cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The use of cell lysis as an index of ocular irritation potential

AbstractWe report an in vitro method for assessing ocular irritation by measuring cell lysis of mouse connective tissue (strain L, Clone 929) and rabbit corneal cell lines (SIRC). Lysis of corneal epithelial cells in vivo leads to swelling and subsequent opacification of the underlying corneal stroma. In vitro lysis was determined by the measurement of changes in absorbance (360 nm) of cell suspensions over a 10-min exposure to test materials. These data were expressed as numbers of cells/ml using linear regression. The regression line obtained was linear and similar for both cell types. Loss of viability and spontaneous cell lysis were minimal over the assay interval. In a separate study, rabbit corneal cells were used to assess alteration of cell membrane integrity following 30-min exposures to test materials by measuring trypan blue dye exclusion in these cells. Activities of test materials were ranked according to the lowest concentration capable of producing statistically significant cell lysis as fo...
Effects of nanostructure geometry on polymer chain alignment and device performance in nanoimprinted polymer solar cell

Among the various organic photovoltaic devices, the conjugated polymer/fullerene approach has drawn the most research interest. The performance of these types of solar cells is greatly determined by the nanoscale morphology of the two components (donor/acceptor) and the molecular orientation/crystallinity in the photoactive layer. This article demonstrates our recent studies on the nanostructure geometry effects on the nanoimprint induced poly(3 hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) chain alignment and photovoltaic performance. Out-of-plane and in-plane grazing incident X-ray diffractions are employed to characterize the chain orientations in P3HT nanogratings with different widths and heights . It is found that nanoimprint procedure changes the initial edge-on alignment in non-imprinted P3HT thin film to a vertical orientation which favors the hole transport, with an organization height H ≥ 170 nm and width in the range of 60 nm≤ W width w = 60 nm, height h = 170 nm), allowing for the most efficient charge separation, transport and light absorption. We believe this work will contribute to the optimal geometry design of nanoimprinted polymer solar cells.
Comparative Effect of Transient Global Ischemia on Extracellular Levels of Glutamate, Glycine, and γ-Aminobutyric Acid in Vulnerable and Nonvulnerable Brain Regions in the Rat

We evaluated whether regional differences in the magnitude of glutamate, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and glycine release could explain why some regions are vulnerable to ischemia whereas others are spared. By means of the microdialysis technique, the temporal profile of ischemia-induced changes in extracellular levels of glutamate, GABA, and glycine was compared in regions that demonstrate differing susceptibilities to a 10- and 20-min ischemic insult (dorsal hippocampus, anterior thalamus, somatosensory cortex, and dorsolateral striatum). The degree of ischemia (as established by local cerebral blood flow reduction) and the magnitude of histopathoiogical neuronal damage were also evaluated in these regions. The blood flow reduction was severe and uniform in all regions; however, the histopathoiogical outcome illustrated a different pattern. Whereas the CA1 sector of the hippocampus was severely damaged, the thalamus and cortex were relatively spared from both 10 and 20 min of ischemia. Striatal neurons were resistant to a 10-min insult but severely damaged after 20 min of ischemia. Ischemia-induced increases in glutamate and GABA content were of a similar magnitude and temporal profile in all four brain regions. A uniform increase in extracellular glycine levels was also observed in all four brain structures. The postischemic response, however, was different Glycine levels remained twofold higher than baseline in the hippocampus but fell to baseline in the cortex and thalamus after both 10- and 20-min insults. In the striatum, glycine levels returned to baseline after 10 min of ischemia but remained relatively high after a 20-min insult Although ischemic neuronal damage was not related to glutamate release, it correlated with the „excitotoxic index,” whose value was derived from the following equation: [glutamate] X [glycine]/[GABA]. No significant changes were observed in the excitotoxic index during ischemia. However, a significant increase in the index was observed in vulnerable brain regions during the early and late recirculation periods. These results suggest that the imbalance between excitation and inhibition, reflected by changes in the excitotoxic index, may account for regional vulnerability to ischemia.
Predicting response to semantic differential scales from verbal behavior

This study discovered validity evidence, from a communication perspective, for semantic differential scales designed to measure attitude toward an object. The favorableness of sources’ verbal behavior about an object was related to sources’ attitudes toward the object. Receivers were able to estimate accurately sources’ attitudes and the favorableness of sources’ verbal behavior. The results were predicted from attitude theory and suggest the validity of the scales.
Post-ischemic hypothermia promotes generation of neural cells and reduces apoptosis by Bcl-2 in the striatum of neonatal rat brain

