cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tissue distribution and kinetics of gadolinium and nephrogenic systemic fibrosis

Gadolinium (Gd) released from Gd-based MR contrast agents is the likely etiologic agent of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). The biodistribution and kinetics of both chelated Gd and free Gd(3+) are reviewed, including demonstrations of Gd in tissues of NSF patients. The purpose of this review is to consolidate the available information on distribution, metabolism, excretion and retention of Gd with particular emphasis on the possible mechanisms in the development of NSF. We also raise serious concern about the growing tissue burden of Gd with the release of Gd from its chelates and its yet unknown consequences. The development of NSF as well as potential long-term consequences of tissue Gd retention represent a part of the spectrum of Gd toxicity.
Malignant tracheoesophageal fistula in patients with esophageal cancer.

Background. Patients with esophageal cancer and a malignant tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) have an extremely poor prognosis. Additionally, these patients often are denied treatment with radiation therapy because there is concern that these treatments may increase the size and associated problems of the TEF. Methods. To determine the appropriate treatment (use of radiation therapy) for patients with esophageal cancer and malignant TEF, a review was performed of all such cases seen at the Mayo Clinic between 1971 and 1991. Results. Between 1971 and 1991,41 patients with malignant TEF arising as a result of esophageal cancer were seen at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Twenty-eight of these cancers were locally recurrent, and this group of patients had a uniformly poor outcome (median survival time, 1.4 months). Thirteen patients had a malignant TEF and had not received previous treatment for their esophageal cancer. The median survival length was 4 months for this group of patients. Of the 41 patients in this study, 10 received radiation therapy for their malignant TEF (30–66 Gy). The median survival length of this group of patients was 4.8 months. Six of these 10 patients died of metastatic disease (median survival length, 9 months), and there was no evidence of progression of the local tumor. Four of these 10 patients died of local progression of the malignancy (median survival length, 3 months). Conclusions. Radiation therapy did not increase the severity of the TEF. The authors conclude that radiation therapy can be administered safely in patients with TEF resulting from esophageal cancer. In some patients, radiation treatment may contribute to stabilization of the local tumor process (60% of patients treated with radiation therapy died of metastatic disease without local progression of tumor); however, all patients in this study eventually died of esophageal cancer.
Tadalafil, a Phosphodiesterase Inhibitor Protects Stem Cells over Longer Period Against Hypoxia/Reoxygenation Injury Through STAT3/PKG-I Signaling.

Pharmacological preconditioning (PC) with tadalafil, a PDE5A inhibitor, enhances protein kinase G-1 (PKG-I) activity, resulting in stem cell survival. Protection by PC had two different phases, early (2 h) and late (24 h). However, the mechanism of protection during these phases remained grossly unknown. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from adult male Fischer-344 rats were cultured and pretreated with tadalafil (100 μM) for an hour and subjected to 2 h of hypoxia (1% O2), followed by reoxygenation (HR: in vitro model mimicking ischemia/reperfusion). We observed (i) increased MSC survival with reduced cell cytotoxicity as revealed by low lactate dehydrogenase release and trypan blue staining, respectively, in tadalafil-treated cells upon HR; (ii) decrease in TUNEL positivity as well as caspase activity; (iii) an increase in pAkt/Akt, iNOS, eNOS, and pGSK3β/GSK3β during the early protection phase of PC, and this protection seemed to be a spontaneous adaptive response of MSCs against HR and was independent of ...
Absence of a zero-temperature vortex solid phase in strongly disordered superconducting Bi films

We present low-temperature measurements of the resistance in magnetic field of superconducting ultrathin amorphous Bi films with normal-state sheet resistances, ${R}_{N},$ near the resistance quantum, ${R}_{Q}=\ensuremath{\Elzxh}{/e}^{2}.$ For ${R}_{N}l{R}_{Q},$ the tails of the resistive transitions show the thermally activated flux flow signature characteristic of defect motion in a vortex solid with a finite correlation length. When ${R}_{N}$ exceeds ${R}_{Q},$ the tails become nonactivated. We conclude that in films where ${R}_{N}g{R}_{Q}$ there is no vortex solid and, hence, no zero resistance state in magnetic field. We describe how disorder induced quantum and/or mesoscopic fluctuations can eliminate the vortex solid and also discuss implications for the magnetic-field-tuned superconductor-insulator transition.
Some problems and solutions for modeling overall cardiovascular regulation

Abstract A brief history of the development of mathematical models of the cardiovascular system is presented. Until the advent of computers, very little modeling of transient physiological phenomena was done, but this is now commonplace. The problem of stability in complex physiological models fortunately is averted by the fact that the physiological controls are themselves highly stable. The reason for this is that evolution has eliminated unstable feedback loops because they are lethal. Indeed, enough safety factor has been provided in the design of the body so that even poor mathematical models are often quite stable. An especially important use of complex cardiovascular models has been to derive new concepts of cardiovascular function. One such concept is the “principle of infinite gain” for long-term control of arterial pressure, which states that the long-term level of arterial pressure is controlled by a balance between the fluid intake and the output of fluid by the kidneys, not by the level of total peripheral resistance as has been a long-standing misconception based on acute rather than chronic animal experiments.
Physicochemical study in water of a mucoprotein with virus-inhibiting activity.

