cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
N-acetyl Cysteine Administration Is Associated With Increased Cerebral Glucose Metabolism in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis: An Exploratory Study

Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease marked by progressive neurocognitive injury. Treatment options affording neuroprotective effects remain largely experimental. The purpose of this proof of concept study was to explore the effects of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) on cerebral glucose metabolism (CMRGlu) and symptoms in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Twenty-four patients with MS were randomized to either NAC plus standard of care, or standard of care only (waitlist control). The experimental group received NAC intravenously once per week and orally the other 6 days. Patients in both groups were evaluated at baseline and after 2 months (of receiving the NAC or waitlist control period) with an integrated Position Emission Tomography (PET)/ Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanner, using 18F Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) to measure cerebral glucose metabolism. Following imaging evaluation at 2 months, subjects initially attributed to the standard of care arm were eligible for treatment with NAC. Clinical and symptom questionnaires were also completed initially and after 2 months. Results: The FDG PET data showed significantly increased cerebral glucose metabolism in several brain regions including the caudate, inferior frontal gyrus, lateral temporal gyrus, and middle temporal gyrus (p < 0.05) in the MS group treated with NAC, as compared to the control group. Self-reported scores related to cognition and attention were also significantly improved in the NAC group as compared to the control group. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that NAC positively affects cerebral glucose metabolism in MS patients, which is associated with qualitative, patient reported improvements in cognition and attention. Larger scale studies may help to determine the clinical impact of NAC on measures of functioning over the course of illness, as well as the most effective dosage and dosage regimen.
Chapter 5 – Scale and Resolution

Publisher Summary The chapter discusses the wavelet analysis followed by Haar functions and wavelet transforms. The chapter also describes discrete wavelet transforms and multiresolution analysis (MRA).
“I’d like to, but I Can’t”. Store Brands’ Limited Exploitation of the Gluten-Free Opportunity

Over recent years, Free-From food products have shown a significant increase in consumption internationally. Retailers from the Modern Grocery Distribution (MGD) are taking advantage of this positive trend by extending their assortment in the area, thus benefitting remarkably in terms of sales and margins. The present work is focused on the Gluten-Free segment; through an analysis of Italian IRI sell-out data from 2014 to 2019, our results show a considerably positive sales increase, albeit slightly diminishing during the last two years. However, Store Brands (SBs) are only partially exploiting this opportunity since their contribution to the overall turnover of Gluten-Free products has been limited; this is mainly due to a lack in assortment depth.
Medial Geniculate Body Unit Responses to Cat Cries

Participation of different auditory pathways for various kinds of auditory information processing is suggested by a variety of behavioral and anatomical data. Behavioral testing procedures indicate that bilateral lesions of the primary auditory cortex cause no loss in discrimination of temporal sequencing of auditory stimuli (summarized in Colavita, 1979) nor in discriminations between complex vocal stimuli (cat: Dewson, 1964; dog: Heffner, 1977), whereas bilateral lesions of the insular and temporal cortical areas produce marked disruption in these functions (cat: Goldberg et al., 1957; Cornwall, 1967; Kelly, 1973; Colavita et al., 1974; Dewson, 1964). Insular and temporal cortical regions have been further separated from each other insofar as bilateral lesions confined to insular cortex produce loss of temporal pattern discrimination, not produced by temporal cortex lesions (cat: Colavita et al., 1979), while lesions largely confined to temporal cortex result in loss of speech sound discriminations (e.g., “u” versus “i”, cat: Dewson, 1964).
Comparison of Frequency of Atrial Fibrillation in Blacks Versus Whites and the Utilization of Race in a Novel Risk Score.

Blacks have a lower prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) compared with Whites. We sought to confirm previously reported ethnic trends in AF in Blacks and Whites in a large database, and develop a prediction score for AF. Over 330 million hospital discharges between the years 2003 to 2013 from the National Inpatient Sample database were analyzed. All hospitalizations with a diagnosis of AF formed the study cohort. Traditional risk factors for the development of AF were compared between Blacks and Whites. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were used to formulate a risk score to predict AF–CHADSAVES (Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age>65 years, Diabetes Mellitus, prior Stroke, Age>75 years, Vascular disease, White Ethnicity, and previous cardiothoracic Surgery). AF prevalence in Whites was 11.3% vs 4.6% in Blacks (p 2-fold lower prevalence of AF compared with Whites. CHADSAVES can be used effectively to predict AF in inpatients.
A microfluidic chip for on-line derivatization and application to in vivo neurochemical monitoring.