Abstract Hypothermia is a potential therapy for cerebral hypoxic ischemic injury in adults and neonates. However, the mechanism of hypothermia neuroprotection after hypoxic-ischemia (HI) on the developing rat brain remains unclear. In this research, 7-day-old rats were subjected to left carotid artery ligation followed by 8% oxygen for 2 h. They were divided into hypothermia (rectal temperature, 32–33 °C for 24 h) and normothermia (36–37 °C for 24 h) groups immediately after hypoxia-ischemia. All rats were given 50 mg/kg/day 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) intraperitoneally at 4–6 days and sacrificed at 1 or 2 weeks after HI. There was a significant decrease in infarct volume in the hypothermia group at 7 days after HI compared with that in the normothermia group. The numbers of nestin-labeled cells did not change greatly, but β-tubulin III (Tuj-1) immuno-positive cells increased significantly in the striatum at 1 and 2 weeks after HI in the hypothermia compared to normothermia group. Neurogenesis was assessed by double immunohistochemical/immunofluorescent labeling of BrdU with nestin, Tuj-1 or microtubule-associated protein 2 (Map-2). Newborn neural progenitors (BrdU+-nestin+) did not change dramatically, but newborn immature (BrdU+-Tuj-1+) and mature (BrdU+-Map-2+) neurons increased significantly in the hypothermia compared with normothermia group. Meanwhile, the apoptosis rate of neural precursors, immature and mature neurons, assessed by double labeling of active Casp-3 with nestin/Tuj-1/Map-2, decreased noticeably in the hypothermia compared with normothermia group. We also found that hypothermia significantly increased expression of Bcl-2, which coexisted with nestin/Tuj-1/Map-2. Inhibition of Bcl-2 expression reversed the decreased apoptosis rate of neural precursors and neurons in hypothermia animal striatum of neonatal rat brain. These results suggest that neuroprotection effects of hypothermia on injured developing rat brain may associate with enhanced generation of neuronal cells and Bcl-2-mediated reduction of apoptosis of these cells. These observations are noteworthy regarding clinical hypothermia therapy following cerebral HI injury during the perinatal period.
Microcolumn size-exclusion chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

Microcolumn (250×0.5 mm I.D.) size-exclusion chromatography was implemented for the separation of polydisperse mixtures prior to electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometric detection. An improved separation, compared to conventional-bore SEC, was demonstrated upon coupling with ESI quadrupole ion-trap mass spectrometry and a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance instrument for the separation of individual oligomers present in octylphenoxypoly(ethoxy)ethanol.
Current generation in a relativistic plasma

The relativistic dynamics of fast current carriers are rich in intriguing phenomena not appearing in the Newtonian limit. It is shown that because of these dynamics there is a bound to the efficiency of driving current in a tokamak either by waves or other means. Analytic techniques uncover the current-drive scheme which yields the maximum attainable efficiency.
The Energy of the Podkamennaya Tunguska, Siberia, Meteoritic Fall (±1019,609)

This note points out that, in case F. J. W. Whipple's estimate of the energy expended by the Podkamennaya Tunguska, Siberia, meteorite on the atmosphere is accepted, the mass of this meteorite, assumed to be terrene in composition, must have been of the order of 107 metric tons, if its velocity was 10 km./sec., and of the order of 105 metric tons, even if its velocity was 100 km./sec. The enormity of these terrene masses, coupled with the failure of exhaustive search to recover any fragment whatever of this fall, is held to support the hypothesis that the Podkamennaya Tunguska meteorite was contraterrene in nature.
Auxin and Red Light in the Control of Hypocotyl Hook Opening in Beans

Evidence is presented to support the suggestion that endogenous auxinlike substances participate in controlling the unbending of the hypocotyl hook of Phaseolus vulgaris L. (cv. Black Valentine). An acidic indole was detected in hook diffusates by fluorometry; triiodobenzoic acid, an inhibitor of auxin transport, prevented red light-induced unbending, and indoleacetic acid can be substituted for tissue just above the elbow region as an inhibitor of opening. Indoleacetic acid also stimulated growth of shank cells, and red light increased the sensitivity of this tissue to the hormone. A small red light-induced stimulation of auxin transport through the inside half of the hypocotyl shank was observed and may be related to light-induced unbending of the hook.
Quiero para mi novio : Aspectual uses of para in Paraguayan Spanish

There is an extensive bibliography on the meanings of the Spanish preposition para but very little has been done to address the different traits that this form acquires in contact varieties of Spanish. Paraguayan Spanish exhibits a high incidence of an innovative use of the preposition para that has been attributed to contact with Guarani: the ‘anticipated possession’ construction, which has similar characteristics to the Guarani marker of prospective aspect -ra. Comparative data confirm the existence of a close correspondence between this innovative extension of para and the uses of -ra. We propose a process of grammatical replication (Heine & Kuteva 2005) by which para has acquired an aspectual function not evident in Standard Spanish. We show that the semantic and grammatical shift is motivated by specific intersecting semantic components of para and its Guarani counterpart. We trace the path of grammaticalization from minor incipient uses to systemic contact-induced change, whereby para discards its prepositive function in favor of an overt representation of an aspectual role.
Potentiation of endogenous fibrinolysis and rescue from lung ischemia/reperfusion injury in interleukin (IL)-10-reconstituted IL-10 null mice.

