cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiple episodes in children and adolescents with bipolar disorder: comorbidity, hospitalization, and treatment (data from a cohort of 8,129 patients of a national managed care database).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to delineate the prevalence, demographic characteristics, comorbidity, hospitalization, and medication use of a large cohort of patients with and without multiple episodes per year. We hypothesized that children and adolescents with multiple episodes per year would have a higher comorbidity and require more hospitalizations and pharmacological treatment than their counterparts without multiple episodes. Methods: Analysis was conducted on a cohort of 8,129 children and adolescents patients (< 18 y.o.) with bipolar disorders (BD), from the Integrated Healthcare Information Services (IHCIS) identified from June 30, 2000 to July 1, 2003. Demographics variables, type of hospitalization, and psychotropic medication used in the year of follow-up were compared between children and adolescents with multiple and those without multiple episodes per year. Results: Included were 58 patients with multiple episodes (defined as: ≥ 4 or more reports of inpatient treatment for any affective disorders per year) and 8,071 without multiple episodes. Children and adolescents with multiple episodes versus those without multiple episodes were differentiated as follows: more comorbid attention deficit disorder (ADD) (80.9% versus 29.4%) (Χ 2 = 70.61, df = 1,p < 0.0001); higher rate of hospital admission for depression (12.1% vs. 1.8%, Χ 2 = 27.86, df= 1,p < 0.0001); for other psychiatric conditions (48.3% vs. 11.2, Χ 2 = 74.47, df= 1,p < 0.0001) and for medical conditions (22.4% vs. 3.9%, Χ 2 = 46.26, df= 1,p<0.0001). Patients with multiple episodes per year were more likely than those without multiple episodes to be given mood stabilizers (91.4% vs. 60.3%, Χ 2 =22.02, df= 1, p < 0.0001), antidepressants (79.3% vs. 59.2%, Χ 2 = 8.82, df= 1,p=.0003), and antipsychotics (89.7% vs. 45.8%, Χ 2 = 42.91, df= 1,p < 0.0001). The use of stimulants did not differ between the two groups (24.1% vs. 23.0%), Χ 2 = 0.02, df= 1, p = 0.96). Conclusions: Our findings support previous studies demonstrating that children and adolescents with multiple episodes per year present a higher comorbidity and require more hospitalizations and pharmacological treatment than those without multiple episodes. The diagnosis and treatment of children and adolescents with BD will have to take into account the high comorbidity of ADD mainly in children and adolescents with multiple episodes. Future prospective studies will help to better characterize the impact of multiple episodes in the course of pediatric BD and facilitate appropriate treatment strategies.
Inhibition of PRC2 Activity by a Gain-of-Function H3 Mutation Found in Pediatric Glioblastoma

Sequencing of pediatric gliomas has identified missense mutations Lys27Met (K27M) and Gly34Arg/Val (G34R/V) in genes encoding histone H3.3 (H3F3A) and H3.1 (HIST3H1B). We report that human diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs) containing the K27M mutation display significantly lower overall amounts of H3 with trimethylated lysine 27 (H3K27me3) and that histone H3K27M transgenes are sufficient to reduce the amounts of H3K27me3 in vitro and in vivo. We find that H3K27M inhibits the enzymatic activity of the Polycomb repressive complex 2 through interaction with the EZH2 subunit. In addition, transgenes containing lysine-to-methionine substitutions at other known methylated lysines (H3K9 and H3K36) are sufficient to cause specific reduction in methylation through inhibition of SET-domain enzymes. We propose that K-to-M substitutions may represent a mechanism to alter epigenetic states in a variety of pathologies.
Deconstructing complexity in air traffic control

While previous research has addressed air traffic controller workload as a function of cognitive complexity due to environmental and to a lesser degree, organizational factors, significantly less attention has been paid to the role of displays and complexity in the ATC environment. One drawback to new display technology is that in dynamic human supervisory control domains, it is not always clear whether a decision support interface actually alleviates or contributes to the problem of complexity. In an attempt to quantify the influence of environmental and display complexity factors on cognitive complexity, an experiment was conducted to determine if these two components could be effectively measured. Results revealed that the environmental factor of increasing aircraft number affected subject performance only slightly more than the display complexity factor of increased color categories. These findings are important because the use of color in displays is meant to reduce environmental complexity, not add to it. Language: en
Procedural Sedation and Analgesia in the Pediatric Emergency Department: A Review of Sedative Pharmacology

The spectrum of sedative and analgesic agents available to those who provide pediatric sedation and analgesia in the emergency department has broadened considerably over the past 2 decades. Pharmacologic agents that can be used alone or in combination in this context include nitrous oxide, midazolam, chloral hydrate, pentobarbital, etomidate, dexmedetomidine, propofol, and ketamine. The pharmacology, common clinical uses, advantages, and disadvantages of each of these agents are reviewed. Pharmacokinetics of the agents is addressed in tabular form, whereas pharmacodynamic aspects of each agent are discussed in more detail. Clinical uses addressed include noninvasive as well as invasive procedures. Relevant studies involving comparison of various sedative regimens for common emergency department procedures are reviewed.
Overview: Acute and Chronic Wounds

Knowledge of normal wound healing and the changes associated with chronic wounds have advanced significantly. Distinct characteristics identified through basic and clinical studies are found in nonhealing wounds, including bacterial and growth factor imbalances, increased inflammatory responses, and proteolytic forces that tip the balance toward tissue degradation rather than repair. This article describes the alterations that reduce healing and that also have important implications for the management of chronic wounds and presents a focus for future developments in wound therapy.
Solid-phase synthesis of disulfide heterodimers of peptides.

