cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The use of magnetic resonance imaging to measure the local ultrafiltration rate in hemodialyzers

Abstract Hemodialyzers used for renal dialysis rely upon ultrafiltration to eliminate middle molecular-weight uremic solutes. It is valuable to measure the ultrafiltration rate locally to better understand dialyzer operation and to ensure there is no backfiltration of potential pyrogens into the patient’s blood stream. We used a magnetic resonance flow imaging method to measure the local variation of the ultrafiltration rate along the length of a SYNTRA·160 hemodialyzer. The technique uses magnetic resonance fourier velocity imaging (MRFVI) to determine the percentage of flow in different velocity ranges. From these velocity profiles we estimate the maximum flow velocity in the lumen of the dialyzer fibers. Assuming laminar flow with a parabolic flow profile we estimated the variation in the total volume flow rate at each location where images are made. The local ultrafiltration rate declined uniformly over the length of the dialyzer, and the total rate is in agreement with independent measurements of ultrafiltration rate using pure water.
Failure to induce weight gain with palatable diets in monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

Three diets popularly used to produce obesity in rodents were offered to male rhesus monkeys. A high fat diet (fat: 50% of calories) enhanced the daily caloric intake of the monkeys, but only slight and non-significant increases in body weight were observed over a period of six weeks. However, an increase in feeding efficiency was observed. Providing monkeys with an assorted, palatable supermarket diet failed to induce them to overeat. There were no changes in total caloric intake or in body weight. When the monkeys were supplemented with a bottle of 32% sucrose solution, in addition to a commercial monkey biscuit and tap water, a significant increase in caloric intake was observed, but no change in body weight occurred. Thus, palatable and calorically dense diets failed to induce sufficient increases in intake to produce change in body weight in non-human primates. Based on these results, only the high fat diet has greatest potential to produce obesity, and such obesity, if it occurs, will likely require long term experiments.
Finite Element Modeling of Mitral Valve Dynamic Deformation Using Patient-Specific Multi-Slices Computed Tomography Scans

The objective of this study was to develop a patient-specific finite element (FE) model of a human mitral valve. The geometry of the mitral valve was reconstructed from multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) scans at middle diastole with distinguishable mitral leaflet thickness, chordal origins, chordal insertion points, and papillary muscle locations. Mitral annulus and papillary muscle dynamic motions were also quantified from MSCT scans and prescribed as boundary conditions for the FE simulation. Material properties of the human mitral leaflet tissues were obtained from biaxial tests and characterized by an anisotropic hyperelastic material model. In vivo dynamic closing of the mitral valve was simulated. The closed shape of the mitral valve output from the simulation was similar to the mitral valve geometry reconstructed from MSCT images at middle systole. Forces from the anterolateral and posteromedial papillary muscle groups at middle systole were 4.51 N and 5.17 N, respectively. The average maximum principal stress of the midsection of the anterior mitral leaflet was approximately 160 kPa at the systolic peak. Results demonstrated that the developed FE model could closely replicate in vivo mitral valve dynamic motion during middle diastole and systole. This model may serve as a basis for utilizing computational simulations to obtain a better understanding of mitral valve mechanics, disease and surgical repair.
The Numerical Solution of the Dynamic Response of Helical Springs.

Abstract : An analysis was conducted during the period of November 1975 to May 1976 to determine the dynamic response of helical springs under axial impact with particular application to the return spring in the M60A2 tank recoil mechanism. The study was performed by the University of Illinois at Urbana, Illinois under the direction of the General Thomas J. Rodman Laboratory, Rock Island Arsenal. The dynamic behavior of the impacted spring is described by two coupled nonlinear partial differential equations. Two computer solutions to the equations are obtained by the methods of finite differences and nonlinear characteristics. Results of the two numerical techniques are compared with the closed form solution of the linear equations. The study indicates that frictional binding may occur between the spring coil diameter and the guide components which will result in failure to return to battery. (Author)
Metalorganic chemical vapor deposition of InGaAsN using dilute nitrogen trifluoride

Abstract The metalorganic chemical vapor deposition of In0.06Ga0.94As1−xNx, with x=0.00–0.02, has been examined using nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) and tertiarybutylarsine. The solid N/V ratio increased linearly with the gas-phase N/V ratio up to a limit of 2.0% nitrogen in the film at a gas N/V=0.35. No further increase in nitrogen content could be achieved at a growth temperature of 550 °C unless the feed rate of the group III sources was reduced. It was shown that NF3 addition to the reactor results in a growth rate decrease of 40% with increasing NF3 feed rate up to 3.0×10−4 mol/min (N/V=0.35). Further addition of NF3 did not affect the growth rate, but caused the surface roughness to rise rapidly from 0.1 to over 1.0 nm. Results presented in this paper indicate that the increased surface roughness may be due to fluorine etching of the adsorbed group III elements.
Water/Oil Emulsions Prepared by Low Pressure Capillary Homogenization I: Effects of Emulsator and Composition Variables on Mannide Mono-Oleate Stabilized Systems

An automated reciprocating capillary emulsator is described which duplicates the low-pressure homogenization principle of the interconnected glass syringe method used to prepare repository w/o emulsions. The w/o emulsions produced by this emulsator were evaluated by rotational viscometry and optical microscopy. Rheological flow curves of concentrated emulsions could be correlated with the extent of dispersion and degree of coalescence. Coalescence rates were found to be an inverse function of the surfactant concentration, with 20 per cent mannide mono-oleate furnishing the best relative stability for water-in-mineral oil emulsions. The rate of shear was found to govern the degree of emulsification, with a short capillary of large diameter producing the finest dispersion.
A technique for one-stage bilateral adrenalectomy in the rabbit.

