cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Brachial artery distensibility and relation to cardiovascular risk factors in healthy young adults (The Bogalusa Heart Study).

Arterial distensibility decreases with age and atherosclerosis leading to increased pulse pressure (PP) and increased left ventricular work, resulting in left ventricular hypertrophy, a risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity. Brachial artery pulse curve data were collected using the DynaPulse 2000A. Distensibility measured in 920 healthy young adults (40% men, 70% white, age range 18 to 38 years) was compared with levels of cardiovascular risk factors. Laboratory, anthropometric, blood pressure (BP), and heart rate measurements were also obtained. Distensibility tended to decrease with age, reaching significance in women (p <0.05). Whites had greater distensibility adjusted for age than blacks, with women more than men (p <0.05). Distensibility adjusted for PP was negatively correlated with measures of body size, BP, glucose, insulin, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol , very low densitiy lipoprotein cholesterol, and age (p <0.05). When distensibility was plotted as a function of PP to control for distending pressure, the lowest quintiles of systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial BPs tended to have greater distensibility. No differences were seen by quintiles of lipids. In multivariate analyses, BP, age, anthropometric measures, gender, and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol entered the model (r 2 0.56; p <0.02). Thus, brachial artery distensibility, which includes a normalization factor to control for body size, showed race and gender differences (whites and women had greater distensibility than blacks and men, respectively), even after adjustment for age. Stiffer vessels with decreased distensibility were seen in subjects with higher levels of cardiovascular risk factors across the range of normal PP. Therefore, noninvasive measures of distensibility are useful in measuring subclinical vascular changes related to arteriosclerosis. 2002 by Excerpta Medica, Inc. (Am J Cardiol 2002;89:946 ‐951)
Weak values as interference phenomena

Weak values arise experimentally as conditioned averages of weak (noisy) observable measurements that minimally disturb an initial quantum state, and also as dynamical variables for reduced quantum state evolution even in the absence of measurement. These averages can exceed the eigenvalue range of the observable ostensibly being estimated, which has prompted considerable debate regarding their interpretation. Classical conditioned averages of noisy signals only show such anomalies if the quantity being measured is also disturbed prior to conditioning. This fact has recently been rediscovered, along with the question whether anomalous weak values are merely classical disturbance effects. Here we carefully review the role of the weak value as both a conditioned observable estimation and a dynamical variable, and clarify why classical disturbance models will be insufficient to explain the weak value unless they can also simulate other quantum interference phenomena.
Solid-matrix luminescence in glucose and trehalose glasses with heavy-atom salts

Abstract It is reported for the first time that by adding the appropriate amounts of heavy-atom salts to glucose and trehalose, clear and rigid glasses can be obtained. Different percentages of NaI and TINO3 were used as heavy-atom salts. It was shown that both NaI and TINO3 reduced the room-temperature fluorescence (RTF), but enhanced the room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) in glucose and trehalose glasses. Glucose and trehalose glasses with TlNO3 shifted the position of the spectra of PhIP to longer wavelengths due to complex formation with thallium ion. However, NaI affected only the intensities of RTF and RTP signals of PhIP. The heavy-atom effect of Nal and TlNO3 on 5,6-benzoquinoline (B[f]Q), 4-phenylphenol (4-PP), B(a)P-r-7,t-8,9,c-10-tetrahydrotetrol (tetrol I-1) and triphenylene in glucose glasses were also demonstrated. The limit of detection for PhIP and B[f]Q in glucose with 10% of NaI was 20 and 18 pg mg−1, respectively.
Scale Virtual Worlds through Dynamic Load Balancing

Dynamic load balancing holds the potential to scale virtual worlds flexibly by dynamic allocation of hardware to match load. In this paper, we study the benefits and overheads of space based load partitioning, in particular, distributed binary space partitioning (BSP). Our evaluation is based on Open Simulator, a virtual world system compatible with Second Life® viewers. Our work reveals that although simple and effective, distributed BSP has several limitations and suffers from high overhead. We then analyze the fundamental reasons of these limitations. To overcome the limitations, we argue that it is necessary to break away from the simulator-centric architecture used in today’s virtual worlds, and present potential new directions.
Determination of hexuronic acids in glycosaminoglycans by automated ion-exchange chromatography.

Abstract This report describes a procedure for analyzing glucuronic and iduronic acids using the Technicon automated sugar chromatography system. Glueronic and iduronic acids of standard samples of glycosaminoglycans have been analyzed after hydrolysis by formic acid. The method has been applied to quantitate uronic acids in chondroitin sulfates and dermatan sulfate mixtures obtained by Dowex 1 Cl − column fractionation of glycosaminoglycans from aortas of different animal species. The results are in good agreement with those obtained by the gas-liquid chromatographic technique.
Abstract 4496: Preclinical efficacy of the novel dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor, BEZ235 compared with RAD001 in HER2+ breast tumors