Microfluidic chips can perform a broad range of automated fluid manipulation operations for chemical analysis including on-line reactions. Derivatization reactions carried out on-chip reduce manual sample preparation and improve experimental throughput. In this work we develop a chip for on-line benzoyl chloride derivatization coupled to microdialysis, an in vivo sampling technique. Benzoyl chloride derivatization is useful for the analysis of small molecule neurochemicals in complex biological matrices using HPLC-MS/MS. The addition of one or more benzoyl groups to small, polar compounds containing amines, phenols, thiols, and certain alcohols improves reversed phase chromatographic retention, electrospray ionization efficiency, and analyte stability. The current derivatization protocol requires a three-step manual sample preparation, which ultimately limits the utility of this method for rapid sample collection and large sample sets. A glass microfluidic chip was developed for derivatizing microdialysis fractions on-line as they exit the probe for collection and off-line analysis with HPLC-MS/MS. Calibration curves for 21 neurochemicals prepared using the on-chip method showed linearity (R2 > 0.99), limits of detection (0.1-500 nM), and peak area RSDs (4-14%) comparable to manual derivatization. Method temporal resolution was investigated both in vitro and in vivo showing rapid rise times for all analytes, which was limited by fraction length (3 min) rather than the device. The platform was applied to basal measurements in the striatum of awake rats where 19 of 21 neurochemicals were above the limit of detection. For a typical 2 h study, a minimum of 120 pipetting steps are eliminated per animal. Such a device provides a useful tool for the analysis of small molecules in biological matrices which may extend beyond microdialysis to other sampling techniques.
Low voltage drop tunnel junctions grown monolithically by MOCVD

Tunnel junction devices grown monolithically by metal organic chemical vapor deposition were optimized for minimization of the tunnel junction voltage drop. Two device structures were studied: an all-GaN homojunction tunnel junction and a graded InGaN heterojunction-based tunnel junction. This work reports a record-low voltage drop in the graded-InGaN heterojunction based tunnel junction device structure achieving a de-embedded tunnel junction voltage drop of 0.17 V at 100 A/cm2. The experimental data were compared with a theoretical model developed through technology computer-aided design (TCAD) simulations that offer a physics-based approach to understanding the key components of the design space, which lead to a more efficient tunnel junction.
Limb salvage in the setting of calcaneal osteomyelitis and pathologic fracture: A case report with a 15-year follow-up

Calcaneal osteomyelitis is a condition that presents a particular challenge to the foot and ankle surgeon with respect to viable options for limb preservation. Limb salvage coupled with functionality is of paramount importance to active, diabetic patients in the face of a more proximal amputation such as a (Pirogoff, Symes, below-the-knee, above-the-knee). We present the case of a 49-year-old diabetic male who ambulates on his preserved left hindfoot following the treatment of his infected and fractured calcaneus.
Effect of mismatch repair on the mutational footprint of the bacterial SOS mutator activity

The bacterial SOS response to DNA damage induces an error-prone repair program that is mutagenic. In Escherichia coli, SOS-induced mutations are caused by the translesion synthesis (TLS) activity of two error-prone polymerases (EPPs), Pol IV and Pol V. The mutational footprint of the EPPs is confounded by both DNA damage and repair, as mutations are targeted to DNA lesions via TLS and corrected by the mismatch repair (MMR) system. To remove these factors and assess untargeted EPP mutations genome-wide, we constructed spontaneous SOS mutator strains deficient in MMR, then analyzed their mutational footprints by mutation accumulation and whole genome sequencing. Our analysis reveals new features of untargeted SOS-mutagenesis, showing how MMR alters its spectrum, sequence specificity, and strand-bias. Our data support a model where the EPPs prefer to act on the lagging strand of the replication fork, producing base pair mismatches that are differentially repaired by MMR depending on the type of mismatch.
COVID-19's extraordinary impact on couples and families

This article is an introduction to a special issue of Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, offered in a two-part series. The authors chose to focus on mitigating the impact of the pandemic on couples and families. The first issue concentrates primarily on couples and families and the second issue on families with children. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)
Nano-Ag Filled Anisotropic Conductive Adhesives (ACA) with Self-Assembled Monolayer and Sintering Behavior for High

Recently, anisotropic conductive adhesives (ACAs) have attracted increasing interests in electronic packaging industry due to the advantages of ultra fine pitch capability potential (pitch <20 mum due to the availability of micro-sized conductive particles), low processing temperatures, low stress on substrate, environmentally friendly, etc. In this study, effects of nano silver (Ag) particles on electrical properties of ACA formulations were investigated. The nano Ag particles exhibited sintering behavior at significantly lower temperatures (<200degC) than the melting point (Tm of Ag is 960degC). The sintered nano Ag particles significantly reduced the ACA joint resistance and enhanced the current carrying capability of ACAs. The reasons for the enhanced performance of ACA were attributed to the increased contact area and improved interfacial contact between nano Ag and bond pads by sintering and compressing processes of the ACA. In addition, different types of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) were used to treat nano Ag fillers. Thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), contact angle and photoacoustic Fourier Transfer Infrared (FTIR) results indicated the SAMs were well coated on the nano Ag particles. Furthermore, these SAM-treated ACAs were thermally stable at processing temperatures of the ACA samples. By introducing the novel SAM materials into the interfaces between nano metal fillers and the substrate bond pads, the conductivity and current carrying capability of ACAs were further improved due to the stronger bonding between nano fillers and SAM and consequently the improved interface properties of the high performance ACA for potential microprocessor applications
An Algorithm for Approximate Counting of Points on Algebraic Sets over Finite Fields