The synthesis of the orthogonal disulfide template 1 and its use to synthesize unsymmetrical intermolecular disulfide bond peptides on a solid support are described. Application of template 1 to synthesize bioconjugates of cell permeable moieties based on the disulfide bond is demonstrated.
Choice of Law in International Child Support Obligations: Hague or Vague, and Does it Matter?– An American Perspective

This article explores, through American eyes, the choice of law rules associated with the child support aspects of the proposed Hague Convention on the International Recovery of Child Support and Other Forms of Family Maintenance. It considers the role these rules play in capturing the “construct” that is the “family” for the purposes of child support by implicitly determining who is an acceptable claimant and who is an appropriate obligor. In addition, the rules determine which jurisdiction's law will establish the amount of support and thus, implicitly, they determine which jurisdiction sets the standards for family “performance”. American constitutional law demands a connection between the individual to be burdened and the jurisdiction imposing that burden. The proposed rules seem designed to take this into account, but doing so requires the scheme to abandon a preference for relying on the law of the creditor's habitual residence. American child support proceedings use pre-established guidelines to determine the amount of any child support award. These guidelines, which are premised on economic conditions in the individual states, are not suited to dealing with international disputes. The cases suggest that American courts are reluctant to abandon the efficiency of the guidelines in favor of detailed fact based analysis, even if the result is an “inappropriate” order - certainty comes at a price.
On control of networks of dynamical systems

We consider a network of dynamical systems whose trajectories we wish to control by applying stimuli to a subset of systems. We study the minimum number of systems to control and which systems to control and provide sufficient conditions and necessary conditions for successful control. These conditions are given in terms of graph theoretical properties of the underlying network. For instance, we show that for the cycle graph, the best way to achieve control is by applying control to systems that are approximately equally spaced apart.
Effects of Cocaine and MDMA Self-Administration on Serotonin Transporter Availability in Monkeys

Although serotonin (5-HT) can interact with dopamine (DA) systems to modulate the subjective and reinforcing effects of psychostimulants such as cocaine and 3,4-methyldioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy), the long-term effects of exposure to psychostimulants on brain 5-HT systems are not well characterized. The present study assessed 5-HT transporter (SERT) availability using positron emission tomography (PET) in rhesus monkeys with the SERT-specific radioligand [(11)C]3-amino-4-(2-dimethylaminomethyl-phenylsulfanyl)-benzonitrile (DASB). SERT availability was assessed in regions of interest including the caudate nucleus, putamen, anterior cingulate cortex, and cerebellum. [(11)C]DASB distribution volume ratios (DVRs) were calculated using the cerebellum as the reference region. DVRs were calculated in control monkeys and in cocaine or MDMA self-administering monkeys approximately 24 h after the last self-administration (SA) session. SERT availability did not differ between monkeys with a history of MDMA SA and control monkeys in any region examined. In contrast, monkeys with a history of cocaine SA showed significantly higher levels of SERT availability in the caudate nucleus and putamen compared to control subjects. These results suggest that chronic SA of cocaine, but not MDMA, leads to alterations in serotonergic function in brain areas relevant to drug abuse. The higher level of SERT availability in cocaine-experienced monkeys may lead to a reduced inhibitory tone of 5-HT on the DA system, which may explain, in part, differences in the abuse liability between cocaine and MDMA.
Thermal equation of state of (Mg0.9Fe0.1)2SiO4 olivine

In situ synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements have been carried out on San Carlos olivine (Mg{sub 0.9}Fe{sub 0.1}){sub 2}SiO{sub 4} up to 8 GPa and 1073 K. Data analysis using the high-temperature Birch-Murnaghan (HTBM) equation of state (EoS) yields the temperature derivative of the bulk modulus ({partial_derivative}K{sub T}/{partial_derivative}T){sub P} = -0.019 {+-} 0.002 GPa K-1. The thermal pressure (TH) approach gives {alpha}K{sub T} = 4.08 {+-} 0.10 x 10{sup -3} GPa K{sup -1}, from which ({partial_derivative}K{sub T}/{partial_derivative}T){sub P} = -0.019 {+-} 0.001 GPa K-1 is derived. Fitting the present data to the Mie-Gr{umlt u}neisen-Debye (MGD) formalism, the Gr{umlt u}neisen parameter at ambient conditions {gamma}{sub 0} is constrained to be 1.14 {+-} 0.02 with fixed volume dependence q = 1. Combining the present data with previous results on iron-bearing olivine and fitting to MGD EoS, we obtain {gamma}{sub 0} = 1.11 {+-} 0.01 and q = 0.54 {+-} 0.36. In this study the thermoelastic parameters obtained from various approaches are in good agreement with one another and previous results.
Tanks, Tear Gas, and Taxes: Toward a Theory of Movement Repression