Human urinary mucoprotein precipitated with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide and suspended in distilled water has a light-scattering molecular weight of 2.8 x 106, an intrinsic viscosity of 225, a refractive index increment of 1.73 x 10 4, and an absorption coefficient (E5" ,,) of 11.4. The molecule is therefore smaller than that of the mucoprotein isolated by Tamm and Horsfall but retains its biological activity.
TβRIII/β-arrestin2 regulates integrin α5β1 trafficking, function, and localization in epithelial cells

The type III TGF-β receptor (TβRIII) is a ubiquitous co-receptor for TGF-β superfamily ligands with roles in suppressing cancer progression, in part through suppressing cell motility. Here we demonstrate that TβRIII promotes epithelial cell adhesion to fibronectin in a β-arrestin2 dependent and TGF-β/BMP independent manner by complexing with active integrin α5β1, and mediating β-arrestin2-dependent α5β1 internalization and trafficking to nascent focal adhesions. TβRIII-mediated integrin α5β1 trafficking regulates cell adhesion and fibronectin fibrillogenesis in epithelial cells, as well as α5 localization in breast cancer patients. We further demonstrate that increased TβRIII expression correlates with increased α5 localization at sites of cell-cell adhesion in breast cancer patients, while higher TβRIII expression is a strong predictor of overall survival in breast cancer patients. These data support a novel, clinically relevant role for TβRIII in regulating integrin α5 localization, reveal a novel crosstalk mechanism between the integrin and TGF-β superfamily signaling pathways and identify β-arrestin2 as a regulator of α5β1 trafficking.
Composition of gum turpentines of pines. XIV. A report on three Mexican pines: Pinus ayacahuite, Pinus cembroides, and Pinus pinceana.

The composition of gum turpentines from three species of Mexican pines has been determined. Each sample was fractionated and its components have been investigated and reported.
The Influence of Local Factors on the Reaction to Tuberculin: 1. The Effect of Injection

Forty-three patients being evaluated for the presence of clinical tuberculosis received careful simultaneous cutaneous tests with intermediate-strength tuberculin, comparing reactions elicited with intradermal tests to those elicited by subcutaneous tests. In another study, reactions elicited by 0.1 ml of tuberculin were compared to those elicited by 0.05 ml of the same material in the other forearm. Analysis of scattergrams comparing sizes of reactions to each technique show that differences in the sizes of the reactions elicited by intradermal and subcutaneous tests are usually small and insignificant, but subcutaneous tests unexpectedly were found to often produce larger, rather than smaller, reactions. Likewise, differences in cutaneous reactions to 0.05 and 0.1 ml of tuberculin were not impressive. We conclude that the common impression that errors of technique in the application of cutaneous tests are common explanations for false-negative tests is unwarranted.
Placebo surgery research: A blinding imperative

In placebo surgery research, intervention group subjects receive a real surgical procedure, and control subjects receive a sham surgical procedure. The sham procedure is designed to recapitulate enough of the real procedure to blind participants to group assignment. Placebo surgery designs are used to control for placebo effects, and to eliminate the bias that might result if participants and investigators were aware of group assignment when outcomes are measured. In placebo surgery studies, in which participants are placed at increased risk to achieve the scientific validity provided by blinding, it is imperative that the blind be maintained, and maintainable, to justify putting subjects at risk to achieve it. In circumstances in which the outcome assessors are not fully blinded, or in which the intervention is not amenable to rigorous blinding, placebo surgery studies are not ethical. Investigators doing placebo surgery trials should obtain data on the integrity of the blind from both subjects and outcome assessors, to inform the validity of the results and to provide input for "blindability" decisions involving future trials.
In Vitro Circadian Rhythms of the Mammalian Suprachiasmatic Nuclei: Comparison of Multi-Unit and Single-Unit Neuronal Activity Recordings

The circadian clock in the mammalian suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) expresses 24-h rhythms when isolated in vitro. Numerous studies have demonstrated that recordings of SCN single-unit neuronal activity (SUA), when expressed as a population rhythm, can be used to reliably estimate SCN circadian clock phase in vitro. The main disadvantage of this technique is its laborious nature. Thus, the present experiments were designed to investigate whether in vitro multi-unit neuronal activity (MUA) recordings from the SCN could reliably substitute for SUA recordings. The results show that an MUA rhythm can be recorded from rat SCN for 3 days in vitro but that this rhythm is extremely variable; times of peak MUA in control experiments vary by 7 to 9 h each day. They also show that several serotonergic agents previously shown to consistently advance the SUA rhythm 2 to 3 h when applied during the day induce apparent advances in the MUA rhythm in some experiments; in other cases, however, there appears to be a delay or ...
Specular-Reflectance IR Spectroscopy of Polymethylmethacrylate Thin Films: An Experiment for the Undergraduate Instrumental Analysis Course