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Background: HER2 overexpression occurs in 20-25% of patients with breast cancer and is associated with aggressive disease and decreased survival. HER2 activates multiple cellular signaling pathways including the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway. The sustained activation of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway or the activating mutation of PIK3CA (p110α) is one of the major causes of drug resistance including trastuzumab. Purpose: Inhibitors of mTOR1 have been shown to be active in patients with solid tumors. As the phosphatidylinositol 3-Kianse (PI3K) pathway activates numerous other kinases, transcription factors, and proteins associated with cell growth/survival and apoptosis besides mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), suppression of this pathway upstream of mTOR may be more effective than inhibition of mTOR1 in HER2+ breast cancer models. Experimental Design: To examine this possibility, the dual pan-PI3K/mTOR inhibitor, BEZ235 was compared with mTOR1 inhibitor, RAD001 in trastuzumab-sensitive HER2+ (BT474 and SKBR3), trastuzumab-resistant (BT474HR), and PIK3CA mutated/HER2+ breast cancer cells (HCC1954 and U893) Results: Treatment of HER2+ breast cancer cell lines with BEZ235 or RAD001 in vitro showed 1) RAD001 mediated AKT activation was blocked when cells were treated with BEZ235, 2) BEZ235 dose- and time-dependently blocked AKT phosphorylation (both at Ser473 and Thr308), 3) both drugs completely blocked the activation P70S6K, but BEZ235 more efficiently blocked 4EBP1 phosphorylation than RAD001, 4) ERK activation was significantly attenuated by BEZ235, while inhibition of mTOR1 by RAD001 lead to activated ERK, 5) BEZ235 was significantly more effective than RAD001 in reducing HIF1α expression following heregulin stimulation, 6) activation of caspase3 (from the expression level of cleaved caspase3) was also greater following treatment with BEZ235 than RAD001, and 7) integrin-dependent breast tumor cell migration was significantly abrogated with BEZ235 in association with inhibition of RAC1-GTP, but this was not seenwith RAD001. Conclusion: Our preclinical in vitro data demonstrate that concurrent inhibition of PI3K and mTOR is likely to be a more effective strategy in the treatment of both sensitive and resistant HER2+ breast cancers than the inhibition of mTOR1 alone. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4496. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4496
Arma-Based Confidence Intervals for Simulation Output Analysis

SYNOPTIC ABSTRACTA method is presented for obtaining a confidence interval for the mean of a stationary stochastic process. The method fits an autoregressive moving average (ARMA) model to a sequence of sample outputs. The effectiveness of the confidence interval procedure is measured by applying the procedure to simulation output sequences generated by ARMA models and an M/M/1 queueing system model. Performance characteristics of the procedure are excellent for ARMA output sequences, and the coverage achieved with queueing data is promising.
CONTEMPORARY NATIONAL TRENDS IN THE USE OF FRACTIONAL FLOW RESERVE AND INTRAVASCULAR ULTRASOUND IN PATIENTS UNDERGOING CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY

Fractional flow reserve (FFR) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) have become important adjunctive modalities in the assessment of coronary artery disease. However, the contemporary trends in utilization of FFR and IVUS in the United States are unknown. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS)
CANONICAL APPROACH TO HIGH ENERGY SCATTERING IN MASSIVE QUANTUM ELECTRODYNAMICS.

By the canonical Hamiltonian approach to field theory, we have studied the very high-energy limit of massive quantum electrodynamics. We introduce a series of canonical transformations which bring the usual Hamiltonian of a neutral-vector-meson interaction with a conserved current to the effective Hamiltonian that operates at infinite energy. The result we obtain for the $S$-matrix operator is that it factorizes at very high energies: $S={S}_{0}\left[{U}^{\ifmmode\dagger\else\textdagger\fi{}}T\left(\mathrm{exp}\left(\ensuremath{-}i\ensuremath{\int}{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\infty}}^{\ensuremath{\infty}}\mathrm{dt} {H}_{s}(t)\right)\right)U\right]$ where ${S}_{0}$ is the $S$ matrix for the hard-meson "core," first given by Cheng and Wu and by Chang and Ma: ${S}_{0}=\mathrm{exp}\left(\ensuremath{-}i\frac{{g}^{2}}{{(2\ensuremath{\pi})}^{2}}\ensuremath{\int}{d}^{2}k\frac{{j}_{R}({k}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}){j}_{L}(\ensuremath{-}{k}_{L})}{{{k}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}}^{2}+{\ensuremath{\mu}}^{2}}\right)$ and the second operator describes the contribution to scattering due to pionization effects. $U$ is the dressing operator which clothes the hard-meson "core" in a coherent state of virtual soft mesons, and the $T$ product is obviously the time-evolution operator for softmeson dynamics.
Acetylation of PAMAM dendrimers for cellular delivery of siRNA

