cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Learning to identify students' relevant and irrelevant questions in a micro-blogging supported classroom

This paper proposes a novel application of text categorization for two types questions asked in a micro-blogging supported classroom, namely relevant and irrelevant questions Empirical results and analysis show that utilizing the correlation between questions and available lecture materials in a lecture along with personalization and question text leads to significantly higher categorization accuracy than i) using personalization along with question text and ii) using question text alone.
Use of regression models to link raw water characteristics to trihalomethane concentrations in drinking water

A study was conducted to examine the effect of raw water bromide on the formation and distribution of trihalomethanes (THMs) in finished drinking water. Twenty major water supplies in East Tennessee were selected for their significant levels of bromine-containing THMs, as demonstrated by previous studies. The cities were sampled quarterly for raw water pH, temperature, NVTOC, and bromide content, as well as finished water pH, NVTOC, and applied chlorine dose, coupled with conjunctive measurement for 7-day THMs. Few data for bromide levels in natural waters are currently available since most conventional colorimetric applications lack desired sensitivity, as does direct ion chromatography (IC). Although Fishman's kinetic permanganate method is adequate in the 10–100 μp 1−1 range, it is time-consuming, and prone to certain interferences. An IC method using a sample preconcentration column has been evaluated. The method produced a 1 μg 1−1 minimum detection level using deionized water based standards, with 3% relative precision completed at a standard concentration of 1000μg 1−1. Bromide levels in the raw waters sampled were found to range from 10 to 225 μg 1−1. Concurrent with the field sampling, laboratory chlorination experiments were conducted using Tennessee River water, under controlled laboratory conditions of bromide level, chlorine dose, pH, ionic strength, temperature, and organic precursor concentration. Resultant THM formations were monitored over a 96 h reaction period. The results concurred with observations made in previous work by such researchers as Bird and Rook. Nonlinear regression models for THM formation were generated using the laboratory chlorination data with respect to pH, temperature, chlorine dose, bromide, and NVTOC level. Actual values for these variables were substituted into the regression models, using the seasonal field data. Resultant predictive THM values were then compared with actual THM values for those data sampled. In general, these models were found to give acceptable fits. Overall 74.1% of the predicted values were within ± 15% of the measured values.
The health insurance market, labor unions, and utilization of cancer screening

Abstract The present study examines the effect of labor market characteristics, especially labor unions, on the use of two representative cancer screening services, namely the mammogram and the Pap smear, given the level of competition in the health insurance market. The role of labor unions is illustrated by means of estimated probabilities based on regression results that consider, for the first time, both health insurance and labor market variables in the same model by employing a multilevel analysis, a technique not previously used in prevention studies. The results suggest that competition among health insurance plans may actually reduce the use of preventive care whereas union membership may mitigate such negative impacts.
Mid-Atlantic Poultry Consortium: a department head's viewpoint on regionalization

A document outlining possible areas of coordination and cooperation among university faculty to meet the research, extension, and teaching needs of the poultry industries in the Mid-Atlantic region (i.e., in the states of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina) has been developed. Poultry-oriented faculty in the region's Colleges of Agriculture and Colleges of Veterinary Medicine in the 1862 and 1890 land-grant institutions participated to varying degrees in the development of the document. Poultry scientists with the ARS/USDA, Beltsville, MD, have also expressed interest in and provided input to the plan. Three university-based committees addressed potential avenues of cooperation for academic programs, teaching, research, extension, and technology transfer. Input from those committees was summarized and presented as a basic concept paper for the development of a Mid-Atlantic Poultry Consortium at the Poultry Extension Symposium at the Poultry Science Association's annual meeting in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, in 1995. Meetings of faculty from the participating institutions have been held twice yearly at the Southeastern Poultry and Egg Association Congress in Atlanta, GA, and at the annual Poultry Science Association meetings to specifically discuss strategies for moving forward with the plan. Unfortunately, for a number of different reasons, buy-in by individual faculty at the various institutions has, at best, been very limited. Nevertheless, some progress has been made toward increasing the amount of regional cooperation underway. Most of the cooperation to date has been in interstate extension programming, with reciprocal use of specialists with different expertise between two states, and with the joint planning of regionally based educational conferences. Some joint extension publications and a few joint applied research or demonstration projects are also underway. Currently, however, no program is in place that involves all of the region's university-based poultry groups in a single program effort. The slow development of such an effort is partially due to difficulties in communication. An attempt is currently being made to get all of the poultry-oriented faculty in the region linked via an e-mail listserve, so that individuals with needs for partnering can freely communicate their needs to others in the region who might be interested in cooperating with them.
Teichoic acid serology in staphylococcal infectionsof infants and children