REPORTS of total adrenalectomy in the rabbit are indeed few in number1. In general, bilateral adrenalectomy in this species has been accomplished in two stages and has been attended by high mortality. We have been impressed by the desire of many investigators to utilize the totally adrenalectomized rabbit in experimental studies and with the fact that this desire has often been frustrated because of technical difficulties following one-stage adrenalectomy. Most workers are able to remove the left adrenal with ease, but attempts to excise the right adrenal gland, even at the hands of a skilled surgeon, often result in fatal haemorrhage from the vena cava. This occurs because the capsule of the right adrenal is connected to the adventitia of the inferior vena cava in this species.
Fire signatures of spacecraft materials: Gases and particulates

Abstract The primary goal of this research is to create a database of fire signatures for practical spacecraft materials in a new combustion facility and to provide recommendations for the development of improved fire sensors for future space exploration. During a fire, foams and plastics can generate three types of residues: condensables, light gases, and particulates (soots). The residues were characterized by gas chromatography (GC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These analyses were performed as a function of oxygen occurrence, temperature, and convective flow direction relative to the normal gravitational vector. Among the four polymers studied in this work, forced convective flow direction has a great impact upon particulate yield. Variation of light gases with temperature and different atmospheres turn out to be more convoluted. Particulates can be used as fire signature for most of the materials; nevertheless no single species serves as a reliable indicator for any given material.
Architecture in Prehispanic Pueblo Archaeology: Examples from Chaco Canyon, New Mexico

Abstract Frequent mention is made of architecture in archaeological studies of the prehispanic Pueblos of the American South‐west and architectural remains form major data for these studies. Very few archaeologists in the Pueblo area, however, attempt to include architecture (as an artefact) in broader models of the culture and virtually none have mentioned or used works from architectural theory. Although the disciplines of archaeology and architecture overlap in their concern with understanding people‐environment relationships, architecture differs from archaeology in its focus on spatial organization and on the communicative aspects of the built environment. Brief examples from studies of the prehispanic architecture of Chaco Canyon, New Mexico, are here used to suggest that such architectural viewpoints may be useful in archaeological interpretation.
Psychological Perspective for a Theory of Behavior during Riots

In a riot situation some individuals actively participate in antisocial behavior, but others do not, and still others act to discourage hostile activity. Four concepts from general psychology including (1) insufficiency of internal control or lack of internalized restraints acquired through learning, (2) effects of frustration, (3) emotional excitement, and (4) precipitating incidents (one or more) are proposed as contributors to the behavioral involvement of participants. Some hypotheses and the role of such variables as emotional contagion, imitation, opportunism, and anonymity are discussed.
An infinite set of conservation laws for infinite symmetries

We consider partial differential equations of a variational problem admitting infinite-dimensional Lie symmetry algebras parameterized by arbitrary functions of dependent variables and their derivatives. We show that unlike differential systems with symmetry algebras parameterized by arbitrary functions of independent variables, these equations have infinite sets of essential conservation laws.
Continuity Control of b-Oriented MFI Zeolite Films by Microwave Synthesis

Influences of aging and crystallization conditions on the continuity of b-oriented MFI zeolite films on stainless steel substrates are systematically investigated. A long aging time (e.g., 20 h) at room temperature is needed to obtain a continuous b-oriented MFI zeolite film by the microwave heating at 165 °C. However, the aging time can be shortened from 20 h to 30 min by elevating the aging temperature to 80 °C. Compared with the conventional heating (2 h), continuous b-oriented MFI zeolite films are prepared on stainless steel substrates with a much shorter crystallization time by the microwave heating (35 min). Continuous b-oriented MFI zeolite films can be synthesized by controlling nuclei concentration and crystal size, which are mainly determined by the conditions of the aging and crystallization respectively. On the basis of the results from these experiments, a film continuity−synthesis condition map is obtained and a film formation mechanism is discussed.
Cytologic assessment before and after intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy for peritoneal carcinomatosis.