We present a randomized algorithm that takes as input a prime number p, and an algebraic set (represented by a system of polynomials) over the finite field Fp, and counts approximately the number of Fp-rational points in the set. For a fixed number of variables, the algorithm runs in random polynomial time with parallel complexity polylogarithmic in the input parameters (number of input polynomials, their maximum degree, and the prime p), using a polynomial number of processors. However, the degree of the polynomial bound on the running time grows sharply with the number of variables. A combinatorial analysis of the algorithm also shows that, when p is sufficiently large, a good approximate count is represented by Np D , where D is the highest possible dimension of an Fp-irreducible subvariety of the input defined over Fp, and N is the number of such distinct subvarieties. In addition, the algorithm computes these two numbers efficiently. It is also applied to obtain an asymptotic lower bound counting result in the case when an algebraic set defined over ℚ is reduced mod p, where p goes to infinity.
A time-harmonic space/spectral-domain solution of the electromagnetic fields radiated by an arbitrary distribution of electric and magnetic currents in a three-dimensional Cartesian half-space

The radiation of current elements in the vicinity of a layered medium is of great importance in understanding systems where electromagnetic interaction with an interface leads to significant desirable or undesirable effects. The discussion involves an expansion on previous theories, such as those presented by A. Sommerfeld (see "Partial Differential Equations in Physics", Academic Press, chap. 6,1964) and R.W.P. King and G.S. Smith (see "Antennas in Matter: Fundamentals", MIT Press, chap.11,1981) for the radiation of current elements near an interface. The formulation of this novel technique closely follows the methodology developed by King and Smith to determine the fields radiated by an infinitesimal horizontally-oriented electric dipole in a half-space. However, certain modifications are made that provide a more general approach. These alterations permit formulation of the fields radiated by an arbitrary distribution of electric and magnetic current sources (either in the media or on the interface) in a half-space. A flaw in King and Smith's boundary condition equations becomes apparent using this novel technique.
Catalytic hydrogenation of cyclohexene. VI: Turnover rate of the gas-phase reaction on unsupported platinum powders

Abstract A platinum powder, suitable for conventional studies of adsorption and catalysis, was prepared by washing a potassium-contaminated commercial platinum black in nitric acid. The acid-washed powder was potassium free, as shown by Auger electron spectroscopy. Surface areas were measured by the BET method with dinitrogen and argon. On the acid-washed platinum powder, the turnover rate for hydrogenation of cyclohexene under standard conditions was practically the same as on supported samples of platinum and a large clean single crystal, as determined by others. On that evidence, it is concluded that the surface of the acid-washed powder can be considered a clean surface for studies of adsorption and catalysis.
Lattice gauge theory — a progress report

Some recent calculations in lattice gauge theory are reviewed. These include estimates of the heavy quark potential, the hadron spectrum, and scales of chiral symmetry breaking.
On the Web, plagiarism matters more than copyrightpiracy

Although commonly confused, the values inherent in copyright policy are different from those inherent in scholarly standards for proper accreditation of ideas. Piracy is the infringement of a copyright, and plagiarism is the failure to give credit. The increasing use of Web-based electron publication has created new contexts for both piracy and plagiarism. In so far as piracy and plagiarism are confused, we cannot appreciate how the Web has changed the importance of these very different types of wrongs. The present paper argues that Web-based publication lessens the importance of piracy, while it heightens the need for protections against plagiarism. Copyright policy protects the opportunity for publishers to make a profit from their investments. As the cost of publication decreases in the electronic media, we need fewer copyright protections. Plagiarism is the failure to abide by scholarly standards for citation of sources. These standards assure us that information can be verified and traced to its source. Since Web sources are often volatile and changing, it becomes increasingly difficult and important to have clear standards for verifying the source of all information.
A method for prolonged monitoring of physiologic functions during fetal life

Abstract A method has been described for prolonged monitoring of biochemical and biophysical variables reflecting the condition of the unanesthetized sheep fetus in utero. In the series of 8 animals of 94 to 136 days' gestation, studied for up to 12 days following hysterotomy, the following mean values were obtained for blood from the carotid artery of the fetus: pH 7.37 ± 0.005 S.E., P CO 2 46.9 ± 0.74 mm. Hg, B.D. 0.6 ± 0.27 mEq. per liter, and P O 2 26.8 ± 0.52 mm. Hg. The B.P. ranged from 34 to 69 mm. Hg and the heart rate from 132 to 198 beats per minute. Body temperature of the fetus was higher than that of the mother, the mean value of the differences being 0.6 ± 0.04° C.
Refugee resettlement on the Horn of Africa

