cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Determination of offspring NOAEL for zeta-cypermethrin using internal exposure data from rat developmental neurotoxicity studies

Abstract Developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) studies via dietary method of administration have been conducted for zeta-cypermethrin, a pyrethroid insecticide. The objectives of the current study were to determine the toxicokinetics (TK) of zeta-cypermethrin in postnatal day (PND) 11, 21 and 90 rats after gavage doses and use the internal exposure data from the DNT and TK studies to calculate an offspring NOAEL in mg/kg/day during lactation. The DNT studies showed that zeta-cypermethrin is not a developmental neurotoxicant. The NOAEL for maternal and offspring was determined to be 125 ppm (9.0 and 21.4 mg/kg/day for dams during gestation and lactation, respectively), based on systemic toxicity of reductions in maternal body weight, body weight gains and food consumption and offspring body weight at 300 ppm (LOAEL). The TK data from the gavage study showed that dose normalized Cmax and AUC is approximately 3-fold and 2-fold higher in PND 11 and 21 than those in PND 90 rats. By using the mean maternal/offspring plasma concentrations (535/245 ng/mL) during lactation day LD/PND 5–21 from the range-finding DNT studies, a conservative 3.1X relative TK factor (exposure ratio from the gavage study) and equation 3.1 × 535/21.4 = 245/x, the offspring NOAEL of 125 ppm was calculated to be 3.2 mg/kg/day during lactation. The offspring NOAEL based on internal exposure data from DNT studies and TK data after gavage doses is considered conservative for risk assessment for all human populations including infants and children for zeta-cypermethrin.
CHARACTERIZATION OF CROSS-ANISOTROPIC SOIL DEPOSITS FROM ISOTROPIC COMPRESSION TESTS

ABSTRACT Isotropic compression tests have been performed on two fine sands. Specimens of Nevada sand were prepared by air pluviation and by funnel deposition followed by tapping to relative densities of 30, 50, 70, and 90%. Specimens of Santa Monica Beach sand were prepared by air pluviation to a relative density of 90%. All specimens exhibited cross-anisotropic behavior, both in terms of total strains and in terms of unloading strains. Small pressure cycles performed during loading and unloading were used to study elastic behavior. The inclination angles of the total and plastic strain increment vectors relative to the hydrostatic axis in the principal stress space were used to express and to study the evolution of cross-anisotropy in the sand deposits. In the context of elasto-plastic constitutive modeling, the variation of the inclination of the plastic strain increment vector was further characterized by a rotation of the plastic potential surface as a means to capture the inherent cross-anisotropic behavior observed in such sand deposits.
Essential Elements and Statistical Terms

The first chapter addresses some of the basic elements associated with statistical analysis and attempts to clarify some of the confusing language and synonyms. Statistics can be divided into two major types: (1) descriptive statistics to summarize sample data and (2) inferential statistics to make statements about an entire population from which the sample was taken. Presented will be steps to consider in performing a statistical procedure and important assumptions associated with all statistical tests. Identifying the types of variables in the study is critical because they will dictate the type of descriptive and/or inferential statistics that are most appropriate to test and report. Briefly discussed will be sampling plans, reportable values, rounding, and significant figures. Minitab is introduced as software to provide a rapid and efficient method for statistically analyzing sample data.
A Preferred Vendor Model Reduces the Costs of Sports Medicine Surgery.

Purpose To report on our institution’s first year of experience with a preferred vendor program for implants and disposables for sports medicine surgery. Methods Cost and utilization data for implants and disposables were analyzed for knee and shoulder sports medicine surgeries performed during the 2-year period including the 12 months preceding the start of the contract (contract year 0 [CY0] and the first 12 months of the contract period (CY1). The costs of grafts and biological therapies were excluded. Utilization of the preferred vendor’s products, operative time, and per-case costs were compared between the 2 time periods and adjusted for patient factors and case mix. Results Utilization of the preferred vendor’s shavers (0% to 94%, P Conclusion Our institution was able to reduce the costs of sports medicine surgery with the implementation of a preferred single-vendor program for implants and disposables. This program had widespread surgeon adoption and did not have any detrimental effect on operating room efficiency. Level of Evidence III, retrospective comparative study
Interrogating Innate Intelligence Racial Narratives: Students’ Construction of Counter-Stories within the History of Mathematics

This paper utilizes poststructural theory to analyze student artifacts that were collected from a history of mathematics course. The course was designed to counter three types of mathematical narratives, relating to: 1) race, 2) intelligence, and 3) innateness. To address these narratives, the course highlighted the contributions of communities of color and other minoritized populations in the historical development of mathematics. It also explicitly challenged dominant constructions of mathematical history and problematized their use to further the power and privilege of particular groups. Analyses of student artifacts showed that this course provided space for students to defy innate intelligence racial narratives and strengthen their own counter-stories.
Corrective Proximal Humerus Osteotomy with Blade Plate Osteosynthesis in Adolescents: A Report of 2 Cases.

