cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Providing Subscale Scores for Diagnostic Information: A Case Study When the Test is Essentially Unidimensional

Although reliability of subscale scores may be suspect, subscale scores are the most common type of diagnostic information included in student score reports. This research compared methods for augmenting the reliability of subscale scores for an 8th-grade mathematics assessment. Yen's Objective Performance Index, Wainer et al.'s augmented scores, and scores based on multidimensional item response theory (IRT) models were compared and found to improve the precision of the subscale scores. However, the augmented subscale scores were found to be more highly correlated and less variable than unaugmented scores. The meaningfulness of reporting such augmented scores as well as the implications for validity and test development are discussed.
Abstract 4602: Effect of estrogen receptor antagonistic drugs on expression and regulation of fatty acid synthase (FAS) in ER+ breast cancer cell lines

Expression of estrogen receptor (ER) is detected in more than sixty percent of breast tumors. High levels of Fatty acid synthase (FAS) have been detected in aggressive breast cancers. Due to its high level of expression, FAS has been considered as a tumor marker and a therapeutic target. In normal rat liver, increase in expression of FAS requires glucose and a combination of hormones. Activity of FAS is indirectly regulated by the upstream signaling factor AMPK. AMPK is considered to be the main regulator of cellular metabolism. Upon activation, AMPK down regulates FAS activity and other ATP consuming pathways. In this study, we investigated the possible regulatory role of estrogen receptor (ER) signaling on FAS level and activity. In a panel of ER+ cell lines, very high levels of FAS expression was observed in the majority of the cell lines. The highest levels of FAS were in the ER+/HER2+ cell lines, HCC1419, BT474 and MDA-MB-361, respectively. However, in two other ER+/HER2+ cell lines, UACC732 and UACC812, the expression was similar to or even lower than the HER2 negative cell lines. Three HER2 negative cell lines in the panel also showed very high levels of FAS expression. Upon incubation of the cells in the absence of serum and phenol red condition, a general decrease in the FAS levels was observed that was more evident in HER2 negative cell lines. In the same condition, the effects of ER inhibitory drugs, fulvestrant and tamoxifen, on FAS and p-AMPKα levels were investigated. In ER+ cell lines that contain high levels of p-AKT, ER inhibitors did not affect levels of FAS and p-AMPKα. However, in some cell lines with lower levels of active AKT, tamoxifen and fulvestrant induced changes in FAS and p-AMPKα levels that were variable from cell line to cell line. In MCF-7 cell line, which is highly sensitive to ER inhibitors, both tamoxifen and fulvestrant induced lower FAS and higher p-AMPKα levels. Contrary to this observation, tamoxifen induced higher FAS and lower p-AMPKα levels in T-47D and KPL-1 cell lines. Fulvestrant induced a similar effect in ZR-75-1 cell line. This inducing effect of ER antagonists on FAS perhaps reflects one of the mechanisms that cause the elevation of blood lipids in post menopausal and tamoxifen treated women. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4602.
Adenosine interactions with thyroid adenylate cyclase

Abstract Adenosine and certain adenosine analogues inhibit beef thyroid membrane adenylate cyclase. The inhibition has a rapid onset, is not directly on the catalytic or nucleotide regulatory sites, occurs with all activators tested (ITP, Gpp(NH)p, TSH, and F−), and is seen also in mouse and human thyroid membranes. Addition of manganous ion, which activates adenylate cyclase, markedly enhances the inhibition by adenosine analogues. The order of potencies is: 2′,5′-dideoxyadenosine > 5′-deoxyadenosine > 2′-deoxy-3′-phosphoadenosine > 2′-deoxyadenosine > adenosine > adeninexyloside > adenine arabinoside. Purinemodified analogues are either inactive or stimulate slightly at high concentrations. This chemical specificity, the Mn2+ requirement, and the lack of reversal by theophylline, suggest that these membranes have little “R” site activity (stringent for the ribose moiety) and primarily contain a “P” site that has stringent purine requirement but permits changes in the ribose moiety. This site appears to be associated with the catalytic unit since it persists in solubilized adenylate cyclase.
A natural, tiered and executable UIDL for 3D user interfaces based on Concept-Oriented Design

3D User Interface (3DUI) design and development requires practitioners (designers and developers) to represent their ideas in representations designed for machine execution rather than natural representations, hampering development of effective 3DUIs. As such, Concept-Oriented Design (COD) was created as a theory of software development for both natural and executable design and development. Instantiated in the toolkit Chasm, Chasm is a natural, tiered, executable User Interface Description Language (UIDL) for 3DUIs resulting in improved understandability, as well as reduced complexity and reuse. Chasm's utility is shown through evaluations by domain experts, case studies of long-term use, and an analysis of spaces.
Protective effect of selenium on hemoglobin mediated lipid peroxidation in vivo

The toxicity of hemoglobin (Hb) solutions is related, at least in part, to the generation of oxygen free radicals with consequent induction of lipid peroxidation. The present study was designed to examine whether selenium (Se) may prevent the oxidative damage observed after Hb administration. Three groups of rats were compared; (I) the negative control group receiving autotransfusion; (II) the positive control group with replacement of 40% total blood volume (TBV) with modified bovine Hb solution; and (III) the experimental group which received dietary supplemented selenium (Na2SeO3) in daily doses of 5 μg·kg body wt-1 in drinking water, 4 days before and 3 days after administration of Hb solution in the same volume as in group II. Three days after Hb injection, all animals were sacrificed. Oxidative stress was determined by measuring conjugated dienes (CD) and thiobarbituric acid reactants (MDA) in homogenates of the perfused liver, heart, lungs, kidney, brain and plasma. Additionally, the 45k x g supern...
Phylogeny of rodentia (Mammalia) inferred from the nuclear-encoded gene IRBP.

