cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Association of Serious Hypoglycemic Events in Older Adults With Changes in Glycemic Performance Measures.

BACKGROUND Reducing serious hypoglycemic events is a Federal-wide objective. Despite studies of trends for rates of serious hypoglycemia in existing literature, rigorous evaluation of links between the observed trends and changes in professional guidelines or performance measures for glycemic control is lacking. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether changes in professional society guidelines and performance measures for glycemic control correspond to changes in rates of serous hypoglycemia. RESEARCH DESIGN This was a retrospective observational study. We merged Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and Medicare patient-level databases of VHA patients and identified those aged 65 years and above and receiving hypoglycemic agents. We derived age-adjusted and sex-adjusted annual rates and constructed piecewise Poisson regression models adjusting for age and sex to assess time trends of the rates. SUBJECTS VHA patients, 2002-2015. MEASURES The main outcome was the annual rates (2004-2015) of serious hypoglycemia, defined as hypoglycemia-related emergency department visits or hospitalizations. Secondary outcomes were annual rates of hemoglobin (Hb) A1c level 9%. Age and sex were additional variables. RESULTS The annual rate for hypoglycemia decreased by 4.8% (rate ratio: 0.952; 95% confidence interval, 0.949-0.956) for 2008-2015 but did not change (1.001; 0.994-1.001) in 2004-2008. In 2008-2015, the annual rate for HbA1c 9%, increased by 7.9% (1.079; 1.076-1.082). CONCLUSION The cooccurrence of decreasing rates for HbA1c<7% and serious hypoglycemia since 2008 supports the possibility that withdrawal of a <7% HbA1c measure in 2008 impacted clinical practice and patient outcomes.
The Pythagorean comma and preference for a stretched octave

Pythagorean tuning, which derives all musical intervals of a Western chromatic scale from repeated application of a fifth and subsequent reduction (collapse) into a single octave, results in an oct...
Two physical educators’ sense of purpose as an indicator of teaching sustainability over time in a high-poverty school setting:

Physical education teachers with a strong sense of purpose are more resilient and maintain high-level performance over time. Therefore, this longitudinal, mixed-methods exploratory case study descr...
Multiplexed single-molecule analysis of human telomerase synthesizing DNA

Abstract Genomic stability in proliferating cells critically depends on telomere maintenance by telomerase reverse transcriptase. Here we developed a real-time single-molecule RNA sequencing approach that visualizes telomerase catalysis and structural dynamics at single-nucleotide resolution using FRET and zero-mode waveguides. The method permits direct detection of dynamic steps and structural states throughout the telomerase catalytic cycle and can be generalized to other nucleic acid polymerase systems.
Quantifying the Social Distancing Privilege Gap: A Longitudinal Study of Smartphone Movement

Background: In response to the coronavirus pandemic, social distancing became a widely deployed countermeasure in March 2020. We examined whether healthier and wealthier places more successfully implemented social distancing. Methods: Mobile device location data were used to quantify declines in movement by county (n=2,633) in the United States of America, comparing April 15-17 (n=65,544,268 traces) to baseline of February 17 - March 7. Negative binomial regression was used to estimate gradients of privilege across eleven healthcare and economic indicators, adjusting for rurality and stay-at-home mandates. External validation used separate venue-specific data from Google Location Services. Findings: Counties without stay-at-home orders showed a mobility decline of -52·3% (95% CI: -50·3%, -54·3%), slightly less than the decline in mandated areas (-60·8%; 95% CI: -60·0%, -61·6%). Strong linear gradients in privilege were observed. After adjusting for rurality and stay-at-home orders, counties in the highest quintile of social distancing mobility restriction had: 52% less uninsured, 47% more primary care providers, 29% more exercise space, 27% less food insecurity, 26% less child poverty, 17% higher incomes, 14% less overcrowding, 9·6% more racial segregation, 8·2% less youth, 7·4% more elderly, and 6·2% less influenza vaccination, compared to least social distancing areas. Interpretation: Healthier and wealthier counties displayed a social distancing privilege gap, measured via smartphone mobility change. Structural inequities in this key countermeasure will influence immunity, and disease incidence and mortality. Funding: None Declaration of Interests: Authors declare no competing interests. Ethics Approval Statement: The aggregated public county-level data analyzed in this study were not considered human subjects research and exempted from further ethics review.
Evaluating the Role of IL-1β in Transmigration of Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells Across the Brain Endothelium