Counterimmunoelectrophoresis and gel diffusion were utilized for the detection and titration of antibodies to staphylococcal teichoic acids in various disease states caused by coagulase-positive staphylococcus in infants and children. Serum samples were obtained on admission and serially for 2 to 12 weeks during illness. Teichoic acid antibodies were found by CIE in 12 of 21 patients (57%) with invasive CPS disease with bacteremia (Group A), in two of 17 patients (12%) with CPS infection without bacteremia (Group B), in none of 27 patients with bacteremia and/or invasive infections caused by organisms other than CPS (Group C), and in none of 24 noninfected, hospitalized patients or healthy children (Group D). Gel diffusion was useful for titrating antibodies in seropositive sera. Teichoic acid serology is a useful adjunct in the diagnosis of invasive CPS infections. The presence of these antibodies by CIE and gel diffusion may help to identify patients with endothelial or metastatic infections associated with staphylococcal bacteremia.
Exceptional Stability and High Hydrogen Uptake in Hydrogen-Bonded Metal−Organic Cubes Possessing ACO and AST Zeolite-like Topologies

Herein we detail a novel approach for targeting zeolite-like metal-organic frameworks (ZMOFs) that utilizes metal−organic cubes, which are regarded as double four-membered rings (d4Rs) and are comp...
Smooth muscle cells contract in response to fluid flow via a Ca2+-independent signaling mechanism

Smooth muscle cells (SMC) are exposed to fluid shear stress because of transmural (interstitial) flow across the arterial wall. This shear stress may play a role in the myogenic response and flow-m...
On Decomposing an Abelian p -Group Under a p ′-Operator Group

Let A be a p′-group acting on a finite Abelian p-group P. We give a necessary and sufficient condition on an A-irreducible decomposition of Ω1(P) = ⊕iɛ1U i for the existence of an A-indecomposable decomposition of P = ⊕iɛ1R i such that Ω1(R i ) = U i for all i ɛ I. This readily implies a main result of [1].
Ventral lateral geniculate nucleus efferents to the rat suprachiasmatic nucleus exhibit avian pancreatic polypeptide-like immunoreactivity.

The distribution of avian pancreatic polypeptide-like (APP) immunoreactivity was investigated in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the rat hypothalamus with immunohistochemical methods. Specificity of the antisera was established by the absence of all immunoreactive staining in tissue incubated in antisera which had been preabsorbed with the pure APP antigen. In addition, the antisera exhibited no significant cross reactivity with vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, vasopressin, somatostatin, or secretin. Within the rat SCN, APP immunoreactivity is restricted to varicose axons in the ventral and lateral aspects of the nucleus; the dorsomedial component of the nucleus is totally devoid of immunoreactivity and immunoreactive perikarya are not present in any portion of the SCN. The immunoreactive axons in the ventrolateral portion of the nucleus form an extensive plexus which is distributed in a pattern closely corresponding to the distribution of retinal and ventral lateral geniculate (vLGN) efferents to the SCN. No immunoreactive perikarya are observed in the retina following immunoperoxidase staining for APP and neither unilateral nor bilateral enucleation causes an observable alteration in the pattern of APP axon distribution within the SCN, thus indicating that the fiber plexus is not of retinal origin. In contrast, APP immunoreactive neurons are present in the same area of the vLGN in which retrogradely filled neurons have been demonstrated following iontophoretic injection of HRP into the SCN. Bilateral electrolytic lesions of the vLGN result in a total loss of immunoreactive axons in both SCN. Unilateral vLGN lesions cause a loss of approximately 60 to 75% of the immunoreactive fibers in the ipsilateral SCN with a lesser contralateral loss. These observations provide further information on the organization of afferents to the rat SCN and demonstrate that the vLGN projection is chemically distinct from other SCN afferents.
Special matrix for restoring teeth with subgingival Class II root caries.

Restoring teeth with root caries, senile caries, or cementurn caries is a frustrating process. When periodontal disease and root caries are present, the carious lesion can extend more apically than a matrix band will reach. Many times the matrix band is not wide enough to cover the interproximal box of the preparation. In addition, interproximal tissue often extends into the cavity of the tooth. Hence, tooth preparation becomes difficult because of hemorrhage, and restoring the tooth in a dry environment becomes nearly impossible. The use of a special matrix for restoring a tooth affected by root caries is described.
Lithospheric structure in the eastern region of Mars’ dichotomy boundary

Abstract We examine gravity, topography, and magnetic field data along the well-preserved Martian dichotomy boundary between 105° and 180°E to better understand the origin and modification of the dichotomy boundary. Admittance modeling indicates bottom-loading for the Amenthes region (105–135°E) with crustal and elastic thickness estimates of 15–40 km, and 15–35 km and top-loading for the Aeolis region (145–180°E) with crustal and elastic thickness estimates of 10–20 km and 10–15 km, respectively. There is a general trend from bottom-loading in the west, to top-loading in the east. The bottom-loading signature near Amenthes may reflect its proximity to the Isidis basin or a broad valley southeast of Isidis. Surface volcanic deposits may produce the top-loading seen at Aeolis. Additional processes such as erosion and faulting have clearly affected the dichotomy and may contribute to the loading signature. Low elastic thickness estimates are consistent with loading in the Noachian, when heat flow was high. Significant Bouguer and isostatic gravity anomalies in these areas indicate substantial variations in the crustal density structure. Crater age dating indicates that major surface modification occurred early in the Noachian, and the small elastic thickness estimates also suggest that subsurface modification occurred in the Noachian. Magnetic and gravity anomalies show comparable spatial scales (several hundred kilometers). The similarity in scale and the constant ratio of the amplitudes of the isostatic and Bouguer gravity to the magnetic anomalies along the dichotomy suggest a common origin for the anomalies. Igneous intrusion and/or local thinning or thickening of the crust, possibly with a contribution from hydrothermal alteration, are the most likely mechanisms to create the observed anomalies.
Foreign Language TAs' Perceptions of Training Components: Do We Know How They Like to Be Trained?

