cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interfacial tension effects on the properties of PLGA microparticles

Many types of long-acting injectables, including in situ forming implants, preformed implants, and polymeric microparticles, have been developed and ultimately benefited numerous patients. The advantages of using long-acting injectables include greater patient compliance and more steady state drug plasma levels for weeks and months. However, the development of long-acting polymeric microparticles has been hampered by the lack of understanding of the microparticle formation process, and thus, control of the process. Of the many parameters critical to the reproducible preparation of microparticles, the interfacial tension (IFT) effect is an important factor throughout the process. It may influence the droplet formation, solvent extraction, and drug distribution in the polymer matrix, and ultimately drug release kinetics from the microparticles. This mini-review is focused on the IFT effects on drug-loaded poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) microparticles.
Value of stable disease (SD) in drug development of targeted therapies (TGT)

2509 It has been widely asserted that the efficacy of TGT cannot be assessed by traditional response measures since they are not expected to cause tumor shrinkage. Despite the lack of substantiatin...
Abstract MP39: Autophagy Regulates β-hydroxybutyrate Synthesis To Prevent High-salt Induced Vascular Damage

Overconsumption of dietary salt is unequivocally linked with end organ damage. We have recently observed that a high salt (HS) diet induces liver dysfunction in the form of impaired synthesis of ke...
Berechnungsmethoden zur Ermittlung der Schutzstrecke bei U- und Stadtbahnen

Wesentlicher Bestandteil der Projektierung von Zugsicherungsanlagen ist die Auslegung und Berechnung der Schutzstrecke. Einleitend werden die Definitionen der wichtigsten Begriffe erlautert. Abhangig von der Berucksichtigung der Nivelette sowie der Zugmasse sind drei verschiedene Rechenmethoden darstellbar. Die einfachste Methode berucksichtigt nur das maximale Gefalle vor dem Signal bzw. dem Gefahrenpunkt. Die zweite Methode berucksichtigt die Nivelette in Form von Treppen, ohne Berucksichtigung von Ausrundungen. Als dritte Methode wird die Gradientenmethode vorgestellt. Hier erfolgt die Berucksichtigung des Neigungsgradienten in Form einer zweifachen Mittelwertbildung. Zum einen wird der Mittelwert in Form eines Integrals uber die Zugslange gebildet. Zum anderen erfolgt die Mittelwertbildung in Form eines Integrals uber den Zwangsbremsweg. Der damit gefundene mittlere Neigungswert wird im iterativen Prozess zur Bestimmung der Schutzstrecke eingesetzt.
Getting Warmer: Following One's Gut to Build Bone.

In this issue of the Cell Metabolism, Chevalier et al. show that a warm environment produces changes in the composition of intestinal microbiota and that these changes can prevent bone loss due to hypogonadism. Dovetailing with prior studies on the ability of probiotics to reverse hypogonadism-induced osteopenia, the findings reaffirm a central role for the microbiome in regulating bone mass in response to both environmental and hormonal cues.
Neural Computations Underlying Contextual Processing in Humans

Context shapes our perception of facial expressions during everyday social interactions. We interpret a person's face in a hostile situation negatively, while judging the same face in a pleasant circumstance positively. Critical to our adaptive fitness, context provides situation-specific framing to resolve ambiguity and guide our interpersonal behavior. This context-specific modulation of facial expression is thought to engage the amygdala, the hippocampus, and the orbitofrontal cortex; however, the underlying neural computations remain unknown. Here, we use human intracranial EEG directly recorded from these regions and report bidirectional theta-gamma interactions within the amygdala-hippocampal network, facilitating contextual processing. Critically, contextual information is subsequently represented in the orbitofrontal cortex, where theta phase precession binds context and face associations within theta cycles, endowing faces with contextual meanings at behavioral timescales. Our results identify theta phase precession as mediating associations between context and face processing, supporting flexible social behavior.
Conformal Radiation Therapy in Patients With Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Devices: Proposed Practical Implementation of the 2019 American Association of Physicists in Medicine Task Group No. 203 Risk-Stratified Interrogation Schedule.

Abstract Purpose Radiation therapy (RT) in patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) carries a risk of device malfunction from radiation exposure. We sought to evaluate the incidence of CIED malfunction in a cohort of patients treated with modern RT techniques. Methods and Materials A retrospective analysis of 193 CIED patients treated with RT between 2000 and 2018 was conducted. All patients underwent pre-, intra-, and post-RT CIED interrogations. Patient demographics, CIED details, RT details, including total dose, modality, treatment site, CIED distance from RT field, treatment planning system maximum dose and in vivo dose estimates, and CIED malfunction data were analyzed. Results CIEDs in use were mainly pacemakers (single-chamber 10%, dual-chamber 49%) and defibrillators (35%). Patients received a median RT dose of 50 Gy (range, 7-80 Gy), treated with 3-dimensional CRT (47%), intensity modulated RT/volumetric modulated arc therapy (38%), and stereotactic body radiation therapy (10%). Neutron producing energies were used in 13% of the treatments. A strong correlation was noted between treatment planning system estimated maximum dose and in vivo estimated CIED dose when the CIED distance from the treatment field was >3 cm. However, in vivo measurements provide a lower estimated absorbed dose for CIED devices Conclusions In this series of patients treated with modern RT techniques, we observed a CIED malfunction rate of 1.04%. These low event rates establish the safety of delivering modern RT in CIED patients with the possibility of reducing the burden of intra- and posttreatment CIED monitoring.
Research on Cable Insulation Aging Under Acid-base Environment