Despite the importance of research on repression to the study of social movements; few researchers have focused on developing a refined and powerful conceptualization of repression. To address the ...
A molecular understanding of ATP-dependent solute transport by multidrug resistance-associated protein MRP1

Over a million new cases of cancers are diagnosed each year in the United States and over half of these patients die from these devastating diseases. Thus, cancers cause a major public health problem in the United States and worldwide. Chemotherapy remains the principal mode to treat many metastatic cancers. However, occurrence of cellular multidrug resistance (MDR) prevents efficient killing of cancer cells, leading to chemotherapeutic treatment failure. Numerous mechanisms of MDR exist in cancer cells, such as intrinsic or acquired MDR. Overexpression of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) drug transporters, such as P-glycoprotein (P-gp or ABCB1), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP or ABCG2) and/or multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP1 or ABCC1), confers an acquired MDR due to their capabilities of transporting a broad range of chemically diverse anticancer drugs. In addition to their roles in MDR, there is substantial evidence suggesting that these drug transporters have functions in tissue defense. Basically, these drug transporters are expressed in tissues important for absorption, such as in lung and gut, and for metabolism and elimination, such as in liver and kidney. In addition, these drug transporters play an important role in maintaining the barrier function of many tissues including blood-brain barrier, blood-cerebral spinal fluid barrier, blood-testis barrier and the maternal-fetal barrier. Thus, these ATP-dependent drug transporters play an important role in the absorption, disposition and elimination of the structurally diverse array of the endobiotics and xenobiotics. In this review, the molecular mechanism of ATP-dependent solute transport by MRP1 will be addressed.
Assessment of concordance of symptom reflux association tests in ambulatory pH monitoring

Background Both simple proportions and statistical tests are utilised for symptom-reflux association. We systematically compared three such tests in a clinical setting.
Isolation of Infectious Bursal Disease Virus from the Lesser Mealworm, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer)

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) was isolated from adult lesser mealworms, Alphitobius diaperinus (Panzer), up to 14 d after exposure, but isolation of the virus was erratic over this period of time. The virus was undetected after 24 h in beetle larvae. Virus was isolated from the adult beetle's mouth parts, foregut, midgut, hindgut, and blood 24 h after they fed on feed inoculated with IBDV. Ten days after exposure, virus was isolated from the foregut but not the blood, mouth parts, or remaining digestive tract of the adult beetles. The adult lesser mealworm is capable of serving as a reservoir for IBDV, rather than a fomite, between broiler growouts.
Amygdala unitary activity in the unrestrained cat

Abstract In cats a micro-electroda base was stereotaxically implanted into the skull. After recovery from surgery, micro-electrodas were hydraulically driven through the base into the amygdala in unanesthetized, unrestrained animals. The effects of tape-recordad sounds (miaow, whistle, click, hiss), touch, light, smoke, reticular stimulation, and the presence of a white rat were tested on the unitary activity of the amygdala. Results were as follows: 1. 1. Most units of the amygdala showed spontaneous firing in the absence of experimental stimulation. 2. 2. In about half of the units tested the firing rate was modified undar the influence of sensory stimulation. 3. 3. Spontaneous sleep reduced the rate of spontaneous firing, dacreased the facilitatory and increased the inhibitory effects of sensory stimulation. 4. 4. Different sensory stimulations could show convergence of effects on the same unit. 5. 5. Each unit usually respondad with its own pattern (facilitation, inhibition, inhibition-facilitation) to different types of sensory stimulation. Reticular excitation would tend to enhance these responses. Also the attention of the animal seemed to play a role in unitary activity. 6. 6. Responses were more readily evoked by the “miaow” stimulus than by other types of sensory stimulation. 7. 7. The presence of a white rat in the cat's cage produced a rather prominent and lasting increase in the rate of unitary firing. 8. 8. Anatomically, the unitary responses were recordad from: (a) anterior, (b) lateral, and (c) medial part of the amygdaloid complex. The anterior area possessed fewer units responding to sensory stimulation than the other two. Facilitatory responses predominated in the lateral, and inhibitory responses in the medial area. Responses to visual stimulation were more numerous in the lateral group. Responses to touch and smoke did not show anatomical preference.
All that glitters is not reward signal.

In this issue, Shenhav et al. critically evaluate the idea that neural correlates of value actually represent value. They describe how, in many situations, value correlates can reflect other cognitive factors, such as decisional difficulty.
Resistance Up in Smoke: Analyzing the Limitations of Deliberation on YouTube

In September of 2006, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) appeared on the popular video website, YouTube, posting eight of its television commercials. YouTube members responded with a variety of video posts and comments that challenged both the content and structure of the message offered by the ONDCP. Using this controversy as a focal point, this essay is a dual analysis of the discursive content and structural features of YouTube. The response from the YouTube community is characterized in terms of vernacular and outlaw discourse, following Sloop and Ono (1997). Through strategies of re-posting and parodying the original videos and discussions on comment boards between members, select YouTubers dispute the logic of prohibition in America's war on drugs, resisting the ONDCP message. However, the structural limitations of the medium of YouTube and the overwhelming use of YouTube for entertainment diminish the response. Ultimately, YouTube's dismissive and playful atmosphere does not prove t...
Surgical closure of atrial septal defect. Minimally invasive cardiac surgery or median sternotomy

