cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Physician attitudes toward confidentiality of treatment for adolescents: Findings from the Upper Midwest Regional Physicians Survey

The provision of confidential medical services to adolescents is an enduring health policy issue in the United States, and the focus of policy statements by several professional medical organizations. Physician attitudes toward confidential service provision to teenagers were examined in the Upper Midwest Regional Physician Survey, a representative sample of community-based pediatricians and family physicians. Overall, three-quarters of participants favored confidential service provision for youths. Multivariate analysis revealed that the most salient reasons for favoring confidentiality were perception of unique needs among adolescents, year of licensure, high self-assessed competency in addressing sexual concerns of adolescence, adequacy of training in interpersonal and sexual issues, frequency of addressing interpersonal issues, and lower self-assessed adequacy of training in traditional medical problems of youths. Implications for state and federal legislation are discussed.
Using Variability Related to Families of Spectral Estimators for Mixed Random Processes

Traditionally, characterization of spectral information for wide sense stationary processes has been addressed by identifying a single best spectral estimator from a given family. If one were to observe significant variability in neighboring spectral estimators then the level of confidence in the chosen estimator would naturally be lessened. Such variability naturally occurs in the case of a mixed random process, since the influence of the point spectrum in a spectral density characterization arises in the form of approximations of Dirac delta functions. In this work we investigate the nature of the variability of the point spectrum related to three families of spectral estimators: Fourier transform of the truncated unbiased correlation estimator, the truncated periodogram, and the autoregressive estimator We show that tones are a significant source of bias and variability, This is done in the context of Dirichlet and Fejer kernels, and with respect to order rates. We offer some expressions for estimating statistical and arithmetic variability. Finally, we include an example concerning helicopter vibration. These results are especially pertinent to mechanical systems settings wherein harmonic content is prevalent.
Cross-sensor registration optimization study

Multi-sensor and multi-spectral data fusion is becoming a very useful technology to solve a host of defense and commercial imaging and computer vision problems. Many of the techniques that can be used to fuse multi-sensor image data require co-registration or alignment of pixels between image bands. We have performed a non-parametric study to determine which multi-spectral bands should be chosen for optimum pixel level alignment. The data used during this study is composed of two aerial multi-spectral sensors (one with 3 visible bands and one with 5 bands in the visible and short wave infrared and one synthetic aperture radar sensor in the X-band. The study is presented in a scientific manner to allow for objective analysis of the results. A similarity measure and normalization approach was developed to allow for direct comparison between all combinations of visible, short wave infrared, and SAR phenomenology. All combinations of data alignment are performed and analytical results are extracted, analyzed, and statistically plotted. Variations in time of day of collection, atmospheric transmission, and collection path length are investigated. This approach has applicability for band selection in both manual and automatic registration techniques that are used to co-register multi-sensor data.
A Study of Resistance Variations During Electromigration

This paper presents the results of a detailed study of the resistance changes which occur during electromigration. The limitations of resistance monitoring techniques for evaluating susceptibility to electromigration are described. Several stages of test stripe degradation are identified and related to resistance behavior including void formation, multiplication, growth, coalescence, and healing. Arcing cross voids is identified as a potential healing mechanism.
Sports celebrity endorsements in retail products advertising

– The purpose of this paper is to extend previous research into sport celebrity endorsements by investigating such endorsements of products ultimately sold by retailers. This is done by updating previous research involving print media in sporting magazines., – A content analysis approach is used, examining advertisements in randomly selected issues of sports illustrated from the most recent full six years of publication., – Changes in the frequency of advertisements using sports celebrities were found compared to previous studies. Additionally, it appears that products which are ultimately sold by retailers are endorsed more frequently by celebrities in certain sports than others., – By including in the investigation the topics of sport played and consumer products, the paper extends the current literature to explore the advertisers' use of athlete endorsers with products directly and indirectly impacting retailers.
Structural changes in vegetation coincident with annual grass invasion negatively impacts sprint velocity of small vertebrates

Sagebrush ecosystems in the intermountain west of the United States are being threatened by conversion to the non-native grass, cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). The dramatic shift in the physical structure of vegetation coincident with cheatgrass invasion likely has negative impacts on animal communities, yet these structural impacts have not been well-studied. In a previous study, dense cheatgrass stems reduced sprint velocity for the flattened, wide-bodied desert horned lizard (Phrynosoma platyrhinos). Here, we asked if a decrease in sprint velocity due to cheatgrass impediment can be generalized to the suite of small vertebrates inhabiting the sagebrush ecosystems of western Utah. We evaluated sprint performance of the common rodent (n = 3) and lizard (n = 4) species on two raceway types, cheatgrass and no-cheatgrass, and hypothesized that body size, body shape, and form of movement are important factors influencing sprint velocity through dense cheatgrass stems. All species showed significant reductions in speed on cheatgrass versus no-cheatgrass raceways, with percent reduction greatest for larger, wider, or hopping organisms compared to smaller, more slender, or running organisms. Of concern, surveys for rodents and lizards at our study areas support a common pattern: lower abundances of small vertebrates, as well as a loss of rodent species richness, in areas infested with cheatgrass compared to intact, native sagebrush communities. By extension, we expect a negative impact on animal communities in other semi-arid regions experiencing dramatic shifts in vegetation structure upon invasion by non-native grasses that are capable of forming dense stands in the interspaces of native desert plants [e.g., Sonoran desert invaded by buffelgrass (Pennisetum ciliare)].
The resistive transition of superconducting layer compounds