CASE Two cases are presented to highlight the indications, surgical technique, and early clinical outcomes associated with proximal humerus corrective osteotomy using a 90° cannulated blade plate in adolescent patients. CONCLUSION A complex deformity of the proximal humerus in the adolescent patient poses an uncommon yet debilitating clinical condition that is challenging to manage. We report a unique method for surgical correction and fixation using an infant hip osteotomy 90° blade plate that restores native shoulder anatomy, improves function, and has led to early clinical success.
Kinetics of chylomicron triglyceride removal from plasma in rats. The effect of diet.

1. 1. The effect of diet upon the kinetics of chylomicron triglyceride removal was studied using an experimental method which allows measurements to be made under optimal physiological conditions. 2. 2. Two groups of rats were fed diets high in carbohydrate or high in fat for 14 days. Another group was fed a standard laboratory chow and fasted 18–20 h before the experiments. From the disappearance of 14C following the end of a 20-min infusion of labeled chylomicrons (0.30–0.35 mg total lipid per min), the apparent half time of removal of chylomicron triglyceride was estimated to be 2.9 ± 0.22 min in the fasted rats, 5.3 ± 0.35 min in the carbohydrate-fed rats, and 2.5 ± 0.39 min in the fat-fed rats. The significantly longer half-time (P < 0.001) found in the carbohydrate-fed rats suggests an impaired mechanism for removing chylomicron triglyceride in these rats.
Adapting tests for use in multiple languages and cultures

There is a growing interest in using tests constructed and validated for use in one language and culture in other languages and cultures. Sometimes these tests when adapted for use in a second language and culture can further research and meet informational needs, and other times, cross-cultural comparative studies can be carried out. But, whatever the purpose for the test adaptations, questions arise concerning the validity of inferences from these adapted tests. The purposes of this paper are (1) to consider several advantages and disadvantages of adapting tests from one language and culture to another, (2) to review several sources of error or invalidity associated with adapting tests and to suggest ways to reduce those errors, and (3) to consider test adaptation advances in one rapidly emerging area of social research – quality of life measures.
Client Counseling, Mediation, and Alternative Narratives of Dispute Resolution

This article examines how litigation and mediation have distinct narrative structures and what these narratives say about counseling clients about mediation. In the narrative of litigation, parties struggle against one another in order to convince a decision maker of the truth of "what happened." This struggle is about more than designating liability; it is about enabling the decision-maker to restore social order and vindicate morality. In contrast, the narrative of mediation does not call upon the mediator to designate "truth" or "right" and "wrong." Rather, the mediator acts to enable parties to overcome and transform conflict through collaboration. In the mediation narrative, parties do not struggle against one another, but all mediation participants - including the mediator herself - struggle collaboratively to overcome and transform conflict. A challenge for counseling clients about mediation is that the litigation narrative reflects deeply-held cultural norms about conflict resolution. This article argues that lawyers must confront and dislodge this underlying narrative of litigation in order to engage clients in a meaningful inquiry about mediation. The article concludes with concrete suggestions - a "toolkit" - for engaging clients in this kind of narrative reframing of their disputes.
Quantitative analysis of liver Golgi proteome in the cell cycle

During mitosis, the Golgi membranes in mammalian cells undergo a continuous disassembly process and generate mitotic fragments that are distributed into the daughter cells and reassembled into new Golgi after mitosis. This disassembly and reassembly process is critical for Golgi biogenesis during cell division, but the underlying molecular mechanism is poorly understood. In this study, we have recapitulated this process using an in vitro assay and analyzed the proteins that are associated with interphase and mitotic Golgi membranes using quantitative proteomics that combines the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification approach with OFFGEL isoelectric focusing separation and LC-MALDI-MS/MS. A total of 1,193 Golgi-associated proteins were identified and quantified. These included broad functional categories: Golgi structural proteins, Golgi resident enzymes, SNAREs, Rab GTPases, and secretory and cytoskeletal proteins. More importantly, the combination of the quantitative proteomic approach with Western blot analysis allowed us to unveil 86 proteins with significant changes in abundance under the mitotic condition compared to the interphase condition. Altogether, this systematic quantitative proteomic study revealed candidate proteins of the molecular machinery that controls the Golgi disassembly and reassembly processes in the cell cycle.
Using R as a Financial Calculator for Finance 101

Yan (2012) shows why we need an internet-connected financial calculator. This 2-page document could be served as an internet appendix. We could use R as a financial calculator for many functions, such as PV, FV, PV of annuity, to estimate effective rates, beta and more. I assume that a user has no knowledge about R. Within 20 minutes, including the time used to download and install R, a new user should be able to use this “calculator.”
Why the Fair Use Defense of Free Speech or Parody Under the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act Needs Judicial Review by the United States Supreme Court