Background: Closure of ostium secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) vis median sternotomy (MS) is a simple procedure for most cardiac surgeons. Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) has recently been applied in the management of intracardiac lesions. Methods: We report our experience in surgical closure of isolated ASD via MICS in 60 patients and via MS in 58 patients. There was no difference between these two groups in gender, age, body weight, ratio of systemic to pulmonary blood flow, and pulmonary arterial pressure. Results: The duration of cardiopulmonary bypass was significantly longer in the MICS group than in the MS group [27 to 126 min (42 ± 12) and 14 to 158 min (27 ± 11), respectively; (p < 0.001]. However, the length of incision, incidence of temporary pacemaker wire insertion rate, duration of endotracheal intubation, timing of oral intake, postoperative day drainage amount, incidence of parenteral analgesic injection, postoperative length of stay, and return to normal activity interval were significant shorter and lower in patients of the MICS group than in those of the MS group. All the patients recovered rapidly from the surgery. Follow-up was complete in all patients, with no late complications and no residual shunt. Conclusion: Our results suggest that MICS is a good option for surgical closure of ASD.
Proteinopathy-induced neuronal senescence: a hypothesis for brain failure in Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and a host of other neurodegenerative central nervous system (CNS) proteinopathies are characterized by the accumulation of misfolded protein aggregates. Simplistically, these aggregates can be divided into smaller, soluble, oligomeric and larger, less-soluble or insoluble, fibrillar forms. Perhaps the major ongoing debate in the neurodegenerative disease field is whether the smaller oligomeric or larger fibrillar aggregates are the primary neurotoxin. Herein, we propose an integrative hypothesis that provides new insights into how a variety of misfolded protein aggregates can result in neurodegeneration. We introduce the concept that a wide range of highly stable misfolded protein aggregates in AD and other neurodegenerative proteinopathies are recognized as non-self and chronically activate the innate immune system. This pro-inflammatory state leads to physiological senescence of CNS cells. Once CNS cells undergo physiological senescence, they secrete a variety of pro-inflammatory molecules. Thus, the senescence of cells, which was initially triggered by inflammatory stimuli, becomes a self-reinforcing stimulus for further inflammation and senescence. Ultimately, senescent CNS cells become functionally impaired and eventually die, and this neurodegeneration leads to brain organ failure. This integrative hypothesis, which we will refer to as the proteinopathy-induced senescent cell hypothesis of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases, links CNS proteinopathies to inflammation, physiological senescence, cellular dysfunction, and ultimately neurodegeneration. Future studies characterizing the senescent phenotype of CNS cells in AD and other neurodegenerative diseases will test the validity of this hypothesis. The implications of CNS senescence as a contributing factor to the neurodegenerative cascade and its implications for therapy are discussed.
Impact of food deprivation on α1- and α2-noradrenergic receptors in the paraventricular nucleus and other hypothalamic areas

Abstract Hypothalamic norepinephrine may modulate normal eating behavior through activation of α 2 -noradrenergic receptors, localized in the paraventrieular nucleus (PVN). We investigated whether these receptors, which stimulate food ingestion, may in turn be altered by the nutritional state of the organism. Thus the impact of food deprivation, on the specific binding of [3H]-paminoclonidine ([3H]PAC) to α 2 -noradrenergic receptors in discrete hypothalamic areas, was examined in rats. The results of our first experiment revealed that 48 hr food deprivation reduced (by 50%) the maximum number of binding sites (Bmax) of the high affinity component of [3H]PAC binding to α 2 receptors. This effect occurred exclusively in the medial hypothalamus (which includes the PVN), without any change in the affinity (Kd) of these receptors. A smaller decline was seen in the low affinity binding sites of the medial hypothalamus, whereas no changes were observed in the density or affinity of the high and low affinity α 1 receptor sites in the lateral hypothalamus or frontal cortex. The α 1 -noradrenergic receptor sites, as defined by [3H]prazosin and [3H]WB-4101 binding, were also unaffected in the different brain areas by 48 hr food deprivation. An additional analysis of α 2 -receptors in discrete hypothalamic nuclei demonstrated that the deprivationinduced decline in α 2 -receptor binding: (1) occurred specifically in the PVN; (2) was apparent after as little as 3 hr food deprivation; and (3) occurred only when this brief deprivation fell at the onset of the dark cycle, as opposed to at the end of the dark cycle. These results reveal once again the relationship of PVN α 2 -noradrenergic receptors to eating behavior in the rat, and show that these receptors, believed to control normal food intake, are themselves affected by the rat's nutritional state. From other evidence, it is suggested that blood glucose levels may be important in producing these deprivationinduced changes in hypothalamic α 2 receptors.
Nuclear data sheets for A = 229

Abstract The available nuclear structure information for all nuclei with mass number A=229 is evaluated. The results from various decay experiments and reaction studies are compared. Adopted data, levels, and spin and parity assignments are given.
Wire Speed IPv6 Forwarding on Multi-core Platforms