Abstract It is shown that in superconducting intercalated layer compounds, two resistive transitions should occur. One transition is associated with ordering in the planes and the other with ordering between the planes. The location of the second transition is shown to be determined by the size of crystallites in the sample.
Ethnic Identity and Family Processes Among Adolescents from Latin American, Asian, and European Backgrounds

Ninth graders (N = 679; 50% male, 50% female) from Latin American (41%), Asian (38%), and European (21%) backgrounds reported on their ethnic identity and family attitudes and relationships. Adolescents also completed daily checklists of family interactions over a two-week period. Results indicated that ethnic identity, measured through exploration and belonging was more strongly associated with family obligation and assistance than with parent–child closeness and family leisure time. Adolescents from Latin American and Asian backgrounds reported significantly higher levels of obligation and assistance as compared to adolescents with European backgrounds, and these ethnic differences were mediated by ethnic identity. Longitudinal analyses indicated ongoing associations, with ethnic identity predicting respect and obligation one year later. The discussion focuses on the role of ethnic identity in children’s family connectedness during adolescence.
A geometric method for determining joint rotations in spatial mechanisms

AbstractAn iterative procedure has been developed where the rotational displacements of a spatial mechanism are determined by a geometric method. The technique mimics the way a person would determine the rotations by making a trial assembly of the links of the mechanism and then adjusting the displacements so that links close up to form a loop. The procedure has been found to be practical and can be applied to complicated spatial mechanisms for which the mathematics are overly involved, and is particularly useful for situations when a good initial guess adequate for a successful Newton-Raphson solution is unavailable.
Screening Evaluation of the Ecological Risks to Terrestrial Wildlife Associated with a Coal Ash Disposal Site

Between 1955 and 1989, coal ash was deposited within an impounded watershed on the U.S. Department of Energy's Oak Ridge Reservation in Tennessee, creating the 3.6 ha Filled Coal Ash Pond (FCAP). The site has subsequently become vegetated wildlife habitat. To evaluate risks that metals in ash may pose to wildlife; ash, surface water, small mammal, and vegetation samples were collected and metal residues were determined. Metal concentrations, As and Se in particular, were elevated in ash, surface water, plant foliage, and small mammals relative to reference materials. Estimates of metal exposures were calculated for short-tailed shrews, white-footed mice, white-tailed deer, red fox, and red-tailed hawks. While shrews and mice were assumed to reside exclusively at and receive 100% exposure from the site, exposure experienced by deer, fox, and hawks was assumed to be proportional to the size of the site relative to their home range. Because deer had been observed to consume ash, presumably for its high sodiu...
Intramuscular adaptations to eccentric exercise and antioxidant supplementation

Prophylactic supplementation of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) was studied for physiological and cellular changes in skeletal muscle after eccentric muscle contractions. Thirty healthy, active males (20.0 +/- 1.8 years, 160 +/- 7.1 cm, 76.1 +/- 17.0 kg) ingested for 14 days either 1,800 mg of NAC, 1,800 mg of EGCG, or 1,000 mg of fiber (glucomannan) placebo (PLC) in a double blind, prophylactic fashion. Subjects completed one eccentric exercise bout (100 repetitions at 30 degrees /s) using the dominant knee extensors. Strength and soreness were assessed, and blood and muscle samples obtained before and 6, 24, 48, and 72 h with no muscle sample being collected at 72 h. Separate mixed factorial repeated measures ANOVA (P 0.05) were reported for cytochrome C, caspase-3 content, caspase-3 enzyme activity, and total DNA. Caspase-3 enzyme activity was significantly greater in all groups 48 h after exercise when compared to baseline (P < 0.05) and 6 h (P < 0.05) after exercise. An eccentric bout of muscle contractions appears to significantly increase muscle damage, markers of mitochondrial apoptosis, apoptotic enzyme activity, and whole-blood cell markers of inflammation with no changes in oxidative stress. While soreness ratings were blunted in the two supplementation groups 24 h after exercise when compared to PLC values, more research is needed to determine the potential impact of EGCG and NAC supplementation on changes related to oxidative stress, apoptosis, and eccentric exercise.
Metabolic effects of chronic sleep restriction in rats