The advancement of gene silencing via RNA interference is limited by the lack of effective short interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery vectors. Rational design of polymeric carriers has been complicated by the fact that most chemical modifications affect multiple aspects of the delivery process. In this work, the extent of primary amine acetylation of generation 5 poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers was studied as a modification for the delivery of siRNA to U87 malignant glioma cells. PAMAM dendrimers were reacted with acetic anhydride to obtain controlled extents of primary amine acetylation. Acetylated dendrimers were complexed with siRNA, and physical properties of the complexes were studied. Dendrimers with up to 60% of primary amines acetylated formed ~200 nm complexes with siRNA. Increasing amine acetylation resulted in reduced polymer cytotoxicity to U87 cells, as well as enhanced dissociation of dendrimer/siRNA complexes. Acetylation of dendrimers reduced the cellular delivery of siRNA which correlated with a reduction in the buffering capacity of dendrimers upon amine acetylation. Confocal microscopy confirmed that escape from endosomes is a major barrier to siRNA delivery in this system. Primary amine acetylation of PAMAM dendrimers reduced their cytotoxicity to U87 cells, and promoted the release of siRNA from dendrimer/siRNA complexes. A modest fraction (approximately 20%) of primary amines of PAMAM can be modified while maintaining the siRNA delivery efficiency of unmodified PAMAM, but higher degrees of amine neutralization reduced the gene silencing efficiency of PAMAM/siRNA delivery vectors.
Macro-elements and stable local bases for splines on Clough-Tocher triangulations

Macro-elements of arbitrary smoothness are constructed on Clough-Tocher triangle splits. These elements can be used for solving boundary-value problems or for interpolation of Hermite data, and are shown to be optimal with respect to spline degree. We conjecture they are also optimal with respect to the number of degrees of freedom. The construction provides local bases for certain superspline spaces defined over Clough-Tocher refinements of arbitrary triangulations. These bases are shown to be stable as a function of the smallest angle in the triangulation, which in turn implies that the associated spline spaces have optimal order approximation power.
The Black Woman As Marker of Hypersexuality in Western Mythology: A Contemporary Manifestation in the Film The Scarlet Letter

Despite criticisms of the film The Scarlet Letter as engaging in historical revisionism of representations of blighted groups in society, a critical examination of its symbolic language reveals that the film draws on, and circulates, centuries-old Western symbolism and mythology of black sexuality. The article undertakes a review of Western iconography surrounding black sexuality in nineteenth-century Europe and shows how it manifests itself in the interaction of race and sex in contemporary American mythology. The article attempts to show how the iconography of black sexuality undergirds signification of the narrative relationship between the main character and her black servant in the film. The article argues, from the perspective of potential multiaccentual interpolation of the audience, that even a polysemic interpretation (from the hegemonic male gaze or a subversive female gaze) of the text still reveals blackness as a marker of difference and hypersexuality.
Efficiency of early generation testing in pickling cucumber

Early testing was evaluated for efficiency as a procedure for selecting among lines for yield (total and marketable fruit number), earliness and fruit quality (shape, color and seedcell size) in 24 sets of lines developed at random from a pickling cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) population. The advantage of early testing was calculated using the regression of S6 on S1 performance. The amount of effort required in worker-hours and the theoretical gain from selection were also considered in estimating the advantage of early testing. Early testing for specific combining ability and for general combining ability was up to 2.05 times as efficient as late testing for total yield, and up to 2.29 times as efficient as late testing for earliness. Early testing was not efficient for selection for the fruit quality traits measured, nor for inbred performance per se.
Sticking with the nice guy: Trait warmth information impairs learning and modulates person perception brain network activity

Social learning requires inferring social information about another person, as well as evaluating outcomes. Previous research shows that prior social information biases decision making and reduces reliance on striatal activity during learning (Delgado, Frank, & Phelps, Nature Neuroscience 8 (11): 1611-1618, 2005). A rich literature in social psychology on person perception demonstrates that people spontaneously infer social information when viewing another person (Fiske & Taylor, 2013) and engage a network of brain regions, including the medial prefrontal cortex, temporal parietal junction, superior temporal sulcus, and precuneus (Amodio & Frith, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 7(4), 268-277, 2006; Haxby, Gobbini, & Montgomery, 2004; van Overwalle Human Brain Mapping, 30, 829–858, 2009). We investigate the role of these brain regions during social learning about well-established dimensions of person perception—trait warmth and trait competence. We test the hypothesis that activity in person perception brain regions interacts with learning structures during social learning. Participants play an investment game where they must choose an agent to invest on their behalf. This choice is guided by cues signaling trait warmth or trait competence based on framing of monetary returns. Trait warmth information impairs learning about human but not computer agents, while trait competence information produces similar learning rates for human and computer agents. We see increased activation to warmth information about human agents in person perception brain regions. Interestingly, activity in person perception brain regions during the decision phase negatively predicts activity in the striatum during feedback for trait competence inferences about humans. These results suggest that social learning may engage additional processing within person perception brain regions that hampers learning in economic contexts.
A novel simultaneous modeling approach to estimate linearity of pharmacokinetic parameters, including saturation of intestinal efflux, in the rat