This article describes a survey of foreign language teaching assistants' (TAs') perceptions of which elements of training they consider beneficial to their development as language instructors. Fifty-six novice and experienced TAs participated in the survey; 23 in follow-up interviews. The results of the survey, which distinguished between individual and group training methods, showed that informal discussions with peers and the supervisor, end-of-course student evaluations, and small-group in-class student interviews were rated highest. Preservice training was rated highest in the group training category. This article further discusses potential variables that support the rationales for the TAs' ratings and suggests that the TAs' self-initiative in seeking out advice, feedback data from students, the consultant's role, her or his rank and knowledge in formal feedback sessions, focused and concrete feedback, and the mode of data collection play a major role in determining the degree of success of the training method.
Quantification of fractional flow reserve based on angiographic image data

Coronary angiography provides excellent visualization of coronary arteries, but has limitations in assessing the clinical significance of a coronary stenosis. Fractional flow reserve (FFR) has been shown to be reliable in discerning stenoses responsible for inducible ischemia. The purpose of this study is to validate a technique for FFR quantification using angiographic image data. The study was carried out on 10 anesthetized, closed-chest swine using angioplasty balloon catheters to produce partial occlusion. Angiography based FFR was calculated from an angiographically measured ratio of coronary blood flow to arterial lumen volume. Pressure-based FFR was measured from a ratio of distal coronary pressure to aortic pressure. Pressure-wire measurements of FFR (FFR( P )) correlated linearly with angiographic volume-derived measurements of FFR (FFR( V )) according to the equation: FFR( P ) = 0.41 FFR( V ) + 0.52 (P-value < 0.001). The correlation coefficient and standard error of estimate were 0.85 and 0.07, respectively. This is the first study to provide an angiographic method to quantify FFR in swine. Angiographic FFR can potentially provide an assessment of the physiological severity of a coronary stenosis during routine diagnostic cardiac catheterization without a need to cross a stenosis with a pressure-wire.
Structural studies of a non-covalently linked porphyrin–fullerene dyad

X-ray structural and ab initio theoretical investigations of a non-covalently linked meso-tetraphenylporphyrinatozinc(II) and N-methyl-2-pyrid-4′-yl)-3,4-fullero-pyrrolidine complex is reported
Evidence for the High-Energy Photoproduction of Charmed Mesons

We report on a search for the photoproduction of ${D}^{0}({\overline{D}}^{0})$ mesons in events which have zero total visible strangeness. We observe an enhancement of 94\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}19 events in the ${K}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}}{\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{\mp}}$ decay mode, corresponding to a cross section of \ensuremath{\sim}720 nb assuming a branching ratio of 0.018.
IDENTIFICATION OF THE HUMAN INTESTINAL RECEPTOR FOR E. COLI HEAT - STABLE ENTEROTOXIN

Enterotoxigenic E. coli that elaborate heat-stable enterotoxin (STa) are a world-wide cause of diarrheal disease. We have previously demonstrated that STa, a polypeptide able to induce intestinal secretion, binds to a specific receptor in human intestine. In order to characterize this receptor, we used a calcium precipitation technique to prepare brush border membranes (BBM) from human small intestine. BBM were incubated with radiolabeled STa (4-Tyr-125I-STa) in the presence and absence of excess native STa. Radiolabeled STa was crosslinked to BBM using the photoaffinity agent N-hydroxysuccinimidyl-4-azidobenzoate. These BBM, with the STa receptor covalently crosslinked to radiolabeled STa, were subjected to SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. Two proteins of Mr 66,000 and 98,000 were highly radiolabeled by this technique. Crosslinking of radiolabeled STa to these proteins was markedly diminished in the presence of unlabeled STa. These same proteins were specifically crosslinked in specimens from 25 different patients as well as in multiple specimens obtained throughout the jejunum and ileum of 2 different patients. We conclude that these proteins are probably major binding components of the human intestinal STa receptor.
Net fluxes of mineral nutrients, water, and carbohydrate influenced by manganese in root and shoot of Cucumis sativus L. 1

