cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Developmental Trajectories of the Orbitofrontal Cortex and Anhedonia in Middle Childhood and Risk for Substance Use in Adolescence in a Longitudinal Sample of Depressed and Healthy Preschoolers

Objective:Deficits in reward processing are established in mood and substance use disorders and are known risk factors for these disorders. Volume reductions of the orbitofrontal cortex and the striatum, regions that subserve neural response to reward, have been shown to be related to anhedonia in depressive and substance use disorders. The authors sought to investigate how structural maturation of these regions in childhood varies with level of anhedonia and predicts later substance use.Method:The study employed data from a sample of depressed and healthy preschoolers studied longitudinally that included three waves of neuroimaging from school age to adolescence. Three years after scan 3, at ages 13–18, participants underwent a comprehensive behavioral and substance use assessment. Multilevel modeling was used to investigate the relationship between anhedonia and the growth trajectories of the striatum and orbitofrontal cortex. Zero-inflated Poisson regression models were then used to determine whether t...
Body Composition Outcomes of Tai Chi and Qigong Practice: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Meditative movement (MM) practices are increasingly being studied, including examination of the potential for these modalities to contribute to weight management. A search was conducted for randomized controlled trials testing one or both of two forms of MM, Tai Chi and Qigong, reporting effects on changes in body composition. Data from these studies were extracted and tabled, and a meta-analysis of studies with inactive control conditions was conducted. Risk of bias was assessed, and seven RCTs had a low risk of bias. Sources of bias include publication bias and selection of English only. Publications meeting inclusion criteria yielded 24 studies (N = 1621 participants). Significant improvements in body composition, primarily body mass index, were noted for 41.7% of studies. A synthesis table describes the distribution of design factors, including type of comparison condition (inactive vs. active) and baseline body composition status (whether or not overweight/obese). A meta-analysis was conducted on 12 studies with inactive controls (using a random effects model) finding a small-to-medium treatment effect (SMD = − 0.388, CI = [− 0.732, − 0.044], t = 2.48, p < 0.03) for TC or QG interventions with a high level of heterogeneity. Tai Chi and Qigong show demonstrable effects on body composition, when compared to inactive control conditions. Systematic evaluation and valid conclusions regarding the impact of Tai Chi and Qigong on body composition outcomes will require more targeted study designs and control of comparison conditions.
Behavioral specialization in developing sciaenids and its relationship to morphology and habitat

Behavioral development of three species of marine sciaenid fish larvae was examined and related to their sensory morphology and habitat. Anti-predator behavior of the larvae was examined under different experimental conditions to isolate the roles of vision and mechanoreception. Spotted seatrout larvae maintained high levels of responsiveness even without visual cues but performed very poorly without mechanoreception. Loss of visual cues had no impact on the distance at which seatrout responded to the stimulus. Atlantic croaker generally performed best when vision was available. This species had low responsiveness without visual stimuli, and had smaller reactive distances when unable to use vision. Red drum were the most flexible in their use of sensory systems. For almost the entire larva period, responsiveness of red drum was equally high regardless of which sensory system was not available. In addition, reactive distances were unaffected when either visual or mechanoreceptive stimuli were eliminated. Thus, seatrout and croaker are sensory specialists, and red drum are sensory generalists. This is corroborated by previous studies on the sensory morphology of these species which showed that seatrout had more mechanosensory specialization, croaker had more visual specialization, and red drum were intermediate, with some enhancement of both systems. Behavioral data are interpreted in terms of habitat usage of the three species. Seatrout have the most restricted distribution over seagrass beds, croaker have a somewhat more flexible distribution, encompassing more open water habitats, and red drum have the most flexible range of habitats, using both vegetated and unvegetated portions of the estuary. These results indicate that even closely related species can exhibit different behaviors in order to better exploit the habitats in which they occur.
United States Jewish Population, 2017

This chapter examines the size, geographic distribution, and selected characteristics of the Jewish population of the US. Section 1 addresses the procedures employed to estimate the Jewish population of more than 900 local Jewish communities and parts thereof. Section 2 presents the major changes in local Jewish population estimates since last year’s Year Book. Section 3 presents a brief migration history of American Jews and examines population estimates for the country as a whole, each state, the four US Census Regions, the nine US Census Divisions, the 21 largest US Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), the 20 largest Combined Statistical Areas (CSAs), and the 51 Jewish Federation service areas with 20,000 or more Jews. Section 4 examines changes in the size and geographic distribution of the Jewish population at national, state, and regional scales from 1971–2017. Section 5 presents a description of local Jewish community studies completed in the past year (Broward County, Houston, and Omaha). Section 6 presents comparisons of Jewish communities on intermarriage rates and changes in those rates over time. Section 7 presents an atlas of local American Jewish communities, including a national map of Jews by county and 14 regional and state maps of Jewish communities.
Routine Right Heart Catheterization in LVAD Patients Awaiting Heart Transplant: What is the Appropriate Surveillance Interval?

