cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neuromuscular Synapse Elimination

It is well known that synaptic connections are established with a high degree of specificity during the development of the nervous system. Nonetheless, the pattern of connections at early stages of neurogenesis differs from that in the adult in several important respects. Two major phases of reorganization are now recognized to be common to the maturation of many parts of the nervous system. In the first phase there is widespread neuronal death, which generally occurs around the time of synapse formation. Neuronal death appears to be primarily a mechanism for adjusting the number of cells in a given structure to the number of target cells available and secondarily a mechanism for eliminating cells which have aberrant connections1,2 (see Chapter 9). The second phase of reorganization involves extensive remodeling of synaptic connections without attendant cell death. In some parts of the nervous system the majority of synapses initially formed are subsequently eliminated.1–3 Although many unanswered questions pertain to the functional significance of synapse elimination, it is a basic phenomenon in neurogenesis and is deserving of careful scrutiny.
Epidemiology of IGF-1 and Cancer

The incidence rates of cancer have been increasing steadily during the last 20 years in industrially developed parts of the world, notably Western Europe and North America (IARC 2008). The wide variation in cancer rates across the world as well as the observed increase in cancer risk among migrants moving from low-risk to ­high-risk countries convincingly suggest that environmental factors associated with a Western lifestyle may be major determinants of cancer risk. Western lifestyle is characterized by a diet high in total and saturated fat, refined sugars, and animal protein accompanied by physical inactivity. These lifestyle factors and overweight, which is most commonly related to Western diet and lifestyle, have been associated with insulin resistance and postprandial hyperinsulinemia, and many of them have been positively associated with different types of cancer in epidemiological studies. Both insulin and IGF-1 can enhance tumor development by stimulating cell proliferation and by inhibiting apoptosis. It has been hypothesized that variations in the insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) pathways could account for the nutritional and lifestyle risk factors and the high cancer incidence in Western countries.
Probabilistic Lifecycle Assessment of Butanol Production from Corn Stover Using Different Pretreatment Methods

The recalcitrant nature of lignocelluloses requires a pretreatment process before the fermentative butanol production. The commonly used pretreatment processes, such as steam explosion, sulfuric ac...
A cross-sectional analysis of respiratory ill-health among charcoal workers and its implications for strengthening occupational health services in southern Nigeria

Objectives This study was conducted to assess the concentration of air pollutants at charcoal sites, the dose-response relationship between site-based exposure levels to air pollutants and prevalence of respiratory symptoms among charcoal workers, and the measures these workers employ to safeguard their health. Design Cross-sectional but comparative design Setting Charcoal production kiln sites in Sapele, Delta State, Nigeria. Participants Overall 296 charcoal workers and age-matched, sex-matched and height-matched non-exposed traders (comparison group). Primary and secondary outcome measures The primary outcome measure was the prevalence of respiratory symptoms among charcoal workers while secondary outcomes included lung function indices as well as hazard control practices among charcoal workers. Results Majority (83.3%) of the sites had PM10 and PM2.5 values five times higher than the WHO standard. Charcoal workers were more likely to have respiratory symptoms; wheeze was statistically significant after adjusting for confounders, (OR 4.22; CI 1.37 to 12.99). The dose-response relationship between site-based exposure levels to air pollutants and the prevalence of respiratory symptoms among charcoal workers was statistically significant for all symptoms except chest tightness (p=0.167). Mean forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were considerably lower among workers with differences of −0.22 (−0.42 to −0.05) L and −0.52 (-0.76 to −0.29) L, respectively, whereas FEV1/FVC ratio and peak expiratory flow rate were higher among workers with mean differences of 5.68 (3.59–8.82)% and 0.31 (-23.70 to 24.43) L/min, respectively; but the mean difference was significant only for the FEV1/FVC ratio. Charcoal workers had poor hazard control practices; only 3.4% reportedly used personal protective equipment. Conclusion Air pollutants at kiln sites were higher than WHO standards. Despite the significantly higher prevalence of wheeze, chest tightness and chronic cough among charcoal workers, their hazard control practices were inadequate. Charcoal workers should adopt appropriate hazard control practices, and use improved devices which emit minimal pollutants.
Comparison of Institutionally Reared and Maltreated Children on Socioemotional and Biological Functioning

The current study compared behavioral and adrenocortical functioning of maltreated (N = 91) and comparably aged (1.5-3 years) institutionally-reared children soon after (1.5-2.5 months) placement in foster care or adoptive homes, respectively. Foster and adoptive parents reported on the children's socioemotional competence and behavior problems, experimenters scored fear and positive affect to laboratory tasks, and diurnal cortisol measures were obtained. We sought to address whether these early contexts, characterized by different types of neglect and deprivation, have differential effects on young children's development. We found little support for the argument that either context results in uniformly poorer functioning soon after removal from adversity. Maltreated children were less fearful and more positive when exposed to both positive and novel events than institutionally-reared children. However, maltreated children were reported to have more behavior problems than did institutionally-reared children, and institutionally-reared children showed more typical declines in cortisol throughout the day than the maltreated children. These findings increase our ability to construct more targeted and effective interventions for these populations.
For the love of our children: an Indigenous connectedness framework:

