hypoxia does not alter the conversion of excess arachidonic acid to PGs, and 4) a lag between intrapulmonary PG synthesis and pulmonary venous efflux may occur.
Availability and utilization of cardiovascular fixed-dose combination drugs in the United States

Background Solid clinical evidence supports the effectiveness and safety of multiple drugs in treating diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, and numerous fixed-dose combination products (FDCs) containing such drugs have been developed for patients with more severe forms of these diseases. We sought to evaluate the extent to which utilization of treatment combinations for these conditions corresponded to the availability of FDCs. Methods Using claims data from a large national commercial insurer, we identified 2 cohorts of patients: those who filled multiple single-agent drugs to treat diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension in 2012, and those who used FDCs containing these products during the same period. We determined the fill rate of single-agent pairs and FDCs, availability of FDCs for the most frequently filled single-agent and drug class pairs, and the number of conditions treated by frequently filled single-agent pairs and FDCs. Results During our study period, 848,082 patients filled prescriptions for 3,248 unique single-agent pairs (mean 4.7 per patient, standard deviation [SD] 5.0); and 568,923 patients received prescriptions for 43 unique FDCs (mean 1.1 per patient, SD 0.3). Three (15%) of the 20 most frequently filled single-agent pairs were available as FDCs, whereas 9 (45%) of the 20 most frequently filled drug class pairs were available as FDCs. Nearly all of the frequently filled FDCs had lower fill rates than the most frequently filled single-agent pairs. Conclusions Utilization of drug combinations to treat cardiovascular conditions does not correspond well with availability of FDCs containing these agents. A concerted set of strategies should be implemented to streamline the development of useful combination products, including expedited approval pathways and increased investment in formulation studies.
Neural responses to visual food stimuli after a normal vs. higher protein breakfast in breakfast-skipping teens: a pilot fMRI study.

This functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) pilot study identified whether breakfast consumption would alter the neural activity in brain regions associated with food motivation and reward in overweight “breakfast skipping” (BS) adolescent girls and examined whether increased protein at breakfast would lead to additional alterations. Ten girls (Age: 15 ± 1 years; BMI percentile 93 ± 1%; BS 5 ± 1×/week) completed 3 testing days. Following the BS day, the participants were provided with, in randomized order, normal protein (NP; 18 ± 1 g protein) or higher protein (HP; 50 ± 1 g protein) breakfast meals to consume at home for 6 days. On day 7 of each pattern, the participants came to the laboratory to consume their respective breakfast followed by appetite questionnaires and an fMRI brain scan to identify brain activation responses to viewing food vs. nonfood images prior to lunch. Breakfast consumption led to enduring (i.e., 3-h post breakfast) reductions in neural activation in the hippocampus, amygdala, cingulate, and parahippocampus vs. BS. HP led to enduring reductions in insula and middle prefrontal cortex activation vs. NP. Hippocampal, amygdala, cingulate, and insular activations were correlated with appetite and inversely correlated with satiety. In summary, the addition of breakfast led to alterations in brain activation in regions previously associated with food motivation and reward with additional alterations following the higher-protein breakfast. These data suggest that increased dietary protein at breakfast might be a beneficial strategy to reduce reward-driven eating behavior in overweight teen girls. Due to the small sample size, caution is warranted when interpreting these preliminary findings.
Human immunodeficiency virus and lung cancer

Background The association of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection with lung cancer remains unclear. The presence of multiple risk factors in patients with HIV infection makes it difficult to identify a direct cause-effect relationship. Methods A retrospective study of patients with lung cancer who were diagnosed, treated and followed at Harlem Hospital Center, New York, between January 1990 and December 1994 was performed. Eleven HIV-seropositive and 116 HIV-indeterminate patients with histologically proven lung cancer were identified. The two groups were compared with regard to age, sex, race, predisposing factors, stage of presentation, histological type of the tumours and survival. Results HIV-infected patients with lung cancer were predominantly male smokers who were significantly younger than the control HIV-indeterminate patients with lung cancer. Although adenocarcinoma was seen more frequently in the HIV-seropositive group, the difference was not statistically significant. Survival in HIV-infected patients was shorter than that in HIV-indeterminate patients, suggesting that the cancer may be more aggressive in HIV-infected patients or that the progression of immunoincompetence in these patients may influence survival. Conclusion A direct cause-effect relationship between lung cancer and HIV infection is difficult to establish in the presence of other risk factors, but the incidence of lung cancer may be increasing in HIV-infected men.
The auditory evoked response to stimuli producing periodicity pitch.