The order Rodentia includes nearly half of all living mammalian species. Phylogenetic relationships among 22 species of rodents were investigated by use of a 1.2-kb region from exon 1 of the single-copy nuclear gene IRBP. IRBP has been extensively used for study of interordinal phylogeny in mammals, which allowed inclusion of 50 outgroup species, representing every eutherian order plus seven marsupials. Several clades were strongly supported, regardless of analytical method or inclusion/exclusion of data. These include a monophyletic Muroidea, with a clade including Spalax and Rhizomys as the first divergence; a clade uniting Zapus with Dipus, but excluding Sicista; a monophyletic Myodonta (Muroidea plus Dipodidae); and a clade including Aplodontidae as sister to Sciuridae. One bipartition, separating Hystricognathi and Geomyoidea from the remaining rodents, is strongly supported in all analyses that include third-position sites but almost completely absent from analyses that exclude third-position sites. A combination of nonstationary nucleotide composition and branch length effects may be causing all methods examined (including those using the LogDet distance) to support an incorrect conclusion when third-position sites are analyzed together with first- and second-position sites.
Nutrition and somatomedin. XIII. Usefulness of somatomedin-C in nutritional assessment

Abstract Malnutrition is common in hospitalized patients, but current measures of nutritional status are limited. Because levels of somatomedins are regulated by nutrition, the utility of somatomedin-C measurement in nutritional assessment was studied. Thirty-seven malnourished patients had measurement of somatomedin-C and conventional nutritional Indexes. In 28 patients seen before therapy, the somatomedin-C level was reduced (38 percent of normal) and was lower than the albumin level (66 percent, p
A family of parallel Runge-Kutta pairs

Abstract Increasing availability of parallel computers has recently spurred a substantial amount of research concerned with designing explicit Runge-Kutta methods to be implemented on such computers. Here, we discuss a family of methods that require fewer processors than methods presently available do, still achieving a similar speed-up. In particular, (5,6) and (6,7) pairs are derived, that require a minimum number of function evaluations on two and three processors, respectively.
Exploring the Forecasting Potential of Company Annual Reports

Previous research indicates that the narration disclosure in company annual reports can be used to assist in assessing the company's short-term financial prospects. However, not much effort has been made to systematically and automatically assess the predictive potential of such reports using text classification, information retrieval, and machine learning techniques. In this study, we built SVM-based predictive models with different feature selection methods from ten years of annual reports of 30 companies. We used feature selection methods to reduce the term space and studied the class-related vocabulary. Evaluation of predictive accuracy is performed with cross validation and t-test significance tests. We compare different models' performance and analyze misclassification rates by year and by industry. We identify the strengths and weaknesses of each model. Our results support the feasibility of automatically predicting next-year company financial performance from the current year's report. We suggest text features can be further studied to understand their roles as indicators of company's future performance. This research paves the way for large-scale automatic analysis of the relationship between annual reports and short-term performance, as well as the identification of interesting signals within annual reports.
Gay Fathers Expanding the Possibilities for Us All

Abstract This article describes a qualitative research study of 21 men who became fathers as openly gay men. The fathers were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire in a focus group format. The data were analyzed using grounded theory methodology. The narrative data depict the men's paths toward fatherhood. The themes elicited from their narratives suggested how gay men are changing traditional cultural norms for fathers, families, and masculinity. The authors propose that by degendering parenting, reconceptualizing family, and reworking masculine gender roles, gay fathers are expanding role norms in novel ways that may serve as alternative models for all families.
Progress on developing acoustic-infrared imaging NDE: studying motions in crack faces

In this paper, we present our progress in the CAREER project "Investigation of Hybrid Acoustic-Infrared NDE Imaging Mechanisms" supported by NSF Civil, Mechanical & Manufacturing Innovation Division, Sensors & Sensing Systems program directed by Dr. Shih-Chi Liu. The project ended in September, 2009. During the project, the PIs and her graduate students had investigated on several aspects of the innovative Sonic Infrared Imaging technology. Sonic Infrared Imaging is a novel technique which implements the concept of combining infrared (IR) sensing and imaging with pulsed (typically a fraction of a second) sonic/ultrasonic excitation. This technique has significant advantages over traditional NDE techniques as an effective, fast, and wide-area NDE method. The PI has studied the fundamental issues related to this technology, such as the non-linear vibration behavior induced in the target materials and structures through both experimental study and theoretical calculation.
Naturally Occurring Cyclic Peptides and Their Potential Application in HIV Therapeutics