This article draws on Indigenous literature to develop a conceptual framework that makes visible Indigenous child wellbeing. A process of qualitative content analysis identified and examined the co...
Conformational isomers of β-triethylenetetraamine-amino acid complexes of cobalt(III)

Abstract The preparation and characterization are described for the β1 and β2−-(RR and SS)- and the β2−(RS and SR)isomers for the glycine, (S and R)-alanine, and S-methionine complexes, and the β1− and β2−-(RR and SS) isomers for the S-proline complexes of the type β[Co(trien)aa]I2·H2O. The isomers differ in the orientation of the amino acid anion (aa) relative to the triethylenetetraamine (trien) ligand (β1 or β2) and the chelate ring conformations, which are designated by the absolute configurations of the coordinated secondary amine groups (R or S). The absolute configurations were assigned from the stereoselectivity of proline and spectral results. The circular dichroism (CD) spectra were used to relate configurations and conformations of the complexes, to examine the various contributions to the CD peak intensities and the addivity of these contributions.
Simulation-based Analysis of Network Rules Matching

A common function in networking is to find the best match between a packet's IP header and a list of matching rules, and to take some action based on the rule which is matched. This approach determines whether a packet transits a firewall or router and which interface is chosen for egress when it does, and whether a Network Address Translation transformation is applied. Considerable past research has optimized data structures and algorithms for rules-matching, under the operating assumption that with every specific application the best match is sought for a single IP flow, with a specified protocol, and specified source and destination IP and port numbers. This paper is motivated by a different scenario, in which we seek the simultaneous determination of the best matches for a bundle of flows. The flows are closely related as the bundle is a contiguous subset of the IP header space, meaning each flow draws in each dimension from the same range as other flows do in that same dimension. This specific problem arises in the design of tools that analyze the connectivity of networks. We consider here two algorithms for approaching this problem, which share the characteristic of generalizing the simulation of how devices typically classify a given flow. We study the behavior of these algorithms empirically, and find that the amortized cost of identifying the best matching rule in an ACL is typically measured in (at most) 10's of micro-seconds on an ordinary laptop computer.
The Critical Role of Bioturbation for Particle Dynamics, Priming Potential, and Organic C Remineralization in Marine Sediments: Local and Basin Scales

Bioturbation promotes priming and total remineralization of sedimentary organic matter (Corg) in multiple ways. A primary local mode is the injection of reactive Corg from the water column, surface sediment, and mucus secretions into deposits. During feeding, burrowing, and construction activities by benthic fauna, labile substrates are brought into close association with more refractory material over a wide range of time scales, geometries, and depths, enhancing decomposition of the less reactive components (priming). One measure of these local interactions is the particle mixing coefficient, DB, which can be estimated from the averaged penetration of particle-reactive radionuclides into deposits. Patterns of DB in Long Island Sound, an estuarine system with well-defined sources of naturally-occurring radionuclides, show consistent positive correlations between DB and total inventories of 234Th (t1/2 = 24 d) and 210Pb (t1/2 = 22 yr) at local and basin scales. These correlations, maintained seasonally in the case of 234Th, demonstrate not only the penetration of plankton-derived, reactive Corg into deeper regions of deposits during bioturbation over monthly (~ 5 – 10 cm) to decadal timescales (~ 20 – 100 cm) but also the enhanced capture of labile substrates from the water column across basin scales into bioturbated patches as the intensity of reworking increases. In Long Island Sound, sedimentary Chl-a distributions and benthic nutrient regeneration (e.g., NH4+ fluxes) reflect these particle exchange processes. Basin and regional scale capture of labile substrates into bioturbated deposits can be generally demonstrated, for example, along the highly productive Cape Hatteras continental margin. Thus, total and net remineralization necessarily increase with the biogenic enhancement of the quantity of labile particulate substrate in deposits. This capture, intermixing, and close association of reactive and refractory substrates (reductant mixing), and thus the optimization of priming potential, represent important, often overlooked, pathways by which bioturbation generates biogeochemical conditions conducive to maximum efficiency of remineralization.
Community Literacy: A Rhetorical Model for Personal and Public Inquiry

This paper develops a rhetorically centered model of community literacy in the theoretical and practical context of local publics—those spaces where ordinary people develop public voices to engage in intercultural inquiry and deliberation. Drawing on fifteen years of action research in the Community Literacy Center and beyond, the authors characterize the distinctive features of local publics, the deliberative, intercultural discourses they circulate, and the literate practices that sustain them. They identify four critical practices at the heart of community literacy: assessing the rhetorical situation, creating local publics, developing citizens’ rhetorical capacities, and supporting change through the circulation of alternative texts and practices.
Anarchists of the Caribbean: Countercultural Politics and Transnational Networks in the Age of US Expansion