With the exhaustion of IPv4 (32 bit) address space, IPv6 (128 bit) addressing is emerging to facilitate the immense growth of the Internet. However, this poses two main challenges to high-speed routers that perform packet forwarding: 1) increased IP lookup complexity and 2) increased routing table storage requirements. In this work, we present a high-performance IPv6 lookup engine based on routing table partitioning using an algorithm we devised, and range-tree search, for backbone networks. The disjoint partitioning improves the parallelism of the IP lookup process, which enables one to take advantage of software and hardware platforms with parallel processing capabilities. We use two state-of-the-art multi-core platforms and show that the proposed solution is able to operate at 150+ Gbps throughput rates for a 2 million entry routing table. Further, we show that the solution is scalable even up to 8 million entry routing tables while sustaining 40+ Gbps rates.
ARE INVASIVE PLANTS AN INEVITABLE CONSEQUENCE OF EVOLUTION

Any new species must begin its existence as a small isolated population competing either against an abundant established biota or an alien environment or both. What gives it the edge to survive is likely to be unique for each species that makes it through those early challenges, but what they all share in common is the capacity to reproduce in excess and to compete successfully against whatever biotic or abiotic competitors they encounter. Given this straightforward statement about speciation, Jonathan Silvertown, a prominent plant ecologist from the Open University, UK, asks the simple question, ‘‘Why hasn’t the ultimate competitor come along that can dominate all others and reign supreme in plant communities everywhere, or at least broadly across common landscapes?’’ While I’ve never seen the question of what causes and maintains biodiversity asked in exactly that way before, it makes sense when considered in light of the tremendous success some species have had when introduced into new communities or landscapes, often
Elimination of Urban Blight Through Inverse Proportional Ad Valorem Property Taxation

SINCE 1949, the urban renewal program has provided local renewal agencies with federal funds in an effort to eliminate or at least substantially alleviate urban blight. Among other things, the program was intended to relocate slum dwellers, stimulate large-scale private rebuilding, obtain new tax revenues for cities, revitalize downtown areas, and halt the exodus of middle class whites to the suburbs. However, urban renewal has not achieved its general aims; in fact urban blight and slum formation have continued to develop in contemporary America until now they are problems of major proportions. The social cost of inequities at least partially attributed to urban blight such as insufficient and poor education (1), inadequate health and sanitation programs, increased crime rates, and a stifling environment are incalculable. Thus, a search for public policies which would alleviate these problems has been stimulated. The purpose of this paper is to present a new approach for controlling urban blight. I
Towards Automated Understanding of Student-Tutor Interactions Using Visual Deictic Gestures

In this paper, we present techniques for automated understanding of tutor-student behavior through detecting visual deictic gestures, in the context of one-to-one mathematics tutoring. To the best knowledge of the authors, this is the first work in the area of intelligent tutoring systems, which focuses on spatial localization of deictic gestural activity, i.e. where the deictic gesture is pointing on the workspace. A new dataset called SDMATH is first introduced. The motivation for detecting deictic gestures and their spatial properties is established, followed by techniques for automatic localization of deictic gestures in a workspace. The techniques employ computer vision and machine learning steps such as GBVS saliency, binary morphology and HOG-SVM classification. It is shown that the method localizes the deictic tip with an accuracy of over 85 % accuracy for a cut off distance of 12 pixels. Furthermore, a detailed discussion using examples from the proposed dataset is presented on high-level inferences about the student-tutor interactions that can be derived from the integration of spatial and temporal localization of the deictic gestural activity using the proposed techniques.
6-Phosphogluconic dehydrogenase polymorphism in the bobcat (Felis rufa schreber☆

1. 1. Polymorphism for 6-phosphogluconic dehydrogenase (6-PGD) of red cells differing from that of the domestic cat, has been found in the bobcat (Felis rufa Schreber). 2. 2. This is the second species of Felidae polymorphic for this enzyme and suggests 6-PGD may be useful in taxonomic studies.
Electron-beam curing of a novel liquid crystal thermoset resin

Abstract In this paper we report on the processing and properties of a novel, “dual-curing” liquid crystal (LC) resin cured by electron-beam irradiation. The LC monomer contains both acrylate and acetylene reactive groups. Neat resin samples were e-beam cured in either the LC phase at 65 °C or the isotropic phase at 90 °C. The experimental variables included the total e-beam radiation dose (150 or 250 kiloGray {kGy or J/g}) and thermal post-cure cycle (none or 190 °C/1 h). Cured polymer specimens were characterized by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) and thermo-mechanical analysis (TMA). The results demonstrated that e-beam exposure alone at 150 or 250 kGy was not sufficient to fully cure the polymer, although it was sufficient to lock-in the isotropic or LC morphology. Differences in morphology had a significant impact on the DMA and TMA results for non-post-cured specimens, where LC samples demonstrated more robust mechanical properties at elevated temperatures compared to isotropic specimens. After a thermal post-cure cycle the DMA storage modulus differences between the LC and isotropic samples were not as great. However, large differences in thermal expansion coefficients remained. The data suggest the possibility that the acrylate bonds react during e-beam exposure, followed by conversion of the acetylene bonds during the thermal post-cure. Also, e-beam curing in the LC phase likely will allow for tighter molecular packing and more efficient polymerization resulting in higher crosslink densities.
EINFLUSSE VON DOTIERUNGS-METALL-IONEN AUF DIE PHOTOKATALYTISCHE REAKTIVITAT VON TIO2-QUANTENTEILCHEN