In vivo, breast cancer cells spend on average 3–7 days adhered to the endothelial cells inside the vascular lumen before entering the brain. IL-1β is one of the highly upregulated molecules in brain-seeking triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. In this study, the effect of IL-1β on the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and astrocytes and its role in transmigration of TNBC cells were evaluated. The effect of IL-1β on transendothelial electrical resistance, gene and protein expression of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived brain-specific microvascular endothelial-like cells (iBMECs) was studied. Transport of IL-1β across the iBMEC layer was investigated and the effect of IL-1β treatment of astrocytes on their cytokine and chemokine secretome was evaluated with a cytokine membrane array. Using BBB-on-a-chip devices, transmigration of MDA-MB-231 cells and their brain-seeking variant (231BR) across the iBMECs was studied, and the effect of an IL-1β neutralizing antibody on TNBC cell transmigration was investigated. We showed that IL-1β reduces BBB integrity and induces endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in iBMECs. IL-1β crosses the iBMEC layer and induces secretion of multiple chemokines by astrocytes, which can enhance TNBC cell transmigration across the BBB. Transmigration assays in a BBB-on-a-chip device showed that 231BR cells have a higher rate of transmigration across the iBMECs compared to MDA-MB-231 cells, and IL-1β pretreatment of BBB-on-a-chip devices increases the number of transmigrated MDA-MB-231 cells. Finally, we demonstrated that neutralizing IL-1β reduces the rate of 231BR cell transmigration. IL-1β plays a significant role in transmigration of brain-seeking TNBC cells across the BBB.
Fructosyltransferase Activities in the Leaf Growth Zone of Tall Fescue

High concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrates, mainly fructan, accumulate in the growth zone of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) leaf blades. We studied sucrose-hydrolyzing activities in the leaf growth zone because of their importance in carbohydrate partitioning. Sucrose hydrolysis in the basal 1.5 cm was largely due to fructosyltransferases, which had activities up to 10 times higher than in fully developed leaf tissue. Three fructosyltransferases (F1, F2, and F3) were purified from the leaf growth zone. Each synthesized, from either sucrose or 1-kestose, a mixture of trisaccharides and higher-order oligofructans identical with the low-degree of polymerization fructan extracted from similar plant tissue. The highly purified fructosyltransferases retained ability (13%) to transfer fructose from sucrose to water. Time-dependent and substrate-dependent studies, using sucrose as the substrate, showed proportional production of fructose and glucose, indicating that both products are from the same enzyme. Fructosyltransferase was calculated to contribute about half the total transfer of fructose to water in the basal 1.5 cm. Invertase activity increased to near 2.0 cm when fructosyl transfer to sucrose and other oligofructans decreased. Invertase was the major activity for sucrose hydrolysis at positions distal to 3.0 cm.
Plant virus incorporated hydrogels as scaffolds for tissue engineering possess low immunogenicity in vivo

Viruses are no longer recognized purely for being ubiquitous pathogens, but have served as building blocks for material chemistry and nanotechnology. Thousands of coat protein subunits of a viral particle can be modified chemically and/or genetically. We have previously shown that the three-dimensional porous hydrogels can easily be functionalized by Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), a rod-like plant virus, using its mutant, RGD-TMV. RGD-TMV hosted bioadhesive peptide (RGD) in the hydrogel, which was shown to enhance cell attachment and promote osteogenic differentiation of cultured stem cell. To translate this technology to potential clinical applications, we sought to study the biocompatibility of the hydrogel. In this paper, the hydrogels were implanted in vivo and assessed for their immunogenicity, toxicity, and biodegradability. Immune response for TMV substantially decreased when incorporated in the hydrogel implants. The implanted TMV hydrogels exhibited no apparent toxicity and were degradable in mice. The results highlighted the feasibility of using TMV incorporated hydrogels as scaffolding materials for regenerative medicine in terms of biocompatibility and biodegradability. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 103A: 887–895, 2015.
Nineteenth century Britain as a subtle commercial hegemon

En reponse a l'article de J.R. Davis consacre au debat theorique et historique concernant l'hegemonie commerciale de la Grande-Bretagne au XIX e siecle («A reconsideration of Britain as commercial hegemon in the nineteenth century», in «Synthese», 113, 2, 1997, pp. 195-203), l'A. defend la these selon laquelle la Grande-Bretagne a utilise de maniere subtile des pouvoirs economiques de domination afin d'imposer le libre-echange. Par analogie avec le paradoxe du prisonnier, l'A. presente un modele de changement de jeu qui consiste en une extension du concept de jeu a deux niveaux de Putnam
Inhibition of caspase activity in retinal cell apoptosis induced by various stimuli in vitro.

PURPOSE. Although recent work implicates a decisive role for a family of cysteine aspartic acid proteases, termed caspases, as mediators of neuronal apoptosis, little is known about caspase activation that accompanies apoptosis in the retina. The purpose of this study was to investigate caspase activation in retinal cell apoptosis induced by various stimuli, including simulated ischemia, excitotoxicity, and antibody to heat shock protein 27 (hsp27), and to assess whether the inhibition of caspases can block apoptosis in retinal cells induced by different stimuli. METHODS. Apoptotic cell death induced in cultured retinal cells by simulated ischemia, excitotoxicity, or hsp27 antibody was examined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling technique. Changes in the caspase activity were studied using western blot analysis and a fluorometric protease activity assay in the presence or absence of caspase inhibitors. In addition, changes in the expression of bcl-2 and bax were examined by western blot analysis. RESULTS. The authors’ in vitro observations revealed that the apoptotic process in retinal cells induced by different stimuli share a common executioner proteolysis cascade, including caspase-3 and poly-(ADP ribose) polymerase cleavage. One exception, however, was that caspase-8 activation was only observed during the apoptosis induced by hsp27 antibody. In retinal cells going to apoptosis regardless of the stimulus, bcl-2 expression was decreased and bax expression was increased. Furthermore, the authors observed that treatment of retinal cells with inhibitors of caspases, including B-D-FMK and Z-IETD-FMK, blocked the apoptotic cell death induced by different stimuli. CONCLUSIONS. The authors’ observations provide a better understanding of the apoptotic process in retinal cells at molecular level and demonstrate an effective blockade of caspase activation with specific inhibitors. These findings may have therapeutic implications in the treatment of neuroretinal diseases, which are characterized by apoptotic cell death. (Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 1999; 40:2660 ‐2667)
Uncertainty in a Numeric Concept Discovery System