Anarchists who supported the Cuban War for Independence in the 1890s launched a transnational network linking radical leftists from their revolutionary hub in Havana, Cuba to South Florida, Puerto Rico, Panama, the Panama Canal Zone, and beyond. Over three decades, anarchists migrated around the Caribbean and back and forth to the US, printed fiction and poetry promoting their projects, transferred money and information across political borders for a variety of causes, and attacked (verbally and physically) the expansion of US imperialism in the 'American Mediterranean'. In response, US security officials forged their own transnational anti-anarchist campaigns with officials across the Caribbean. In this sweeping new history, Kirwin R. Shaffer brings together research in anarchist politics, transnational networks, radical journalism and migration studies to illustrate how men and women throughout the Caribbean basin and beyond sought to shape a counter-globalization initiative to challenge the emergence of modern capitalism and US foreign policy whilst rejecting nationalist projects and Marxist state socialism.
Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid pharmacokinetics of ondansetron in humans.

Aims Changes in serotonergic sensory modulation associated with overexpression of 5-HT3 receptors in the central nervous system (CNS) have been implicated in the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain after peripheral nerve damage. 5-HT3 receptor antagonists such as ondansetron can potentially alleviate neuropathic pain, but have limited effectiveness, due potentially to limited CNS access. However, there is currently limited information on CNS disposition of systemically-administered 5-HT3 receptor antagonists. This study evaluated the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) disposition of ondansetron, as a surrogate of CNS penetration. Methods Fifteen patients were given a single 16 mg intravenous 15 minute infusion of ondansetron, followed by serial blood and a single CSF sampling. Population pharmacokinetic (PK) modelling was implemented to describe the average and individual plasma and CSF profiles of ondansetron. A two-compartmental model was used to capture ondansetron plasma PK with a single CSF compartment to describe distribution to the CNS. Results The individual model-estimated CSF to plasma partition coefficients of ondansetron were between 0.09 and 0.20. These values were mirrored in the calculated CSF penetration ratios, ranging from 0.08 to 0.26. Conclusions After intravenous administration, CSF concentrations of ondansetron were approximately 7-fold lower than those observed in the plasma. A model could be developed to describe individual CSF concentration-time profiles of ondansetron based on a single CSF data point. The low CSF penetration of ondansetron may explain its limited analgesic effectiveness, and affords an opportunity to explore enhancing its CNS penetration for targeting conditions such as neuropathic pain.
Screening close contacts of smear-positive tuberculosis patients and the effectiveness of preventive medication in close contacts in school

Objective To screen the close contacts of smear-positive tuberculosis patients and investigate the effect of preventive medicine in closely contacted students in school.Methods Close contacts and general contacts in 6 schools with smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis epidemic from 2008 to 2012 in Shengzhou city were tested by PPD.Students with strong PPD-positive but negative chest X-ray images were recommended to take anti-tuberculosis drugs,and the effect was evaluated.Results A total of 34 cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were diagnosed in the epidemic in 6 schools and 710 close contacts and 190 general contacts were identified.There were 179 strong PPD-positive students in 710 close contacts of tuberculosis patients.Among the strong PPD-positive students,86 took preventive medication and no patients were found one year later.Among 93 strong PPD-positive students who did not take preventive medicine,23 students (24.73％) developed tuberculosis one year later.Conclusions The status of tuberculosis infection in close contact population can be evaluated by PPD screening.PPD screening is useful to guide the preventive medication and thus effectively control the spread of tubuculosis. Key words: Tuberculosis, pulmonary; PPD test; Preventive medication
Effective therapy for Burkitt's lymphoma: high-dose cyclophosphamide + high-dose methotrexate with coordinated intrathecal therapy.

A new treatment for Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) has been devised with coordinated intrathecal (IT) methotrexate (MTX) + high-dose intravenous (IV) MTX with citrovorum factor (CF) rescue and high-dose Cytoxan (CYT). Six patients have been entered on the study. Five patients continue in complete remission at 13+–31+ months (median, 29+ months). One died of septicemia during myelosuppression. Only minor toxicity was seen in four patients. Two patients had severe metabolic disturbances following initial CYT therapy; one of these patients also had reversible, moderately severe hepatorenal MTX toxicity. No neurotoxicity was observed. Results of therapy are impressive in this limited patient group, four of whom were poor-prognosis (Stage C or D) and two of whom were good-prognosis patients (Stage B or AR). The potential for severe toxicity is great; adherence to the criteria for drug administration and close surveillance of the patient in the post-treatment period are mandatory.
Microbes and microbiomes in 2020 and beyond.