Abstract An experiment was conducted with cucumber (Cueumis sativus L., cv. Sumter) plants in the vegetative phase of growth to determine effects of manganese deficiency (0.2 μM Mn) and toxicity (182 μM Mn) on fluxes of several mineral nutrients, water, and carbohydrate in the root and shoot, beginning 43 d after germination. Plants were sampled every three days from 34 to 58 d after germination. First and second derivatives of regression equations were used to estimate fluxes and study source/sink phenomena of dry weight (DW), fresh weight (FW), H2O, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, N, P, and K in root and shoot tissues. With Mn sufficiency (1.8 μM Mn), both root and shoot acted as sinks for of each of the 10 dependent variables through 58 d. In contrast, Mn deficiency caused net loss of K and N from the root beginning at 53 and 56 d, respectively, and net loss of P and Fe from the shoot beginning at 57 and 58 d, respectively. With Mn toxicity, net loss of Cu, N, and K from the root began at 46, 46, and 51 d, respectivel...
The low-temperature initial oxidation stages of Cu(100) investigated by in situ ultra-high-vacuum transmission electron microscopy

The nucleation and growth of Cu2O islands due to Cu(100) oxidation at temperatures from 200 to 350 °C have been observed by in situ ultra-high-vacuum transmission electron microscopy. For this temperature range, epitaxial Cu2O islands form a triangular shape with rounded edges when Cu(100) is exposed to dry oxygen at 5 × 10−4 Torr in situ. Our initial analysis on the nucleation and growth of these three-dimensional Cu2O islands agrees well with the heteroepitaxial model of surface diffusion of oxygen.
Activity state of the branched chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex in heart, liver, and kidney of normal, fasted, diabetic, and protein-starved rats

The proportion of active (unphosphorylated) branched chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase was determined in tissues from rats in different metabolic states. Hearts from normal, high-protein, and low-protein fed rats contained about 45% of the enzyme in the active form. Only 10-20% of the enzyme was active in hearts of fasted and diabetic rats. Virtually all of the liver enzyme was in the active form in fed, fasted, diabetic and high-protein fed animals. Protein starved rats, however, exhibited a dramatic decrease in both the % active form and total amount of liver enzyme. Kidneys from normal, fasted, diabetic and high-protein fed rats contained 70-80% of the enzyme in the active form. The % active form of the kidney enzyme decreased in protein starved rats, but less dramatically than in liver. Covalent modification is concluded to be important for in vivo regulation of the branched chain alpha-ketoacid dehydrogenase complex.
Cottonseed vs. Cottonseed Meal and Corn as a Protein Source in a Concentrate Mixture for Dairy Cows

Summary Cottonseed and cottonseed meal were compared as protein sources in a 17% protein mixture in a double reversal feeding trial. Differences in production of fat-corrected milk and butterfat percentages in favor of the cottonseed ration were highly significant (P
Localized orbital approach to chemisorption. II. H, O and CO on Ni and Pt (001)

For pt.I see ibid., vol.10, p.2083 (1977). A localized orbital method is used to calculate the covalent binding energy of H, O and CO overlayers in various sites on the (001) surface of Ni or Pt. All three adsorbates bind most strongly above four-fold hole sites, but for hydrogen, energy differences between alternative sites are particularly small ( approximately 0.1 eV on Pt). Local densities of states on the surface orbitals are presented and discussed in relation to photoemission spectra and the mechanism of chemisorptive bonding.
Comparison of saline tolerance among genetically similar species of Fusarium and Meloidogyne recovered from marine and terrestrial habitats

Abstract Successful plant pathogens co-evolve and adapt to the environmental constraints placed on host plants. We compared the salt tolerance of two salt marsh pathogens, Fusarium palustre and Meloidogyne spartinae , to genetically related terrestrial species, F. sporotrichioides and Meloidogyne hapla , to assess whether the salt marsh species had acquired selective traits for persisting in saline environments or if salt tolerance was comparable among Fusarium and Meloidogyne species. Comparisons of both species were made in vitro in vessels containing increasing concentration of NaCl. We observed that F. palustre was more tolerant to NaCl than F. sporotrichioides. The radial expansion of F. palustre on NaCl-amended agar plates was unaffected by increasing concentrations up to 0.3 M. F. sporotrichioides showed large reductions in growth at the same concentrations. Survival of M. hapla was greatest at 0 M, and reduced by half in a 0.3 M solution for 4 days. No juveniles survived exposure to 0.3 M NaCl for 12 days. M. spartinae survived at all NaCl concentrations tested, including 1.0 M for at least 12 days. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that marine organisms in the upper tidal zone must osmoregulate to withstand a wide range of salinity and provide evidence that these pathogens evolved in saline conditions and are not recent introductions from terrestrial niches.
Lipid emulsions as contrast agents for hepatic sonography: An experimental study in rabbits

An ultrasound contrast agent capable of increasing hepatic echogenicity would be useful for the detection of hepatic tumors and metastases. Fatty liver is known to produce increased liver echogenicity. Intravenously administered lipid emulsions are phagocytosed by cells of the reticuloendothelial system the liver with transient hepatic lipid accumulation. We examined the effectiveness of three lipid emulsions of differing particle size as potential ultrasound contrast agents using a rabbit liver model. None of the tested emulsions showed any consistent ability to alter liver echogenicity at maximum tolerable doses. Lipid emulsions do not appear to have potential as contrast agents for ultrasound examination of the liver.
Performance parameters of the conventional serological markers for autoimmune hepatitis