Little is known about interactions between endogenous anti-inflammatory paradigms and microvascular thrombosis in lung ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Interleukin (IL)-10 suppresses macrophage activation and down-regulates proinflammatory cytokine production, but there are no available data to suggest a link between IL-10, thrombosis, and fibrinolysis in the setting of I/R. We hypothesized that hypoxia/ischemia triggers IL-10 production, to dampen proinflammatory cytokine and adhesion receptor cascades and to restore vascular patency by fibrinolytic potentiation. Studies were performed in a mouse lung I/R model. IL-10 mRNA levels in lung were increased 43-fold over base line by 1 h of ischemia/2 h of reperfusion, with a corresponding increase in plasma IL-10. Expression was prominently localized in bronchial epithelial cells and mononuclear phagocytes. To study the link between IL-10 and fibrinolysis in vivo, the induction of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) was evaluated. Northern analysis demonstrated exaggerated pulmonary PAI-1 expression in IL-10 (−/−) mice after I/R, with a corresponding increase in plasma PAI/tissue-type plasminogen activator activity. In vivo, IL-10 (−/−) mice showed poor postischemic lung function and survival after I/R compared with IL-10 (+/+) mice. Despite a decrease in infiltration of mononuclear phagocytes in I/R lungs of IL-10 (−/−) mice, an increased intravascular pulmonary fibrin deposition was observed by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting, along with increased IL-1 expression. Recombinant IL-10 given to IL-10 (−/−) mice normalized the PAI/tissue-type plasminogen activator ratio, reduced pulmonary vascular fibrin deposition, and rescued mice from lung injury. Since recombinant hirudin (direct thrombin inhibitor) also sufficed to rescue IL-10 (−/−) mice, these data suggest a preeminent role for microvascular thrombosis in I/R lung injury. Ischemia-driven IL-10 expression confers postischemic pulmonary protection by augmenting endogenous fibrinolytic mechanisms.
From Different to Differentiated: Using “Ecological Framework” to Support Personally Relevant Access to General Curriculum for Students with Significant Intellectual Disabilities

Language used in the field of special education is important; it can serve to influence both curriculum and placement decisions for students with intellectual disability. Historically, “Functional Curriculum” was used to describe curriculum adaptations necessary for students to access their environment (school and community). However, the term has evolved to mean a separate set of curriculum standards primarily addressing daily life skills for individuals with significant disabilities. An unintended consequence of this term has been to suggest a “different” rather than “differentiated” curriculum for students and, by doing so, suggest the need for separate settings in which to deliver this differently focused curriculum. A recent paper by Hunt, McDonnell, and Crockett (2012) suggests the use of an ecological framework to guide stakeholders to maintain a clear focus on individual student needs as they provide access to general curriculum for this population of students. The authors suggest the term, “Personally Relevant,” as a reference to curriculum adaptations made within the ecological framework to both access grade-appropriate curriculum and receive individualized support. This change—from Functional to Personally Relevant—promotes inclusive practices by signalling common curriculum that is differentiated, not different, for students with significant intellectual disability.
Efficient transmission of stored video for improved management of network bandwidth

Emerging applications that use stored video complicate the management of network resources due to the bit rate variability of the video. This paper develops a new, more efficient and less complex algorithm for transmission of stored video. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An fMRI investigation of emotional processing of body shape in bulimia nervosa.

Objective: Cognitive-behavioral theories of eating disorder etiology emphasize the role of body-oriented self-schemas. Examination of brain regions associated with self-referencing, such as medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), during processing of body-related stimuli can thus be utilized to evaluate such theories. Method: Twelve women with bulima nervosa (BN) and 12 comparison women underwent functional brain imaging while viewing images of women with either thin or overweight bodies in a self-referencing context. Results: For thin bodies, there was no significant mPFC activation for either group. For overweight bodies, mPFC activation was significantly greater for BN patients, with a focus in subregions associated with emotional processing. Discussion: These findings are consistent with cognitive models of eating disorders which posit that negative body-related stimuli are more central to self-schemas and more emotionally provocative in persons with eating disorders, lending support to treatment and prevention interventions that emphasize body overvaluation as a primary target of change. © 2011 by Wiley Periodicals,Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2012)
An accurate theory for the square-well potential: from long to short well width

Density function theory (DFT) is combined with the first-order mean spherical approximation (FMSA) to study the radial distribution function (RDF) of the square-well (SW) potential. The combination (DFT + FMSA) is based on the direct correlation function (DCF) of the FMSA. Upon comparison with computer simulation data, DFT + FMSA is shown to give better performance than FMSA for mid- and long-range attractions. For short-range and very short-range attractions, the theory successfully corrects the deficiencies of the original FMSA. Comparisons include the evaluation of contact values, gap height at a discontinuity and profiles of the RDF. This work provides an accurate and consistent way to handle the SW potential.
Operative management of ectopic pregnancy: A cost analysis ☆ ☆☆ ★