The specular-reflectance technique has been used to develop an experiment for an undergraduate instrumental course that demonstrates the ability of Fourier transform IR spectroscopy to routinely procure vibrational spectra of thin films of polymethylmethacrylate on reflective copper discs. The experiment introduces students to the specular-reflectance technique and its selection rules, then demonstrates how they reveal the orientational constraint of adsorbed molecules within a thin film. Suggestions are included on how to expand the experiment to demonstrate the relationships between film thickness and the amount of light absorbed.
The main immunogenic region of acetylcholine receptors does not provoke the formation of antibodies of a predominant idiotype

Anti-idiotype antibodies were induced in rats by immunization with rat monoclonal antibodies to the main immunogenic region of acetylcholine receptors. These anti-idiotype antibodies showed very little crossreaction with other rat monoclonal antibodies which bind to the same region of the receptor. When the rats producing these anti-idiotype antibodies were immunized with receptor, they showed no net decrease in anti-receptor antibody production. These data indicate that, although more than half of the antibodies produced by rats immunized with receptor are directed at a small region, many anti-receptor idiotypes are involved in this response and anti-idiotype therapy is not beneficial.
On the stability of finite difference schemes in transient semiconductor problems

Abstract Nonlinear instabilities of explicit and half-implicit Crank-Nicholson schemes are analyzed by perturbation techniques. The time step is found to be inversely proportional to μN, a criterion which is in good agreement with experience. Based on this result, an optimal choice between the fast half-implicit method and the fully implicit Newton method is possible, favoring the former for Gunn-diodes and Schottky-barrier field-effect transistors, and the latter for insulated-gate field-effect transistors and some bipolar transistor problems.
Effects of mode of culture and nutrient medium on cyclic variations in enzyme activities of mammalian cells cultured in vitro.

Abstract 1. 1. The specific activities of intracellular lactate dehydrogenase ( l -lactate: NAD oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1. 27) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase ( d -glucose-6-phosphate: NADP oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1. 49) and of glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (EC 2.6.1.1) were determined during each phase of single growth cycles of cultures of l -929 and of a cell line derived from a hamster carcinoma. 2. 2. Basic profiles of variation in specific activity throughout the growth cycle were established for each of these enzymes when the cells were grown in a given medium by a given mode of culture. The pattern of fluctuation observed was then contrasted to that prevalent when the conditions of growth were changed. By this method it has been possible to show interesting qualitative differences between the cell lines as well as quantitative differences. 3. 3. The use of metabolic cycles is discussed as a possible means of characterizing mammalian cell types in culture in order to gain a greater degree of sensitivity in determining the specific response of cells to physical and chemical stimuli.
A Comparison of the Child-Rearing Goals of Russian and U.S. University Students

Russian and U.S. university students rated the importance of four child-rearing goals. Compared to U.S. students, Russian students placed lower value on rule conformity and higher value on peer orientation and neatness/cleanliness. Russian students rated inquisitiveness as most important, peer orientation as second, neatness/cleanliness as third, and rule conformity as least important. U.S. students also rated inquisitiveness as most important but rated rule conformity and peer orientation equally as second and neatness/cleanliness as least important.
Lipid nutrition of juvenile Litopenaeus vannamei II. Active components of soybean lecithin.

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the active components of soybean lecithin for juvenile Litopenaeus ˝annamei. The first experiment was conducted to determine the dietary . phosphatidylcholine PC requirement of juvenile L. ˝annamei, and to investigate whether other . . . phospholipids PL , mainly phosphatidylethanolamine PE and phosphatidylinositol PI were the active fractions of soybean lecithin. Seven levels of PC 0%, 0.35%, 0.7%, 1.4%, 2.1%, 2.8%, . . 4.2% extracted from soybean lecithin PC purity 93% were used to determine the PC require- . ment; also, PE and PI in a 25:22 proportion were tested at 0.84% and 1.68% levels with PC levels controlled at 0.35% and 0.52% of diet to investigate the combined PE and PI effects. Results showed that no dietary PC requirement was evident based on shrimp growth and survival. Increasing purified PC in the diet decreased total lipid, free fatty acid and other PL levels in . shrimp hepatopancreas mid-gut gland and increased PC level in shrimp muscle. However, other PL, mainly PE and PI, showed significant enhancing effects on shrimp growth when PC was provided at 0.35% or 0.52% of diet. Another 4= 2 factorial experiment was concluded to reevaluate the requirement of shrimp for PC by including purified PC at 0%, 0.7%, 1.4 % and 2.8% of diet with or without 0.1% cholesterol in the diet. A diet containing 1.4% PC provided by deoiled lecithin also was tested for comparison. Results showed no interaction between PC and cholesterol on shrimp growth, . survival and feed conversion ratio FCR . Compared with the apparent growth-enhancing effect of dietary cholesterol, the effect of purified PC was negligible. With PC at 1.4% of diet, the presence of other PL from lecithin or 0.1% cholesterol significantly enhanced shrimp growth and FCR.
Design of an omnidirectional mobile robot for rough terrain