This Article suggests the time is ripe for the United States Supreme Court to interpret the fair use defense of free speech or parody under the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (“ACPA”). The ACPA was enacted in 1999 to protect consumers from “cybersquatting,” or when a non-trademark holder registers a domain name of a trademark and attempts to: (1) sell the name either to the holder for a ransom or to the highest bidder; or (2) divert or confuse consumers. Although published decisions from the circuit courts interpreting the ACPA continue to explore the marriage of trademark protection with the First Amendment’s protections of domain names and websites as free speech, a conflicting criteria has emerged regarding when an alleged cybersquatter can successfully assert the fair use defense. For example, the Tenth Circuit’s standard is that it must be immediately apparent to anyone visiting a parodic website that it was not the trademark owner’s website. However, the Fourth Circuit’s criteria is whether the domain name at issue conveys two simultaneous, yet contradictory, messages: that it is the original and that it is not the original and is instead a parody. Such inconsistent criteria has the potential to render an alleged cybersquatter victorious in one circuit, yet liable in another circuit. This Article’s circuit-by-circuit analysis exposes the vast inconsistencies between the circuit courts’ decisions and argues that the United States Supreme Court should, by granting a petition for a writ of certiorari, articulate the standard for the ACPA’s fair use defense based upon free speech or parody.
Analytical prediction and numerical confirmation of deep focused microwave hyperthermia in a human head

By carefully selecting the electric field distribution around the entire surface of a human head, it is possible to generate a tightly-focused global power maximum at the deepest point within the brain. An analytic prediction of the optimum volume field distribution in a layered concentric head model is derived based on spherical harmonics, and a three-dimensional finite difference time domain (FDTD) computation using the corresponding source field for a discretized, MRI-based head model gives a very similar dissipated power distribution. This study demonstrates that microwave hyperthermia can be a feasible cancer treatment modality for tumors in the head, providing a well-resolved "hotspot" at depth without overheating any other healthy tissue.
Primiparous Red King Crab Paralithodes camtschaticus are Less Fecund than Multiparous Crab

ABSTRACT Incorporating fecundity into stock assessment models may improve stock assessment and management of Bristol Bay red king crab Paralithodes camtschaticus. To do this, the size—fecundity relationship for the population must be established, including variability due to female reproductive state. In 2012, egg clutches were collected from red king crab in Bristol Bay, AK, and individual fecundity was estimated. Best evidence suggests small females were primiparous (brooding first egg clutch), which provided the opportunity to compare estimated fecundity of primiparous and multiparous (brooding second or subsequent egg clutch) females. In the best-fit model, fecundity increased with female size and below 108.8 mm carapace length (CL) the slope of the size—fecundity relationship decreased by 27%.Multiparous females were 28%–30% more fecund than primiparous females of the same size. If managers incorporate fecundity into stock assessment models, the differences in fecundity between primiparous and multip...
Dioxin congener patterns in commercial catfish from the United States and the indication of mineral clays as the potential source

Since 1991 the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has conducted annual surveys of pesticide residues in foods under the Agricultural Marketing Service's Pesticide Data Program (PDP). To assess chemical residues in domestically marketed catfish products, 1479 catfish samples were collected during the 2008–2010 PDPs. A subset of 202 samples was analysed for 17 toxic polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs). The average pattern of the individual PCDD/F congener concentrations in the catfish was rather unique in that it had almost no measurable amounts of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), but all PCDDs were present. This pattern was more dominant in the domestically produced catfish products than in the imported products (China/Taiwan). Comparison of the pattern to known sources of PCDD/Fs showed strong similarities to the pattern of PCDD/Fs found in kaolin clays which have often been used as anti-caking agents in animal feeds. To investigate whether catfish feeds may be the source of the ...
Multiplicativity of Oriented Cycles

We complete the characterization of those oriented cycles C which have the property that the class of digraphs not homomorphic to C is closed under taking the (categorical) product. This is related to Hedetniemi?s conjecture on the chromatic number of the product of undirected graphs. Our main tool is a result concerning the existence of homomorphisms between oriented paths which preserve the initial and terminal vertices. This tool is used to prove that for those cycles C we are interested in, any two oriented paths not homomorphic to C have a common preimage also not homomorphic to C. This "common preimage theorem" implies the multiplicativity of our cycles.
Guggulsterone inhibits NF-κB and IκBα kinase activation, suppresses expression of anti-apoptotic gene products, and enhances apoptosis