Study Objectives: Chronic partial sleep loss is associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome in humans. We used rats with lesions in the ventrolateral preoptic area (VLPO), which spontaneously sleep about 30% less than intact rats, as an animal model to study the consequences of chronic partial sleep loss on energy metabolism. Participants: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (300-365 g). Interventions: We ablated the VLPO in rats using orexin-B-saporin and instrumented them with electrodes for sleep recordings. We monitored their food intake and body weight for the next 60 days and assessed their sleep-wake by 24-h EEG/EMG recordings on day 20 and day 50 postsurgery. On day 60, after blood samples were collected for metabolic profiling, the animals were euthanized and the brains were harvested for histological confirmation of the lesion site. Measurements and Results: VLPO-lesioned animals slept up to 40% less than sham-lesioned rats. However, they showed slower weight gain than sham-lesioned controls, despite having normal food intake. An increase in plasma ghrelin and a decrease in leptin levels were observed, whereas plasma insulin levels remained unaffected. As expected from leaner animals, plasma levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, and Creactive protein were reduced in VLPO-lesioned animals. Conclusions: Chronic partial sleep loss did not lead to obesity or metabolic syndrome in rats. This finding raises the question whether adverse metabolic outcomes associated with chronic partial sleep loss in humans may be due to factors other than short sleep, such as circadian disruption, inactivity, or diet during the additional waking hours.
Faulting and Fracturing of Nonwelded Bishop Tuff, Eastern California: Deformation Mechanisms in Very Porous Materials in the Vadose Zone

Field and microstructural studies were conducted on the basal, nonwelded and partially welded portions of the rhyolite Bishop Tuff in eastern California to examine the nature and processes of brittle deformation in these units. The nonwelded tuff consists of a variable sequence of finely laminated to massive pumice-rich deposits, fine-grained ash, and pyroclastic glass erupted from the Long Valley Caldera. The deposits are experiencing east–west extension in the hanging wall of the White Mountain fault, and small-displacement faults and fractures cut the tuff. Deformation in the Bishop Tuff occurred by fracturing associated with faults, and by slip along narrow faults with smooth, often mineralized surfaces. Localization of fracturing appears to be a function of welding. Units with a greater degree of welding have a greater abundance of fractures associated with faults, whereas nonwelded portions typically have a narrow deformation band–type faults with little or no associated damage. Microstructural observations show that transgranular fractures lie along grain boundaries of pumice and feldspar phenocrysts, and these fractures are often filled with calcite. These deposits appear to have behaved as an open-cell foam with a low strength, but with a cohesion that allowed the support of a differential stress to failure that resulted in subvertical open fractures and faults. These results demonstrate how brittle deformation may be manifested in nonwelded deposits in the vadose zone, and impart an anisotropy in which flow would be enhanced vertically and impeded horizontally. The Bishop Tuff is analogous to other nonwelded tuffs in the western USA. Thus, these results have implications for understanding deformation and flow in a variety of arid regions.
Pharmacokinetics of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol in Dogs

The pharmacokinetics of intravenously administered 14C-delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol and derived radiolabeled metabolites were studied in three dogs at two doses each at 0.1 or 0.5 and 2.0 mg/kg. Two dogs were biliary cannulated; total bile was collected in one and sampled in the other. The time course for the fraction of the dose per milliliter of plasma was best fit by a sum of five exponentials, and there was no dose dependency. No drug was excreted unchanged. The mean apparent volume of distribution of the central compartment referenced to total drug concentration in the plasma was 1.31 +/- 0.07 liters, approximately the plasma volume, due to the high protein binding of 97%. The mean metabolic clearance of drug in the plasma was 124 +/- 3.8 ml/min, half of the hepatic plasma flow, but was 4131 +/- 690 ml/min referenced to unbound drug concentration in the plasma, 16.5 times the hepatic plasma flow, indicating that net metabolism of both bound and unbound drug occurs. Apparent parallel production of several metabolites occurred, but the pharmacokinetics of their appearance were undoubtedly due to their sequential production during liver passage. The apparent half-life of the metabolic process was 6.9 +/- 0.3 min. The terminal half-life of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol in the pseudo-steady state after equilibration in an apparent overall volume of distribtuion of 2170 +/- 555 liters referenced to total plasma concentration was 8.2 +/- 0.23 days, based on the consistency of all pharmacokinetic data. The best estimate of the terminal half-life, based only on the 7000 min that plasma levels could be monitored with the existing analytical sensitivity, was 1.24 days. However, this value was inconsistent with the metabolite production and excretion of 40-45% of dose in feces, 14-16.5% in urine, and 55% in bile within 5 days when 24% of the dose was unmetabolized and in the tissue at that time. These data were consistent with an enterohepatic recirculation of 10-15% of the metabolites. Intravenously administered radiolabeled metabolites were totally and rapidly eliminated in both bile and urine; 88% of the dose in 300 min with an apparent overall volume of distribution of 6 liters. These facts supported the proposition that the return of delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol from tissue was the rate-determining process of drug elimination after initial fast distribution and metabolism and was inconsistent with the capability of enzyme induction to change the terminal half-life.
Identification and Characterization of a Gain-of-Function RAG-1 Mutant