Purpose ISHLT guidelines recommend serial right heart catheterization (RHC) to survey pulmonary hypertension in patients awaiting heart transplant. In LVAD as BTT patients the ideal surveillance frequency is unknown in those without prior pulmonary hypertension or whose pre-LVAD PVR normalized after surgery. Here, we review the utility of our surveillance RHC protocol. Methods Between January 2017 and July 2018, 69 patients who received an LVAD as BTT were studied. Routine RHC was performed every six months irrespective of prior PVR. Hemodynamic variables were retrospectively collected and reviewed. Results In 69 patients, 217 RHCs were analyzed. The median age was 55 years (IQR=15), and 55 (80%) were male. Median follow-up period was 18.4 months, and hemodynamic variables were largely unchanged post-LVAD (Table). Post-LVAD, overall PVR decreased from 3.5 ± 2.1 to 2.4 ± 1.0 Wood units (p = 7.2e-5) at six months and stabilized below 3 at all time points. Thirty-three patients (48%) had PVR ≤ 3 (1.8 ± 0.7), and 36 patients (52%) had PVR > 3 (4.9 ± 2.0) pre-LVAD. Both groups exhibited stabilization of PVR with mean 3 at any point after LVAD implantation, 13 (81%) had a pre-LVAD PVR > 3. No patients with a PVR ≤ 3 six months post-LVAD implantation presented with a PVR > 3 at any subsequent RHC. Of the 40 patients (58%) transplanted, one patient developed severe primary graft dysfunction with right ventricular failure. Conclusion Routine RHC every six months may not be necessary for BTT patients, particularly for those with PVR ≤ 3 six months post LVAD.
Bounds on Chaos from the Eigenstate Thermalization Hypothesis

We show that the known bound on the growth rate of the out-of-time-order four-point correlator in chaotic many-body quantum systems follows directly from the general structure of operator matrix elements in systems that obey the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis. This ties together two key paradigms of thermal behavior in isolated many-body quantum systems.
Reasons for delay in contraceptive clinic utilization. Adolescent clinic and nonclinic populations compared.

Abstract Because delay in accessing contraceptive services is a serious obstacle to prevention of unintended pregnancy in adolescence, reasons for delay are probed in a junior and senior high school population and compared with results obtained among 435 young black women previously surveyed in 32 U.S. clinics. The 388 students surveyed before exposure to pregnancy prevention services are compared with 422 surveyed after ≥2 years exposure to a successful educational/clinical intervention program. Particular attention is paid to reasons cited by those who never utilized services important reasons cited by all groups include fear that contraception is dangerous (cited by 40.0% at baseline), fear of parental discovery (30.5%), and awaiting “closer” partner relationships (31.3%). The last reason was often cited a year or more after initiating coitus. That the perception of birth control as dangerous is a barrier to contraception is confirmed by the large proportions who cited it among those who had never used clinical services. Programmatic implications of the findings are discussed.
“I believe in home language, but the tests don't”: Addressing Linguistic Diversity within Assessment Practices across Literacy Teacher Preparation and Classroom Practice:

Background/ContextIssues of policy, practice, and assessment and the relationships between them have been a persistent focus in the practice and research of teacher preparation. However, the field ...
Coupled thermal electrical and mechanical lightning damage predictions to carbon/epoxy composites during arc channel shape expansion

Abstract This paper presents a new finite element (FE) methodology to predict highly nonlinear, transient thermal-electrical-mechanical responses of carbon/epoxy laminates subjected to simulated lightning currents. A series of fully coupled thermal-electrical-structural analyses was performed to characterize effects of radially and asymmetrically expanding lightning arc channels on coupled thermal, electrical, and mechanical damage in AS4/3506 carbon/epoxy laminates subjected to relatively low (40 kA) peak lightning currents. Surface current, electromagnetic pressure, and shockwave overpressure were applied on the spatially- and temporally-varying circular and elliptical arc channel areas impinged on the composite surface. The FE predictions were validated with the physical lightning damage observed in laboratory-generated strikes. The predicted electrical, thermal, and mechanical responses were strongly influenced by the arc channel shape, expansion, surface current magnitudes, and mechanical pressures applied inside the arc channels. The domains of the predicted current density, electrical potential, temperature increases, and thermal strain distributions were primarily elongated along the composite outermost layer's fiber direction due to the primary electrical conduction and Joule heating occurring along this direction. The total strain and stress distributions were influenced by both thermal expansion (due to an extremely rapid temperature change) and deformation (due to mechanical pressures). The FE models showed that the predicted thermal damage in an expanding elliptical arc channel most closely matched with observed physical lightning damage. This study suggests lightning responses of carbon/epoxy laminates strongly depend on various arc channel parameters. Using more realistic arc channel parameters should lead to better agreements with experimental results.
Association of Risk of Mortality in Pediatric Patients Transferred From Scene by Helicopter With Major But Not Minor Injuries.