Guggulsterone, derived from Commiphora mukul and used to treat obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, and osteoarthritis, has been recently shown to antagonize the farnesoid X receptor and decrease the expression of bile acid-activated genes. Because activation of NF-κB has been closely linked with inflammatory diseases affected by guggulsterone, we postulated that it must modulate NF-κB activation. In the present study, we tested this hypothesis by investigating the effect of this steroid on the activation of NF-κB induced by inflammatory agents and carcinogens. Guggulsterone suppressed DNA binding of NF-κB induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF), phorbol ester, okadaic acid, cigarette smoke condensate, hydrogen peroxide, and interleukin-1. NF-κB activation was not cell type-specific, because both epithelial and leukemia cells were inhibited. Guggulsterone also suppressed constitutive NF-κB activation expressed in most tumor cells. Through inhibition of IκB kinase activation, this steroid blocked IκBα phosphorylation and degradation, thus suppressing p65 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation. NF-κB-dependent reporter gene transcription induced by TNF, TNFR1, TRADD, TRAF2, NIK, and IKK was also blocked by guggulsterone but without affecting p65-mediated gene transcription. In addition, guggulsterone decreased the expression of gene products involved in anti-apoptosis (IAP1, xIAP, Bfl-1/A1, Bcl-2, cFLIP, and survivin), proliferation (cyclin D1 and c-Myc), and metastasis (MMP-9, COX-2, and VEGF); this correlated with enhancement of apoptosis induced by TNF and chemotherapeutic agents. Overall, our results indicate that guggulsterone suppresses NF-κB and NF-κB-regulated gene products, which may explain its anti-inflammatory activities.
Customer-facing communication

Delivering customer-facing support begins with good communication. Communicating technology information such as scheduled maintenance, current outages, software updates notifications, rollouts, changes to systems, etc. to students, faculty, and staff is a challenge to University IT departments. Providing first-class customer-facing communication consists of being "on message", using customer-friendly word smithing, providing consistent content, and creating a variety of communication venues. Information Technology Services (ITS) at the University of North Florida appointed a Communications Coordinator to facilitate their client service efforts. This person drafts and proofs IT communication sent to the campus community, maintains the IT web pages, coordinates departmental presentations for new employee orientations, and updates IT entries in University catalogs and handbooks. There efforts have provided the University community with consistent, clear, and reliable information that is obtainable from a variety of venues. Users receive prior notice of scheduled maintenance written for the non-technical. The ITS web page was redesigned so constituencies can locate information tailored to them. It includes a highly visible network and systems status bar that identifies current outages and upcoming maintenance. ITS created telephone distribution groups using the phone system's software, which enables the communication of a voice message in the event network services are not available. Their customer-facing communication efforts have lead to improved satisfaction with clients and other technical staff.
Low BTU Gas Monetisation Technology Commercial Evaluation

Natural gas is normally composed of three types of group components; i.e., hydrocarbons, inert and sour components. The natural gas hydrocarbon component consists of light straight chain hydrocarbons; i.e., methane, ethane, propane, butanes, pentane, etc. The inert component consists of nitrogen and water vapors whereas the sour component normally consists of carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), mercaptans, carbonyl sulfide, etc. The inert and sour components need to be removed to control the high heating value (HHV) of sales gas to a minimum of 930 BTU/SCF to meet the desired fuel gas specification and to keep sour gas content to a permissible limit in terms of health and safety regulations. Gas purification and treatment technologies are required for removing the inert and sour gas components. Normally, a gas containing more than 20 mol% inert and sour gases is termed a sub quality natural gas (SQNG). This type of gas is normally a clean gas with less heavy hydrocarbon components and has a lower heating value. The inert and sour components need to be removed to meet the sales gas and fuel gas specifications. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has various undeveloped low BTU gas fields with significant gas reserves in the southern and northern part. Low BTU or “trash” gas monetization is required to meet the Kingdom’s growing future gas demand, minimize crude oil burning and spare crude oil for export. The Saudi Aramco Gas Operation department is responsible for future gas development as well as the operation and optimization of the existing gas plants. Due to the growth in energy demand in the kingdom, Saudi Aramco is considering and evaluating whether it should develop low BTU gases. In this regard, Saudi Aramco has undertaken several initiatives and carried out many technical and commercial studies to develop and monetize gas resources.
Effect of roentgen-ray irradiation from a modern dental x-ray unit on the red and white blood cell count and on growth in the rat

During the past decade there has been increasing interest in the potentially harm ful effect of too frequent exposure to roentgen rays. T he dental profession has been specifically implicated by some workers since many members of the pro­ fession advocate yearly roentgen-ray ex­ amination. The num ber of dental roentgenograms taken by American dentists in the course of a year is enormous. I t has been esti­ m ated tha t during the week of April 16 to 22, 1950, 1,600,000 roentgenograms were taken .1 T he problem is complicated by the increased exposure of the body to roentgen-ray radiation as a result of atomic and hydrogen bomb tests. Taken collectively, some geneticists2 have ex­ pressed concern tha t the benefits derived through dental use of roentgen rays are not compensated for by the harm ful ef­ fects which will result to further genera­ tions. However, recent evidence by Budowsky and others3 has indicated that no significant hematologic changes of clinical importance were noted between findings before and after exposure to a full m outh roentgenographic exam ina­ tion consisting of 14 periapical roent­ genograms. In order to gain more knowledge specifically concerning the effects of roentgen-ray irradiation produced by a dental x-ray unit, a study of the total red and white blood cells of rats before and after exposure to roentgen rays was con­ ducted. This prelim inary work involved a study of the effects of irradiation on growth and on the red and white blood cells of the rat, since changes in the blood pictures are known to occur with as small an am ount of radiation as 5 r ,4 and thus may be considered a sensitive indicator of radiation.
Transport in Rectangular Quadrupole Channels