In the next decade, advances in our understanding of microbes and microbiomes will likely transform our way of life; providing novel therapeutics, alternate energy sources, and shaping fundamental doctrines of biology. We explore the promises herein, and tools required to achieve this progress. Notably, it is critical that we improve the inclusivity and diversity of our research agendas and teams, so that science benefits people of all identities and backgrounds.
OpBox: Open source tools for simultaneous EEG and EMG acquisition from multiple subjects

In vivo electrophysiology experiments require the collection of data from multiple subjects, often for extended periods. Studying multiple subjects for extended periods can be made more efficient through simultaneous recordings, but scaling up recordings to accommodate larger numbers of subjects simultaneously requires coordination and consideration of costs and flexibility. To facilitate this process, we have developed OpBox, an open source set of tools to acquire electroencephalography (EEG) and electromyography (EMG) flexibly from multiple rodent subjects simultaneously. OpBox combines open source hardware and software with off-the-shelf components to create a system that costs less than commercial solutions ($500 per subject), and can be easily deployed for multiple subjects. Coded in MATLAB, OpBox scripts can simultaneously and flexibly collect and display multiple analog and digital data streams, for instance real-time EEG and EMG, event triggers from a behavioral system, and rotary encoder data. OpBox also calculates and displays real-time spectral representations and event-related potentials (ERPs). To verify the performance of our system, we compare our amplifiers with two other commercial amplifiers, a Grass P55 AC preamplifier and an Intan RHD2000-series amplifier. The OpBox amplifier performs comparably to commercial amplifiers for signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs), noise floors, and common mode rejection. We also demonstrate that our acquisition system can reliably record multichannel data from multiple subjects, and has been successfully tested with 12 subjects running simultaneously on a single standard desktop computer. Together, OpBox increases the flexibility and lowers the cost for simultaneous acquisition of electrophysiology data from multiple subjects.
Vesicoureteral Reflux: Special Considerations and Specific Populations

This review will hopefully serve as a brief update on the current approaches to vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) within the context of historical approaches to this disorder and dispelling some of the myths surrounding its treatment. There is also greater focus on certain populations with VUR that may (or may not) be at particular risk. Despite several large studies showing the benefit of antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing infections in VUR, there continues to be conflicting results in smaller scale studies or in regard to renal scarring that prevent its accepted use universally. Some of these conflicting results are a product of comparing a mixed population of individuals, as there are certain populations that seem to benefit from antibiotic prophylaxis and for which it should be considered. Similarly, surgical correction of VUR is not beneficial for many individuals even within certain higher risk populations, such as higher grade VUR, pre-pubertal females, and renal transplant recipients. Preceding febrile infections and the presence of renal scarring are two indicators of higher risk individuals. However, renal scarring in some individuals may not be secondary to infections. Therefore, an individualized approach to each patient with VUR is needed, with some needing treatment by surgery, some needing antibiotic prophylaxis, some needing optimal bladder care, and even others needing treatment of the sequelae of renal scarring.
Narrative story stem methodologies: Use and utility of quantitative and qualitative approaches across the lifespan

Abstract We review three decades of literature across multiple disciplines that demonstrate the efficacy of narrative story stem methodologies (NSSM) to elicit responses that are projective of mental processes and to reveal what would otherwise be too complex or sensitive to communicate. The review synthesizes evidence for the extensive and diverse utility of NSSM. To accomplish this, we provide theoretical framing and historical background, describe assessment methods, resulting data and analytic approaches, and chart the empirical work of the past decade that relates story stem narratives to a range of developmental outcomes, and meaning-making processes. This synthesis of cross-disciplinary research provides the first comprehensive review of a truly innovative narrative methodology and includes work across periods of development, representing research that has primarily focused on children with increasing emphasis on adolescents and adults.
Investigating the Role of Product Assortment in Technology-Enabled Sales Platforms

Abstract Throughout a distribution channel, multiple sales platforms and technologies are leveraged to expand market reach and manage offering assortments. Yet, the literature is limited on how buyers who are channel intermediaries make purchase decisions across sales platforms particularly when platforms vary in their degree of technology enablement. This research investigates how B2B buyers respond to the offering, in terms of numerical assortment and quality, when the sales environments vary in their level of technology enablement. We examine the buyer's sales platform choice, purchase quantity, and tackle the seller's challenge of assortment integration. Buyers have a choice of purchasing from a low-tech platform where buyers are in-person and an auction determines sales, an Internet-enabled platform where remotely located buyers are price takers, and a hybrid platform that has a high level of technology enablement such that co-located and remotely located potential buyers simultaneously bid on the offering. A Hidden Markov Model captures the impact of different need states on buyers' decisions. Our findings: (1) uncover three distinct buyer profiles that have unique sales platform preferences and multiplatform buying tendencies that relate to their comfort with technology-enabled markets, (2) show that buyers exhibit distinct and dynamic needs that affect their sales platform choices and response to the platform offerings, (3) reveal that buyers experience diminishing returns to product assortment and condition at varying rates depending on their need state. Supporting our key findings, we find evidence of similar behaviors among consumers in a B2C multichannel context that includes an omnichannel. Additionally, we offer recommendations for B2B sellers regarding allocating and adjusting assortments to drive sales platform choice and revenues per buyer.
Use of the Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator in Patients with Heart Failure