Abstract The enormity of the African refugee problem underscores the importance of resettlement issues in land use planning. Efforts to resettle subsistenceoriented agricultural populations have often come into conflict with host or in-place land uses as competition for scarce resources leads to land degradation, violence and the failure of resettlement schemes. The success of refugee resettlement will depend to a large extent on the degree to which host and refugee land use patterns become integrated or reconciled. The majority of African refugee populations reside on the Horn and in the Sahel, where arid and semi-arid ecologies predominate and pastoralism is a major form of land use. This study considers a resettlement design that integrates refugee agricultural land use patterns with those of the host pastoralist land use in the context of the frequent droughts that visit the area. Given the magnitude of dislocation problems on the continent, successful resettlement will play an important role in African agriculture and development.
From RoboNova to HUBO: Platforms for Robot Dance

A robot with the ability to dance in response to music could lead to novel and interesting interactions with humans. For example, such a robot could be used to augment live performances alongside human dancers. This paper describes a system enabling humanoid robots to move in synchrony with music. A small robot, the Hitec RoboNova, was initially used to develop smooth sequences of complex gestures used in human dance. The system uses a real-time beat prediction algorithm so that the robot’s movements are synchronized with the audio. Finally, we implemented the overall system on a much larger robot, HUBO, to establish the validity of the smaller RoboNova as a useful prototyping platform.
Phosphorylation of bovine papillomavirus E1 by the protein kinase CK2 near the nuclear localization signal does not influence subcellular distribution of the protein in dividing cells

The bovine papillomavirus E1 helicase is essential for viral replication. In dividing cells, DNA replication maintains, but does not increase, the viral genome copy number. Replication is limited by low E1 expression and an E1 nucleocytoplasmic shuttling mechanism. Shuttling is controlled in part by phosphorylation of E1 by cellular kinases. Here we investigate conserved sites for phosphorylation by kinase CK2 within the E1 nuclear localization signal. When these CK2 sites are mutated to either alanine or aspartic acid, no change in replication phenotype is observed, and there is no effect on the subcellular distribution of E1, which remains primarily nuclear. This demonstrates that phosphorylation of E1 by CK2 at these sites is not a factor in regulating viral DNA replication in dividing cells.
Growth hormone and IGF-I plasma concentrations and macronutrient intake measured in a free-living elderly population during a one-year period.

Objective: To determine seasonal variations in circulating concentrations of growth hormone and IGF-I in healthy, free-living elderly and to identify correlates between dietary intake, growth hormone and IGF-I concentrations in this population.Methods: Seven-day diet records and plasma samples were collected throughout a 1-year period. Plasma growth hormone and IGF-I were determined by RIA. Dietary macronutrient intake was determined using Nutritionist IV.Results: The dietary intake of the population corresponded to the established recommendations for percentage of fat, carbohydrate and protein. Carbohydrate intake differed significantly during the year, but protein and fat did not. Hormone concentrations were constant throughout the year, with no significant differences observed. No correlation between plasma growth hormone and IGF-I was observed. Growth hormone and IGF-I concentrations did not correlate with macronutrient intake, however subjects with the lowest energy intakes tended to have higher grow...
Medium-frequency impulsive-thrust-activated liquid hydrogen reorientation with Geyser

Efficient technique are studied for accomplishing propellant resettling through the minimization of propellant usage through impulsive thrust. A comparison between the use of constant-thrust and impulsive-thrust accelerations for the activation of propellant resettlement shows that impulsive thrust is superior to constant thrust for liquid reorientation in a reduced-gravity environment. This study shows that when impulsive thrust with 0.1-1.0-, and 10-Hz frequencies for liquid-fill levels in the range between 30-80 percent is considered, the selection of 1.0-Hz-frequency impulsive thrust over the other frequency ranges of impulsive thrust is the optimum. Characteristics of the slosh waves excited during the course of 1.0-Hz-frequency impulsive-thrust liquid reorientation were also analyzed.
Fast Envelope Detection for Thinned Display of Finely Digitized Ultrasound Scans

In ultrasound tissue characterization, the backscattered RF signal is finely digitized. The signal envelope is displayed in a version thinned 1-8. Three implementations of Hilbert-transform envelope detection with thinning were timed. An array processor speeds up DFT implementation by a factor of 2.5, but convolution implementation is even faster.
Quantitation of resistance to cytosine arabinoside by myeloid leukemic cells expressing bcl‐2