The cortical evoked response in man to an amplitude modulated complex sound was investigated in order to find out whether the response reflects the acoustic spectrum of the stimulus or its modulation rate. The complex sound consisted of a train of square waves repeated 200 times a second and filtered so that only the acoustic energy confined predominantly to the region of 1000 Hz was delivered to the listener. Perceptually, the pitch of this complex sound is in the neighborhood of 200 Hz. The results from 10 listeners, tested repeatedly, showed that the presence of 1000 Hz tones interposed between successive presentations of the periodic complex stimulus served to habituate the response to the latter; intervening 200 Hz tones exerted relatively little effect on the responsiveness to the periodic stimulus. These data suggest that periodicity differences in stimulation at the periphery are not converted into place differences at the level of the auditory cortex; that a low-pitched sound is not necessarily mediated by those neural units maximally responsive to low frequency sinusoids.
Local Delivery of TNF by Retrovirus-Transduced T Lymphocytes Exacerbates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that serves as a model for the human disease multiple sclerosis. Paralysis is "induced" by CD4+ T cells of the Th1 phenotype. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a Th1 type cytokine, has been shown to be upregulated in the CNS during the onset of EAE, and systemic manipulations of TNF have had substantial effects on disease progression. However, the precise role of TNF in EAE has been called into question by recent experiments utilizing TNF and lymphotoxin knockout mice. We demonstrate here that the local delivery of TNF by myelin basic protein (MBP)-specific T cells, retrovirally transduced to express TNF, exacerbated MBP-induced disease following adoptive transfer into syngeneic mice.
Modeling Cell-Cell Adhesion With a Cadherin Based Model

Cell-cell adhesion is critical in morphogenesis, tissue formation, cancer, and wound healing. A better understanding of cell-cell adhesion mediated by cadherins will allow all these processes to be mimicked and manipulated to achieve desired objectives. This paper investigates the role of the actin structure associated with cadherin adhesion sites.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Self-adaptive service based applications: Challenges in requirements engineering

Service-Based Applications (SBA) are defined as software systems, which are composed of multiple services made available over computer networks by different service providers, and that can be accessed by service consumers, through a variety of connecting devices.
Copper (II) complexes of 1,2,3-triazolecarboxylic acids

Abstract The synthesis and characterization of four complexes of copper(II) with 1,2,3-triazolecarboxylic acid derivatives are described. The ligand 1,2,3-triazol-4,5-dicarboxylic acid forms either a 1:1 or a 2:1 complex with copper(II) as a function of pH and ligand concentration. A crystal structure of the 2:1 complex, diaqua-bis(1,2,3-triazole-4,5-dicarboxylato)copper(II) dihydrate, has been determined. It crystallizes in the triclinic space group P l with a = 5.203(1) A, b= 6.583(2) A, c = 11.853(2) A, α = 77.99(2)°, β = 98.92(2)°, γ = 105.84(2)°, and R = 0.029 for 1660 observations with I > 3σ(I). The copper is in an elongated tetragonal geometry with equatorial coordination through two triazole nitrogens and two water molecules. The axial sites are occupied by carbonyl oxygens of the carboxylic acid substituents. The 1:1 and 2:1 copper(II) complexes with 1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxylic acid and 1-methyl-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxylic acid, respectively, have also been studied. Thermogravimetric analysis, infrared, and magnetic susceptibility were used to predict the coordination environment of the three complexes not amenable to X-ray crtstallography.
Locus of control, historical context, and black physical self-perception

Abstract Effects of locus of control on physical self-perception of black men were examined in 1968 and 1975. Externally oriented subjects were hypothesized to perceive themselves to be more Negro in appearance than they were judged to be by observers. The hypothesis was tested by comparing the subjects' own appearance judgments with the mean judgment of three observers on a scale of 15 faces which changed incrementally from Negro to Caucasian. The hypothesis was contradicted in the 1968 study and supported in the 1975 study. These discrepant results were interpreted in terms in historical events at the time of data collection.
Managing a portfolio of long term service agreements