In order to further study the effect of different degree of acidity and alkalinity on cable insulation aging, the aging condition of cable insulation was compared and analyzed under different pH values. The samples of cable insulation material slice and short cable were carried out the accelerated aging test, which were placed in the conditions of different pH values. And then the test results of micro morphology and electrical properties between the different samples were compared and analyzed after aging. According to the test results in this paper, the micro morphology of the cable insulation material slice would change differently under the aging conditions of different acidity and alkalinity, which indicated that the degree of oxidation degradation of insulation material aging was different from the different acidity and alkalinity conditions. In addition, both acid or alkaline environment would accelerate the aging of cable insulation and reduce the service life of cable, while strong acid and strong alkaline environment are more conducive to the formation of interpenetrating water tree in cable insulation material and cause the operation accident of power cable. Furthermore, the test results of electrical properties of short cable samples after aging showed that the aging degree of short cable samples was more serious in alkaline environment, and the decline of electrical properties was faster.
Tailoring the redox capabilities of organic ligands for metal-ligand coordination with vanadium single-sites

Abstract The creation of single-site metal centers (SSMCs) through the formation of metal-organic coordination networks is an area of interest due to the proven ability of SSMCs to improve selectivity for heterogeneous catalysts. In order to better understand the reactivity potential for the SSMCs it is necessary to study the ligand-metal interaction in the metal-organic coordination networks. In the work reported here, we demonstrate the ability to tune the oxidation state of vanadium from II to IV through the tailoring of redox-active ligands. Using the N-heterocyclic ligands of bipyrimidine (BP), bispyrimidinyltetrazine (BMTZ), and biimidazole (BIM) complexed with metallic V, we have shown that the oxidation state of the V metal centers can be tuned to V(II) for BP, V(III) for BMTZ, and V(IV) for BIM. These redox-active ligands provide similar coordination environments when complexed into one dimensional chains but result in different oxidation states for the single-site metal center.
Relative to the landscape: Producer cooperatives in native food sovereignty initiatives

Abstract Across Turtle Island, Native communities are joining the Indigenous food sovereignty movement to reclaim their foodsystems, cultural practices, and economies. Cooperatives are a particularly viable organizational structure for these projects since Indigenous foodsystems historically depended on community cooperation and collective use of land and other resources. This paper is interested in the ways Native foodway initiatives are building producer cooperatives in the US as a method towards food sovereignty. To do so, authors conducted interviews, attended food sovereignty gatherings, and reviewed relevant literature to offer historical context, a theoretical framework for Indigenous food sovereignty producer cooperatives, and four Native-led food producer cooperative case studies that are working to increase access to fresh, local foods produced in accordance with the beliefs, behaviors, processes, and worldviews of their particular communities. The organizational structure and purpose of the four cooperatives differs, but they are united in a common commitment to stewarding the interspecies relationships foundational to Indigenous foodways. In doing so, these cooperatives are also expanding who, or what, counts as a “member.” We argue this offers a compelling model for ecologically and culturally integrated cooperative development in individual communities and a platform for (re)establishing foodways and trade relationships between Native Nations.
Beyond Accountability: Arbitrariness and Legitimacy in the Administrative State

From the birth of the administrative state, we have struggled to describe our regulatory government as the legitimate child of a constitutional democracy. We have sought to reconcile the administrative state with a constitutional structure that reserves important policy decisions for elected officials and not for appointed bureaucrats. Lately, we have become so fixated on the concern for political accountability that we have overlooked an important obstacle to agency legitimacy: the concern for arbitrary administrative decisionmaking. Perhaps more accurately, we have relegated this concern to "ordinary" administrative law - such as the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) - rather than "constitutional" administrative law - such as the nondelegation doctrine. This dichotomous thinking colors the prevailing model of the adminisitrative state, which seeks to legitimate agencies by placing their policy decisions firmly under the control of the one elected official responsive to the entire nation - the President. In this Article, I argue that the "presidential control" model cannot legitimate agencies. It rests on a mistaken assumption about the appropriate role of accountability - an assumption that tracks closely the preoccupation with majoritarianism as a first premise of legitimate government, pioneered by Alexander Bickel and now subject to debate among constitutional theorists. The presidential control model misleads us into thinking that accountability is all we need to assure ourselves that agency action is constitutionally valid. It is time for us to recognize that preventing arbitariness remains at the core of administrative legitimacy. One we do, we finally can begin to resolve some of the conventional puzzles of both "constitutional" and "ordinary" administrative law, as well as sketch the outlines of furture developments in this area.
Hormonal stimulation of Mg2+ uptake in hepatocytes. Regulation by plasma membrane and intracellular organelles