The presence of bcl-2 in myeloid leukemias has been associated with a decrease in therapy-induced apoptosis, reduced patient survival and in vitro autonomous growth of leukemic cells. The present study focuses on the quantitation of resistance to increasing doses of 1-beta-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine (Ara-C) by using hematological tumors expressing different levels of bcl-2. Scanning densitometry of Western blots demonstrated that the myeloid U-937 cells express low levels of bcl-2 (RD = 0.008), whereas the follicular lymphoma RL-7 expressed very high levels (RD = 3.084). Colony formation was also examined following incubation with Ara-C and RL-7 cells demonstrated a higher clonogenic survival (LD50 = 0.5 microns) when compared with U-937 cells (LD50 = 0.005 microM). Similarly, the level of bcl-2 expression in each cell line was also related to apoptosis with U-937 cells demonstrating increased DNA fragmentation when compared with RL-7 cells. To further evaluate the effect of upregulated bcl-2 on Ara-C treatment, U-937 cells were transfected with a retroviral vector carrying the murine bcl-2 or vector alone. Upregulation of bcl-2 by myeloid leukemic cells increased the resistance by 3 logs to Ara-C when comparing LD50 values from clonogenic assays, and decreased apoptosis by at least 3 logs when measuring dUTP positive cells by flow cytometry.
Software and Intellectual Property Protection: Copyright and Patent Issues for Computer and Legal Professionals

Introduction Legal Issues Idea or Expression? Software Patents The "Tangible Medium" Validity and Scope Infringement Substantial Similarity "Look and Feel" Reverse Engineering The Clean Room Approach Where Are We Now? Appendix A: The Computer Software Translators Operating Systems The User Interface Macros, Parameters, and Microcode Appendix B: An Example of a Patent Recommended Sources for Extended Reading Index
The effects of body burdens of lead on the growing rat kidney.

The long-term sequelae of increased body burdens of lead on renal growth and development were studied in rats poisoned during the weanling stage. Thirty-two weeks after poisoning there was a significant elevation in the lead concentrations of whole blood and of kidney tissue as compared to those of controls (P < 0.05). However, the body weight, kidney weight, and renal tissue DNA and RNA concentrations were not significantly different from those of the controls. Hypertrophied renal tubular cells and intranuclear inclusions were found in the experimental group at 8 weeks after poisoning but were markedly reduced in number by 32 weeks. There was no evidence of generalized, progressive nephropathy. These results indicate that an increased body burden of lead in the growing rat does not cause alterations in renal growth or development or initiate the development of progressive interstitial nephropathy despite persistent elevations of renal tissue lead concentrations into adulthood.
Sidgwick's Conception of Ethics

J. B. Schneewind's Sidgwick's Ethics and Victorian Moral Philosophy surpassed all previous treatments of Sidgwick's The Methods of Ethics by showing how Sidgwick's work follows a coherent plan of argument for a conception of ethics as grounded in practical reason. Schneewind offered his interpretation as the product of a historical rather than a critical study. This article undertakes a critical study of Sidgwick's work based on Schneewind's interpretation. Its thesis is that the conception of ethics for which Sidgwick argued is incoherent. As a result, it is argued, the coherent plan of argument in the Methods that Schneewind disclosed masks a deep incoherence in the argument itself.
Nuclear androgen receptors in different stages of the seminiferous epithelial cycle and the interstitial tissue of rat testis.

Testicular androgen receptors were measured with a recently developed exchange assay using [3H]methyltrienolone from samples of interstitial tissue, whole seminiferous tubules, and segments of tubules in different stages of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium. The hexylene glycol method was used to isolate nuclei and pyridoxal 5′-phosphate for extraction of the androgen receptors. This method proved superior to other techniques employed by our own and other laboratories. As a consequence, higher levels of androgen receptors were detected in seminiferous tubules than previously reported. Androgen receptors in seminiferous tubules and interstitial tissue had high affinity for methyltrienolone (Kd = ∼3 nm) and steroid binding specificity similar to that of these receptors in other tissues. The concentration of nuclear androgen receptors in whole seminiferous tubules was 670 ± 100 fmol/mg DNA (mean ± se), while that of the interstitial tissue was 1070 ± 295 fmol/mg DNA. Tubules in stages IX–XII and XIII–...
Specific interactions between proteins implicated in splice site selection and regulated alternative splicing

Specific recognition and pairing of the 5' and 3' splice sites are critical steps in pre-mRNA splicing. We report that the splicing factors SC35 and SF2/ASF specifically interact with both the integral U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP U1-70K) and with the 35 kd subunit of the splicing factor U2AF (U2AF35). Previous studies indicated that the U1 snRNP binds specifically to the 5' splice site, while U2AF35-U2AF65 heterodimer binds to the 3' splice site. Together, these observations suggest that SC35 and other members of the SR family of splicing factors may function in splice site selection by acting as a bridge between components bound to the 5' and 3' splice sites. Interestingly, SC35, SF2/ASF, and U2AF35 also interact with the Drosophila splicing regulators Transformer (Tra) and Transformer-2 (Tra2), suggesting that protein-protein interactions mediated by SR proteins may also play an important role in regulating alternative splicing.
Double-Regge-pole analysis ofπ+p→ π+fop at 13.1 GeV/c

Abstract A double-Regge model consistent with duality is applied to the reaction π + p→ π + f o p at 13.1 GeV/ c . The diffractively produced π f 0 system is well described by two amplitudes involving Pomeranchuk/A 1 and Pomeranchuk/f o exchanges.
Alkaline gastroesophageal reflux in infants and children