Autoimmune hepatitis is defined by a conventional battery of autoantibodies that may also be present in other liver diseases. To define the performance parameters of the conventional autoantibodies for autoimmune hepatitis, determine the diagnostic implications of simultaneous autoantibody production, and assess the performances of serological assays based on indirect immunofluorescence and enzyme immunoassay. In this study, 265 adults satisfying codified criteria for autoimmune hepatitis and 342 adults who satisfied conventional diagnostic criteria for another chronic liver disease were each assessed for the conventional autoantibodies. Antinuclear antibodies, smooth muscle antibodies, and antibodies to liver kidney type 1 had sensitivities of only 32, 16, and 1%, respectively, for the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis, and their diagnostic accuracy ranged from 56 to 61%. The combination of antinuclear antibodies and smooth muscle antibodies at presentation had superior sensitivity (43%), specificity (99%), positive (97%) and negative (69%) predictabilities, and diagnostic accuracy (74%) than each marker alone. The occurrence of multiple autoantibodies was lower in other chronic liver diseases than in autoimmune hepatitis (8% versus 51%, p < 0.000001). The enzyme immunoassay for antinuclear antibodies had an accuracy that was not discriminative for autoimmune hepatitis (p = 0.06). Isolated autoantibodies have a low diagnostic accuracy for autoimmune hepatitis. Concurrent antinuclear antibodies and smooth muscle antibodies have superior performance parameters. The enzyme immunoassay for antinuclear antibodies performs less well than the assay based on indirect immunofluorescence.
Structure evolving systems and control in integrated design

Existing methods in Systems and Control deal predominantly with Fixed Systems, that have been designed in the past, and for which the control design has to be performed. The new paradigm of Structure Evolving Systems (SES), expresses a new form of system complexity where the components, interconnection topology, measurement-actuation schemes may not be fixed, the control scheme also may vary within the system-lifecycle and different views of the system of varying complexity may be required by the designer. Such systems emerge in many application domains and in the engineering context in problems such as integrated system design, integrated operations, re-engineering, lifecycle design issues, networks, etc. The paper focuses on the Integrated Engineering Design (IED), which is revealed as a typical structure evolution process that is strongly linked to Control Theory and Design type problems. It is shown, that the formation of the system, which is finally used for control design evolves during the earlier design stages and that process synthesis and overall instrumentation are critical stages of this evolutionary process that shapes the final system structure and thus the potential for control design. The paper aims at revealing the control theory context of the evolutionary mechanism in overall system design by defining a number of generic clusters of system structure evolution problems and by establishing links with existing areas of control theory. Different aspects of model evolution during the overall design are identified which include cases such as: (i) Time-dependent evolution of system models from “early” to “late” stages of design. (ii) Design stage-dependent evolution from conceptualisation to process synthesis and to overall instrumentation. (iii) Redesign of given systems and constrained system evolution. Within each cluster a number of well defined new Control Theory problems are introduced, which may be studied within the structural methodologies framework of Linear Systems. The problems posed have a general systems character, but the emphasis here is on Linear Systems; an overview of relevant results is given and links with existing research topics are established. The paper defines the Structural Control Theoretic context of an important family of complex systems emerging in engineering design and defines a new research agenda for structural methods of Control Theory.
A semiquinone intermediate generated at the Qo site of the cytochrome bc1 complex: Importance for the Q-cycle and superoxide production

The cytochrome bc1 and related complexes are essential energy-conserving components of mitochondrial and bacterial electron transport chains. They orchestrate a complex sequence of electron and proton transfer reactions resulting in the oxidation of quinol, the reduction of a mobile electron carrier, and the translocation of protons across the membrane to store energy in an electrochemical proton gradient. The enzyme can also catalyze substantial rates of superoxide production, with deleterious physiological consequences. Progress on understanding these processes has been hindered by the lack of observable enzymatic intermediates. We report the first direct detection of a semiquinone radical generated by the Qo site using continuous wave and pulsed EPR spectroscopy. The radical is a ubisemiquinone anion and is sensitive to both specific inhibitors and mutations within the Qo site as well as O2, suggesting that it is the elusive intermediate responsible for superoxide production. Paramagnetic interactions show that the new semiquinone species is buried in the protein, probably in or near the Qo site but not strongly interacting with the 2Fe2S cluster. The semiquinone is substoichiometric, even with conditions optimized for its accumulation, consistent with recently proposed models where the semiquinone is destabilized to limit superoxide production. The discovery of this intermediate provides a critical tool to directly probe the elusive chemistry that takes place within the Qo site.
Analysis of immune regulatory genes in familial and sporadic Graves' disease.