OBJECTIVE A phase I/II clinical trial of surgical cytoreduction combined with intraperitoneal hyperthermic chemotherapy (IPHC) for patients with disseminated peritoneal carcinoma was begun in December 1991. The use of peritoneal cytology to assess this treatment modality was the objective of this study. STUDY DESIGN Adult patients with primary intraabdominal cancer with peritoneal dissemination underwent surgical debulking and intraoperative, two-hour, heated abdominopelvic perfusion with mitomycin C (MMC). Peritoneal washings were sent before and after IPHC, and the use of peritoneal cytology in this setting was reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS Twenty patients (9 female, 11 male) with adenocarcinoma (19) and one with epithelial mesothelioma, all with bulky peritoneal disease, were treated. Pre- and post-IPHC cytologic specimens were available for 18 cases. Cytology was tumor negative in three cases before and after IPHC. Conversion to negative post-IPHC cytology was seen in 6 of 15 cases and correlated with total or near-total tumor debulking (Fisher's exact test, P = .002). For 13 patients with follow-up > or = 6 months, 6 patients with both negative post-IPHC cytology and tumor < or = 1 g were alive at 6 months; of 7 patients with residual gross tumor or positive post-IPHC cytology, 5 had died within 6 months (P = .02). CONCLUSION Some patients undergoing IPHC with tumor-positive peritoneal cytology will convert to negative cytology following IPHC. This correlates with total or near-total tumor debulking and is associated with improved survival.
Soft barriers to ICT application in development: trust and information quality in Russia

Research into the diffusion and use of ICTs often focuses on the adequacy of ‘hard’ factors in information infrastructures: technological elements which affect affordability and connectivity. This paper proposes that successful ICT application depends also upon ‘soft’ factors in domestic information infrastructures: legal, political, socio-cultural, and economic characteristics that affect not only ICTs but also the quality of information resources handled by those ICTs. Based on research data from Russia, the paper argues that one soft factor—trust—is critical for information quality and, hence, for ICT-based information systems success in transitional and developing economies. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Improvement in outcome of children with Wilms' tumour in South Australia over the last 30 years.

Objective: To evaluate the outcome of children with Wilms' tumour over the last 30 years in South Australia. To compare the outcome of children treated before and after 1982, when standard treatment protocols were introduced. Methodology: Management approaches, survival rates and side-effects of treatment were identified from case notes. Pathology slides were reviewed to ensure all children were correctly diagnosed with Wilms' tumour. Results: Children treated for Wilms' tumour prior to 1982 had an overall survival rate of 54%. Since 1982 there has been a significant improvement in outcome and the current survival rate is now 85%. Children treated since 1982 have also experienced fewer treatment related side-effects than children treated prior to 1982. Conclusions: There has been substantial improvement in survival from childhood Wilms' tumour over the past 30 years in South Australia. This is likely to be due to a combination of factors including standardization of treatment, tailoring of treatment to stage and histology, improved perioperative care, enhanced radiological techniques and higher levels of collaboration between relevant specialists.
Factor structure of the Beck Depression Inventory—Second Edition (BDI-II) in a student sample.

A confirmatory factor analysis was performed to evaluate the factorial validity of the Beck Depression Inventory-Second Edition (BDI-II) in a large sample of undergraduates (N = 576). Results suggest that the revised measure is internally consistent and consists of two underlying factors assessing cognitive-affective and somatic symptoms of depression. Results support the use of the BDI-II as a severity measure of symptoms of depression.
Models of Epidemics and Endemicity in Genetically Variable Host Populations

A discrete time genetics model is developed for populations that are undergoing selection due to infectious disease. It is assumed that the generation time of the host and infectious agent are non-synchronous and that only the host population is evolving. Two classes of epidemic processes are considered. The first class is for infectious agents that confer immunity following infection, while the second class is for those that do not confer immunity. The necessary and sufficient conditions are found in order for the disease to persist in a stable polymorphic host population. These conditions are shown to depend on the density of susceptibles, the selection coefficients, and the severity and class of the disease process.
Concurrent and vectorized Monte Carlo simulation of the evolution of an assembly of particles increasing in number

Parallel Monte Carlo techniques for simulating the evolution of an assembly of charged particles interacting with a background gas medium under the influence of the electrical field are presented. This simulation problem has inherent parallelism in nature. All the particles can be traced independently in a short time interval. We have overcome three major difficulties: 1) the number of particles to be simulated is increasing over time due to the ionization process; 2) the conditional branching statements do not inhibit multiprocessing through proper manual program tuning; 3) concurrency and vectorization are fully utilized through the new parallelized Monte Carlo method. The shared—memory vector multiprocessor Alliant FX/80 has been used for performance measurements. Significant speedup has been achieved.
Nifedipine in the treatment of Raynaud's phenomenon. Evidence for inhibition of platelet activation