An omnidirectional mobile robot is able, kinematically, to move in any planar direction regardless of current pose. To date, nearly all designs and analyses of omnidirectional robots have considered the case of motion on flat, smooth terrain. This paper presents design constraints and guidelines for designing an omnidirectional mobile robot propelled by active split offset casters to be driven in rough terrain. Geometric constraints on wheel and linkage sizes are presented. The effects of terrain roughness and loss of wheel contact are analyzed. The vehicle design is optimized for kinematic isotropy, ability to maintain ground contact, traversable obstacle height, and maximum traversable distance over four diverse terrain types. The results are contrasted with a baseline design.
A Wireless Tongue-Computer Interface Using Stereo Differential Magnetic Field Measurement

We have developed an enhanced prototype of the new Tongue Drive system (TDS), which is a noninvasive, unobtrusive wireless magnetic tongue-computer interface for people with severe disabilities. A small permanent magnet secured on the tongue using tissue adhesives, implantation, or piercing is utilized as a tracer to track tongue movements. The magnetic field variations due to the tracer movements are detected by a pair of 3-axial linear magnetic sensor modules mounted bilaterally on a headset near the user's cheeks. The sensors stereo outputs are processed and translated into user control commands after being wirelessly transmitted to a portable computer. These commands have been used in human trials to access the computer by substituting mouse functions. Measurement results showed a response time of less than 1.0 s with 99.9% accuracy for 6 direct commands, yielding an information transfer rate (ITR) of -150 bits/min.
Postnatal ontogeny of erythropoietin and hematology in free-ranging Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus)

The hormone erythropoietin (EPO) is responsible for the increased production of red blood cells (RBC) in response to tissue hypoxia. While the role of EPO in hematological development has been established in humans and terrestrial mammals, this relationship has never been examined in marine mammals that rely heavily on stored oxygen to maintain aerobic metabolism while diving. Since blood is the major oxygen storage site in marine mammals, it was hypothesized that EPO may have a significant influence on the development of hematology parameters associated with the expansion of blood oxygen stores during development. To explore this hypothesis, serum EPO concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay in 235 free-ranging Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus), throughout their Alaskan range. Hematocrit (Hct), hemoglobin (Hb), and red blood cell (RBC) counts were also measured, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin content (MCHC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCV) values determined. Erythropoietin and most hematological parameters varied with age. Hematocrit, Hb, RBC, and MCHC decreased after birth, reached their lowest values at two to three months of age, and then increased to values similar to those of adults by five months of age. Since changes in Hct and Hb account for the majority of the changes in blood oxygen stores and EPO was negatively correlated with both, it appears that EPO may play an important role in blood development of Steller sea lions, similar to previous studies on terrestrial mammals.
TESTING A STRUCTURAL‐FUNCTIONAL MODEL OF GROUP DECISION MAKING USING MARKOV ANALYSIS

This research had two main objectives: to determine how groups hold themselves together and make decisions over time, and to confront three key issues that have traditionally hindered research progress about group processes: First, what is the most useful way of conceptualizing and operationalizing the concept of “group process” to go beyond description to explanation? Second, can Markov analysis be used to go beyond description and move toward explaining group processes, and if so, what conceptual framework would be most useful to accomplish this goal? Third, how can we use explanations of processes to begin building theories of communication that are rooted in interaction structure? To accomplish these objectives, several group discussions were modeled as a structural-functional system, and Markov analysis was used to test the extent to which the discussions fit the system model. Finally, the results of the study were discussed concerning their ability to build theories of communication.
Staged balloon aortic valvuloplasty before standard aortic valve replacement in selected patients with severe aortic valve stenosis.

This study evaluated preoperative balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) as a technique to de- crease aortic valve replacement (AVR) risk in patients who have severe symptomatic aortic valve stenosis with substantial comorbidity. We report the outcomes of 18 high-risk patients who received BAV within 180 days before AVR from November 1993 through December 2011. Their median age was 78 years (range, 51-93 yr), and there were 11 men (61%). The pre-BAV median calculated Society of Thoracic Surgeons Predicted Risk of Mortality (STS PROM) was 18.3% (range, 9.4%- 50.7%). Preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction measured a median of 0.23 (range, 0.05-0.68), and the median aortic valve area index was 0.4 cm 2 /m 2 (range, 0.2-0.7 cm 2 / m 2 /m 2 (range, 0.3-0.7 cm 2 /m 2 ) (compared with pre-BAV, both P <0.05). All patients received AVR. Operative death occurred in 2 patients (11%), and combined op- erative death and morbidity in 7 patients (39%). Staged BAV substantially reduces the operative risk associated with AVR in selected patients. (Tex Heart Inst J 2014;41(2):152-8)
Hardware for visual image processing

Emphasis in this survey of hardware for visual image processing is on centers which specialize in "computer vision" research, although some of the findings are generally applicable to all areas of image processing. Tradeoffs between parameters of speed, dynamic range, and resolution are discussed as they apply to industrial and research applications. A discussion of various types of imaging devices and analog-to-digital converters follows. Next, problems which occur in various devices are discussed and some methods of compensation are suggested. Then, the three most popular methods of computer entry of image data are compared. The paper concludes with a brief description of visual image processing research in progress at nine laboratories, with emphasis on the hardware used by those laboratories as it relates to the problems being worked on.
Covariances and spectra of the kinematics and dynamics of nonlinear waves