Abstract AIDS is a global pandemic. Despite the success of HAART, many HIV drugs exhibit suboptimal therapeutics due to low absorption and rapid drug efflux. These attributes allow uninhibited viral propagation, promote drug resistance, and increase the dosage required to achieve efficacy. Considerable efforts to increase drug bioavailability by developing efflux inhibitors have had limited success; thus, new strategies to improve cellular drug uptake are vital. Linear peptides play important roles in immune response, but their free N and C termini represent target points of attack by enzymes; therefore, the evolutionary advantages of cyclic proteins include reduced sensitivity to enzymes and enhanced structural stability. Cyclic peptides are commonly involved in host defense and some are exceptionally stable; features that increase their appeal in biomedical research. Cyclotides, plant-derived circular peptides, exhibit a range of bioactivities that may be regulated by membrane interactions, specifically...
Severe “Silent” Mitral Regurgitation: A Potentially Reversible Cause of Refractory Heart Failure

Hemodynamically critical ("severe") mitral regurgitation is usually associated with an audible (if not loud) systolic murmur and signs of left ventricular volume overload. However, "silent" severe mitral regurgitation is being increasingly recognized. We review the case histories of nine patients with silent hemodynamically important mitral regurgitation (associated with acute myocardial infarction and chronic valvular, hypertrophic, and ischemic heart disease), six of whom survived mitral valve replacement, of whom five are alive and functioning well more than three years postoperatively. Performance of left ventriculography early in the hospital course of patients with severe unexplained congestive heart failure (with normal or near-normal left ventricular systolic function assessed noninvasively) identifies patients with severe silent mitral regurgitation who may have long-term benefit from mechanical therapy.
Mapping the receptor domains critical for the binding selectivity of δ-opioid receptor ligands

Abstract While a good deal has been learned about determinants of high affinity ligand/receptor interactions in G-protein-coupled receptors, less is known about mechanisms of ligand selectivity. The opioid receptors offer an excellent opportunity to study the mechanisms whereby structurally very similar receptors discriminate between different but structurally highly related ligands. In the current study, we use a series of chimeric constructs between the δ-opioid receptor and either the μ- or the κ-opioid receptors to investigate the structural basis of binding selectivity of multiple classes of δ-opioid receptor selective ligands. Our results demonstrate that a region containing the sixth transmembrane domain (TM6) and the third extracellular loop (EL3) in the δ-opioid receptor is absolutely critical for δ-opioid receptor selectivity. The introduction of this region into the κ-opioid receptor is sufficient to impart a δ profile for δ-opioid receptor selective alkaloids such as naltrindole and naltriben. In order to locate the amino acid residues that may be involved in ligand selectivity in TM6 and EL3 of the δ-opioid receptor, several mutations were introduced into that region. These mutations showed differential effects on peptide and alkaloid ligands. In addition, none of the individual mutations alone could account for the changes exhibited by the chimeric receptors. We conclude that the selectivity of most δ-opioid ligands is achieved through their interaction with many different residues in the TM6/EL3 region. Our results also support a view that the extracellular domains of peptide receptors may provide the basis of a sorting mechanism for ligand selectivity.
Association between Social Isolation and Left Ventricular Mass

Abstract Background Social isolation is associated with progression of cardiovascular disease, with the most socially isolated patients being at increased risk. Increased left ventricular mass is a predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is not yet clear whether social isolation is a determinant of increased left ventricular mass. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study of Northern Manhattan Study participants who were free of clinical cardiovascular disease and had obtained transthoracic echocardiograms (n=2021) and a baseline questionnaire on social habits. Social isolation was defined as the lack of friendship networks (knowing fewer than 3 people well enough to visit within their homes). Echocardiographic left ventricular mass was indexed to height 2.7 , analyzed as a continuous variable and compared between exposure groups. Results The prevalence of social isolation was 13.5%. The average left ventricular mass was significantly higher (50.2 gm/m 2.7 ) in those who were, as compared with those who were not (47.6 gm/m 2.7 ), socially isolated ( P P =.09). Among Hispanics, social isolation was significantly associated with greater left ventricular mass. Hispanics who were socially isolated averaged 3.9 gm/ht 2.7 higher left ventricular mass compared with those not socially isolated ( P =.002). This relationship was not present among non-Hispanic blacks or whites. Conclusion In this urban tri-ethnic cohort, social isolation was prevalent and associated with indices of low socioeconomic status. Hispanics who were socially isolated had a greater risk for increased left ventricular mass.
Exploring the role of hope in job performance: Results from four studies.

According to Snyder's hope theory, high hope individuals possess more goal-related strategies and are more motivated to achieve their goals than their low hope counterparts. Therefore, we examined the relationship between hope and job performance using three different samples of employees of different job levels and industries. We found that more hopeful sales employees, mortgage brokers, and management executives had higher job performance, as measured a year later, even after controlling for their self-efficacy and cognitive ability. In a fourth study, we examined if more hopeful employees attempt to solve problems differently than do those with less hope. Higher hope management executives produced more and better quality solutions to a work-related problem, suggesting that hopefulness may help employees when they are confronted with problems and encounter obstacles at work. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Polyamines in the hemoflagellate, Leishmania donovani: evidence for spermine in the amastigote stage