The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is a life-saving therapy in patients at risk for sudden cardiac death, but the traditional transvenous lead system comes with risks and complications related to intravascular and intracardiac placement of the leads. The subcutaneous ICD (SICD) is an effective alternative option in select patients at risk for intravascular device complications. The goal of this chapter is to discuss indications, implantation techniques and testing of the S-ICD.
Steroid-Induced Avascular Necrosis in the Foot and Ankle-Pathophysiology, Surgical, and Nonsurgical Therapies: Case Study and Literature Review

Steroid-induced avascular necrosis (AVN) of the lower extremity is a destructive process of the bone found in patients who have been treated with these medications for a variety of medical conditions. There are several proposed etiologies for development of this condition, however much debate still remains for the exact pathophysiology. The main clinical characteristics include edema, arthralgias, and restricted joint range of motion. Diagnostic imaging is a key aspect in the analysis of this pathologic process. When steroid-induced AVN affects multiple bones, this atypical presentation is difficult to treat due to its diffuse nature, therefore surgical options are limited. In these cases, conservative therapy is targeted toward pain relief and preserving joint range of motion. This review aims to provide an overview on the presentation of steroid-induced AVN in the foot and ankle, outline the pathophysiology of the process, and describe a variety of both conservative and surgical treatment options. A case study is provided to showcase a patient presentation of diffuse steroid-induced AVN of the foot and ankle and their course of treatment.Levels of Evidence: Level V: Expert opinion.
Why Robotic Surgery

Since the initial robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy in 2000, robotic-assisted surgery has become deeply ingrained in urology. The minimally invasive nature of robotic surgery has been shown to improve patient postoperative pain and decrease length of stay. Patient outcomes in conjunction with ergonomic and visualization benefits for surgeons lead to widespread adoption. Urologic oncologists enthusiastically incorporated the robotic platform in their common abdominal cases. First, it was adopted in the radical prostatectomy followed by radical nephrectomy and finally cystoprostatectomy. Urinary tract reconstruction was primarily limited to repair of ureteropelvic junction obstruction and ureteroneocystostomy until the recent past. Reconstructive urologists are increasingly adopting the robotic platform to address a wide variety of complex upper and lower urinary tract pathologies. In the last 10 years, initial descriptions of robotic-assisted buccal ureteroplasty, vesicourethral anastomotic stricture repair, vesicorectal and vesicovaginal fistula repair, and ureteroenteric stricture revision have been described. The patient benefits of minimally invasive robotic surgery in conjunction with improved surgeon ergonomics and visualization will likely expand the role and penetrance of robotics in reconstructive urology in the years to come.
Picosecond Absorption Studies on Photosynthetic Reaction Centers of Chloroflexus aurantiacus

The photosynthetic reaction center (RC) of the thermophilic, green, gliding bacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus is functionally similar to reaction centers of the well-studied purple non-sulfur photosynthetic bacteria, but it has some significant structural differences. It has 3 bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) and 3 bacteriopheophytin (BPh) molecules, rather than 4 BChl and 2 BPh,1 and it consists of 2, rather than 3 polypeptides, designated M and L.2 Sequence data indicate that the BChl on the “non-functional” M-branch of pigments in the purple bacteria is replaced by BPh in C. aurantiacus.2 As in the purple species, photochemistry in C. aurantiacus generates a charge-separated state, in which a pair of strongly interacting BChl molecules that serves as the primary donor (P) becomes oxidized, and a quinone (QA) becomes reduced. Reduction of QA in C. aurantiacus occurs with a time-constant of about 300 ps, as compared to about 200 ps in Rhodobacter sphaeroides. 3 To investigate earlier electron transfer events in C. aurantiacus, we have conducted transient absorbance measurements on RCs at 298 K and at 81 K with 1 to 2 ps time-resolution, and we report some spectral and kinetic data here.
Testing for Treatment Effects on Subsets of Endpoints

Multiple endpoints are tested to assess an overall treatment effect and also to identify which endpoints or subsets of endpoints contributed to treatment differences. The conventional p-value adjustment methods, such as single-step, step-up, or step-down procedures, sequentially identify each significant individual endpoint. Closed test procedures can also detect individual endpoints that have effects via a step-by-step closed strategy. This paper proposes a global-based statistic for testing an a priori number, say, r of the k endpoints, as opposed to the conventional approach of testing one (r = 1) endpoint. The proposed test statistic is an extension of the single-step p-value-based statistic based on the distribution of the smallest p-value. The test maintains strong control of the FamilyWise Error (FWE) rate under the null hypothesis of no difference in any (sub)set of r endpoints among all possible combinations of the k endpoints. After rejecting the null hypothesis, the individual endpoints in the sets that are rejected can be tested further, using a univariate test statistic in a second step, if desired. However, the second step test only weakly controls the FWE. The proposed method is illustrated by application to a psychosis data set.
Difference in polar atmospheric optical emissions between mid-day and night-time auroras