Using the Stokes waves as a model of nonlinear waves and considering the linear component as a narrow-band Gaussian process, the covariances and spectra of velocity and acceleration components and pressure for points in the vicinity of still water level were derived taking into consideration the effects of free surface fluctuations. The results are compared with those obtained earlier using linear Gaussian waves.
Measuring the modulus of a sphere by squeezing between parallel plates

Formulas are derived relating the deformation resulting from the application of a force f to the poles of a sphere of uniform modulus. When the force f is applied, the poles, originally a distance 2R* apart, now are a distance 2Ru apart. Also, the diameter of the sphere at its equator is increased from 2R* to a new value 2Re. For an ideal rubbery material with a shear modulus of g, the force is related to the change in equatorial diameter by Thus, measurement of the increase in relative radius at the equator as a function of force applied at the poles yields the modulus directly. The change in Rv also can be related to G, but a numerical integration is required. Equations can also be derived relating modulus to dimensional changes when Hooke's law is used in place of ideal rubber elasticity.
Low loss finite width ground plane, thin film microstrip lines on Si wafers

Si RFICs on standard, 2 /spl Omega/-cm Si wafers require novel transmission lines to reduce the loss caused by the resistive substrate. One such transmission line is commonly called thin film microstrip (TFMS), which is created by depositing a metallic ground plane, thin insulating layers, and the microstrip lines on the Si wafer. Thus, the electric fields are isolated from the Si wafer. In this paper, it is shown through experimental results that the ground plane of TFMS may be finite width and comparable to the strip width in size while still achieving low loss on 2 /spl Omega/-cm Si. Measured effective permittivity shows that the field interaction with the Si wafer is small.
The Fourth Law of Behavior Genetics

Behavior genetics is the study of the relationship between genetic variation and psychological traits. Turkheimer (2000) proposed “Three Laws of Behavior Genetics” based on empirical regularities observed in studies of twins and other kinships. On the basis of molecular studies that have measured DNA variation directly, we propose a Fourth Law of Behavior Genetics: “A typical human behavioral trait is associated with very many genetic variants, each of which accounts for a very small percentage of the behavioral variability.” This law explains several consistent patterns in the results of gene-discovery studies, including the failure of candidate-gene studies to robustly replicate, the need for genome-wide association studies (and why such studies have a much stronger replication record), and the crucial importance of extremely large samples in these endeavors. We review the evidence in favor of the Fourth Law and discuss its implications for the design and interpretation of gene-behavior research.
Complex Piezoelectric Coefficients of PZT Ceramics: Method for Direct Measurement of d33

A fiber-optic device is used to determine the magnitude and phase of the strain in the poling direction of lead zirconate titanate (PZT) ceramic wafers. This information yields the real and imaginary components of the piezoelectric strain coefficient d33. The measurement hardware and software are described and results from the measurements of d33 for PZT 4 and 5 H wafers are presented. This method has the advantages of being direct, inexpensive and relatively simple to use. Verification of the results is provided through the use of the resonance method.
Trends and Variability in Severe Snowstorms East of the Rocky Mountains

AbstractThe 100 most severe snowstorms within each of six climate regions east of the Rocky Mountains were analyzed to understand how the frequency of severe snowstorms is associated with seasonal averages of other variables that may be more readily predicted and projected. In particular, temperature, precipitation, and El Nino/La Nina anomalies from 1901 to 2013 were studied. In the southern United States, anomalously cold seasonal temperatures were found to be more closely linked to severe snowstorm development than in the northern United States. The conditional probability of occurrence of one or more severe snowstorms in seasons that are colder than average is 80% or greater in regions of the southern United States, which was found to be statistically significant, while it is as low as 35% when seasonal temperatures are warmer than average. This compares with unconditional probabilities of 55%–60%. For seasons that are wetter (drier) than average, severe snowstorm frequency is significantly greater (l...
A comparative study of the seed germination biology of a narrow endemic and two geographically-widespread species of Solidago (Asteraceae). 2. Germination responses of buried seeds in relation to seasonal temperature cycles

Seeds of the narrow-endemic Solidago shortii and of the geographically-widespread S. altissima and S. nemoralis collected and buried in 1992 and 1993 were incubated in light and in darkness at 15/6°, 20/10°, 25/15°, 30/15° or 35/20°C following various periods of burial in soil in a non-temperature-controlled glasshouse. At maturity in November, seeds of the three species germinated to 0–1% in light at 15/6°C and to 10–77% at 20/10°, 25/15°, 30/15° and 35/20°C. Seeds exhumed each April from 1993 to 1996 and incubated in light at 15/6° and 20/10°C germinated to ≥83% and ≥90%, respectively, whereas those exhumed each September of 1993–96 germinated to ≤2%and ≤40%, respectively. At 25/15°, 30/15° and 35/20°C in light, seeds of S. altissima and S. shortii germinated to ≥52% and those of S. nemoralis to ≥19/, regardless of when they were exhumed. Timson's index, which integrates percentages, rates and times for onset of germination, was higher at all temperature regimes for seeds exhumed in April 1995 than for those exhumed in September 1995. Freshly-matured seeds of the three species germinated to 0–11% in darkness. Furthermore, regardless of when they were exhumed, seeds of S. altissima and S. nemoralis incubated in darkness germinated mostly to only 0–9% over the range of temperature regimes. In contrast, ≤88% and ≤6% of the seeds of S. shortii exhumed and incubated in darkness each April and September of 1993–96, respectively, germinated, ≤1% of them germinating while buried in soil. Thus, although buried seeds of all three species exhibited an annual conditional dormancy/non-dormancy cycle, only those of S. shortii exhibited cyclic changes in their germination response in darkness.
Being up front: narrative context and aspectual choice