Objectives Helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) are used for 16% of pediatric trauma. National HEMS guidelines advised that triage criteria be standardized for pediatric patients. A national report found pediatric HEMS associated with decreased mortality compared with ground emergency medical services (GEMS) but did not control for transport time. We hypothesized that the rate of HEMS has decreased nationally and the mortality risk for HEMS to be similar when adjusting for transport time compared with GEMS. Methods The Pediatric Trauma Quality Improvement Program (2014-2016) was queried for patients younger than 16 years transported by HEMS or GEMS. A multivariable logistic regression was used. Results From 25,647 patients, 4527 (17.7%) underwent HEMS. The rate of HEMS from scene decreased from 21.2% in 2014 to 18.2% in 2016. The rate of HEMS for minor trauma (Injury Severity Score 15) from 38.4% in 2014 to 35.9% in 2016. After controlling for predictors of mortality and transport time, HEMS was associated with decreased risk of mortality for only those with major injuries transferred from scene (odds ratio, 0.48; 95% confidence interval, 0.26-0.88; P = 0.01) compared with GEMS. Conclusions The rate of HEMS in pediatric trauma has decreased. However, there is room for improvement as 14% of those with minor trauma are transported by HEMS. Given the similar risk of mortality compared with GEMS, further development of guidelines that avoid the unnecessary use of HEMS appears warranted. However, utilization of HEMS for transport of pediatric major trauma should continue.
Abstract 15919: Latent Trajectory Patterns of Left Ventricle Ejection Fraction Among Heart Failure Patients With Chronic Inflammatory Disease: Longitudinal Analysis of Electronic Health Records

Background: Immune regulation and inflammation play a role in the pathogenesis and progression of acute and chronic heart failure (HF). While overt inflammatory cardiomyopathy is a well-described c...
High-density transposon mutagenesis in Mycobacterium abscessus identifies an essential penicillin-binding lipo-protein (PBP-lipo) involved in septal peptidoglycan synthesis and antibiotic sensitivity

Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab) is a rapidly growing non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) that causes a wide range of infections. Treatment of Mab infections is difficult because the bacterium is intrinsically resistant to many classes of antibiotics. Developing new and effective treatments against Mab requires a better understanding of the unique vulnerabilities that can be targeted for future drug development. To achieve this, we identified essential genes in Mab by conducting transposon-sequencing (TnSeq) on the reference Mab strain ATCC 19977. We generated ~51,000 unique transposon mutants and used this high-density library to identify 362 essential genes for in vitro growth. To investigate species-specific vulnerabilities in Mab, we further characterized MAB_3167c, a predicted penicillin-binding-lipoprotein (PBP-lipo) that is essential in Mab and non-essential in M. tuberculosis (Mtb). We found that PBP-lipo primarily localizes to the subpolar region and later to the septum as cells prepare to divide. Knockdown of Mab PBP-lipo causes cells to elongate, develop ectopic branches, and form multiple septa. Dual knockdown of PBP-lipo with PBPs, PbpB, DacB1, and a carboxypeptidase, MAB_0519 lead to synergistic growth arrest. In contrast, these genetic interactions were absent in the Mtb model organism, M. smegmatis, indicating that the PBP-lipo homologs in the two species exist in distinct genetic networks. Finally, repressing PBP-lipo sensitized the reference strain and 11 Mab clinical isolates to several classes of antibiotics, including the beta-lactams, ampicillin and amoxicillin by greater than 128-fold. Altogether, this study presents PBP-lipo as a key enzyme to study Mab specific processes in cell wall synthesis and importantly positions PBP-lipo as an attractive drug target to treat Mab infections.
Abstract 74: Cardioprotective Effect of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone in Mouse Model of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is characterized by impaired relaxation, ventricular stiffening and fibrosis. We previously showed that activation of GHRH receptor markedly r...
Infection and Immunity in Older Adults

Infection risk increases with advancing age and comorbid illness, and the causative agents, treatment strategies, and prevention recommendations depend on unique patient and environmental risk factors. In general, older adults are less likely to present in a “typical” fashion, have a greater risk of serious infection, are more likely to be infected with drug-resistant organisms, and vaccines are less effective than in younger adults.
Comparison of in-hospital continuous electrocardiography versus recordable Holter monitoring in dogs with ventricular arrhythmias.

OBJECTIVE Determine the agreement between nonrecordable continuous ECG and Holter monitoring at estimating arrhythmia severity in hospitalized dogs. DESIGN Prospective, observational, cohort study. SETTING University teaching hospital. ANIMALS Ten dogs. INTERVENTIONS Heart rates and rhythms were simultaneously monitored using nonrecordable cage-side continuous ECG and Holter monitoring. Continuous ECG was assessed by ICU technicians for 1 min every hour, and heart rate and rhythm were recorded. A modified Lown score was used to grade arrhythmia severity (Grade 0 = sinus; Grade 1 = single ventricular premature complexes; Grade 2 = accelerated idioventricular; Grade 3 = bigeminy/trigeminy; Grade 4 = couplets/triplets; Grade 5 = ventricular tachycardia or R on T). Holter data were analyzed by a board-certified cardiologist, and arrhythmia grade was assigned to the same 1-min time period reported by ICU technicians. A 1-h arrhythmia grade was also determined from Holter data and was reported as the highest grade noted during the previous hour. Cohen's weighted kappa analysis was used to compare the agreement of ICU and Holter grade during the same 1-min time period and to compare 1-min Holter grade with the prior hour Holter grade. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Weak agreement was found between ICU-reported grade and Holter grade (κ = 0.40), as well as weak agreement between 1-min Holter grade and hour Holter grade (κ = 0.39). CONCLUSIONS Results of this study indicate that arrhythmia grades assessed by ICU technicians and hourly 1-min observations weakly agree with recordable Holter monitoring in hospitalized dogs with ventricular arrhythmias.
Parallel Algorithms for the Generalized Stokes Problem