Abstract OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to analyze the cost for hospital-based services related to the operative management of ectopic pregnancies and determine the most cost-conscious approach by distinguishing the constituent components. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective comparative review of every ectopic pregnancy that was surgically managed at the Memorial Medical Center of Long Beach. Unit cost estimates that are based on a cost accounting system were derived and compared between different procedures according to resources used among separate services. RESULTS: Hemodynamic instability significantly increases the cost of management by increasing the length of stay and laboratory costs. Among stable patients laparoscopic excision of ectopic pregnancies saves nearly 25% per case (p
Scintillators in magnetic fields up to 20 T

Abstract Plastic scintillators and wavelength shifting fibers have been placed in magnetic fields of up to 20 T and the change in light yield measured. The light yield in scintillators increases at very low magnetic fields and continues to increase with increasing field until saturation at about 2 T. The maximum increase is between 6% and 8%, depending on the plastic composition. This increase is due to the polymer and not due to the dyes (fluors) used in the scintillators. No change of light yield due to magnetic fields has been observed in wavelength shifting fibers.
Average run length function of CUSUM test with independent but non-stationary log-likelihood ratios

The characteristics of Page's CUSUM test are revealed by its average run length (ARL) function. It has been studied extensively under the assumption of independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) log-likelihood ratios (LLR). In this case, it has been known that ARL is the solution of a Fredholm integral equation of the second kind (FIESK). However, few results are known when the LLR are independent but non-stationary (i.e., not identically distributed). This paper develops an inductive integral equation governing the ARL function in this setting. Unfortunately, in general it can not be solved analytically and the uniqueness of the solution is not guaranteed. However, for two frequently encountered cases-the LLR sequence converges in distribution and it has a periodic distribution, respectively-numerical solutions can be obtained by extending the system of linear algebraic equations method proposed for solving FIESK. Our solutions to these two special cases are compared with results of Monte Carlo simulations.
You know, it depends.

Abstract Machine searches of transcribed speech can assist in the quantitative study of sociolinguistic variation in the use of discourse markers. This approach makes possible the analysis of extended samples of speech from a stratified population from which frequency counts can be calculated. The present paper deals with the use of you know as a discourse marker in two data-sets from Scotland. The first is a set of interviews recorded in Ayr and the second a set of same-sex conversations recorded in Glasgow. The analysis shows age, gender, and social class differences in the use of you know that do not appear to be based on any notion of ‘shared information.'
The colors of evil

Children often pick on one another, but Vivian has had enough. Tormented on a daily basis by her schoolmate Nancy, Vivian uses her knowledge of the dark arts to summon a demon servant who'll do her bidding. When she performs the ritual, however, the results are not what she expected.
Some exact properties of hopping conduction

The ac conductivity of carriers which perform a random walk in a random environment is studied. Irreducible clusters of hopping sites are introduced by connecting sites which share a nonzero jump rate. A finite irreducible random-walk matrix is shown to be negative semidefinite and have a nondegenerate zero eigenvalue. As a result, the real and imaginary parts of the ac conductivity of systems without infinite irreducible clusters vanish, respectively, quadratically and linearly with the frequency. The coefficient of the linear dependence of the imaginary part of the ac conductivity is related to a correlation length of the irreducible clusters. The coefficient for percolation models in a square lattice is obtained by a computer simulation and compared with the result given by the coherent medium approximation. With the use of the dc conductivity and localization criteria in a strong and weak sense, three percolation thresholds besides the usual one are defined, and relations among these thresholds are discussed.
Intercalation Mechanism and Interlayer Structure of Hexadecylamines in the Confined Space of Layered α-Zirconium Phosphates

Well-defined hexadecylamine (HDA) intercalated structures, either interdigitated layers, bilayers, or hybrid layers of both, in a confined space of highly functionalized layered α-zirconium phosphates (α-ZrPs) have been prepared based on the two-step intercalation mechanism and these distinct intercalated structures can serve as a model system to investigate the interactions of two monolayers whose amphiphilic tails are adjacent to each other. At the first intercalation step, the electrostatic interaction between HDAs and α-ZrP is dominant and results in an interdigitated layer structure (d001 = 3.0 nm) and the interdigitated layer is saturated at around Φ = 50%, where Φ is the weight fraction of intercalated HDAs in the intergallery of α-ZrP. For Φ higher than 50%, the bilayer structure (d001 = 4.3 nm) emerges due to further hydrophobic interaction between HDAs initially grafted to α-ZrP and unanchored HDAs and the relative fraction of the bilayer structure over the interdigitated layer increases with th...
Conversion of sequences from deductive to inductive form

(1993). Conversion of Sequences from Deductive to Inductive Form. Mathematics Magazine: Vol. 66, No. 5, pp. 312-313.
The role of movement by Crepidula norrisiarum Williamson in altering reproductive potential