RAG-1 and RAG-2 initiate V(D)J recombination by cleaving DNA at recombination signal sequences through sequential nicking and transesterification reactions to yield blunt signal ends and coding ends terminating in a DNA hairpin structure. Ubiquitous DNA repair factors then mediate the rejoining of broken DNA. V(D)J recombination adheres to the 12/23 rule, which limits rearrangement to signal sequences bearing different lengths of DNA (12 or 23 base pairs) between the conserved heptamer and nonamer sequences to which the RAG proteins bind. Both RAG proteins have been subjected to extensive mutagenesis, revealing residues required for one or both cleavage steps or involved in the DNA end-joining process. Gain-of-function RAG mutants remain unidentified. Here, we report a novel RAG-1 mutation, E649A, that supports elevated cleavage activity in vitro by preferentially enhancing hairpin formation. DNA binding activity and the catalysis of other DNA strand transfer reactions, such as transposition, are not substantially affected by the RAG-1 mutation. However, 12/23-regulated synapsis does not strongly stimulate the cleavage activity of a RAG complex containing E649A RAG-1, unlike its wild-type counterpart. Interestingly, wild-type and E649A RAG-1 support similar levels of cleavage and recombination of plasmid substrates containing a 12/23 pair of signal sequences in cell culture; however, E649A RAG-1 supports about threefold more cleavage and recombination than wild-type RAG-1 on 12/12 plasmid substrates. These data suggest that the E649A RAG-1 mutation may interfere with the RAG proteins' ability to sense 12/23-regulated synapsis.
A truncated recombination repeat in the mitochondrial genome of a Petunia CMS line.

Repeated sequences known as recombination repeats are present in the majority of plant mitochondrial genomes. Two recombination repeat sequences from Petunia have been analyzed. The two repeats are virtually identical over 1.42 kb. One of the repeats is truncated and is likely to have arisen from a rare recombination event in the full-length repeat. Two sequence-blocks within the Petunia repeat are highly similar to sequences in the 5′ flank of several plant mitochondrial genes. No sequence motifs are shared by the Petunia repeat and other sequenced plant mitochondrial recombination repeats, suggesting that the recombination occurs by an homologous, rather than a site-specific, mechanism.
Numerical simulation of the motion of a ball falling in an incompressible viscous fluid

Abstract In this note, we discuss the application of a Lagrange multiplier based fictitious domain method to the numerical simulation of the motion of a ball falling in an incompressible viscous fluid; the motion is due to the hydrodynamical forces and gravity. The numerical results of the terminal velocity of a ball falling in a circular cylinder are in quantitative agreement with the experimental results for Reynolds numbers less than 35.
Further studies on the interaction of nonpolyglutamatable aminopterin analogs with dihydrofolate reductase and the reduced folate carrier as determinants of in vitro antitumor activity.

Abstract Thirteen structural analogs of the potent nonpolyglutamatable dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor N α -(4-amino-4-deoxypteroyl)- N δ -hemiphthaloyl- l -ornithine (PT523) with modifications in the side chain, the para -aminobenzoyl moiety, or the 9,10-bridge were evaluated for the ability to inhibit human recombinant dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), to utilize the reduced folate carrier (RFC) for influx, and to inhibit the growth of CCRF-CEM human leukemia cells in culture. In spectrophotometric assays of the kinetics of the reduction of dihydrofolate by DHFR in the presence of NADPH, these compounds had K i values ranging from 0.2 to 1.3 pM, and thus were not greatly different in potency from the parent drug PT523. By comparison, the K i values of aminopterin (AMT), methotrexate (MTX), and 10-ethyl-10-deazaaminopterin (EDX) were 3.7, 4.8, and 11 pM. In assays of competitive inhibition of [ 3 H ]MTX influx into CCRF-CEM cells, the K i values ranged from 0.21 to 7.3 μM, as compared with 0.71, 5.4, and 1.1 μM for PT523, AMT, and EDX. The K t for MTX was also re-analyzed and found to be 4.7 μM, in better agreement with the literature than our previously reported value of 7.1 μM. The ic 50 values of these compounds as inhibitors of the growth of CCRF-CEM cells after 72 hr of drug exposure ranged from 0.53 to 55 nM, and were qualitatively consistent with the other results.
Contribution of research on 'Epilepsy & behavior' to the refinement of functional brain atlas in four dimensions

Intracranial stimulation mapping by Penfield et al. largely contributed to our current knowledge of the functional organization of motor, sensory, and language systems. The functional maps were generated and printed in two dimensions, based on the summary results of direct cortical stimulation of which locations varied across patients. Intracranial measurement of electrocorticographic changes elicited by a task can localize the regions involved in or participating to the given task. Augmentation of high-gamma activity at >80 Hz is considered to reflect in situ cortical activation at each moment. In the late 2000s, the spatial-temporal profiles of event-related high-gamma activity began to be published as a video material in journals. We have referred to our animation movie as ‘in-vivo animation of event-related high-gamma activity’, that demonstrates ‘when’ and ‘where’ cortical regions are activated in a self-explanatory fashion. Summation of event-related high-gamma measures derived from a large cohort of patients, as previously performed by Penfield et al, is expected to generate unique four-dimensional functional brain atlas covering the whole cerebral cortex.
Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Increases Intravenous Ethanol Self-Administration in Dietary Obese Rats

Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB) is an effective treatment for severe obesity. Clinical studies however have reported susceptibility to increased alcohol use after RYGB, and preclinical studies have shown increased alcohol intake in obese rats after RYGB. This could reflect a direct enhancement of alcohol’s rewarding effects in the brain or an indirect effect due to increased alcohol absorption after RGYB. To rule out the contribution that changes in alcohol absorption have on its rewarding effects, here we assessed the effects of RYGB on intravenously (IV) administered ethanol (1%). For this purpose, high fat (60% kcal from fat) diet-induced obese male Sprague Dawley rats were tested ∼2 months after RYGB or sham surgery (SHAM) using both fixed and progressive ratio schedules of reinforcement to evaluate if RGYB modified the reinforcing effects of IV ethanol. Compared to SHAM, RYGB rats made significantly more active spout responses to earn IV ethanol during the fixed ratio schedule, and achieved higher breakpoints during the progressive ratio schedule. Although additional studies are needed, our results provide preliminary evidence that RYGB increases the rewarding effects of alcohol independent of its effects on alcohol absorption.
Some immunogenic and biochemical properties of tumor‐associated transplantation antigens (TATA) obtained in soluble form or solubilized from two methylcholanthrene‐induced sarcomas, meth A and CI‐4

The subcellular distribution of the tumor-associated transplantation antigens (TATAs) of two highly immunogenic methylcholanthrene-induced sarcomas, Meth A and CI-4, were compared. Most of the TATA of CI-4 was found in the soluble fraction (cytosol) of the cell while the TATA from Meth A was variably distributed between the membrane and cytosol. The soluble fraction TATAs from both tumors were very immunogenic and their strong immunity could not be influenced by administering antigen in a variety of protocols that altered the immune response in other systems. The soluble fraction and membrane-associated TATAs from both tumors could be specifically bound to liposomes in reconstitution experiments and the antigenicity of all of the TATAs was significantly enhanced when they were incorporated into these artificial membranes.
Longitudinal investigation of changes in interviewing performance of medical students

The purposes were to determine the direction and extent of change in a medical student's ability to relate to patients between the sophomore and senior years, to assess the degree of predicted senior year performance from the sophomore year, and to determine the reliability of two major methods: interaction analysis (IA) and global faculty ratings. Twenty-two students were video-taped conducting two 10-minute interviews with a programmed patient: one as a sophomore, the other as a senior. The results for the interaction analysis method showed that the students were more directive, used more exploratory behaviors, were less supportive and more highly rated by the patients (actors) in the senior year. The physician-evaluators' global ratings indicated the students were more supportive, empathetic and open-ended, had fewer uncommon words, but conducted better overall interviews as seniors. The IA method was more reliable than global faculty ratings.
Job-Refusal Letters: Readers' Affectiue Responses to Direct and Indirect Organizational Plans

The affective responses of readers to job-refusal letters using direct and indirect approaches were investigated. Subjects were requested to rate organizational plan on 19 dependent measures. Results indicated that the direct job-refusal letter was preferred. It was viewed as more efficient, valuable and straightforward than the indirect approach. These findings are in conflict with current literature favoring the indirect approach for conveying negative information.
Higher maximum doses of oxytocin are associated with an unacceptably high risk for uterine rupture in patients attempting vaginal birth after cesarean delivery

Objective The objective of the study was to more precisely estimate the effect of maximum oxytocin dose on uterine rupture risk in patients attempting vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) by considering timing and duration of therapy. Study design A nested case-control study was conducted within a multicenter, retrospective cohort study of more than 25,000 women with at least 1 prior cesarean delivery, comparing cases of uterine rupture with controls (no rupture) while attempting VBAC. Time-to-event analyses were performed to examine the effect of maximum oxytocin dose on the risk of uterine rupture considering therapy duration, while adjusting for confounders. Results Within the nested case-control study of 804 patients, 272 were exposed to oxytocin: 62 cases of uterine rupture and 210 controls. Maximum oxytocin ranges above 20 mU/min increased the risk of uterine rupture 4-fold or greater (21-30 mU/min: hazard ratio [HR] 3.92, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06 to 14.52; 31-40 mU/min: HR 4.57, 95% CI, 1.00 to 20.82). Conclusion These findings support a maximum oxytocin dose of 20 mU/min in VBAC trials to avoid an unacceptably high risk of uterine rupture.
Clinically presenting acute/subacute ischemic stroke: differential diagnosis of the non-enhanced CT hypodensity by advanced neuroimaging.