The generalized Stokes problem leads, in turn, to saddle-point problems that are normally solved via an Uzawa- or projection-type method. We introduce a new approach for handling such problems in which we avoid solving the pressure unknowns first and also avoid computing orthogonal projections in the process of obtaining velocity unknowns. This approach eliminates difficult computations that are associated with problems on irregular domains. We point out similarities with the projection scheme, and show that the proposed approach provides a way of preconditioning projection methods.
Concluding Remarks: Past, Present and Future of Cholinergic Research

First of all, let me state that I am indeed fortunate and lucky: fortunate that so many of my friends were willing to take time for coming to this Meeting and providing Chapters for the book in my honor; lucky to have stayed the course long enough to have at least some excuse for this Meeting being organized for me.
Novel use of the AngioVac® system to remove thrombus during simultaneous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation life support:

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was introduced to clinical medicine over 40 years ago. While initially used as a treatment for acute respiratory failure in infants, the use of ECMO has grown to include respiratory and circulatory failure in both children and adults, cardiogenic shock, pulmonary embolism, sepsis, trauma, malignancy, pulmonary hemorrhage and as a treatment for hypothermic drowning.(1) Recent technological improvements in ECMO circuitry make it possible to minimize anticoagulation of the ECMO patient, decreasing the incidence of bleeding. Thrombus deposition within the ECMO circuit can be a life-threating complication. ECMO circuit thrombus can be contained in the circuit, adherent to cannula and deposited within the patient. The ability to remove thrombus while the patient remains on ECMO support could be a life-saving measure for some patients. The present case report outlines use of the AngioVac(®) thrombus removal system in concert with ECMO to remove a large thrombus adherent to an ECMO cannula.
Effects of the Algal Toxin Microcystin on Fishes in the James River, Virginia

EFFECTS OF THE ALGAL TOXIN MICROCYSTIN ON FISHES IN THE JAMES RIVER, VIRGINIA By Maxwell Douglas Haase, B.S. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Biology at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2015 Major Advisor: Gregory C. Garman Director, Center for Environmental Studies; Associate Professor, Department of Biology; Research Director: VCU Rice Center for the Environmental Life Sciences With the global rise in frequency of harmful algal blooms in estuarine environments comes an increase in prevalence of toxic metabolites, such as microcystin (MC), that some of the cyanobacteria involved will produce. At high concentrations, MC may accumulate in consumer tissues and have deleterious effects on organisms; however impacts of the toxin on aquatic living resources at ecologically relevant concentrations have not been widely documented. We analyzed the effects of MC on juveniles of five fish species from the James River, Virginia to determine if MC has the potential to impede growth. Using three separate experimental approaches, it was shown that exposure to concentrations of the toxin currently observed in the James River estuary do not appear to significantly impact the growth or survivorship of tested fish species. Extraneous factors in parts of the study led to an inability to draw clear conclusions on mortality or growth impacts; however it is evident from the experiments that at least some of the fish species have biological mechanisms in place that allow them to effectively eliminate the toxin from their systems. An ability to extricate the toxin suggests the possibility for fishes to withstand MC exposures and sustain few negative health impacts at low MC concentrations.
Aromatic-aromatic interactions in the zinc finger motif: Analysis of the two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance structure of a mutant domain☆

Abstract The folding and stability of globular proteins are determined by a variety of chemical mechanisms, including hydrogen bonds, salt bridges and the hydrophobic effect. Of particular interest are weakly polar interactions involving aromatic rings, which are proposed to regulate the geometry of closely packed protein interiors. Such interactions reflect the electrostatic contribution of π-electrons and, unlike van der Waals' interactions and the hydrophobic effect, may, in principle, introduce a directional force in a protein's hydrophobic core. Although the weakly polar hypothesis is supported by a statistical analysis of protein structures, the general importance of such contributions to protein folding and stability is unclear. Here, we show the presence of alternative aromaticaromatic interactions in the two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance structure of a mutant Zn finger. Changes in aromatic packing lead in turn to local and non-local differences between the structures of a wild-type and mutant domain. The results provide insight into the evolution of Zn finger sequences and have implications for understanding how geometric relationships may be chemically encoded in a simple sequence template.
The Spy in the Cab: The Use and Abuse of Taxicab Cameras in San Francisco