Abstract Introduction Various independent methods exist for the estimation of linearity of pharmacokinetic parameters in vivo. A novel simultaneous modeling approach has been developed in the rat that in combination allows estimation of the rate and extent of duodenal absorption, hepatic first pass extraction and saturation of potential dose-dependent duodenal bioavailability (saturation of intestinal efflux). Methods Simultaneous modeling of plasma concentrations of a Pfizer compound in the rat were conducted using NONMEM™ after (1) accelerated intravenous, intraduodenal, and intraportal infusions over 5 h and (2) 5-min intravenous infusions of 0.28 and 1.4 mg doses. Results The data was best described by a two-compartment linear pharmacokinetic model with good agreement between observed and model predicted plasma concentrations following the various routes of administration. Clearance was estimated to be linear up to plasma concentrations of 1200 ng/ml. The estimated rate constants (± asymptotic errors) for intraduodenal absorption (KA), movement of drug from plasma to tissue (K23) and movement of drug from tissue to plasma (K32) were 0.645 ± 0.107, 18.0 ± 2.98, and 2.02 ± 0.209 h − 1 , respectively. The rate constants for drug elimination from the central compartment (K20) after 5-min intravenous infusion or accelerated infusion were 3.24 ± 0.6 or 6.26 ± 1.64 h − 1 . The estimated maximal extent of first pass extraction was 17%. The model (including increasing duodenal bioavailability as the amount in the duodenum increases, from a minimum of 5% to a maximum estimated intraportal bioavailability value— 83%) indicated a saturable intestinal efflux process. Discussion This novel study design and the proposed method for data analysis provides a robust and efficient means for assessing the linearity of multiple pharmacokinetic processes while accounting for the multi-compartmental distribution characteristics of the test compound.
Rheological methods for characterising modern paint systems

In this paper the most important measuring methods for studying the rheological behaviour of modern paint systems will be presented (oscillation tests, determination of low yield points). In a first part the different methods were used to describe the rheological/physical properties of model polyurethane microgels. A second part deals with rheological investigations of effect development (light–dark flop) in waterborne pearlescent/coloured pigment systems. The measured values for storage modulus G′, phase shift δ and yield point were compared with flop-index values. The results show good correlations between the observable effect and the rheological parameters of the liquid paint. The third part presents measurements of powder and electrodeposition coatings and of clearcoats with the oscillation technique to determine the viscosity–temperature behaviour. The results were correlated with technical properties of the final films.
Preparation of single phase β and α cerium samples for low temperature measurements

Abstract A method for preparing close to 100% β cerium is reported. The method involves repeated steps of thermal cycling cerium samples between room temperature and liquid helium temperature followed by annealing for long periods at 75 °C. The preparation of single phase α cerium by using a pressure-cooling-depressurizing cycle is described.
Using the Jeopardy Game Show to Enhance Health Knowledge Retention

(2002). Using the Jeopardy Game Show to Enhance Health Knowledge Retention. American Journal of Health Education: Vol. 33, No. 5, pp. 304-306.
Conference Papers Index and Information Retrieval in Psychology

The Conference Papers Index is presented as a potential source for retrieval of convention presentations.
Dense Genotyping of Immune-Related Loci Identifies Variants Associated with Clearance of HPV among HIV-Positive Women in the HIV Epidemiology Research Study (HERS)

Persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) is a necessary and causal factor of cervical cancer. Most women naturally clear HPV infections; however, the biological mechanisms related to HPV pathogenesis have not been clearly elucidated. Host genetic factors that specifically regulate immune response could play an important role. All HIV-positive women in the HIV Epidemiology Research Study (HERS) with a HR-HPV infection and at least one follow-up biannual visit were included in the study. Cervicovaginal lavage samples were tested for HPV using type-specific HPV hybridization assays. Type-specific HPV clearance was defined as two consecutive HPV-negative tests after a positive test. DNA from participants was genotyped for 196,524 variants within 186 known immune related loci using the custom ImmunoChip microarray. To assess the influence of each single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with HR-HPV clearance, the Cox proportional hazards model with the Wei-Lin-Weissfeld approach was used, adjusting for CD4+ count, low risk HPV (LR-HPV) co-infection, and relevant confounders. Three analytical models were performed: race-specific (African Americans (n = 258), European Americans (n = 87), Hispanics (n = 55), race-adjusted combined analysis, and meta-analysis of pooled independent race-specific analyses. Women were followed for a median time of 1,617 days. Overall, three SNPs (rs1112085, rs11102637, and rs12030900) in the MAGI-3 gene and one SNP (rs8031627) in the SMAD3 gene were associated with HR-HPV clearance (p<10(-6)). A variant (rs1633038) in HLA-G were also significantly associated in African American. Results from this study support associations of immune-related genes, having potential biological mechanism, with differential cervical HR-HPV infection outcomes.
An automated torsion balance for investigation of microstructure of single filaments. I. Polypropylene