Abstract Objectives: Patients presenting to the emergency room with an acute or subacute onset of focal neurological deficits are evaluated initially by non-contrast computed tomogram (CT) of the brain. This is primarily carried out to differentiate an ischemic from hemorrhagic stroke. However, other neurological conditions may have a similar clinical presentation as well as only hypodensities on CT scan, thus mimicking ischemic stroke. This review focuses on the advanced neuroimaging modalities that help differentiate these other conditions from a cerebral infarction. Methods: The literature was reviewed in order to ascertain what conditions would clinically and by CT mimic an acute/subacute ischemic infarction, and what advanced neuroimaging techniques would be most useful in differentiating these conditions. Results: Several infectious, inflammatory, metabolic and vascular diseases were found with clinical presentations identical to subacute/acute ischemic cerebral infarction, which also could demonstr...
Templated Grain Growth of Textured Bismuth Titanate

Textured bismuth titanate, Bi4Ti3O12 (BiT), was produced by templated grain growth (TGG). Molten-salt-synthesized BiT platelets were dispersed in a matrix of 200 nm BiT powder and aligned by tape casting. Highly textured BiT was obtained with the use of only 5 vol% template particles by sintering at 1000°C for 1 h. The uniformity of the through-thickness texture is much higher than reported in the literature for BiT tapes cast with 100% platelets. Initial platelet alignment is shown to increase because of frequent interaction with the fine powder particles during tape casting. By avoiding pressure densification techniques and using only a small portion of anisometric particles, TGG is a low-cost option for fabricating textured ceramics.
Viral detection using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction–based assay in outpatients with upper respiratory infection☆

We evaluated a commercial multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay in a cross-sectional study among 81 adult and pediatric outpatients-40 cases with upper respiratory infection symptoms and 41 asymptomatic controls-from February to April 2008. Two specimens (throat swab and nasal swab) from each participant were tested using the EraGen MultiCode-PLx Respiratory Virus Panel that detects 17 viral targets. Throat swabs were also tested for Group A Streptococcus (GAS) by PCR. Respiratory viruses were detected in 22/40 (55%) cases and in 3/41 (7%) controls (P < 0.001). GAS was detected in 10 (25%) cases; GAS and respiratory virus co-infection was found in 4 (10%). Agreement between nasal and throat swabs for viral detection was 69% in cases and 95% in controls. Of 22 cases with a detectable virus, 12 (54%) were picked up by only 1 (throat or nasal) specimen, and the detection rate was increased by combining results of nasal and throat swab testing.
Energy transformations associated with the synoptic and planetary scales during the evolution of a blocking anticyclone and an upstream explosively‐developing cyclone

Energy transformations associated with a wave system that included the development of a blocking anticyclone over the North Atlantic Ocean and the upstream explosive-development of an extratropical cyclone are studied for the period 17–21 January 1979. Included in the investigation are eddy kinetic energy (KE), release of eddy potential energy (CE), generation of eddy kinetic energy (GK), and exchange between eddy and zonal kinetic energy (CK). In addition, these quantities were partitioned into synoptic-scale, planetary-scale, and scale-interaction components. Results indicate that KE, which was about one-half of the total kinetic energy, was maintained by baroclinic conversion of potential to kinetic. Further, as released potential energy was being utilized to generate KE, a portion of the KE was barotropically converted to zonal kinetic energy. These transformations were dominated by the synoptic-scale component, in contrast to the authors' previously-reported height tendency results, which yielded significant contributions from both the synoptic and scale-interaction components. Thus, while changes in the mass field depended not only on the synoptic scale but also on the interactions between the synoptic and planetary scales, the corresponding changes in the eddy motion fields responded largely to synoptic-scale processes. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0870.1992.t01-2-00004.x
Population origin of Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus by-catch in U.S. Atlantic coast fisheries.

Microsatellite DNA and mitochondrial DNA control-region sequence analyses were used to determine the population and distinct population segment (DPS) origin of 173 Atlantic sturgeon Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus encountered from the Gulf of Maine to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, in NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Observer Program. It was found that the Hudson River was by far the greatest contributor to this coastal by-catch, with 42 ⋅2–46 ⋅3% of specimens originating there. Generally, specimens represented the geographic province of the river in which they were spawned, but some specimens, particularly those originating in the South Atlantic DPS, moved to great distances. Genetic mixed-stock analyses provide an accurate approach to determine the DPS and population origin of A. o. oxyrinchus by-catch in coastal waters, but most informative management requires that these results be partitioned by locale, season, target fishery and gear type.
A note on control systems with one nonlinear element

An important class of nonlinear control systems can be represented by a single-loop negative feedback circuit having one isolated, instantaneous type, nonlinear element in series with a linear transfer function with m th-degree numerator polynomial and n th-degree denominator polynomial ( m \leq n ). In the literature on automatic control, many of the techniques and theorems associated with this class of systems are restricted in application to the special case m . In this short paper, a technique is described whereby the case m = n can be transformed to the case m . By this means, some of the results that heretofore were restricted to the case m can be successfully applied to the case m = n . In particular, this procedure, together with a certain theorem about nonlinear functions with feedback, makes it possible to apply some recent results in absolute stability to certain cases of m = n .
Mode-Selective Optical Kerr Effect Spectroscopy

We demonstrate that by using two pump pulses with independently controllable polarizations, intensity, and timing, different contributions to the optical Kerr effect (OKE) signal in liquids can be enhanced and suppressed. When both pump pulses have the same polarization, intramolecular vibrations can be enhanced or suppressed without affecting the reorientational diffusion contribution to the signal significantly. Similar control can be exerted over intramolecular vibrations when the pump pulses are perpendicularly polarized, and under these conditions it is also possible to suppress the reorientational diffusion component of the signal completely. When two intramolecular vibrational modes are present in the signal, it is possible to enhance one while completely suppressing the other if the pump polarizations and timing are chosen appropriately. This technique should be a useful means for enhancing contrast in OKE microscopy.
Reproductive failure in macaques.