Atomic emissions, especially from metastable atmospheric species, dominate the mid-day auroral optical spectrum. In addition to [0I]5577A and 6300 A lines, the [OII] lines at 3727-29A and 7320-30A as well as [NI] lines at 3466A and 5199-5201A are prominent. Unlike the night-time auroras, the cusp auroras are almost devoid of N 2 + IP and N 2 + 2P bands. N 2 + ING bands in mid-day auroras are probably enhanced through resonant scattering of sunlight by N 2 + ions formed, in almost equal amounts, by particle impact on N2 and charge exchange of [OII] (2D) with N2.
Increase of Tritium Permeation Through Resistant Metals at 323 K by Lattice Defects

We report data on tritium permeation at 323 K and 373 K through annealed and single crystal copper for comparison with our earlier data on unannealed copper, and show that tritium transport along grain boundaries or other lattice defects controls the overall rate at 323 K in unannealed material. Measurements on unannealed and annealed gold foil also indicate the importance of defect transport, although with gold we could not reduce the defect concentration sufficiently to measure permeation through the metal lattice. We also include permeation data on aluminum, molybdenum, tungsten, beryllium, cadmium, iridium, lead, rhenium, and silver; all of these were probably dominated by tritium transport along lattice defects. 24 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs.
Monocyte-endothelial cell interactions in the regulation of vascular sprouting and liver regeneration in mouse

Background & Aims Regeneration of the hepatic mass is crucial to liver repair. Proliferation of hepatic parenchyma is intimately dependent on angiogenesis and resident macrophage-derived cytokines. However the role of circulating monocyte interactions in vascular and hepatic regeneration is not well-defined. We investigated the role of these interactions in regeneration in the presence and absence of intact monocyte adhesion. Methods Partial hepatectomy was performed in wild-type mice and those lacking the monocyte adhesion molecule CD11b. Vascular architecture, angiogenesis and macrophage location were analyzed in the whole livers using simultaneous angiography and macrophage staining with fluorescent multiphoton microscopy. Monocyte adhesion molecule expression and sprouting-related pathways were evaluated. Results Resident macrophages (Kupffer cells) did not migrate to interact with vessels whereas infiltrating monocytes were found adjacent to sprouting points. Infiltrated monocytes colocalized with Wnt5a, angiopoietin 1 and Notch-1 in contact points and commensurate with phosphorylation and disruption of VE-cadherin. Mice deficient in CD11b showed a severe reduction in angiogenesis, liver mass regeneration and survival following partial hepatectomy, and developed unstable and leaky vessels that eventually produced an aberrant hepatic vascular network and Kupffer cell distribution. Conclusions Direct vascular interactions of infiltrating monocytes are required for an ordered vascular growth and liver regeneration. These outcomes provide insight into hepatic repair and new strategies for hepatic regeneration.
Introgressive hybridization facilitates adaptive divergence in a recent radiation of monkeyflowers

A primary goal in evolutionary biology is to identify the historical events that have facilitated the origin and spread of adaptations. When these adaptations also lead to reproductive isolation, we can learn about the evolutionary mechanisms contributing to speciation. We reveal the complex history of the gene MaMyb2 in shaping flower colour divergence within a recent radiation of monkey flowers.In the Mimulus aurantiacus species complex, red-flowered M. a. ssp. puniceus and yellow-flowered M. a. ssp. australis are partially isolated because of differences in pollinator preferences. Phylogenetic analyses based on genome-wide variation across the complex suggest two origins of red flowers from a yellow-flowered ancestor: one in M. a. ssp. puniceus and one in M. a. ssp.flemingii. However, in both cases, red flowers are caused by cis-regulatory mutations in the gene MaMyb2. Although this could be due to distinct mutations in each lineage, we show that the red allele in M. a. ssp. puniceus did not evolve de novo or exist as standing variation in its yellow-flowered ancestor. Rather, our results suggest that a single red MaMyb2 allele evolved during the radiation of M. aurantiacus that was subsequently transferred to the yellow-flowered ancestor of M. a. ssp. puniceus via introgressive hybridization. Because gene flow is still possible among taxa, we conclude that introgressive hybridization can be a potent driver of adaptation at the early stages of divergence that can contribute to the origins of biodiversity.
Gas-Liquid Chromatographic Procedure for Measurement of Methylphenidate Hydrochloride and Its Metabolite, Ritalinic Acid, in Urine