The tensile properties of filaments have been related to fiber microstructure in numerous studies over several decades. However, there have been relatively few attempts to relate shear modulus to microstructure: most of the work on shear properties of filaments was done over 20 years ago. Since then, there have been advances in instrumentation and polymer technology. We present a review of the literature in these areas. We report the construction of a fully automated torsion balance and its efficacy in an investigation of the relationship between polypropylene (PP) fiber microstructure and shear modulus. This work lays the foundation for a definitive research program into microstructure/shear properties' interrelationships in fibers. Our torsion test apparatus is an enhanced implementation of the simple torsion balance. Data acquisition and test parameters are completely controlled by a microcomputer. Raw data from digital position encoders is converted into torquetwist data, which is then presented to a statistical program to determine the initial shear modulus of the filament. Torsion testing was performed on six PP fiber samples. It was found that the shear modulus of the filaments increased with an increase in amorphous orientation, but that in a filament with a radially differentiated structure, the relationship is biased by the modulus of the outer portion of the filament. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Teacher Clarity and Cognitive Level of Questions: Effects on Learning

The experimental effect of a cluster of low inference teacher clarity variables and cognitive level of questions on student achievement was determined by means of a randomized two-way analysis of variance design. The clarity variables were standardized by means of a scripted video-tape technique. Significant results are reported for the main effect of teacher clarity on student achievement (F (1,73) = 6.28, p < .02). Neither the main effect of cognitive level of questions on achievement nor the interaction effect was significant.
Magnetization density waves in metals: Two dimensional case☆

Abstract The thermodynamic potential and magnetization of a metal are studied for the case in which the magnetic moment varies in two dimensions.
Effect of positive reframing and social support on perception of perimenstrual changes among women with premenstrual syndrome.

Traditional menstrual cycle research reflects a stereotypical negative bias that does not encompass the complexity of the phenomena. For example, even though the majority of menstrual cycle literature has focused on negative changes during the perimenstruum, some women report positive changes. This article describes a unique intervention aimed at refraining perceptions of menstrual cycle experiences for the purpose of diminishing perimenstrual impairment. The intervention was a health promotion program that provided social support and a positive reframing component for women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) across four menstrual cycles. Through use of a preexperimental design, data were collected on 18 women. Daily measures included prospective assessment of perceptions of perimenstrual changes (impairment and activation). Retrospective assessments of moods (anxiety and depression), social resources (personal resources and marital satisfaction), and perimenstrual change perceptions were gathered at three ...
The internal union political imperative for UAW pattern bargaining

Like many industrial unions, the UAW places great emphasis on pattern-following contract settlements. However, research on the rationales for pattern bargaining has been scarce, and evidence testing these rationales has been absent. The usual rationale for pattern bargaining is to take wages out of competition. However, this paper presents evidence of important internal union political reasons for pattern bargaining. If intra-union wage comparisons cause union members to feel unfairly treated, elected leaders will be challenged. Thus, the UAW leadership pursues pattern bargaining to minimize political conflicts and maintain stability. Unless you know where you came from you don’t have the sense of direction that will lead you to the goals you seek. Walter P. Reuther That word “solidarity” isn’t rhetoric. For a union, it’s everything. Bob White
Discussion: Errors, misunderstandings and fraud

Abstract Although considerable attention has recently focused on dramatic instances of misconduct in clinical trials, a larger impact on science may come from inadequate experiment design and poor execution. Although it may be impossible to avoid all errors and inconsistencies in data resulting from clinical trials, careful attention should be devoted during the design, conduct, and analysis stages of clinical trials to minimize these problems. In terms of design, issues such as randomization, sample size, and blinding need to be considered. Protocols should be realistic in the amount of data to be collected and the ability of patients and investigators to comply. In terms of conduct, investigators need to be carefully selected. Trials require adequate funding and resources and well-trained investigators, data managers, and laboratory personnel. Data monitoring needs to be implemented early in the course of a clinical trial so that all corrective actions can be taken. Auditing of clinical trial data against source documents can aid in the identification of errors and fraud but is quite expensive when done for large percentages of the collected data. At the analysis stage, intention to treat approaches to analyses can reduce bias. Despite all efforts to avoid problems of errors, misunderstanding, and fraud, such problems can arise. They must be addressed promptly and their impact evaluated.
Food intake in Prader-Willi syndrome and controls with obesity after administration of a benzodiazepine receptor agonist.

Abstract Benzodiazepine receptor (BZR) agonists, used extensively for their anxiolytic effects, have been shown to increase food intake in many mammalian species. Little information, however, is available on the effects of BZR agonists on feeding behaviors of humans. Food intake was evaluated in a 60-minute free-feeding standardized test after the acute administration of the BZR agonist chlordiazepoxide (CDP, Librium; 5 mg or 20 mg) or placebo. Subjects were 12 individuals with the Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), a disorder characterized by extreme hyperphagia and morbid obesity, and 11 controls with obesity. PWS subjects showed the characteristic hyperphagia associated with the appetite disorder, consuming more than six times as many sandwiches as controls with obesity. Results revealed no significant effect of either dose of CDP on the food intake of either group. Serum assays revealed that dose-dependent, clinically effective levels of CDP and active metabolites were achieved. These results suggest that acute administration of the BZR agonist CDP, at the therapeutic levels used, may not increase food intake in populations with obesity. However, the chronic effects of CDP on appetite in human populations still need to be explored.
Finite-dimensional variational inequality and nonlinear complementarity problems: a survey of theory, algorithms and applications