This paper deals with the problem of reasoning about conceptualizations (sets of relevant parameters) of physical processes. It discusses the problems faced by the COPER discovery system [Kokar, 1986a, 1986b]. COPER conjectures parameters characterizing physical processes and the functional relationships among them. It must handle two kinds of uncertainty — about relevance of parameters, and noise. The paper shows that the straightforward probability/statistics approach is only partially adequate for this problem and indicates some of the possible ways to solve the discussed decision problem.
On the potential of δ18O and δ15N to assess N2O reduction to N2 in soil

Summary Enhancing microbial reduction of the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) to N2 could be a promising strategy to mitigate emissions from soils, but N2O reduction rates are currently neither well understood nor quantified. It has been suggested that the importance of N2O reduction to N2 could be estimated from relationships between δ18O and δ15N when N2O production and reduction occur simultaneously. We assessed the robustness of such relationships by using simple simulation models and experimental data for various scenarios, including open versus closed system isotope dynamics and collection of N2O fluxes over time with and without refreshing the headspace between sampling. We found that relationships between δ18O and δ15N vary dramatically with experimental conditions (such as headspace gas concentration and sampling scheme) and open versus closed system isotope dynamics, irrespective of N2O reduction rate. Therefore, we conclude that the simple relationships between δ18O and δ15N currently used are not robust indicators of N2O reduction to N2 and strongly discourage graphical interpretations of δ18O and δ15N to determine N2O reduction. We recommend the development of more advanced process-based isotope models that take into account open versus closed system isotope dynamics, experimental conditions, isotope values of precursors and other biogeochemical controls on δ15N and δ18O of N2O to estimate N2O reduction rates more reliably from natural abundance isotope values of N2O.
Social Movements, History of: General

The chief focus of this article is the history of social movements in the West that have attracted most scholarly attention; it draws particularly on studies done in the years 1975–2000—a period in which the concept of social movement has been redefined and developed—for its theoretical framework and em- pirical base. The British movement for the abolition of slavery—an emblematic, and by some criteria the first social movement—serves as a concrete example of an early crusade that embodied many of the central features of the phenomenon. The article goes on to examine the movement for women's suffrage in the USA, Italian fascism, and transnational social movements such as pro-ecology/environment organizations.
Identification of an essential tyrosine residue in the catalytic site of a chitinase isolated from Zea mays that is selectively modified during inactivation with 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide.

Abstract Chitinase isolated from Zea mays seeds is inactivated by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) in the absence of exogenous nucleophiles. Oligomers of N-acetylglucosamine,N,N',N",N"'-tetra-N-acetylchitotetraose (GlcNAc4), and to a lesser extent, N,N',N"-tri-N-acetylchitotriose (GlcNAc3) and N,N'-di-N-acetylchitobiose (GlcNAc2) provide partial protection against inactivation by the reagent. An examination of the concentration dependence of the protection afforded by GlcNAc4 revealed direct competition between the substrate analog and the reagent for the same binding sites on the enzyme. Isolation and Edman degradation of a "new" tryptic fragment, observed after inactivation of chitinase with EDC, revealed the sequence G-P-L-Q-I-S-W-N-*-N-Y-G-P-A-G-R, where the asterisk represents a cycle in which no amino acid was detected, presumably as a consequence of derivatization with EDC. In basic chitinases from dicotyledonous plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana, Phaseolis vulgaris (bean), Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco), and Solanum tuberosum (potato), as well as in the chitinase isolated from the monocotyledonous plant Hordeum vulgare (barley), this position is invariably occupied by a tyrosine. However, in the Oryza sativa (rice) basic chitinase, this position is occupied by a phenylalanine. The following additional evidence supports identification of this residue as tyrosine in Z. mays chitinase. (a) Inactivation of chitinase with EDC is reversible by treatment with hydroxylamine. (b) Liquid secondary ion mass spectrometric analysis of the isolated derivatized peptide revealed the presence of a molecular ion with a mass to charge ratio consistent with the peptide containing a derivatized tyrosine residue. These results provide evidence for an essential tyrosine residue at or near the catalytic site of chitinase that is selectively modified during inactivation with EDC.
Regulation of Tyrosine α-Ketoglutarate Transaminase in Rat Liver IX. STUDIES OF THE MECHANISMS OF HORMONAL INDUCTIONS IN CULTURED HEPATOMA CELLS