Collagenase dispersed rat liver hepatocytes release Mg2+ when stimulated with norepinephrine or accumulate Mg2+ when stimulated with vasopressin, respectively. Mg2+ fluxes in either direction account for a net loss or gain of approximately 10% of total cell magnesium and are rapidly reversible. Both stimulated Mg2+ efflux and Mg2+ influx require physiological concentration of extracellular NaCl and Ca2+. In the absence of extracellular Na+, Mg2+ efflux, but not influx, can be observed in the presence of extracellular Cl-. Under these conditions, the efflux is inhibited by the Cl-/HCO3- exchanger inhibitor 4,4‘-dinitrostilbene-2,2‘-disulfonic acid. In hepatocytes, Mg2+ influx, but not efflux, is completely inhibited by thapsigargin, a specific inhibitor of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase. Several lines of evidence, such as measurements of cytosolic Ca2+ or of cytosolic Ca2+ buffering, indicate that the effect of thapsigargin in inhibiting Mg2+ influx could not be explained by an increase in cytosolic Ca2+. Instead, the inhibition of hepatocyte Mg2+ influx was found to be the result of the depletion of the Ca2+ stored within the endoplasmic reticulum.
Scientific Evidence: Legal Aspects

Legal consumption of scientific evidence has grown rapidly in the last few decades. Legislatures, administrative agencies, and courts turn to science to provide factual justification for laws, regulations, and decisions. The law–science relationship is characterized by tensions resulting from both cultural differences and the questions law puts to science. All legal systems control the way in which science is introduced into the legal process, but the way in which control is exercised is shaped by whether the legal system is adversarial or inquisitorial. In the process, law helps to define ‘science’ and the scientific enterprise. In the modern state, law and science have grown increasingly interdependent. By invoking science, law is able to justify difficult policy decisions. In turn, legal decisions contain an implicit scientific epistemology, which helps to maintain science's dominant position in Western society.
Optical Microsensor Arrays for Explosives Detection

The electronic nose described in this paper uses a cross-reactive sensor array based on fluorescence sensors. The sensors are fabricated by attaching solvatochromic dyes to different microspheres. The microspheres are then placed into wells chemically etched on the distal end of an optical fibre bundle. The system uses an olfactometer to deliver a pulse of analyte vapour to the sensors. An optical imaging system is employed to monitor fluorescence intensity over time. We use a heterogeneous array that contains different types of sensors, which allows us to classify a large number of analytes and complex odours. The array is formed by randomly distributing microspheres on the end of the fibre array. The position of each microsphere is determined by using a method that compares different sensor responses to their responses to known analytes. The electronic nose has been used to detect explosives and explosivelike vapours at low levels, and was able to detect nitro aromatic compound (NAC) vapour concentrations as low as 5 ppb. In addition, by fabricating a model of a nasal cavity and placing identical sensors at different positions, we demonstrated how the flow environment affects sensor response. By using the information from multiple sensors placed in different spatial positions in the complex flow environment, we demonstrated it is possible to obtain better discrimination between analytes.
Carcinosarcoma of the Urinary Bladder—An Aggressive Tumor With Diverse Histogenesis

Abstract Objective.—Carcinosarcomas of urinary bladder are rare malignant neoplasms. Seventy-eight cases have been previously described. The histologic composition of these tumors is variable, but diagnosis requires the presence of both epithelial and mesenchymal malignant components. We report 4 additional cases, with an emphasis on unusual histologic features. Methods.—Histologic and immunohistochemical examinations were performed on bladder tumors from 4 patients. Clinicopathologic features of previously reported and current cases were reviewed and summarized. Results.—Four patients (3 men, 1 woman) age 54 to 77 years were found to have polypoid masses in the urinary bladder. In all cases, histologic examination showed biphasic neoplasms with distinct mesenchymal and epithelial components. The morphologic and immunohistochemical characteristics of the tumors varied. One of the cases was remarkable for the presence of liposarcoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, and micropapillary urothelial ca...
Using software metrics and measurements to improve software productivity and quality

Summary form only given, as follows: the software engineering laboratory (SEL) at Goddard space flight center has determined five key benefits to the collection of software metrics. The benefits are: (1) they provide a keener understanding of the specific software development environment; (2) they add support to management of active development projects; (3) they produce a foundation for planning future projects; (4) they provide a basis for adopting development practices and/or guidelines, and (5) they produce evidence toward assessment of applied software technology. >
Choice of exchange rate regime and currency zones

Abstract We investigate the choice of exchange rate regimes in different currency zones (the US dollar, Euro and the CFA zones), and geographic regions (Latin America and Caribbean, East Asia and Pacific, Europe, core Europe, and the CFA countries). We control for country and regional heterogeneity, time dummies, endogeneity and perform various robustness checks. Results from regional analysis substantially differ from the aggregate analysis despite controlling for random effects. Even at the regional level controlling for currency zones affects our findings. Regional results are generally robust to regime measurement, and sample changes (number of observations).
Gastrointestinal absorption and metabolism of soy isoflavonoids in ileal-canulated swine