Abstract 1. 1. Intracellular concentrations of putrescine, spermidine and spermine in Leishmania donovani were measured in (a) freshly isolated amastigotes, (b) cells permitted to transform for 6 hr and (c) transformed promastigotes. 2. 2. All three polyamines were found in freshly isolated amastigotes but spermine was not detected in promastigotes. 3. 3. Cells permitted to transform for 6 hr showed a drop in their spermine concentration although no visible cytodifferentiation had occurred by this time. 4. 4. Conversion of [ 14 C]ornithine to spermine was found in both amastigotes and 6 hr transformed cells but not in promastigotes; control preparations from uninfected spleen converted very small amounts of [ 14 C]ornithine to spermine. 5. 5. Putrescine levels in promastigotes increased more than 17-fold over that found in amastigotes. 6. 6. Ornithine decarboxylase activity was found in all stages. 7. 7. This is the first report of the presence of spermine in a hemoflagellate.
LOOSENING OF TRANSOSSEOUSLY PLACED ANTEBRACHIAL SCREWS IN TWO DOGS

Radius and ulna fractures in two dogs were repaired by application of a bone plate to the cranial surface of the radius. In both dogs, two screws were placed through the radius and into the ulna. Return of function and bone healing occurred as expected; however, return of lameness at 5 and 7 months postoperatively was attributed to loosening of the transosseous screws. The lameness resolved following implant removal. Loosening of only the transosseous screws could have resulted from the normal motion between the radius and ulna.
Transdermal Nicotine Replacement Therapy in Cigarette Smokers with Acute Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

We evaluated the safety of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) in active smokers with acute (aneurysmal) subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted in a prospectively collected database including all SAH patients admitted to an 18-bed neuro-ICU between January 1, 2001 and October 1, 2007. Univariate and multivariable models were constructed, employing stepwise logistic regression. The primary endpoint was 3-month mortality. Delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) due to vasospasm, angiographic and TCD evidence of vasospasm, and delirium were secondary endpoints. Active cigarette smokers admitted with SAH included 128 that received NRT and 106 that did not. Patients were well-matched for age, admission Hunt-Hess Grade, radiographic findings, and APACHE II scores, but those who received NRT were more likely to be heavy smokers (>10 cigarettes daily), diabetic, heavy alcohol users, and to have cerebral edema on admission. NRT was associated in multivariate analysis with a lower risk of death at 3 months (OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.04–0.37, P < 0.001). There were no differences in the frequency of DCI and most other medical complications, but delirium (19 vs. 9%, P = 0.006) and seizures (9 vs. 2%, P = 0.024) were more common in patients who received NRT. Despite vasoactive properties, administration of NRT among active smokers with acute SAH appeared to be safe, with similar rates of vasospasm and DCI, and a slightly higher rate of seizures. The association of NRT with lower mortality could be due to chance, to uncontrolled factors, or to a neuroprotective effect of nicotine in active smokers hospitalized with SAH, and should be tested prospectively.
Affiliation in rats under stress

Rats tested in a two-compartment shuttlebox with another rat tethered in one compartment showed strong preference for the compartment with the other rat. Rats given the same test with the addition of intermittent shocks showed no preference for the other rat. This result indicates that fear does not necessarily lead to affiliation in rats and that pain-produced aggression (shocked rats often fought) is not necessarily reinforcing.
Extreme Value Type III Distribution

The extreme value type 1 (EV 1) distribution is one of the most popularly used distributions for frequency analysis of extreme values of meteorologic or climatic and hydrologic variables, such as floods, rainfall, droughts, etc. This distribution was derived by Fisher and Tippett (1928) as a limiting form of the frequency distribution of the largest or smallest of a sample. In a series of papers Gumbel (1941a, b, 1942a, b, 1948) derived the EV1 distribution for flood flows and applied it to frequency analysis of floods, droughts, and meteorological data. Gumbel (1958) published a treatise on statistics of extremes, which contains a comprehensive treatment of EV1 distribution. Bardsley and Manly (1987) examined the transformations under which non-Gumbel distributions of annual flood flow maxima would converge to the Gumbel distribution. Smith (1986) presented a family of statistical distributions and estimators based on a fixed number (greater than one) of the largest annual events. Jenkinson (1955) found a general solution of the function equation derived by Fisher and Tippett (1928) for extreme values and showed that the Gumbel distribution was a special case of the general solution. Singh et al. (1986) derived this distribution using the principle of maximum entropy. Al-Mashidini et al. (1978) presented a simplified form of EV 1 distribution for flood estimation.
National trends in surgical procedures for hepatocellular carcinoma: 1998-2008