Since security cameras were first required in San Francisco taxicabs in 2003, their unfolding story has come to contain many elements familiar to surveillance studies: the initial introduction of new technology in the wake of a moral panic; a failure of maintenance and a lapse into unreliability; and finally a resurgence accompanied by surveillance creep . This trajectory is explored using the concept of “surveillance slack,” and the stages of slackening and tensing of taxicab camera surveillance will be considered in terms of their shaping by issues of acceptability (where the line between use and abuse is drawn), of effectiveeness (what the cameras are perceived to be doing), and, underlying both of these, of integration, that is, how the slackness or tautness of surveillance interacts with existing lines of tension and conflict in the taxi industry. Since security cameras were first required in San Francisco taxicabs in 2003, their unfolding story has come to contain many elements familiar to surveillance studies: the initial introduction of new technology in the wake of a moral panic; a failure of maintenance and a lapse into unreliability; and finally a resurgence accompanied by surveillance creep . This trajectory is explored using the concept of “surveillance slack,” and the stages of slackening and tensing of taxicab camera surveillance will be considered in terms of their shaping by issues of acceptability (where the line between use and abuse is drawn), of effectiveness (what the cameras are perceived to be doing), and, underlying both of these, of integration, that is, how the slackness or tautness of surveillance interacts with existing lines of tension and conflict in the taxi industry. Since security cameras were first required in San Francisco taxicabs in 2003, their unfolding story has come to contain many elements familiar to surveillance studies: the initial introduction of new technology in the wake of a moral panic; a failure of maintenance and a lapse into unreliability; and finally a resurgence accompanied by surveillance creep . This trajectory is explored using the concept of “surveillance slack,” and the stages of slackening and tensing of taxicab camera surveillance will be considered in terms of their shaping by issues of acceptability (where the line between use and abuse is drawn), of effectiveness (what the cameras are perceived to be doing), and, underlying both of these, of integration, that is, how the slackness or tautness of surveill
Optimization of lightly-doped-drain (LDD) structure for sub-quarter-/spl mu/m devices using statistical design and response surface methodology

A Lightly-Doped-Drain (LDD) structure was optimized by extensive process and device simulations with advanced mobility and impact ionization models for sub-quarter-/spl mu/m devices. A quadratic response-surface-model (RSM) was derived from Design-of-Experiment (DOE) with input variables related to the drain structure. The saturation current (I/sub sat/), the off-state current (I/sub off/), and the maximum substrate current (I/sub sub/) were treated as figure-of-merits (FOM's) for tradeoffs between device performance, device short channel effect and device reliability. The source/drain junction depth had little effect on the three FOM's. This enhanced the concept of drain-decoupling by separating the drain contact to channel and the drain contact to metal silicide. Even though the LDD tab does not necessarily improve the device reliability, it does provide a practical way of forming ultra-shallow junctions to meet the scaling requirement. The tab length has to be reduced to improve the driving capability, while the tab dose has to be increased to minimize the sensitivity of the driving capability to spacer length variations. Devices with optimized LDD drain structure were fabricated to verify the RSM prediction, and excellent device characteristics in agreement with simulation have been achieved.
Salvage external beam radiotherapy of retinal capillary hemangiomas secondary to von Hippel-Lindau disease: visual and anatomic outcomes.

Abstract Objective To examine the visual and anatomic outcomes of patients with retinal capillary hemangiomas secondary to von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) disease treated with globe-salvaging fractionated external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) after progression of hemangiomas despite initial therapy. Design Retrospective noncomparative consecutive case series. Participants Review of medical records of 5 patients with retinal capillary hemangiomas secondary to VHL disease. Intervention External beam radiotherapy delivered to a total dose of 2160 cGy given over 12 daily fractions. Main outcome measures Data on visual acuity and tumor size were collected at baseline, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after EBRT, and at final follow-up, using echography, fundus photographs, and clinical examination. Results Six eyes of 5 patients were treated. Mean follow-up was 28.3 months (range, 6–51). Mean baseline visual acuity was 20/70. Mean visual acuity at last follow-up was 20/45 (range, 20/25–20/60). Tumor volume reduction was 27.5 mm 3 (range, 0.9–109.6 mm 3 ). Mean percentage reduction in tumor volume was 39.6% (range, 3.3%–71.1%). Conclusions External beam radiotherapy is a useful option in the treatment of retinal hemangiomas secondary to VHL disease that progress despite standard therapy. External beam radiotherapy leads to improvement in visual acuity, reduction in tumor volume, and stabilization of retinal detachment in most patients treated.
Voltage delay in Li/SOCl/sub 2/ cells for artillery applications at -35 degrees C