The incidence of alkaline gastroesophageal reflux (GER) was examined in 111 consecutive children referred for evaluation of GER during a 1-year period. The results of 24-hour pH monitoring studies and the medical records were retrospectively evaluated. Acid reflux was defined as occurring whenever the pH was less than 4 and alkaline reflux was defined whenever the pH was greater than 7. The percentage of time that reflux occurred, the number of reflux episodes, the number of episodes greater than 5 minutes, and the longest episode were all recorded. Based on these data, four categories of patients were identified as compared with normal values as determined by Pellegrini et al. When using criteria based on the percentage of time that reflux occurred, the largest group of children with GER was found to reflux acid (50%). However, 27 children (24%) had combined acid and alkaline reflux. Eighteen (16%) had predominantly alkaline reflux. Previously, these 18 children would have been considered as having a low likelihood of reflux by pH criteria. Endoscopic examination showed that pathological evidence of esophagitis occurred in four of the children with pure alkaline reflux. This review shows that symptomatic GER in infants and children may be due to acid or alkaline secretions or a mixture of both. A previously unrecognized cohort exists of children who demonstrate primary alkaline reflux. These patients need to be recognized and may benefit from a therapeutic program specifically designed to control alkaline reflux.
19,19,19- and 20,20,20-trimethylretinal: Side chain tert-butyl substituted retinals

Abstract The 11- cis , 13- cis , 11,13- dicis and 9,11,13- tricis isomers of 19,19,19-trimethyl-retinal (1) and the 13- cis and 11,13- dicis isomers of 20,20,20-trimethylretinal (2) were synthesized and characterized. The Dess-Martin reagent 5 is an effective oxidant for the retinol to retinal conversion.
Measurements of radial heat wave propagation in laser-produced exploding-foil plasmas.

Time-resolved, 2D images of x-ray emission from thin, laser-irradiated titanium foils are presented. The foils are irradiated with 0.35 \ensuremath{\mu}m light at intensities of 1 \ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{} ${10}^{15}$ W/${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ which produces a plasma with electron densities \ensuremath{\le} ${10}^{22}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ and electron temperature of 3-4 keV. X-ray emission that is characteristic of the thermal heat front is observed to propagate radially outward from the heated region. Comparison of these measurements with 2D hydrodynamic simulations of the experiment suggests the radial heat flux to be about 3% of the free-streaming heat flux.
Modeling food process, quality and safety: Frameworks and practical aspects

Abstract Physics-based models provide increased understanding and predictive capabilities that can increase efficiency in food product, process, and equipment design, and improve quality and safety. However, certain key food specific developments are needed to enable widespread use of simulation technology in the food sector. First and foremost need is the development of concise modeling frameworks (how to formulate various food processing situations into mathematical models) for various classes of processes, as opposed to a custom model for each process, as it mostly exists today. Deformable porous media with multiphase transport can provide such framework, as will be discussed through examples of various processes that have been modeled by many researchers. The next critical piece is to have easy access to properties needed to model. State of property prediction, starting from simple correlations to multiscale modeling, thermodynamics-based, and molecular dynamics, as being pursued by researchers around the world will be shared. Prediction beyond process, into quality and safety is the third topic where various approaches to modeling quality in diffusion-reaction modeling framework would be presented. For safety, a practical approach that groups various food products and thus provide an avenue to simulate safety for great many situations, will be shared. Finally, efforts to integrate the modeling components into a novel user-friendly software for increased use of modeling will be described.
Postoperative Metabolic Abnormality in Craniopharyngioma Patients Before Proton Therapy