The relative contribution of the small intestine to absorption and microbial metabolism of ingested isoflavonoids (IFN) was investigated in swine with canulae in distal ilea to facilitate collection of chyme (canula open). Weaned swine were fed a single meal containing ground roasted soybean and corn with canulae open followed by a second test soy diet at 48 h with canulae closed to allow passage of chyme into the large intestine. All remaining feedings were soy-free (corn-casein diet). Ileal effluent and urine were collected for 16 and 48 h, respectively, and analyzed for IFN and microbial metabolites of IFN. IFN in ileal effluent were present entirely as aglycones. IFN equivalents excreted for 24 h after ingesting the soy diet were not significantly different when canulae were open or closed. Urinary IFN aglycone equivalents on day 2 were similar to those on day 1 when canulae remained closed, but less than 10% of that on day 1 when canulae were open for 16 h postfeeding. Urinary concentrations of dihydrodaidzein, dihydrogenistein, O-desmethylangolensin, and equol exceeded IFN aglycone equivalents. These findings suggest extensive preabsorptive conversion of IFN glucosides to aglycones in the small intestine and relatively efficient microbial metabolism of IFN in weaned swine.
The Histochemistry and Fine Structure of the Nutritional Reserves in the Fin Rays of a Lancelet, Branchiostoma lanceolatum (Cephalochordata = Acrania)

Adults of the European lancelet were collected at Banyuls-sur-Mer (Mediterranean France) in mid-spring, shortly before the onset of the breeding season. The dorsal and ventral fin rays were studied by light microscopic histochemistry and by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Each fin ray is a mass of extracellular material that accumulates beneath the mesothelium of a fin box coelom. The fin ray material is rich in lipids, proteins, and neutral mucopolysaccharides. TEM reveals no lipid droplets in this material, which consists entirely of a packed mass of 15–20 nm granules of medium electron density. It is likely that these granules consist of glycoproteins or glycolipoproteins. Our results are consistent with the proposal of Azariah (1965, Journal of the Marine Biological Association of India 7: 459–661) that lancelet fin rays are nutritional reserves supporting gametogenesis during the breeding season.
Computation of NG spread following very large LNG spills from ship tankers

Abstract The paper presents a computational model for the numerical prediction of the natural gas concentration in the atmosphere surrounding an LNG ship tanker, following an accidental release of a very large volume of the carried LNG liquid. The computations made are fully three-dimensional and time-dependent and necessarily cover a large volume of the physical space. Sample results are displayed for a typical 10,000-m3 spill, and are demonstrated to be plausible and effective.
Phenylsulfenylations of linearly conjugated metal dienolates of 1(9)-octalin-2-one derivatives☆

Abstract The position of reaction of sodium and lithium dienolates of 1(9)-octalin-2-one derivatives with various phenylsulfenylating agents was found to be dependent upon the nature of the leaving group and the presence of an α methyl substituent.
Imaging the coordination of multiple signalling activities in living cells

Cellular signal transduction occurs in complex and redundant interaction networks, which are best understood by simultaneously monitoring the activation dynamics of multiple components. Recent advances in biosensor technology have made it possible to visualize and quantify the activation of multiple network nodes in the same living cell. The precision and scope of this approach has been greatly extended by novel computational approaches (referred to as computational multiplexing) that can reveal relationships between network nodes imaged in separate cells.
Consumer Trust, Value, and Loyalty in Relational Exchanges:

Abstract The authors develop a framework for understanding the behaviors and practices of service providers that build or deplete consumer trust and the mechanisms that convert consumer trust into value and loyalty in relational exchanges. The proposed framework (1) uses a multidimensional conceptualization for the trustworthiness construct; (2) incorporates two distinct facets of consumer trust, namely, frontline employees and management policies and practices; and (3) specifies value as a key mediator of the trust–loyalty relationship. The authors test the proposed model using data from two service contexts—retail clothing (N = 264) and nonbusiness airline travel (N = 113). The results support a tripartite view of trustworthiness evaluations along operational competence, operational benevolence, and problem-solving orientation dimensions. Moreover, the authors find evidence of contingent asymmetric relationships between trustworthiness dimensions and consumer trust. For frontline employees, benevolent b...
Introducing Diversity into the Planning Curriculum: A Method for Department-Ide Implementation

In this article, we outline the importance of diversity in planning education and describe a strategy for incorporating new materials into existing courses throughout the curriculum. In researching and developing this strategy, we worked successively with each faculty member in the University of Cincinnati planning department to (1) analyze current syllabi, (2) use library resources to identify materials that covered the same content while addressing issues of diversity, broadly defined, and (3) track resulting changes to syllabi. As a complement to existing bibliographies, we provide step-by-step procedures as well as tables of library search terms that will facilitate implementing a similar project at other universities.
Radiation therapy for children: evolving technologies in the era of ALARA