Readers actively construct representational models of meaning when reading text, and they do so by drawing on a range of kinds of information, from the specific linguistic forms of the sentences to knowledge about how the world works (Ferretti, Kutas, & McRae, 2007; Madden & Zwaan, 2003). The present set of studies focused on how grammatical aspect is integrated into a situation model and how it is connected to other dimensions of model construction. In three experiments, participants were asked to complete sentences with a choice of grammatical aspect form (perfective or imperfective). The test sentences systematically varied four dimensions of the sentence that were linked to grammatical aspect in different ways: telicity and transitivity (both linked through their semantic representations), subject animacy (linked through an inference over semantic representations), and related location information (linked through an inference grounded in world knowledge). In addition, to examine the influence of discourse function (backgrounding vs. foregrounding) on aspectual choice different construction types were varied across experiments – specifically a fronted locative construction and the presence of a generic narrative opener (Once upon a time). The results found that aspectual choice depends on information linked to the semantic representation of grammatical aspect; however, in contrast to previous work (e.g., Ferreti et al., 2007) information grounded in world knowledge (location information) did not influence aspectual choice except when it was integrated in a specialized discourse construction.
Contrast and the justification of effort

When humans are asked to evaluate rewards or outcomes that follow unpleasant (e.g., high-effort) events, they often assign higher value to that reward. This phenomenon has been referred to as cognitive dissonance or justification of effort. There is now evidence that a similar phenomenon can be found in nonhuman animals. When demonstrated in animals, however, it has been attributed to contrast between the unpleasant high effort and the conditioned stimulus for food. In the present experiment, we asked whether an analogous effect could be found in humans under conditions similar to those found in animals. Adult humans were trained to discriminate between shapes that followed a high-effort versus a low-effort response. In test, participants were found to prefer shapes that followed the high-effort response in training. These results suggest the possibility that contrast effects of the sort extensively studied in animals may play a role in cognitive dissonance and other related phenomena in humans.
Photoelectrochemical Etching of In(x)Ga(1-x)N

A comparison of KOH, NaOH and AZ400K solutions for UV photo-assisted etching of undoped and n+ GaN is discussed. The etching is diffusion-limited (Ea 1020cm−3) in the material.
Postjunctional α2-adrenoceptors are not present in proximal arterioles of rat intestine

The purpose of this study was to evaluate two potential stimuli for nitric oxide (NO) release in rat intestinal arterioles during sympathetic nerve activation. To determine whether these vessels co...
ARTEMIS: a high-fidelity NTW system simulation

The Navy Theator Wide (NTW) Program is in the concept design stage. As the NTW Mission Technical Direction Agent, the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU/APL) is responsible for independent evaluation of system design concepts and technical approaches. To support this capability, JHU/APL has developed an integrated end-to-end simulation. The APL Area/Theater Engagement Missile-Ship Simulation - Theater Version (ARTEMIS-T) is built upon existing high-fidelity simulations of the NTW system components interfaced using the distributed High Level Architecture (HLA) developed by the Defense Modeling and Simulation Office (DMSO). Integration of these high-fidelity component simulations allows dynamic modeling of the closed-loop interactions crucial to an overall system understanding. ARTEMIS provides a tool for use throughout the program life-cycle, from requirements definition and design verification to flight test performance prediction to evaluation of new algorithms and technologies within a complete system setting.
Provider Difficulties With Spiritual and Forgiveness Communication at the End of Life

Background:Due to an absence of communication training, provider responses to patient/family spiritual distress are highly variable. Assessing spiritual and forgiveness concerns are important to en...
Skills training for pregnant and parenting adolescents.