Slipper limpets in the genus Crepidula have long been used as a model system in the study of protandrous hermaphroditism. The timing of the sex change in different social situations has been a major focus of previous work. Most efforts, however, have ignored the possibility that Crepidula species may also change their social situation through movement. In this study we evaluated the situations in which movements of the Norrisia norrisi-dwelling Crepidula norrisiarum Williamson occur, and the change in reproductive potential that may result from these movements. While both sexes and a range of sizes were able to reattach following separation from the host, in a series of movement experiments only male C. norrisiarum moved on and between host N. norrisi. A female C. norrisiarum alone on a N. norrisi was the most likely social situation to attract a male, while males were least likely to move when stacked on a female C. norrisiarum. A 74% portion of male C. norrisiarum movements between host N. norrisi resulted in an increase in reproductive potential, 10% saw no change, while the remaining 16% of movements resulted in a decrease. Movement was found to be a viable alternative to sex change as a means of increasing reproductive potential. The frequency of movements associated with particular Crepidula social situations should be an important consideration when evaluating sex change tradeoff decisions in these systems.
Timesharing on the PDP-11 under RT-11

A timesharing system for the Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-11 is described. In keeping with the general philosophy of the RT -11operating system, the permanently resident portion of the system is kept to an absolute minimum size. The system supports from 2 to 16 users, and provides each with full editing and batch execution capabilities. A majority of the users of the Digital Equipment Corporation PDP-II in scientific and academic environ­ ments have chosen the RT-II operating system as the system which offers the greatest range of facilities with the smallest resident memory requirements of any Digital systems. However, despite its versatility, RT-11 is inherently a single-user (with the exception of the Multiple User Basic option) and, as such, much poten­ tially valuable computer time is wasted. The present paper describes the design and implementation of a multiple-access version of RT-II which extends the full power of RT to a community of up to 16 simultaneous users. Our system, MART (for Multiple Access Real Time), has been designed to maximize ease of operation with a minimal resident memory requirement (less than 1,700 words plus 611 words per user). RT-II is designed as a two-partition (foreground­ background) system. The MART resident monitor executes as a foreground job which supervises the allocation of the background partition to various users. The design provides each simultaneous user the benefits of a fully interactive text editor (a subset of the standard RT editor), a Concise Command Language (CCL) for system resource management, a facility for the inter­ active execution of specially prepared foreground programs, and job queue management for the batch execution of FORTRAN, BASIC, or MACRO (Digital's assembly language) programs. Complete accounting facilities are provided which retain total log-on time and total batch execution time for each user. MART permits several users to engage in real-time data acquisition at the same time others are editing source ftles or data files and still others are executing large batch programs for data reduction or statistical analysis.
Increased Expression of Syne1/Nesprin-1 Facilitates Nuclear Envelope Structure Changes in Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation

We found by electron microscopy that the inter-membrane space of embryonic stem cells is irregular and generally wider than in differentiated cells. Among a panel of nuclear envelope structural proteins examined, the expression of Syne1/nesprin-1 was found to be greatly induced upon differentiation. Down-regulation of Syne1 by siRNA in differentiated embryonic stem cells caused the nuclear envelope to adopt a configuration resembling that found in undifferentiated embryonic stem cells. Suppression of Syne1 expression did not produce a detectable impact on the retinoic acid-induced differentiation of embryonic stem cells; however, forced expression of Syne1 enhanced the tendency of the cells to lose pluripotency. Thus, we found that low expression of Syne1 splicing isoforms accounts for the wider and irregular nuclear envelope inter-membrane space in embryonic stem cells. We conclude that the nuclear envelope structural change accompanying differentiation likely participates in promoting the differential chromatin organization of the differentiated cells.
Piston-cylinder work producing expansion device in a transcritical carbon dioxide cycle. Part II: theoretical model

A simulation model for a piston-cylinder type expansion device in which the linear motion of the piston is converted to the rotational motion of a crank via a connecting rod was developed for its use in a transcritical CO2 cycle. The model is based on lubrication theory with an assumption that the piston ring is a slippery bearing. This model has been used to verify the proper operation of the device in a prototype application and to identify the loss mechanisms of the device in the design stage. In addition, an analysis of the device has been conducted using this theoretical model for the device as installed in a prototype cycle as reported in a companion part I paper.
Effects of Linker Length and Flexibility on Multivalent Targeting

Increasing valence can enhance the ability of molecular targeting constructs to bind specifically to targeted cells for drug delivery. Here, we mathematically model the length and flexibility of a linker used to conjoin two peptide ligands of a divalent targeting construct and investigate the influence both on binding avidity and specificity. Four different models are used to approximate varying degrees of linker flexibility (random coil, rigid rod, jointed rods, and combined rod-random coil) and for each linker a binding enhancement factor (VR) is derived that quantifies the increased rate of each construct’s second binding event over the first. Results indicate that the moderately flexible models can best reproduce experimentally measured avidities. Also, the magnitude of VR, in conjunction with receptor density and ligand concentration, significantly influences the achievable specificity. Thus, the model elucidates important considerations in designing multivalent targeting constructs for use in delive...
Number fields with class number congruent to 4 mod 8 and Hilbert's theorem 94