Two active Li/SOCl/sub 2/ cells for use in artillery-fired atomic projectiles are being developed. Voltage delay is the primary mode of electrochemical failure in these cells at -35 degrees C. To minimize this anode polarization, the anode passivation is inhibited by adding chloromethyl chlorosulfate (CMCS) to the sulfur dioxide complex of lithium tetrachloroaluminate (LiAlCl/sub 4/-SO/sub 2/) in the cell electrolyte. One battery powers the telemetry system (TM battery) and the other powers a projectile event timer circuit (PET battery). The authors utilize the PET battery and PET load profile to demonstrate the effect of electrolyte additives on anode passive film growth and associated voltage delay. Similar effects were also observed in the TM battery. A limited number of PET prototypes were available for this study. Therefore, several tests were performed in hermetically sealed prismatic laboratory test cells which were constructed using the same electrochemical components which are used in the PET cells. >
Concept: Operations for Reflux Esophagitis, Stricture, Short Esophagus, and Paraesophageal Hernia

Most acquired diaphragmatic hernias enter the chest through the esophageal hiatus. In the typical case, this constitutes a sliding hernia of the esophagogastric junction up into the mediastinum, dragging a fold of peritoneum along with it, just as is the case with a sliding hernia of the cecum. When the abdominal esophagus remains properly attached to the preaortic fascia by means of the phrenoeso-phageal ligaments, a herniation of the fundus or body of the stomach through the diaphragmatic hiatus into the chest is termed a “paraesophageal” hernia.
The acceleration of energetic charged particles by interplanetary and supernova shock waves

Pioneer 11 observations of energetic proton acceleration in interplanetary shock are in good agreement with predictions of the V↘×B↘ electric field model of shock acceleration. The V↘×B↘ model predicts that relativistic particles are accelerated by a factor of 2–15 in kinetic energy during a single encounter with a quasi‐perpendicular (ψ≳75 °) supernova shock wave, and that the post‐encounter pitch angle distributions are very anisotropic.
Probability and Entropy in Quantum Theory

Entropic arguments are shown to play a central role in the foundations of quantum theory. We prove that probabilities are given by the modulus squared of wave functions, and that the time evolution of states is linear and also unitary.
The Effect of State Tax Preferences on the Living Arrangements of Elderly Individuals

The United States is in the midst of profound demographic changes. The proportion of the elderly population (65+) in the country is projected to increase from a current 13% of the population to just over 20% of the population by 2030. Considering that the decision regarding living arrangements is of great consequence to the well-being of the elderly and their families, understanding the factors that influence this decision is of great value. In this paper, we exploit the changes in state income tax preferences over time to examine the impact of such tax policies on the living arrangements of the elderly population.
Establishment of a new short, protease-resistant, affinity labeling reagent for the cholecystokinin receptor

Summary Proteolytic degradation of radioligands is an important source of artifact in affinity labeling of receptor proteins. To complement our previous characterization of the pancreatic acinar cell cholecystokinin (CCK) receptor, we synthesized D-Tyr-Gly[(Nle 28,31 )CCK-26-33]. The amino terminal D-enantiomer of tyrosine provided a site for oxidative iodination, a free amino group for cross-linking and rendered the peptide resistant to aminopeptidases. The deca-peptide was oxidatively iodinated and purified by reverse-phase HPLC to 2,000 Ci/mmol, to yield a probe which was equal in potency and efficacy to CCK-8, and which bound to rat pancreatic membranes in a rapid, reversible, temperature-dependent, specific, saturable and high affinity manner. This probe was resistant to aminopeptidase degradation, and maintained its ability to bind to receptor after incubation with pancreatic membranes or dispersed cells. Affinity labeling of pancreatic membranes with this analogue identified an M r =85,000–95,000 molecule. This analogue offers several advantages over existing probes and should be useful for future studies of this and other CCK receptors.
Chitinase family GH18: evolutionary insights from the genomic history of a diverse protein family

Chitinases (EC.3.2.1.14) hydrolyze the β-1,4-linkages in chitin, an abundant N-acetyl-β-D-glucosamine polysaccharide that is a structural component of protective biological matrices such as insect exoskeletons and fungal cell walls. The glycoside hydrolase 18 (GH18) family of chitinases is an ancient gene family widely expressed in archea, prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Mammals are not known to synthesize chitin or metabolize it as a nutrient, yet the human genome encodes eight GH18 family members. Some GH18 proteins lack an essential catalytic glutamic acid and are likely to act as lectins rather than as enzymes. This study used comparative genomic analysis to address the evolutionary history of the GH18 multiprotein family, from early eukaryotes to mammals, in an effort to understand the forces that shaped the human genome content of chitinase related proteins. Gene duplication and loss according to a birth-and-death model of evolution is a feature of the evolutionary history of the GH18 family. The current human family likely originated from ancient genes present at the time of the bilaterian expansion (approx. 550 mya). The family expanded in the chitinous protostomes C. elegans and D. melanogaster, declined in early deuterostomes as chitin synthesis disappeared, and expanded again in late deuterostomes with a significant increase in gene number after the avian/mammalian split. This comprehensive genomic study of animal GH18 proteins reveals three major phylogenetic groups in the family: chitobiases, chitinases/chitolectins, and stabilin-1 interacting chitolectins. Only the chitinase/chitolectin group is associated with expansion in late deuterostomes. Finding that the human GH18 gene family is closely linked to the human major histocompatibility complex paralogon on chromosome 1, together with the recent association of GH18 chitinase activity with Th2 cell inflammation, suggests that its late expansion could be related to an emerging interface of innate and adaptive immunity during early vertebrate history.
Baryon number violation in dense matter. On the relation with anomalous high energy scattering