Graves’ disease (GD) is seen in apparently sporadic and familial forms. At least two immune regulatory genes are associated with GD, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4). The aim of our study was to examine the contributions of HLA and CTLA-4 to the familial clustering of GD by analyzing them for association with familial and sporadic GD. We analyzed 160 Caucasian GD patients (69 familial and 91 sporadic), and 150 matched controls. Analysis of all GD patients demonstrated significant associations between GD and HLA-DR3 [P = 9.0 × 10−7; relative risk (RR) = 3.8] and two CTLA-4 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), A/G49 SNP (P = 0.03; RR = 1.5), and CT60 SNP (P = 0.03; RR = 1.4). Moreover, there was evidence for joint susceptibility to risk between HLA-DR3 and CTLA-4, giving a combined RR of 5.9. Subset analysis demonstrated no significant difference between the frequencies of HLA-DR3 and the susceptibility alleles of CTLA-4 A/G49 and CT60 SNPs in the familial and s...
Activity Profile of Glutathione-Dependent Enzymes and Respiratory Chain Complexes in Rats Supplemented with Antioxidants and Treated with Carcinogens

Appropriate dietary interventions may reduce the potentially damaging effects of free radicals generated during metabolism and various physiological conditions. We have investigated the effects of dietary vitamins C, E, beta-carotene, or selenium (Se) on the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes and respiratory chain complexes in rats exposed to 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), a mammary carcinogen and bleomycin (BLM), an antineoplastic drug. These agents are known to generate DNA-reactive species during their metabolism, which may enhance oxidative stress in cells. Female Fischer 344 rats aged 4 months were given antioxidant supplements singly or as a mixture 2 weeks prior to mutagen treatments; antioxidant supplementation continued for an additional 4 weeks. In rats treated with mutagens, the antioxidant intake lowered the activity of Se-dependent glutathione peroxidase (Se-GPx) in liver cytosolic and mitochondrial fractions, compared to activity in rats treated with mutagens alone. However, the vitamins, but not Se supplement, persistently increased Se-GPx activity in untreated control animals. Treatment of animals with mutagen raised K(m) value of Se-GPx and this correlated with an increase in V(max). However, Se intake, either singly or mixture, significantly reduced K(m) value in mutagen-treated and untreated rats in both fractions. Se intake increased glutathione S-transferases (GST) activity (P < 0.05) in both liver fractions of mutagen-treated and untreated animals. Similar response was seen in Se-independent GPx. Since GST-alpha possesses Se-independent GPx activity, the enhanced effect observed in GST activity may be due, in part, to increased activity in Se-independent GPx. Also, selenium or the antioxidant vitamin supplementation increased the activity of all four respiratory chain complexes in untreated rats. Although BLM treatment significantly increased the activity of electron transport complexes III and IV, selenium or the vitamin supplements modulated the responses. These results indicate that the intake of dietary vitamins or Se enhances antioxidant capacity in chemically exposed animals compared to animals receiving antioxidants alone. Furthermore, in addition to being an enhancer of the catalytic function of glutathione peroxidase, selenium may directly play a role as an antioxidant.
Androgen regulation of corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2) mRNA expression and receptor binding in the rat brain.

Abstract Stress-induced affective disorders, such as depression and anxiety, are more prevalent in females than in males. The reduced vulnerability to these disorders in males may be due to the presence of androgens, which are known to dampen the stress response and reduce anxiety-like behaviors. However, a neurobiological mechanism for this sex difference has yet to be elucidated. Corticotropin-releasing hormone receptor 2 (CRHR2) has been implicated in regulating anxiety-type behaviors and is expressed in stress-responsive brain regions that also contain androgen receptors (AR). We hypothesized that androgen may exert its effects through actions on CRHR2 and we therefore examined the regulation of CRHR2 mRNA and receptor binding in the male rat forebrain following androgen administration. Young adult male Sprague/Dawley rats were gonadectomized (GDX) and treated with the non-aromatizable androgen, dihydrotestosterone propionate (DHTP) using hormone filled Silastic capsules. Control animals received empty capsules. Using quantitative real-time RT-PCR, CRHR2 mRNA levels were determined in block-dissected brain regions. DHTP treatment significantly increased CRHR2 mRNA expression in the hippocampus, hypothalamus, and lateral septum (p
Evaluating the Patient With Suspected Radiculopathy

Persons with back, neck, and limb symptoms are commonly seen by health care providers. They constitute a major referral population to specialists in electrodiagnostic medicine. The evaluation of these patients involves consideration of both the common and less common disorders. The electrodiagnostic examination with needle electromyography is the most important means of testing for radiculopathy. This test has modest sensitivity but high specificity. It complements imaging of the spine. Electromyography in combination with nerve conduction testing is valuable in excluding entrapment neuropathies and polyneuropathy, conditions that frequently mimic radicular symptoms. A streamlined examination with 6 muscles, 1 of which is the paraspinal, has a high diagnostic yield, yet minimizes patient discomfort and examiner time. This article presents an overview of the electrodiagnostic evaluation for patients with suspected radiculopathy.
A Review of the Neurobehavioral Deficits in Children with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome or Prenatal Exposure to Alcohol

Fetal alcohol syndrome is a devastating developmental disorder caused by prenatal exposure to high amounts of alcohol. In addition to structural abnormalities and growth deficits, fetal alcohol syndrome is associated with a broad spectrum of neurobehavioral anomalies. This paper reviews the behavioral and cognitive effects of prenatal alcohol exposure. More than 20 years of research are discussed, with a focus on IQ, activity, attention, learning, memory, language, motor, and visuospatial abilities in children prenatally exposed to varying amounts of alcohol, including those with fetal alcohol syndrome.
Flow around a bubble on a heated wall in a cross-flowing liquid under microgravity condition