The evolution of ever more sophisticated oncologic imaging and technologies providing far more precise radiation therapy have combined to increase the utilization of sophisticated radiation therapy in childhood cancer. For a majority of children with common central nervous system, soft tissue, bone, and dysontogenic neoplasms, local irradiation is fundamental to successful multi-disciplinary management. Along with more precise target volume definition and radiation delivery, new technologies provide added certainty of patient positioning (electronic portal imaging, cone beam CT) and conformality of dose delivery (3-D conformal irradiation, intensity modulated radiation therapy, proton beam therapy). Each of the major areas of technology development are able to better confine the high-dose region to the intended target, but they are also associated with the potential for larger volumes of uninvolved tissues being exposed to low radiation doses. The latter issue plays a role in documented levels of secondary carcinogenesis, sometimes with greater anticipated incidence than that seen in conventional radiation therapy. Parameters related to carcinogenesis, such as dose-volume relationships and neutron contamination that accompanies high-energy photon irradiation and proton therapy, can be identified, sometimes modulated, and accepted as part of the clinical decision process in fine tuning radiation therapy in this more vulnerable age group.
Some cholecystokinin-8 immunoreactive fibers in large pial arteries originate from trigeminal ganglion

Cholecystokinin-8 immunoreactive (CCK8I) nerve fibers were demonstrated in whole mount preparations and cross-sections of pial blood vessels in the cat, guinea pig and rat using a specific antiserum and the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method. Positive fibers were present in nearly all pial arteries examined, and were located in the adventitial layer and at the junction of the adventitia and media. In general, CCK8I fibers were less abundant than substance P immunoreactive (SPI) fibers visualized in the same vessels. A marked depletion of CCK8I was noted in large cerebral arteries following treatment of adult guinea pigs with capsaicin, a drug shown previously to deplete CCK8 in some primary sensory neurons. The density of CCK8I-containing fibers was also decreased in the ipsilateral vessels of the cat circle of Willis following unilateral trigeminal ganglionectomies. These results indicate that CCK8I is contained in afferent fibers within large pial arteries of Willis' circle which project from neurons in the ipsilateral trigeminal ganglion. Whether CCK8 coexists with SP in these fibers remains to be determined.
Electron-electron scattering in the low-temperature resistivity of the noble metals

Recently observed behavior in the electrical resistivity of copper at temperatures below 8 K and of silver below 5 K is interpreted as arising from electron-electron scattering. Similar behavior is predicted for gold below about 4 K, where data are not yet available. An estimate of the electron-phonon contribution shows that its ${T}^{5}$ asymptote is approached in the regime where electron-electron scattering is important.
Fertility in persons with epilepsy: 1935-1974.

Data from the Rochester-Olmsted County Medical Records Linkage Project were utilized to assess fertility in persons with epilepsy. Population age-specific reproduction rates for Rochester residents for the years 1935-1974 were estimated using the number of live births from the Minnesota Department of Health Statistics and Vital Statistics of the U.S. for comparison with rates in affected persons. Overall, fertility rates were significantly reduced to 80% of expected for affected males and 85% for affected females. Individuals with partial seizures (simple and complex) were disadvantaged, whereas those with generalized onset were not. During the last 20 years of the study period, males were more disadvantaged than females. The male-female difference was greatest during the time of low population fertility (after 1965). Male deficits were more marked after diagnosis; female deficits were more marked before diagnosis. Differences in the proportion of ever-married person-years between the sexes only partially explain the observed differences.
On the use of interpretive structural modeling to obtain models for worth assessment

Interpretive structural modeling is used to generate the hierarchy used in worth assessment. The partitioning techniques of interpretive structural modeling are extended to permit identification of a single sink digraph tree as a special type of structural model. The worth assessment hierarchy is identified as a single sink digraph tree. An example is presented to demonstrate how the extended partitioning techniques can be used in the interpretive structural modeling process to generate the worth assessment hierarchy for a higher education program planning problem.
Outcomes of Mild Cognitive Impairment by Definition: A Population Study

Background Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has been defined in several ways. Objective To determine the 1-year outcomes of MCI by different definitions at the population level. Design Inception cohort with 1-year follow-up. Participants were classified as having MCI using the following definitions operationalized for this study: amnestic MCI by Mayo criteria, expanded MCI by International Working Group criteria, Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) = 0.5, and a purely cognitive classification into amnestic and nonamnestic MCI. Setting General community. Participants Stratified random population-based sample of 1982 individuals 65 years and older. Main Outcome Measures For each MCI definition, there were 3 possible outcomes: worsening (progression to dementia [CDR ≥ 1] or severe cognitive impairment), improvement (reversion to CDR = 0 or normal cognition), and stability (unchanged CDR or cognitive status). Results Regardless of MCI definition, over 1 year, a small proportion of participants progressed to CDR > 1 (range, 0%-3%) or severe cognitive impairment (0%-20%) at rates higher than their cognitively normal peers. Somewhat larger proportions of participants improved or reverted to normal (6%-53%). Most participants remained stable (29%-92%). Where definitions focused on memory impairment and on multiple cognitive domains, higher proportions progressed and lower proportions reverted on the CDR. Conclusions As ascertained by several operational definitions, MCI is a heterogeneous entity at the population level but progresses to dementia at rates higher than in normal elderly individuals. Proportions of participants progressing to dementia are lower and proportions reverting to normal are higher than in clinical populations. Memory impairments and impairments in multiple domains lead to greater progression and lesser improvement. Research criteria may benefit from validation at the community level before incorporation into clinical practice.
Antibiotics and Breast Cancer