Abstract The recent claim of the equivalence of baryon number violation in dense matter and that of high energy scattering is examined. We present a plausible argument against the claim. We also calculate the anomalous decay rate of dense matter to (μ/E 0 ) 8 3 In (μ/E 0 ) order. To this order, we find the anomalous decay rate is completely equivalent to the anomalous cross section of the high energy scattering calculated by the valley method.
Quantum Bernstein bases and quantum Bézier curves

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the most general quantum Bernstein bases and quantum Bezier curves. Classical Bernstein bases satisfy a two-term formula for their classical derivatives; quantum Bernstein bases satisfy a two-term formula for their quantum derivatives. To study the properties of these general quantum polynomial schemes, a new variant of the blossom, the quantum blossom, is introduced by altering the diagonal property of the classical blossom. The significance of the quantum blossom is that the quantum blossom provides the dual functionals for quantum Bezier curves over arbitrary intervals. Using the quantum blossom, several fundamental identities involving the quantum Bernstein bases are developed, including a quantum variant of the Marsden identity and the partition of unity property. Based on these properties of quantum Bernstein bases, quantum Bezier curves are shown to be affine invariant, and under certain conditions lie in the convex hull of their control points. In addition, for each quantum Bezier curve of degree n , a collection of n ! , affine invariant, recursive evaluation algorithms are derived. Using two of these recursive evaluation algorithms, a recursive subdivision procedure for quantum Bezier curves is constructed. This subdivision procedure generates a sequence of control polygons that converges rapidly to the original quantum Bezier curve.
Cytotoxic sperm antibodies and in vitro fertilization of mature oocytes: a preliminary report.

The fertilization rates of mature oocytes during in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) using fetal cord serum-supplemented insemination media were ⩾57% for five infertile couples without sperm antibodies (group 1). But they were ⩽50% for four of nine infertile couples (group 2) with cytotoxic sperm antibodies in both partners (n=6) or the husband alone (n=3). Two women in group 1 were successful in achieving normal, full-term pregnancies with the delivery of normal infants (χ2=4.2, P < 0.05, by chi-square analysis). One of them consistently tested negative for sperm antibodies, while her husband was previously treated with antibiotics for infection and transient sperm antibodies in the seminal plasma. Subsequently, antibody liters in the husband were in the normal range when the successful IVF-ET was performed. One woman in group 2, with antibodies to her autoimmune husband's sperm but not control sperm and with a long-standing poor postcoital test sperm motility, conceived through artificial insemination with donor sperm (AID) after failing to conceive with her husband through IVF-ET. These data suggest that the presence of cytotoxic sperm antibodies in the serum and/ or secretions of both partners reduces the rates of fertilization of mature oocytes in spite of using fetal cord serum in the IVF media. Pregnancy achievement is impaired in this group.
Intracellular localization of the mRNAs of argininosuccinate synthetase and argininosuccinate lyase around liver mitochondria, visualized by high‐resolution in situ reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction

Argininosuccinate synthetase and argininosuccinate lyase, two cytoplasmic enzymes of the urea cycle, are released into the soluble phase in the absence of detergent when cells are disrupted. Yet previous biochemical studies, as well as immunocytochemistry at the electron microscope level, have shown that these enzymes are localized around mitochondria in situ. Such intracellular localization of soluble enzymes requires mechanisms to deliver the proteins to the appropriate sites, where they may then be anchored by specific protein-protein interactions. A method was developed to examine the intracellular distribution of the mRNA of argininosuccinate synthetase and argininosuccinate lyase in intact rat liver at the ultrastructural level by in situ reverse transcription and the polymerase chain reaction, using primers targeting regions of the coding sequences of the rat enzymes, digoxigenin-dUTP as the label, and anti-digoxigenin/10 nm gold plus silver enhancement as the detection method. The tissue was fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde/0.1% glutaraldehyde and embedded in Lowicryl. Examination of the numbers and the location of the silver grains, coupled with morphometric analysis of the electron micrographs, permitted the calculation of the silver “enrichment ratio” for each type of cell structure. These ratios showed that the mRNAs for argininosuccinate synthetase and argininosuccinate lyase were located next to the cytoplasmic side of the mitochondrial membrane and in the nearby endoplasmic reticulum. Most of the silver grains that were observed in the endoplasmic reticulum were within 200 nm of the mitochondria; it was not possible, however, to determine if those grains were actually associated with the reticular membranes. These studies demonstrate that the mRNAs of these two soluble cytoplasmic proteins are localized to the same limited regions where the proteins are situated. Translation of the proteins, therefore, must occur at these specific sites. The targeting of argininosuccinate synthetase and argininosuccinate lyase mRNAs to the immediate vicinity of the mitochondria may be the first step of the mechanisms by which the spatial organization of these soluble proteins in situ is accomplished. The targeting of mRNAs for soluble cytoplasmic proteins of organized metabolic pathways has not been demonstrated previously. These studies also show that in situ reverse transcription and the polymerase chain reaction at the ultrastructural level, which has not been previously reported, can be used to detect specific mRNAs; it should be extremely valuable for the intracellular detection of low-abundance mRNAS. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Surface Pasteurization of Raw Poultry Meat by Steam