Over the past decade, the field of finite-dimensional variational inequality and complementarity problems has seen a rapid development in its theory of existence, uniqueness and sensitivity of solution(s), in the theory of algorithms, and in the application of these techniques to transportation planning, regional science, socio-economic analysis, energy modeling, and game theory. This paper provides a state-of-the-art review of these developments as well as a summary of some open research topics in this growing field.
InfoBus repeater: a secure and distributed publish/subscribe middleware

InfoBus repeater is a Java middleware for publish and subscribe communication. The design goal of InfoBus repeater is threefold: (1) to use an industry-standard pub/sub API, (2) to achieve salability through IP multicast technology, and (3) to provide public-key based security. This paper describes the architecture of InfoBus repeater and discusses its use in application programming. Two examples of an application called distributed eSuite are introduced in this paper.
Development of urethrovaginal fistula following periurethral collagen injection.

Major postoperative complications associated with periurethral injection of bovine glutaraldehyde cross-linked collagen are rare. An initial multicenter clinical trial demonstrated that transient urinary retention developed in 15% of patients, irritative voiding symptoms in 1% and urinary tract infection in 5% after this type of injection. In that study 1 patient with a prior vesicovaginal fistula underwent concomitant collagen injection and fistula repair but the fistula was not caused by prior collagen injection. To our knowledge we report the first case of a urethrovaginal fistula following periurethral collagen injection.
“Switched” Precordial Leads

Most physicians and technicians have, at one time or another, inadvertently “switched” the extremity leads in preparation for the recording of an ECG. This is so common that some modern ECG machines advise the operator that he or she has switched the leads. Misplacement of the electrode positions is the most common error related to recording the chest leads. The next most common cause of error is probably switching the V1 and V2 electrode positions on the chest. This error is easy to make because the wires attached to the lead selector box are adjacent to each other. During our cardiology morning report, I was shown several ECGs. Two of them were quite …
Amyloidosis and Protein Folding

In his Perspective “In the footsteps of alchemists” (28 May, p. 1259), C. M. Dobson concisely summarizes the critical role of protein misfolding and aggregation in the development of amyloidosis. He also details several therapeutic approaches to this disease based on inhibiting or reversing
Reduction of benzene metabolism and toxicity in mice that lack CYP2E1 expression

Abstract Transgenic CYP2E1 knockout mice ( cyp2e1 -/- ) were used toinvestigate the involvement of CYP2E1 in the in vivo metabolism of benzene and in the development of benzene-induced toxicity. After benzene exposure, absence of CYP2E1 protein was confirmed by Western blot analysis of mouse liver samples. For the metabolism studies, male cyp2e1 -/- and wild-type control mice were exposed to 200 ppm benzene, along with a radiolabeled tracer dose of [ 14 C]benzene (1.0 Ci/mol) by nose-only inhalation for 6 hr. Total urinary radioactivity and all radiolabeled individual metabolites were reduced in urine of cyp2e1 -/- mice compared to wild-type controls during the 48-hr period after benzene exposure. In addition, a significantly greater percentage of total urinary radioactivity could be accounted for as phenylsulfate conjugates in cyp2e1 -/- mice compared to wild-type mice, indicating the importance of CYP2E1 in oxidation of phenol following benzene exposure in normal mice. For the toxicity studies, male cyp2e1 -/- wild-type, and B6C3F1 mice were exposed by whole-body inhalation to 0 ppm (control) or 200 ppm benzene, 6 hr/day for 5 days. On Day 5, blood, bone marrow, thymus, and spleen were removed for evaluation of micronuclei frequencies and tissue cellularities. No benzene-induced cytotoxicity or genotoxicity was observed in cyp2e1 -/- mice. In contrast, benzene exposure resulted in severe genotoxicity and. cytotoxicity in both wild-type and B6C3F1 mice. These studies conclusively demonstrate that CYP2E1 is the major determinant of in vivo benzene metabolism and benzene-induced myelotoxicity in mice.
Rabies among infrequently reported mammalian carnivores in the United States, 1960-2000.

Most cases of rabies reported annually in the United States occur among three groups of carnivores—raccoons (Procyon lotor), skunks (Mephitis, Spilogale, and Putorius), foxes (Vulpes, Urocyon, and Alopex)—and among bats (numerous species). However, between 1960 and 2000, a total of 2,851 cases of rabies in 17 other carnivore taxa were reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia (USA), from 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Three species of these other carnivores (mongooses [Herpestes javanicus], coyotes [Canis latrans], and bobcats [Lynx rufus]) accounted for 92% (2,624/2,851) of the cases reported among other canivorous mammals (OCMs). Most OCMs demonstrated temporal or spatial variation in numbers of reported cases. Tests of specimens from OCMs infected in the United States identified variants of the rabies virus that corresponded with variants associated with the major terrestrial reservoirs within their respective regions of origin. Variants of the ...
Comparison of techniques for quantifying alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes in canine serum.