Skills training for drug-using and at-risk adolescents has been studied in a variety of ways. An argument has been made that a deficit in skills is related to the etiology of drug use and abuse by teens. However it remains to be determined whether an improvement in those deficient skills will reduce or eliminate drug use. Moreover the definitions of those target skills vary extensively among investigators. The author reviews the literature related to skills training and drug treatment for adolescents. He describes a current research demonstration project Project PALS funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Recommendations are given for future research. Sections discuss the literature on recommendations for skills training variations in skills training theoretical linkages with regard to skills training and teen drug abuse the implementation of skills training skills training and adolescent drug abuse and skills training with pregnant and parenting teens.
Experimental Studies of the Structures and Isomerization of Atomic Clusters

Ion mobility measurements can be used to separate structural isomers of atomic clusters and to provide information about their geometries and isomerization processes. The principles behind ion mobility measurements and the methods used to calculate mobilities for comparison with the experimental data are briefly reviewed. With the development of high resolution ion mobility measurements, it is now possible to separate many more structural isomers than could be resolved using conventional techniques. Some recent results for carbon and silicon clusters are described. For sodium chloride nanocrystals several families of structural isomers have been resolved and the results show that dramatic shape transformations can occur at room temperature for these species.
Robust Trajectory Optimization for Highly Constrained Rendezvous and Proximity Operations

Rapid and reliable generation of highly constrained, optimal finite-thrust trajectories for rendezvous and proximity operations (RPOs) on an arbitrary orbit is the objective of this paper. The problem is treated in a realistic setting where non-Newtonian gravity (J2 harmonics) and aerodynamic drag are included and the engine thrust relatively is low with finite burn times. In addition, representative RPO constraints on acquisition of dockingaxis point, approach corridor, relative velocity, and plume impingement inhibition are all imposed. Further constraints on keep-out zone for proximity trajectory and the rate of changes of the thrust vector are also enforced. The non-convex keep-out zone constraint is handled by a globally convergent successive linearization method. The resulting nonlinear optimal control problem is transformed into a sequence of second-order cone programming (SOCP) problems after using a lossless relaxation technique. A state-of-the-art primal-dual interior-point algorithm is employed to ensure the solutions to the SOCP problems.
The effect of the modified uvulopalatopharyngoplasty to treat obstructive sleep apnea syndrome of children

Objective:To investigate the effect of modified uvulopalatopharyngoplasty(UPPP) on Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome of children.Methods:195 OSAS children underwent tonsillectomy were divided into 2 groups:the management group and the traditional group.Compare two kinds methods of tonsillectomy in symptomatic relief,Post-tonsillectomy baemorrhage,Post-tonsillectomy complaint reflection.Results:Effective rate of symptomatic relief was 96.30 % in the management group and 85.06 % in the traditional group.Post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage of the management group was statistically less than the traditional group.Conclusion:The modified uvulopalatopharyngoplasty(suture palatopharyngeal arch and palatoglossal arch) offers a better effect in symptomatic relief,Post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage,Post-tonsillectomy complaint reflection,than no suture.
RBF network identifier with optimal selection cluster algorithm and its application

A model of RBF neural network (RBFNN) is framed to solve the problem of identification of nonlinear systems. In order to realize the structure identification of RBFNN, a kind of optimal selection cluster algorithm is proposed. By this algorithm, it is optimally gained the hidden layer node number of RBFNN in terms of input samples. The structure and parameters identification problems of RBFNN are simultaneously solved, so that the modeling and prediction precision of RBFNN are notably raised. The application example shows the validity of the scheme.
Anomalous origin of left coronary artery from pulmonary artery in association with intracardiac lesions. Report of two cases.

Two cases are presented to illustrate the diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma when an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery occurs with a hemodynamically significant intracardiac lesion. Hemodynamic alterations resulting from the associated intracardiac lesion may obscure the clinical features of the coronary arterial abnormality, and the appearance of normal coronary arterial distribution with left ventricular or aortic root angiography may create a false impression of a normal origin of the coronary arterial supply. A high index of suspicion may be the only lead to the detection of an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery in association with an intracardiac lesion. In addition to the intracardiac lesions known to be associated with coronary arterial abnormalities, the question of anomalous coronary supply should be raised by the finding of poor left ventricular function or mitral insufficiency after operation (unexplainable by other causes), by the development of poor myocardial function during cardiac catheterization or anesthesia, or by the significant enlargement of a coronary artery seen during left ventriculography or supravalvular aortography.
A New Label for Mifepristone.

The vicissitudes of life produce pregnancies which may be unwanted, or which may impair “health” … which, in the full setting of the case, may create such suffering, dislocations, misery, or tragedy as to make an early abortion the only civilized step to take. — Justice William O. Douglas, January 22, 1973, writing a concurring opinion in Roe v. Wade Whenever a sponsor conducts phase 3 trials of a new molecular entity to support Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for marketing, there are strong incentives to conduct the trials under conditions that will maximize efficacy and minimize the number . . .
Conventional and cryo-synchronous luminescence spectra of orthorhombic calcium titanate

Abstract We report, for the first time, characterization of electronic midgap states in the nanocrystalline orthorhombic calcium titanate by synchronous luminescence spectroscopy at 77 K versus the “conventional” PL emission and excitation spectroscopy, and by the complementary spectroscopic and structural methods. We also report the radiative transitions from the three distinct electronic midgap states in nanocrystalline orthorhombic calcium titanate at the extrabandgap and subbandgap photoexcitation. The emission peaks of the nanocrystalline orthorhombic CaTiO3 obtained in the cryo-synchronous luminescence experiments are significantly narrower and much better resolved than those obtained in the “conventional” PL emission spectroscopy experiments under the same conditions.
Overcoming the past