Abstract Long-term service agreements (LTSAs) for the maintenance of capital-intensive equipments such as gas turbines and aircraft engines are gaining wide acceptance. A typical LTSA contract spans over a period of around 10 years making a manufacturer fully responsible for maintaining the customer equipment. In this paper, we address the management of a portfolio of such contracts from the manufacturer’s perspective. The goal is to meet all the service requirements imposed by the contracts while minimizing total cost incurred. We develop a deterministic integer programming model to generate the optimal maintenance schedules that minimize the total portfolio cost. We then propose two heuristic algorithms for the problem.
5 bit photonic time shifter for wideband arrays

A 5 bit photonic time shifter (switchable delay line) was developed for applications to wideband array antennas. This module was used to steer the beam on the subarray level, which required up to 10 ns delay in the true time delay beamforming network. The time shift module consists of four diode lasers and eight photodetectors in conjunction with fibre optic delay lines and a 4/spl times/8 optical coupler connected in between. The L-band module has a 38 dB loss at present. A silica waveguide-based delay line technology using monolithic-hybrid integration is under way. The miniaturised version will reduce the loss by combining a laser and detector switch array plus other OEIC components in the package.
Prostate cancer patients on androgen deprivation therapy develop persistent changes in adaptive immune responses

Prostate cancer is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among men worldwide. The cornerstone treatment for metastatic prostate cancer is androgen deprivation, which has known effects on prostate tissue apoptosis and thymic regrowth. These findings, together with interest in developing immune-based treatments for prostate cancer, lead us to question whether androgen deprivation causes changes in the adaptive immune responses of prostate cancer patients, and whether the timing of changes has implications for the sequencing of immunotherapies in combination with androgen deprivation. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from patients before beginning androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and at several time points thereafter. These cells were analyzed for the frequency of specific lymphocyte populations and their response to stimulation. The development of prostate antigen-specific immune responses was assessed using SEREX (serological identification of antigens by recombinant expression). Patients developed expansion of the naive T-cell compartment persisting over the course of androgen deprivation, together with an increase in effector-cell response to stimulation, and the generation of prostate tissue-associated IgG antibody responses, implying a potential benefit to the use of ADT in combination with prostate cancer-directed immunotherapies. The optimal timing and sequence of androgen deprivation with immune-based therapies awaits future experimental evaluation.
Toxicity and Carcinogenicity of Chronic Exposure to Tris(2-chloroethyl)phosphate

Toxicity and Carcinogenicity of Chronic Exposure to Tris(2-chloroethyl)phosphate. Matthews, H. B., Eustis, S. L., and Haseman, J. (1993). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 20, 477-485. Previous short-term studies of tris(2-chloroethyl)phosphate (TRCP), a flame retardant used in industrial and consumer products, demonstrated that repeated administration of 350 mg TRCP/kg body wt by oral gavage resulted in necrosis of pyramidal neurons in the CA1 region of the hippocampus of F344 rats, but not in B6C3F1 mice. The 2-year studies reported here were designed to characterize the chronic toxicity and potential carcinogenicity of TRCP in each sex of F344 rats and B6C3F1 mice. Groups of 60 rats per sex received 0, 44, or 88 mg/kg by oral gavage, once per day, 5 days per week, for up to 103 weeks. Groups of 60 mice per sex received 0, 175, or 350 mg/kg by oral gavage on the same dosing schedule. Each of these groups contained 10 animals which were euthanized at 66 weeks. The principal toxic effects of chronic exposure of rats to TRCP occurred in the brain and kidney. In contrast to the findings in the 16-week studies, a hippocampal lesion was not observed in the brain, although degenerative lesions were widely distributed in the gray and white matter of the brain stem and cerebral cortex of high-dose female and, to a lesser extent, male rats. These findings suggest that the hippocampal necrosis may be dependent upon the size of the individual doses or may have a pathogenesis different from that of the lesions in the brain stem and cerebral cortex. The other primary effect of chronic exposure was a dose-dependent increased incidence of renal tubule hyperplasia and adenoma. Renal tubule neoplasms, primarily adenomas, were observed in 4% of control, 10% of low-dose, and 50% of high-dose male rats and in 0% of control, 4% of low-dose, and 10% of high-dose female rats. There were also marginal increases in mononuclear cell leukemia and in thyroid follicular neoplasms in dosed male and female rats that were not clearly related to TRCP administration. Mice were less sensitive to TRCP than rats and lesions attributable to chemical administration in mice were limited to a dose-dependent increased incidence of karyomegaly (nuclear enlargement) in epithelial cells of proximal tubules in the inner cortex and outer stripe of the outer medulla of the kidneys both sexes. Marginal increases in the incidence of renal tubule neoplasms in male mice and harderian gland neoplasms in female mice were not considered clearly related to TRCP administration.
Complete assignment of the 1h‐ and 13c‐nmr spectra of [1]benzothieno[2,3‐c]naphtho[1,2‐h]quinoline and [1]benzothieno[2,3‐c]naphtho[1,2‐h][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3‐a]quinoline. Concerted use of two‐dimensional nmr techniques