A gas-liquid chromatographic procedure has been developed for measuring methylphenidate and its metabolite, ritalinic acid, in urine. The unchanged drug is extracted into chloroform from alkalinized urine together with an internal standard, diphenhydramine. The solvent is removed, the residue dissolved in ethanol, and aliquots are injected into a gas-chromatographic column containing 3% OV-17. Ritalinic acid is recovered from the urine by lyophilizing the aqueous phase remaining after the unchanged methylphenidate is extracted into chloroform. The ritalinic acid is methylated with diazomethane to form methylphenidate, which is then assayed as described. Recovery of methylphenidate added to normal urine was quantitative and reproducible (CV, 3.2%). Ritalinic acid added to drug-free urine was recovered with an efficiency of 90-98%, but somewhat less reproducibly (CV, 12.8%). No interfering substances were found in normal urines. Between 35-98% of a single therapeutic (10 mg) dose given to hyperkinetic children could be recovered from the urine collected during the 6 h immediately after the dose. Only a small proportion was excreted as the unchanged drug (0.8-11.0%), the remainder being excreted as ritalinic acid.
Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Bevacizumab for Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme

Despite contemporary surgery, image-guided radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) persists or relapses in nearly all patients, and tumors almost always recur locally. Management of recurrent GBM is variable, but approaches include best supportive care, reoperation, reirradiation, and/or systemic therapy. Promising novel therapies include antiangiogenic agents and stereotactic radiosurgery, which have cytotoxic effects on tumor microvasculature. Emerging data suggest the safety and efficacy of bevacizumab and radiosurgery either alone or in combination. This report presents the case of a man with locally recurrent GBM treated with stereotactic radiosurgery and concurrent bevacizumab, and reviews the preclinical and clinical data supporting this approach.
2-D non-causal systems: State space modeling for half-plane support

In this paper Mendel and Hsueh's [10] state-variable modeling technique for transforming a 1-D non-causal system into a causal system is extended to 2-dimensional systems which have half-plane (HP) supports. The 2-D impulse responses treated here are restricted to a class in which their associated 2-D z-transforms have separable denominators. The final state space model is a special type of so-called Roesser's model. It is a very low-order model, which is important from a computational point of view, when, for example, 2-D recursive estimation algorithms are applied to 2-D systems with HP supports.
Determination of nucleoside composition of ribonucleic acid by thin-layer chromatography.

Abstract Separating and quantifying nucleosides of ribonucleic acid on thin layers of microcrystalline cellulose are described. RNA digested enzymically is chromatographed bidimensionally without desalting or removing proteins, which results in complete separation of eight nucleoside residues of acceptor ribonucleic acid including the four major nucleosides, dihydrouridine, inosine, pseudouridine, and ribothymidine. Data indicating quantitative elution of nucleosides from the thin layers and the nucleoside composition of ribonucleic acid are included.
Rate and thermal sensitivities of unstable transformation behavior in a shape memory alloy

A special plasticity-based constitutive model with an up–down–up flow rule used within a finite element framework has previously been shown to simulate the inhomogeneous nature and the thermo-mechanical coupling of stress-induced transformation seen in a NiTi shape memory alloy. This paper continues this numerical study by investigating the trends of localized nucleation and propagation phenomena for a wider range of loading rates and ambient thermal conditions. Local self-heating (due to latent heat of transformation), the inherent Clausius–Clapeyron relation (sensitivity of the material's transformation stress with temperature), the size of the specimen's nucleation barriers, the loading rate, and the nature of the ambient environment all interact to create a variety of mechanical responses and transformation kinetics. The number of transformation fronts is shown to increase dramatically from a few fronts under nearly isothermal conditions to numerous fronts under nearly adiabatic conditions. A non-dimensional film coefficient and non-dimensional conductivity are identified to be the major players in the range of responses observed. It is shown that the non-dimensional film coefficient generally determines the overall temperature response, and therefore force–displacement response, of a transforming specimen; whereas, the non-dimensional conductivity is the more important player in determining the number of nucleations, and therefore the number of transformation fronts, that may occur.
The transport and accumulation of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid into l-strain mouse fibroblasts.

Abstract The accumulation of isotopically labeled α-aminoisobutyric acid by L-strain fibroblasts was studied. The L cells were grown in suspension cultures, and used for these experiments during their exponential growth phase. Uptake studies were initiated in simple isotonic salt solutions. 1. 1. Maximal uptake of AIB occurred from an aqueous solution containing only Na + and K + as cations. A ratio of 136 Na + to 4 K + mequiv/l was optimal. 2. 2. The uptake of AIB was pH dependent; the highest concentration was noted at pH 8.5. 3. 3. Other ingredients in a standard tissue-culture medium such as Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , glucose, vitamins and serum do not affect the accumulation of the amino acid. However, all of the natural l -amino acids antagonize AIB uptake. 4. 4. A mathematical assessment of the affinity constant for AIB transport by L cells was carried out in a buffer at pH 7.2 containing only Na + and K + as cations at levels which would give maximal uptake. A value of 2.8 mM was obtained. All of the amino acids appeared to competitively inhibit the uptake of AIB. It would appear from these results that all of the amino acids use common transport sites.
Dynamic Error Correction and Regulation of Downstream Bubble Opening by Human RNA Polymerase II