BACKGROUND: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rising, and the options for surgical therapy of HCC have evolved recently, but use of surgical therapy has not been characterized on a representative, nationwide basis. We quantified trends in use, mortality, and patient and hospital characteristics for 3 surgical therapies for HCC (resection, ablation, and transplantation) in the United States from 1998 to 2008. METHODS: Hospital discharge data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample were used to quantify procedure-related data for each year. Trends over time were summarized as the average annual percent change (AAPC) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: The number of surgical procedures for HCC increased from 1416 to 6769 (AAPC, 13.5%; 95% CI, 10.2%-16.8%). Volumes increased for all surgical procedures, most notably for ablation (AAPC, 17.3%; 95% CI, 6.6%-29.2%) and transplantation (AAPC, 20.9%; 95% CI, 14.1%-28.1%). When analyzed as a proportion of total procedures, there were declines in the relative use of major hepatectomy (35% to 16%; AAPC, −7.2%, 95% CI, −8.8% to −5.6%) and wedge resection (37% to 22%; AAPC, −4.8%; 95% CI, −6.2% to −3.4%), while the proportion accounted for by transplantation increased (16% to 35%; AAPC, 4.4%; 95% CI, 0.2%-8.9%). Inpatient mortality decreased for each procedure individually and overall from 7.3% to 4.6% (AAPC, −7.7%; 95% CI, −10.8% to −4.5%), despite increasing age and comorbidity burden. CONCLUSIONS: The use of surgical therapy for HCC has increased dramatically over the last decade, with a relative shift away from liver resection and toward liver transplantation. These therapeutic modalities must be better targeted to make the most appropriate use of limited health care resources. Cancer 2012;. © 2011 American Cancer Society.
Efficacy and safety of long-term prophylaxis in severe hemophilia A dogs following liver gene therapy using AAV vectors.

Developing adeno-associated viral (AAV)–mediated gene therapy for hemophilia A (HA) has been challenging due to the large size of the factor VIII (FVIII) complementary DNA and the concern for the development of inhibitory antibodies to FVIII in HA patients. Here, we perform a systematic study in HA dogs by delivering a canine FVIII (cFVIII) transgene either as a single chain or two chains in an AAV vector. An optimized cFVIII single chain delivered using AAV serotype 8 (AAV8) by peripheral vein injection resulted in a dose-response with sustained expression of FVIII up to 7% (n = 4). Five HA dogs administered two-chain delivery using either AAV8 or AAV9 via the portal vein expressed long-term, vector dose–dependent levels of FVIII activity (up to 10%). In the two-chain approach, circulating cFVIII antigen levels were more than fivefold higher than activity. Notably, no long-term immune response to FVIII was observed in any of the dogs (1/9 dogs had a transient inhibitor). Long-term follow-up of the dogs showed a remarkable reduction (>90%) of bleeding episodes in a combined total of 24 years of observation. These data demonstrate that both approaches are safe and achieve dose-dependent therapeutic levels of FVIII expression, which supports translational studies of AAV-mediated delivery for HA.
The enthalpy of formation of vanadium pentafluoride by fluorine bomb calorimetry

Abstract The energy of combustion of vanadium metal in fluorine to form VF 5 (g) was measured in a bomb calorimeter. The derived standard enthalpy of formation of gaseous VF 5 , ΔH f o (VF 5 ,g,298.15 K), is −(343.25 ± 0.20) kcal th mol −1 . Combination of this result with the enthalpy of vaporization of liquid VF 5 yields ΔH f o (VF 5 ,l,298.15 K) = −(354.25 ± 0.28) kcal th mol −1 .
Conversion of Glucose in Lactase-Hydrolyzed Whey Permeate to Fructose with Immobilized Glucose Isomerase

The maximum conversion of glucose to fructose in lactase-hydrolyzed whey permeate by glucose isomerase was approximately 52% at .1 g enzyme/ml substrate after 7 h incubation at 60 degrees C. Removal of minerals from the substrate was essential for enzyme activity. The dependence of the enzyme on Mg++ and Co++ for activity in the presence of high ash concentration was demonstrated. Optimum Mg++ and Co++ additions were 250 and 100 ppm, respectively. The isomerization reaction was enhanced more when both 100 ppm Mg++ and 50 ppm Co++ were added. Hydrolyzed isomerized lactose whey syrup with sweetness equivalent to sucrose was successfully produced through enzymatic isomerization of glucose in lactase-hydrolyzed whey permeate after supplementation with pure glucose. Fructose in hydrolyzed isomerized lactose whey syrup was effectively separated from other sugars by Dowex 1X8-200 anion exchange resin in the bisulfite form.
The coalescence of drops in liquid‐liquid fluidized beds

The coalescence rates of equisized drops of organic liquids fluidized by water under conditions of mutual saturation were studied. A drop-size separation technique permitted the direct count of the coalesced drops. Six organic liquids (benzene, cyclohexane, n-butylacetate, methyl isobutyl ketone, diisobutyl carbinol, and tetrahydrobenzaldehyde) were used, and the coalescence was in all cases total, that is, without formation of small satellite drops. A new hydrodynamic model is presented to calculate the parameters governing the drainage of liquid between two deformable drops in head-on collision. A parameter from this model permits correlation of the coalescence rates with only two arbitrary constants, provided the ratio of dispersed to continuous liquid viscosities lies between 0.5 and 2. High viscosity ratios or the presence of trace quantities of surfactant greatly depress the coalescence rate, while continued reuse of the dispersed liquid leads to a statistically significant reduction. The presence of a fog of very small droplets increases the coalescence rate.
Dose—Response Relationships of Clothianidin, Imidacloprid, and Thiamethoxam to Blissus occiduus (Hemiptera: Blissidae)