Abstract Fluid motion around a bubble placed on a heated wall of a flowing liquid channel is studied under microgravity condition, using a spectral element based two-dimensional numerical model. It is shown that the flow and temperature fields around the bubble are governed by an interaction between thermocapillary and forced convection. An opposing interaction between the two convection mechanisms creates a recirculation cell at the downstream side of the bubble. Channel flow velocity, length of the heated wall before the bubble, and temperature difference between the heated wall and the bulk liquid are shown to be the most important variables. Their effects on the bubble surface temperature, surface velocity, stagnation point on the bubble surface, length of the recirculation cell along the heated wall, and wall heat transfer near the bubble are investigated.
Heritability of Insomnia Symptoms in Youth and Their Relationship to Depression and Anxiety

STUDY OBJECTIVES Insomnia is a highly prevalent sleep disorder yet little is known about the role of genetic factors in its pathophysiology. The aim of this study was to examine the relative contributions of genetic and environmental factors in explaining variability in insomnia symptoms. DESIGN Traditional twin design. SETTING Academic medical center. PARTICIPANTS 1412 twin pairs aged 8-16 years (48.8% MZ, 47.2% DZ, 4.0% indeterminate). INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Ratings of insomnia symptoms, depression, and overanxious disorder were made by trained interviewers based on DSM-III-R criteria. ACE models were conducted using Mx statistical software. Insomnia symptoms were prevalent in this sample based both on parental (6.6%) and youth (19.5%) reports. The overall heritability of insomnia symptoms was modest (30.7%), with the remaining variance attributed to unique environmental effects. There was no evidence of sex differences in the prevalence of insomnia symptoms or in the contribution of genetic and environmental effects. In multivariate models, there was support for insomnia-specific unique environmental effects over and above overlapping effects with depression and overanxious disorder, but no evidence for insomnia-specific genetic effects. CONCLUSIONS Genetic factors play a modest role in the etiology of insomnia symptoms in 8-16 year-olds. These effects overlap with the genetics of depression and overanxious disorder. Further work is needed to determine which genes confer risk for all three disorders.
Optimal Multiple-Impulse Direct Ascent Fixed-Time Rendezvous

Minimum-fuel, impulsive, direct ascent rendezvous trajectories are obtained for the fixed transfer time case. The terminal orbit is circular about a spherical nonrotating planet. The inclination and radius of the terminal orbit, the target position at launch, and the transfer time are independent parameters in the problem. Two- and three-impulse optimal solutions are obtained. The primer vector evaluated along a nonoptimal trajectory provides a gradient of the cost with respect to impulse times and locations. The Davidon-Fletcher-Powell algorithm is used to perform the minimization. For certain rendezvous geometries and transfer times the optimal three-impulse timefixed fuel cost is lower than the optimal two-impulse time-open cost.
Gastrointestinal persorption and tissue distribution of differently sized colloidal gold nanoparticles

The gastrointestinal uptake of micro- and nanoparticles has been the subject of recent efforts to develop effective carriers that enhance the oral uptake of drugs and vaccines. Here, we used correlative instrumental neutron activation analysis and electron microscopy to quantitatively and qualitatively study the gastrointestinal uptake and subsequent tissue/organ distribution of 4, 10, 28, and 58 nm diameter metallic colloidal gold particles following oral administration to mice. In our quantitative studies we found that colloidal gold uptake is dependent on particle size: smaller particles cross the gastrointestinal tract more readily. Electron microscopic studies showed that particle uptake occurred in the small intestine by persorption through single, degrading enterocytes in the process of being extruded from a villus. To our knowledge this is the first report, at the ultrastructural level, of gastrointestinal uptake of particulates by persorption through holes created by extruding enterocytes.
Multiple Exciton Generation in Semiconductor Quantum Dots

Multiple exciton generation in quantum dots (QDs) has been intensively studied as a way to enhance solar energy conversion by utilizing the excess energy in the absorbed photons. Among other useful properties, quantum confinement can both increase Coulomb interactions that drive the MEG process and decrease the electron–phonon coupling that cools hot excitons in bulk semiconductors. However, variations in the reported enhanced quantum yields (QYs) have led to disagreements over the role that quantum confinement plays. The enhanced yield of excitons per absorbed photon is deduced from a dynamical signature in the transient absorption or transient photoluminescence and is ascribed to the creation of biexcitons. Extraneous effects such as photocharging are partially responsible for the observed variations. When these extraneous effects are reduced, the MEG efficiency, defined in terms of the number of additional electron–hole pairs produced per additional band gap of photon excitation, is about two times bet...
Iron binding by tannic acid : effects of selected ligands