Platelet activation has been reported to occur in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon; however, the effect of calcium channel blockers and thromboxane synthetase inhibitors has not been previously studied. The effect of two drugs that potentially inhibit platelet activation were studied: nifedipine, a calcium channel blocker, and dazoxiben, a specific thromboxane synthetase inhibitor. Two platelet-specific proteins released during platelet activation, beta-thromboglobulin and platelet factor 4, were measured during a double-blind clinical trial of these two drugs in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon. The plasma beta-thromboglobulin level was significantly elevated in the patient population (53.8 +/- 7.6 ng/ml) during the placebo period compared with that in a normal control population (27.0 +/- 3.1 ng/ml) (p less than 0.01). The plasma platelet factor 4 level was 8.7 +/- 2.2 ng/ml in the patients compared with 6.5 +/- 1.0 ng/ml in the normal subjects (p = NS). These findings indicate the presence of in vivo platelet activation in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon. Nifedipine lowered the levels of beta-thromboglobulin to near the normal range (33.4 +/- 4.6 ng/ml). The inhibition of platelet activation by nifedipine was associated with clinical improvement in Raynaud's phenomenon with fewer and less intense episodes. Beta-thromboglobulin was not lowered by dazoxiben (58.1 +/- 9.0 ng/ml) compared with the placebo. The reduction of beta-thromboglobulin levels by nifedipine indicates that in vivo platelet activation was inhibited by this agent. Since this was associated with a reduced frequency of attacks, it is not clear whether this was a direct effect of the drug on platelet activation, leading to decreased frequency of vasospasm, or an effect on vascular smooth muscle leading to decreased vasospasm and a secondary decrease in platelet activation.
Temporal and topographic alterations in expression of the α3 isoform of Na+,K+-ATPase in the rat freeze lesion model of microgyria and epileptogenesis

Na(+),K(+)-ATPase contributes to the asymmetrical distribution of sodium and potassium ions across the plasma membrane and to maintenance of the membrane potential in many types of cells. Alterations in this protein may play a significant role in many human neurological disorders, including epilepsy. We studied expression of the alpha3 isoform of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase in the freeze lesion (FL) microgyrus model of developmental epileptogenesis to test the hypothesis that it is downregulated following neonatal cortical injury. FL and sham-operated rat brains were examined at postnatal day (P)7, P10, P14, P21-28 and P50-60 after placement of a transcranial freeze lesion at P0 or P1. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization were used to assess the expression of the alpha3 isoform of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase (termed alpha3, or alpha3 subunit below) in neuropil and the perisomatic areas of pyramidal cells and parvalbumin-containing interneurons. There was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in alpha3 subunit immunoreactivity (IR) in the neuropil of FL cortical layer V of the P14 and P21-28 groups that extended up to 360 mum from the border of the microgyrus, an area that typically exhibits evoked epileptiform activity. Alpha-3 was decreased in the perisomatic area of pyramidal but not parvalbumin-containing cells in P21-28 FL animals. A reduction in alpha3 mRNA was observed in the neuropil of FL cortical layer V up to 1610 mum from the microgyral edge. The developmental time course for expression of the alpha3 subunit between P7 and P60 was examined in naive rat cortices and results showed that there was a significant increase in alpha3 IR between P7 and P10. The significant decreases in Na(+),K(+)-ATPase in the paramicrogyral cortex may contribute to epileptogenesis.
High Pressure Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Mecillinam in Human Plasma and Urine

Abstract A simple, specific, rapid and sensitive method for the analysis of mecillinam in plasma and urine using high pressure liquid chromatography is described. The assay is performed by direct injection of a plasma protein free supernatant or a dilution of urine. A μBondapak phenyl column with an eluting solvent of 16% CH3CN-0.2% H3PO4 was used, with UV detection of the effluent at 220 nm. Desacetyl-cephalothin was used as the internal standard and quantitation was based on peak height ratio of mecillinam to that of the internal standard. The lowest concentration detectable without extraction was 0.25 μg/ml for plasma and 8.9 μg/ml for urine. No interference from plasma and urine was noted.
Loss of synaptic inhibition during repetitive stimulation in genetically epilepsy-prone rats (GEPR)

Genetically epilepsy-prone rats (GEPR) are an animal model of generalized motor seizures. The underlying causes of the predisposition to seizures in GEPR have not been fully determined. The brainstem auditory system is critical for audiogenic seizures in GEPR, and neurophysiological abnormalities have been observed in these areas, but recent evidence suggests that non-auditory brain areas may also be abnormal. This may account for the lowered threshold in GEPR for various non-audiogenic seizures. Because the normal responses of the hippocampal Schaffer collateral/CA1 synapse are relatively well understood, we studied single and repetitive synaptic responses in hippocampal slices of GEPR in vitro. Our hypothesis was that altered excitatory or inhibitory synaptic transmission may contribute to GEPR non-audiogenic seizure predisposition. We recorded extracellular EPSPs, population spikes, and afferent volleys in hippocampal area CA1, and compared GEPR responses to those of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, the strain from which GEPR were derived. GEPR responses to single synaptic stimuli were not significantly different from SD. The second of a pair of closely spaced EPSPs or population spikes was larger in both GEPR and SD (paired pulse facilitation), but the magnitude of population spike facilitation was significantly increased in GEPR. Short trains of four stimuli caused inhibition of population spike firing in SD, an effect that was much reduced in GEPR. When SD slices were treated with bicuculline, a GABAA receptor antagonist, enhanced paired pulse facilitation and loss of inhibition during trains of stimuli were seen, similar to the patterns seen in GEPR.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Mutations at Lysine 525 of Inducible Nitric-oxide Synthase Affect Its Ca2+-independent Activity