Multiple electrostatic quadrupole arrays can be produced in many different geometries. However, the fabrication process can be considerably simplified if the poles are rectangular. This is especially true for millimeter sized channels. This paper presents the results of a series of measurements comparing the space charge limits in cylindrical and rectangular quadrupole channels.
Use of low-cost 3-D images in teaching gross anatomy.

With advances in computer technology, it has become possible to create three-dimensional (3-D) images of anatomical structures for use in teaching gross anatomy. In this study, 91 volunteer first-year medical students completed a survey about their attitudes towards the use of 3-D images in their anatomy course. Sample computer-generated wire-frame images were videotaped and shown to 65 of the students, who evaluated their clarity and usefulness. In general, students recommended that 3-D images be used but that wire-frame ones may not be sufficiently clear to adequately show the shape of anatomical structures. Students seeing the images after a 3-week laboratory involving gross dissection of cadavers reported clearer mental images than students seeing the images before the lab or who completed the lab without seeing the images.
Wearable joystick for gloves-on human/computer interaction

In this paper, we present preliminary work on a novel wearable joystick for gloves-on human/computer interaction in hazardous environments. Interacting with traditional input devices can be clumsy and inconvenient for the operator in hazardous environments due to the bulkiness of multiple system components and troublesome wires. During a collapsed structure search, for example, protective clothing, uneven footing, and "snag" points in the environment can render traditional input devices impractical. Wearable computing has been studied by various researchers to increase the portability of devices and to improve the proprioceptive sense of the wearer's intentions. Specifically, glove-like input devices to recognize hand gestures have been developed for general-purpose applications. But, regardless of their performance, prior gloves have been fragile and cumbersome to use in rough environments. In this paper, we present a new wearable joystick to remove the wires from a simple, two-degree of freedom glove interface. Thus, we develop a wearable joystick that is low cost, durable and robust, and wire-free at the glove. In order to evaluate the wearable joystick, we take into consideration two metrics during operator tests of a commercial robot: task completion time and path tortuosity. We employ fractal analysis to measure path tortuosity. Preliminary user test results are presented that compare the performance of both a wearable joystick and a traditional joystick.
Harmony as Performance: The Turbulence Under Chinese Interpersonal Communication:

This article explores how `social harmony' as cultural performance, is conducted by Chinese in their conversation at the surface level, with turbulence and manipulation concealed beneath superficial politeness. Although their more collective cultural orientation may lead them to greater cooperation and less confrontation, Chinese also develop artfully crafted messages to communicate competition and frustration. Selected discourse samples collected in Taiwan were analyzed in depth to show how social harmony may become a matter of external display, constructed, enacted and negotiated through participants' verbal exchanges in their moment-to-moment interaction. It is concluded that superficial harmony allows the extensive web of interpersonal connections and hierarchical positioning to be maintained with minimal discord, while at the same time concealing underlying aggressiveness and ulterior motives.
Cyclooxygenase-2 expression correlates with diminished survival in invasive breast cancer treated with mastectomy and radiotherapy

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the relationship between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and pathologic features and outcome in invasive breast cancer. Methods and materials Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor specimens from 23 women with invasive breast cancer were stained for COX-2 expression. All women underwent mastectomy and locoregional radiotherapy. The distribution (percentage of positive staining cells) and intensity of COX-2 expression within the tumor cells were compared with clinical factors, including stage, grade, lymph node involvement, and outcome. Results For invasive breast cancer, the distribution and intensity of COX-2 tumor expression correlated significantly with diminished overall survival. The 5-year overall survival rate was 100% for patients with p = 0.044). The 5-year overall survival rate was 100% for patients with COX-2 intensity p = 0.018). The percentage and intensity of COX-2 expression also correlated significantly with disease-free survival. The percentage of cells expressing COX-2 was significantly greater in women p = 0.04). Conclusion Both the distribution and the intensity of COX-2 expression correlated significantly with disease-free and overall survival in patients with invasive breast cancer. Younger patients with invasive breast cancer may have a greater percentage of COX-2 expression in their tumors.
Somatostatin analogue phase I trials in neuroendocrine neoplasms