DEFROCKING THE DEPUTY (HOCHHUTH'S DER STELLVERTRETER) The controversy aroused by Rolf Hochhuth's play Der Stellvertreter ( The Deputy , 1963) has been called “one of the greatest publicity successes of the century” and even “the largest storm ever raised by a play in the whole history of the drama.” Within six months of its premiere on February 20, 1963, more than 3,000 reactions—reviews, reports, letters—had been published in German newspapers and journals and documented in a collection commissioned by the publisher. That same year, a Swiss publisher brought out an anthology of articles in response to the demonstrations that accompanied the play's performance in Basel. A year later Eric Bentley released his The Storm over the Deputy , which was characterized on the cover as a collection of (mostly American) “essays and articles about Hochhuth's explosive drama.” Meanwhile the play was being produced in London, Paris, Vienna, Athens, New York, Odense, Stockholm, the Netherlands (though it had to be shifted from The Hague to Rotterdam), and Tel Aviv (despite official statements supporting the Pope). In Italy and Spain, Church pressure prevented performances; an attempt in Rome was stopped by the police. In 1964, Jacques Nobecourt, an editor for German and Italian affairs at Le Monde in Paris, published a long and thoughtful account of the whole affair: the theme of the play and its repercussions around the world among Catholics, Protestants, and Jews; the historical reality of the various figures of the play and its background; and its critical reception.
Who's Who in Mineral Names

In addition to being an executive editor for Rocks and Minerals, Richard S. Mitchell is the author of the books Dictionary of Rocks and Mineral Names: What Do They Mean?, both published by Van Nostrand Reinhold.
Evaluation of Materials as Bacterial Spore Carriers for Testing Disinfectants

Prototype objects made of steel, glass, and various polymers were evaluated in relation to currently used objects made of silk suture and porcelain for their use as bacterial spore carriers for testing the sporicidal activity of disinfectants. The carriers were inoculated with spores of Bacillus subtilis. Spore retention was determined by detachment from the carriers by sonication and rinsing. Inoculated carriers were exposed to 2.5N HCI and 2.5% glutaraldehyde solutions to determine the effect of carrier material on spore inactivation. Carriers with the highest and lowest spore retention were steel-silicone mix carriers (1.7 x 10 6 spores/carrier) and polyvinylchloride cylinders (3.8 x 10 5 spores/carrier), respectively. Spore adhesion to carrier objects was not directly proportional to carrier surface area. Spores on silk sutures, grooved steel, and Teflon carriers survived longest in HCI solution. Spores on Teflon, grooved stainless steel, and glass cylinders survived longest in glutaraldehyde solution. In chemical and spore adhesion tests, no significant statistical differences were found between novel carrier materials and current spore carrier materials. The methods used for evaluating carrier materials were reliable and repeatable.
Five Lessons from Stealth Poetics

"Poetics of cinema" as a research program has yielded many valuable discoveries about film form, style, and theme. It has also shed light on film history and the ways in which spectators respond to films. This chapter reviews some central assumptions of this approach, emphasizing notions of norm, formal dynamics, and contexts of production and reception. The chapter goes on to consider how films from the "three Chinas" can be illuminated by the Poetics approach. Major examples are drawn from works by Hou Hsiao-hsien, Tsai Ming-liang, and Wong Kar-wai.
The non-receptor tyrosine kinase ITK is required for type 1 regulatory T cell development

Type 1 regulatory T (Tr1)cells lack the expression of Foxp3 but are potent producers of the immunosuppressive cytokine IL-10, with profound regulatory function in suppressing inflammation and promoting tolerance. Tr1 cells differentiate in response to signals engaging T cell receptor (TCR) and/or regulatory cytokine milieu. The non-receptor tyrosine kinase ITK is a key modulator downstream of TCR, playing critical role in T cell development and function. Using mouse models carrying Foxp3-RFP and IL-10-GFP dual reporters, we found that, in the absence of ITK, Foxp3 − IL-10 + Tr1 cell development driven by TCR activation is severely impaired in various tissues (spleen, lymph nodes, lung, gut, and fat). Under Tr1 polarizing condition, naive Foxp3 − CD4 + T cells isolated from WT mouse thymus and spleen can both give rise to Tr1cells, however, Itk −/− thymic and splenic naive Foxp3 − CD4 + T cells are deficient in Tr1 differentiation. Although Itk −/− CD4 + T cells proliferated under Tr1 differentiating conditions, they failed to up-regulate LAG3, CD49b, ICOS, PD-1, c-Maf, AHR, and IRF4 to levels observed in WT cells, suggesting that ITK is critical for Tr1 cell fate programming. Utilizing transgenic mouse model carrying an allele sensitive mutant of ITK that allows ITK kinase specific blockade by a small molecule 3MB-PP1, we also determined that the expression of the aforementioned markers is dependent on ITK kinas activity. Inhibiting ITK kinase activity also diminished Tr1 differentiation inhuman CD4 + T cells. We conclude that ITK is required for Tr1 cell development and targeting ITK signaling may be a strategy to modulate regulatory immunity for clinical benefit.