Calmodulin binding to inducible nitric-oxide synthase may play an important role in its Ca(2+)-independent activity. Studies of inducible nitric-oxide synthase chimeras containing the calmodulin binding sequence of neuronal or endothelial nitric-oxide synthases show that the calmodulin binding sequence of inducible nitric-oxide synthase is necessary but not sufficient for the Ca(2+)-independent activity. The mutations at lysine 525 located at the C terminus of the calmodulin binding sequence of inducible nitric-oxide synthase were examined for the effects on the Ca(2+)-independent activity with chimeras containing the oxygenase or reductase domains of inducible or neuronal nitric-oxide synthases. Results show that the Ca(2+)-independent binding of calmodulin is not solely responsible for maximal Ca(2+)-independent activity of inducible nitric-oxide synthase. Lysine 525 of inducible nitric-oxide synthase may also play an important role in coordinating the maximal Ca(2+)-independent activity.
Base‐catalyzed redox reactions of α‐hydroxyalkylazaaromatic N‐oxides

The (α-hydroxybenzyl)pyridine 1-oxides on heating with aqueous sodium hydroxide yielded the corresponding benzoylpyridines in redox reactions. When the phenyl groups of the foregoing compounds was replaced by hydrogen or methyl the redox reactions occurred less readily. A kinetic isotope effect of 3 was found for 4-(α-deuterio-α-hydroxybenzyl)pyridine 1-oxide on reaction with sodium hydroxide. The removal of the α-deuterio group is non-reversible. A mechanism consistent with these observations is given. 6-Acetoxyphenanthridine 5-oxide yielded with concentrated hydrochloric acid a redox product, 6-formylphenanthridine hydrochloride, whereas under the same conditions neither (α-hydroxybenzyl)pyridine 1-oxides nor 2-hydroxy-methylquinoline 1-oxide yielded a redox product.
Guidelines for FEA Modeling of Cylinder-to-Cylinder Intersection

The purpose of this paper is to develop a definitive set of guidelines for carrying out finite element analysis (FEA) modeling of cylinder-to-cylinder intersections. By studying the stresses in the neighborhood of such intersections subjected to internal pressure and external moments (in-plane and out-of-plane moments) resulting from the use of various finite element models, the effects of number of elements along the nozzle circumference, number of elements through the wall thickness and element sizes in the direction perpendicular to nozzle circumference are investigated. Finally, general guidelines are proposed for setting up a FEA model of cylinder-to-cylinder intersections.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Predictors of Mortality After Short-Term Ventricular Assist Device Placement

Background Risk assessment prior to long-term ventricular assist device (VAD) placement has been shown to be crucial for successful outcomes and efficient resource utilization. Short-term VADs are often used as salvage therapy in acute heart failure when the clinical scenario precludes such thorough preoperative assessment. Our goal was to devise a risk stratification system that may be used shortly after stabilization of hemodynamics with a short-term VAD to predict the likelihood of survival. Methods A retrospective study was performed of all patients undergoing Abiomed (Abiomed Cardiovascular Inc., Danvers, MA) or CentriMag (Levitronix LLC, Waltham, MA) placement at our institution or transferred to our institution with the device in place. From January 2001 until August 2009, 93 patients were identified. Preoperative and early postoperative variables were analyzed for their correlation with in-hospital mortality. Results Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified factors that were associated with death. A three-point scoring system, utilizing a diagnosis of postcardiotomy shock or graft failure, female sex, and postoperative day 3 total bilirubin greater than 5.2 mg/dL was devised. A score of 2 or greater was associated with an 86% mortality rate, whereas a score of 0 was associated with a 13% mortality rate. Conclusions A simple scoring system based on readily available data may predict mortality after short-term VAD placement. Such a scoring system may be of prognostic value for physicians and patient families early in the support period and may help guide decisions.
Nonexistence of universally accelerating linear summability methods

Abstract Let A = [amn], B = [bmn] be two regular Toeplitz matrices. Suppose that for every convergent sequence {{sn} its B-transform σ(B)m, where σ(B)m = ∑∞n = 1bmnsn, converges not slower than σ(A)m, in the sens. 0 e that ¦ σ(B)m − s ¦ ⩽ K ¦ σ(A)m − s ¦, where s = limn → ∞sn, and K does not depend on m (only on {sn}). Then A and B are equivalent (i.e., they sum the same sequences, even unbounded), and, moreover, A and B essentially coincide: there exists a number p such that amn = bmn if m ≥/ p.
Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis: histology and gadolinium detection

The association between gadolinium (Gd)-containing MR imaging contrast agents and the development of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is well recognized. The authors review the histopathologic features, methodology, and results of analysis of tissues for Gd in NSF. Scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive x ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) provides sensitive detection of individual Gd-containing deposits in situ. Secondary ion mass spectroscopy has far greater sensitivity for detection of Gd than SEM/EDS and allows correlation at the cellular level. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry is the recognized method for full quantitative analysis of Gd in tissues but requires destruction of the tissue and does not allow spatial correlation. In practice, the different analytic techniques provide complementary data and can be selected based on the information required.
Epilepsy and violence: when is the brain to blame?