Abstract A device to surface pasteurize meat without producing a cooked appearance was built and tested. When inoculated with 10 7 Listeria inocua organisms, contamination levels on poultry meat samples were reduced to 10 3 organisms by treatment with steam to 140°C for 50 ms. The extraordinary rapidity of heating was achieved by condensing pure, thermally saturated steam onto the meat surface in the absence of noncondensible gases. Equally rapid surface cooling was then achieved by re-evaporating the condensate on the meat surface back into a vacuum. The best killing was achieved when treatments were repeated. This avoided the shadowing effect of the steel mesh cage which held the meat. The meat surface afforded some protection to the bacteria, compared to a paper surface. The rapidity of the process shows that a practical model could keep up with poultry slaughter line speeds. Such a model, including a sterile wrapping step, is suggested for poultry pieces and cut meats.
Manipulating the fatty acid composition of poultry meat and eggs for the health conscious consumer

Consumer demand for food products of superior health quality has renewed interest in modifying the lipid composition of poultry meat and eggs. While work involving the reduction of the cholesterol ...
Analysis of transgenic Indian mustard plants for phytoremediation of metal-contaminated mine tailings

Transgenic Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern.] plants overproducing the enzymes gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (ECS) or glutathione synthetase (GS) were shown previously to have increased levels of the metal-binding thiol peptides phytochelatins and glutathione, and enhanced Cd tolerance and accumulation. Furthermore, transgenic Indian mustard plants overexpressing adenosine triphosphate sulfurylase (APS) were shown to have higher levels of glutathione and total thiols. These results were obtained with a solution culture. To better examine the phytoremediation potential of these transgenics, a greenhouse experiment was performed in which the transgenics were grown on metal-contaminated soil collected from a USEPA Superfund site near Leadville, Colorado. A grass mixture used for revegetation of the site was included for comparison. The ECS and GS transgenics accumulated significantly (P < 0.05) more metal in their shoot than wild-type (WT) Indian mustard, while the APS plants did not. Of the six metals tested, the ECS and GS transgenics accumulated 1.5-fold more Cd, and 1.5- to 2-fold more Zn, compared with wild-type Indian mustard. Furthermore, the ECS transgenics accumulated 2.4- to 3-fold more Cr, Cu, and Pb, relative to WT. The grass mixture accumulated significantly less metal than Indian mustard: approximately 2-fold less Cd, Cu, Mn, and Zn, and 5.7-fold less Pb than WT Indian mustard. All transgenics removed significantly more metal from the soil compared with WT Indian mustard or an unplanted control. While WT did not remove more metal than the unplanted control for any of the metals tested, all three types of transgenics significantly reduced the soil metal concentration, and removed between 6% (Zn) and 25% (Cd) of the soil metal. This study is the first to demonstrate enhanced phytoextraction potential of transgenic plants using polluted environmental soil. The results confirm the importance of metal-binding peptides for plant metal accumulation and show that results from hydroponic systems have value as an indicator for phytoremediation potential.
Nerve-mediated nitric oxide production by opossum lower esophageal sphincter.

Antagonists of nitric oxide synthesis inhibit nerve-induced hyperpolarization and relaxation of muscle from the opossum lower esophageal sphincter. These studies test the hypothesis that nitric oxide is released during stimulation of intrinsic esophageal nerves. The intrinsic nerves were stimulated with an electrical field (10-sec trains of 1-msec, 30-V pulses delivered at 10 Hz). Nitric oxide production was measured with a DASIBI model 2108 Chemiluminescence NO Analyzer.NG-Nitro-l-arginine, an inhibitor of NO synthase, antagonized nerve-induced relaxation the lower esophageal sphincter. Nerve stimulation increased NO production from 0.50±0.04 nmol/min/100 mg tissue to 0.87±0.07 nmol/min/100 mg tissue (P<0.01).NG-nitro-l-arginine inhibited both basal (0.030±0.09 nmol/min/100 mg tissue,P<0.05 vs baseline) and stimulated (0.38±0.10 nmol/min/100 mg tissue,P<0.01 vs stimulated). These studies support the hypothesis that nerve stimulation releases nitric oxide from the lower esophageal sphincter.
Administration of Large Doses of Tromethamine (THAM) Causes Pseudohyponatremia in Addition to Dilutional Hyponatremia in Critically III Preterm and Term Neonates † 1130

Administration of Large Doses of Tromethamine (THAM) Causes Pseudohyponatremia in Addition to Dilutional Hyponatremia in Critically III Preterm and Term Neonates † 1130