Summary Three methods for quantifying the steroid-induced and liver isoenzymes of alkaline phosphatase in canine serum were compared on a group of 29 canine serum samples with increased total alkaline phosphatase activity. Levamisole inhibition, heat inactivation, and affinity electrophoresis with densitometry yielded results that correlated strongly. The relationship between levamisole inhibition and heat inactivation test values was a simple linear one, whereas the relationship between their values and those of electrophoresis was better fitted to an exponential model. The levamisole inhibition and heat inactivation tests provided essentially the same information regarding the relative proportions of steroid-induced and hepatic isoenzymes in canine serum; either test was judged practical for routine clinical application.
Effects of foot orthoses on the work of friction of the posterior tibial tendon.

Abstract Background Posterior tibial tendon dysfunction is a significant contributor to flatfeet. Non-operative treatments, like in-shoe orthoses, have varying degrees of success. This study examined changes to the work of friction of the posterior tibial tendon under three conditions: intact, simulated flatfoot, and flatfoot with an orthosis. It was hypothesized that work of friction of the posterior tibial tendon would significantly increase in the flatfoot, yet return to normal with an orthosis. Changes to bone orientation were also expected. Methods Six lower limb cadavers were mounted in a foot simulator, that applied axial and a posterior tibial tendon load. Posterior tibial tendon excursion, gliding resistance, and foot kinematics were monitored, and work of friction calculated. Each specimen moved through a range of motion in the coronal, transverse, and sagittal planes. Findings Mean work of friction during motion in the coronal plane were 0.17 N cm (SD 0.07 N cm), 0.25 N cm (SD 0.09 N cm), and 0.23 N cm (SD 0.09 N cm) for the intact, flatfoot, and orthosis conditions, respectively. Motion in the transverse plane yielded average WoF of 0.36 N cm (SD 0.28 N cm), 0.64 N cm (SD 0.25 N cm), and 0.57 N cm (SD 0.38 N cm) in the same three conditions, respectively. The average tibio-calcaneal and tibio-metatarsal valgus angles significantly increased in the flatfoot condition (5.8° and 9°, respectively). However, the orthosis did slightly correct this angle. Interpretation The prefabricated orthosis did not consistently restore normal work of friction, though it did correct the flatfoot visually. This implies that patients with flatfeet may be predisposed to developing posterior tibial tendon dysfunction due to abnormal gliding resistance, though bone orientations are restored.
Secrets to success and fatal flaws: the design of large-display groupware

Research in the field of large-display groupware applications has yet to yield a killer app, a common look and feel for applications, or a set of broadly applicable design principles. It's therefore difficult to understand what constitutes a successful large-display groupware application and what affects their adoption. Although large-display groupware faces many of the same adoption and use challenges as conventional desktop groupware, how people perceive and interact with large-display groupware yields some unique challenges. We've built and evaluated several large-display groupware systems that address various workgroups, functions, and environments. This experience has given us broad expertise regarding the social dynamics and technical challenges surrounding large-display groupware's design. To enhance our understanding of these challenges, we've also undertaken a broad survey of existing large-display groupware systems to understand how their purpose, design, and deployment affect the success of their integration into everyday tasks and practices.
A multi-level pattern matching method for text image parsing

A multiple-level pattern matching approach to text image parsing is described. The parser assigns syntactic categories to words that occur in a two-dimensional image of a constrained block of text. Bottom-up information (from an image segmentation routine), that includes the number of lines of text, the number of words in each line, and an estimate of the number of characters in each word, is initially used to compute a ranked list of categories for each word and a probability that each one is correct. The local support provided by words that are horizontally adjacent is used to refine the initial assignment and to assign a ranked list of categories to each line. The word and line category assignments are then probabilistically fit to patterns that describe allowable configurations of lines. The output is a ranked list of the patterns that fit best and the probabilities that they are correct. A success rate of up to 96 percent is achieved in classifying lines of text in a test set of postal address images. >
Dynamical representation of Markov processes of the separable class

The mean-squared continuous Markov process of the separable class is represented by a nonlinear stochastic differential equation. The representation for the strictly stationary case implies that the process is determined by its autocorrelation function and first-order probability density function. A class of stationary Markov separable processes may be obtained by a zero-memory nonlinear (ZNL) transformation of a wider class of stationary Markov processes. A special case of the multidimensional process is shown to result in a separable process of degree N . Several examples are considered to illustrate the representation.
Studies in Lithium Oxide Systems: III, Liquid Immiscibility in the System Li2O-B2O3-SiO2