The 1 H- and 13 C-nmr spectra of [1]benzothieno[2,3-c]naphtho[1,2-h]quinoline and [1]benzothieno[2,3-c]-naphtho[1,2-h][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]quinoline were totally assigned using a combination of two-dimensional nmr techniques. After correlation of the proton signals by a COSY spectrum and one-bond heteronuclear correlation, complete assignment of the 1 H- and 13 C-nmr spectra of the novel heterocyclic compounds required the application of long-range CH coupling information particularly for quarternary resonance assignments and the orientations of individual spin systems relative to one another
Ag-photodoping in Ge-chalcogenide amorphous thin films—Reaction products and their characterization

Abstract We make a brief review on the effect of silver photodiffusion in Ge-chalcogenide glasses and report some of our recent results in this aspect. Using Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis we demonstrate that the hosting backbone undergoes depletion in chalcogen due to the specific conditions of photodiffusion and the diffusion products are silver chalcogenides. While in the Ge–Se system preliminary binary Ag—chalcogenides are forming, in the Ge–S system formation of Ag 2 GeS 3 is evidenced. This effect is related to the ability of the Ge–S glasses to form ethane—like structure at much lower Ge concentration than the Ge–Se glasses. For this type of structures is known that Ag replaces Ge to form homogeneous material, hence formation of Ag-containing ternary occurs.
Transient liquid-phase sintering of ceramic-reinforced Fe-based composites

The microstructural development of ceramic-reinforced iron-based composites has been studied. The composites were fabricated via powder metallurgy and liquid-phase sintering, a processing route which achieves near-net-shape with good ceramic particulate dispersion. Two matrix alloys were used, Fe-1 wt% C-1 wt% Si and Fe-2 wt% Cu; up to 30 wt% (≈36 vol%) yttria-stabilized zirconia in the form of ∼20 μm particles was added to these alloys. The microstructural evolution of these composite materials was studied by examining the densification rate and volume fraction of liquid phase as a function of time. Different particle/matrix interfaces developed in the two composites. A glassy silicon-rich layer formed in the Fe-1C-1Si-YSZ composites and a more limited crystalline layer was found in the Fe-2Cu-YSZ composites.
Vertical and Horizontal Saccades in Aging and Dementia: Failure to Inhibit Anticipatory Saccades

Vertical And Horizontal Saccades To Visual Stimuli Were Compared In Young And Elderly Control Subjects And Elderly Patients With A Dementia Of Alzheimer's Type. Aging Was Associated With Long Latency, Accurate Saccades In Both Directions. The Vertical But Not Horizontal Peak Velocity For Ten Deg Saccades Was Mildly Reduced In The Elderly Control Subjects Suggesting A Selective Vulnerability Of The Vertical Saccade System To Aging.Dementia Of An Alzheimer's Type Was Associated With An Additional Prolongation Of Saccade Latency And A Reduction Of Saccade Accuracy. The Peak Velocity 3-15 Deg Saccades In Demented Patients Were Similar To The Elderly Control Subjects. Anticipatory Saccades Occurring Prior To Target Displacement Were Particularly Prominent In The Demented Patients And Could Not Be Consistently Suppressed. Long Latency, Hypometric Visually Guided Saccades Accompanied By An Inability To Suppress Anticipatory Saccades Is Characteristic Of Dementia Of An Alzheimer's Type. The Magnitude Of These Abn...
Two Temples, Three Religions, and a Tourist Attraction Contesting Sacred Space on China's Ethnic Frontier