Abstract Synthesis of the messenger RNA that codes for tyrosine α-ketoglutarate transaminase (l-tyrosine:2-oxo-glutarate aminotransferase, EC 2.6.1.5) was blocked by actinomycin and its stability was determined in cultured hepatoma cells by measuring rates of transaminase synthesis. By this criterion the transaminase messenger RNA is degraded with a half-life of 2 to 3 hours in both H-35 and HTC cell lines; this rate is not changed by hydrocortisone. Transaminase synthesis is decelerated by high and low concentrations of actinomycin; high concentrations of this antibiotic block transaminase degradation as well. At low concentrations of actinomycin, transaminase induction by hydrocortisone is blocked but induction by insulin is unaffected for a period of time consistent with messenger stability. Preliminary treatment with hydrocortisone primes the cells to respond to insulin with a rapid increase in enzyme, but preliminary treatment with insulin does not alter the response to hydrocortisone. With the use of experimentally derived rates of degradation of both the transaminase and its messenger RNA, a mathematical model was developed which satisfactorily predicts kinetic behavior of the enzyme level upon addition and withdrawal of inducing hormones. The data are consistent with the conclusion that hydrocortisone acts transcriptionally while insulin acts on some posttranscriptional or translational step in enzyme synthesis. We find no indication of posttranscriptional mechanisms in the steroid-mediated induction. A discussion of the mathematical model used is appended.
Fermi-Surface Topology of 2H-TaSe2 at 4.2K

The magnetoresistance of single-crystal $2H\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{T}\mathrm{a}{\mathrm{Se}}_{2}$ in the commensurate charge-density-wave state has been measured at 4.2 K in magnetic fields up to 48 kG. The results indicate that the Fermi surface supports open orbits parallel to the [0001] direction for all orientations of magnetic field in the (0001) plane. No evidence of open orbits in other directions was observed.
Building a bonfire that remains stoked: sustainment of a contingency management intervention developed through collaborative design.

Background Community dissemination of empirically-supported behavior therapies is fostered by collaborative design, a joint process pooling expertise of purveyors and treatment personnel to contextualize a therapy for sustainable use. The adaptability of contingency management renders it an exemplary therapy to model this collaborative design process.
The Numbing Scale: psychometric properties, a preliminary report.

This study explored the psychometric properties of a new self-report instrument, The Glover Numbing Scale©. The scale measures a variety of behaviors reported by individuals experiencing an inability to access feelings other than hostility and rage. The scale was administered to inpatient Vietnam combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD, n = 323), PTSD diagnosed Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient and veterans' outreach center veterans (n = 208), two Vietnam veteran non-combat groups (n = 45), two psychiatric non-combat controls (anxiety disorder, n = 40; major depressive disorder, n = 31), and a non-psychiatric never-in-Vietnam veteran control group (n = 48). Reliability information suggested that the scale was internally consistent with good test-retest correlations. Convergent and discriminant validations were assessed based on the pattern of the scale's correlations with relevant Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) scales. The contrasting pattern of correlations provided by a subgroup of veterans who reported always feeling dead or shut down was highlighted. Principal component analysis resulted in a five-factor solution that provided evidence for the scale's factorial validity. Numbing Scale scores discriminated levels of psychopathology within the veteran population. PTSD outreach center veterans' sum scores and item scores on the Numbing Scale were more similar to responses of anxiety disorder patients than to major depressive disorder patients. Overall, the findings strongly support the clinical application of the Numbing Scale. Anxiety 1:70–79 (1994). © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Performance management for cluster-based web services

We present an architecture and prototype implementation of a performance management system for cluster-based web services. The system supports multiple classes of web services traffic and allocates server resources dynamically so to maximize the expected value of a given cluster utility function in the face of fluctuating loads. The cluster utility is a function of the performance delivered to the various classes, and this leads to differentiated service. In this paper, we will use the average response time as the performance metric. The management system is transparent: it requires no changes in the client code, the server code, or the network interface between them. The system performs three performance management tasks: resource allocation, load balancing, and server overload protection. We use two nested levels of management. The inner level centers on queuing and scheduling of request messages. The outer level is a feedback control loop that periodically adjusts the scheduling weights and server allocations of the inner level. The feedback controller is based on an approximate first-principles model of the system, with parameters derived from continuous monitoring. We focus on SOAP-based web services. We report experimental results that show the dynamic behavior of the system.
Clinical predictors of chronic rhinosinusitis.

BackgroundChronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is diagnosed by the presence of signs and symptoms of CRS in conjunction with physical evidence of mucosal inflammation. We sought to identify symptoms that predict CRS.MethodsWe performed a retrospective review of patients referred to a tertiary care rhinology clinic for evaluation of CRS. Symptom survey data and diagnoses were reviewed.ResultsOf 187 patients who met inclusion criteria, 112 (60%) were diagnosed with CRS and 75 (40%) were not. Chronic purulent rhinorrhea (odds ratio [OR], 2.2) and hyposmia (OR, 2.3) individually and in combination (OR, 3.8) were significant predictors of CRS. The major criteria of the 1997 Task Force in Rhinology (TFR) also predicted CRS (OR, 1.9) but the minor criteria did not (OR, 0.3).ConclusionIn this preliminary study, purulent rhinorrhea and hyposmia are strong predictors of CRS. The major criteria of the TFR also predict CRS but the minor criteria do not.
Pemphigoid Antibody Mediated Attachment of Peripheral Blood Leukocytes at the Dermal-Epidermal Junction of Human Skin

It has been proposed that cutaneous inflammation and blister formation in bullous pemphigoid is caused by antibodies to the cutaneous basement membrane zone which activate complement, thereby, attracting leukocytes to the dermal-epidermal junction There is, however, no functional evidence which supports a role for pemphigoid antibodies in complement activation or leukocyte activity in skin. This study describes the in vitro attachment of human peripheral blood leukocytes to the dermal-epidermal junction of cryostat skin sections treated with 9/13 pemphigoid sera containing antibodies to the cutaneous basement membrane zone. A requirement for complement in the reaction was supported by the findings that only complement-fixing pemphigoid sera mediated the leukocyte response, a strong correlation existed between complement-fixation titers and leukocyte attachment titers and only leukocytes suspended in fresh serum but not buffer or heat in activated serum attached at the junction. A requirement for antibody was supported by the observation that IgG fractions of 4 pemphigoid sera were as effective as whole sera in mediating leukocyte attachment. The leukocyte response was shown to be specific for complement-fixing pemphigoid sera since it was not observed with non-complement-fixing sera or sera from 15 normal human and 22 non-pemphigoid disease controls. This study offers functional evidence for an interaction between pemphigoid anti-body, complement and leukocytes in the immunopathogenesis of bullous pemphigoid and demonstrates that complement fixing antibasement membrane zone antibodies may be important in initiating the cellular inflammatory events observed near the dermal-epidermal junction in viva .
Local, hierarchic, and iterative reconstructors for adaptive optics

Adaptive optics systems for future large optical telescopes may require thousands of sensors and actuators. Optimal reconstruction of phase errors using relative measurements requires feedback from every sensor to each actuator, resulting in computational scaling for n actuators of n^2 . The optimum local reconstructor is investigated, wherein each actuator command depends only on sensor information in a neighboring region. The resulting performance degradation on global modes is quantified analytically, and two approaches are considered for recovering "global" performance. Combining local and global estimators in a two-layer hierarchic architecture yields computations scaling with n^4/3 ; extending this approach to multiple layers yields linear scaling. An alternative approach that maintains a local structure is to allow actuator commands to depend on both local sensors and prior local estimates. This iterative approach is equivalent to a temporal low-pass filter on global information and gives a scaling of n^3/2 . The algorithms are simulated by using data from the Palomar Observatory adaptive optics system. The analysis is general enough to also be applicable to active optics or other systems with many sensors and actuators.
Real-time 3D Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography guided microvascular anastomosis

Vascular and microvascular anastomosis is considered to be the foundation of plastic and reconstructive surgery, hand surgery, transplant surgery, vascular surgery and cardiac surgery. In the last two decades innovative techniques, such as vascular coupling devices, thermo-reversible poloxamers and suture-less cuff have been introduced. Intra-operative surgical guidance using a surgical imaging modality that provides in-depth view and 3D imaging can improve outcome following both conventional and innovative anastomosis techniques. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a noninvasive high-resolution (micron level), high-speed, 3D imaging modality that has been adopted widely in biomedical and clinical applications. In this work we performed a proof-of-concept evaluation study of OCT as an assisted intraoperative and post-operative imaging modality for microvascular anastomosis of rodent femoral vessels. The OCT imaging modality provided lateral resolution of 12 μm and 3.0 μm axial resolution in air and 0.27 volume/s imaging speed, which could provide the surgeon with clearly visualized vessel lumen wall and suture needle position relative to the vessel during intraoperative imaging. Graphics processing unit (GPU) accelerated phase-resolved Doppler OCT (PRDOCT) imaging of the surgical site was performed as a post-operative evaluation of the anastomosed vessels and to visualize the blood flow and thrombus formation. This information could help surgeons improve surgical precision in this highly challenging anastomosis of rodent vessels with diameter less than 0.5 mm. Our imaging modality could not only detect accidental suture through the back wall of lumen but also promptly diagnose and predict thrombosis immediately after reperfusion. Hence, real-time OCT can assist in decision-making process intra-operatively and avoid post-operative complications.
Childhood-onset schizophrenia associated with parkinsonism in a patient with a microdeletion of chromosome 22

The deletion of a gene or genes on chromosome 22q11 is responsible for the velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS), which is associated with cardiac anomalies, short stature, palate abnormalities, learning disabilities, and developmental delay. Herein we describe a 30-year-old man with VCFS in whom a chronic psychotic disorder originated during childhood. A 10% rate of psychotic disorders has been reported in association with this genetic syndrome. In our patient, the clinical manifestation was complicated by extrapyramidal symptoms that predated the onset of psychotic symptoms. To our knowledge, extrapyramidal symptoms have not previously been reported in a patient with VCFS. The diagnosis of VCFS was confirmed with the fluorescence in situ hybridization probe for VCFS. The role of the atypical antipsychotic drug clozapine is discussed with respect to treating this patient who has severe psychotic symptoms coexisting with extrapyramidal symptoms and seizures. In light of the observation that patients with VCFS have an unexpectedly high rate of psychotic disorders, issues concerning the genetics of schizophrenia are intriguing.
Side-to-side splenorenal shunt for portal hypertension in a child