Purpose/Objective(s): To assess postoperative changes of cerebral glucose metabolism in craniopharyngioma patients receiving proton therapy. Materials/Methods: From 2011 to 2012, 17 patients enrolled in a prospective proton therapy trial for craniopharyngioma and received longitudinal PET and MR imaging for tumor and normal tissue response. Sixteen of them underwent craniotomies before baseline FDG PET studies followed by proton therapy of 54 CGEs. One did not require surgical intervention before radiation. Patient FDG PET images were nonlinearly warped to a 3D reference template in Talairach coordinates created from images of normal subjects. Left-right asymmetry of the count per voxel in each of 63 anatomical regions and region-based statistics of activity were computed. Regional asymmetry was considered significant when its Z score exceeded two standard deviations of normal population. To exclude any potential bias in PET acquisition, 12 control children with extracranial diseases but normal cerebral PET scans were also analyzed. Results: Median age of craniopharyngioma patients at diagnosis was 13 years (range, 4-18 years). Median time from craniotomies to baseline PET studies and from PET to proton therapy was 136 days (range, 7-226 days) and 32 days (range, 20-52 days). Significantly decreased glucose uptake was most prominent in right frontal lobe, striatum, and thalamus. It occurred in 7 of 10 patients who underwent transcranial craniotomies and in 2 of 3 patients receiving endoscopic craniostomy for cyst drainage, but in none of the 4 patients who received transphenoidal surgery or no surgery. Significant asymmetry in superior frontal gyrus is related to the surgical approach (89% occurrence in right frontal, bifrontal, and interhemispheric approaches vs 0% in other approaches). Significant asymmetry in caudate nucleus, putamen, and thalamus likely resulted from mass effect, venous occlusion, and surgical damage. A large, but not significant, uptake asymmetry (averaged 9%) in the inferior occipital gyrus was observed in both craniopharyngioma and control patients. This asymmetry is possibly due to the left occipital petalia commonly seen in right handers. None of the uptake asymmetry in superior frontal lobe, striatum, and thalamus was significant in control subjects. Conclusions: Postoperative metabolic abnormalities in the right superior frontal gyrus, striatum, and thalamus were noted in craniopharyngioma patients before proton therapy. The latter two are of particular interest since they subsequently receive the tumoricidal dose or are in high dose gradient regions and play an important role in regulation of motor control, sensory function, memory, sleep, and consciousness. The association with observed clinical deficits before and after proton therapy in this population will be reported. Author Disclosure: C. Hua: None. H.M. Conklin: None. M.A. Madey: None. D.J. Indelicato: None. B.L. Shulkin: None. T.E. Merchant: None.
Components and Properties of the G3 Ganglion Cell Circuit in the Rabbit Retina

Each point on the retina is sampled by about 15 types of ganglion cell, each of which is an element in a circuit also containing specific types of bipolar cell and amacrine cell. Only a few of these circuits are well characterized. We found that intracellular injection of Neurobiotin into a specific ganglion cell type targeted by fluorescent markers also stained an asymmetrically branching ganglion cell. It was also tracer-coupled to an unusual type of amacrine cell whose dendrites were strongly asymmetric, coursing in a narrow bundle from the soma in the dorsal direction only. The dendritic field of the ganglion cell stratifies initially in sublamina b (the ON layers), but with few specializations and branches, and then more extensively in sublamina a (the OFF layers) at the level of the processes of the coupled amacrine cell. Intersections of the ganglion and amacrine cell processes contain puncta immunopositive for Cx36. Additionally, we found that the dopaminergic amacrine cell makes contact with both the ganglion cell and the amacrine cell, and that a bipolar cell immunopositive for calbindin synapses onto the sublamina b processes of the ganglion cell. Dopamine D(1) receptor activation reduced tracer flow to the amacrine cells. We have thus targeted and characterized two poorly understood retinal cell types and placed them with two other cell types in a substantial portion of a new retinal circuit. This unique circuit comprised of pronounced asymmetries in the ganglion cell and amacrine cell dendritic fields may result in a substantial orientation bias.
The use of feedback mechanisms in interpreting the robustness of a neoliberal educational assemblage

This article demonstrates how using feedback mechanisms or ‘loops’ as heuristic devices can help ethnographers explain the interior logic, robustness and contradictions within complex educational assemblages. After reviewing the use of feedback mechanisms in the natural and social sciences, particularly practice theory, the article presents two feedback loops drawn from the first author's four-year ethnographic study of class culture and neoliberal schooling in suburban Ohio, USA. The first identifies ‘hypercredentialing’ as the key process underlying the production of the performative worth of achievement-oriented students; the second identifies ‘reflexive awareness’ as a key process underlying the insufficient performativity of under- and lower-achieving students. The article uncovers hidden dynamics regarding neoliberal governmentality and performativity within a particular educational context and, more broadly, shows how using feedback mechanisms enables ethnographers to make cultural processes, as we...
Efficient solution of the word problem in slim varieties

Certain varieties similar to commutative semigroups are shown to have uniformly solvable word problem for all finite presentations by a confluence-completion method.
The Two-Year Rodent Carcinogenesis Bioassay — Will It Survive?

For over 35 years, many synthetic and natural chemicals have been tested by government agencies, private companies and research institutes for carcinogenic activity in rats and mice in classical 2 year studies as part of a toxicity profile ultimately used for human toxicity and carcinogenicity risk assessment. With an increasing number of pharmaceutical and agricultural chemicals shown to be carcinogenic in these bioassays, research into the mechanisms of toxicity and carcinogenesis has intensified. The relevance of the induced tumors in rodents has been questioned after much research. Research has provided evidence to some scientists that doses used in the bioassays may represent situations where toxicity pathways do not develop in humans exposed to levels of these chemicals, toxicity itself may create situations where tumors develop only under those situations, species specific responses may exist, and tumors induced may not be relevant to human risk. Regulatory agencies have considered these and other factors when preparing regulatory decisions on regulation of these chemicals. Thus, the USA FDA often has approved drugs despite their carcinogenicity in rodents and the USA EPA has explored many situations where considerations of the mechanisms of carcinogenesis in rodents and humans play a role in their regulatory decisions. Unfortunately, much of the decisions are based on unproven and hypothetical mechanisms of carcinogenesis in rodents and humans. Despite this situation, the impact of these decisions on future considerations and decisions for regulation of chemicals suggests that the US regulatory agencies consider that the occurrence of increased incidences of tumors in standard 2 year rodent carcinogenesis bioassay is often not relevant to human carcinogenesis risk assessment.
STUDY OF RESTRICTED DIFFUSION BY NMR IN FREEZE-DRIED STARCH GELS