Let k be a number field with Sk, the Sylow 2-subgroup of its ideal class group, isomorphic to the four-group. Then either the class number of the Hilbert class field to k is odd, or there is a unique nonabelian unramified extension L of k of degree 8. The galois group g(Lk) is then the dihedral or quaternion group of order 8, and the occurrence of each is characterized in terms of Hilbert's theorem 94. In the case k = Q(−m)12, m a positive square-free integer, we obtain this characterization in terms of arithmetic properties of the integer m.
Synovial thickening detected by MR imaging in osteoarthritis of the knee confirmed by biopsy as synovitis

Previous studies have established the value of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting articular changes characteristic of osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. We have observed some MRI features in OA of the knee presumably indicating synovial thickening. To determine whether these MR features represent chronic synovial inflammation, we studied the knees of nine patients at the mild end of the spectrum of OA of relatively short duration (89%: < or = 4 yr), who were selected because MRI showed anatomical abnormalities compatible with synovial thickening. The painful knee was examined using conventional and weight-bearing radiographs, MRI, and arthroscopy. MR images suggestive of synovial thickening typically appeared in or near the intercondylar region of the knee, in the infrapatellar fat pad, or in the posterior joint margin. The site of an arthroscopic biopsy of the synovial membrane was guided by MRI to the area thought to represent synovial thickening for each patient knee. Pathological examination of these synovial membrane biopsies showed a mild chronic synovitis, and thus a correspondence with the synovial thickening detected by MRI. Our results suggest that MRI can be used to evaluate the extent of synovitis, observed as synovial thickening, in patients with early OA of the knee.
Lessons From NaNoWriMo

In 2007, my daughter and several of her undergraduate friends discovered the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) competition (visit www.nanowrimo.org for more information). The purpose of NaNo...
Mild Generation of 5-(2‘-Deoxyuridinyl)methyl Radical from a Phenyl Selenide Precursor

5-(2‘-Deoxyuridinyl)methyl radical (1) resulting from formal hydrogen atom abstraction from the methyl group of thymidine is produced from the respective phenyl selenide precursor (2) via 350 nm photolysis or mild thermolysis (37 °C in the presence of glutathione) under aerobic or anaerobic conditions. The mild thermal generation of a nucleoside radical provides an alternative to previously reported photochemical methods, which are not always compatible with nucleic acids.
Electrochemical Template Deposition of Aluminum Nanorods Using Ionic Liquids

A new method for synthesizing aluminum nanorods has been developed and demonstrated using nonaqueous, ionic liquid electrodeposition in nanoporous, polycarbonate templates. The nanorods, which have diameters of 40 and 60 nm and lengths of 2−4 μm, are characterized by SEM, EDX, UV−visible, and ultrafast spectroscopy.
Control and navigation of a three wheeled unmanned ground vehicle by L 1 adaptive control architecture

This paper presents a modified navigation system and controller for an automatic UGV. It uses new variables to overcome the difficulty of dealing with cross coupling effects in dynamical equations due to the use of Cartesian coordinates. Then it proceeds with the introduction of a trajectory design algorithm in conjunction with L 1 control architecture to accomplish the path following objective. This paper shows by illustrative simulations that using L 1 adaptive controller can greatly facilitate controlling the UGV in uncertain environmental conditions.
Plants in treating senile dementia in the northwest Amazon

The Indians of the northwest Amazon respect age and try to care for those suffering from senile dementia. At least 25 species of plants are employed in treating Alzheimer's disease or similar problems. The plants are administered orally as teas of the leaves or roots and over a period of several days to numerous weeks. The plants are from 15 phanerogamic families. Little chemistry is known of most of the species. In view of the current interest in Alzheimer's disease and related problems these species might profitably be investigated.
Precision Measurements at the ILC

With relatively low backgrounds and a well-determined initial state, the proposed International Linear Collider (ILC) would provide a precision complement to the LHC experiments at the energy frontier. Completely and precisely exploring the discoveries of the LHC with such a machine will be critical in understanding the nature of those discoveries and what, if any, new physics they represent. The unique ability to form a complete picture of the Higgs sector is a prime example of the probative power of the ILC and represents a new era in precision physics.
Second to none

In this issue of Blood , Usmani et al provide important information on second primary malignancies in patients treated with thalidomide and lenalidomide in the Arkansas total therapy trials.[1][1] It took more than a decade for the association between melphalan exposure and acute myeloid leukemia
Rituximab for the treatment of Churg–Strauss syndrome with renal involvement