In Response: We thank Dr. Danby for his interesting suggestion concerning hormones in milk as a possible uncontrolled confounder in our study of antibiotics and breast cancer. Our database does not contain information that would let us investigate that possibility
Primary tumors and other masses of the cerebellum and fourth ventricle: Differential diagnosis by computed tomography

Seventy-three tumors of the cerebellum and fourth ventricle were analyzed by computed tomography to establish criteria for identifying the location and histology of the tumor. Brain stem tumors and metastases were excluded from the study. Tumors within the fourth ventricle are usually central in location, have a lucent halo and show no evidence of a separate, displaced fourth ventricle. Tumors within the cerebellar hemispheres are usually eccentric in location, lack a halo and displace the fourth ventricle. Ependymomas may be distinguished from classical medulloblastomas because they calcify more frequently, have small lucent zones, and extend into the cisterns of the cerebellopontine angles. Hemangioblastomas may be distinguished from cerebellar astrocytomas because they are usually not calcified, are smaller than astrocytomas and often exhibit central necrosis of smaller tumors than astrocytomas. In many cases, cerebellar sarcomas (desmoplastic medulloblastomas) may be distinguished from astrocytomas by their homogeneously increased attenuation homogeneous contrast enhancement and lack of calcification. In this series, all intraventricular lesions with ring blushes after contrast enhancement, and all but one intraventricular lesion with well defined lucencies, were ependymomas. All calcified extraventricular lesions were astrocytomas. No medulloblastoma, ependymoma or cerebellar sarcoma demonstrated homogeneously decreased attenuation and none was a predominantly cystic mass. The criteria presented tend to localize and identify accurately the vast majority of intraventricular and hemispheric masses, in the posterior fossa.
Pediatrician interventions and thirdhand smoke beliefs of parents.

Background Thirdhand smoke is residual tobacco smoke contamination that remains after a cigarette is extinguished. A national study indicates that adults' belief that thirdhand smoke (THS) harms children is associated with strict household no-smoking policies. The question of whether pediatricians can influence THS beliefs has not been assessed. Purpose To identify prevalence of THS beliefs and associated factors among smoking parents, and the association of pediatrician intervention on parent belief that THS is harmful to their children. Methods Exit interview data were collected from 1980 parents following a pediatric office visit. Parents' level of agreement or disagreement that THS can harm the health of babies and children was assessed. A multivariate logistic regression model was constructed to identify whether pediatricians' actions were independently associated with parental belief that THS can harm the health of babies and children. Data were collected from 2009 to 2011, and analyses were conducted in 2012. Results Ninety-one percent of parents believed that THS can harm the health of babies and children. Fathers (AOR=0.59, 95% CI=0.42, 0.84) and parents who smoked more than ten cigarettes per day (AOR=0.63, 95% CI=0.45, 0.88) were less likely to agree with this statement. In contrast, parents who received advice (AOR=1.60, 95% CI=1.04, 2.45) to have a smokefree home or car or to quit smoking and parents who were referred (AOR=3.42, 95% CI=1.18, 9.94) to a “quitline” or other cessation program were more likely to agree that THS can be harmful. Conclusions Fathers and heavier smokers were less likely to believe that THS is harmful. However, pediatricians' actions to encourage smoking parents to quit or adopt smokefree home or car policies were associated with parental beliefs that THS harms children. Trial registration This study is registered at NCT00664261 .
A Real-Time Scan Conversion Algorithm on Commercially Available Microprocessors1

We have developed a new ultrasound scan conversion algorithm that can be executed very efficiently on modern microprocessors. Our algorithm is designed to handle the address calculations and input and output (I/O) data loading concurrently with the interpolation. The processing unit's computing power can be dedicated to performing pixel interpolations while the other operations are handled by an independent direct memory access (DMA) controller. By making intelligent use of the I/O transfer capabilities of the DMA controller, the algorithm avoids spending the processing unit's valuable computing cycles in address calculations and nonactive pixel blanking. Furthermore, the new approach speeds up the computation by utilizing the ability of superscalar and very long instruction word (VLIW) processors to perform multiple operations in parallel. Our scan conversion algorithm was implemented on a multimedia and imaging system based on the Texas Instruments TMS320C80 Multimedia Video Processor (MVP). Computing cycles are spent only on predeterminable nonzero output pixels. For example, an execution time of 11.4 ms was achieved when there are 101,829 nonzero output pixels. This algorithm demonstrates a substantial improvement over previous scan conversion algorithms, and its optimized implementation enables modern commercially available programmable processors to support scan conversion at video rates.
A possible mechanism for stabilizing elongational flow in certain polymeric liquids at constant temperature and composition