Abstract Side-to-side splenorenal shunt without splenectomy, in the management of portal hypertension due to portal vein block can be accomplished by a technique that provides a large stoma. An illustrative case is presented.
Changes in Nitrocellulose when Exposed to Light

LORD RAYLEIGH mentions (NATURE, Oct. 27) that celluloid containing malachite green changes to a red colour when exposed to sunlight. He rightly remarks that this change is caused by the nitrocellulose and not by the camphor present in the celluloid. Bertholet and Gaudechon (C.R. 153, p. 1220; 1911) found that oxides of nitrogen are liberated when nitrocellulose is exposed to ultra-violet light. It has also been known for some time that solarised nitrocellulose becomes acid.
Biomechanics of Crosscountry Skiing

The mechanics of crosscountry skiing involve a complex interaction between the kinematic characteristics of the movement patterns and the kinetic relationships driving the motion. Crosscountry skiing techniques have been the subject of some biomechanical research, primarily involving the traditional diagonal stride technique. In the 1980s, skiers have developed several new approaches to moving across snow. These skating techniques rely on the generation of force from ski placements at an angle to the forward direction creating propulsive force while the ski slides forward. Biomechanical analysis of the crosscountry techniques has developed from rather simple 2-dimensional kinematic descriptions of diagonal stride to complex measurement of skating forces and 3-dimensional motion. The combined determination of forces and resultant motion has perhaps the most promise for practical application in assessments of equipment and technique. The relationship of the kinematic characteristics of skiing to the forces involved have received preliminary study but substantial gains in understanding will be necessary before approaches to optimising a skier's technique are plausible.
Assessing perceptions of self and God: comparison of prisoners and normals.

The authors compare samples of college students and prisoners on findings about self-conceptions and how these relate to conceptions of Diety using a cognitive consistency framework. Hypotheses are evaluated and issues identified for further inquiry.
Resonance Raman examination of the wavelength regulation mechanism in human visual pigments.

Resonance Raman spectra of recombinant human green and red cone pigments have been obtained to examine the molecular mechanism of color recognition by visual pigments. Spectra were acquired using a 77 K resonance Raman microprobe or preresonance Raman spectroscopy. The vibrational bands were assigned by comparison to the spectra of bovine rhodopsin and model compounds. The CNH stretching frequencies of rhodopsin, the green cone pigment, and the red cone pigment in H2O (D2O) are found at 1656 (1623), 1640 (1618), and 1644 cm-1, respectively. Together with previous resonance Raman studies on iodopsin [Lin, S. W., Imamoto, Y., Fukada, Y., Shichida, Y., Yoshizawa, T., & Mathies, R. A. (1994) Biochemistry 33, 2151−2160], these values suggest that red and green pigments have very similar Schiff base environments, while the Schiff base group in rhodopsin is more strongly hydrogen-bonded to its protein environment. The absence of significant frequency and intensity differences of modes in the fingerprint and the ...
History of kelp beds (Macrocystis) in Orange and San Diego Counties, California

Areas of Macrocystis canopies, as recorded by infrared aerial photography, are presented for about 140 km of the southern California coastline for the 25 year period 1967 to 1991. Several surveys per year were conducted and the largest size canopy per year was selected for presentation. Possible effects from various influences were examined: El Nino and La Nina episodes, storms, rainfall, and human-associated influences such as discharged wastewaters.
Performance analysis of sparse 3D SAR imaging

This paper addresses the question of scattering center detection and estimation performance in synthetic aperture radar. Specifically, we consider sparse 3D radar apertures, in which the radar collects both azimuth and elevation diverse data of a scene, but collects only a sparse subset of the traditional filled aperture. We use a sparse reconstruction algorithm to both detect and estimate scattering center locations and amplitudes in the scene. We quantify both the detection and estimation performance for scattering centers over a high dynamic range of magnitudes. Over this wide range of scattering center signal-to-noise values, detection performance is compared to GLRT detection performance, and estimation performance is compared to the Cramer-Rao lower bound.
Numerical fluid solutions for nonlocal electron transport in hot plasmas: Equivalent diffusion versus nonlocal source

Flux limitation and preheat are important processes in electron transport occurring in laser produced plasmas. The proper calculation of both of these has been a subject receiving much attention over the entire lifetime of the laser fusion project. Where nonlocal transport (instead of simple single flux limit) has been modeled, it has always been with what we denote the equivalent diffusion solution, namely treating the transport as only a diffusion process. We introduce here a new approach called the nonlocal source solution and show it is numerically viable for laser produced plasmas. It turns out that the equivalent diffusion solution generally underestimates preheat. Furthermore, the advance of the temperature front, and especially the preheat, can be held up by artificial 'thermal barriers'. The nonlocal source method of solution, on the other hand more accurately describes preheat and can stably calculate the solution for the temperature even if the heat flux is up the gradient.
Development of in vitro matured and fertilized bovine oocytes co-cultured with Buffalo Rat Liver cells.