To further investigate the antineoplastic efficacy and safety of somatostatin analogues, 2 trials were performed. Octreotide, SMS 201-995 (Sandostatin), was escalated in doses ranging from 1 500 μg to 6 000 μg daily in 14 patients with carcinoid. Somatuline, (BIM 23014C, Angiopeptin, Lanreotide) was given in doses ranging from 2 250 μg to 9 000 μg daily to 13 neuroendocrine patients (6 carcinoid, 2 atypical carcinoid, 3 pancreatic islet cell and 2 small cell lung cancer patients). All patients successfully completed dose escalations without significant adverse effects and were evaluable for toxicity. The dose limiting side-effect of octreotide was the injection volume. No dose limiting adverse effects have been observed with somatuline. Carcinoid syndrome symptoms were better controlled with higher octreotide doses. Thirteen patients were evaluable for octreotide's antitumor efficacy with a partial response observed in 4 (31%), stable disease in 2 and progressive disease in 7 patients. Radiographic change...
Concurrent classification accuracy of the HIV dementia scale for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders in the CHARTER Cohort.

Background: The HIV Dementia Scale (HDS) was developed to screen for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND), but concerns have persisted regarding its substandard sensitivity. This study aimed to examine the classification accuracy of the HDS using raw and norm-based cut points and to evaluate the contribution of the HDS subtests to predicting HAND. Methods: A total of 1580 HIV-infected participants from 6 US sites completed the HDS, and a gold standard neuropsychological battery, on which 51% of participants were impaired. Results: Sensitivity and specificity to HAND using the standard raw HDS cut point were 24% and 92%, respectively. The raw HDS subtests of attention, recall, and psychomotor speed significantly contributed to classification of HAND, whereas visuomotor construction contributed the least. A modified raw cut point of 14 yielded sensitivity of 66% and specificity of 61%, with cross-validation. Using norms also significantly improved sensitivity to 69% with a concomitant reduction of specificity to 56%, whereas the positive predictive value declined from 75% to 62% and negative predictive value improved from 54% to 64%. The HDS showed similarly modest rates of sensitivity and specificity among subpopulations of individuals with minimal comorbidity and successful viral suppression. Conclusions: Findings indicate that while the HDS is a statistically significant predictor of HAND, particularly when adjusted for demographic factors, its relatively low diagnostic classification accuracy continues to hinder its clinical utility. A raw cut point of 14 greatly improved the sensitivity of the previously established raw cut score, but may be subject to ceiling effects, particularly on repeat assessments.
Development of a semi-automated method for quantification of MRI gray and white matter lesions in geriatric subjects

Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows for quantitative assessment of hyperintense foci, which are seen with aging and various diseases. These foci, considered to represent lesions, are important in the study of various psychiatric illnesses, including depression. Few quantitative measures have been developed for such research. The goal of the current study was to develop a reliable and efficient method for quantifying the volumes of gray and white matter lesions in MRI scans of the elderly. Interrater reliability was determined by repeat lesion measures on 16 scans. Semi-automated segmentation was performed that identified potential lesions, and then lesions were manually selected based upon detailed anatomic criteria. The lesion quantification procedure took between 25 and 45 min per scan. Reliability intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were 0.99 for both gray and white matter lesions. Volumetric results were found to be moderately correlated with previous lesion ratings (r-values between 0.37 and 0.62, P<0.0001). Among the 700 scans processed with this method, lesion volumes ranged from 0 to 7.3 ml for gray matter, and from 0.4 to 96.8 ml for white matter. Our method proved to be efficient and reliable for quantifying lesions in MRI scans of the elderly.
Mean M-subshell fluorescence yields at Z = 88, 90, 92, and 94

M x-ray —L x-ray coincidence measurements with high resolution, cooled Si(Li) x-ray detectors were made on transitions following the alpha decays of228Th,232U,238Pu, and244Cm, in order to determine the meanM-subshell fluorescence yields. The values obtained are:v4M=0.032±0.002, andv5M=0.024±0.002 atZ=88;v1M=0.038±0.003,v4M=0.042±0.002, andv5M=0.038±0.002 atZ=90;v1M=0.047±0.002,v4M=0.048±0.002, andv5M=0.044±0.002 atZ=92;v1M=0.066±0.002,v4M=0.062±0.002, andv5M=0.063±0.002 atZ=94. The quantityΩ1M +f12MΩ2M was measured as (56±10)×10−4, (62±12)×10−4, (99±18) ×10−4, and (93±15)×10−4 forZ=88, 90, 92, and 94, respectively, which agree well with the calculations of McGuire. The radiativeL1-L3 transition intensity was measured for the four atomic numbers and found to be consistently less than the calculations of Scofield by about 45 percent.
Opiates, opioid peptides and single neurones.