Reproductive failure among captive and free-ranging macaques is common. Many females experience amenorrhea or anovular cycles. Females who successfully conceive often lose the conceptus before implantation. After implantation, fetuses are aborted because of maternal, paternal, fetal, or placental abnormalities. Death postpartum is likely if infants are premature or if animals are subject to social stress, especially trauma. Based on published reports, reproductive failure among macaques includes an average of 16.3% abortions, 9.9% stillbirths, 21.9% neonatal deaths, and 15.2% infant deaths.
Online Keyword Based Advertising: Impact of Ad Impressions on Own-Channel and Cross-Channel Click-Through Rates

Keyword-based ads are becoming the dominant form of advertising online as they enable customization and tailoring of messages relevant to potential consumers. Two prominent channels within this sphere are the search channel and the content channel. We empirically examine the interaction between these two channels. Our results indicate significant cannibalization across the two channels, as well as significant diminishing returns to impressions within each channel. This suggests that under certain conditions, both channels may need to be used to optimize returns to advertising, both for advertisers and service providers such as Google. Our game theoretic analysis which builds upon our empirical findings reveals that for intermediate budget values, it is optimal to use both channels, whereas for very low (very high) budget values, it is optimal to use only the content (search) channel. Further, as budget increases, the advertiser should offer more for ads displayed on the search channel to optimally incentivize the service provider.
Studies in clinical shock and hypotension. 3. Comparative effects of vasopressor drugs and dextran.

A LTHOUGH the meaning of the term "shock" is controversial, 1 there is general agreement that the cardinal manifestation of both experimental and clinical shock states is a deficiency of blood flow. 2-5 The lowered systemic arterial pressure observed clinically often is treated with vasopressor drugs, but their use has been discouraged 6 because of concern that a further reduction in systemic blood flow might result. A variety of therapeutic agents has been recommended to increase blood flow in shock, including vasodilators, 7 ganglionic block agents, 8 adrenergic blocking agents, 9 isoproterenol 10 and corticosteroids. 11 Dextran has been widely used in the emergency treatment of shock associated with blood loss, 12 but it has not been routinely employed in hypotensive patients without a history or signs of blood volume depletion. The ten patients studied in the present report became acutely hypotensive without obvious blood loss. Right atrial pressures were not significantly elevated, indicating the absence of overt right
Lipids and fatty acids of the southwestern corn borer, Diatraea grandiosella☆

Abstract The lipids of the adults and of several immature stages of the southwestern corn borer, Diatraea grandiosella , were studied after they were fed natural corn stalks or artificial diets. Linoleic acid (18:2) was the major fatty acid of the neutral lipids in both the natural and the artificial diets, but aleic acid (18:1) was the principal neutral lipid in all insect stages. Also, linoleic acid and oleic acid were the principal acids in the insect phospholipids of all stages. The content of linoleic acid in the natural diet was also high, but that in the artificial diet appeared to be much too low for insect requirements. Phosphatidyl choline (PC) and phosphatidyl ethanolamine (PE) were the major phospholipids in all growth stages. Thus, in larvae diapausing in the field, the unsaturated fatty acid content of PC was 59·3 per cent, primarily 16:1 and 18:1, and PE was 87·4 per cent, primarily 18:1, 18:2, and 18:3, and the fatty acids in the number 1- and 2-positions of PC were 53·6 and 97·2 per cent unsaturated, respectively. The haemolymph of diapausing southwestern corn borer larvae contained primarily glycerides but also had some PC and PE. Fat body from diapausing larvae contained primarily 16:0, 16:1, and 18:1 in a ratio of 1 : 1 : 2. Thus lipids of the southwestern corn borer do not reflect dietary lipids as closely as do other insects studied.
Current Pharmacologic Testing for Horner Syndrome

First described in 1727, Horner syndrome occurs from injury to one of the three neurons in the oculo-sympathetic pathway. Its presence can be confirmed with pharmacologic testing, traditionally including cocaine testing with hydroxyamphetamine localization. More recently, apraclonidine testing has become a viable alternative in some practices. Concern has been raised regarding the possibility of false-negative results with apraclonidine testing as well as the safety of its use in young children.
Relationship of system properties to performance in facilitated transport systems