*Law and Psychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts; Bridgewater State Hospital, Bridgewater, assachusetts; Department of Neurology, McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts; Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; and Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
HIV Coinfection With Hepatitis C Virus: Evolving Epidemiology and Treatment Paradigms

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has become a major threat to the survival of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected persons in areas where antiretroviral therapy is available. In coinfection, viral eradication has been difficult to attain, and HCV therapy is underused. Novel therapies may be particularly beneficial for this population, yet studies lag behind those for HCV monoinfection. Increasingly, incident HCV among HIV-infected men who have sex with men is associated with sexual risk behavior further research should be performed to refine understanding of the causal mechanism of this association. The phenomenon of aggressive hepatic fibrogenesis when HIV infection precedes HCV acquisition requires longer-term observation to ensure optimal timing of HCV therapy. Medical management in coinfection will be improved by enhancing HCV detection, with annual serologic testing, screening with HCV RNA to detect acute infection, and HIV testing of HCV-infected individuals; by addressing HCV earlier in coinfected persons; and by universal consideration for HCV therapy. HCV drug trials in individuals coinfected with HIV should be expedited. HIV/HCV coinfection remains a growing and evolving epidemic; new developments in therapeutics and improved care models offer promise.
Gallager B Decoder on Noisy Hardware

Conventional communications theory assumes that the data transmission is noisy but the processing at the receiver is entirely error-free. Such assumptions may have to be revisited for advanced (silicon) technologies in which hardware failures are a major concern at the system-level. Hence, it is important to characterize the performance of a communication system with both noisy processing components and noisy data transmission. Coding systems based on low-density parity check (LDPC) codes are widely used for a variety of applications. In this paper, we focus on probabilistic analysis of the LDPC Gallager B decoder built out of faulty components. Using the density evolution technique, we find approximations for the optimal threshold of the decoder and the symbol error rate (SER) of the decoded sequence as functions of both the channel error rate and error rates of the decoder components, for both binary and non-binary regular LDPC codes. Furthermore, we study the convergence of the output SER and the decoding threshold of the decoder for different ranges of error rates. We verify our results using MATLAB simulations and hardware emulation of noisy decoders. Results presented in this paper can serve as systematic design guidelines in resource allocation for noisy decoders. Informed resource allocation is of particular relevance to emerging data storage and processing applications that need to maintain high levels of reliability despite hardware errors in advanced technologies.
Higher order mode damping in a pill box cavity

The authors present a method to damp the higher-order modes (HOMs) without excessive damping of the principal mode. This has been demonstrated in a pill box cavity with three slots coupled to waveguides that carry HOM energy to terminating loads. They were concerned primarily with accelerating and deflecting modes: i.e. the TM/sub mnp/ modes of order m=0 and m=1. For the strongest damping, only three m=0 and m=1 modes were detectable. These were the principal TM/sub 010/ mode, the TM/sub 011/ longitudinal mode, and the TM/sub 110/ deflecting mode. In addition, the HOM Qs and the reduction of Q for the principal mode were determined by computer calculation. The measured Q of the first longitudinal mode was 31 and of the first transverse mode 37. The maximum damping was limited by how well the waveguides could be terminated. The computer calculations for the TM/sub 011/ and TM/sub 110/ modes gives values in the range as measured. >
Synchrotron X-Ray Topography of Dislocation Arrays

The application of relatively low resolution x-ray topography methods, typically ∿ 1 micrometer, is limited in studies which involve large scale dislocation networks. However, the ability to non-destructively image wide areas for “thick” specimens at high intensity with a tunable x-ray source makes the synchrotron an ideal probe for a range of problems previously inaccessible by other methods. Some examples will be discussed such as: (a) crack initiation and propagation in fatigued bicrystals, (b) real-time in situ plastic deformation studies in strain-annealed Mo crystals, and (c) strain distributions in vapor deposited and LPE thin films on Si and GaAs substrates.
Novel trans-Acting Bacillus subtilis glnA Mutations That Derepress glnRA Expression