Abstract The use of electrophysiological techniques to study the mechanisms of action of opiates has three distinct advantages. In the first place, they measure directly the important functional parameter of the nervous system - the electrical activity of single neurones. Second, they have a high resolution in time which facilitates arguing from effect to cause. Third, they have a high resolution in space because single neurones, or single loci on the same neurone, can be examined selectively. The present review deals exclusively with recordings at the level of the single neurone.
SOME EXISTING CONSTRAINTS IN GREEN CONSTRUCTION EDUCATION

DOI: 10.14684/intertech.13.2014.8-10 The impact of construction industry on the economy is immense. In recent years the demands for green materials and overall sustainability to achieve high quality and healthy structures have increased. Part of this demand is due to the very own nature of the field of construction: clients pay for the construction of their individual and unique projects, and thus, they demand better quality, lower costs, and more sustainability of the projects. However, undoubtedly there are existing challenges and constrains in the quest. This article encapsulates some of these constraints and discusses some remedial actions. Bringing real-world practical experience into classrooms by faculty would be exceptionally valuable to the students, the departments, and the institutions of higher education by attracting more students. Some different but practical methods of achieving such practical experience is gained through project-based practical work experience, consulting, continuing education, seminars, workshops, and industry-supported projects. Index Terms - green construction education, project-based education, real-world practical experience, sustainability.
TigerBites: an assistive notification system for local dining

This work proposes an automated notification system that allows the user to select their favorite dining items and sends a message to the user via email when a i£ifavoritedi£i item is being served at a nearby dining location [and/or when a similar item is available]. The system is tested in Princeton, NJ and designed for student users, where Princetoni£is four residential college dining halls, the graduate college dining hall, and the Center for Jewish Life, are considered the nearby dining locations. Under CAS authentication, a user can add past and presently displayed dining items to the user list of favorites by clicking a plus sign beside the item when logged in. There will be several interfaces from which users can select favorites. The default presents a list of locations. By selecting a location, a user can expand the breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus for the current day. The search interface presents a search bar with features including search filters and similarity suggestions. In addition to modifying favorited dining items, a user can submit suggestion letters to the dining locations under their CAS login. A user will be able to access the suggestion box by clicking on a link to it from the main page.
Determination of optimal continuous positive airway pressure for the treatment of IRDS by measurement of esophageal pressure.

We describe a simple and reliable method to determine optimal airway pressure in infants with idiopathic respiratory distress syndrome who require continuous positive airway pressure treatment. Esophageal pressure was monitored in ten infants with IRDS during initial application of CPAP . As the level of CPAP was increased in 2 cm H 2 O increments, changes in Pes were compared with changes in Pa O 2 Below optimal airway pressure, Pes as well as Pa O 2 increased insignificantly. When optimal airway pressure (8.1±0.8 cm H 2 O) was applied, there was a marked increase in Pes (3.6±0.8 cm H 2 O p O 2 (39.0±10.0 mm Hg, p O 2 decreased slightly and Pa CO 2 increased. Less than optimal CPAP increases F IO 2 requirements and may increase the associated risk of bronchopulmonary dysplasia, while excessive levels of CPAP may increase the risk of pneumothorax. We suggest that esophageal pressure be monitored routinely to determine the optimal level of CPAP for each infant during the initial application of therapy.
Electron microscopic observations and acid phosphatase activity in the ischemic rat heart.

Whole-heart ischemia was induced in isolated working rat hearts developing 75 to 90 mm Hg peak systolic pressures A decline in peak systolic pressure to 30 mm Hg was chosen to represent ventricular failure. For light and electron microscopy, hearts were fixed after pressure development had decreased to 60 mm Hg and also 12 to 24 min after ventricular failure and compared to control hearts with normal coronary perfusion. Lysosomal activity was assessed using the Gomori reaction for the demonstration of acid phosphatase. Twenty-four minutes after ventricular failure hearts showed a loss of glycogen stores, fragmentation of sarcomeres at the I band, disrupted sarcoplasmic reticulum and transverse tubules, vacuolization and decrease in matrix density of mitochondria, and separation of the intercalated disc at the level of the gap junctions. At 12 min the changes were more subtle. Ultrastructurally hearts appeared normal when fixed at peak systolic pressures of 60 mm Hg. The Gomori reaction for the demonstration of acid phosphatase showed only occasional deposits of reaction product in association with residual bodies and primary lysosomes in the nuclear pole zone of myocardial cells from control hearts and hearts fixed at 60 mm Hg. Hearts examined 12 min after ventricular failure showed an increase in electron opaque precipitate in association with residual bodies, vesicular structures, and the Golgi apparatus. At 24 min after ventricular failure the localization of acid phosphatase was not as intense.
Performance benchmarks and cost sharing models for B2B supply chain information systems

In this paper, we propose a set of standard benchmarks for evaluating B2B supply chain information systems. The supply chain management systems that we focus on communicate between collaborating partners via the Internet using such languages as the extensible markup language. We divide the benchmarks into three distinct categories: benchmarks to study the performance of querying a partner's data, modifying a partner's data, transmitting large amounts of data between partners. We propose a model for estimating the data‐communication and computation times incurred by the B2B information system using the above benchmarks. In addition, we discuss an algorithm for equitable sharing of the costs of a virtual private network by the partners. We present numerical examples to describe an actual application of the above models.
Circle-Valued Nonlinear Diffusions with Application to Texture Segmentation