Abstract A modelling procedure for the prediction of the performance of facilitated transport membranes is presented and illustrated with examples. Measurable system properties are used throughout. There are no empirical or adjustable parameters. The optimal range of the equilibrium constant for the reversible reaction between the gas solute and the carrier has previously been determined as well as the corresponding maximum facilitation factor. These results can be used to determine the optimal property set, to screen potential carrier molecules, as the basis for carrier structural modifications, to indicate the optimal range for the solute feed concentration, and to compare actual to optimal performance. Several uses are given for an analytical solution for the facilitation factor for gas transport. One can estimate the facilitation factor, calculate a single dimensionless number, tanh λ/λ, which can give the degree of facilitation, and use this result as the basis for a data plot to estimate the carrier gas complex diffusion coefficient and the external mass transfer resistance.
Compactification of the universal Picard over the moduli of stable curves

This article provides two different, but closely related, moduli problems, which in characteristic zero provide a type of compactification of the universal Picard over the moduli of stable curves. Although neither is of finite type, both are limits of a sequence of stacks, each of which is a separated algebraic stack of finite type. We discuss relations to previous compactifications and partial compactifications, give a number of examples related to this compactification, and work out the structure of its fibres over certain fixed curves. Some applications are also discussed.
Enhanced Electrochemical Lithium Storage by Graphene Nanoribbons

Herein, we report the electrochemical Li intake capacity of carbonaceous one-dimensional graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) obtained by unzipping pristine multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). We have found that nanotubes with diameters of ∼50 nm present a smaller reversible capacity than conventional mesocarbon microbead (MCMB) powder. Reduced GNRs improve the capacity only marginally over the MCMB reference but present a lower Coulombic efficiency as well as a higher capacity loss per cycle. Oxidized GNRs (ox-GNRs) outperform all of the other materials studied here in terms of energy density. They present a first charge capacity of ∼1400 mA h g−1 with a low Coulombic efficiency for the first cycle (∼53%). The reversible capacity of ox-GNRs is in the range of 800 mA h g−1, with a capacity loss per cycle of ∼3% for early cycles and a decreasing loss rate for subsequent cycles.
PanG, a New Ketopantoate Reductase Involved in Pantothenate Synthesis

Pantothenate, commonly referred to as vitamin B(5), is an essential molecule in the metabolism of living organisms and forms the core of coenzyme A. Unlike humans, some bacteria and plants are capable of de novo biosynthesis of pantothenate, making this pathway a potential target for drug development. Francisella tularensis subsp. tularensis Schu S4 is a zoonotic bacterial pathogen that is able to synthesize pantothenate but is lacking the known ketopantoate reductase (KPR) genes, panE and ilvC, found in the canonical Escherichia coli pathway. Described herein is a gene encoding a novel KPR, for which we propose the name panG (FTT1388), which is conserved in all sequenced Francisella species and is the sole KPR in Schu S4. Homologs of this KPR are present in other pathogenic bacteria such as Enterococcus faecalis, Coxiella burnetii, and Clostridium difficile. Both the homologous gene from E. faecalis V583 (EF1861) and E. coli panE functionally complemented Francisella novicida lacking any KPR. Furthermore, panG from F. novicida can complement an E. coli KPR double mutant. A Schu S4 ΔpanG strain is a pantothenate auxotroph and was genetically and chemically complemented with panG in trans or with the addition of pantolactone. There was no virulence defect in the Schu S4 ΔpanG strain compared to the wild type in a mouse model of pneumonic tularemia. In summary, we characterized the pantothenate pathway in Francisella novicida and F. tularensis and identified an unknown and previously uncharacterized KPR that can convert 2-dehydropantoate to pantoate, PanG.
Calorimetric study of flammable fabrics. II. Analysis of flame retardant-treated cotton†

Efficiencies of three flame retardants for cellulose, phosphoric acid, diammonium phosphate, and THPOH ammonia finish, have been evaluated based on the heat release value and the rate of heat release of treated fabrics burning in air measured with the isoperibol calorimeter. The results were compared and correlated with those obtained previously with the bomb-calorimetric technique. Complete heat balances were obtained for the systems studied by correlation of the calorimetric data and the measurement of combustible gases evolved from the fabric burning in air. The rate of heat release was found to correlate with the flame propagation rate measured at a 45° angle. The results from the heat, rate, and combustible gas measurements were interpretable in terms of existing mechanisms of flame-retardant action.
MAN CAN CONSERVE O TOO

![Figure][1] Aside from a few \`deep blue' champion free divers, no one would claim that man distinguishes himself in the category of \`diving mammal', yet the classic dive response outlined by Irving and Scholander in the 1940s has been described in both human newborns and adults. The dive
Observations and issues on mechanisms of grain refinement during ECAP process

The equal channel angular pressing route, defined by rotating schemes between adjacent passes, significantly affects effectiveness of grain refinement. It is of interest to study the mechanisms of grain refinement. Previous work has considered the accumulative strain and the effects of shear strain plane in the interpretation of certain experimental observations. However, they are not sufficiently general, and contradict each other in some cases. In this paper, we analyze experimental results available in the literature, and investigate the fundamental mechanisms of grain refinement. We believe that the interaction of shear plane with texture and crystal structure plays a primary role in grain refinement, while the accumulative strain plays a secondary role. Our model can explain the experimental results in the literature very well. Issues on the grain refinement are discussed and further research to solve these issues is suggested.