A new calculation of the stability of elongational flow of a liquid filament is based on an idealized treatment of the effects of non-uniformity of filament diameter. Two uniform cylindrical filaments of different initial cross-sectional areas are connected by a fictitious deformable clamp which transmits tensile force without interfering with the assumed homogeneous elongational flow of each filament. A uniform tensile force is suddenly applied and kept constant. For a Newtonian liquid, the area ratio rapidly tends to infinity. For a “rubberlike liquid”, the area ratio at first increases but then becomes constant; this suggests that finite deformation of a “Gaussian” molecular network may provide a possible mechanism for “spinnability” at constant temperature and composition.
Correlation length of large-scale solar wind velocity fluctuations measured tangent to the Earth's orbit: First results from Stereo

[1] Proton velocity data from identical plasma instruments on board NASA's two Stereo spacecraft are used to investigate the correlation length of large-scale radial velocity fluctuations in the solar wind in the direction tangent to the Earth's orbit. The data cover the period from February 2007 through August 2007, near solar minimum in 2007. Estimates of the spatial correlation function are based on simultaneous 10 min averages of the solar wind speed at the two spacecraft that are binned according to the distance between the spacecraft. The results for the correlation function are noisy due, in part, to the modest number of data points in each bin. Linear least squares fits are used to extract the correlation length from noisy data. It is found that the transverse correlation length (along the Y-direction) is 0.25 ± 0.02 AU which is approximately equal to the longitudinal correlation length (along the X-direction) 0.28 ± 0.05 AU measured using the same data. Assuming that the autocorrelation time of the velocity signal at one spacecraft is determined by the rate of rigid rotation of solar wind source structures past the Earth-Sun line, the observed equivalence of longitudinal and transverse integral scales can be understood as a rotation effect. It must be emphasized that the correlation length studied here pertains to large-scale solar wind fluctuations associated with the large-scale flow, not to the smaller-scale fluctuations associated with solar wind turbulence.
2-D Silicon/PLZT Spatial Light Modulators: Technology

Summary and remarksWe have related the performance of Si /PLZT SLMs to technological and theoretical constraints, and haveshown that the Si /PLZT SLM is effective in achieving high performance within the imposed limits According to the results, linear devices with high dynamic range operating in the 103Hz range are within ourcapabilities, as are smart devices optimized for high PPR (1012 ops /sec) for DOP applications.We are investigating several technologies with the aim of achieving these goals. Both laser recrystallization of silicon and magnetron sputtering of PLZT have potential for the successful implementation of Si /PLZT SLMs. AcknowledgementsThis research is supported by the Defense Advanced Research Project Agency under grant No. NOSC- N66001 -84-C -0024 and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research under Grant No. AFOSR F49620 -83 -K -0022. We areadditionally grateful for support by Canon, U.S.A. Many suggestions for device development and initialpresentation of quantum limitations have been provided by Dr.
Single and double ionization in C 6 + + He collisions

Single- and double-ionization processes in ${\mathrm{C}}^{6+}$ collisions with the He atom at an incident energy of $100$ MeV/amu are studied by direct solution of the time-dependent Schr\"odinger equation. A time-dependent close-coupling method based on an expansion of a one-electron three-dimensional wave function in the field of He${}^{+}$ is used to calculate single-ionization cross sections. A time-dependent close-coupling method based on an expansion of a two-electron six-dimensional wave function in the field of He${}^{2+}$ is used to calculate single- and double-ionization cross sections. Electron energy and angle differential cross sections for single ionization are presented for various projectile impact parameters. For relatively large impact parameters, the differential cross sections are in qualitative agreement with ion-atom experiments. Electron energy and angle differential cross sections for double ionization are also presented for a relatively large projectile impact parameter.
Male accessory gland substances activate egg development in nutritionally stressed Aedes aegypti mosquitoes

Abstract The effect of mating on egg development in starved Aedes aegypti mosquitoes was examined. Mated females that were maintained on water for 4 days before ingesting blood were more likely to develop eggs than were unmated females. The implantation of a single male accessory gland from either A. aegypti or A. albopictus males increased the proportion of unmated females that developed eggs, but glands from A. bahamensis or A. taeniorhynchus did not. Male accessory gland homogenates from A. aegypti were also active when injected at concentrations of 0.02 gland equivalents or greater, but heating them destroyed their activity. When a small blood meal was supplemented with saline to increase abdominal distention, only mated females responded to the distention with increased egg development. Juvenile hormone topically applied to sugar-deprived, blood-fed unmated females also enhanced egg development. If males were starved for 3 days before they mated, they were less likely to stimulate oogenesis in sugar-deprived blood-fed females than if the males were maintained on sucrose before mating.
Expression of isotocin-neurophysin mRNA in developing zebrafish.