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of Buffalo Rat Liver cells (BRLC) monolayers in supporting the development of in vitro matured and fertilized (IVM/IVF) bovine oocytes through to the hatched blastocyst stage compared to the commonly used co-culture system of bovine oviduct epithelial cells (BOEC). Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) obtained from 2- to 6-mm ovarian follicles at slaughter were matured for 24 h in TCM-199 supplemented with FBS and hormones (FSH, LH and estradiol 17-beta). In vitro fertilization (IVF) was performed using 1 x 10(6) percoll separated frozen-thawed spermatozoa in 1 ml of IVF-TL medium containing 18 to 20 matured oocytes. After 20 to 22 h of sperm exposure, 584 presumptive zygotes in 2 separate trials were randomly assigned to 3 treatment groups (BRLC co-culture, BOEC co-culture and control, consisting of medium alone). Zygotes were cultured in CZB media, a simple semi-defined medium, without glucose for the first 2 d, transferred to M199/FBS (TCM-199-HEPES supplemented with 20% HTFBS, 1 mM Sodium pyruvate), and cultured for an additional 8 days. Cleavage and development to morula and various blastocyst stages were recorded between d 3 and 11 after the start of IVF. Overall average cleavage rate was 75% (440 584 ) and did not vary across the treatments or trials. The proportion of embryos that reached the morula stage in both co-culture systems did not differ (P > 0.05) and was significantly higher (P > 0.05) compared to the control group. However, the percentage of the number of blastocysts, expanded blastocysts and hatched blastocysts varied across the treatment groups (P 0.05) was observed. Rate of development to the blastocyst stage was similar between the 2 co-culture systems, with most of the embryos reaching the blastocyst stage by d 8 post insemination. The results of this study show that BRLC from a commercially available established cell line offer a more reliable alternative to a BOEC co-culture system for in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture of bovine embryos.
Ruling Out Chaos in Compact Binary Systems

We investigate the orbits of compact binary systems during the final inspiral stage before coalescence by integrating the post-Newtonian equations of motion. We include spin-orbit and spin-spin coupling, which, according to a recent study [J. Levin, Phys. Rev. Lett. 84, 3515 (2000)], may cause the orbits to appear chaotic. To examine this claim, we calculate the divergence of nearby trajectories and attempt to measure the Lyapunov exponent $\ensuremath{\gamma}$. For all systems considered, we find no chaotic behavior, placing a lower limit on the divergence time ${t}_{\mathrm{L}}\ensuremath{\equiv}1/\ensuremath{\gamma}$ that is many times greater than the typical inspiral time, suggesting that chaos should not adversely affect the detection of inspiral events.
Behavioral tolerance to and withdrawal from multiple fluxetine administration

The objective of this study was to characterize the lasting effects of fluoxetine on the locomotor behavior of rats using a computerized activity-monitoring system. Challenge dosages (8, 16, and 24 mg/kg i.p.) of fluoxetine 2 h into the dark phase resulted in dose-dependent suppression of locomotor activity for 4 h following injection. Escalating (10-30 mg/kg i.p.) semidaily fluoxetine administration for the next five days resulted in decreasing locomotor activity during the multiple-administration period relative to saline control. Circadian activity patterns at the conclusion of the regimen were unchanged in shape, but featured uniform decreases in locomotor activity at every hour which were more significant during the phase. Upon discontinuation, fluoxetine-treated rats showed a significant increase in activity during the first 4 h following the first “missed” dose which was not seen in subsequent washout. Ninety-six h after the final maintenance dose, the initial three dosages were readministered, and...
Superintendents' Intentions toward DARE: Results from a Statewide Survey

Abstract This investigation assessed superintendents' beliefs and intentions toward Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) and drug prevention programming, using a modified Theory of Planned Behavior as a framework. The study's primary purpose was to predict intentions toward future reliance on DARE. In June 2000 an anonymous mail survey was sent to all 611 public school superintendents in Ohio. The response rate was 71.5%. DARE was used by 85 to 87% of the state's public school districts. A large majority of the superintendents (88.2%) reported that they intended to rely on the program in the future. Most held either incorrect information about DARE's efficacy (29.0%) or acknowledged that that they were uninformed about DARE outcome research (33.6%). A multiple logistic regression analysis found that intention to use DARE in the future was positively associated with normative beliefs about community support for the program and negatively related with perceptions of their ability to replace drug preventio...
The Standard Argument for Blame Incompatibilism

Blame Incompatibilism is the thesis that if determinism is true, no one is blameworthy for anything. Recently, this once-unfashionable thesis has undergone a resurgence. This tide needs stemming. In this paper I argue that the standard argument for Blame Incompatibilism is unsound.
Diagrammatic analysis of the density operator for nonlinear optical calculations Pulsed and CW responses