Oxidation und Reduktion lassen sich beschleunigen, wenn der Photokatalysator TiO_2 mit Metall-Ionen dotiert wird. Dies ergab die Untersuchung der photochemischen Oxidation von CHCl_3 und der photochemischen Reduktion von CCl_4 in Gegenwart von 21 verschieden dotierten TiO_2-Katalysatoren. Kaum aktivitatssteigernd sind Ionen mit geschlossenen Schalen. Die Autoren stellen ihre Ergebnisse in Form eines Periodensystems vor.
Evidence against an n π−π− enhancement at a mass of 1. 627 GeV/c2 in K−d → ps π−π−π− n K0 at 4.48 GeV/c

Recently evidence has been presented for the production of an nπ−π− enhancement of mass 1627 MeV/c2 in the reaction K−d → ps π+π−π−n Ko. With greater statistics, our data for the same reaction at nearly the same energy fail to show any evidence for such a resonance.
How micro is microdissection? Laser removal of stratum corneum of skin to expose the epidermal battery

How micro is laser microdissection? This study compared the spatial resolution of laser microdissection achieved by two laser systems: the ArF excimer laser which is strongly absorbed by tissue protein, and the Er:YAG laser which is strongly absorbed by tissue water. Both lasers penetrate tissue only a couple microns and are suitable for laser microdissection, and in this report the lasers ablated the outer dead-cell layer of the skin called the stratum corneum. The study involved dorsal skin sites on 8 rats for the ArF excimer and 10 rats for the Er:YAG. Ag/AgCl-gel electrodes were used to measure the passive DC resistance (R) and the active DC voltage (V) of skin sites which had received increasing numbers of ablative laser pulses (9 mJ/pulse, Er:YAG; 48 mJ/pulse, ArF excimer). About 8 pulses were required before a sudden drop in Ra and a sudden rise in V was observed. The R dropped from 4 +/- 0.2 (18) Mohm down to 1.5 +/- 0.2 (18) Mohm; mean +/- standard deviation (number of skin sites). The V was initially -56 +/- 5 mV, then dropped to -3 +/- 0.4 mV after laser ablation penetrated and destroyed the battery. The Er:YAG laser required 8.3 +/- 1.5 pulses to achieve 50% of the full change in R and V; the ArF excimer laser required 76 +/- 2 pulses. The changes in R and V per depth of tissue ablated were identical for the two lasers, despite their distinct differences in absorbing chromophore and efficiency of ablation.
Effect of cocaine on afterdischarge threshold in previously kindled rats.

Abstract Previous experiments have yielded conflicting reports on the effect of cocaine on the afterdischarge (AD) threshold for electrical stimulation. The present study was designed to determine if differences in the type of stimulation used could account for these discrepancies. Male Long-Evans rats which had been previously kindled by stimulation of the olfactory bulb were used to determine the AD threshold of the olfactory bulb following the intraperitoneal injection of saline or 20 mg/kg cocaine hydrochloride. AD's were elicited by trains of square-wave pulses which varied in frequency and train duration. Cocaine significantly increased the amount of current required to produce AD's using stimulus trains with frequencies of 30–100 pulses/sec, while evidence of a decrease in AD threshold by cocaine was found at a frequency of 20 pulses/sec. The results suggest that cocaine has opposite effects on AD threshold at high and low frequencies of stimulation.
Cost-Effectiveness of Preoperative Nasal Mupirocin Treatment in Preventing Surgical Site Infection in Patients Undergoing Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Objective. To perform a cost-effectiveness analysis to evaluate preoperative use of mupirocin in patients with total joint arthroplasty (TJA).Design. Simple decision tree model.Setting. Outpatient TJA clinical setting.Participants. Hypothetical cohort of patients with TJA.Interventions. A simple decision tree model compared 3 strategies in a hypothetical cohort of patients with TJA: (1) obtaining preoperative screening cultures for all patients, followed by administration of mupirocin to patients with cultures positive for Staphylococcus aureus; (2) providing empirical preoperative treatment with mupirocin for all patients without screening; and (3) providing no preoperative treatment or screening. We assessed the costs and benefits over a 1-year period. Data inputs were obtained from a literature review and from our institution’s internal data. Utilities were measured in quality-adjusted life-years, and costs were measured in 2005 US dollars.Main outcome measure. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio.Resu...
Factors which determine the Occurrence of the Green Ray

THE recent discussion of the green ray which has been appearing in NATURE prompts me to put on record a new theory of the phenomenon which occurred to me several years ago, but which I have refrained from publishing in the hope of securing proof. First let me say most emphatically that the phenomenon is real and not an illusion or after-image. No person trained in the observation of optical effects, both real and subjective, who has seen the phenomenon at its best, will have any doubt about its reality. There is also no question in my mind but that the usual explanation (atmospheric dispersion) is quite correct. The main question to answer is, Why is it seen so seldom, even under conditions which appear to be the most favourable ?
Low dose dextromethorphan attenuates moderate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by inhibiting NOX2 and reducing peripheral immune cells infiltration in the spinal cord