ABSTRACT The western chinch bug, Blissus occiduus Barber (Hemiptera: Blissidae), has emerged as a serious pest of buffalograss, Buchloe dactyloides (Nuttall) Engelmann. In general, neonicotinoid insecticides effectively control a variety of turfgrass insects, particularly phloem-feeding pests. However, because of well documented inconsistencies in control, these compounds are generally not recommended for chinch bugs. This study was designed to document the contact and systemic toxicity of three neonicotinoid insecticides (clothianidin, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam) to B. occiduus. In contact bioassays, thiamethoxam was ≈20-fold less toxic than clothianidin or imidacloprid to B. occiduus nymphs and three-fold more toxic to adults. In adult systemic bioassays, thiamethoxam was up to five-fold more toxic than clothianidin or imidacloprid. Interestingly, thiamethoxam was significantly more toxic to adults than to nymphs in both contact and systemic bioassays. This was not observed with clothianidin or imid...
The Pyrroloquinoline Quinone (PQQ) Coenzymes: A Case of Mistaken Identity

Recent evidence has failed to support the claim for a pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) cofactor in mammalian enzymes previously reported to have PQQ. The validity of the original analysis now has been questioned, and a second cofactor, topa quinone, has been identified in at least one enzyme.
Wavelength-selective all-optical switching in cascaded silicon micro-rings

We demonstrate all-optical modulation of individual resonances of a two-ring silicon microresonator switching fabric using Raman-induced loss. The number of unique output states for such a switching fabric scales exponentially with the number of signals.
A simple, quantitative method for titration of trypsin and trypsin-inhibitors.

SummaryA technically simple, rapid method for the quantitative titration of trypsin or similar proteolytic enzymes, and of protease inhibitors, suitable for critical tests on a large scale is described. The procedure utilizes technics familiar to serologists, rather than to skilled biochemists only, and gives definitive, reproducible results that can be expressed in simple figures. A feature is the provision for the making of a permanent record of each titration. Since the reagents are stable, and readily standardized, comparable findings can be obtained in separate experiments conducted in the same or in different laboratories at any time.The assistance of Mrs. David A. Cook with records and statistics is gratefully acknowledged.
147 LONG TERM MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS IN CARNITINE DEFICIENT CARDIOMYOPATHY

Systemic carnitine deficiency (SCD) can cause congestive cardiomyopathy (CCM) and dysrhythmia, with or without myopathy, hypoglycemia, and encephalopathy. In many cases, SCD is due to renal tubular loss (RTL) of carnitine esters. We studied 2 patients with SCD and CCM, treated for 4 and 2½ years with L-carnitine (C). Pre-Rx studies included: plasma C, 4.8 and 8.4 mcM (NL 35-55); muscle C, 30.0 and 82.1 nmol/gm (NL 2500-5000); LV ejection fraction (EF), 45% and 32%. Patient 1 had syncope with sinus node dysfunction; patient 2 had bradycardia with fasting. After 1 year of C at 50-75 mg/kg/d, muscle C was 1273 and 3103 nmol/gm, EF was 65% and 61%. LV wall and septal thickness were > 3 S.D. above mean. 24 hour fasts did not cause hypoglycemia or dysrhythmia, but mild ketonemia occurred. When C was withheld, RTL persisted and plasma C fell within 12 hours (12.7 and 23.3 mcM). Urine C remained high (663 mcM/L (NL 330 ± 30) despite low plasma C. In both patients, symptoms recur episodically. Patient 1 had worsening LVH with strain, bradycardia, and syncope after a pubertal growth spurt (plasma C 19.8 mcM). Patient 2 had pericardial effusion during febrile illness. Both had normal EF at these times. Both now take C, 150 mg/kg/d to maintain plasma C. SCD is a C dependent state, with increased RTL during growth and stress. Patients with SCD and normal EF may become symptomatic. Although EF may be corrected, syncope, dysrhythmias and other life-threatening complications can result when C doses fail to replace RTL.
Isoniazid Therapy of Primary Tuberculosis in Children

1 Isoniazid is effective in preventing tuberculous complications, thus minimizing the danger of primary tuberculosis. 2 Isoniazid is a remarkably effective agent for the treatment of all clinical forms of tuberculosis in children. 3 Since effective therapy is now available, every effort should be made to seek out the infected children by routine tuberculin testing so that they may receive the benefit of INH therapy in the early stage of the infection. Special attention should be given to children under 36 months of age because of the high mortality and morbidity rates of tuberculosis at this age period. 4 In countries where tuberculosis incidence is low and where BCG vaccine is not in general use, routine tuberculin testing of young children serves the dual-purpose of early treatment of primary tuberculosis in children and the detection of unrecognized tuberculosis in adults.
Regional science: Parallels from physics and chemistry

Against the background of the fruitful application of the gravitational force from physics in the development of the gravity model extensively employed in regional science, possible parallels from the analysis of the coplay of the four basic forces of particle physics are examined. In particular, the possible parallels from the analysis of the bondings of the strong force and the diverse ones of the electromagnetic force, and specifically how these parallels can replace the relatively outmoded set of concepts of scale, localization and urbanization economies for regional shopping center analysis and related urban structure theory are studied.
The application of the segmental plethysmograph to the measurement of blood flow through the limbs of human beings.