In the present paper a diagrammatic analysis of the density operator for the evaluation of nonlinear optical quantities is considered. The present approach extends earlier diagrammatic analysis by treating the time evolution of both the wave function and its complex conjugate. Time-ordered graphs result, each of which corresponds to a term in the density matrix. Examples involving the third-order susceptibility are discussed for both monochromatic and pulse excitation. In particular coherent rotational transient birefringence is discussed. The diagrams provide a convenient means by which nonlinear optical processes can be precisely defined and the susceptibility readily evaluated.
Comparison of steroidal synthetic agents cytolytic toward Florida red tide organism (Gymnodinium breve, Ptychodiscus brevis)

Abstract Analysis of a natural control agent for the red tide organism (G. breve, P. brevis) indicated the presence of sterols as an active, or adventitious component of a cytolytic mixture elaborated by the cyanobacterium Gomphosphaeria aponina Kutzing. Comparisons of several plant sterols showed cholesta‐5,7‐dien‐3s‐ol (7‐dehydrocholesterol) was cytolytically active toward G. breve. Derivatives of cholesta‐5,7‐dien‐3s‐ol and cholest‐5‐en‐3s‐ol (7‐dehydrocholesterol and cholesterol) were prepared to enhance water solubility. Derivatives of the type ROCO(CH2)4CO(OCH2CH2)nOH varied markedly in cytolytic activity with G. breve as the bioassay organism. The derivative of cholest‐5en‐3s‐ol (cholesterol) (n = 12.5) showed no discernable cytolytic activity up to 20 ppm, but the cholesta‐5,7‐dien‐3s‐ol (7‐dehydrocholesterol) derivatives (n = 22, 12.5, or 4) were cytolytic at about 5 ppm and had a dose‐dependent response. Implications of the observations are considered.
Preferred neck-resting position predicts aggression in Caribbean flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber)

When flamingos rest, they typically lay their heads along their backs. In order to achieve this positioning they curve their necks to either the right or left of their midline. Previously we have shown both individual and flock-level laterality of preferred neck-resting direction, with most birds preferring to rest their necks to their right (Anderson, Williams, & O'Brien, 2009). As laterality has been shown to play a role in social cohesion (e.g., Rogers & Workman, 1989) and aggression (e.g., Vallortigara, Cozzutti, Tommasi, & Rogers, 2001), here we attempted to determine whether a flamingo's preferred neck-resting direction could be used to predict involvement in aggressive encounters. Results replicated the earlier flock-level preference for neck resting towards the right, and indicated that those flamingos preferring the left were more likely to be involved in aggressive encounters.
Hall mobility of amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5

Abstract The electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and Hall coefficient of three-micron-thick films of amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5 have been measured as functions of temperature from room temperature down to as low as 200 K. The electrical conductivity manifests an Arrhenius behavior. The Seebeck coefficient is p-type with behavior indicative of multi-band transport. The Hall mobility is n-type and low (near 0.07 cm2/V s at room temperature).
What is the Grounding Problem

A philosophical standard in the debates concerning material constitution is the case of a statue and a lump of clay, Lumpl and Goliath respectively. According to the story, Lumpl and Goliath are coincident throughout their respective careers. Monists hold that they are identical; pluralists that they are distinct. This paper is concerned with a particular objection to pluralism, the Grounding Problem. The objection is roughly that the pluralist faces a legitimate explanatory demand to explain various differences she alleges between Lumpl and Goliath, but that the pluralist’s theory lacks the resources to give any such explanation. In this paper, I explore the question of whether there really is any problem of this sort. I argue (i) that explanatory demands that are clearly legitimate are easy for the pluralist to meet; (ii) that even in cases of explanatory demands whose legitimacy is questionable the pluralist has some overlooked resources; and (iii) there is some reason for optimism about the pluralist’s prospects for meeting every legitimate explanatory demand. In short, no clearly adequate statement of a Grounding Problem is extant, and there is some reason to believe that the pluralist can overcome any Grounding Problem that we haven’t thought of yet.
Inkjet catalyst printing and electroless copper deposition for low-cost patterned microwave passive devices on paper

A scalable, low-cost process for fabricating copper-based microwave components on flexible, paper-based substrates is demonstrated. An inkjet printer is used to deposit a catalyst-bearing solution (tailored for such printing) in a desired pattern on commercially-available, recyclable, non-toxic (Teslin®) paper. The catalystbearing paper is then immersed in an aqueous copper-bearing solution to allow for electroless deposition of a compact and conformal layer of copper in the inkjet-derived pattern. Meander monopole antennas comprised of such electroless-deposited copper patterns on paper exhibited comparable performance as for antennas synthesized via inkjet printing of a commercially-available silver nanoparticle ink. However, the solution-based patterning and electroless copper deposition process avoids nozzle-clogging problems and costs associated with noble metal particle-based inks. This process yields compact conductive copper layers without appreciable oxidation and without the need for an elevated temperature, post-deposition thermal treatment commonly required for noble metal particle-based ink processes. This low-cost copper patterning process is readily scalable on virtually any substrate and may be used to generate a variety of copper-based microwave devices on flexible, paper-based substrates.