Introduction. Churg–Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a small vessel systemic vasculitis associated with asthma and eosinophilia that causes glomerulonephritis (GN) in ∼25% of patients. Rituximab (RTX) is a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that depletes B cells and is effective in numerous autoimmune diseases including antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis. We aim to evaluate the safety and efficacy of RTX in inducing remission of renal disease activity in patients with CSS. Methods. We conducted a single-center, open-label pilot study using RTX (375 mg/m2/week × 4) for induction of remission in CSS patients with renal involvement [defined as having >25% dysmorphic red cells, red blood cell casts or pauci-immune GN on biopsy]. Written informed consent was obtained from all individuals. Patients were eligible if they were untreated, had failed glucocorticoid therapy or had failed glucocorticoid dose reductions because of disease relapses. The primary outcome was remission of renal disease activity defined as stability or improvement of creatinine clearance, absence of active urinary sediment and reduction of the glucocorticoid dose to <50% of the average dose received over 3 months before enrollment or <10 mg/day (whichever is smaller) at 6 months. Patients were followed up for 1 year. Results. Only three patients (two females; ages 54, 55 and 65) were enrolled. All patients had positive myeloperoxidase-ANCA and renal involvement. Two patients had biopsy-proven pauci-immune crescentic GN. All achieved the primary end point of renal remission within the first 3 months and remained in renal remission during the year following RTX treatment. One patient experienced a nonrenal relapse (eye and joint involvement) at 6 months coinciding with the reconstitution of CD19+ cells and eosinophilia. He was retreated with RTX and achieved remission within 6 weeks. No major adverse effects were recorded. Conclusions. In this pilot study, RTX was safe and successful in controlling renal disease activity in three patients with CSS. This agent deserves further study in CSS.
Fetal MRI improves diagnostic accuracy in patients referred to a fetal center for suspected esophageal atresia.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to describe prenatal imaging characteristics and outcomes of fetuses with suspected esophageal atresia (EA) in order to improve prenatal diagnosis, counseling, and management. Methods The medical records of all patients referred to our multidisciplinary fetal center for suspected EA from January 2003 to April 2013 were reviewed retrospectively. Results Thirty-three patients were referred with a prenatal diagnosis of possible EA. Following fetal center evaluation with MRI, EA was deemed unlikely in 6 (18%) fetuses. Of 27 fetuses in whom EA could not be excluded, EA was confirmed postnatally in 15 (56%), excluded in 7 (26%), and unconfirmed in 5 (3 fetal losses; 2 lost to follow-up). Imaging characteristics on fetal MRI associated with the highest positive predictive values (PPV) were an esophageal pouch (100%) and a small stomach (75%). The finding of polyhydramnios had high sensitivity (93%) but low specificity (31%) and PPV (61%) for a diagnosis of EA. Conclusion Prenatal imaging and fetal center evaluation correctly identify the presence or absence of esophageal atresia in 78% of patients referred on suspicion of this condition. The presence of an esophageal pouch on fetal MRI has significant predictive value for EA. These data may assist with evidence-based prenatal family counseling.
Vacillations in a Shallow-Water Model of the Stratosphere

The evolution of the polar vortex in a shallow-water model with time-independent topographic forcing and relaxation to a constant equilibrium state is investigated for a range of topographic forcing amplitudes. For small forcing amplitudes there are only weak disturbances on the edge of the polar vortex and the vortex area remains constant, whereas for large amplitudes there are cycles where the vortex breaks down and then reforms (and zonal winds vacillate between westerlies and easterlies). Analysis of the mass within potential vorticity (PV) contours shows that these vacillations are due to out-of-phase variations in the mass fluxes across PV contours due to the relaxation and to hyperdiffusion. During the strong vortex stages Rossby wave breaking produces a cascade of PV to small scales, and these small-scale features are eventually eliminated by hyperdiffusion. This causes a decrease in the mass within the high PV contours and ultimately the destruction of the vortex. In contrast, during stages with no vortex there are very weak PV gradients, weak Rossby wave activity, and little cascade of PV to small scales. The vortex, and PV gradients, are then reestablished by the mass fluxes due to the diabatic relaxation term. These results suggest that the horizontal PV structure may play an important role in the vortex breakdown and recovery in three-dimensional models and in the real stratosphere.
Safety of high-dose rofecoxib in patients with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease.

Background Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is characterized by progressive sinusitis, nasal polyposis, and asthma that begins and continues in the absence of exposure to aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Cross-sensitivity to all NSAIDs that inhibit cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) occurs in these individuals. Reactions to aspirin and NSAIDs in patients with AERD are largely due to inhibition of COX-1. Despite accumulating data on the safety of COX-2 selective inhibitors in AERD, concern still remains that high doses of a COX-2 inhibitor may be sufficient to induce a cross-reaction. Objective To determine whether high-dose rofecoxib cross-reacts in patients with AERD and asthma. Methods Sixty asthmatic patients underwent blinded placebo-controlled oral challenges with 50 mg of rofecoxib. Aspirin sensitivity was subsequently confirmed in all patients with the use of single-blinded aspirin challenges. Results None of the 60 patients experienced any symptoms, changes in nasal examination results, or declines in lung function during rofecoxib challenge. All 60 patients experienced respiratory reactions to aspirin challenge, with a mean provoking dose of 57 mg. The exact 1-sided 95% confidence interval for the underlying probability of 50 mg of rofecoxib inducing respiratory cross-reactions in patients with AERD is 0 to 0.05, or 0% to 5%. Conclusions These results confirm the lack of cross-reactivity of aspirin and the highly selective COX-2 inhibitors in AERD. We suggest that it is time for the labeling of highly selective COX-2 inhibitors to reflect these data and for the warning that patients with AERD in particular and asthmatic patients in general avoid selective COX-2 inhibitors to be removed.
Generalized Grueneisen tensor from solid nonlinearity parameters