Bacillus subtilis contains two nitrogen transcription factors, GlnR and TnrA. The activities of GlnR and TnrA are regulated by direct protein-protein interactions with the feedback-inhibited form of glutamine synthetase (GS). To look for other factors involved in regulating GlnR activity, we isolated mutants with constitutive glnRA expression (Gln(C)). The twenty-seven Gln(C) mutants isolated in this mutant screen all contained mutations tightly linked to the glnRA operon which encodes GlnR (glnR) and GS (glnA). Four Gln(C) mutants contained mutations in the glnR gene that most likely impair the ability of GlnR to bind DNA. Three other Gln(C) mutants contained novel glnA mutations (S55F, V173I, and L174F). GlnR regulation was completely relieved in the three glnA mutants, while only modest defects in TnrA regulation were observed. In vitro enzymatic assays showed that the purified S55F mutant enzyme was catalytically defective while the V173I and L174F enzymes were highly resistant to feedback inhibition. The V173I and L174F GS proteins were found to require higher glutamine concentrations than the wild-type GS to regulate the DNA-binding activities of GlnR and TnrA in vitro. These results are consistent with a model where feedback-inhibited GS is the only cellular factor involved in regulating the activity of GlnR in B. subtilis.
Predicting your own effort

We consider a setting in which a worker and a manager may each have information about the likely completion time of a task, and the worker also affects the completion time by choosing a level of effort. The task itself may further be composed of a set of subtasks, and the worker can also decide how many of these subtasks to split out into an explicit prediction task. In addition, the worker can learn about the likely completion time of a task as work on subtasks completes. We characterize a family of scoring rules for the worker and manager that provide three properties: information is truthfully reported; best effort is exerted by the worker in completing tasks as quickly as possible; and collusion is not possible. We also study the factors influencing when a worker will split a task into subtasks, each forming a separate prediction target.
CLIME: An environment for constrained evolution demonstration description

We are building a software development environment that uses constraints to ensure the consistency of the different artifacts associated with software. This approach to software development makes the environment responsible for detecting most inconsistencies between software design, specifications, documentation, source code, and test cases. The environment provides facilities to ensure that these various dimensions remain consistent as the software is written and evolves. The environment works with the wide variety of artifacts typically associated with a large software system. It handles both the static and dynamic aspects of software. Moreover, it works incrementally so that consistency information is readily available to the developer as the system changes. The demonstration will show this environment and its capabilities.
Self-reported diurnal mood changes, early morning awakening and the dexamethasone suppression test in endogenous depression.

Abstract Several authors have suggested that Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST) non-suppression is related to circadian alternations of hypothalmic-pituitary-adrenal function. Two clinical manifestations of altered circadian rhythms in depressed patients are early morning awakening and diurnal variation in mood. To observe whether these clinical symptom patterns were associated with an increased frequency of abnormal DSTs, we examined post-DST plasma cortisol concentrations and matched clinical ratings of early morning awakening and diurnal variation in mood in 49 patients with major depressive disorder, endogenous subtype. We found no significant association between these clinical and laboratory variables.
Choosing experiments to accelerate collective discovery

A scientist’s choice of research problem affects his or her personal career trajectory. Scientists’ combined choices affect the direction and efficiency of scientific discovery as a whole. In this paper, we infer preferences that shape problem selection from patterns of published findings and then quantify their efficiency. We represent research problems as links between scientific entities in a knowledge network. We then build a generative model of discovery informed by qualitative research on scientific problem selection. We map salient features from this literature to key network properties: an entity’s importance corresponds to its degree centrality, and a problem’s difficulty corresponds to the network distance it spans. Drawing on millions of papers and patents published over 30 years, we use this model to infer the typical research strategy used to explore chemical relationships in biomedicine. This strategy generates conservative research choices focused on building up knowledge around important molecules. These choices become more conservative over time. The observed strategy is efficient for initial exploration of the network and supports scientific careers that require steady output, but is inefficient for science as a whole. Through supercomputer experiments on a sample of the network, we study thousands of alternatives and identify strategies much more efficient at exploring mature knowledge networks. We find that increased risk-taking and the publication of experimental failures would substantially improve the speed of discovery. We consider institutional shifts in grant making, evaluation, and publication that would help realize these efficiencies.
How green are principles texts? An investigation into how mainstream economics educates students pertaining to energy, the environment and green economics

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how mainstream economics educates students pertaining to energy, the environment and green economics. The focus is on the principles of economics text which embodies the state of economic knowledge and in addition, serves as the foundation for more advanced economics courses. This paper surveys seventeen US principles of economics textbooks and finds that overall, students are ill-prepared to understand today's pressing environmental issues. US students are imbued with a false sense of optimism for the free market, along a profound ignorance of the interdependence between the economy and the environment. US economics education is on a collision course with environmental realities. From a green perspective there is little to salvage from mainstream economics and the paper urges a radical reform of economics education.
Interpreting multiplicity-gated fragment distributions from heavy-ion collisions

In recent years, multifragmentation of nuclear systems has been extensively studied, and many efforts have been made to clarify the underlying physics[1]. However, no clear consensus exists on the mechanism for multifragmentation. Is the emission of intermediate mass fragments (IMF: 3 20) a dynamical process (brought on by the occurrence of instabilities of one form or another) or a statistical process (i.e. the decay probabilities are proportional to a suitably defined exit channel phase space)?
ABO blood type correlates with survival on prostate cancer vaccine therapy