Dextromethorphan (DM) is a dextrorotary morphinan and a widely used component of cough medicine. Relatively high doses of DM in combination with quinidine are used for the treatment of mood disorders for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). However, at lower doses, morphinans exert anti-inflammatory activities through the inhibition of NOX2-dependent superoxide production in activated microglia. Here we investigated the effects of high (10 mg/kg, i.p., “DM-10”) and low (0.1 mg/kg, i.p., “DM-0.1”) doses of DM on the development and progression of mouse experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of MS. We found no protection by high dose DM treatment. Interestingly, a minor late attenuation by low dose DM treatment was seen in severe EAE that was characterized by a chronic disease course and a massive spinal cord infiltration of CD45+ cells including T-lymphocytes, macrophages and neutrophils. Furthermore, in a less severe form of EAE, where lower levels of CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells, Iba1+ microglia/macrophages and no significant infiltration of neutrophils were seen in the spinal cord, the treatment with DM-0.1 was remarkably more beneficial. The effect was the most significant at the peak of disease and was associated with an inhibition of NOX2 expression and a decrease in infiltration of monocytes and lymphocytes into the spinal cord. In addition, chronic treatment with low dose DM resulted in decreased demyelination and reduced axonal loss in the lumbar spinal cord. Our study is the first report to show that low dose DM is effective in treating EAE of moderate severity. Our findings reveal that low dose morphinan DM treatment may represent a new promising protective strategy for treating MS.
Impact-pressure controlled orientation of shatter cone magnetizations in Sierra Madera, Texas, USA

A suite of Sierra Madera Impact deformed rocks was studied and magnetic analyses were performed. We characterized the magnetic signatures of two locations, sites A and B that have different physical characteristics of shock fractured structures as well as the magnetic signatures. Shatter cone at site A has a fine-scale (few to ∼10 mm) distributed array of complete shatter cones with sharp apex. Natural remanent magnetization (NRM) of site A shatter cone is distributed within the plane that is perpendicular to the apexes of the cones. Shatter cone at site B shows no apparent cone shape or apex, instead, a relatively larger scale and multiple striated joint set (MSJS) and sinusoidal continuous peak. NRM of site B shatter cone is clustered along the apexes. The difference in magnetization direction is a likely indicator of the shock pressure where parallel to apex indicates pressures larger than 10 GPa and perpendicular to apex indicate pressures less than 10 GPa. Intensities of NRM and saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM) contrast and fluctuate within a shatter cone as well as in between two sites. We observed a random orientation of magnetic vector directions and amplitudes changing over small scales leading to the absence of coherent macro-scale signature.
High rates of obesity and chronic disease among United Methodist clergy.

e used self-reported data from United Methodist clergy to assess the prevalence of obesity and having ever been told certain chronic disease diagnoses. Ninety-five percent (n=1726) of all actively-serving United Methodist clergy in North Carolina (NC) completed self-report height and weight items and diagnosis questions from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS). We calculated Body Mass Index categories and diagnosis prevalence rates for the clergy and compared them to the NC population using BRFSS data. The obesity rate among clergy aged 35-64 was 39.7%, 10.3% (95% CI=8.5%, 12.1%) higher than their NC counterparts. Clergy also reported significantly higher rates of having ever being given diagnoses of diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, angina, and asthma compared to their NC peers. Health interventions that address obesity and chronic disease among clergy are urgently needed.
Induction frequency affects cortico-striatal synaptic plasticity with implications for frequency filtering.

Abstract Long-term synaptic depression (LTD) in cortico-striatal circuits is initiated by depolarization of striatal medium spiny neurons through a convergent cortical glutamatergic input. This produces retrograde endocannabinoid signaling to presynaptic cortical terminals and eventually results in long term (>30 min) decreases in glutamate release. These same circuits can also undergo short-term depression (STD) through a less well-defined process in which the magnitude of postsynaptic responses returns to baseline levels within 10 min. Additionally, the cortico-striatal circuit shows characteristics of a GABAA receptor-dependent low-pass filter, which results in significant attenuation of high frequency cortical inputs. The majority of in vitro studies of LTD have used a 100-Hz induction paradigm and it is unclear whether other frequencies, which may also have physiological relevance, have equivalent ability to induce this form of plasticity. Here we have investigated the effectiveness of a range of induction paradigms in producing LTD in cortico-striatal circuits, and demonstrate that some lower frequency paradigms, with perhaps more physiological relevance, are more effective at inducing LTD. We also show that GABAA receptor-dependent frequency filtering in this circuit is altered following the induction of LTD and STD suggesting an important role for synaptic depression in signal processing in these circuits.
Prisoners on death row should be accepted as organ donors.