Anharmonic effects in solids are often described in terms of generalized Grueneisen parameters which measure the strain dependence of the lattice vibrational frequencies. The relationship between these parameters and the solid nonlinearity parameters measured directly in ultrasonic harmonic generation experiments is derived using an approach valid for normal-mode elastic wave propagation in any crystalline direction. The resulting generalized Grueneisen parameters are purely isentropic in contrast to the Brugger-Grueneisen parameters which are of a mixed thermodynamic state. Experimental data comparing the isentropic generalized Grueneisen parameters and the Brugger-Grueneisen parameters are presented.
Mutational Analysis of Active Site Residues Essential for Sensing of Organic Hydroperoxides by Bacillus subtilis OhrR

Bacillus subtilis OhrR is the prototype for the one-Cys family of organic peroxide-sensing regulatory proteins. Mutational analyses indicate that the high sensitivity of the active site cysteine (C15) to peroxidation requires three Tyr residues. Y29 and Y40 from the opposing subunit of the functional dimer hydrogen bond with the reactive Cys thiolate, and substitutions at these positions reduce or eliminate the ability of OhrR to respond to organic peroxides. Y19 is also critical for peroxide sensing, and the Ala substitution mutant (OhrR Y19A) is less susceptible to oxidation at the active site C15 in vivo. The Y19A protein also displays decreased sensitivity to peroxide-mediated oxidation in vitro. Y19 is in van der Waals contact with two residues critical for protein function, F16 and R23. The latter residue makes critical contact with the DNA backbone in the OhrR-operator complex. These results indicate that the high sensitivity of the OhrR C15 residue to oxidation requires interactions with the opposed Tyr residues. Oxidative modification of C15 likely disrupts the C15-Y29'-Y40' hydrogen bond network and thereby initiates conformational changes that reduce the ability of OhrR to bind to its operator site.
The educational consequences of migration for children in China

Recent research literature on migration in China has mainly focused on adult migrants. As more and more people participate in the migration process and as migrants expand the duration of their stays in cities, migrant children increasingly become part of the migration stream. The presence of large numbers of migrant children in cities, especially children without local hukou, creates major problems for their parents and challenges for education policy-makers. In this paper, we examine the school enrollment of migrant children who resided in cities of Guangdong province in 1995. Using data from the 1995 China 1% Population Sample Survey, we apply a research strategy that incorporates both migration origin as well as destination. This allows us to estimate school enrollment rates for temporary migrant children, permanent migrant children, and local children, in addition to nonmigrant children at the place of origin. Two major Wndings emerge from multivariate analyses of school enrollment. First, temporary migrant children are much less likely to be enrolled in school compared to local children. Temporary migrants with less than one year of residence in cities suVer the most. Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, permanent migrant children are more likely to be enrolled in school than local children due largely to the highly selective nature of their parents. Second, compared to non-migrant children at the place of origin, rural temporary migrant children from Guangdong also encounter a major disadvantage in terms of school enrollment. As education becomes more and more important for socio-economic mobility in the Chinese society, such disadvantages faced by temporary migrant children is likely to have detrimental and long-term consequences for migrant children and for urban society as a whole.
Using Client Puzzles to Mitigate Distributed Denial of Service Attacks in the Tor Anonymous Routing Environment

A novel client puzzle protocol, the memoryless puzzle protocol (MPP), is proposed and investigated. The goal is to show that MPP is a viable solution for mitigating distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks in an anonymous routing environment. One such environment, Tor, provides anonymity for interactive Internet services. However, Tor relies on the transport layer security (TLS) protocol, making it vulnerable to distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. Although client puzzles are often proposed as a solution to denial-of-service attacks, this research is the first to explore TLS DDoS attack mitigation in the Tor anonymous routing environment. Using the MPP, the central processing unit (CPU) utilization and user-data latency measures are analyzed under four increasing DDoS attack intensities and four different puzzle probability distribution levels. For results, typical CPU utilization rates of 80-100% drop to below 70% signifying successful mitigation. Furthermore, even if a client only has a 30% chance of receiving a puzzle or the maximum puzzle strength is used, MPP effectively mitigates attacks. Finally, user-data latency decreases approximately 50% under large-scale attacks. Hence, the MPP is a suitable solution for increasing the robustness and reliability of Tor.