Glasses within the ternary system Li2O-B2O2SiO2 containing less than 25.6% Li2Ocan be broadly classified into three groups according to their behavior during cooling or heating. One group, containing either more than 18% Li2Oor less than 20% SiO2, yields clear glasses during slow or rapid cooling. The second group, containing approximately 5 to 15% Li2O and 26 to 90% SiO2, yields dense white opal glass during slow or rapid cooling. The third group, located at the outer edge of the second group, cools to room temperature as clear glasses but develops opacity when reheated to temperatures between 550° and 8800°C. It has been shown by electron microscopy that the opacity is due to liquid immiscibility, the matrix glass containing well-formed spheres of the dispersed phase. Some of the clear glasses of both groups have been shown to consist of two immiscible phases. The size of the dispersed units in the spontaneous opal glasses and also the reheat opal glasses can be controlled by the variation of the reheat treatments. The phase separation reported here is beyond the resolution of the petrographic microscope and can be detected only with the high resolution of the electron microscope. Accessory evidence is given to show that the phases are non-crystalline.
Patterned expression of a cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide reveals complex circuit topography in the rodent cerebellar cortex.

The cerebellum (Cb) of mammals and birds consists of an evolutionarily conserved map defined by Purkinje cell (PC) protein expression. In mice, ZebrinII/aldolaseC is expressed in a striking array of stripes in lobules I–V (anterior zone; AZ) and VIII–anterior IX (posterior zone; PZ), whereas the small heat shock protein 25 (HSP25) is expressed in stripes in lobules VI–VII (central zone, CZ) and posterior IX–X (nodular zone, NZ). Little is known about whether molecularly defined afferent subsets terminate within specific PC stripes or whether their topography is conserved across species. Using immunohistochemistry, we demonstrate in adult mice and rats that cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) expression can be used to partition sensory-motor projections into complex topographic maps. We found that in mice CART was expressed in climbing fiber bands that generally corresponded to the pattern of HSP25-expressing PCs in the CZ/NZ. In contrast, CART was expressed in climbing fiber bands in all four transverse zones of the rat Cb. Within the rat AZ/PZ, climbing fibers terminated selectively within the dendrites of ZebrinII-immunoreactive PCs. In additional experiments, we observed CART expression in loose clusters of spinocerebellar mossy fibers in the mouse AZ/PZ, whereas in rat CART immunoreactive mossy fibers terminated predominantly in the CZ/NZ. We conclude that, although the overall topography of CART-expressing afferents is restricted within a conserved map of PC stripes and transverse zones, their termination patterns also reflect species-specific compartmental features. J. Comp. Neurol. 519:1781–1796, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Chemical characterization of a “mysterite”-bearing clast from the Supuhee chondrite

Abstract Higuchi et al. (1977) proposed the existence of Tl-rich and Tl-poor “mysterite” to explain Tl and Bi contents of dark clasts in the Supuhee H6 chondrite and of bulk Supuhee. They suggested that these two components formed by gas-dust fractionation during condensation. An aliquot of one of the clasts studied by Higuchi et al. and found to contain Tl-poor mysterite was analyzed by instrumental neutron activation in this paper. A complex assortment of element fractionations was found. Data for rare earth and other refractory lithophiles and refractory and moderately volatile siderophiles are consistent with random separation and reunification of gas and dust throughout the condensation sequence. Independent evidence thus exists that processes like those invoked by Higuchi et al. to explain mysterite did occur in the region of the nebula sampled by this clast.
A restated pumping lemma for context-free languages

The Pumping Lemma for context-free languages is a popular tool for proving that languages arenot context-free. It claims that given a CFL L, there is a constant k depending only on L suchthat z longer than k can be partitioned into z = uvwxy witha) vwx is shorter than k + 1b) either v is nonempty or x is nonemptyc) uv
Using genetic and clinical data to understand response to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug therapy: data from the Brigham and Women’s Hospital Rheumatoid Arthritis Sequential Study

The objective of this review is to report on the progress of the Brigham and Women's Hospital Rheumatoid Arthritis Sequential Study (BRASS) Registry data collection and summarize previous research in understanding therapeutic response to DMARDs using clinical and genetic data. The BRASS Registry, established in 2003, is a large, single-centre, prospective and observational cohort of 1100 RA patients. Patients with either new-onset or established RA disease are recruited from the practices of rheumatologists. Annual visits collect information on demographics, 28-joint DAS-CRP3 (DAS-28-CRP3), medication use, comorbidities and functional status (Modified Health Assessment Questionnaire, Short Form Health Survey 12). Two published studies have utilized BRASS to examine genetic predictors of treatment response. In a cross-sectional study, examining the association between candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and disease activity in a subset of 120 RA patients on MTX monotherapy, the minor allele of ATIC rs4673993 was associated with low disease activity (P=0.01, DAS-28-CRP3≤3.2). In an international collaboration, 55 BRASS patients receiving anti-TNF therapy were genotyped for 31 SNPs associated with the risk of RA. With our collaborators, we discovered an SNP at the protein tyrosine phosphatase, receptor type, C (PTPRC) gene locus that was associated with EULAR 'good response'. With accurate data collection and the capacity to run genome-wide association studies and SNP analyses, the BRASS Registry has the ability to determine the contribution of genetic variants to disease onset and to assess their usefulness as biomarkers for treatment response and drug toxicity.