Ten years ago, Christian Longo had been deeply enmeshed in a career of minor crimes and crushing financial burdens that had led to bankruptcy. He saw only one way out: relieving his family, his wife Mary Jane and their three children, of their dependency on him. He strangled Mary Jane and 2-year old daughter Madison, put them into suitcases and threw them into Yaquina Bay in Newport, Oregon. He stuffed his 3-year old daughter Sadie and 4-year old son Zachery into pillow cases, weighted them down with rocks, and threw them, still alive, into a nearby pond where they drowned. His crime was discovered when Zachery's body floated to the surface of the pond. He was placed on the FBI's 10 most wanted list, was found two years later living with his girlfriend in Cancun, Mexico, and was arrested, brought back to Oregon, put on trial, found guilty on four counts of murder, and sentenced to death. Several months ago, he wrote an editorial that was published in the New York Times: “Giving life after death row.”1 The editorial began with these words: “Eight years ago I was sentenced to death for the murders of my wife and three children. I am guilty. I once thought that I could fool others into believing this was not true. Failing that, I tried to convince myself that it didn't matter. But gradually, the enormity of what I did seeped in; that was followed by remorse and then a wish to make amends.” He continued: “There is no way to atone for my crimes, but I believe that a profound benefit to society can come from my circumstances. I have asked to end my remaining appeals, and then donate my organs after my execution to those who need them.” He went on to say, “And yet, the prison authority's response to my latest appeal to donate was this: `The interests of the public and condemned inmates are best served by denying the petition.'” Longo claimed that half of the other inmates on death row wanted to do the same and that there was no valid reason to prohibit them from donating. The question of who was right, the condemned prisoner or the prison parole board., was debated at the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association Annual Meeting in November 2011. by Dr. Shu Lin, who sided with the prisoner, and Dr. Jay Pal on the side of the parole Board.
Physicochemical characterization of coal and coal reactivity: a review

Abstract This review is based on a search of the ACS chemical data base for the years 1977–1985 using the key words: coal, thermal analysis (TA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), differential thermal analysis (DTA) and thermogravimetry (TG). One-hundred and fifty-seven references on TA/coal were accrued by this computerized library search. Ninety-six of these references were in English; 26 in Russian; 9 in Japanese: 5 each in Bulgarian, Polish and German; 4 in Chinese; 3 in Belgian French; and 4 in other languages. A somewhat different approach to most of the review papers of the past is offered. Using the 96 English, as well as other additional references, papers were selected and condensed according to their import and impact on coal science, namely, coal characterization and coal reactivity - very important and appropriate subjects for determining coal quality. References were selected and condensed that were outstanding examples of tandem systems - the coupling of other methods with conventional TA methods. These other techniques include mass spectroscopy (MS), gas chromatography (GC), and infrared spectroscopy (IR).
Estimating the demand pattern for C category items

This paper presents a methodology for estimating the demand pattern for the slowest-moving C category inventory items. The methodology uses an aggregation-by-items scheme and a forecasting procedure based on conditional demand analysis whereby aggregate demand is assumed to be an arbitrarily mixed, heterogeneous Poisson distribution. Practical aspects of demand heterogeneity, parameter estimation and model implementation are illustrated using a case study in retail inventory planning and control.
Cyclooxygenase-2 Suppresses the Anabolic Response to PTH Infusion in Mice

We previously reported that the ability of continuously elevated PTH to stimulate osteoblastic differentiation in bone marrow stromal cell cultures was abrogated by an osteoclastic factor secreted in response to cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox2)-produced prostaglandin E2. We now examine the impact of Cox2 (Ptgs2) knockout (KO) on the anabolic response to continuously elevated PTH in vivo. PTH (40 μg/kg/d) or vehicle was infused for 12 or 21 days in 3-mo-old male wild type (WT) and KO mice in the outbred CD-1 background. Changes in bone phenotype were assessed by bone mineral density (BMD), μCT and histomorphometry. PTH infusion for both 12 and 21 days increased femoral BMD in Cox2 KO mice and decreased BMD in WT mice. Femoral and vertebral trabecular bone volume fractions were increased in KO mice, but not in WT mice, by PTH infusion. In the femoral diaphysis, PTH infusion increased cortical area in Cox2 KO, but not WT, femurs. PTH infusion markedly increased trabecular bone formation rate in the femur, serum markers of bone formation, and expression of bone formation-related genes, growth factors, and Wnt target genes in KO mice relative to WT mice, and decreased gene expression of Wnt antagonists only in KO mice. In contrast to the differential effects of PTH on anabolic factors in WT and KO mice, PTH infusion increased serum markers of resorption, expression of resorption-related genes, and the percent bone surface covered by osteoclasts similarly in both WT and KO mice. We conclude that Cox2 inhibits the anabolic, but not the catabolic, effects of continuous PTH. These data suggest that the bone loss with continuously infused PTH in mice is due largely to suppression of bone formation and that this suppression is mediated by Cox2.
IFE Power Plant Design Strategy

If the research program presented will be successful, heavy-ion beams can then be used to ignite targets and to produce high gain for yields of about 400 MJ. A design strategy is proposed in which conventional engineering principles and known materials in an optimized way should be used to obtain the lowest cost of electricity while keeping the design robust to short falls in predicted cost and performance of components. Good target performance and low cost drivers would be helpful to achieving good economics. 11 refs., 7 figs., 2 tabs.