Abstract A simple, accurate method for the plethysmographic measurement of blood flow in the extremities of human subjects makes use of the “segmental plethysmograph,” which can be placed on moving subjects with recordings made immediately after movement. The system involves an air-filled cuff which can be wrapped around any portion of the extremity, and a sensitive, balanced volume transducer which can be readily and accurately calibrated against a standard volume increment. Direct comparisons of the present system and the classic waterfilled plethysmograph yield satisfactory results. The chief advantages of the present technic are simplicity of application and adaptability to moving subjects.
Effect of multi-adhesive layering on retention of extraoral maxillofacial silicone prostheses in vivo

Abstract Statement of problem Loss of retention of maxillofacial prostheses often makes the margin visible or the prosthesis dislodge. Using several medical adhesives in combination may improve retention. Purpose The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of single- and multi-adhesive layering of 2 adhesives on the retention of maxillofacial silicone elastomer strips adhered to the skin of human forearms using a peel test. Material and methods Power analysis from a previous study and a pilot trial specified at least 20 subjects. Eight Silastic Adhesive A/MDX4-4210 silicone rubber strips (N=240) were applied in a predetermined random order to the left and right ventral forearms of 30 IRB-approved human subjects. Skin-Prep Protective Dressing was applied. Secure2 Medical Adhesive (SMA) and Epithane-3 (E3) adhesive were used alone or as SMA/E3 or E3/SMA sandwiches (from skin to prosthesis) to adhere strips. Strips were peeled 6 hours later in a universal testing machine at 10 cm/min and data reported in N/m. Paired t tests were used to evaluate left and right arm differences. A Friedman test for nonparametric correlated data with within-subject design was performed, determining differences between both adhesives singly and in combination (α=.05). Results Tests of left-right differences were insignificant (P=0.43), so the data from both arms were combined. Many strips with E3 did not adhere before testing and were counted as 0 adhesion. Median peel strengths (and 25th and 75th percentiles) in N/m were: SMA = 76.1 (47.1-107), E3 = 6.75 (0.0-25.9), SMA/E3 = 107 (78.0-132), and E3/SMA= 19.6 (6.99-42.4). All 4 variables were significantly different (P Conclusion The multi-adhesive combination of SMA/E3 had the highest adhesion, followed, in order, by SMA alone, E3/ SMA, and E3 alone. Both E3 groups left a difficult-to-remove residue on the skin. SMA/E3 left a halo-like residue on the skin at the periphery of the strips from the E3 leaking around the SMA. SMA remained adherent to the prosthetic material.
CoMSIA and docking study of rhenium based estrogen receptor ligand analogs.

Abstract OPLS all atom force field parameters were developed in order to model a diverse set of novel rhenium based estrogen receptor ligands whose relative binding affinities (RBA) to the estrogen receptor alpha isoform (ERα) with respect to 17β-estradiol were available. The binding properties of these novel rhenium based organometallic complexes were studied with a combination of Comparative Molecular Similarity Indices Analysis (CoMSIA) and docking. A total of 29 estrogen receptor ligands consisting of 11 rhenium complexes and 18 organic ligands were docked inside the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of ERα utilizing the program Gold. The top ranked pose was used to construct CoMSIA models from a training set of 22 of the estrogen receptor ligands which were selected at random. In addition scoring functions from the docking runs and the polar volume (PV) were also studied to investigate their ability to predict RBA ERα. A partial least-squares analysis consisting of the CoMSIA steric, electrostatic and hydrophobic indices together with the polar volume proved sufficiently predictive having a correlation coefficient, r 2 , of 0.94 and a cross-validated correlation coefficient, q 2 , utilizing the leave-one-out method of 0.68. Analysis of the scoring functions from Gold showed particularly poor correlation to RBA ERα which did not improve when the rhenium complexes were extracted to leave the organic ligands. The combined CoMSIA and polar volume model ranked correctly the ligands in order of increasing RBA ERα, illustrating the utility of this method as a prescreening tool in the development of novel rhenium based estrogen receptor ligands.
Comparison of immediate and deferred colposcopy in a cervical screening program

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the effect of delaying colposcopy in women with negative Papanicolaou smears and positive speculoscopy results. Methods: This was a prospective study of asymptomatic women ages 13–60 years, regularly scheduled for pelvic examinations. All women had Papanicolaou smears and magnified visual examinations with speculoscopy. Women with negative Papanicolaou smears and positive speculoscopy results were quasirandomized to immediate or deferred colposcopy groups. Results: A total of 800 women completed all phases of the study, 124 of whom had negative Papanicolaou smears and positive speculoscopy results. Among 57 women who had immediate colposcopies, 64.9% had histologic evidence of neoplasia. Sixty-seven women had their scheduled colposcopies deferred for 6 months. During this period, 21% (14) were lost to follow-up and 29% (13) of those evaluated converted from speculoscopy positive to speculoscopy negative. Among the 32 (71%) women who remained speculoscopy positive, 90% were found to have histologic evidence of neoplasia on colposcopic biopsy. Conclusion: In women with normal Papanicolaou smears and positive speculoscopy results, the diagnostic yield can be improved by deferring colposcopy for 6 months. Deferral should be considered only for women who are reliable for follow-up.
Selenium mediated reduction of the toxicity expression of cigarette smoke condensate in Photobacterium phosphoreum.