We introduce a novel nonlinear diffusion equation for images defined on an arbitrary graph and taking values on a circle. We use this nonlinear diffusion to develop an effective segmentation algorithm for such images. We apply this algorithm to segmenting texture images based on the orientation feature defined as the angle of the gradient.
Environmental temperature and the body fluid system of the fresh-water teleost— II. Ionic regulation in rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri, following abrupt thermal shock

Abstract 1. 1. The effects of acute (+10°C, −10.5°C) and moderate (+5°C, −6°C) temperature shock upon ionic and osmotic regulation have been investigated in rainbow trout previously acclimated to 11°C. 2. 2. Several common features, i.e. initial decreases in plasma sodium and chloride levels, a decline in tissue water content and expansion of extracellular fluid volume, suggest that the response of the animals is, in part, generalized in character and independent of both the direction and magnitude of the temperature change. 3. 3. Differences in the effects of temperature upon tissue electrolyte content and the sequence of fluid shifts indicate that specific effects of heat and cold shock are superimposed upon the general response. 4. 4. Hypotheses accounting for the shock effect are discussed, as is the bearing of the data upon modes of assessing rates of thermal acclimation.
Preparing for new MISO Ancillary-Service Market: FirstEnergy perspectives

Beginning June 1, 2008, the Midwest ISO (MISO) is scheduled to implement an ancillary service market (ASM). The market design has been in progress for the previous two years with the completion of the ASM market rules and tariff filing in February, 2007.
Interfacial Interactions in Silica Reinforced Silicones

The study of the type and strength of the filler-polymer linkages is of great importance in understanding the reinforcement of elastomers. Silicone rubbers are weak elastomers and the addition of reinforcing fillers is essential in order to obtain useful, strong materials. The best reinforcing filler for these elastomers are fumed silicas. These fillers, like reinforcing carbon blacks, have very complex structures. Both have fractal characteristics, small particles fused together forming open aggregates that can cluster by physical forces. Silicas have sometimes more complex structures than carbon blacks, but have a better understood surface chemistry. Interactions between polydimethylsiloxanes and silica surfaces have been studied using heat of adsorption measurements of mostly low molecular weight analogs or inferring the strength of the adsorption by the shift of particular peaks in the infrared spectrum [1]. Here we will present a new technique that measures directly the strength of the adsorption of the polymer segments onto glass and between themselves. It also allows for comparison of the strength of such bonds with the strength of a polymer entanglement “link”.
Sequential mass spectrometry applied to the study of the formation of “internal” fragment ions of protonated peptides

Abstract “Internal” fragment ions of protonated peptides arise by charge retention on a portion of the structure excised from the peptide chain. Their formation appears to be favored by the extented time scale and multiple collision conditions associated with decomposition experiments which use the r.f.-only quadrupole of a hybrid sector/quadrupole mass spectrometer. Sequential product ion scanning and reaction intermediate scanning techniques of MS—MS—MS were used to probe these necessarily multistep fragmentations. With an instrument of BEqQ geometry, mass-analyzed ion kinetic energy spectrometry analyses were used to determine the population of candidate intermediates available for subsequent decomposition to internal fragments in the r.f.-only quadrupole. Reaction intermediate scanning then indicates the relative quantitative significance of competing pathways. In the examples studied, certain Y″-type ions show a high inherent tendency to fragment further to give internal fragments, consistent with the formal equivalence of these intermediates to protonated truncated peptides. Internal fragments can also arise, however, through a number of multistep pathways which can predominate in situations where the requisite intermediates are formed in high abundance.
Anterior PAR proteins function during cytokinesis and maintain DYN‐1 at the cleavage furrow in Caenorhabditis elegans

PAR proteins are key regulators of cellular polarity and have links to the endocytic machinery and the actin cytoskeleton. Our data suggest a unique role for PAR proteins in cytokinesis. We have found that at the onset of cytokinesis, anterior PAR-6 and posterior PAR-2 proteins are redistributed to the furrow membrane in a temporal and spatial manner. PAR-6 and PAR-2 localize to the furrow membrane during ingression but PAR-2-GFP is distinct in that it is excluded from the extreme tip of the furrow. Once the midbody has formed, PAR-2-GFP becomes restricted to the midbody region (the midbody plus the membrane flanking it). Depletion of both anterior PAR proteins, PAR-3 and PAR-6, led to an increase in multinucleate embryos, suggesting that the anterior PAR proteins are necessary during cytokinesis and that PAR-3 and PAR-6 function in cytokinesis may be partially redundant. Lastly, anterior PAR proteins play a role in the maintenance of DYN-1 in the cleavage furrow. Our data indicate that the PAR proteins are involved in the events that occur during cytokinesis and may play a role in promoting the membrane trafficking and remodeling events that occur during this time.