Abstract Foods with high tannin content inhibit Fe absorption from meals. Presumably, tannins form complexes with Fe in the intestinal lumen reducing Fe bioavailability. Our objective was to assess the influence of various ligands on Fe binding by tannic acid in vitro . Different mixing sequences were employed to determine whether the ligands could prevent Fe from binding to the tannin or could remove Fe already bound. Solutions of Fe +3 (FeC 3 in 0.1 n HCl), ligand (ethylenediamine-tetraacetic acid (EDTA), ascorbic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) or citric acid) and tannic acid (200 μg ml −1 ) in pH 4.4 acetate buffer were combined to obtain a final ligand:Fe molar ratio of 1:1 (89 μ m ). Three mixing sequences were followed: sequence I (Fe and ligand combined and added to tannin); sequence II (tannin and ligand combined and added to Fe); and sequence III (Fe and tannin combined and added to ligand). Fe-tannin binding was assessed by measuring absorbance at 560 nm (visible absorbance maximum) at 15 s intervals for 5 min. An Fe-tannin mixture without ligand served as the control. With EDTA, sequence I resulted in no binding. In sequence II and III, there was some binding initially, but it decreased with time. With ascorbic acid, sequence I resulted in no binding. In sequence II and III, initial binding was slightly lower than the control. Binding did not change with time. With NTA, initial binding varied with the sequence, but converged with time to a value slightly lower than the control. Citric acid did not affect binding regardless of addition sequence. These findings suggest that ligands with high affinity for Fe (e.g. EDTA) can prevent Fe from binding tannin and can remove Fe already bound. Ligands with lower affinity (e.g. citric acid) have little effect. The implications are that EDTA, ascorbic acid and NTA may affect Fe bioavailability from meals containing tannins.
Ecritures d'un lieu commun: Constantinople (Théophile Gautier, Pierre Loti)

Approche comparative de la ville et de son ecriture dans Constantinople de Gautier et Constantinople en 1890 de Loti, a la lumiere des tensions proprement modernes entre un imaginaire plus que jamais en quete d'origine et une exigence realiste croissante dans le projet oriental du dix-neuvieme siecle. Dans le probleme de representation que pose la ville, Gautier semble repondre davantage a la dimension spatiale, Loti a la dimension temporelle
Usual and unusual causes of extrahepatic cholestasis: assessment with magnetic resonance cholangiography and fast MRI

Cholestasis may result from hepatocellular (intrahepatic) disease or biliary tract (extrahepatic) abnormalities. Etiologies causing extrahepatic cholestasis are extremely diverse and invasive procedures, such as endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC), were previously required to establish the diagnosis. Due to refinements of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques, the patient with extrahepatic cholestasis currently can be evaluated noninvasively, and the information revealed frequently exceeds the findings obtained by ERCP and PTC. In this essay, we illustrate the classic MR cholangiographic (MRC) and MRI features of a variety of disorders causing extrahepatic cholestasis, including non-neoplastic disorders of the biliary tract (congenital abnormalities, infectious processes, iatrogenic disorders, and postsurgical complications) and neoplastic conditions (e.g., tumors of the pancreas, biliary tree, liver, ampulla, and regional lymph nodes). In most cases, familiarity with the key MRC features in addition to information obtained via cross-sectional MR images provide sufficient information for adequate lesion characterization.
The not‐quite‐absolute weapon: Deterrence and the legacy of Bernard Brodie

(1986). The not‐quite‐absolute weapon: Deterrence and the legacy of Bernard Brodie. Journal of Strategic Studies: Vol. 9, Dilemmas of Nuclear Strategy, pp. 15-24.
Meteoritic barium and cerium versus the general isotopic anomalies in meteoritic xenon.

The difference in the isotopic compositions of barium from some meteorites and from the terrestrial barium is explained as due to the alteration of the isotopic ratios by a combined effect of mass-dependent fractionation, neutron-capture and cosmic-ray irradiation processes, which took place prior to and during the period of formation of the solar system. The abundances of 134Ba and 135Ba in the meteorite Bruderheim seem to be slightly enhanced due to the decays of 2.06-year 134Cs and 2.3 × 106-year 135Ba. A small difference in the isotopic compositions of cerium in the Bruderheim meteorite and the terrestiral sample can also be attributed to neutron-capture processes, which occurred during an early irradiation period. It is shown that the barium and xenon isotopic anomalies observed in meteorites are closely related to each other.
Representing spectral functions using symmetric extension

This paper proposes an accurate, compact, and generic method for representing spectral functions. The focus is on smooth functions, the case of most natural spectra. While pursuing the idea of using Fourier series expansion for its advantage in representation generality, we attempt to remove the problem of Gibbs phenomenon. The solution that we propose is a new method called symmetric extension. Given a smooth spectral function S1, we first generate a new function S2 which is a mirror reflection of S1 about the upper bound of the wavelength domain. Then we create another function U that merges S1 and S2, and apply Fourier expansion to U. Because the values of U at its boundaries are equal, Gibbs oscillation is largely reduced. Besides, since U is self symmetric, all sine terms in Fourier expansion vanish and therefore we only need to keep the cosine coefficients. These make our method not only accurate, but also compact. We have tested the method with a large number of real spectra of various types, and compared with the existing methods such as direct Fourier expansion and linear model. The numerical results have confirmed the advantages of the proposed method.