Neurohypophysial peptides are important regulators of homeostasis, reproduction and behavior. We have sequenced a zebrafish cDNA representing isotocin-neurophysin (IT-NP) mRNA. The developmental expression pattern of zebrafish IT-NP mRNA was determined by whole-mount in situ hybridization histochemistry. At 32 h post fertilization (hpf) no IT-NP mRNA is detected. However, by 36 hpf, staining for IT-NP mRNA is detected in a tight bilateral cluster of cells located in the anterior hypothalamus. The IT-NP mRNA expression pattern remains remarkably stable throughout further development at least until 120 hpf.
Lysosomal phospholipase A2 and phospholipidosis

A lysosomal phospholipase A2, LPLA2, was recently characterized and shown to have substrate specificity for phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine. LPLA2 is ubiquitously expressed but is most highly expressed in alveolar macrophages. Double conditional gene targeting was employed to elucidate the function of LPLA2. LPLA2-deficient mice (Lpla2-/-) were generated by the systemic deletion of exon 5 of the Lpla2 gene, which encodes the lipase motif essential for the phospholipase A2 activity. The survival of the Lpla2-/- mice was normal. Lpla2-/- mouse mating pairs yielded normal litter sizes, indicating that the gene deficiency did not impair fertility or fecundity. Alveolar macrophages from wild-type but not Lpla2-/- mice readily degraded radiolabeled phosphatidylcholine. A marked accumulation of phospholipids, in particular phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine, was found in the alveolar macrophages, the peritoneal macrophages, and the spleens of Lpla2-/- mice. By 1 year of age, Lpla2-/- mice demonstrated marked splenomegaly and increased lung surfactant phospholipid levels. Ultrastructural examination of Lpla2-/- mouse alveolar and peritoneal macrophages revealed the appearance of foam cells with lamellar inclusion bodies, a hallmark of cellular phospholipidosis. Thus, a deficiency of lysosomal phospholipase A2 results in foam cell formation, surfactant lipid accumulation, splenomegaly, and phospholipidosis in mice.
Serial Learning in Rats: A Test of Three Hypotheses.

Abstract Findings obtained by providing rats with a single fixed series of events, A-B-C-…, often are equally compatible with three alternative serial learning interpretations: that the signal for items is (A) their position in the series (position view), (B) the prior item of the series (chaining view), and (C) one, two, or more prior items of the series (sequential view). By employing a novel procedure of supplying rats with two different series, rather than a single series, it was possible to choose between the three alternatives. Employing 10 and 0, 0.045 g, Noyes pellets as items, rats in both runway experiments reported here received a three trial series, either a 10-0-10 series or a 0-0-10 series. In Experiment 1, the other series was a single 0 pellet trial (along with 10-0-10) or a single 10 pellet trial (along with 0-0-10). In Experiment 2, the other series was either 0-0 (along with 10-0-10) or 10-0 (along with 0-0-10). Considering both experiments, findings were consistent with the sequential view but not with either the position view or the chaining view. The possibility was suggested that, under some other experimental conditions, particularly those not employing reward events as items, greater control over discriminative responding might be exercised by position cues than by item cues.
13Cα decoupling during direct observation of carbonyl resonances in solution NMR of isotopically enriched proteins

Direct detection of (13)C can be advantageous when studying uniformly enriched proteins, in particular for paramagnetic proteins or when hydrogen exchange with solvent is fast. A scheme recently introduced for long-observation-window band-selective homonuclear decoupling in solid state NMR, LOW-BASHD (Struppe et al. in J Magn Reson 236:89-94, 2013) is shown to be effective for (13)C(α) decoupling during direct (13)C' observation in solution NMR experiments too. For this purpose, adjustment of the decoupling pulse parameters and delays is demonstrated to be important for increasing spectral resolution, to reduce three-spin effects, and to decrease the intensity of decoupling side-bands. LOW-BASHD then yields (13)C' line widths comparable to those obtained with the popular IPAP method, while enhancing sensitivity by ca 35 %. As a practical application of LOW-BASHD decoupling, requiring quantitative intensity measurement over a wide dynamic range, the impact of lipid binding on the (13)C'-detected NCO spectrum of the intrinsically disordered protein α-synuclein is compared with that on the (1)H-detected (1)H-(15)N HSQC spectrum. Results confirm that synuclein's "dark state" behavior is not caused by paramagnetic relaxation or rapid hydrogen exchange.
Observation of isolated electronic states in the collision‐induced dissociation of nitromethane ions

Collision-induced dissociation of nitromethane molecular ions to NO+ and NO has been studied at 19 eV center-of-mass collision energy using a crossed-beam tandem mass spectrometer. Center-of-mass velocity contour maps for the two dissociation processes are distinctly different; NO has its intensity maximum at 7 degrees with energy transfer endothermicities of 1.8 eV while NO+ has intensity maxima at zero and 8 degrees with energy transfer endothermicities of 0.3 and 5.5 eV, respectively. The observation of two distinct peaks in the NO+ contour map clearly demonstrates that nitromethane ions excited to 5.5 eV internal energy do not dissociate from the ground state potential surface. Dissociation is faster than intramolecular relaxation, in contradiction to the fundamental postulate of statistical theories (RRKM, QET) for unimolecular dissociation.