Recently, attention has focused on the potential protective activity of selenium against heavy metal toxicity, cancer and other health disorders. Currently, cigarette smoke affects the health of more people than any other environmental pollutant. Producing cigarettes fortified with selenium has been proposed as a possible method to develop a safer tobacco product. Consequently, it would be informative to determine if the presence of selenium in cigarette smoke leads to increased or decreased toxicity. Luminescent assays have been developed for a wide variety of applications ranging from measuring enzyme activities to monitoring water purity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of selenium on the toxicity of cigarette smoke condensate using in vivo bacterial bioluminescence assays.
Integration Interrupted: The Impact of September 11, 2001

The economies of Canada and the United States, closely linked for many years, began a formal process of tighter integration with the Canada–United States Free Trade Agreement (1989) and North American Free Trade Agreement (1994). Due to the ease of border crossing, American and Canadian consumers took advantage of exchange rate variations to engage in cross-border shopping, implying a movement toward unified markets in the border regions. This process of integration was interrupted by tighter border controls after the terrorist attacks of 9/11. In this paper, we investigate the disruption of normal patterns of day tripping across the US-Canadian border. Using seasonally adjusted monthly data for the period 1994~2011, we show a robust relationship between the exchange rate and the flow of day trippers in each direction, implying cross-border shopping to be a major motive for day trippers. Using dummy variables to represent the security measures enacted in September 2001, and the stricter documentation required after January 2008, we show that both sets of measures significantly reduced cross-border trips and thickened the border.
Evaluating guided reflection: a US case study

This study examines the effects of guided reflection on thelearners’ ability to recall, explain and apply newly acquired principles of instructional design and to investigate their attitude toward the reflection. The results of the regression analysis revealed that the guided reflection had no significant impact on the learners’ posttest performance. Despite these results, eighty-three percent of the learners perceived a positive impact from the reflections on their ability to recall, understand and apply the covered principles. Continued research is needed to measure the presence and complexity of reflective thinking on learning principles of instructional design.
Effectiveness and safety of extended-duration prophylaxis for venous thromboembolism in major urologic oncology surgery.

Abstract Purpose To examine the association between extended-duration prophylaxis (EDP), low-molecular-weight heparin prophylaxis for 28 days after surgery for urologic cancer in patients at high risk of developing a venous thromboembolism (VTE), the risk of VTE, and the complications resulting from VTE prophylaxis. Materials and methods The cohort included 332 patients at high risk for VTE who were surgically treated for urologic cancer from June 2011 to June 2014. Adherence to VTE prophylaxis protocol, VTEs, and complications within 365 days from surgery were tracked. Patients were grouped as follows: (1) per protocol in-hospital prophylaxis with EDP ( n = 107), (2) per protocol in-hospital prophylaxis without EDP ( n = 42), (3) not per protocol in-hospital prophylaxis with EDP ( n = 83), and (4) not per protocol in-hospital prophylaxis without EDP ( n = 100). The risk of VTE was compared between the 4 groups using the Cox model, with adjustment for baseline risk factors. Results The rates of VTEs and median times to VTE were 7% and 58 days in group 1, 17% and 44 days in group 2, 17% and 46 days in group 3, and 21% and 15 days in group 4, respectively. Adjusted hazard ratios (HR) for VTE were HR = 0.27 (95% CI: 0.11–0.70) for groups 1 vs. 4; HR = 0.66 (95% CI: 0.25–1.60) for groups 2 vs. 4; and HR = 0.66 (95% CI: 0.29–1.26) for groups 3 vs. 4 with a trend of P = 0.002. The incidence of complications from VTE prophylaxis was not significantly different between the groups, with a rate of 8% in group 1, 17% in group 2, 6% in group 3, and 12% in group 4 ( P = 0.33). Conclusions In high-risk urologic cancer surgery patients, a clinical protocol, with perioperative and EDP, is safe and effective in reducing VTE events.
State boards of pharmacy regulation of the supervision of pharmacist interns.

Objectives. To compare the regulations of state boards of pharmacy for pharmacist intern supervision and review publications of service-learning experiences in pharmacy curricula for methods of supervision. Methods. Online state pharmacy statutes and board of pharmacy regulations were searched to characterize which states' regulations included provisions for the supervision of pharmacist interns, permitted nonpharmacist supervision for student volunteers, and included provisions on interns participating in the practice of pharmacy. Additionally, a PubMed search was conducted for articles describing the supervision of service-learning experiences of pharmacy students at various colleges and schools of pharmacy. Results. The state boards of pharmacy in all 51 jurisdictions included regulations for the supervision of pharmacist interns. Regulations specifically permitted only pharmacist supervision of interns in 45 (88%) jurisdictions, and 3 (6%) states included provisions allowing nonpharmacist supervision ...
TM scattering by an inhomogeneously filled aperture in a thick conducting plane

This paper deals with the electromagnetic characterisation of the transmission and scattering properties of an aperture in a thick conducting plane filled with an inhomogeneous composite material for transverse magnetic (TM) polarisation. Of particular interest in this analysis is the introduction of a new technique that combines the finite element and boundary integral methods. The conjugate gradient method and fast Fourier transform are also incorporated for the solution of the resulting system to allow the treatment of large apertures. Numerical examples are presented which demonstrate the validity, versatility and capability of the technique.