// Saddam M. Muthana 1, 2 , James L. Gulley 3 , James W. Hodge 4 , Jeffrey Schlom 4 , Jeffrey C. Gildersleeve 1 1 Chemical Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, USA 2 Chemistry Department, College of Science & General Studies, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, KSA 3 Genitourinary Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA 4 Laboratory of Tumor Immunology and Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA Correspondence to: Jeffrey C. Gildersleeve, e-mail: gildersj@mail.nih.gov Keywords: cancer vaccine, immunotherapy, PROSTVAC-FV, Glycan microarray, blood type Received: July 11, 2015 Accepted: August 04, 2015 Published: August 18, 2015 ABSTRACT Immunotherapies for cancer are transforming patient care, but clinical responses vary considerably from patient to patient. Simple, inexpensive strategies to target treatment to likely responders could substantially improve efficacy while simultaneously reducing health care costs, but identification of reliable biomarkers has proven challenging. Previously, we found that pre-treatment serum IgM to blood group A (BG-A) correlated with survival for patients treated with PROSTVAC-VF, a therapeutic cancer vaccine in phase III clinical trials for the treatment of prostate cancer. These results suggested that ABO blood type might influence efficacy. Unfortunately, blood types were not available in the clinical records for all but 8 patients and insufficient amounts of sera were left for standard blood typing methods. To test the hypothesis, therefore, we developed a new glycan microarray-based method for determining ABO blood type. The method requires only 4 μL of serum, provides 97% accuracy, and allows simultaneous profiling of many other serum anti-glycan antibodies. After validation with 220 healthy subjects of known blood type, the method was then applied to 74 PROSTVAC-VF patients and 37 control patients from a phase II trial. In this retrospective study, we found that type B and O PROSTVAC-VF patients demonstrated markedly improved clinical outcomes relative to A and AB patients, including longer median survival, longer median survival relative to Halabi predicted survival, and improved overall survival via Kaplan-Meier survival analysis ( p = 0.006). Consequently, blood type may provide an inexpensive screen to pre-select patients likely to benefit from PROSTVAC-VF therapy.
Analysis of cross talk in volume holographic interconnections

We utilize a novel multiple-scattering formalism to study cross-talk effects in volume holographic interconnections. Specifically, we explore the composition of that cross talk and evaluate its maximum expected values as functions of various design parameters such as dynamic range, minimum separation between interconnections, and hologram size. Examples are given for canonic interconnections that involve two superposed gratings, but the analysis and results are relevant to a broader class of high-capacity interconnects.
Prior stimulant treatment in adolescents with bipolar disorder: association with age at onset.

DelBello MP, Soutullo CA, Hendricks W , N iemeier RT, McElroy S L,Strakowski SM. P rior stimulant treatment in adolescents with bipolardisorder: association w ith age at onset.Bipolar Disord 2001: 3: 53 Ð 57. © Munksguaard, 2001Objecti "es:To compare demographic and clinical characteristics be-tween bipolar adolescents with and without a h istory of stimulanttreatment, we hypothesized that adolescents treated with stimulantswould h ave an earlier age at onset of bipolar disorder, independent ofco-occurring attention-deÞcit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).Method :Thirty-four adolescents hospitalized with mania w ere assessedusing the Washington U niversity at St Louis K iddie Schedule for A f-fective Disorders and S chizophrenia (WASH-U-KSADS). We systemat-ically evaluated age at onset of bipolar disorder and pharmacologicaltreatment h istory.Results :Bipolar adolescents with a h istory of stimulant exposure priorto the onset of bipolar disorder had an earlier age at onset of bipolardisorder than those w ithout p rior stimulant exposure. Additionally,bipolar adolescents treated with at least two stimulant medications hada younger age at onset compared with those who were treated with onestimulant. There was n o d ifference in age at onset of bipolar disorderbetween bipolar adolescents with and without ADHD.Conclusions :Our results suggest that stimulant treatment, independentof ADHD, is associated with younger age at onset of bipolar disorder.A behavioral sensitization model is proposed to explain our Þ ndings.There are several limitations to our study including the small samplesize, the retrospective assessment of stimulant exposure and age at on-set of bipolar disorder, and the inclusion of only h ospitalized patients,who may b e more likely to present w ith a severe illness. Nonetheless,future prospective longitudinal investigations that systematically assessthe effects of stimulant medications in children with or at genetic riskfor b ipolar disorder are warranted.
Toll-like receptor 3 upregulation by type I interferon in healthy and scleroderma dermal fibroblasts

Introduction Increased levels of genes in the type I interferon (IFN) pathway have been observed in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc), or scleroderma. How type I IFN regulates the dermal fibroblast and its participation in the development of dermal fibrosis is not known. We hypothesized that one mechanism by which type I IFN may contribute to dermal fibrosis is through upregulation of specific Toll-like receptors (TLRs) on dermal fibroblasts. Therefore, we investigated the regulation of TLR expression on dermal fibroblasts by IFN.