Huanglong (Yellow Dragon) in northwestern Sichuan province is an old multi ethnic pilgrimage site that has become a UNESCO World Nature Heritage Reserve and a major national tourist attraction sinc...
Effects of transdermal scopolamine on heart rate variability in normal subjects

A decrease in cardiac parasympathetic tone is a recognized finding in patients with ischemic heart disease, sudden cardiac death and heart failure, correlating closely with disease severity and overall survival. To study the clinical potential of vagomimetic intervention, the effect of transdermal scopolamine on fluctuations in heart rate was studied in 32 healthy adult subjects using both time-domain (mean RR interval, standard deviation of the mean RR interval, mean of the differences between consecutive RR intervals) and frequency-domain measures (spectrum analysis of 128 consecutive RR intervals) of heart rate variability. After an exposure of 24 hours, transdermal scopolamine resulted in a significant increase in all indexes tested. The increase was most pronounced in the 0.25-Hz respiratory peak of the RR interval power spectrum, compatible with a strong vagomimetic mode of action of transdermal scopolamine. Results indicate that transdermal scopolamine may have potential merit as a selective vagotonic agent in certain patients with myocardial infarction, heart failure or ventricular arrhythmias.
Expert system evaluation techniques: a selected bibliography

: The rapid growth in the use of expert systems has led to widespread interest in techniques for their evaluation, which includes verification and validation. Evaluation techniques in the software engineering community are well established but there are different opinions about the effectiveness of transferring software engineering methodologies to expert systems. This paper outlines some of the issues involved in evaluating expert systems and cites almost 200 significant papers on the topic. We present it with the expectation that it will help both new and established researchers become acquainted with the literature of an important and growing field.
Estimation of the mean utilizing prior information

Katti [1] et Mehta et Srinivasan [2] ont consideres le probleme d'estimer la moyenne μ d'une population quand de l'information a priori sur μ est disponible. Dans [1], la supposition est que cette information a priori est sous forme d'un “estime devine”. Un estimateur a deux degres de deux echantillons est presente. Quand a [2], un estimateur “shrinkage” base sur un seul echantillon et une “valeur a priori” est considere. En suivant les techniques presentees dans ces deux articles, nous suggerons des estimateurs du parametre quand les donnees viennent d'une population Binomiale ou Poisson.
Exclusion of a Transmembrane-Type Peptide from Ordered-Lipid Domains (Rafts) Detected by Fluorescence Quenching: Extension of Quenching Analysis to Account for the Effects of Domain Size and Domain Boundaries†

Sphingolipid/cholesterol-rich rafts are membrane domains thought to exist in the liquid-ordered state. To understand the rules governing the association of proteins with rafts, the behavior of a model membrane-inserted hydrophobic polypeptide (LW peptide, acetyl-K(2)W(2)L(8)AL(8)W(2)K(2)-amide) was examined. The distribution of LW peptide between coexisting ordered and disordered lipid domains was probed by measuring the amount of LW Trp fluorescence quenched by a nitroxide-labeled phospholipid that concentrated in disordered lipid domains. Strong quenching of the Trp fluorescence (relative to quenching in model membranes lacking domains) showed that LW peptide was concentrated in quencher-rich disordered domains and was largely excluded from ordered domains. Exclusion of LW peptide from the ordered domains was observed both in the absence and in the presence of 25-33 mol % cholesterol, indicating that the peptide is relatively excluded both from gel-state domains (which form in the absence of cholesterol) and from liquid-ordered-state domains (which form at high cholesterol concentrations). Because exclusion was also observed when ordered domains contained sphingomyelin in place of DPPC, or ergosterol in place of cholesterol, it appeared that this behavior was not strongly dependent on lipid structure. In both the absence and the presence of 25 mol % cholesterol, exclusion was also not strongly dependent upon the fraction of the bilayer in the form of ordered domains. To evaluate LW peptide behavior in more detail, an analysis of the effects of domain size and edges upon quenching was formulated. This analysis showed that quenching can be affected both by domain size and by whether a fluorescent molecule localized at domain edges. Its application to the quenching of LW peptide indicated that the peptide did not preferentially reside at the boundaries between ordered and disordered domains.
Novel method for amplitude measurement of signals up to microwave frequencies

The method gives very good input/output linearity down to input amplitudes of 100 mV; by using germainum diodes, this could probably be extended down to 10 mV even lower.