Pulsed-gradient spin-echo NMR diffraction patterns were used to determine the pore size in freeze-dried corn starch gels (7 and 12% w/w) with octane used as the probe molecule. The pore diameters are approximately 200 μm and appear isotropic for this measurement. This technique can provide an effective measure of the pore size without altering the sample structure.
Planning: The Neglected Component of Group Development

SUMMARY This article identifies pregroup planning—the thinking and preparation done by the social worker in developing a group program—as a neglected area of social work practice. Though the importance of planning is recognized by many writers, little is said about the planning process itself that can help direct and guide the thinking of the social work practitioner. Possible reasons for this gap in our literature and practice are presented. Development of a model of planning for group practice is called for. Components of such a model are drawn from social work writings on work with groups and from research, and a tentative model is suggested.
Analysis of an Aesthetic Values Test: Detection of Inter‐Subgroup Differences Within a Pottery Producing Community in Mexico

This paper demonstrates that it is possible to devise a test to elicit aesthetic values to be used to detect subgroup differences within a small peasant village of Nahuatl-speakers in Guerrero, Mexico. Fifty-one minimal pairs of drawings or photographs were made or selected to isolate specific visual attributes hypothesized to be related to characteristics of the subgroups: sex, the occupation of painting on pottery, the relative degree of travel to other cities in Mexico. The results of a χ2 test revealed nine of the fifty-one pairs to be significantly heterogeneous (5% level) and six of the nineteen attributes selected showed heterogeneity among the four subgroups, significantly more than would be expected by chance.
Epidemiologic issues pertinent to international regulation of 28 stimulant-hallucinogen drugs

Abstract This paper examines selected epidemiologic issues raised by the consideration of 28 stimulant-hallucinogen drugs for international drug control. New epidemiologic evidence on these drugs is presented, based on laboratory analysis of drug samples obtained from unauthorized channels of distribution in the United States. A proposal is made for experimental evaluation of international drug controls. The proposed approach is to select some of the stimulant-hallucinogen drugs which are not currently responsible for substantial drug-related morbidity and mortality, but which appear suitable for control on the basis of presumed potential for abuse and other characteristics. Then, randomly assign one-half of this group for new drug regulations, leaving the others without new regulation. If proper epidemiologic surveillance were in place, this experimental trial would produce data to help substantiate inferences about drug control efficacy. Difficulties in implementing this proposal are discussed, with emphasis on surveillance measurement problems. Some of these problems are related to the non-medical character of much stimulant-hallucinogen drug use. However, other problems such as response inconsistency may affect research in drug epidemiology generally. Data from a recent panel study of psychotherapeutic medicine use are presented to illustrate this possibility.
Religião, espiritualidade e transtornos psicóticos

CONTEXTO: A religiao e frequentemente incluida nas crencas e experiencias de pacientes psicoticos, tornando-se, assim, alvo de intervencoes psiquiatricas. OBJETIVOS: Este artigo, primeiramente, examina a prevalencia de crencas e atividades religiosas entre pessoas nao-psicoticas nos Estados Unidos, Brasil e em outras areas do mundo. Segundo, discute os fatores historicos que tem contribuido para a barreira que separa religiao de psiquiatria na atualidade. Terceiro, revisa os estudos sobre a prevalencia de delirios religiosos em pacientes com esquizofrenia, transtorno bipolar e outros transtornos mentais graves, discutindo como os clinicos podem distinguir o envolvimento religioso patologico do nao-patologico. Quarto, explora a possibilidade de que pessoas com doenca mental grave usem praticas e crencas religiosas nao-patologicas para lidar com seus transtornos mentais. Quinto, examina os efeitos do envolvimento religioso no curso da doenca, das exacerbacoes psicoticas e das hospitalizacoes. Finalmente, este artigo descreve intervencoes religiosas ou espirituais que possam auxiliar no tratamento. METODOS: Revisao da literatura. RESULTADOS: Enquanto cerca de um terco das psicoses tem conteudo religioso, nem todas as experiencias religiosas sao psicoticas. Na realidade, elas podem ter efeitos positivos no curso de doencas mentais graves, levando os clinicos a terem de decidir se devem tratar as crencas religiosas e desencorajar as experiencias religiosas ou se devem apoia-las. CONCLUSAO: Clinicos devem compreender os papeis positivos e negativos que a religiao desempenha nos pacientes com transtornos psicoticos.