Summary The nucleotide triphosphate (NTP)-driven translocation hypothesis posits that NTP substrates bind to templated DNA sites prior to translocation into the active site. By using millisecond phase kinetics, we demonstrate this prediction in three different ways. First, we show that, in the presence of the translocation blocker α-amanitin, NTPs (but not deoxynucleotide triphosphate [dNTPs]) templated at downstream sites (i + 2 and i + 3) dislodge an active site (i + 1) NTP, which was otherwise fated to complete bond synthesis. Second, we show that NTPs templated at i + 2 and/or i + 3 downstream sites suppress misincorporation errors. Third, we show that NTPs templated at downstream sites stabilize the posttranslocated elongation complex at a stall position. Therefore, at least two NTP substrates pair to DNA templated sites downstream of the active site. These results demonstrate the mechanisms of NTP loading and transcriptional efficiency and fidelity for human RNA polymerase II and indicate regulation of downstream bubble opening by NTPs.
Competency in Electrocardiogram Interpretation Among Graduating Medical Students

Background: The ability to accurately interpret electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities is a core competency for graduating medical students (GMS). Incorrect interpretation of ECG findings can result in adverse patient outcomes. To our knowledge, there has been no published study evaluating the level of competency in ECG interpretation in GMS. Purposes: To evaluate the ability of graduating medical students to interpret abnormal and critical ECGs and to correlate student performance with self-reported confidence and adequacy of ECG training. Methods: A list of 22 ECGs which GMS are expected to identify was developed. Classic examples of each ECG were identified and verified by two board-certified cardiologists. The 22 ECGs along with 11 questions related to confidence and degree of ECG training were administered to (a) 168 4th-year George Washington University School of Medicine (GWUSOM) students, (b) 63 incoming housestaff to GWUSOM, and (c) 22 graduating internal medicine housestaff. Results: Given the la...
Transition from 1-dimensional to 2-dimensional hopping conductivity in silicon accumulation layers

Abstract We have used p + diffusions to confine electrons in an accumulation layer on n- silicon. This allowed for electrical control of the channel width. When the channel was narrowest the conductance followed lnσ = −(T o /T) 1 2 ; when it was wider it followed lnσ = −(T o '/T) 1 3 . These results are consistent with a transition from 1D to 2D variable range hopping. Strong structure in the conductance as a function of carrier concentration occurred which may be the result of fluctuations in the density of states in the band tail. In the 1D range, the effect of high magnetic field is to increase the power law; in the 2D range, magneto-oscillations were observed above 7T.
Evidence for the intermediacy of 1,1-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1-sila-1,3-butadiene in the photochemistry and pyrolysis of 1,1-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1-sila-2-cyclobutene

Abstract Photolysis of 1,1-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1-sila-2-cyclobutene (I) in methanol and methanol-O- d 1 yields dimethylmethoxy(1-phenyl-2-propenyl)silane and dimethylmethoxy(1- d 1 -1-phenyl-2-propenyl)silane, respectively, as major products. These products may be formed by reaction of methanol or methanol-O- d 1 with 1,1-dimethyl-2-phenyl-1-sila-1,3-butadiene. Gas phase pyrolysis of I and acetone or formaldehyde have also been studied.
Normalized Free Energy and Normalized Entropy Applied to Some Lambda (λ) Transitions

The λ-anomaly occurs for a system that can undergo a boson – fermion thermodynamic equilibrium. It is shown that a λ-transition figure can be interpreted in terms of the normalized Gibbs–Helmholtz equation, the Maxwell–Boltzmann energy distribution function, and properties of the statistics of the relevant species. There are three variations of a “λ-transition” curve. These are: (A) the classical λ curve, (B) a saw-tooth line shape that is characteristic of the Bardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer theory of superconductivity, and (C) a single line δ type figure. The low temperature He-4 transition, and Type II superconductor transitions are typical of the line shape A. Type I superconductors typically have type B line shapes. The line shapes for variations A and C result from classical thermodynamic equilibria. The type B line shape occurs in systems that do not have a classical thermodynamic equilibrium at the superconducting transition. Analysis of type B line shapes provides interesting concepts and data for some low- and high-temperature superconductors. Several applications and physical property consequences of these line shapes are discussed.
A full sensing window Random-Access algorithm for messages with strict delay constraints

We consider the Channel Multiple-Access problem for messages with strict delay constraints. The constraints are represented by an upper bound on the transmission delays. For this problem, and for binary collision-noncollision feedback per slot, we present a simple full sensing window Random-Access algorithm. We analyze the algorithm and we compute the fraction of maintained traffic and the expected delay for the successfully transmitted packet, for various input Poisson intensities and various values of the bound on the transmission delays.